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Chapter 78: The Stage and the Serpent (I)
I had been awake for hours, my body still thrumming with the residual energy of the previous night, but sleep had been elusive at best.
The blood-red moon had long since set, replaced by the pale grey light of morning, and I had spent the better part of the night staring at the cracked plaster above my bed, turning over the events of the past few hours in my mind.
The Senjutsu training had been exhausting, and I am aware of how far I still had to go to awaken it. Apart from this, in my sparring with Shizuka, she had pushed me to the limits of my physical body and got battered to say the least, that even now with my Vampire Regeneration, the effects of the Senjutsu Energy still lingered.
Yesterday she also lowered her guard against me by allowing me a glimpse of her true power and face, and in that moment I couldn't help but think that there might be complete trust in her with what I took myself.
Nonetheless, my luck was still great since mobs have started throwing themselves at me, and there's no way I would reject free EXP points.
Imagine being a walking disaster, well, at least in the premise of the Yokai Academy, since I could summon plenty of S-tier summons if I was fully charged. And still, some of those idiots tried their hand at claiming my life.
My summons had done their work efficiently, ruthlessly, and I had stood in the center of the carnage, feeling nothing but cold satisfaction while watching my stats grow from the essence I was gaining by the extension of the System.
At this point, I do wonder if there is any connection between my Annihilation Maker and System? I have my doubts about this because there shouldn't be a connection between Yahweh who sealed himself to contain the Beast of Apocalypse and my System that clearly had an Otherworldly Origin.
I wouldn't be surprised if the origin of the system is from some Eldrich God from the Dimension Gap trying to conquer a new world. I just hope it's not some nightmarish scenario with myself being the catalyst to the World Ending.
As for myself being targeted by others for assassinations, honestly, I was no longer flustered or overwhelmed by the idea that 'Monsters are going to eat you.'. The human mind, once it overcomes its dark, slumbering, nature, can find a certain peace in the absence of empathy or fear.
It was a lesson I had learned slowly, over months of fighting, killing, surviving. I was no longer the scared human who had stumbled into this world, praying for a way out. I was something else now, something colder, something more dangerous.
With the System Window before my eyes, I was satisfied to say the least about the raise of my stats.
[Status Window]
════════════════════
[Name: Aono Tsukune]
[Race: Human (Shinso Vampire)]
[Threat: B(Human Form)/A(Vampire)]
────── [Core Stats] ──────
[Strength: B (38/100)] ▲ +15
[Agility: B (32/100)] ▲ +17
[Vitality: B (79/100)] ▲ +13
[Intelligence: B (24/100)] ▲ +7
────── [Supernatural Stats] ──────
[Mana: B (62/100)] ▲ +12
[Demonic Energy: B (38/100)] ▲ +11
[Senjutsu (0/100) - Initiate] ▲ (NEW)
[Bloodline Purity: 69.18%] (Stable) ▲
[Bloodline Control: B (68/100)] ▲ +16
────── [Sacred Gear] ──────
(Slot 1): Longinus: Annihilation Maker - Awakened (60% Manifestation)
────── [Equipment] ──────
Holy Lock (Right Arm) - Active
All-Black- The Necrosword/(S-tier) ▲
Heirloom Sword/(S-tier)
Alucard Mail/(S-tier) ▲
Dragon Helmet (S-tier)▲
Black Cloak (S-tier) ▲
Legend's Boots (S-tier)
────── [Skills]──────
[Shinso Abilities: Blood Link (C), Blood Sense (C), Blood Regeneration (B), Wealth of Power (A), Hemomancy (A)]
[Combat Abilities: Sword Mastery (C), Blade of Stillness (C), Yoki Manipulation (B), Silent Draw (B), Shadow Stride (B), Shuzen‑ryu: Crimson Fang Fist (B), Sanguine Spear (A), Yoki Reinforcement (A), Shuzen‑ryu: Crimson Eclipse (A+), Blood Clone (S), Ghoul Vampire Trigger (S+), Vampire Domain (Ultimate)(S+)]
[Magic & Utility: Spell Sync (E), Witch's Insight (D), Magic Nullification Field (D), Mana Efficiency (C), Silent Spellcasting (C)]
════════════════════
Sitting up, I swung my legs over the side of the bed, my bare feet pressing against the cold wooden floor. The room was still, the only sound was the soft rustle of pages turning. Mana was perched on the edge of my desk, her fair legs dangling, her green eyes scanning the pages of a dusty tome she had pulled from the depths of the shadow.
