Danmachi: Echoes of a Vampire God

Kael opened his eyes slowly.

A soft, golden light caressed the interior of the chamber. It came from the bioluminescent moss climbing the living roots of the ceiling, casting delicate shadows over the organic walls. The air smelled of damp earth, sap, and something sweet—as if nature itself were breathing in this secluded corner of the Dungeon.

The murmur of a distant creek mixed with the subtle creak of roots shifting, as if the village itself were stretching awake alongside him.

He lay in the same cave where Naaza rested.

She still slept, gently sprawled on that living bed of woven roots and glowing moss. Kael had spent the night in the same cave, but at a respectful distance—not so close as to startle her if she woke, not so far as to be unable to help if anything happened.

In his corner, he had slept with his back against the living wall, clothes on, alert even while resting. Still, he had slept. Not deeply, but enough to call it a good night's sleep.

Kael rose with slow movements, feeling stiffness in his muscles. It wasn't pain—it was… memory. His body still carried echoes of recent battles, not hurting, but reminding him he was alive.

The cave's natural door—roots swaying gently—let in the light of a new day. Several figures began to move beyond —Xenos of varied bodies, scaly skins, bright plumage, forms bordering on the impossible… yet none appeared out of place. They walked among each other, exchanging items. Some descended from hanging roots; others emerged from wall cavities. No aggression. No tension. Just… routine. Community.

Then, small footsteps approached.

A small-bodied creature with dark skin and large violet eyes—the Xenos who had given him the flower yesterday—came forward timidly, carrying a small bowl woven from bark. Inside, salted roots and a soft pink-hued fruit rested. The creature didn't speak, merely extended the offering shyly, as if food was a friendly greeting.

Kael accepted it with both hands.

"Thank you…" he murmured, genuinely surprised by the warmth of the gesture.

The creature nodded, turned and scampered away with quiet, happy steps over the moss.

But it wasn't alone.

A second Xenos approached with a gelatinous fruit; another held out a long, curved root. They did not fear him. They did not watch with suspicion. Only curiosity, gratitude… and a quiet hope.

'I guess they found out I wasn't eating magic stones…'

The small Xenos from earlier were among those he rescued in the Knossos—they were thanking him for freeing them from that terrible place.

'Never imagined this…' Kael thought as his fingers brushed the warm fruit.

'Everything here… is so peaceful, so full of life, so welcoming.'

The word weighed on his chest. It wasn't one he used lightly. Since waking in this world, the closest he'd felt to this was his time with Marie. Otherwise, life had been a constant uphill fight for survival.

Every day he had to think about his changes, on the run from those who hunted him as if he were an exotic animal, fearing for what the future held. But now… he genuinely felt he might find somewhere to belong.

A lump formed in his throat for no reason. He released it with a long sigh, still holding the fruit in his hands.

But before he could continue his thoughts, a familiar sound reached him from a distance—heavy, measured footsteps accompanied by soft wingbeats stirring the air.

Cliff emerged from one of the elevated paths, carrying a load of freshly cut wood on his back. His blue scarf fluttered gently, and his eyes shone with that serene warmth.

He stopped in front of Kael, and though he couldn't speak, it wasn't necessary.

He inclined his head—a greeting like an old friend's.

Then he let out a small, chirping call in his direction. It wasn't language, but Kael understood. Or rather, felt its meaning.

"Good morning to you too, Cliff."

Kael replied, gently stroking his head. He smiled slightly.

"Ready for work?" called Let from a nearby root, hanging as though he'd been watching for a while.

Kael turned. The goblin grinned with that usual mix of sarcasm and camaraderie. His red cap seemed more vivid beneath the moss-light, and his scarf drifted like a little flag.

Kael stood up.

"Ready." he answered.

And for the first time, he said it without doubt. No matter what it was, he would help as best as he could.

Because something in his chest was starting to find a place. Even if this wasn't his home… he could build something here. Even if only for a short time.

