Blood and Qi: A Vampire Xianxia LitRPG

Alii Pono pursed her lips after hearing Alii state she still wanted to accept the challenge. She held the hand of Alii with both of her own. “I remember when I was a new Alii. Instead of dew, there was a constant monsoon season on my flower. I’d nearly slide out of every chair I sat in. Your flower yearns for a stamen to spray it with pollen. That never changes. If anything, it gets worse.

“But think of the Aikapu. Think long-term. Think of our empire. We advance by both small and great steps over time. Do you think my boys wanted this world conquered peacefully? This is why we lead. This is a Kahaka world now. These subhumans are on the path now. We won’t initiate phase 1 for a while. If this subhuman dies, it means war, and war means retribution. We’ll lose a lot of fine stock. For what? A silly contest? We’ve peacefully gained a marvelous treasure. Why risk so much for so little?”

Alii squeezed the older woman’s hand. “I’ll instruct my boys not to kill him. Just subdue him.”

“No. You can’t,” replied Alii Pono, a sad smile forming on her face. “Your Oliua can’t allow that. When our Oli fight, they fight to win. They fight to kill. Praise be the Aikapu. The subhuman could survive, but any Oli that fight him will go for the kill.”

Eight-four said, “She’s correct, my Alii, but we still must accept. Other than glory for your kauwa, it’ll be much easier to recruit talent if you return from a transport mission with a child. And your boys, they just spent a year locked on a ship with the sight of you etched in their minds, the smell of your flower blossoming lingering in their nose. A peer earning glory for the kauwa and a sticky stamen would do wonders for morale, as would birthing this kauwa’s first child.”

Alii Pono sighed and released Alii’s hand. “I wish I could disagree. It is best for your kauwa, if not mine, and I have no right to stand in the way. May my late and venerable husband, Akua, bless me and allow this subhuman to survive as our prisoner. I don’t want to stand in front of the Nani Aikapu and explain why I became quickened for a deed undone the next day.

“Considering the [Titles] of this subhuman, and that a Bronze, a three, has accomplished what none in our empire have by merging differently colored aspects, I’ll say he’s worth the full five credits to a single victor, or no less than half a credit each for teams of ten or more.”

Eight-four looked at John and asked, “Before we go further, what are the terms you’re offering?”

“You can have whatever you want of me if I lose, but no city can be destroyed in retribution,” replied John. “And if I win, you all leave this planet and no Peerless ever sets foot on it again.”

Three of the invaders laughed. Eight-four hurriedly spurted out, “Deal. I accept the challenge.”

Alii and Alii Pono looked at Eight-four with both horror and surprise. Even the unflappable Two-two-one’s brows furrowed in anger a little more. Alii Pono nearly shouted out, “Eight-four! How dare you accept those terms!? How dare you!? I’m Nani Terra!”

“Yes, explain, my Oliua,” said Alii, staring daggers at Eight-four.

Eight-four smiled, and his smile was even creepier than Hubaba’s. He said, “Do the math, Alii. I’m eight and I accepted the challenge. Remember, we have a four aboard. You saw his suit. Who’s the Silver’s father?”

Alii’s face went from anger to extreme joy in a flash. She bounced on her heels, sending her eight udders jiggling around the material covering them as she held her hands near her head and screeched in glee. “Oh, thank you, Oliua! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! One credit! I can give one full credit for this! Thank you!”

Alii Pono sternly asked, “What am I missing?”

With a giant smile plastered on her face, Alii grabbed the hands of Alii Pono and said, “Akemele Engine IV! He made my ship and part of the payment was taking his son on for his Experiential and Practical! His son is attending Glorious Akua University!

“This…he’ll have to swear to my kauwa! If he wants to put his stamen in my flower. Such favor with Akemele Engine! And a legacy! A legacy! In my kauwa! My first child…the first child of my kauwa will be a legacy too! Oh, great Akua, my late and venerable husband and father, Akua, thank you for such a blessing to Kauwa Naau Pi!”

