Jack stood silently before the glass cabinet, his gaze lingering on the name carved beneath the weapon box.
"Garrick, huh… that name… it sounds familiar…"
Suddenly, a fragmented memory flashed.
He saw himself standing in a dingy street corner, the sky overcast, filled with dust and ash.
Facing him was a young boy, about eighteen—Mira's age. The boy had an oval face, pale skin speckled with acne, short brown hair, and wide, round glasses, his eyes now red from crying.
The boy whimpered, trembling as he held up both hands:
"I… I also want to become a hunter… please… please let me come with you!"
A strong voice spoke, resolute—the voice of a young man around twenty-eight:
"What's your name, kid?"
The boy wiped away tears, his voice choked:
"My… my name is Garrick!"
The blurry scene lasted only a few seconds before shattering like glass…
Jack flinched, returning to reality, his mind in turmoil. He shook his head. Why was this happening? These memories were chaotic, overlapping… He couldn't distinguish between himself and him.
Not wanting to think further, Jack unlatched the lock and gently took the MoonFang claws from the glass case. The silver claws were cold yet intricate, reflecting the dim oil lamp light. He told himself:
"Anyway, I'm not used to swords… these will do for fighting."
But as he strapped the claws to his hips, Jack suddenly remembered the moments from yesterday—when he wielded Last Light against the five Vampire treasure hunters.
Could it be…?
That feeling—the naturalness, the mastery, as if he had used a sword his entire life.
Jack frowned. Memories of Jack the Butcher flooded back: a savage, close-quarters combat style, tearing enemies apart with claws… there was no swordsmanship involved.
Yet, holding Last Light, he fought like a true swordsman.
Once again, Jack shook his head, sighing. Everything about himself now was a jumbled mess… And he no longer knew who he truly was.
He subtly tightened the two pairs of claws at his hips, while Last Light remained securely on his back like a sacred shield.
Jack faintly smiled, muttering:
"Alright, Garrick… or MoonFang… help me from now on."
Suddenly from the corner of the room, Mira excitedly shouted:
"I'm choosing this one! Hahaha, this is awesome! You know, I'm an excellent marksman! My family all came from famous monster hunters!"
She laughed, holding up an exquisite bow—its silver-wood surface gleaming, the bowstring taut like a hunter's sinew.
John stood behind, clapping and laughing heartily:
"Hahaha, you look like an archer, little girl! I knew the owner of that bow—a legendary Rank A Vampire Hunter!"
Mira's eyes widened, surprised:
"Rank A? Hunters have ranks too, old man?"
John clasped his hands behind his back, his expression turning serious again, his voice even:
"Of course. In the Solar Order organization, hunters are ranked by letters. Rank B, Rank A… and even higher. Some are strong enough to take down an entire Vampire army by themselves."
Mira's eyes sparkled at this, her face filled with admiration… But just a second later, her face fell, heavy:
"What?! So strong, and now they've all been wiped out by Vampires anyway… Hmph, humanity still fell."
Jack interjected from beside her, his voice warm:
"No. There are still many powerful hunters out there. Those names all have extremely high bounties personally issued by the Empire."
John sighed, his gaze dropping:
"Indeed… it's just a pity that Nova—the owner of the bow Mira is holding—wasn't lucky enough to survive."
A silence enveloped the room. Jack subtly glanced at Mira. The girl gently clutched the bow in her hands, her face no longer innocent… but instead, a quiet determination. A legacy of the fallen. A broken promise. But now, that bow once again had someone to carry it on…
Mira's gaze subtly darkened.
She gently picked up the small note placed beneath the bow, scanning the faded words:
"Name: StormFury Bow"
"Rune: Lightning"
"Material: Silver Steel Alloy"
Mira's gaze rested on the bow before her.
A beauty mixed with power and mystery.
The bow limbs were intricately crafted from high-strength steel alloy fused with silver, its gleaming silver surface reflecting like tiny stars in the dark night. Faint blue ancient Rune symbols ran along both sides of the bow, shimmering whenever she lightly touched them.
At the center of the bow, a deep blue thunderstone—like the sky before a storm—was deeply embedded in the core. Occasionally, tiny sparks of electricity radiated from it, like faint heartbeats lingering from the past.
Below the note, Mira continued reading:
"Crafted specifically for Nova—Rank A Vampire Hunter."
A strange feeling crept into her heart.
Mira bent down, discovering a small photograph and a silver ring tucked neatly in the box.
In the photo was Nova—her platinum hair gleaming, her eyes cold and proud. Beside her was a man, and in their arms, a small smiling girl.
Behind the photo, a message faded by time:
"If you are reading this… then perhaps the apocalypse has swallowed all. Dracula has won. Humanity has perished…
But if there is still a glimmer of hope, please help me find my daughter in Duskar.
She lives with her father there.
Please protect her from the Vampires. Please…"
—Signed: Nova Morgan
Mira clutched the photo tightly.
Without another word, she put it in her jacket pocket along with the ring. A brief moment, but from now on, it would always be with her.