Kael ate the food the small Xenos had brought—quickly. The fruit left a subtle sweetness in his mouth. Though not like blood, it was still nourishment, and he wouldn't be ungrateful.

Once finished, he headed toward where Cliff had gone.

Soon, a familiar chirp called to him.

Cliff watched from a raised platform in the village's main cave. The hippogriff flapped lazily as he arranged bundles of wood in his claws. Kael climbed a side ramp and, without words, lifted one of the larger logs onto his shoulder.

Cliff narrowed his eyes, grunted, then nodded.

As if to say —"You're not as strong as you look… but not bad."

Kael just smiled softly.

They worked in silence, reinforcing a wall that connected a higher section to a nest of secondary platforms. Each plank intertwined with living roots, and the moss coating them seemed to grow in real time. Kael marveled—this Xenos village wasn't just built, it was alive. And took care of itself. As if the Dungeon cared for its children.

When they finished, Cliff gave him a heavy wing-pat, almost knocking him over. But the gesture made him laugh.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm happy to help too," he said quietly as the hippogriff spread his wings and flew off in graceful arcs.

**

Later, he spotted Let.

The goblin was bent over a tangle of roots, dramatically pulling a resistant fiber.

"You, pretty boy." he muttered, not looking up. "Can you tell me which ones are for weaving and which are not? Not everything is about slicing monsters in two, you know?"

Kael approached, inspecting the pile. After a few failed attempts, he lifted a root that looked pliable.

"This one?"

Let looked at it and nodded.

"Not bad. Not bad at all. But if you go another thirty minutes without breaking any, I'll give you a knot of respect." he joked.

Kael laughed softly as he continued to help untangle.

'I guess I'm good at fighting… but when it comes to roots… I'm a total beginner… darn… they all look exactly the same…'

Let glanced at him, as if reading his thoughts.

"Don't worry, baby-handed hero. Nobody's born knowing. Well… except Xenos with octopus brains. Those bastards do."

**

The third was Ray.

The Siren descended from a hanging platform, guiding a wounded Xenos—a kobold—who walked with difficulty. A gash crossed his side, bleeding moderately but steadily. Ray carried a bowl of viscous ointment that smelled of mint and magic stone.

"Kael." she called gently. "Help me here."

He blinked.

"Me?"

"Yes. Most here have claws, scales, or clumsy paws," she explained with a warm smile. "But you… you have soft hands. Perfect for this."

'…Baby hands, huh?' he recalled Let's teasing. Smiling ironically, he approached the wounded Xenos.

Kael knelt without complaint. Ray handed him the ointment.

"Spread it on the wound firmly, but don't press too hard," she instructed. "This will seal it within hours."

As he applied the medicine, she spoke softly.

"He went out with a small group to hunt—to gather magic stones. A Mammoth Fool caught them by surprise."

Kael tightened his jaw, still working.

"They didn't encounter adventurers?"

"Fortunately, no," she replied. "If they'd seen your organized group hunting… it would've been problematic. For everyone."

He nodded.

'Yes… too dangerous. Even if they don't attack, rumors could spread. And then…'

When he finished, Ray cleaned the excess with moss cloth.

"Thank you." she said softly, voice carrying gratitude.

"You're welcome." he replied, smiling gently.

For a few seconds, neither spoke. The wounded Xenos slept, thanks to sedative roots applied earlier.

Then, as Ray moved away, Kael was alone for a moment.

He gazed at his hands—they still smelled of sap and medicine. In that instant, he thought of Marie.

The Mermaid who accompanied him when he needed it most. Who had saved him when all seemed lost. Her memory didn't hit hard—it came softly… and suddenly struck him: nostalgia.

'This place… this life… these moments…'

They weren't part of his plan. Never were. But somehow, they pulled him away from his obsession with the surface. And at the same time, they held him. As if his body—his soul—sensed that here, among warm roots and strange glances, there might be something like a peaceful life. A sense of belonging.

