(A/n : Play this music)

(A/n : Year : 8/6/2020)

(A/n : Author's POV)

For the rest of the citizens at Trikala, it was just another night, but for Michael, it was yet another sleepless night as the masked vigilante hearing to the name of Sanguis Rex.

He had yet to find where the Obsidian Cult were keeping his mother at and the clock for her life was ticking.

He blinked, trying to get any bad thoughts regarding his mother's wellbeing out of his mind, but how could he when his mother was at the hands of one of the most dangerous Mafia gangs?

He didn't had enough time to extrapolate about it any further since thanks to his supernatural sense of hearing - one of the perks of being a vampire - he was able to hear two jeeps stopping close to the two opposite sides of a nearby alleyway.

Michael : '* In his mind * Two jeeps parking near an empty alleyway this late in the night?

By the looks of it, it's kinda suspicious so I should check from above just to be on the safe side.

In the best of occasions, it would be two new people to the city who don't have a place to park their jeeps close to their homes for safety measures...

On the worst of occasions though, it would be the case that this alleyway is leading to one of the potential hidden bases for the Obsidian Cult so I will have to check it out either way, but...

Where's the possibility of me being true about it?

I mean it's not like there's going to be six armed people in this jeep guarding a seventh one who's probably going to be their higher up or that the other one is having another seven soldiers as reinforcements!!', he thought to himself and much to his shock and surprise, he had seen that he wasn't as wrong as he thought he was.

(A/n : ??? POV)

After an about half an hour drive with the Jeep, we had arrived at our destination.

Elite Obsidian Cult Soldier #1 (or EOCS #1 for short) : "Sir, we've arrived at our destination", he said to me respectfully.

Me : "*hums* Check the perimeter before I exit.

We don't want to have fallen in any police ambush so close to one of our key bases of operation, but keep four elite soldiers by my side when we enter the base for additional safety measures.", I stated.

EOCS #1 : "At once sir!", he responded.

EOCS #2 : "*uses his Walkie talkie device* You've heard the higher up boys.

I want the rest of you to keep a close eye on the perimeter for any intruders as for the rest, escort Mr Xiphias in the base.

Glory to the Obsidian Cult.", he said to the other elite team through the walkie talkie device.

EOCS #5 : "*through the walkie talkie*Glory to the Obsidian Cult!", she responded to him through the other side of the walkie talkie device and once we heard the heavy footfall of the military boots of the soldiers occupying the other vehicle I did a signal to one of the soldiers to open the door and discreetly check the perimeter.

EOCS #4 : "*steps carefully out of the car* The perimeter is safe boss.", he said to me and then I stepped outside along with the rest of the four elite soldiers. Two of them guarding my back and another two being by my sides, guarding my blind spots.

EOCS #3 : "With all due respect Mr Xiphias, do you mind if I asked you something?", she had asked me politely.

Me : "*sighs* What is it, Eirene?", I asked her, addressing her with her small name.

Eirene : "Without wanting to doubt your planning sir, isn't it too dangerous to get to this base that late in the night?", she asked me, making me raise an eyebrow at her question.

Me : "No? Why would you think that it's dangerous?

We control this very city after all.

We don't run from the danger, we are the danger.", I asked her politely. Although I knew the answer to her question, I played it aloof just to not move any suspicions.

Eirene : "What I meant sir is what are we going to do with the masked vigilante?", she asked me and in response I closed my eyes and clenched my fists.

As if it wasn't enough that we have nearly every police department in Greece rallied against us, we have to deal with this nuisance as well.

(A/n : Flashback)

(A/n : Play this music)

The Duke : "I want you to take extra precautions when you arrive at the hidden base Xiphias.", the barritone voice of the leader of the Obsidian Cult had said to him.

Xiphias : "Sir, why's that need for extra precautions? Did something go wrong.", he asked him politely.

The Duke : "One of my spies in the Free Cross had informed me about a new entry in the hospital.

A thief that was found unconscious in an alleyway put in the mental ward due to shouting something about a mysterious vigilante known by the nickname Sanguis Rex which loosely translates to Blood King in Latin.", he said to him.

[A/n : Flashback²

Did you think that because we're in a flashback, it would stop me from writing another one?]

(A/n : Author's POV)

Patient : "H-He's real... y-you have to believe me!

H-He's going to find m-me... I-I k-kn-know it and i-it'll be too late to do anything!!", he said in fear, his eyes looking crazed and in the brink of insanity as he was looking frantically left and right in the room for any shadows, screaming, whimpering and thrashing as if he was under the effects of a demon like possession than that of a mental illness

Mr Hatzigeorgiou : "What's the problem with him Doc?", the inspector asked Mrs Dorothy Dimitropoulou, a famous psychiatrist who was looking at the reactions of her newest patient with a monotonous expression.

