Vampire Infection

"Filthy, how filthy! Do I really have to accept that you're qualified to take on the challenges of the hero? You don't have that right, but those are the rules… what to do, what should I do?" The hallowed voice was enraged as it screamed, I was confused listening to it but when it said that it probably meant it wasn't going to try and kill me again which was a good enough for me.

"Challenger of what?" I interrupted, I'd almost been killed and I still didn't know what for, whatever 'this' was it had to be something dangerous but I had a feeling that whatever it was could only be beneficial to me.

"Since you don't know let me inform you, this is the 58th Training Challenge of the Human Inquisition – based on the Germania and under the command of the Holy Roman Empire." It said shortly, every word was more shocking than the last but what stood out was that this was a challenge for Humans…

"How many people have passed this challenge?" I asked cautiously, it was already shocking enough that this existed but the fact that this was the 58th Challenge was the most shocking part.

"By my count… twenty-thousand give or take?" The voice said casually although I could tell he was uncertain of the exact figure but who could blame it, after enough people had passed you'd eventually stop counting.

"All of them humans?" I asked, "Yes." was the reply I received. The only reassuring fact was that the last challenger was nine-hundred years ago which meant he'd be long dead by now and if he wasn't… let's not think about it.

"So what exactly is this place? What's it for?" I asked curiously, what was it that the humans of the time needed to train to defeat? Or were places like these the reason the Holy Roman Empire managed to conquer their enemies.

"To explain that would take too long, places like these were used to train the heroes who led the Romans to victory during war, I was fortunate enough to have Hercules born from my trials. One of the greatest heroes of the time and he was also the final hero to ever be trained within these walls. Simply put this is a training place of heroes, those that experience and pass through the trials are destined to become heroes and the fact that you are here is a mistake, a mistake I cannot rectify but nonetheless a mistake. The fact that you don't speak Latin is a grave enough sin to have me warrant your death, but the outside world probably has changed in recent years to accommodate filth like you as part of the Empire." He said suddenly, his voice morphing from yearning to anger directed at me. Ignoring him there was only one question on my mind that I wanted to ask, "Then how are we speaking?"

"Hahahahah, you think we're speaking? I'm talking directly to your mind in no language, I am conveying the meaning of my words into something your brain can understand but physically I have no mouth to speak from and no voice that exists." He said proudly, I could hear the disdain in its voice as it spoke and the urge to punch whatever 'it' was arose but I restrained myself for now, it was impossible to hit an enemy I couldn't see or touch.

"The fact is that I'm forced to allow you to pass through the trials! Anyone who can survive the golems is allowed to experience the trials themselves even if they're not aligned with the Empire, this rule was put in place to provide all an equal chance – but under the surface everyone knew that the golems were simply here to kill the idiots unfortunate enough to come here." It said, it seemed to be remembering 'fonder' times as it spoke of killing, I could sense the excitement in its voice when it mentioned the 'idiots' that were so unfortunate as to cross it.

"Of course I don't think you'll survive, with the meagre skills you've showed off so far it's impossible for you to pass! You simply got lucky when passing the golems, the enemies you'll face will be many times stronger and you have no choice of rejection so either way I'll be able to see you die!" It said with delight causing my skin to crawl as I imagined whatever this thing was enjoying watching me die.

"Tch, it's only a shame that I have to let someone like you be graced by experiencing these trials which were created by the gods themselves!" I had chosen to ignore it's snarky comments and focused on the important parts like the fact that people like Hercules had actually existed and weren't myths.

If even the demi-gods of Roman mythology were real then did that mean these trials were really created by the gods? I didn't want to believe it was true but if it was that was an incredible piece of information, it would even provide an explanation for the existence of 'Levels.'

"When you're finished doing whatever it is you're doing just jump down the hole," A hole suddenly appeared in the middle of the room leading into a pit of darkness, I leaned over the edge but even with my night vision I couldn't see the bottom or if it had a bottom. "Or if you want to be useful you can try escape through the hole you came in through and kill yourself, you'll be heavily compensated when crossing the River Styx I promise." It said enticingly, although I wouldn't be stupid enough to willingly walk to my death it made me realise that 'it' probably had no way of tricking me into dying either.

It had reminded me that the 'way out' I'd broke through existed but it'd also included that by trying to escape I'd kill myself in the process.

With no other way out it seemed my only choice was to take the leap… literally.