Tensura: The First Reason

Disclaimer: We own nothing. This is merely our interpretation.

Side Quest: Luminous' Bizarre adventure - Dominating the Vampires Part 1

Damargania.

At the far end of the still endless greenery of the Giants and True Giants alike.

"Tch."

Luminous clicked her tongue with a mutter under her breath in irritation, nevertheless.

Of course, she also sensed the raging storm of immense magicules over by the North.

Amongst those foreign and fearsome magicules that raged like the storm of magicules, she could make out that familiar magicule belonged to none other than her "deplorable" brother.

"What a headache; I'm sure "that one" must already have a means to suppress that reckless fool of a brother."

By that one, Luminous was naturally referring to Twilight, their creator.

Luminous said as she walked forward, covered with a hood as a few others followed behind her.

They were those she subdued not long before now.

The thought of these vampires being allowed to roam freely under different circumstances made her lips curl into a frown.

Dagruel and the other True Giants would have taken care of them long ago. However, because they were beings created by Twilight, Dagruel hadn't made any moves on them.

But now that Luminous had been in the mix, both the True Giants and Luminous were now in cooperation.

"Lady Luminous, it's over there."

An escort True Giant appointed by Dagruel pointed over to a structure that looked like a castle over a mountain in the distance.

In the distance, perched precariously on a mountain, stood a towering structure—a castle straight from the pages of a fantasy tale.

Its spires reached skyward, thin and jagged, as though trying to pierce the heavens themselves.

Luminous paused, tilting her head. "Such a gaudy thing. How did they even manage to build that?"

"They're no match for us in a fair fight, so they resorted to stealing. Over the span of a year, they pieced it together bit by bit."

A giant escorting Luminous had said that. 

However, Luminous's lips twitched into a faint smirk. She could already imagine why Dagruel had tolerated such insolence.

In the end, it was none other because of the relationship between Dagruel and Twilight. Luminous believed the Vampires should have thanked their stars.

However, if the True Giants had sustained considerable harm, then that would have been a different matter entirely.

"And? Why didn't Dagruel report this to him?"

Luminous raised her eyebrow, saying that as they pressed forward.

The giant behind her scratched his head for a moment before he replied.

"Well, Lord Dagruel believed that it wasn't best to bother Lord Ancestor with such trivial matters."

"Trivial indeed."

Luminous said so with an unchanging gaze. Now, she had a force of about a hundred vampires she had subdued.

Naturally, only about ten of them she had bought with her for this subjugation. But then—

There were those that resisted, of course; however, with her power and her title as the [True Ancestor], she had an inherent advantage over her kind.

Hence, subduing them had been easy.

"Ruin Valentin, one of those who bears the Valentine name, no less. What a disgrace."

She clicked her tongue in annoyance. 

If it weren't for Dagruel's decision to stay his hand, Ruin's little faction would have been reduced to ash long ago.

But still, it makes her wonder why they'd do something as foolish as to establish their own little country on another person's domain.

Though she hadn't fought the Giant King or seen him in action, just with a glance, she could tell he was strong.

Besides, she had heard of the Titan King from Twilight about the tyranny he had caused on the land, with the creator having to personally interfere.

It's only natural she'd gain respect for the Giant King.

As for other human nations, there were currently only four great empires standing.

It would have been easy if Ruin had decided to attack them instead, as currently, the human forces are too thin against beings of magic like them.

Yet, it makes her wonder.

Was Ruin trying to assert dominance over the True Giants or something along those lines?

"That may be correct."

It could be that Ruin had seen the high-humans as insignificant enough for him to have the Titan King as a target. If so, 'how stupid.'

"Lady Luminous?"

The True Giant asked as he turned its head to Luminous, but the True Ancestor had shaken her head and replied coolly.

"No need to worry. Keep moving forward. We're almost there."

Luminous said that, pointing towards the fog-filled environment they had now entered.

Naturally, these dogs were made by magic, and it seemed like they were created to disrupt skills like [Magic Sense].