She had been reading for hours, and from the looks of things it was a Magic Book I borrowed from the Academy's Library which was meant for beginner spellcasting. Still, I could only assume that her fascination with this world's magic system showed no signs of diminishing.
Silent Swordsman stood by the window, his massive blade resting against his shoulder, his visor fixed on the horizon.
Has he really not moved all night since I closed my eyes? He should learn how to destress and take a break once in a while, since no danger would come to my dorm room. I got too many insurances and alerts to wake me up.
"I have been wondering about something, Tsukune-sama," Mana said, her voice soft and curious. She looked up from the book, her green eyes bright with intellectual hunger. "The magic of this world is different from the magic of my realm. Your Yoki, and way of using Mana are similar in a way with how we wield magic in my World. Still, I have some doubts since Yoki is closer to a Fiends energy. Could you explain how this works? I am eager to learn more about this world."
I considered her question for a moment and gave her an answer based on what I understood about Yoki and the Magic System of the Yokai.
"Yoki is the life force of a Yokai," I began, keeping my voice low and measured. "It is the energy that flows through their bodies, giving them strength, speed, and the ability to use their unique abilities that mainly are inherited, but there's also a separated system of techniques under the Youjutsu umbrella."
"Think of it as the blood in the veins of the supernatural world. It is what powers their transformations, their attacks, their very existence. It can be trained, honed, and shaped through practice and discipline, much like a muscle."
Mana nodded, her eyes fixed on me with an intensity that was almost unsettling. "And Senjutsu? I have heard you mention it, but I do not fully understand its purpose."
I paused, gathering my thoughts. "Senjutsu is different. It is not the energy within a single being, but the energy of the world itself, its more akin to the flow of nature.
It is an energy that exists everywhere, in everything, and it can be drawn upon by those who learn to listen. It is subtle, gentle, but when used correctly, it can be devastating."
She tilted her head, her hat bobbing slightly. "That sounds similar to the magic of the Spirit World, in a sense. The ancient magicians, they could draw upon the power of the spirits to amply their Ka."
Before she could ask another question, my phone buzzed on the nightstand. I reached for it, glancing at the screen thinking that it might be Moka wanting to use me as the key for her Rosario Cross to let Inner out, but no, it was a message from Toma Sakura.
A new one, since it seems I had not responded to the one he sent last night. I had almost forgotten that I had agreed to take part in the Theatre Club's performance today, and the reminder made me reluctant about going through it.
What if I make a fool out of myself?
I was tired… My body still ached from the sparring, and a part of me, the one that has grown increasingly nocturnal, wanted nothing more than to retreat into some cozy shadows and sleep in a coffin for the rest of the week.
I considered canceling. It would have been easy to send come up with a plausible excuse and then send a quick message back, but that would just let down a valuable ally in Toma, even if he was to say the least a perverted weirdo.
In a sense, this play was important because it would give me the right timing to breach the last of his defenses, since I did fulfill his kinks and whatnot, he would become more agreeable to my idea of joining forces, becoming another force to enter the ANTI-THESIS.
You can't look down on this shota, he was a second year student, president of a notorious club, he for sure managed to build his own connection network, spread out his influence, and in hindsight, had the perfect ears for gossipy subjects and could prove invaluable in the coming clash with the Disciplinary Committee and the Student Council.
Apart from this, it was an important moment for Toma since he has invested heavily in this play, even buying advertisement spots in the Gazette to promote the show.
