episode_0040

In the realm of demons and human common sense, it’s a forgotten art. Unlike the blessings that directly use divine power to bestow ‘buffs’ or the give-and-take contracts of demons, bloodsuckers had a concept known as “authority.” It was a forgotten concept, not something directly inherited from a noble lineage or the divine power of a duke. The very fact that humans could freely wield such power was inherently contradictory. So, it was acceptable to consider the phenomenon happening to me as exceptional.

Indeed, a proficient dark mage who previously handled blood magic adeptly once kidnapped other bloodsuckers in an attempt to experiment with their powers on himself due to his coveting of the bloodsucker’s abilities. However, ultimately, it proved impossible to alter the ‘species.’

Even if a bloodsucker, inheriting the noble’s blood, turned others into bloodsuckers, it didn’t mean the ‘bloodline’ continued, so the authority differed. Only by directly birthing and bestowing the pattern of authority could one finally wield this privilege.

However…

[????? Emperor of Blood (EX)]

[The vividly remembered bloodsucking.]

[Responds to the user’s imprint.]

A blood-shaped spot slowly descends down the arm, etched subtly on the neck. The concept of belonging to the status window and the Emperor of Blood. Since this ability did not appear in the original work, I don’t precisely know what power it is. There’s just the idea of copying Uriah’s physical abilities and using her characteristics, talents, and authority. Originally, I only used her talents to some extent. There was never an event where the species turned into bloodsuckers. If you think about what kind of ability the ‘racial trait’ might have, it was a significant demerit.

There must be a reason why level 5 was set as the limit from the beginning. The thought that arises here is the choice to turn me into a bloodsucker. Considering the role that ‘species’ plays within the world, it’s a considerable risk, but simply put, when it comes down to results, I now possess the potential that the best-condition Uriah can display for about 30 seconds. No, perhaps I might even surpass that.

“…”

The barrier made of blood engulfs the nest. Think of it as a miniature version of what was used at the mansion.

However, thanks to the reduction in size, it brought several merits.

Back then, at best, it was only summoning kin and confining them, creating a favorable environment for vampires…

But now, the power I feel has increased by about 2 to 3 times.

Instantly, the sense of omnipotence from the visible magic overwhelmed my mind.

However, in that moment.

[?????-(Yuria) is interested in you.]

[Yuria is extremely displeased with the onlooker.]

…Hmm, I’m not sure what it means.

Could it be an obsession or jealousy within the body itself?

Suddenly, thorns of blood, not commanded, pierced through the eyeball of the observing Baphomet, as if killing those who spectate the act of blood-sucking.

Perhaps temporary.

Then, I felt a sensation as if Yuria was embracing my neck.

Is this Yuria’s favorite form of intimacy, an affectionate expression unique to vampires?

Just feeling the soft touch of lips on my neck made it clear that she wanted to drink my blood.

‘…Can she still drink blood in that state?’

….

I stared at Ian, who had shattered Baphomet’s surveillance eye in one blow.

No way.

Am I trembling right now?

Just because of such a human.

However, the tremor doesn’t stop.

More mature than that woman, and something stronger, fills the surroundings.

A life force directed solely at oneself.

For just a moment, there was a feeling of someone older, a ‘vampire’ who had aged more than that woman, but then disappeared.

Even just watching felt impolite.

Vampire.

Unlike decades ago when they were outnumbered by many hunters.

With overwhelming power alone, they stood above demons.

Even among Baphomet’s subordinates, memories of vampires from that time exist due to their long age.

As evidence, even Baphomet did not rashly intervene.

“…Damn it.”

The dark mage tried to properly cast black magic, but

-Clang.

The magical ritual.

Was shattered.

Not physically, but it seems more appropriate to consider it as the very origin of the magic being twisted. Continuing without time to react. The body flew through the air.

After coming to his senses, he was pinned to the wall, blood pouring out.

“Ugh….! This… can’t be.”

Clearly, I had confirmed what a human was many times.

However, why did I feel the presence of a being that surpassed the ‘wall’ imposed by such a trivial human…!

The sensation I first felt was identical to that maid’s.

But the vampire clinging behind this human Ian…

More of a monster, there was no other way to describe it.

Before, it was a larva, now it’s an adult.

If it had endured for a few seconds, it seemed like it would leave the human, but there was no room for that.

“Rather than becoming a devil, or whatever about Baphomet. All demons are just scavengers anyway. Even the one peeping over there.”

It wasn’t something Ian would say.

Like the maid’s arrogant attitude. It seemed to be made in her image.

And with Ian’s outstretched fingertips, dozens of spears surged.

It was a simple magic spell. Just like flipping the most basic switch a magician uses, without much thought, as if moving arms and legs without using ‘nerves’.

However, such a natural act of moving arms and legs.

Soon becomes power and strength.

“…!”

Realizing the situation, the demon with the highest level of agility blocked his path. Although momentarily shocked at effortlessly piercing through the body, the demon staggered back repeatedly and fell to the ground.

