Chapter 155: Prepping War
Xavier moved through the forest trail behind the village. He kept his steps light, almost silent, eyes scanning the dense trees, listening for anything off. Twigs cracked far off in the distance, probably an animal. But he didn’t drop his guard.
The mercs weren’t dumb. If they were still here, they’d stay low. Hidden.
He crouched behind a thick rock, pulled out his lens scanner from the side pouch, and pointed it toward the ridge where the old watchtower ruins stood. That’d be a good spot to observe the village from.
He zoomed in.
Nothing.
"Planning to go solo again?" came a voice from behind.
Xavier didn’t even flinch. "Reva."
She stepped out from the trees, hands behind her back, her silver hair tied in a loose knot, swaying gently with the breeze. "You didn’t tell anyone where you were going. Not even me."
"I didn’t think anyone would follow."
Reva walked up beside him and looked out over the ridge. "It’s dangerous to go alone. Even for someone like you."
Xavier adjusted the scanner’s angle. "I wasn’t planning to fight. Just scout. Get a feel of the land. See if they left any traces."
Reva knelt beside him. "And?"
"No visual. But I found some bent foliage near the east trail. Someone’s been moving through there. Heavy boots. Maybe more than one guy."
Reva narrowed her eyes. "They’re still here, then."
"Maybe," Xavier muttered. "I’ll set a motion sensor here later."
They kept moving, checking key locations—the riverbank where the mercs had first landed, the half-burnt field to the south, and a narrow passage where old bloodstains still clung to the rocks. Reva didn’t say much after that, just followed him, matching his pace. Eyes sharp. Quiet.
By the time the sun started dipping down, they were already heading back toward the village.
The others were outside Xavier’s house, sitting on the wooden ledge. Lyra had a towel wrapped around her head. Lilia was brushing her hair.
When they saw the two return, Lilia raised a brow. "Where did you two go?"
Xavier kept walking but answered. "Scouting. Wanted to check the outer ridges. No signs of movement, but I’ll go again tonight if I have to."
Reva stretched her arms. "Xavier handled it all like a pro. I was just the backup."
Lyra blinked. "You both should’ve said something..."
Xavier waved her off. "It was nothing dangerous. Just checking terrain."
He stepped inside, tossing his jacket onto the chair by the door.
He had a better mental map now.
There was still time before dinner.
Xavier sat on the roof of the car, legs stretched out, his back resting against the windshield. His phone was plugged into the car’s internal console through a tangle of wires and adapters Reva had jury-rigged earlier. The screen showed it was charging, but that was about it—no bars, no signal, just static loneliness.
The girls were all scattered nearby, staring blankly at their own phones, swiping through apps that wouldn’t load, chatting about how disconnected everything felt without the net.
"This place is dead," Lilia muttered, flicking her screen. "Like actual prehistoric dead."
"No memes. No calls. No updates, no food deliveries" Lyra said with a small sigh. "How do people even survive like this?"
Reva leaned back against the side of the car, legs crossed. "They talk. Face to face. Terrifying, I know."
Xavier let out a chuckle, then looked at Reva. "Hey. Any way to contact someone outside? Even without network?"
Reva raised a brow. "You asking for a miracle?"
He tilted his head. "You’re a vampire hacker. That counts."
Reva tapped her chin. "I could try piggybacking off satellite networks. But... there’s a problem. Something’s jamming long-range signals around this area. I don’t know if it’s deliberate or natural."
Xavier narrowed his eyes. "The mercenaries?"
"Could be. I’ll think of something."
She slid into the front seat, pulled out her custom panel, and hooked into the car’s core system. Her fingers danced across the screen as code began to stream, her eyes locked, jaw tight in focus. She bypassed the basic OS security, then accessed the internal comm server embedded in the onboard AI core.
"Alright," she muttered. "I’m converting the car’s satellite ping into a burst relay node. It’ll last five minutes, max. One shot."
Xavier leaned over. "Send a message to Angel. Code it."
Reva glanced at him. "What do you want me to say?"
He thought for a second, then tapped into his bank account. Transferred five hundred million on the spot.
"Tell her to airdrop weapons. Fighting bots. A hover-compatible car with space-grade armor, flight tech, and shield mods. I don’t care how much it costs. She’ll know what to do."
Reva nodded, fingers flying as she encrypted the data and converted it into a compressed comm pulse. The screen blinked once. Then twice.
"Message sent," she said, shutting the panel. "Let’s hope it pierced the jamming."
Xavier let out a slow breath. "She’ll come through. She always does."
By the time the sky turned orange, villagers had already begun setting up for the feast.