Mrs Dimitropoulou : "Honestly Mr Hatzigeorgiou in all of my years of studying psychology, I can't find nothing similar to his predicament.", she explained to him fixing her glasses.

Mr Hatzigeorgiou : "How is that even possible?", he asked her politely about it.

Mrs Dimitropoulou : "I think that I might have exaggerated it a tiny bit so allow me to correct myself. The only similarities I saw to his condition is with one syndrome.

The syndrome's name is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or else commonly known as PTSD.

Normally PTSD is a mental syndrome that happens after a person had come in contact with an event so scarring that their psyche is actively avoiding even remembering it, be it through fear, anger or any other extremely violent actions.

The difference between this patient's condition and that of someone with PTSD is that the latter only remembers bits and pieces of it through the form of haunting memories, but this one remembers all of it and lashes more violently than any case of PTSD I've ever seen in my career.", she explained to him.

Mr Hatzigeorgiou : "I see. Are there any ways to cure it?", he asked her politely.

Mrs Dimitropoulou : "Unfortunately enough even minor cases of PTSD are hard to cure, much less occasions like that.

Mr Hatzigeorgiou, this may be a case too dangerous for even the branch of psychological sciences to meddle with.

I'd say it touches the levels of supernatural.", she explained in worry.

Mr Hatzigeorgiou on the other hand could only nod at her words and look at the frenzied patient.

Patient : "H-He's real... Beware of the judgement of the King in Blood.

B-BEWARE OF THE SANGUIS REX!!!", he screamed in horror before getting himself knocked out unconscious due to a combination of both exhaustion, psychological shock and tachycardia.

[A/n : End of Flashback²]

Mr Xiphias : "So he died from fear after that?", he asked him puzzled

The Duke : "My sources told me that he wasn't dead, but he wished to be because even in his nightmares he was.

There were also mentions that this patient couldn't sleep since even when he clenched his eyes shut he could still see the figure haunting him.

An entity with blood red eyes and pupils slit like a serpent that glowed like two pools of hellish flames and embers.

An entity with a skin as pale as the reflection of the moonlight on the fresh snow snow.

An entity clad in both shadows and clothes more dark than the darkest night.", he explained to him.

Mr Xiphias : "Are we sure that the patient wasn't high in LSD before his entrance to the mental ward?

Or that this isn't just a poorly made, edgy teen creepy pasta?", he asked him, honestly trying to find the logic solution behind all of it.

The Duke on the other hand had sat down on his lavish chair, the fingers of his hands being entwined, except for his forefingers that were outstretched as their tips touched the bridge of his nose.

Mr Xiphias knew that stance, that was the stance that The Duke was taking when he was about to either scold someone or was a moment before lashing out so he had tensed inwardly at that.

Only for this silent, tense atmosphere to break just a few minutes after hearing a sigh from The Duke.

The Duke : "That's what I believed until I got news that six of our heavily fortified bases were breached and dispatched in one night.

On top of that, the latest mentions we have gotten from one of the soldiers in the sixth base was that this so called Sanguis Rex is seemingly bulletproof on top of all the incompetence I had to deal with.

And this is where your part to all of this is all about Xiphias."

Mr Xiphias : "My part boss?", he asked him surprised. Just what were they up against?!

The Duke : "You'll take as many troops as you may and you will protect the next base with all of your lives on the deck if necessary.", he stated.

Mr Xiphias : "I don't think I understand what you mean boss.", he said to him.

The Duke : "I want you to stall Sanguis Rex until the complete excavation of the relic is complete.

We already have a way to activate the relic so I'll be the one protecting the Eighth base myself along with any fight ready troop that'll remain.

We mustn't let him find out anything about our goal, nor the relic or else Obsidian Cult will be as good as gone. Capishe?", he said to him

Mr Xiphias : "I'll take my relic blade Spina Umbralis alongside me.

It's a relic that bypasses conventional durability via being magically imbued so that I'll have a fighting chance against him.

I'll also use the armor Zeta Flare.

It's a body armor that's made from an alloy thats over thousands of times stronger than Adamantium.

On top of it, the armor is also imbued by the relic Scutum Aeternum one of our protection based, reverse engineered lesser relics in order to enhance its protective capabilities even further beyond it's physical state.

I take this preparations since although I have my other mutant ability just in case things get hectic, it won't be a bad thing to be extra protected since I'll have to stall a seemingly supernatural being.

From troops I'll get whatever Elite soldiers you have ready for me.", he stated.

The Duke : " *stands up* A good choice of preparation plans indeed, excellent work Xiphias.

You'll find the troops thy seek waiting for you at the entrance.

If you don't have anything else to say then the dice is cast"

Mr Xiphias : "I'll leave then to prepare at once boss. Glory to the Obsidian Cult!!", he stated.