The face of Alli Pono grew excited too. She said, “Akemele, Inventor of the Perpetual Motion MJ Engine Mark IV?”

Alii nodded excitedly, smiling widely still.

Alii Pono, also smiling widely, said, “If I’m remembering right, Akemele Engine became a father while still a boy, a four himself. His child known since another wasn’t birthed for almost a year after, and the father of Ele are nearly always known anyway. But absolutely known for certain in his case. And to later become Akemele! Your kauwa has truly been blessed. He’ll definitely swear. A legacy fathering a legacy! And as the first child of your kauwa!”

The smile left Alii Pono’s face. “But, as Nani Terra, I still can’t accept how this transpired. Your Oliua is supposed to protect your honor, not disregard it and lead you away from the praised Aikapu. No Oliua should make agreements. We lead, not our boys. And no one, not Alii, not Nani, should consider terms that fall under the jurisdiction of a sitting Nani. Ever, under any circumstance. It is completely unacceptable and contemptuous to the praised Aikapu. It will not stand.

“Further, children aren’t meant to fight. Ele aren’t meant to fight. The first battle of the Challenge of the Mighty Khaga should have the most combatants, not just one. And your Oliua agreed before completing terms and restricting manifestations to only gear, body, and weapon enhancements per custom.

“I understand your kauwa stands to gain much if your Ele student fights and wins. You gain a legacy and birth a new one. You award credits and gain points and great honor and glory. Your flower will be filled, and your chest gains a bud. But you also stand to lose as much honor and glory if the Ele dies.

“None of our boys would ever pass up a chance to cover his stamen in the juices of our flowers, so of course the Ele will agree to fight. It is our duty to avoid such situations. This is what the blessed Aikapu is for. I can’t allow this to go unpunished.”

Eight-four took a knee and bowed his head. “Alii Pono, have you noticed how the Alu, the Natural, has been huffing and puffing since the subhuman brought up the challenge? She wants to order him to stand down. Still does. You said she’s basically an Alii, so he’d have to obey. I had to lock it in while I could, even if it meant taking heat on myself. I had nothing but the honor of my Alii and her kauwa in mind.

“As for making decisions meant for you – I did, and I didn’t. If there was the slightest risk to your mission or ours, no way I would’ve accepted. We have sixty-seven Golds in this kauwa. If a miracle happened and he did win against that, he’d still have to face thirty-two Platinums, eight Diamonds, and me. He wants to die. You read him so you know. Tell her, Two-two-one.”

Two-two-one said, “Yup.”

Eight-four looked up at Alii Pono. “He wouldn’t have accepted lesser terms for us even if we had the time to negotiate before the Alu ordered him to stand down. He said whatever we wanted from him. He’s an all or nothing type of guy. Ask the Alu.”

Alii Pono looked at Amber. Amber, face red with anger, just lowered her head to avoid answering.

“So, the only real risk is to Ele Four-three,” continued Eight-four. “But there’s no risk there either. Sure, Meles aren’t supposed to fight, but they have been. It’s the only way most of them can get their stamens sticky now, isn’t it?

“Our tech is plateauing and until we go Tech 2, our Mele will fight more and more. Same reason you said you knew the Ele would fight. We don’t pass up chances to pound petals. I know it was different in the dark times, and I hate to admit it, but with our tech and the suits they’ve been making, all the peripherals they can control, Mele fight better than we do.”

Two-two-one said, “Yup.”

Eight-four nodded to the Exalted in thanks before continuing. “I promise you that Ele Four-three isn’t at risk. He can control a ton of peripherals. The Akemele made his suit. I’ve never seen anything like it. Even with a four wearing it, the suit’s rated against eights. If he switches from his essence to a higher tier EB, it rates up to Transcendent. That suit must’ve cost more than most kauwas could afford, even the big ones like my old Laka Ka. I have a hard time breaking the shield of Four-three’s suit.

