The Phoenix's Legion

Back in Rovahn a great wave of change had swept the land, the eastern lands had been merged with the great dragon and once again the true dragon creed had been reunited with Rovahn. The growing presence of the creed had started to make the laser clans uneasy, they demanded that there representative Edward see to the matter. Edward had suggested to the king that all warriors under the legion should wear a single colour so that the phoenix's legion can appear a more united force to the creed.

The legions warriors had taken up the grey armour whose only difference in appearance of the great clans would be the colour of their banners. The armours were as follows, grey and gold to represent the royal family, grey and black to represent the stone bear clan, grey and red to represent the crimson rose and grey and blue to represent the stampede valley. All welcomed this unity but Amelia, she didn't care what the new law said, she would not be parted from her crimson armour, Drago insisted the same with his black armour as well as Helios is copper armour, on his brother's behalf. They were of high rank so no one dared to argue with them and seeing how they were able to secure the signature armour they further insisted that the kings armour may also be maintained, something that all the legion elders agreed with.

With simple formalities out of the way the king had summoned the five individuals who were chosen for the infiltration mission to the immortal lands. Ryoko had taken the change of the legions armour as a challenge of the creed's strength and so only allowed a single ninja to be part of the mission, the other members where Kill-shot, Dante, Amelia and Kiva who insisted that Gunslinger be left behind, if anything went wrong with the mission the mission would need its most skilled warriors. The five met in a private location where a magi was waiting for them, it was Tessa, the warrior who originated from the silver hunters not to mention the woman who replaced Bellarabi's dead sister.

Amelia: "so far all Bellarabi has done with his new second is send her away, guess you're not as good of a replacement as advertised."

Tessa: "my king had ordered me here, I have been studying this technique for months so as to insure that this mission be a success, I am trying to fill the whole that Threant has left behind."

Amelia: "so now you think you can replace Threant too?"

Dante: "enough, were going to have to look out for one another when were out there so knock it off."

Kill-shot: "I would listen to him, Dante performed better than any of us in the wall battle."

Dante: "don't be humble Kill-shot you fought two vampire lords, you even killed one and took his magic ring as your own."

Kiva: "how about you two lovers stop complimenting one another and keep focused to the task at hand."

As the five present individual's bickered a man dressed as one from the creed approached them, he had long black hair and a scar on his right cheek. The others weren't sure if it was the darkness but the young man appeared to be blind, his eyes where as white as a ghost.

Amelia: "who the hell are you?"

Mysterious warrior: "I am Hotaru, I am the shinobi that has been sent by the creed to aid you in this mission."

Kill-shot: "good lord, did they really send us a blind man? Well I guess I'll have to ask, what class of warrior are you?"

Hotaru: "I am an army slayer like you all."

Amelia: "all of us, we don't know you and for the record, Kill-shot is just a glorified soldier."

Kiva: "well that glorified soldier was able to kill a vampire lord, how many vampire lords did you kill?"

Amelia: "why don't you go ask your sister."

Kiva: "if you think I'll just let you…."

Kill-shot: "enough!!! Now I don't know how you all do things but soldiers respect the chain of command, am leading this mission which makes me your senior officer and I say it's time for all of you to get in line!!!"

Hotaru: "I assure you sir, I am more than qualified for the mission."

Dante: "good enough for me."

Amelia: "yes, yes, yes, let's all follow the special son's orders."

Kill-shot: "what did you say?"

Amelia: "not all secrets can be buried."

Tessa: "I think it's about time we got started, with your permission sir."

Kill-shot: "…. Let's get this show on the road."

Tessa: "now you were all briefed on the mission but I'll be going though it just to insure clarity. As you are already aware you won't be going there with any form of technology or armour, seeing as how the immortal lands rejected all forms of technology and the fact that it could expose you. The portal I prepared will send you to the immortal lands but the journey will be rough and bright so the portal on the other side will have to be opened deep in the black ocean so your all in for a bit of a swim. You all will be taking the identities of new bloods, you will be at the bottom of the food chain so you won't attract any unnecessary attention, so no flashy attitudes. your unique cursed arms are a fail-safe which is only to be used as a last resort, stealth is the key to this mission after all. Those weapons are the only thing that will give you away, Hotaru, these weapons are dangerous so use with caution. And last but not least the vampire stones, the stones will give you vampire forms and will change your physical appearance so you won't have to worry about being recognized but be warned, the stones carry vampire essence. If for want ever reason you are forced to drink human blood the essence within the stones will be freed and your vampire forms shall become permanent, you will become true vampires. We will communicate through dreams, a feature that Threant added to the stones so while your awake you do not break character, this is a recon mission people so keep contact with other vampires or confrontation to a minimum. Well now that that's out of the way, place your stones on your c.h.e.s.t and step into the circle."