The room was expected to be packed, and I knew that the little gremlin was counting on my appearance to draw a crowd. It would have been a dick move to promise something and then fail to deliver, and that was beneath my pride. I had come too far to start breaking promises now.
I was also confident in my acting skills. The Shinso Vampire Blood had transformed my physiology, sharpening my features, deepening my voice, giving me a presence that I had never possessed in my first life. I could make use of my passive Vampire charm to increase my favorability with the students, especially the girls who had begun to flock around me like moths to a flame since I became the Gazette Head.
The play was an opportunity to solidify my reputation, to become a figure that people recognized, admired, and trusted. If it went well, I can say it is a masterstroke on my part, and shamelessly enough, I am not giving away this advantage.
A small, sardonic smile tugged at my lips. I was not doing this out of altruism. Toma was clever, and I knew the little shota was using me to draw attention to his club. But I could use him in return.
The alliance was mutually beneficial, and I intended to make the most of it.
I typed out a quick response to Toma, confirming my attendance, and set the phone aside.
Then I rose from the bed, stretching my arms above my head, feeling the satisfying pop of my joints. The exhaustion was still there, a dull ache at the edges of my consciousness, but it was manageable. I was afflicted with much worse migraines in the past.
Mana looked up from her book, her green eyes bright with curiosity. "Are you leaving now, Tsukune-sama?"
"Yes," I said, reaching for my uniform. "I have some errands to run for a friend."
She nodded, closing the book with a soft thump and asked me while putting on those soft green eyes of her on display. "Could I also join you along Tsukune-sama? I want to explore this world and experience new things."
"That, it's a bit complicated to introduce you to others. Maybe another time when I have time to talk with the headmaster, I can bring you along for classes." I said, offering her a small smile.
Mana hearing that got excited for a moment, since she was curious about this Yokai Academy and above all else, she has seen the clothes the girls of this Academy were wearing. She also wanted one. Her eyes sparkled at the thought of exploring the Academy's halls freely, of meeting other students, of experiencing a world beyond the confines of the Spirit World.
"For now, I need you and Silent Swordsman to return to the Annihilation Maker. I cannot have you wandering around the Academy without proper introductions. It would raise too many questions."
Mana pouted, her lower lip jutting out in a way that reminded me of a child being denied a treat. "Fine, but the first thing I will do once I am out for good, is to explore the Academy Library. Ahh, I can only imagine what a goldmine I would find."
"No doubt, you will have a lot of fun, if you're a bookworm."
Mana sighed, but she did not argue. She stepped toward me, her form beginning to dissolve into shadow. "I will hold you to that promise, Tsukune-sama."
"Why are you so sad as if it's the end of the world? You can still watch what's going on outside by the conduit of my shadow."
She vanished into the darkness of my shadow, her presence fading from the room. Silent Swordsman did not speak, but he gave a single nod, then he too dissolved into shadow, leaving me alone in the quiet of my dorm room.
I stood there for a moment, taking a deep breath. The morning light was growing stronger, the golden rays spilling across the floor, and I could hear the faint sounds of the Academy coming to life. It was time to begin.
I grabbed my jacket, slung it over my shoulder, and walked out the door.
The hallway was empty, the other students still asleep or already gone to their first classes.
After some intensive school activity, meaning attending classes and trying your best not to sleep while the teacher was on the hook, the experience remained the same, nothing new, it was just high school classes.
The only interesting part was on breaks or on recess, that was when the juicy drama was happening and I as your vampire gentlemen couldn't help but listen to the quarrels and gossips of the girls.
Still, today I was a man on a mission. No, not killing Mizuki Ueshiba, he could still be useful by sending assassins so I could farm them, but instead, it was attending and performing for the Theatre Club.
The Academy's main theater was a place I had only visited a handful of times since arriving at the Yokai Academy, it was a place that rarely hosted events or was used. And if you thought the place Toma-senpai used for the Yokai Club Festival was the main theatre, you are wrong as I was myself. That was just a larger classroom that he managed to reserve for himself and his club activities.
