Chapter 70: Watcher of the Temple

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"I feel the presence of a man? This doesn't make sense … Wasn't this place supposed to be the safest place from those lowborns?"

"Who?"

Vlad got tensed the first moment he heard the voice of the man going in his direction, slowing his walking pace. Then, a sharp jolt coming from the left side of his face, sent off all his alerts making him feel as if something was about to happen.

"Who? The owner of this place." responded the voice of the man sounding rather arrogantly and immature, akin to a youngster.

When that comment reached Vlad, he felt something burning going in his direction and shifting his head to the right side based on what his senses alerted him, he dodged in time a murderous attack in the form of a flaming spear which might even have the ability to burn him to ashes.

"Dodged? Interesting … How about this one?"

This time Vlad could feel danger from all sides of his body, where he dropped to the ground in a lying position just in time that three flaming spears targeting his chest, and some that were intended to intercept his dodging to the left and right passed by, creating steam all the eye could see.

'Who is this person? Those burning attacks … what in the world?'

Vlad was shocked in disbelief when he felt the burning sensation of those attacks coming from the unknown enemy and felt some sense of shame because he felt he couldn't do much to break such mystic attacks.

Getting on his feet and clicking his tongue to try to figure out who the final challenge before him was, but he didn't have much success, as if the person he wanted to figure out was out of his reach.

"Human? You aren't half-bad, you've got some Observation Haki capabilities in you. However, it can be a coincidence for you to dodge my Flaming Wrath Spear so casually since you are just a lowborn of the lowlands. To add salt to the injury you are from the South Sea, one of the weakest lowlands."

Vlad, who was on his feet, didn't bother to respond but instead analyzed the information he received, particularly the one in regard to the Observation Haki which clicked with a piece of information he memorized in his mind, from an old conversation with two particular gentlemen chained into his torture chamber.

'So? The hint I have whenever I would be attacked, which I started receiving by the time I was 16 years old … is what those two "Emperors" called Observation Haki. Well, it's good to know I can do it, but how do I control it?'

"No response? Ahh, and to think I was expecting a talkative lowborn to entertain me. Then let's not bother and take you out."

The winds intensified, similar to the rise in temperature, and to Vlad's dismay, he only felt the temperature of the Flaming Spears while dodging the attack going in his direction.

Their speed was something he wasn't used to, and even though he dodged, his leg was wounded by the flaming technique revealing his burnt flesh, which began recovering at naked-eye speed, which took aback the mysterious person who attacked him from a long-range.

"I can't make-up my mind with regard to you, human. Is that some devil fruit powers? Or do you have innate powers like me to regenerate quicker than normal beings? Either way, from what I can observe, you are weak."

*Chuckle*

'Me? Weak? We'll have to see about that piece of shit.' thought to himself Vlad who continuously tried his Echolocation to make up the shape of the person he was facing.

It just so happened that after those flaming spears were thrown at Vlad, the figure of a tall person, about 2,28 meters with a lean and chiseled body similar to Vlad was making his way out from the wooden temple, with a totally otherworldly aura around himself.

He was a young adult, who had white hair with shaved sides, while the top was long, tied into a loose tail, brown complexion, and a pair of large, black-feathered wings on his back that reached to his knee length. His eyes were of a narrow red, he had prominent dark eyebrows, and on the side of his face was a black tattoo resembling an olive oil branch.

This man was wearing only a pair of black trousers, and some sandals for shoes, revealing his upper body, while holding a spear on his right hand. But what was noteworthy from this man's appearance was how from his upper back burning flames were ignited, as if everything was natural with this person.

"..."

Vlad remained quiet but deep down he tried to make out the shape of the man who appeared from the steam, trying to match it with something he knew, only that he didn't have such leisure time since from nowhere the brown-skinned man did a throwing motion with his spear which sent off a flaming spear as the flames from his back spread around the spear in his hand.

"A waste of time. I want to return back to my garden and relax."

Saying that, while watching Vlad with his red eyes, he frowned when seeing the black-haired man wearing a thick winter coat, and all the winter equipment one would need to climb Yehimal Mountain.

