CHAPTER 557: INTO A DEEPER DARKNESS

Nikolai sat back in a large black executive car, a customised M6 with soft leather seats with memory foam. A small bar with various drinks, snacks, and pick-me-ups prepared for after the mission. To his right, Ryan sipped a blood orange cocktail, while Alexei enjoyed a dark stout with a thick taste.

The mission was over, and they were exhausted.

Although many things remained, Leona brought in the older maid units and Nikolai’s father, who would manage the council unless Nikolai was needed from now on.

Vrrroooom!

"Tonight I almost died seven times, Nikolai!" Ryan’s voice slurred slightly as he downed his drink, the bruises and wounds from the battle still covering his face and body. Yet despite complaining, he was so excited. "But look at my new power! Hahahaha! Now you are my little brother, okay?"

Ssssss!

The purple mist seeped into the air, but lacked the volume and strength from earlier. "Eh? What’s wrong with it?" Ryan swished his hand, trying to produce more, but Nikolai couldn’t help but smile.

"You’ve worked hard, of course you’re a little tired, brother."

"O-Oh yeah... I see, that makes sense."

"Idiot."

"Shut it, Alex!"

The two began to bicker and fight across Nikolai’s lap. His eyes opened slightly with a faint grin, enjoying the sight despite the annoyance.

"When did you two become so close?"

"Who is close, this guy let me get beaten so many times..." Ryan pouted, but his words didn’t sound upset; rather, he almost seemed to be bragging.

"Well, for a human, you fought well."

Alexei glanced over to Ryan, who just opened his mouth wide at the compliment. The silent giant rarely complimented people, so Nikolai was proud. His best human and best vampire friends were getting along well.

He hoped that this kind of thing could become more common, to have vampires, werewolves, and all monsters give humans another chance.

’Though whether that will happen... is just a pipe dream. For now, this is enough.’

Nikolai closed his eyes while sipping on the drink Selene enjoyed, a bloody red drink with a cherry and cola flavour with lots of vodka.

The car zoomed down the empty street.

Thanks to the authorities knowing about what might happen, a curfew was declared. So, most humans returned home to avoid issues. Although there might be some stragglers, the police and SSS, who knew of the situation, should have quickly intervened.

"What about you, Brother." Alexei asked.

"Hmmm... me?"

Nikolai’s eyes closed tight, his breath slowing down as he pictured the fight with Valan. The epitome of Nosferatu blood arts. An exciting and fun battle that he wished didn’t have to end so quickly.

"It was hard, the enemy was strong and skilled."

"Really?"

Thunk!

"No way, they’re just stupid vampires!" Ryan slurred as his head hit the window.

"Shut up and sleep."

"Well, you’d have enjoyed it for sure Alexei, it was someone who took pride in his abilities. Even if he was the enemy, I realised not all of them were people we couldn’t speak to in some form."

Those were Nikolai’s honest feelings.

Leona glanced back through the mirror while listening, her eyes narrowed softly while watching Nikolai. She bit her lip while tapping on the keypad beside her. Nikolai didn’t notice who, but he caught the first few letters.

’She must be worried about me... Kumiko eh?’

The thought of returning to Kumiko’s soft tails and her gentle pampering. That was a nice thought. Nikolai closed his eyes and relaxed his body. ’let’s take a moment to rest.’ The night wasn’t over, but he’d leave it to his father and mother.

***

Meanwhile, at the fourth target. A place that Nikolai only briefly looked at before accepting that it might be best for the seniors to deal with. Dimitri, Nagisa, Elizabeth, and Sasha all sat in the huge SUV with one of the butlers from the mansion driving it. Beside him, Ivan tapped on the keyboard with a stern expression.

"What’s the matter, darling?"

Elizabeth’s question brought a smile to his lips. "Nothing, just our son’s sleeping picture after his first mission."

"I wanna see!"

"Show me!"

Both Nagisa and Elizabeth suddenly leaned forward and reached for Ivan’s seat, their eyes like hungry beasts. Ivan couldn’t resist his wife, let alone his sister-in-law and Dimitri’s wife... From a young age, Nagisa treated Nikolai like her son, and after marrying Nikita, she became even more affectionate.

When he looked at Dimitri, his one source of hope.

The balding werewolf shook his head, crossing his arms over his chest.

’Forgive me son... your mother’s are too strong.’

"Here, stop bothering the driver."

"Tsk, so stingy Ivan!"