Something he didn't fully understand.

But what he did understand… was that it was only an illusion. A trick of the heart. A borrowed longing.

Because he—better than anyone—knew what was coming. The story hadn't started yet. But it was coming soon. And when it did… everything would spiral out of control. The balance would break. Decisions would become irreversible. And these moments—these silences, these laughs, these shared labors—would vanish like smoke.

But still…

Kael wanted to live a little longer.

Even if it was… just a little more.

**

The hours passed. The Xenos village seemed to never rest—they were always doing something, helping, cooperating. It was a unity born of pain, of sorrow, of hatred directed at them… and yet, it was beautiful. Kael had followed their example, trying to focus on helping as much as he could. But his mind kept drifting back to her.

Ranye.

He hadn't seen her all day, and yet… he felt her. As if her gaze still followed him from the shadows. As if her presence inhabited the empty spaces, the silences between word and word.

Then a voice interrupted him.

"Kael… when did you and Ranye become so close?" asked Fear, appearing between the roots with her usual curious expression.

Kael blinked, a little surprised. He didn't expect her to ask that kind of question out of nowhere. He cleared his throat, trying to sound casual.

"It's not like we've gotten close… we just… get along a little, I guess."

From the side, Let let out a raspy chuckle.

"A little?" he muttered. "I've never seen her so nervous. Usually she looks like she'd kill you if you stared too long. But now... I thought you were afraid of her, but it looks like the feeling's mutual."

Kael didn't respond. He just shot him a sharp look, which the goblin returned with a mocking little smile and a knowing gesture before disappearing into one of the tunnels.

After awkwardly saying goodbye to Fear following Let's teasing, Kael went back to what he was doing, but his thoughts kept circling back to her.

'Maybe… I went too far last night,' he thought. 'I should probably talk to her. I don't want to leave things unresolved.'

Having made up his mind and following his instincts, Kael walked for a while until he reached one of the higher platforms in the central cave, where the mosslight grew dimmer and the hanging roots formed natural curtains. And there, finally, he saw her.

She sat in silence, her spider body folded in a relaxed position, and her human hands patiently weaving strands of silk between her rear legs. She looked focused, but at the same time… distant. As if she wove not out of necessity, but to keep her thoughts busy.

Kael approached carefully, not wanting to break the delicate balance of the moment.

"Ranye," he said softly, without intruding. "I wanted… to apologize for yesterday."Though it hadn't exactly been his fault, he still felt the need to say it. He sensed he may have made her uncomfortable when he tried to drink her blood.

She lowered her gaze. Her hands stopped moving, and the strand of silk hung suspended between her legs. For a moment, she said nothing. Then, with a faint sigh, she spoke.

"You don't have to apologize," she murmured. "You didn't do anything wrong. I just… I don't know what happened to me."

Kael nodded slowly. He didn't fully understand what she meant, but she didn't seem angry or uncomfortable with him anymore. And that was enough.

"I brought you something."

He opened a small pouch—the one he'd carried from Marie's cave. Inside it—or rather, inside his shadow—he had kept one of the magic stones Ranye had offered him the previous day. He hadn't really known why he kept it—it had been more of an impulse than anything else… but now he was glad he had.

"Fear told me you haven't stopped working since early. I thought… maybe you'd be a little hungry."

She looked at him for a second. A spark of surprise lit up in her eyes before she reached out and took the stone delicately. She examined it for a moment… then lowered her head slightly.

"Thank you," she said, and this time, her voice had a distinctive tone. Softer. Warmer. A slight blush colored her cheeks. She tried to hide it by lowering her head a bit more.

For a moment, they said nothing more.

They didn't need to.

The silence that formed between them wasn't tense… or awkward. It was a space filled with something gentle. Light. Something they didn't know how to name, but that wrapped around them both naturally.

Kael shifted a little, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. His gaze wandered toward the entrance of the small cave.

"I guess… I'll let you get back to your work," he said at last, in a low, gentle voice, as if not wanting to disturb the calm that had formed between them.