Similar to the attack his senses failed to alert him, he dodged barely to salvage his right arm, being grazed by the Flaming Spear on his shoulder, sending off the pungent smell of burning chicken in the harsh air.

"Observation Haki, Devil Fruit powers or innate powers." commented the youngster studying the black-haired man who had his eyes closed the entire time, doing a unique sharp tongue click for a reason he didn't understand.

Then with his shoulder recovering naturally, Vlad annoyed by how impractical was fighting in the crimson-coat become, took it off, revealing a thicker white-buttoned shirt which he also began opening right in front of the white-haired youngster who stopped his attacks, thinking that something interesting might come in his way.

"Those clothes start getting in my way... I don't need you now that it's so hot around here. Kid, you talk a lot, but here is my question:

Who are you, and why attack me?"

"Doesn't matter who I am, the only reason I attack you is that this is sacred ground that no one can touch.

The Gablainé Temple that my people have watched over for generations now is under my jurisdiction and protection from you lowborns."

"Lowborn? Nonsense. Young man, I don't want to fight you, and just came here to look for something important to my journey. What I am looking for is an old key which might be inside this Temple you are living in."

"... No idea what you are talking about. There are only rocks in this place, if you are looking for those go down the mountain and you'll have plenty."

"Ohh really?

... Young man, allow me inside the Temple so I could search for the Key. Once I get my hands on the key, I will leave this place, and no one will learn about your existence if this is what you are worried about, that made you attack me."

"Ahh, yes, the speech that you lowborns are particularly great about in fooling the clueless people. Not for me, you bastard. I had one hell of a great teacher who taught me everything I have to look after when interacting with you lowborns."

In an instant, all links to a still civilized conversation were cut short when the brown-skinned youngster with white hair charged at Vlad and appeared in an instant in front of him shocking Dracul who opened his abyssal eyes, attempting to block the attack on his body with the black cane, only to be too slow getting pierced in his mid-section by a flaming spear.

'What a speed. This little shit… he is strong.'

"What's wrong, lowborn? Shocked you can't keep up? This is just the first attack, and I didn't even use my Armament on you."

While his black cane failed to block the flaming spear, it began morphing into a curved saber that he used to cleave at the arm of the white-haired youngster, gritting his teeth in the face of the pain of his flesh being pierced.

The youngster who saw Vlad try to counter back his successful attack revealed a mocking smile and while the saber was going for his arms, he engulfed the flaming spear into more flames from his back, so much that it gave the effects of boiling magma causing Vlad to roar in pain, continuing with his attack which was sure to cleave off the hands of the youngster.

Or so he thought.

The white-haired youngster covered his arms with a peculiar jet-black coating giving off a resilient appearance, strong enough like an armor made from Adamantium, and delighting himself with the cries of pain from Vlad, he made sure to block the sword strike with his arms, already certain that his enemy didn't have Armament Haki.

"Foolish lowborn. You'll never harm me with such a feeble attack."

Dark emotions were building up inside Vlad's abyssal eyes, and placing everything into his attack just so he could teach a lesson to his arrogant kid, when his Kilij clashed with the black-armored arms of the white-haired guy, an energy shockwave was sent off around the two clashing.

Sounds of glass cracking loudly echoed on the summit of Yehimal Mountain.

The white-haired youngster who was the first to distance himself from the enemy, noticed a small cut mark on his right forearm that clashed with Vlad's sword, while his enemy was recovering in an alert manner from the burning attack he suffered.

"You managed to break my Armament? Even though I placed 60% of my Haki inside the coating. Your sword also didn't chip at all, so it must be something good. You also are recovering like someone from the Oni race, which is unusual to see inside a human."

"Nonetheless, once I kill you that sword of yours will become mine."

"Done talking, little shit?" inquired Vlad in an emotionless tone, "watching" with his abyssal eyes the white-haired youngster, making the young Lunarian to be slightly surprised by that murderous look.