"Thank you, darling, I’ll reward you later."

"..."

The exhaustion Ivan faced since his beloved returned to life might have been overwhelming, but he felt exhilarated and alive. The past fifteen years felt empty, and only when helping Nikolai did he feel any sort of connection to them.

"Say... who will be next to give birth?" Nagisa asked while going through the mission photos taken of Nikolai and the others.

"Probably Selene, right?"

"You think so Honey? That fox... Kumiko was her name? She seemed ready to pop one out."

Dimitri nodded to his wife. This topic was something the four of them had constantly discussed since Nikita gave birth. "I want to get home fast and see my little balls of fluff..." He mumbled. Ever since they were born, Dimitri became more enthusiastic and often took Viktoria and the twins in his arms and paraded around the mansion.

"Saying that, Dimitri, what do you think of your Nikita?"

Nagisa glanced at Elizabeth, who commented on their daughter, then twisted her moist lips into a confident grin. "She’s become the best daughter."

"Oi, Babe... Our little girl was always the best!"

"That’s not what I meant, Dimitri~ She used to be so rough and violent, but now... She’s oozing with pheromones and a sensual atmosphere. I hear our son-in-law is working hard with her every night with the maids."

"I don’t want to hear about my sons sex life!"

"I don’t want to hear that bastard is sleeping with my daughter!"

Dimitri and Ivan both shouted before making eye contact. The pair then grumbled and went silent. The topic was awkward, yet normal for the wives who both smiled at each other. "I can’t believe we’re both grandmothers and we look so young and pretty fufu."

"What do you mean Nagisa~ you could pull off her sister even now."

"Fufu~ Eliza, my dear sister, you can flatter me all you want, but I can’t give you anything."

The two men met glances again and made smug grins. They loved their wives, but the way these two women always flattered each other reminded them of the past. ’To think these women became so close, in the past they’d fight tooth and claw to defeat each other.’

After a short time, the two stopped chattering about their children and changed their focus to the small screens embedded into the seats.

"So, what’s the mission this time?" Nagisa asked.

"We’re infiltrating a hidden Nosferatu base, thanks to the information of the Volkova clan. I think the girl’s name is Seraphina. Do you remember her mother? Well, it’s that girl. She found traces of activity near one of the old SSS hunting spots."

Ivan tapped his screen, showing a huge site where Nikolai and Ryan had hunted over six months ago with Brian. It revealed a huge, black mass that appeared from the satellite and drone cameras on a short video feed.

"What is this?"

"It’s something Nikolai discovered, the black corrosion is dangerous. It’s the same substance found in the low levels of the tower."

Ivan then opened a document titled.

Judgement Day.

This was a theoretical doomsday that he and Nikolai estimated if they did nothing about the dangerous portals and doorways that existed on the planet.

Bleep, Beep, Beep!

When he played the estimated growth, the small red dots which appeared in all countries around the globe suddenly increased, then rapidly increased in number and size until the entire Eurasian continent became pitch black and full of mutated, berserk monsters.

"What are those monsters?" Dimitri asked with a low growl and stern expression

"These are monsters lacking a soul, at least that’s what we’ve discovered while working on the method of bringing people back from the dead." Sasha finally spoke out while sitting in the second row of seats with stacks of papers and a laptop attached to the rear seat. "Although they look like vampires, ghouls, werewolves... they’ve lost their souls and only follow their most basic desires." Sasha paused... then looked around.

"The worst part is that these soulless monsters are extremely susceptible to mind control and other mental magic."

"Shit..."

"Then, Ivan. If this is what you’re discussing is our current mission related to one of those gates?" Nagisa stopped teasing and began to fasten her metal-reinforced gloves. "It’s been a while since we fought for real, Sister Eliza."

"Yes, this gate is dangerous... Nikolai insisted on taking care of it. But I’ve convinced him to leave this to us, while he faces the Nosferatu’s face. We’ll take care of the underground and shadow forces."

Dimitri, Sasha, Nagisa and Elizabeth all trusted Ivan with their lives.

The people joining their assault troop were the maids who were active ten years ago, although a little older. None of them was out of shape. In fact, most of them were the current midwife and nanny candidates for Nikolai’s children.

"I see."

"Let’s hurry up and get back, you know how our Kita worries."

"Of course, Dimitri. Nikolai is no different."

With this as Nikolai and his group left the darkness, and Ivan and their group dove deeper to protect and bring a brighter light to their offspring.