The Record of Unusual Creature

Vivian was ready to go home until she heard that particular piece of news. Her curiosity piqued, she questioned Casar Ebben with a piercing look. “I have not been active for the past 100 years… What actually happened?”

“I’m not too sure myself.” Given that the two parties had called a ceasefire and Vivian, who had the edge in combat was willing to listen, Casar Ebben was a little bit more comfortable in cooperating with them. “It started about 100 to 200 years ago, when a bunch of sirens came to shore, knowing well the risk of being hunted down by the hunters. They mentioned a prophecy they had obtained from the deep; that their kind needed to gather the lost energies which came with the end of the Mythological Era. I suppose you know what tectonic activity is? Due to these movements, part of the siren’s domain during the Age of Mythology has become today’s shoreline. You can find some of the ruins left behind by their kind there. When they came up on land in Asia, Europe and the Americas in such large numbers, it caused no end of fear. It was much like those old folklore about the terrors of the deep.

“Sirens… I know them…. Well, they are the least affected of all by the demon hunters, I suppose. Being so deep in the waters, it served as a sanctuary for them as the hunters had no way to flush them out.” Vivian was deep in thought. “The sirens are very insular creatures and they rarely communicate with anyone outside of their kind. Even during the Age of Mythology, they rarely came to shore. Well, they are a bunch of slowpokes when it comes to reacting to the changes of the outside world. So, what became of them?”

“Oh, some of them got captured and were sold in the black market to some American plantations or illegal millhouses in Europe. Some of them got exterminated by the demon hunters while some got caught up in the American Civil War when they came out of Mississippi… Some retreated back into the sea. Basically, they got screwed hard by humans.”

Hao Ren was speechless.

Vivian blinked for a moment and gave a long, “Ohhhhhhh….”.

“Well, that seems like a likely fate for a bunch of fishes with no grasp of reality,” she added.

“The sirens have been like this for god knows how long. They always find a way back into the sea so, they are pretty indolent. You don’t see them being successful in their ventures often but, that’s not to say that they are failures either,” Ewen Ebben interjected. “But, the tidings brought by the sirens have quickly spread among the great clans and many of them are now either recruiting their kin or looking for lost relics. As you can see, the Ebben Clan has come to Asia to look for our kind. Some other non-humans species have already gone into conflict with the demon hunters. This has not been witnessed for millenia.”

“So…you lot are mucking about based on an unknown prophecy from the deep?”

“There’s certainly more to it. The Elders are not stupid. They surely know more about the matter.” Ewen snorted. “However, that’s not for us pups to know or understand. If you want more information, you can pay your old friends a visit. Regardless, you are one of the most ancient of vampires. According to custom, I should be calling you a gran… Forget it. I won’t get myself killed after being spared.”

“It looks like it’s time to go gather some information,” Vivian uttered. “I’ve been in the dark for way too long now… So much has changed… Hmm… even the humans have regressed; too peaceful now.”

As Hao Ren listened to their conversation, a sense of dread befell him. He quickly shook his hands to rid himself of the goosebumps. At the same time, he caught sight of Lily who was bored out of her wits and remembered that he had something to ask. “Oh yeah, both of you are real werewolves right. I need to ask you lot something.”

Casar Ebben gave Hao Ren a weird look. He still did not understand how this man came to mingle with a vampire and in addition, had some pretty incredible abilities. However, when he saw how Hao Ren spoke with Vivian and Lily, Casar decided to categorise him as one of the non-humans. Perhaps, a wizard of some sorts.

“…Is there any branch of huskies in your werewolf clan?” Hao Ren asked seriously. “Like how dogs evolved from wolves, are there any Siberian Huskies or Pekingese within the werewolves’ evolution?”

An uncomfortable silence followed.

Ewen Ebben looked stunned for a moment and finally snapped. “What is with this insult? I can overlook you lot beating us up and interrogating us but this… Countess, you stay out of this. I’m going to face this f*cker one-on-one!”

Hao Ren leapt back and held the MDT out the way one would throw a shuriken. “Keep those claws of yours. I was just asking. Are there no huskies among the werewolves?”

Lily heard that someone was talking about her and she looked on with much anticipation. Vivian too had a curious gleam in her eyes as she eyed the two werewolves. Casar and Ewen Ebben were flabbergasted. They never thought the insulting question was actually a serious one. Casar thought for a moment and shook his head. “Nope, never heard of such a thing before. It’s like how you can’t compare werewolves to your average wolves. I’m surprised that you don’t know about this, Countess.

“I don’t.” Vivian shook her head as well. “I don’t even know when I got that title.”

Casar recalled what the records said about the weirdest vampire countess and he could understand why she was called such. He again dispelled the notion that there were huskies within the line of werewolves.

Upon hearing that, Lily squatted in a corner in despair and started digging the ground to vent her frustrations. Hao Ren quickly went to her side to console her. Casar gave his weird kin a glance and asked, “What’s wrong with her?”

Hao Ren sniggered. “Nothing. Just an identity crisis.”

“…Doesn’t seem like anything,” Ewen Ebben muttered as he pulled Casar to leave. “There’s nothing else, right? Then, we’ll leave…”

Vivian nodded and shooed them away. As the two were about to leave, an odd sound rang out of nowhere.

Clack, clack

The sound of a clockwork device could be heard and an emotionless voice soon rang out from the rooftop. “All of you will remain where you are.”

Hao Ren looked up in astonishment and saw an average-sized man standing on the rooftop, staring down at them. He looked like he was in his 40s. The man was impeccably groomed and dressed, the way you would expect someone of a managerial post would dress. At least, that was the first impression Hao Ren got.

The only unusual thing about him was the steel crossbow that was pointed at them. The weapon itself looked very unusual, with contraptions and patterns adorning the body. He aimed his crossbow towards Casar Ebben’s skull (he was the biggest target after all). A silver-tipped arrow gleamed menacingly.

Hao Ren finally remembered where he saw such a weapon before. The pseudo-demon hunter, Nangong! His crossbow was also of the same design.

“Demon hunters?!” Casar Ebben yelled as he took a step back. A slight ruffle could be heard along the rooftop and seven other figures clad in black appeared on the roof.

Aside from the first person who showed himself, all of the hunters were dressed the same. A long, black jacket with a leather cuirass, belts lined with odd gadgets and the same odd-looking crossbow in their hands. All of them also had a bigger crossbow, which hung on their backs. However, the first similarity Hao Ren caught between them, was their emotionless faces.

Much like a hunter looking for his prey, the demon hunters were on the hunt.