"Hmph, you are giving me extra reasons to kill you, lowborn bastard."

"Then see if you can kill me, rabid dog."

The brown-skinned youngster shifted an angry look at Vlad and the flames at his back ignited with a greater flame, while in both of his hands two short flaming spears appeared, and yet before he could charge at Vlad, it was the human who began the offensive as if he wasn't aware of the differences in power and abilities.

With the <Phantom Step> Vlad moved with a speed that took the youngster aback not expecting the human to have such a speed, but it wasn't enough to confuse him, as he blocked the swinging Kilij with both of his flaming spears beginning to outpower Vlad, only to have a hard time from winning the clash.

"Burn! Burn down!"

His flaming spears were sent ablaze, starting to burn Vlad's hands, an attempt of breaking Vlad from the inside which didn't work at all, requiring him to place his muscle powers at work, out-powering the human enemy.

Dashing around the brown-skinned youngster after his attack was parried, he unleashed various sword wind blades, all dodged efficiently by the youngster who took off to the sky using his black wings, sending back flaming spears covered with some black coating on the tip.

"Thinking of playing the long-rage game with me? There's no way you can defeat me at my forte."

The spears this time moved with such a force, that Vlad who once again received the strange sensations of danger around himself, started dodging around using his <Phantom Steps> leaving after him a burning battlefield, and instead of pushing ahead to attack an opened enemy, he stood his ground in a fair distance beginning to ponder about those changes in his body.

'How do I do it? …'

'Why this ability didn't work when I wanted to work at that exact moment? Think Vlad, think! WHY?'

"What a weird Observation Pattern you got. Still, it will only take me some attacks before I pin you down like the dog you truly are."

Descending from the "Heavens" the youngster who had a large flaming spear in his hand pierced the floor, creating a large impact that affected Vlad's Echolocation and footing, making him lose balance creating a perfect window for the white-haired guy to capitalize and inflict a heavy wound on Vlad's midsection with his flaming spear.

'This is annoying … I've been trying to figure out this Observation thingy … but … IT DOESN'T WORK! WHY DOESN'T WORK WHEN I NEED IT THE MOST?!'

Unlike his cold and collected appearance, barely showing signs of being in pain, like a blank wall of emotions, deep inside his Inner World, he was a mess of emotions ranging from rage, confusion, annoyance, or frustration.

Everything was boiling up inside his mind for the particular reason he was suffering unnecessary damage when he could just do that ability and "see" where those attacks might hit him from.

Using his sword to defend himself from some swift attacks, which were faster than most of his attacks, he was becoming a mess even outside, with his body being left in a tattered state, his wounds oozing blood continuously, while around the bleeding cut was his burnt flesh.

"What's wrong, lowborn? You've lost your edge rather quickly? Do you want me to telegraph my next attack for you to see?"

"Hah, what a disappointment, I am not even going all-out on you, and you are starting to shatter right in front of me?"

The mocking continued on the youngster's end, seeing Vlad already defeated under his might.

"Where's that calm expression on your face? What I can see from you is just helplessness, even some despair."

Attack after attack, where some of them got blocked, while most connected flat with the targets, even the effects of the <Elysium Serum> were dying down.

'This is not despair, you son of a bitch. IT'S RAGE! I AM ANNOYED AT MYSELF FOR BEING STUPID AND WEAK!'

'Wait, the effects of the Serum are waning out. Not good, I have to create a window for the second shot or I will die without seeing my dream realized.'

It didn't take long for the brown-skinned youngster to see Vlad give the appearance he submitted to his fate of dying against his flaming spear, and from the flurry of spear attacks, there was a delay in attacks because he prepared the final attack.

"Goodbye, foolish human, who thought he could defeat a God."

"Flaming King Wrath!"

That particular attack was sensed by Vlad's passive echolocation, but before he could do something he felt his body freezing shut, with a blinding pain enveloping his entire body which made him collapse to the ground, stopping him from responding to his brain.

"Something's fishy? How did he dodge this attack? I was sure it would impale his heart."