“The Kahaka’s manifestations and aspects won’t matter. Me and Two-two-one’s been testing him since we started talking. He didn’t train like we do. Four-three can shut him down. I promise. There’s no risk. I stuck to the Aikapu. I wouldn’t’ve accepted unless it was the only move and I knew my Alii would want it. I had to lock it in immediately before the Alu ordered him to stand down.”

It annoyed John that all of this was being said right in front of him like he didn’t matter. It annoyed him even more they thought Amber could give him orders he’d obey.

After thinking for a few moments, Alii Pono said, “Well, after hearing you explain, I agree with most of your reasoning and actions. I’m awarding you a full credit too. Wish I could give more. If you have enough, I’d love to cover your stamen in my flower’s juices. Half the award is being deducted for overstepping your boundaries and accepting terms only I can accept as Nani Terra, even if you were right to do so. Your Alii will also deduct the same from her reward.”

Alii Pono put her hand on the brute’s chest. “Good work, Oliua Eight-four. Blessed be the Aikapu. You say there’s no risk to Ele Four-three. If he falls, this all backfires on your kauwa. I dislike big risks, but if I were in your Alii’s shoes, I’d take this risk too. May my late husband and father, the venerable Akua, rain glory down upon Kauwa Naau Pi and this challenge. I just pray the subhuman survives.”

John finally got to see the brain caste. They had the bodies of very fit and athletic humans, though they seemed taller on average.

Other than their absurdly large heads, their hands were the only strange part of their bodies John could see. They had very long and thin fingers with an extra joint, and an extra thumb on both sides of their wrists.

The bulky helmets the brains wore made their heads look even larger. Their faces were handsome by human standards, minus the dark nose and large and pointed ears, but their giant heads didn’t match the size of their bodies at all.

Alii and Eight-four stood near the Silver John would face in the first challenge. The Silver, Ele Four-three, looked the same age as the other two brains. What was very different about him was the strange suit he wore. It was huge compared to the bioware suits the brutes wore, and even the larger bioware suits, or biosuits, the two other brains he saw wearing.

The suit of Four-three was more of a big chair with twelve large spider-legs. The chair also had two massive arms, one with a claw, and one with what John thought to be a large laser. There were also two less large arms, and two smaller arms, making six arms in total, or eight if counting the two natural arms of Ele Four-three

Alii Pono’s children came to watch the challenge. They ranged in age from babes to teens. A Bronze girl that looked to be about fifteen or so watched over all the kids, a suckling babe cradled in one of her arms. There was another girl around twelve or so that seemed to be the older girl’s helper.

There were almost a hundred children. Most were brutes, but there were some brains and one female toddler. Since none wore helmets, the children answered the question on if brutes and brains had hair. They did, though they kept it very short.

John assumed Lilly would be hot for revenge and would’ve already taken over a babe somewhere. If she hadn’t, he knew her target would be that Peerless female toddler. There was no way she’d pass up the chance to be one of their matriarchs.

John began walking towards his starting point. For whatever reason, the Peerless wanted both combatants to start five hundred dans apart. A dan was the universal measurement used by most cultures. It was a little less than nine feet, so they’d be starting about point-eight-five miles apart, or one-point-three-seven kilometers.

Amber cried as she walked beside John. They had already fought a little earlier, and John was getting tired of it.

Amber said, “Seriously, why are you doing this? They said the suit of the Silver you’re fighting is rated against Salts or…they said something about Transcendents. You know you can’t win against all those Golds. Then there’s Platinums and Diamonds and a Salt after. You’ll just die. I’ll be alone.”

John grunted and said, “I’m already alone.”

“Just stop! You don’t have to be.”

“Neither do you,” snapped out John. “What’s the matter? Five hundred not a big enough dating pool for you? Sending out illicit photos to only that small number of men not give you the same thrill? Maybe do another naked commercial selling ointment to darken skin.”