As for the main theatre itself, it was grand, giving you the impression you were in Imperial France from the aesthetics, with high vaulted ceilings and walls lined with rich red velvet. The seats rose in steep tiers, each row offering an unobstructed view of the stage below, and the lighting was warm and dramatic, casting long shadows across the polished wooden floor.
When I arrived, the theater was already half-full, a sea of students flowing through the entrances like water through a cracked dam. The chatter was deafening, a low roar of excitement and anticipation that seemed to vibrate through the very stones beneath my feet.
I had expected a decent turnout, but this was something else entirely that if I was back in my first life I would stutter trying to speak in front of so many people.
'Heh, Toma had been busy, and his advertisement campaign had paid off.'
'To think that the Gazette would be so popular with the students, it pleases me inside.'
I made my way backstage, weaving through clusters of actors in various states of costume and makeup. The energy was electric, a nervous, buzzing anticipation that seemed to hang in the air like static before a storm. Toma found me before I could reach the dressing room, his face alight with a manic enthusiasm that I had come to recognize as his default state.
He was wearing something flamboyant, a silk robe that shimmered with threads of gold and crimson. His hair was styled in soft waves that framed his delicate face, and his eyes were lined with kohl, giving him an almost theatrical appearance. It was typical of a femboy, and I had long since stopped being surprised by his feminine wardrobe choices.
"Tsukune-kun!" He threw his arms wide, his voice carrying across the backstage area with that theatrical flair that made him a femboy.
"You came! I knew you would not disappoint me! The crowd is enormous! They are here for you, you know. All of them. I have never seen such a turnout for a mid-afternoon performance since I joined the Academy. Not even the seniors in 3rd year have experienced such a thing."
"You are delightful. Noo, better said, a sensation. I never expected your newspaper to be so popular in such a short time."
I raised an eyebrow, keeping my expression neutral. "A sensation? I have not even performed yet."
"Does not matter!" Toma waved his hand dismissively, his eyes sparkling. "Your presence alone is enough. The girls are swooning, the boys are jealous, and the teachers are curious. You are the talk of the Academy, Tsukune-kun. And tonight, you will prove why."
He grabbed my arm, pulling me toward the dressing room with surprising strength for someone so slender. "Come, come! We have costumes to prepare! The play is a scene from the Odyssey, and you are playing the lead role, Odysseus. I have chosen this part specifically for you. The cunning hero, the trickster king, the man who outwits gods and monsters alike."
"I swear, it fits you so perfectly with how things are playing in the Academy."
I let him drag me along, a small, sardonic smile tugging at my lips. The irony was not lost on me. I was a vampire playing a human hero, a creature of darkness pretending to be a figure of light. There was something poetic about it, and honestly, I always wanted to be a Hero when I was a child.
'Even in darkness, as long as your heart is gold, you can be a Hero.'
The dressing room was small but well-appointed, with a large mirror, a rack of costumes, and a makeup table cluttered with brushes and powders. Toma gestured toward the chiton hanging on the back of the door, a simple white garment with a golden belt and a crimson cloak.
"Here it is," he said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I had it custom-made for you. The fabric is enchanted to resist stains and tears, and the cloak is treated to catch the light in a way that will make you look almost divine. You will be the star of the show, Tsukune-kun. I promise you that."
"Ahh, by the way, how are you Vampires handling artificial light? Can you handle it?"
"No problem. Only weak vampires fear some sunlight."
I examined the costume, running my fingers over the fabric. It was soft, well-made, and it fit perfectly when I tried it on. The chiton was loose and comfortable, and the cloak settled over my shoulders like a second skin. I looked in the mirror, and for a moment, I did not recognize the person staring back at me. The features were sharper, more angular, and the crimson eyes that gazed back held a depth that I had never seen before.
I was not the scared human who had stumbled into this world, by now I could see myself as looking the part of this Chaotic World.
Toma clapped his hands, his voice bright with excitement. "Perfect! You look like a true hero, Tsukune-kun. The girls… ahem, I mean, the crowd will adore you."