Nevertheless, Vlad collapsing to the ground made it possible for him to dodge a spear attack that targeted his heart, and unsure of what to do next since he never experienced such a clash, the white-haired youngster choose to end him from the ground, piercing him to the ground only to hear a roar while the black sword stood there to block the impending attack.

"Ohh, so you weren't … dead? See, my instincts are always right. Piercing you was a great decision instead of lowering my guard for backstabs."

"Piss off brat. You are annoying me with your constant yapping."

Anger flushed on the brown-skinned youngster, who pushed harder on his flaming spear, only to have Vlad lower his defense, making it easier for him to advance to his throat before attacking his spear with all his might, pushing him away.

Rolling away, and beginning to get up in a smooth motion, he activated his <Phantom Steps> creating a large distance between himself, which wasn't much because of the white-haired youngster following with a speed that outshined his movement technique.

But, the space he created between himself and the mysterious youngster was enough to inject himself with his second shot of <Elysium Serum> which confused the young Lunarian.

"..."

"Crazed man. What drug was that? It smells horrible." asked the youngster who shook his head in disgust when he sniffed around the miasma the shattered vial of the used Serum.

"None of your concern brat. Now that playtime is over. I got to get my hands on something of my desire regardless of the risks of overdosing and the high chances of dying." responded Vlad while the veins on his body started pulsing as if worms were inside each of them.

His heart was beating so fast inside his chest that it was strange why Vlad didn't go into cardiac arrest.

It was beating so fast and loud that even the white-haired boy could hear it with his sharp senses.

However, that didn't matter to him, as he pushed ahead attacking Vlad with a flaming spear coated in Haki, which to his surprise was dodged perfectly, not making any sense since the enemy was ready to give up on the fight.

Getting into melee range, he attacked with his flaming weapons, all of his attacks getting dodged, what's more, he got countered by Vlad who used his finger technique with the <Phantom Step> pushing himself into the body of the brown-skinned youngster and stabbing him in the process.

"Argh! Bastard, you have the guts to attempt one attack kill on me?"

"Miss, huh? Aren't you swift at dodging when shit starts to fan, boy? My mark was your heart. It worked so well, that you didn't even have time to do that armor ability that kept blocking my attacks."

Kicking the boy into his chest creating a decent amount of space, Vlad instead of continuing his clash, chose to dash toward the Ancient looking Temple, which in a moment of contemplation from the youngster only made him get infuriated.

Jumping into the air, and using his superior speed to catch the running man, he began cursing at the back of the fleeing human.

"Don't you fucking dare do something to the Temple! I will destroy you!"

"Quit barking you annoying brat. Once I get my key, you can fuck with this structure for all I care."

Entering inside the temple, Vlad's brain was going overclock, while his tongue moved faster than when he would bring a woman ecstasy from his foreplay, creating the map of his environment in real-time as he moved at top speed, ignoring most decorations, but some didn't fare well since they were in his way.

'I don't have much time. I feel my heart will break soon. Now … where would I place a key if I was Atlas? Based on his sick mind … underground. Otherwise, why would he place watchdogs to look after his stupid temple?'

Surprisingly, Vlad was calm inside and outside and could think clearly of what was happening to him, thanks to experiencing another shot from his drug which brought him to a peak level of humankind, while his upper body which by now was naked recovered itself from the marks of battle.

Moving around the various hallways which looked like a maze, he could feel this structure akin to a puzzle that only a crazy person would probably think of setting up inside one of the tallest mountains in the world, if not the tallest.

'I need a way to the underground … but I kept moving in circles, chased by a rabid dog. Ahh, wait, I have an idea. Let's use this boy to break my way to the underground.'

Checking around with his Echolocation, until he found a weak point in the structure of the Temple which could take him a layer below, he paused waiting moments until the youngster who was flying instead of using his flames, unleashed a leg kick downward with condensed flames on his heel.

"No way out, bastard! Making me chase you in circles. How stupid could you be?"

"As stupid as you are, brat."