Amber nearly yelled, “I was wearing a bathing suit!”

After a few moments of silence, Amber asked, “What happened to us?” She sighed. “Lilly really messed with our heads. I thought…I thought there was time. For us. Back in the Trial. And all that time we had together with the capsule-thingies. For true love. I wish we could go back. I’d do anything if we could do our time over in that capsule place. Is it…is it because I can’t…you know…have…sex? Or do anything…good…like that?”

John laughed. “I had many chances to relieve myself over the last year. I said no to all. You might not be able to perform the act of sex, but your whole life completely revolves around it. So, tell me, buddy, who is the real sexist between the two of us?”

“That’s not what that word means, John,” loudly exclaimed Amber, her eyes teary. “Can we…can you just take it back? Take back the challenge? Please. We’ll just go to their planet. Like we agreed before. They’re not that bad.”

“Yes. Their women are very much like you and Lilly. You’ll fit in well among them.”

Amber continued to cry as they walked, near the starting point she grabbed John’s arm and stopped him. “Please, John! This is serious! You know I’m nothing like her. You’re not a mean person. I know you’re not. And I know you don’t mean the…the things you say. Just tell me. Tell me, for real. Why are you doing this? You know you could be happy. We could be happy.”

John sighed and rubbed his face with his hands. “I’ve lived too long, Amber. I don’t fit in. I fought so hard to save a world filled with people that despise me. Nothing makes sense anymore. It’s all wrong, and I’m the only one that sees it.”

Amber placed her hand back on John’s arm and said, “Then come with me. Leave this planet. They have a warrior culture. You’ll fit in with them. I know it.”

“It’s not just that, Amber. Nothing I thought was true is. How Lilly betrayed me…my heart hurts so badly. All the time. It won’t stop. I’ve become like men I’ve always looked down on and thought were weak and pathetic, sulking over women, pining for what isn’t and will never be, stuck in the wrongs of the past, and I can’t make it stop.

“My thoughts tell me Lilly made me low and is holding me down. I should be thinking no woman can bring me low, that I am strong enough to make my own fate and create my own destiny, but my mind rejects all such thoughts, as does my heart.”

After looking away from Amber, John cast his eyes downward before continuing. “And you. You want the same of me. We both know how it would go. I’d stay true and you’d sneak around behind my back, justifying it. It’s just pictures. It’s just a date. I can’t have sex so who cares? You need men to desire you. Same as Lilly.

“Why continue to twist me up inside? Why make it worse for me? I swore to free this planet of invasion or die in the attempt. And I will do so. I killed a dark walker. I’m much stronger now. Everyone underestimates me. And when I do what they say can’t be done again, they’ll still make a joke of me and laugh behind my back.”

Amber just looked up into John’s face for a while before she got up on the tips of her toes and put her arms around him. “I’m not laughing at you. I’ve had your back even when I thought you were wrong. Besides with the…the demons in Yemen. That was the only time. I fought Ukaraaz. I followed you with the g’athu. I attacked the demons in India when you did. I attacked Yan when you did. I’ll always have your back.

“Sure, I like it when guys find me attractive, but I only love you, John. I’m not like Lilly. And you’re not a mean person. I love you and I’d…I’d never betray you or sneak around behind your back or…anything. Anything like that. You’ll see. You’re just depressed. You’ll get through it. I know you will.”

After giving John a tight squeeze, Amber said, “And you’re scared. Scared for no reason. You think opening your heart to me would be too risky and…and I’d break it. I never would. I’ll only give my heart to one man. Give it all. Forever. One hundred and ten percent. I’d never betray the man I gave it to. And my heart is yours, John. I already gave it to you.”

Amber kissed John’s cheek before releasing him. She wiped her eyes and smiled. “Now, go show these guys how tough you really are. Do the impossible again, John. Send these jerks running home with their tails tucked between their legs.”