The Duke : "Glory to the Obsidian Cult", he responded and once Mr Xiphias left his office, he pressed a button on his desk.

The Duke : "Red Brambleback, transmission from Baron do you copy?", he asked them using code names.

EOCS #5 : "Red Brambleback here Baron, we can hear you as clear as day.", she responded to him.

The Duke : "Blue Sentinel is escorting the Herald to the Nexus, meet up with Red Brambleback and the Herald on the way there and report back to Baron for anything that might happen.", he stated.

EOCS #5 : "Received Baron. You heard him guys, let's go.

Glory to the Obsidian Cult.", she said and after that the transmission stopped.

(A/n : End of Flashback)

(A/n : Author's POV)

(A/n : Play this music)

Eirene : "Sir, what happened?", she asked him concerned.

Mr Xiphias : "Nothing. I was just wondering about something else.

Also although I don't believe at the existence of Sanguis Rex since I think that it's nothing more than an Urban Legend than anything, I took... for lack of a better term, some extra precautions in case he happens to be true.

All of them being courtesy of the Cult's knowledge.", he explained to her.

Eirene : "What kind of precautions?", she asked him politely about it.

Mr Xiphias : "*smirks* That's for me to know and for you and Sanguis Rex to find out eventually.", he mused as he opened the door to the hidden base, looking left and right for a bit before entering.

This whole Sanguis Rex thing was making him paranoid, but oh boy was he up for a rude awakening.

Meanwhile Michael on the other hand was in a state of mind that could be more accurately represented as a walking contradiction.

Why's that you may ask? Simple.

He's literally torn between screaming internally about the fact that his premonition was that correct on like... the fifth try this week.

And since he didn't know how to react about it he did both just to save time.

Michael : ' *screams internally* AW HECK NAH BRUH, THERE'S NO WAY I'M THAT LUCKY SEVEN TIMES BACK TO BACK!?!!", he thought to himself, sweating profusely.

(A/n : Just like that, but replace the guy in the gif with Michael)

Michael : '* in his mind * Like what's the next thing that could happen!?!! Me finding out that I'm the main character of an Isekai, horror hero related novel published in Wattpad!?!!", he thought to himself, breaking the fourth wa... wait a damn minute.

Me : "Oi! Enough fourth wall breaking for you. I know that I was the one who was planning on giving you Fourth Wall Awareness, but you've reached Deadpool levels of using it so I'll be taking it back.", I said to him.

Michael : "*pout in the corner* Sorry Author Sama", he said to me.

[A/n : Take 2 (I'm not going to lie, I enjoyed myself a little bit too much writing about this part 😂🥲)]

Michael : '*in his mind* Well look at that, it looks like my premonition was correct for this one.

Well... either that or the fact that there are two heavily armed vehicles have parked on the opposite sides of an alleyway was making it a tad bit too obvious that the Obsidian Cult was behind all of this.', he thought to himself with a sigh and looked around noting that they were spread out.

Michael : '*In his mind* Well... judging by the looks of it the one that they were guiding into the base is definitely a higher up so it's safe to assume that the place will be heavily secured and the soldiers will be heavily armed.

I'll have to take the outside soldiers down one by one and then focus on the ones inside the building.

Probably getting away from cameras would be the best choice of action in this predicament since if one camera or motion sensor triggers, I'm definitely screwed unless the cameras are functioning based on thermal vision since due to being a vampire I have literally no body temperature so I can still be stealthy.

Anyways, they're not going to be dealt with that easily if I sit here and ponder about it.

Time for another strategic, knock out the Obsidian Cult soldiers montage.', he thought to himself and seeing that both of the soldiers below him weren't looking above them - and their flashlights were pointing to opposite directions - he had landed in the middle.

EOCS #8 : "What was that?", she asked, feeling a cold breeze behind her.

EOCS #7 : "Might have been the wind", he said to her and unfortunately for the both of them as soon as they looked towards the direction of the cold breeze, they were both grabbed from behind their helmets.

EOCS #8 : "What the...?!!", she gasped in surprise.

Michael : "*smirks underneath his facemask* And now, kiss", he sneered, making the Elite Soldiers headbutt one another, knocking eachother unconscious by that.

Michael : '*in his mind* Two were dealt with. Seven more to go.', he thought to himself.

EOCS #9 : "Did you hear that?", he asked.

EOCS #6 : "We're going to check, Soldier 10 stay and patrol this area.", he commanded.

EOCS #10 : "Oh hell nah guys, don't leave me alone here!", he said frantically to them.

EOCS #6 : "Oh, you'll be fine like what's the worst thing to happen? Getting eaten by the boogeyman?", he said to him as he and soldier 9 had chuckled and left.

EOCS #10 : "Don't ji...!", he said to them, not being able to finish what he said, feeling a chop on his neck.