Dodging the heel attack barely in time, he gave the impression he would counter back on the angry youngster, but he attacked with the finger technique that he named in prime-time against the monstrous enemy.

"Dragon's Maw"

The white-haired youngster turned his head at Vlad who shattered a part of the floor he focused his attack on, revealing an opening going down.

"What's that?"

"My way to achieving my dream. Now, if you excuse me, brat. I'll give you my thanks later."

Choosing to jump in the hole, that he didn't know where it might lead, he dropped in a free-fall so much that he thought he might drop to the base of the Yehimal Mountain, and based on that simple thought, he morphed the Kilij into a long pole which he stabbed inside a wall.

*Click*

*Click*

His tongue clicks were loud, but the echoes he received weren't to his taste because they showed that he still had a long way down.

"At least it's not to the base of the mountain." commented Vlad who removed his grip on the wall, beginning to fall again, but as he was going down, the blazing figure of the white-haired youngster who followed along was enough to send a chill down most normal people.

"Oyyy, you bastard! What is this place?"

"Ohh, this is interesting… You don't know watchdog?"

"What should I know?"

"The Legends of Atlas."

"What's that?"

"Really? Well, I can't find trouble with you not knowing that. It makes you a better watchdog since you didn't ask questions to find out the truth about this place."

Their voices echoed in their free-fall and sounded as if they were insulting each other, and by the time Vlad secured his grip on a wall, slowing down his fall before landing on a small chamber connected to a large opening to the Temple, and the one following after was the white-haired youngster who prepared to unleash another blazing flame spear.

"Where did you take me, you bastard. I'll kill you right now, if you don't talk."

"Calm, stupid kid. I don't even know what this place is, what's the point in questioning me about this? Still, coming from that deranged fuck, it must be some death trap since it protects one of his keys."

"Doesn't matter, I will kill you, and then find out what this place is."

"Boy, I give you that. You are far stronger than me, but you are just a foolish kid with only muscles and strength.

Because of that, you'll not be able to kill me if I choose to run. In fact, it might be you who will die if you get into some traps, which will work in my favor."

"Bullshit. There's no trap that can kill me."

"Wanna check? Come start chasing me, and we'll see who dies first. The one with a small amount of information in regard to this place, or the clueless watchdog?"

"Hmph, you sure sound confident again. Wanna see how fast I make you all depressed and ready to die?"

"Hahaha, sure boy, sure. Now quiet and let me see where we are."

"Inside a chamber with no light. Full of strange bugs starting to move around us."

*Click*

"Bugs you say? What appearance." asked Vlad who began doing his Echolocation, and he confirmed it was a chamber like the one mentioned by the youngster.

The brown-skinned youngster looked around himself, and thanks to his flames he could see the worms ugly appearance and even their color scheme.

"Black with a mix of red. And they seem to have some worms-like scales around their bodies."

"Fuck … those aren't Maggris Worms, but having them approach us so aggressively can only mean something and is not good news. Brat,  don't let them get close to you."

Sensing the seriousness in his tone, and later on seeing him do a series of kicks which sent off dark-blue wind blades around himself, making the worms who were approaching alerted to shriek in pain.

"Festival of Flames"

The burning flames at his back moved to his hands before he did a spin of his body sending off a tornado of flames enveloping most of the bugs trying to get at him.

"What the fuck were those worms?"

"No idea. But no normal worm would try to get to you in such an alert manner."

*Click*

"Why do you click your tongue? Do you have some mental problems?"

"My way of seeing."

"I don't understand."

"Doesn't matter. Let's get going." said Vlad who started killing the worms in his path, remaining collected even against an enemy that could defeat him.

Having blind faith in himself that if this young guy would choose to attack him now, he would make sure that all hell would get loose in this underground passage cavern.

"Don't you order me, you weak lowborn. I will squash you like a bug if you continue sounding arrogant with me."

"Sure, sure, watchdog. Now keep quiet, and let me see what we have around."

"Hmph, what is your name lowborn?"

"Vlad Dracul. What about you, watchdog?"

"Dalyon síl Silvelar."