Ranye nodded slowly without lifting her eyes. She only gave a soft "mmm," barely audible. Neither acceptance nor rejection, just… acknowledgment.

Kael said nothing more.

He turned on his heels, and with calm steps, walked away.

His boots made barely a sound on the surface of the cave floor as he exited. The dim mosslight wrapped around him for a moment before swallowing him completely between the descending roots of the tunnel. His figure disappeared… and Ranye was left alone.

For a moment, she did nothing.

She didn't resume her weaving. She didn't move. She just sat there, among the glimmering threads, her crimson eyes fixed on the entrance he had left through. Her face remained calm, but something in her expression had shifted… distant. As if her mind were trapped somewhere else.

Then her gaze dropped.

To her hand. To the magic stone Kael had given her. She observed it for a few seconds. It wasn't a particularly valuable stone. It didn't glow with special light or boast an impressive color. And yet… there was a warmth in her chest that she had never felt before.

For a Xenos, a magic stone wasn't like a human's food. It wasn't a need that surged with urgency. It was an instinct, something that intensified over time—like a thirst that only awakened after going a while without eating a stone. It wasn't painful. It wasn't unbearable. But it was there. Constant. Silent.

A sort of… twisted hunger. Ingrained in their nature. And with just one stone, they could go a whole day without feeling it again.

Ranye brought the stone to her lips. Held it for a moment… and bit down.

—Crunch.

The sound was soft, brittle—barely an echo in the silent cave.

The energy of the stone dissolved into her body like a sip of sweet warmth. It wasn't just magic. It wasn't power. It was something deeper. More intimate.

A memory of what they were. Of what they needed to continue being.

'…Delicious…'

The thought slid through her mind like a whisper. Almost guilty. And yet, something else came with it. A smile. Not wide. Not bold. Not strange.

Just a small curve of her lips. Soft. Peaceful… happy.

An expression so pure it didn't seem to belong to the proud, stubborn, stern, and quiet Arachne the other Xenos knew. It was like seeing a little girl who had just received something unexpected… but secretly wished for.

'…Maybe…'

She didn't finish the thought. It wasn't necessary.

She leaned back over her web and resumed her weaving. But her fingers didn't move with the same tension as before. Her back wasn't as rigid. Her gestures weren't as cold. Now she wove with a different intention.

With softness. With rhythm. As if the thread sliding between her fingers carried within it a spark of something she had never dared to admit. And maybe…

Just maybe… she had begun to change.

**

Kael stepped out of Ranye's cave, his chest still beating faster than he would've liked to admit.

The air outside felt fresher, lighter. As if, upon crossing the threshold, all the invisible weight he had carried inside—the tension, the discomfort, the guilt—began to dissolve little by little. It had gone well. Better than he expected.

He smiled softly.

'I guess this is a beginning…'

But just as he thought he could take a longer breath, a sound ripped through the village's stillness.

A shriek.

Sharp. Instinctive. As sharp as a blade breaking through the air.

Cliff.

Kael didn't need to think. He ran. The root platforms vibrated under his feet as his body surged forward through tunnels, jumps, and branches. The roar of his heart merged with the air's whisper. He didn't ask. He didn't hesitate.

And then he saw it.

At the entrance of the cave where Naaza slept, a Xenos—a Hobgoblin—stood tall, a sharp stone raised in his hands. Cliff was the only thing between him and her, his feathers ruffled, wings spread wide, shrieking in panic. But the attacker didn't stop.

His hands were already raised. Ready to plunge that stone into the chest of an unconscious Naaza.

Kael acted without thought. His energy responded. The blood in his body surged.

A scarlet projection emerged from his palms, slicing through the air with lethal precision. A thin, swift spear struck the stone at the exact moment it descended. The impact sent it flying, clattering against the floor with a dull thud.

Another blood projection rose instantly—a chain—that wrapped around the Hobgoblin's arms and tightened with controlled strength. It didn't hurt him. Just restrained him.