She stepped forward, slinging the StormFury Bow onto her back, as steady as if she had just accepted a grave responsibility.
"I'll choose this," Mira said firmly. "Nova, I'll take your place… to find your daughter. No matter what."
John, who had been standing nearby, turned red with anger:
"You crazy kid! You're about to die and you're still trying to save others?! Take care of yourself first, you have to get to The Mountain, understood? No Duskar!"
Mira waved him off:
"I don't care! If you're going to hit me on the head like you hit Jack, try it! I'll shoot you with StormFuryyyyyyyyright now!"
She shouted, pointing the bow at John, her face full of defiance.
John fumed, throwing up his hands:
"You impudent brat! Come here, you little—!"
The room echoed with their chaotic bickering. Mira giggled, running and dodging, while John chased hotly after her.
Jack stood to one side, arms crossed, watching the scene.
His gaze softened, a rare smile playing on his lips. It had only been a little over a day. But somewhere deep down, he already felt—he had a small family. Something… he knew he absolutely had to protect.
A little later…
All three gathered before the dilapidated main hall of the Solar Order headquarters.
The flickering light from the oil lamp on the wall reflected off their three figures standing close together, each distinct—but sharing a common resolve.
Jack stood first.
A young man around 25, with short platinum hair and eyes burning orange like the early dawn.
His face held a touch of innocence, yet deep within was an indescribable solemnity—invisible scars left behind by a brutal past.
He wore a form-fitting Vampire Hunter armor, its silver details gleaming under the flickering light. Behind him, Last Light was carefully wrapped in pale black cloth, as if to conceal its radiance.
At his hips—MoonFang claws—sharp silver claws ready when needed.
Jack, now, was ready to embark on the longest journey of his life.
Beside him was John.
He was still the same, the man in the old, time-worn priest's robe. His hood covered nearly half of his aged face, his white beard flowing over his chest.
The only difference—behind him, diagonally strapped, was an intricately crafted golden magic staff. Ancient patterns ran along its shaft, emitting a strange, faint glow.
No one knew what this item would bring to their journey… But its presence added another layer of gravitas to the atmosphere around John.
Finally, Mira.
The 18-year-old girl now wore a neat Vampire Hunter outfit, hugging her youthful and vibrant physique.
Her long brown hair was tied up high, her blue scarf still draped over her shoulder, and slung across her back was the StormFury Bow—the bow shimmering with silver light, like a faint rainbow under the lamplight.
Mira's face, in the dim light, showed a beautiful, resilient determination. Though only 18, her eyes already carried the losses and maturity of a post-apocalyptic world.
Three individuals—three destinies, standing side by side as if fate itself had orchestrated it.
Jack smirked, pointing at John:
"You look exactly the same as before. What's with that staff, don't tell me you're a mage?"
Mira couldn't help but chuckle along:
"Haha, look how cool we are, old man, see!"
John huffily put his hands on his hips:
"You brats! You're making me furious! Now, grab your bags! Don't tell me I have to carry this giant thing?"
He pointed at a backpack as large as a machine—nearly two meters wide, two meters tall.
Jack and Mira shouted in unison:
"Are you crazy?! How are we supposed to carry that monster?!"
John, without a word, pointed his magic staff directly at the backpack.
A faint blue light flashed, enveloping the backpack—and in an instant, it shrunk to the size of a normal hiking backpack.
Jack and Mira's eyes lit up:
"Whoa! Magic! So cool!"
Jack quickly ran over, putting the backpack on his shoulder—then immediately yelped:
"Ouch! It's incredibly heavy! What did you put in here?!"
John crossed his arms, laughing heartily:
"Hahaha! That's the power of the Arcane Crystal Staff! I can shrink objects, but their mass remains the same! Don't expect to cheat!"
Jack's face crumpled, straining under the backpack:
"You planned this all along, didn't you?! You knew I was a Vampire, that's just cruel!"
Mira stood nearby, giggling, nearly falling to the floor.
The trio finally reached an old silver steel door at the end of the corridor.
This was the secret exit—an underground passage leading them out of the fallen fortress. John placed his hand on the silver sun emblem, whispering:
"Silver makes you die. The Sun makes you burn."
A heavy "Click" echoed.
The silver door slowly opened, revealing a long, dark tunnel. Cold wind blew in from the other side of the corridor, carrying the scent of dust and the stench of death from the post-apocalyptic world.
Jack tightened the MoonFang claws at his hips.
Mira bowed her head, adjusting her StormFury Bow.
John gripped his magic staff, his eyes burning with unwavering resolve.
"Let's go," John said in a deep voice. "Our journey… begins here."
And so, the three of them—a young man with two souls, a girl on the verge of transformation, an old man bearing the secrets of all humanity—stepped into a journey of over 2,500 kilometers across Aetherion.
Somewhere far away, The Mountain… and the last light, still awaited them.
(Anime Opening Intro: "Last Light in the Red Sky" begins :) . I dream of turning my novel into an anime, everyone. If you've read this far, we've just completed 1% of this universe. Thank you all... Let's continue Jack's journey together. Much love!)