Wooden tables were laid out near the central bonfire. Pots steamed with wild meat stew, roasted vegetables, and strange fruits Xavier hadn’t seen since childhood. Lanterns hung from the trees, giving the whole place a soft, golden glow.
The feast was hosted in Xavier’s honor—"The Son Returns," they said. Laughter and chatter echoed through the air.
Xavier sat at the head table with his father. Reva, Lilia, and Lyra were beside him. Plates were filled. Cups clinked. People talked about old days and new hopes. Lyra was already surrounded by curious villagers asking her about the city, while Lilia gave an impromptu lecture about skincare using herbs from the forest.
Reva stayed close to Xavier, her face calm but alert, scanning everything. But for once, she looked... peaceful.
Xavier didn’t say much. He just ate, listened, and thought about the message.
If it went through, they’d have firepower.
If not... he’d have to find another way.
The feast slowly faded into music.
A few villagers pulled out old wooden drums and hollowed flutes. The rhythm started simple—light, earthy beats that tapped into something primal. Then came the dancers. First, just a few of them moving around the fire, their bodies swaying with the rhythm.
Lilia was the first of the girls to join, pulling Lyra with her, who stumbled and laughed as she tried to copy the steps.
"C’mon," Lilia said, grabbing Reva’s hand too. "You’re not getting out of this."
Reva raised a brow. "You know I don’t dance."
"You’re a vampire, not a statue," Lilia fired back.
Xavier watched them, smirking as the girls found their groove. The villagers welcomed them in like family—smiles, claps, and cheers.
Then, someone pulled Xavier into the circle.
He didn’t even resist. For once, he didn’t have to think. He just moved. The heat of the fire on his skin, the drums in his chest, the laughter in his ears—it felt... right.
For a moment, he wasn’t the richest man alive. Not a fighter. Not the system user. Not a target.
Just a guy surrounded by people, dancing like the world wasn’t ending.
Time blurred.
One by one, the villagers slipped away, yawns pulling them back to their homes. The fire burned low, casting shadows across the dirt. The music faded into silence.
Only Xavier and the girls were left, still sitting around the fire.
Lilia stretched her arms and let out a long yawn. "So... you two planning to sleep in the same house again?"
Xavier blinked, then tilted his head. "Huh?"
She smirked. "You and Reva. If you’re going to sneak off to the other house again, then let Reva and Lyra take this one. I’ll go with you."
Lyra didn’t even react. Reva’s face went red.
Xavier rubbed the back of his neck. "Nah. I’m not sleeping tonight. Gotta plan for tomorrow’s attack."
Lyra leaned in. "Can we help?"
"If you’re up for it, sure," Xavier said. "I could use more eyes."
Reva stood and stretched. "Then how about this—why go back? We plan here. Right now. Under the stars. No walls. No distractions."
Xavier looked around. The fire still had a glow, warm and steady. The night air was crisp, and the forest hummed softly in the background. Somewhere in the distance, a wolf howled.
He gave a nod.
"Yeah. Let’s plan here."
The planning didn’t last long.
They mostly talked in circles—discussing routes, guessing enemy numbers, debating whether the forest path or the hill would give better cover. Xavier scribbled some notes in the dirt with a stick. Reva pointed at the crude map and laid out her suggestions. Lilia asked some sharp questions, and Lyra tried to follow along.
But eventually, the weight of the day started to settle in.
Lyra leaned against Lilia’s shoulder, her eyes barely open. "I think... I’ll just rest here a minute..."
She was out in seconds.
Lilia gave a sleepy chuckle. "She didn’t even wait for a proper bed." She stood, stretched, and rubbed her eyes. "I’m not that far behind her either. Let’s go back before I pass out here."
Xavier nodded. "Yeah, go on. I’ll join in a bit."
"Don’t stay up too late," Lilia said, pulling Lyra up gently and guiding her back toward the house.
Only Xavier and Reva were left by the fire now.
He stood, dusted his pants, and looked at the coals. "I guess we should—"
But Reva was already at his side. Her eyes glinted in the low light. "You’re not sleeping tonight anyway..."
He stepped close. "You promised we’d keep it quiet this time."
"No promises. But... I’ll try." She smiled, fangs barely showing. "Then let’s not waste the night."
They disappeared into the shadows again.
And this time, the forest was silent.
No howls. No cries. Just the quiet rustling of leaves and the low, hungry sound of two bodies coming together in the dark.
She held her moans.
But Xavier felt every one of them in the way her nails gripped his back and her breath hitched against his throat. The night passed slow, wild, and deep—another storm in secret.
By the time the first light cracked through the treetops, they were tangled up in the sheets, still catching their breath.