I turned away from the mirror, a small, sardonic smile tugging at my lips. "Let us hope they do not adore me too much. I have enough admirers as it is."
Toma laughed, a high, musical sound. "There is no such thing as too many admirers, Tsukune-kun. Embrace it."
The performance began an hour later.
I stepped onto the stage, and the world fell away. The chatter of the crowd faded into a distant murmur, replaced by the soft hum of anticipation. The lights were warm, casting long shadows across the stone floor, and I could feel the weight of a hundred eyes fixed on me.
The play was a scene from the Odyssey, the moment when Odysseus returns to Ithaca disguised as a beggar. The script was well-written, the dialogue sharp, and I found myself falling into the rhythm of the role with surprising ease. My voice carried across the amphitheater, deep and resonant, and I could see the audience leaning toward the storytelling of Toma's version, their attention fully captured.
The other actors Toma selected were good too, but in my Narcissistic mind, I think I was better.
"Fate has brought me to this shore," I said, my voice low and resonant, carrying across the amphitheater like a wave. "Not as a king, not as a conqueror, but as a man who has lost everything. And yet, I stand before you, I breathe and for I can endure the hardships thrown by the Gods. That is the only victory that matters."
I paused, letting the words hang in the air, and I saw the audience lean forward, their attention fully captured. The silence that followed was absolute, broken only by the soft rustle of fabric as someone shifted in their seat.
"This world will always test our resolve," I continued, my voice rising with conviction. "It strips us of our pride, our wealth, our loved ones. It leaves us broken and bleeding on the shore of a foreign land. But we are not defined by what we lose, no, we are defined by what we choose to carry forward."
The crowd was silent, hanging on every word.
"I, Odysseus, will not stop until I find my way home." I said, my voice dropping to a whisper that somehow carried to the farthest seats.
The curtain fell, and I stood in the center of the stage and I can say that my heart was pounding even though I wasn't feeling life threatened by anyone.
'Damn it all, I think I have outdone myself with this performance. This Vampire Blood is truly carrying me into the pro leagues.'
The applause that followed was deafening, a wave of sound that seemed to shake the very floor beneath my feet, once the curtain opened again to reveal us actors and offer our own appreciation to the public.
I took a bow in sign of respect, while doing that my eyes swept across the crowd, and I saw them.
Chizuru was seated near the front, her dark hair spilling over her shoulders like silk, her onyx eyes fixed on me with an intensity that was almost unsettling. She did not clap, did not smile, but there was something in her gaze that told me she was paying close attention.
The Newspaper Club girls were clustered together a few rows back. Kurumu was beaming, her tail swishing beneath her skirt, ignoring fully the decorum, at this point no one cared about that Academy rule about showing their Yokai form. Unlike others she was a perfect humanoid, her Succubi race was unmatched in terms of looks.
Inner Moka sat beside her, her silver hair gleaming like moonlight, and as it happened with her, when she was wearing that Cold Queen Mask, she rarely displayed her affection in public. However, this time she was blowing me some kisses from the stands that made me playfully catch them in the air.
This gesture of mine raised a reaction from the other girls in the stands who might have showed their affection at the same time.
Meanwhile Yukari was bouncing in her seat, her witch hat wobbling, her excitement palpable even from a distance.
Mizore was also spellbound to the scene. She sat in the row next to Yukari, her blue eyes wide and fixed on me with an intensity that I had not seen from her before. Her pale cheeks were flushed, a rare sight on the usually frosty Yuki-onna, and her fingers were pressed against her lips, as if she was trying to contain a reaction she did not fully understand.
When our eyes met, she flinched, caught off guard, and looked down at her lap. But then she looked up again, her cheeks even redder, and she gave me a small, hesitant smile. It was a fragile thing, easily missed, but it was there. She mouthed something that I could not quite make out, but the shape of her lips suggested a single word.
"Beautiful."
I gave her a small nod, acknowledging her presence, and her blush deepened. She quickly turned her attention to her hands, not having enough courage to look at my face again.