Tessa had the five step into a circle made from iron rods that had been shaped into symbols of the legion, the five had placed their vampire stones on their b.a.r.e c.h.e.s.t and saw how their skin, hair and eyes changed colour. Their physical attributes had also been greatly changed to the point that not even Tessa could recognize them, the stones were a success. The circle began to glow a bright white light which soon summoned a great energy surge from beneath their feet, a white light opened from the floor and s.u.c.k.e.d the five in. Inside the portal was nothing but blinding, even attempting to look would burn the five's eyes. Their skin burned and their bones where strained but eventually they saw a black whole which marked the end of their torturing experience, one moment they were dry the next thing they knew they were completely submerged in water.

There was no moment to rest or catch a breath, they had to start swimming with what little breath they had to get above water. The five successfully got above water and managed to swim to shore, they were tired, wounded and completely out of breath but they had successfully completed the journey.

Amelia: "if that method of transportation isn't improved I'll stick to riding horses."

Dante: "I agree; I can barely feel my arms from all that swimming."

Hotaru: "I feel honoured to be the first of the creed to attempt teleportation, man will put this method of transportation to good use."

Kill-shot: "the legion has been attempting this for years but if this is what progress feels like maybe we should leave this punishing travel to the vampires."

Kiva: "how do we know if we're in the right place?"

Amelia: "well were definitely not on Rovahn but we could be on an island, we should look for some high ground and confirm…..."

Before Amelia could finish her suggestion the five saw large grey creatures with huge bat like wings, they weren't shoguns because you could spot some human features but they also had beast features as well. One of the grey creatures saw the five on the ground and landed with great speed, its eyes were as red as that of a vampire and its claws where large and sharp, perfect for tearing flesh, they had no idea what this creature was.

Creature: "what are you five doing here? why are you wet and wounded?"

The five couldn't believe it, the humanoid bat monster was able to speak, something that no shogun could accomplish. It had to be some kind of vampire but why hadn't any of the five ever seen such a vampire and why didn't such monsters fight in the battle of the Rovahn walls?

Creature2: "calm down brother, they must be survivors from the storm that sunk the vampire fleet."

Creature1: "that doesn't add up, that storm appeared days ago and no survivors have been recorded but I suppose we can't waist our time with these new bloods, just look at the fear in their eyes. The five of you shall make your way to the rose gardens to the north, Labunka will know what to do with you lot."

The grey creatures escorted the five to a large rose garden nearby, their a well-groomed and strong structured man was admiring the flowers. His hair and beard was grey with shades of black, a physical quality that few vampires had, his skin also appeared to be more lively than any other vampire, the five had never seen but the strangest thing about this vampire was his eyes. His eyes whereas red as the blood that flowed through the five's veins but his eyes didn't look human, they appeared to be the eyes of a dragon. The grey creatures bowed in his presence and presented the five to him and flew away, the creatures never dared to make eye contact with him, who was this second strange vampire the five had discovered?

Labunka: "well I must be in luck, I have been eager to hire some help to aid me with renewing the history of vampires, the old texts are getting rather old and unattractive. I was about to demand for some new bloods to aid me with this but here you five are, presented to me without any effort on my part, now come on we must make our way to the capital."

Hotaru: "don't you want to know who we are?"

Labunka: "new blood, an elder doesn't bother with such trivial things, now make yourselves descent and let's get going."

Dante: "forgive me sir but we have been through quite a journey and we have never witnessed vampires like the ones that brought us to you or any vampire with your eyes."

Labunka: "ah a vampire with a silver tongue, you must all be at the bottom of our vampire society. Well my boy the vampires that brought you to me are grey vampires, they are physically quite powerful and barbaric, you could consider them as law enforcement and as for me, I am a vampire elder. In your defence elders keep themselves in the royal capital where we live with our lord Raziel, your lives are about to change greatly."

Kill-shot: "that's amazing, Raziel is a vampire that we all wish to meet especially with all the amazing things we heard about him in the first Rovahn battle."

Labunka: "don't be silly man, no one can just see Raziel and besides, neither Raziel or any elder has ever wasted their time setting foot to the human lands, we have plenty of humans to fill our belly's right here. Only punished queens, lords in training and new bloods bother with that filth now come on you lot, we have a long journey ahead of us. Despite her bitter defeat, Kali has served her punishment and Raziel shall finally restore her true power and make her an elder again, we certainly can't be late for that, with the queen regaining her power she will be of relevance again. I have maintained a strong alliance with her since the start of her punishment and finally that useless woman will finally give me a return on my investment."

