"Which task do you have for me, your Majesty?" I ask with keen eyes, noticing Old man Duke's strange expression.

"Well let me start from here. The Dhampirs sent a message to me," Old man Duke says with a sigh, glancing at Zamira as if hesitating to say something.

"Immediately after the tournament was over, I received a message—a rather bothersome one. The Dhampirs are requesting a marriage between the heirs of our two races. They believe it will bring peace if our heirs marry each other," Old man Duke explains.

Hearing his words, I slowly take it in, weighing the weight of his words. Zamira on the other hand, looks very angry, veins popping on her forehead.

"Those bastards... They are probably afraid now that the vampires are having extremely talented and powerful individuals!" Zamira voices out.

"I don't think that's the case, Zamira. According to Alphonso's report, powerful Dhampirs are also emerging randomly within their leagues, and we all know that if a Dhampir and vampire with the same power level go head to head, the Dhampir would have a significant advantage due to their temporary rise in strength when facing off against a vampire," Old man Duke explains.

"You are right, Your Majesty. I have fought against one, and I almost died. Although I was still weak at that time, there's no doubt Dhampirs are dangerous opponents," I utter, escalating the tension in the air.

"I just don't know what they're after. And about the task I want to give you, well, it's quite simple. I want you to go to the celestial monkey race planet and challenge them," Old man Duke reveals.

Hearing his words, I scrunch my face. Celestial monkey race are a very powerful race. However, due to their low birth rate, there aren't many of them. Heck, their total population in this universe is not up to a million.

"Challenge them? Why?" I finally ask.

"Well, the answer is simple. Just like the Excalibur, your weapon as the Protoss, it was in the possession of the celestial monkey race for thousands of years before it finally got into the hands of that guy. Just like the Excalibur, there are many vampire artifacts and relics with them, some of which their higher-ups have decided to covet for themselves," Old man Duke replies.

"I understand what you are trying to tell me, but going there to beat them up and vomit some thousands of years artifacts is just a bit..." My voice trails off as I don't complete my sentence.

Old man Duke's eyes twinkle with a mix of mischief and wisdom as he listens to my hesitation. His white beard moves slightly as he smiles, showing the decades of experience etched on his face.

"You must understand, Jake," he begins, his voice taking on a more serious tone, "the celestial monkey race may be small in number, but their strength is far from insignificant. They have protected these ancient artifacts for eons, and their guardianship of power weapons has kept the universe in balance. But now, corruption seeps into their ranks, and those who were once the keepers are becoming the exploiters."

"I see... I'll take someone along with me," I say, nodding my head in understanding. Although the most important of all, which is Excalibur, is now back in my possession, having other artifacts to add to my arsenal won't be bad after all.

"Thanks for being willing to go. It would be preferable if you take that guy who found Excalibur along, since he seems to be very skilled and familiar with Excalibur," old man Duke suggests.

"Okay, your majesty," I say, getting up from my seat along with Zamira. I suddenly stop at the doorstep and turn to old man Duke.I think you should take a look at

"What are we going to do about the Dhampirs?" I ask, concern creasing my forehead.

"We are going to ignore them for now. It's not like they can do anything because of the treaty," Old man Duke replies with a hint of dismissal.

"Tell them that if they lay their hands on any vampires, I'll kill them all myself," I say firmly before leaving the room.

_____________________________________

Right now, I am walking towards Arthur's family mansion. It's a place that's pretty far from the palace. Wearing a black long hood, I sneakily get out of the place and slowly walk towards his house. After walking for what seems like an eternity, I finally arrive at Gleloolmes market, a bustling hub where almost everything is sold! It's also one of the most popular places in the world, attracting tourists and visitors from far and wide. Apart from its popularity, Gleloolmes is known for its well-organized market.

Navigating through the vibrant stalls and lively merchants, I keep my hood up, trying to maintain a low profile. The last thing I need is unwanted attention. My mind, however, can't help but wander to the task at hand. I must retrieve Excalibur from Arthur's family mansion.

Walking around Gleloolmes market, I stumble upon a shop that looks alluring. I remembered I promised Stella, to get her an ability crystal. She has always yearned to possess such a treasure, and this seems like the perfect opportunity to fulfill my promise.

"Hello, what types of ability crystals do you have?" I inquire with cautious curiosity, approaching a rough-looking vampire man wearing a red suit, the shop's proprietor.historical

"Please, come inside, esteemed customer," the man replies warmly, gesturing for me to enter.

Nodding my head, I step into the shop. My eyes are instantly drawn to the magnificent armors and weapons displayed outside, their craftsmanship leaving me in awe.

Once inside, I see several wooden shelves with glassy doors, showcasing an array of ability crystals. Some pulsate with strange glows, emitting an ethereal aura that captivates my senses. Seeing all these ability crystals, I can't help but feel a pang of longing. If only I could tap into their power and wield abilities.

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