Chapter 79. Sacrifice 1/2
As strange as it may seem, I spent most of the time until the designated day on that island. It was as if I'd fallen into a trance, focusing all my attention on my memories as Victoria Seras, burning them into my very being as the primary template of my essence. So I would never, ever forget who I am.
Why was I doing something like this when I already know perfectly well who I am? Because, to be honest, I'm a little scared. I'm really afraid of losing myself in the sea of foreign memories because of what I'm planning to do. Yes, I've managed to train myself not to get distracted by other people's memories, but remembering how I didn't manage to restore my appearance on the first try—that was a warning sign. After all, I wouldn't want that after coming back (and I'm sure that even if I do get lost in the memories because of my obsessive idea, I'll come back anyway), Alucard would have to hunt me instead this time.
And now, when there were only a couple of days left before the attack on the North Pole, I was finally ready. And first, I would head to the North Pole—I mean, if you can, why not get a bit more benefit out of it?
Soon, I teleported into the sanctum sanctorum of the North Pole, the place forbidden to everyone. The spirit oasis, the home of Tui and La, the spirits of the moon and the ocean.
"How amusing. Beings of colossal importance to this world, embodying entire concepts, are so unbearably fragile," I said with a hint of sarcasm, slowly approaching a small pond in which the black and white fish, obviously sensing danger, seemed to speed up their dance symbolizing yin and yang.
"Don't worry, little fish, even though I'm a cat, I won't eat you," I said, crouching down by the pond, involuntarily baring my fangs as I imagined just how incredible it would be to devour the embodiments of the moon and the ocean. Still, I wasn't crazy enough to cause such fundamental harm to this world, a world whose rules worked in the strangest ways.
Hearing me, they slowed down and began spinning around the pond at a calm pace, seemingly understanding I didn't plan to harm them.
"Well, maybe I won't eat you, but I'm sure you know about the entire Fire Nation fleet headed this way, and also about the lunatic who wants you dead," I added, and, as if to confirm my words, the fish twitched for a moment before continuing to swim calmly.
"I have a proposal. I'll destroy the fleet and the one who wants you dead will never set foot on the North Pole. In exchange, I need just a tiny favor—two bottles of blood from each of you," I said, placing four glass bottles, each holding half a liter, on the bank. Each bottle was almost as big as the fish themselves.
As soon as I set the containers down, I could have sworn they looked at me as if I was an idiot, even their movements in the water grew strange.
"I don't believe that the progenitors of water magic can't even regenerate blood. You're not just fish, even if you share some of their weaknesses," I said, unimpressed with their attitude. And the next second, I was doused from head to toe with icy water.
I just stared silently at the fish, now frozen still in the pond. Apparently, they didn't like my sudden transformation from a cute catgirl to something strange and very angry.
"I was just thinking, why shouldn't I just say to hell with this world and enjoy a couple of very tasty and powerful souls?" Only a total idiot wouldn't sense the threat in my tone.
And in the next instant, the moon—which, at this time of year, hangs permanently over the North Pole—suddenly turned crimson, making me tense at first. But the next moment, I saw thin threads of blood begin to flow from the bellies of both fish, reaching directly into the bottles, while the fish themselves glowed white.
"A wise choice," I said with satisfaction, returning to my usual form. But then, their scent reached me. God... while there was a faint smell of fish, I was overwhelmed by such a thirst as if I hadn't drunk blood for years and someone was serving me a beautiful virgin on a silver platter, one who had cut her own neck just for me to drink her dry.
For the first time in this life, I had to fight my thirst so hard. Panting as if with excitement, cheeks flushed, I stared at the bottles which began to fill even faster with every breath, as if Tui and La knew I was losing control, and the pond itself seemed to glow with pure white light from the fish.
And when finally the last bottle was filled, I just couldn't resist—I snatched one up and began greedily drinking its contents, only dimly noting that the moon had gone back to its original color and hearing the sounds of people rushing to the spirit oasis.
"God, that was even better than sex," I exhaled heavily when I finally emptied the bottle. I felt a surge of strength, probably even greater than from all the sentients I'd consumed until now, especially regarding my Qi and connection to water magic.
"I suppose that's to be expected from the blood of Great Spirits," I said, still breathing heavily and flushed, as I put the remaining bottles in my inventory, barely holding myself back.
"Seras?" came an uncertain voice from behind me, belonging to one extremely naïve boy Avatar.
"Yes, Aang?" I asked, turning halfway toward him, seductively licking the last memories of the moon spirit's blood from my lips.
The boy's face was deathly pale and extremely frightened, as if he'd seen not a friend but a real monster.
"Ah, I see my dietary preferences don't appeal to you that much," I said, appearing next to him and patting his bald head.
I could feel him trembling with fear, too scared to even move. Then I leaned to his ear.
"Don't be afraid, little Avatar. This monster's target is the Fire Nation—you won't see it anymore."
And as these words were spoken, the monster pretending to be a cute girl disappeared at last, and the Avatar, his friends, and the water tribe warriors—who until then seemed unable to breathe from the suffocating bloodlust in the air—collapsed to the ground, gasping greedily for breath.
"I… I told you," Sokka managed to say.
Fire Lord's throne room.
Ozai sat on his throne with his eyes closed. For the past several months, he'd had a feeling of impending disaster. Worse yet, he had no idea where it was coming from. Until he was contacted by the one he'd personally driven out of the palace and replaced as heir, then as Fire Lord himself, and the mystery finally began to unravel.
A bloodthirsty spirit that hunted mages, devouring them by the dozens without even giving them a chance to fight back; even his brother Iroh could only stand by helplessly. Worse still, this monster had joined up with the Avatar's group.
"It'll all be over soon," Ozai muttered, having personally made sure the entire Fire Nation fleet would attack the North Pole. Over 100,000 soldiers, including Fire Sages—a monster or not, it couldn't stand against such numbers. Then, with one stroke, he could wipe out the North Pole and the Avatar.
"You're right, my journey in this world really will end soon," a girl's voice suddenly rang out, and Ozai tried to leap to his feet and take a combat stance, but his body wouldn't obey. He remained seated on his throne, forced to watch the blonde girl slowly approaching, her tail swinging behind her.
"And I should thank you for that. Thanks to you, I'll regain enough strength to go home. You've given me a wonderful sacrifice at the North Pole, so I'll let you be—I won't kill you."
"But what to do… your face annoys me so much," the blonde said, stroking his cheek with false pity.
"I know! I have an idea. You love branding others so much that you even scarred your own son's face... I really enjoyed playing with him. It was so much fun to watch him try helplessly to protect his soldiers," the girl continued brightly, and then blue fire flared on her right hand. Slowly, she brought it close to Ozai's face, and while he couldn't move, his eyes darted frantically side to side.
Then the throne room filled with the smell of burning flesh.
"You're quite tough, didn't even make a sound," the girl cooed, looking at the middle-aged man whose right side of the face was completely mutilated, even the eye melted from its socket due to the heat, and yet he was still alive.
"Damn bitch, you're the one who's not letting me move!" Ozai screamed in his mind; all he wanted now was to pass out and escape the pain.
"Well then. Let this scar be a reminder of all those soldiers you sacrificed to me today," the blonde nodded, and vanished, leaving Ozai on his throne—who, as soon as the control over his body was released, immediately lost consciousness.
"Just a little longer… wait for me. Integra. Alucard. I'll be back soon," Seras muttered, sitting on the roof of one of the Fire Nation ships heading to the North Pole, its crew blissfully unaware that this night would be their last.