Time seemed to stop. Cliff took a step back, looking at Kael with a faint glimmer of relief in his blue eyes.

Kael stepped forward.

The Hobgoblin panted, chest heaving, face twisted by a mix of rage, fear, and pain.

"You… you betrayed your own for her!" he spat, voice cracked. "She's from the surface! One of them!"

Kael looked at him seriously. Not with anger. Not with judgment. Just with a quiet firmness that didn't seek to crush, but to contain.

"You don't have to hurt her," he whispered. "I know what you fear. What you've seen. But not all surface dwellers are the same. She is not your enemy. She's done nothing—to you or anyone else."

The Hobgoblin struggled, but his strength faded. His body trembled. Tears—thick, bitter—began to fall.

And then he dropped to his knees, releasing a strangled sob.

The blood projection dissolved gently, fading into the air with a red shimmer. Kael lowered his hands.

The Hobgoblin cried, face buried in his hands, the stone long out of reach.

Kael watched in silence.

He knew that scream wasn't just his. It was the echo of all who had lost something. Of all the Xenos who had watched their brothers die. Tortured. Hunted. Torn apart.

That scream… belonged to them all.

And then, without warning, Gross appeared.

He emerged from one of the nearby tunnels, as if he had always been watching from the shadows. His body, like a stone statue, looked even more unshakable under the dim mosslight. His eyes locked onto Kael.

And he spoke—"You're still here."

That was all he said.

It wasn't reproach. Nor threat. Just a statement. A dry truth with something hidden beneath… like a reluctant acknowledgment. Something like respect—Gross's kind of respect.

"That's more than I expected."

Kael said nothing. Just nodded slightly. At his side, Cliff stepped closer with heavy steps and pressed his forehead against Kael's arm for a moment, silently grateful.

The Hobgoblin remained on the ground. But he no longer screamed. He only trembled, curled in on himself, as if the weight of his hatred was finally beginning to crumble.

Kael looked at Naaza, still asleep, still unaware of everything.

He took a deep breath, relieved, but his jaw stayed tense. His gaze never left Naaza.

She remained asleep. Defenseless. Unconscious. And he… he had almost failed her.

He was supposed to protect her. He had promised himself. Promised her. Even if she hadn't heard it, even if she never knew… Kael had sworn it silently.

Gross approached with slow steps, as if measuring every word before speaking. The Hobgoblin didn't move. His breathing was uneven, but his rage had faded. Only a faint tremble remained.

"You shouldn't have left her alone," Gross growled—not harsh, but not gentle either.

Kael didn't turn around.

"I know."

The silence stretched. Only the steady dripping of water broke the tension.

"What will you do with him?" Kael finally asked, gesturing toward the Hobgoblin.

Gross crossed his arms. He thought for a few seconds, unblinking.

"Nothing."

Kael squinted slightly, confused.

"Nothing?"

Gross let out a huff.

"What would you do? Beat him? Lock him up? Banish him?"

"No," Kael replied after a pause. "But…"

"Exactly. No 'but,' kid. He's broken. Like many of us. Only, his wound is still bleeding. You stopped it today. Maybe tomorrow… he'll close it himself."

Kael lowered his gaze. He hadn't expected that answer. Not from Gross.

"I didn't trust you," the Xeno leader said, not turning. "Still don't. Not completely. But… you did the right thing. And you did it without hesitation."

Cliff let out a small sound beside him, a low huff, and Kael could almost feel his approval.

Gross sighed, louder this time.

"When one of us attacks another out of fear, all we gain is more pain. But you… you stopped it without hurting him. That says more about you than any words."

Kael didn't answer right away. There was nothing he could say that would mean more than what he had already done.

"Thank you…" he finally murmured.

Gross grunted something unintelligible, turned around, and walked away. As if the whole exchange had been just a footnote in his day.