Kiva: "why would you have an alliance with her? Are you not an elder?"

Labunka: "young lady it is the elders that run everything yes but all must be voted upon, a democracy sense that the king introduced to reduce conflict. The more elders I have to my favour the more this continent becomes to my liking and having one of the three queens as my ally will serve me greatly. Well I think that's enough talk for one day, my carriage awaits and luckily for you all my carriage is more than large enough to care for you all."

The carriage that appeared was not like anything that the five had ever seen, it was the size of a mansion and instead of horses it was being dragged by seven elephants, creatures that do not exist on Rovahn. The inside of the carriage was just as amazing, the ground was still and the surrounding's quite, one could easily forget the seven large beasts that were dragging this carriage. As breath-taking as it all was the five were greatly alarmed by all they had seen and they hadn't even been in the immortal lands for no more than half a day. They each made their way to private rooms, each room had a human slave that attended to all their needs, they showed no hostility towards the five in fact they almost seemed attracted to them due to their vampire forms. Finally, each member of the five was left alone to slumber, finally they all had a chance to use the dream speech that Threant had given the stones so as to finally discuss all they had learned.

The dream speech would take their thoughts to a room where the five could speak freely, in the room Tessa sat waiting for them all to gather, everything discussed would be forwarded to the king, and after all the five had learned the knowledge the legion was waiting for would not be easy to swallow.

Tessa: "wait what do you mean Kali's power is being restored?"

Dante: "we haven't seen how this could be done yet but once we enter the royal capital we hope to have more knowledge on how this was accomplished."

Tessa: "I don't know if your blessed or just too damn lucky to have found a way to the royal capital."

Amelia: "are you serious? We just found out that the vampires have been toying with us!! The pain, the loss, nothing but a game to them, the Kali we fought was weakened, this grey vampires and elders didn't even bother with us, we mean absolutely nothing to them."

Dante: "the presence of this elder was beyond terrifying and those grey vampires are gifted with bodies perfected for killing, the legions entire struggle to defend Rovahn, nothing but a game."

Kiva: "but Raziel was there in the first Rovahn wall battle, he burned it down using dragon fire."

Kill-shot: "that's why I asked about Raziel, if these elders and grey vampires didn't bother with humanity then why would there great king? It was just a simple guess at the time but I really did hope that my suspicions didn't come to fruition."

Amelia: "I saw Raziel kill my brother!!! I saw him kill Beowulf!!!"

Kill-shot: "did you really? Did any of us? All we saw was a vampire wearing a shiny ink blue coloured armour, the vampire was wearing a helmet so he never did reveal his face to us."

Dante: "what do we do now?"

Hotaru: "the grudge between the legion and creed must be put aside, the game of pride has led us nowhere, every resource we have must be utilized and all knowledge must be shared from both sides for if we even attempt to attack the immortal lands as we are, we will surely perish."

Kill-shot: "well said Hotaru, Tessa see to it that the king is made aware of our discoveries, as for the five of us, will continue this clueless act to gain more knowledge of the vampires but we must act with great caution. We got this far through dumb luck, I know for a fact that not all the vampires will be as friendly and open as this Labunka so let's close this channel and get some rest."

Tessa: "good luck commander Kill-shot, I'll be awaiting your next report, closing dream channel."

Tessa did as Kill-shot commanded and told all she had learned to the king; Titus was so consumed by terror when he learned of all that the five had seen in a single day. "What great fools we have all been", the king shouted, the legion and the creed were never challenging the vampire race, their existence wasn't even of relevance to Raziel. The king shared the knowledge with all of the legions clans as well as with Ryoko and the creed, all had realized that if their attack of the immortal lands were to be a success then humanity needed to spend the next ten years uniting all their efforts to truly achieving their freedom. The proud Ryoko had demonstrated this unity by bowing to king Titus in the presence of all his creed brethren and to show equality king Titus had also got down on his hands and knees, the legion and the creed are now truly ready to face their oldest enemy together. It was a drastic move from both leaders but with all the division among the two forces there needed to be something that could be used to hold the alliance long enough for the attack to the immortal lands, humanity could no longer stand divided.

Titus's log: "humanity with all his flaws has always had one great gift, destruction. Humans are borne with such a gift for violence that even pillars that have held societies for centuries have found themselves crumbled to the ground. The vampires underestimate us, good, they will never know how great a storm shall come for them. No resource shall be spared, no method of warfare shall be shunned, humanity will break free from this sick game, we shall rise, we shall stand together and we shall reclaim this world for it is ours by right, for we are the phoenix's legion, King Titus of the phoenix's legion signing out."