Meanwhile, surprise, who was here. To think that the prideful and arrogant Mermaid, Tamao Ichinose would be present for this event. Aside from this, she even brought the inner circle along with her, and they were still the same group of girls that faced me in the past.
When Tamao made eye contact with me, she gave me a small smile, while the other mermaids waved their hands at me, and since they were graceful with me, I would also return this gesture by bowing along.
And then there was Nonko Arahabaki. The Oni was surrounded by a gaggle of Kendo Club girls, and I couldn't fail to notice her curvaceous body. The whole time I was on the scene, her eyes were gleaming with amusement and she was also busy arguing with one of her club members about something that seemed to be related to the Odyssey, I couldn't guess what since I closed my Vampire Senses.
As a Vampire you really don't want yourself to be found in a situation where hundreds of people are gathered in the same place, whispering, talking and whatnot. Your brain would be overloaded soon enough by too much nonsense that otherwise would be filtered out by a normal human brain.
As the curtain fell, I noticed a figure rising from her seat near the back of the amphitheater. It was Kuchiba Ririsa, the Disciplinary Committee member who reminded me so much of Yumeko Jabami.
The girl was stunning to this day, her SS uniform was tailored to put every curve on devastating display. She was tall and elegant and I noticed a smile forming on her crimson lips as I made eye-contact with those burgundy eyes of hers.
[Name: Kuchiba Ririsa]
[Threat Level: A+(Empusa)]
She simply rose and turned to walk away followed by a group of henchmen in the Committee uniforms. Her departure was swift and silent, not drawing too much attention from the other students, but it made me more self-aware of the moves done by Kuyo's faction.
Her presence here wasn't something I could afford to ignore.
The curtain fell, and the applause swelled, a wave of sound that seemed to go on forever. I stood in the center of the stage, my heart pounding, my breath coming in short, sharp gasps. I had done it. I had performed, and I had succeeded.
Toma burst onto the stage, his arms spread wide, his voice filled with excitement. "Tsukune-kun! You were magnificent! The crowd is still applauding! They loved you! They loved every moment of it!"
I let out a slow breath, a small smile tugging at my lips. "It seems I did not embarrass myself after all."
"Embarrass yourself?" Toma laughed, a high, musical sound. "You were perfect! The best performance I have ever seen! Welllll, I would still love to hear you sing that greek song Tsukune-kun, Good Riddance was it?
He stepped closer, his eyes sparkling with something that I did not want to examine too closely. "I could kiss you right now, Tsukune-kun. You have made me so happy."
This shota was too crazy and perverted, he even got almost into my face pressing his lips into mine, if I wasn't quick on my feet… and hands, I would have been mentally destroyed.
I held up my hand, my palm pressing against his lips before they could make contact. "Sorry," I said, my voice flat. "But you might already know that I am only into girls."
Toma's eyes widened, and then he laughed, a warm, genuine sound. "Ah, of course. I apologize, Tsukune-kun. I got carried away." He stepped back, his expression softening. "But I meant what I said. You were wonderful. And I hope you will consider continuing this collaboration. We could do so many great things together. Just imagine it for a second. We're a match made in Hell."
"Hihihi. You liked that? Match in hell? Because we're demons? Yokais? Monsters?"
I inclined my head, a small smile tugging at my lips. "Sureee… If you say so."
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This week is rough for me guys, I can't write much even if I try my best, and since I reached a part into the story where I have to consider some pivots and cannon changes it takes some time to properly bind things together. (Past me there, now current me is similarly struggling, I am on night shift and I am actually made to work!? (Spit) The gall of them bosses making their slave work on night shifts. So when I return home, after cooking a bit something to not die of starvation, I am off to sleep 8+ hours like a dead log. Then, I only have like 2-3 hours for myself before going back on the plantation.)
Rant Over.
Plot is moving, and hell do I love my femboy shota. (Why are you gay?) (Leave me alone!!! If it looks like a girl, if not better, and has a hole, there's always a way!)(Also, jokes aside, I might use Azazel's genderbent Gun if I take on that route.)