"Oh? Even though it's daytime, the weather here is different."

"Lady Luminous," the giant beside her said, his voice low, "I suspect this is a barrier."

"I know already." 

Luminous huffed as she crossed her hands. She had felt a sensation of passing through a thin film earlier, so that must have been the barrier, no.

More than that. Certainly, it would also explain a lot. It seems like Ruin was more careful than she gave him credit for.

Not only a barrier, but a fog to disrupt [Magic Sense].

"I'm very familiar with these things, of course; haah, Father creations sure are reckless." 

Luminous muttered under her breath before her tone then shifted. "Form up," she commanded.

The group of giants and vampires shifted immediately into a defensive formation around her.

Luminous raised her hand, crimson threads of blood weaving outward from her fingertips to connect them.

"This way, we won't have any stragglers," she said simply.

In a situation like this, one could imagine what the tactics would be against a group of people invading their barrier like this.

However—

"Strange."

As they walked deeper into the mist, slowly, twisted trees began to emerge, their skeletal branches reaching out like claws.

Yet, despite the ominous surroundings, no attacks came. Surprisingly or unsurprisingly.

"I would have expected an attack, but it seems like that's not the case."

The True Giant in front stepped back slightly, still wary obviously. "I suspect they think of facing us head-on rather than in an ambush."

Since [Magic Sense] isn't working, he had to keep his eyes forward. And perhaps, he may also have been correct. 

After all, it's been a few minutes since they entered.

"Hm. I see, that's also an option."

Luminous, hearing this, also considered it, hence, she had no choice. Hence, it's best to prepare for what may or may not come.

"You lot, let's head to the castle, full speed."

""Yes!""

With that said, Luminous and her escort then changed tactics, running towards the castle.

Sure enough, they didn't encounter any sort of obstacle, not before finding themselves in the very front of the castle they had seen in the distance.

Hmph. An obstruction of this level wasn't enough to keep Luminous away from their castle.

The entire mountain range had already been layered with multiple magics.

The barrier to keep intruders isolated. The mist to displace the intruder's sight or senses, and lastly, a magic to make intruders hallucinate and walk around in circles.

Yet, despite all of that, it didn't work.

"As expected of Luminous-sama."

The True Giant escort had said so, nodding between his words. Rather, should he say; as expected of the Daughter of the Divine Ancestor.

"Empty? No, they're probably hiding inside."

Luminous, putting the flatteries aside, stepped forward towards the gates. It creaked open before fully opening, letting them in.

Like that, they had approached the door.

"Let me."

The True Giant escort said that, hitting his fist together as he then planted his hands on the heavy door, slowly peering it open.

CREAK!

As the door opened, a chilling wind erupted, brushing past them.

"Seems like quite the guests have been awaiting our arrival."

Entering inside, the vampires were already waiting. Finally, Luminous could understand why.

"So, Ruin gathered failures like you all, huh? No wonder."

They were vampires who couldn't walk under the sunlight, the first generations of vampires.

And even though they were called First Generation, they were weaker than her, who were a superior version of any generation before them.

She and Dawn were created last.

And being created last, they were given more love by Twilight and created stronger than any of the vampires before them.

"HISSS!"

"The Divine~ hiss."

They had surrounded the group of ten that followed Luminous; however, for some odd reason, they couldn't attack her.

Rather, their bodies were refusing to answer them.

"Don't bother. You're all Father's children, but I hold authority over you. Back down and take me to Ruin."

"..."

There was silence in the dark hall for a moment, as the vampires all shrank back.

From their looks, some were in even worse states than the rest, but Luminous couldn't blame them.

"As the Divine One has commanded."

Finally, after a few seconds, an Elder Vampire amongst the group stepped out and bowed to Luminous.

The surrounding vampires had now created a path for Luminous to pass, a path that led to stairs just right in front.

"Hmph."

The halls above were constructed in a unique way that looked more like a labyrinth; however, the Elder Vampire got them past it with no problem. Towards the throne room where Ruin Valentin was waiting.