Kael watched him leave. It wasn't full acceptance. Nor an alliance. But it was something. A crack in the stone.

At his side, Cliff stepped closer. His heavy steps reverberated like muffled drums. The hippogriff stopped beside Kael and lowered his feathered head. With a gentle gesture, he brushed his forehead against Kael's arm. Just for an instant. A symbol of silent, deep gratitude.

Kael didn't need words. Nor did Cliff. That gesture was enough.

Meanwhile, the Hobgoblin remained on the ground. His body no longer fought. No longer tense. Just curled into himself, breathing heavily. As if the weight of hatred that had driven him until now… had finally broken him.

Kael looked away to Naaza. Still asleep, her breathing calm under the soft mosslight. Her skin pale beneath the blanket of protective roots.

'Thank God…' he thought, chest tight. 'I made it in time.'

Because if he hadn't… if she had awoken to screams, or worse, to blood… he would never have forgiven himself.

Never.

**

The air still vibrated with the tension left by the attempted attack, but silence was beginning to settle again. The Hobgoblin was being led away by two strong Xenos, wordless, their eyes heavy and downcast. Gross had brought them. He only watched without speaking. As if deep down, he knew there was no need for lectures.

Kael stayed a moment longer beside Naaza, checking that her breathing remained steady. The rise and fall of her chest was still there, calm, unaware of the danger that had brushed past her just minutes ago.

Then Ray arrived.

Her golden feathers shimmered under the bluish light, and her steps were serene but purposeful. She didn't seem to have witnessed the incident, but her expression made it clear that something important needed immediate attention.

"Kael," she said gently, her voice flowing like a muted melody. "I need your help with something."

Kael turned to her, focus instantly sharpening.

"What's going on?"

"One of ours had an accident. Nothing serious, but… I'm out of healing ointment. I need to gather some lunar herb. It grows on the northern side of the floor. I want you to come with me."

But then, Ray—sensing the tension in the air—seemed to hesitate for a moment. She glanced sideways, a slight uncertainty in her voice.

"If you're busy… I can ask someone else."

Kael stayed silent for a few seconds, then shook his head.

"No. It's fine. I'll go."

Ray watched him a second longer, as if evaluating his sincerity. Then nodded with a small, grateful smile. Kael returned the gesture. He was tired, still tense from what had happened. And he wasn't the only one.

The air still carried the weight of the earlier scene. The attack on Naaza still hung heavy, and several Xenos had gathered nearby after hearing the screams—faces peering from the roots, eyes watchful and concerned. Among them, Kael saw Let, who had descended from one of the higher platforms.

Kael turned for a moment, scanning the area, and raising his voice just enough so Let could hear, he said—

"Let. Can you watch over her while I'm gone? Just in case."

The goblin raised an eyebrow, his red scarf fluttering slightly as he turned to him. He crossed his arms with that typical expression that blended sarcasm and sincere commitment.

"Of course, baby hands. Don't think anyone's getting near her after that. Leave it to me."

Kael nodded, relieved. With Let there, he could leave in peace.

But before he could take a single step, something glided down with the grace of a living shadow from one of the moss-covered side walls. Silent. Precise. Like a thread of darkness woven by the cave itself.

Ranye.

Her body descended with steady cadence, her black limbs gripping the thick moss as if part of the natural structure. The dark armor she wore blended with the shadows, gleaming faintly beneath the soft yellow mosslight. Her helmet completely concealed her face—a barrier between her and the world. It was the same armor and helmet he'd seen before in her cave.

But her voice, when it came, didn't need expression.

It was firm. Direct. Unyielding.

"Then I'm coming too."

Kael looked at her in silence. Just for a second. There was no blush. No hesitation. Not even a hint of vulnerability. Only resolution. She had returned to being the Ranye he remembered from the story.

Ray, already prepared to depart, looked at her calmly. She wasn't surprised. Nor did she object.

"The more the better, I guess. Let's move. The sooner we go, the sooner we come back," she said.

And so they departed.