EOCS #9 : "Don't what? Oh s___ Harry!!", he exclaimed.

EOCS #6 : "Check out his pulse, now", he said to him and as Soldier 9 went to check out the heart pulse of soldier 10 the next thing Soldier 6 could see was a dark silhouette knocking soldier 9 unconscious with a hit to the neck.

EOCS #6 : "F-MMPH!!!", he said, not being able to speak as a hand clad in a black fingerless glove had clasped his mouth shut.

Michael : "Oi, no cussing", he hissed and knocked the soldier out with a hit to the solar plexus.

He had to hold back quite a lot since if he didn't do as such, his hand would make a human doughnut out of the soldier.

Michael : "*In his mind* Five out of twelve soldiers were dealt with and since four of them are protecting the higher up, I have to deal with another three by the looks of it.', he thought to himself.

EOCS #11 : '*In her mind* That's strange.

The other soldiers are unconscious without a trace, that means one thing...', she thought to herself and hearing the sound of a meme video and the sounds of laughter she had sighed.

(A/n : Play this music)

EOCS #11 : "Oh for the love of God, we're here to protect this perimeter, not watch...", she had turned to the other two and froze in place, her teal eyes wide like saucers seeing a red eyed, masked individual standing the other soldiers and watching memes with them and laughing alongside them to top it off!!

Only she was allowed to do as such!!

EOCS #11 : "...m-memes", she stammered with a nervous gulp, both of them looking towards the masked individual and right on que the Simpsons meme Hehe, I'm in danger started playing.

This meme couldn't be more accurate since before they could react Michael had grabbed EOCS #12 and EOCS #5 by the necks, hitting them against one another, knocking them unconscious and letting them fall onto the ground.

EOCS #11 : "Stay away from me!", she said to him and used her rifle to shoot at him, horrified at the fact that he was literally not flinching by it and just walking menacingly towards her, his bright red eyes looking straight into her teal ones.

(A/n : Just like that, but replace :

Superman with Michael

Just imagine that the soldier is female and holds a rifle)

EOCS #11 : "That's not fair, you're f___ing bulletproof can we have a break so that I can reload?", she said to him.

Michael : "*sighs* I was planning on it but seeing that you and your friends have just turned my favourite jacket into swiss cheese...", he said to her and instantly moved behind her.

Michael : "... I don't think so.", he stated as he proceeded to quite literally roundhouse kick her through the door, breaking it off its hinges upon impact.

(A/n : Just like that but replace :

- UI Omen Goku with Michael

- Kefla with EOCS #11)

EOCS #3 : "Okay what the heck was that!?!!", she shouted.

EOCS #4 : "I don't have the slightest idea about it and neither I want to learn more about it!!", he said to her.

Mr Xiphias : "Shut up and lets move.", he ordered.

EOCS #1/EOCS #2/EOCS #3 AND EOCS #4 : "*In Unison* YES SIR!!!", they said to him as they all moved outside of the building.

Mr Xiphias : "Who are you!?!!", he shouted towards the hooded figure who just turned around, making him to gasp seeing his red eyes and serpentine pupils.

EOCS #3 : "Oh f___ it's him", she said in shock.

Michael : "Who am I you ask?

Okay since this chapter is nearing its end either way I'll humour you and tell you.

I'm the one who stays awake when everyone else sleeps peacefully at night.

I'm the one who lurks in the shadows so that others may prosper in the light.

I'm the sworn sword, shield and guardian that protects this city.

I...

Am...

Sanguis Rex!!!", he said to them.

EOCS #3 : "Did he really have this monologue ready for that moment?", she muttered under her breath.

EOCS #2 : "H-He's real", he stuttered, refusing to believe it.

EOCS #1 : "OH MY GOD HE'S SO GOD DAMN COOL!!!", he exclaimed.

EOCS #4 : "Well... It was nice knowing you guys since it looks like we triggered a final boss in a world were we can't respawn in", he said with a nervous chuckle.

(A/n : To be continued...)

A/n : Hello everyone Son Raon here and I present to you the latest chapter of my story called Chapter 3 : Sanguis Rex now before anyone starts REEEEEing in my ears as to not having explained how comes and Michael is bulletproof, I'll explain more about it in the next chapter of this book.

Also as you can see my examinations are finally over although I'll have to pay more attention to class when my university starts again since yeah... Passing 3/6 lessons it's not a good sign, meaning that the books will have fewer updates than usual.

That's all I had to say, although I hope that you enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it and feel free to leave feedback on your opinions on this chapter.

I'm always open to the opinions of others, bad or good since they help me improve my stories.

I hope that you have a great rest of your day and I'll find you in another chapter in potentially this or another story.

Raon out!!!

Number of Words : 3850 words. (NEW HIGH SCORE!!!)