Then various weapons made from the blood of the fallen were scattered behind him.

Spears, swords. Weapons of haphazardly created forms fell.

Due to the numerous holes in the body, it was difficult to move properly, but an instinctual sense of avoiding those attacks rang alarm bells in the brain.

However, it was Ian’s bait.

In an instant, the skin of the top-level demons who had died earlier burned red and screamed in agony.

Those impaled by the widely poured swords began to transform into ash in an instant.

Straight away, I reached out my arm, but it was impossible to make them self-destruct. It meant that the control had already shifted.

“…You!”

The demons rushed at me, grabbing my arms and legs.

Normally, it would have been a meaningless act. It should have been easy to shake off the power of a creature who had forcibly strengthened itself with the power of the nest from a lower level to a higher one.

But.

-Thud!

With an unimaginable force that couldn’t be considered as the demon’s strength, which was merely below mine, the demon’s arms and legs twisted at grotesque angles. In that moment of shock, my body was once again enveloped in a pool of blood due to Ian’s flying fist. The black demon’s blood filled the ground.

Just with a basic punch and a light use of blood magic. All authority was taken away, the control of the nest was lost, and even arms and legs were effortlessly broken without using hands. Due to several organs and muscles being torn, regeneration also took a few seconds.

For the first time in my life, symptoms of dizziness and the taste of bitter, metallic blood filled my mouth.

Even when facing that maid in a subdued state, it wasn’t like this.

At least a few minutes of battle should have been endured.

However, that vampire… didn’t allow any attacks against itself at all.

It’s humiliating.

The second humiliation experienced after the first.

The demon gritted its teeth.

“….You… you!”

I don’t know what he did to suddenly become a vampire.

At least to survive here and to kill that arrogant man, I had to endure first.

That thought led to survival instinct, and the demon’s body began to expand gradually.

‘If I use this… I might have to suffer that fate again for a few years. But I can’t die here.’

A second life, if this ends, I will just disappear without any kind of resurrection ritual.

For the vampire, it’s abilities; for the priest, it’s sanctity; for the demon, it’s a contract.

And forbidden techniques.

Sacrifice, offering oneself to the demon to amplify its power is a binding sacrifice.

Up until now, the power that temporarily grants extreme strength by using accumulated mana and the humans killed. Its effect was far more powerful than one’s own imagination.

“…What, are you using that?”

However, in front of me, a mocking voice mixed with sneering laughter could be heard.

“You, throwing out bait to humans like a lower demon… it’s nothing but a puppet show.”

In reality, what the demon uses is the demonification, which was used when dealing with Dylan in the early stages of the original work, succumbing to the demon’s whisper and using demonification. However, it is infamous for its inefficiency, as it only ends the life of a single human. The true value comes when the demon, the contractor itself, sacrifices a lot of lifespan, and the offering must be enormous to grant some power. However, in return, the demon takes the lifespan of the contractor, and after use, it falls into a state tens of times weaker than its original state, so it is a technique used for desperate measures unless one is on the verge of death.

“Baphomet died so miserably, there’s no difference even if it’s a subordinate.”

A handful of black mana, not even reflecting a glimmer of light, surrounded the demon’s fist.

The purpose was to buy time. It wasn’t about directly engaging; even if it meant losing some body parts, as long as he recovered, it would be fine. Vampires were also famous for their fast recovery, but demon mana was different. If he could somehow gnaw away at the creature’s power and switch to a full defensive posture, he might survive.

That’s what he had thought.

“It’s too similar.”

Ian raised his hand once, just before lightly bringing it down.

And with that gesture, enough familiars sprang forth to fill the barrier and immobilize him.

Can’t… move…!

It was impossible beyond squirming as if his body had instantly stiffened.

Even if he tried to strike with his fist, he couldn’t budge due to the numerous familiars clinging to his body.

Then, the wolf, created from concentrated mana, bit into the falling fist, swallowing it effortlessly.

If you saw such an unbelievable sight, you might just stand there, dumbfounded.

In such an unbelievable situation, one couldn’t even distinguish whether this was reality or not.

The demon simply stared at the torn wrist with dilated pupils.

A body strengthened by all sorts of power. Naturally, he was convinced that it would be absolutely impossible to stop him with just a mere subordinate.

He had even become much stronger than before, so much so that even if it was the power that enhanced the highest-grade demon, it would still be inadequate to block it.

It wasn’t even his hand.

It was just an ordinary subordinate who couldn’t resist, and yet it was restrained.

The demon was in such a state of shock that he couldn’t even realize what had happened to himself.

“What on earth… What on earth are you…!

Even as he screamed, unable to resist as he was being trampled upon like an ant on the verge of death, due to the demons made of insects creeping into his mouth, it became impossible to speak.

All defenses were shattered, unable to do anything.

The subordinates of the vampire began to devour his entire body.

The fact that he would become his subordinate when he was completely consumed filled his mind.

“Arghhh…! Ugh… Aaaaah…!!!!”

All the demon could do was to wring out all his strength and lament in agony.

He just stood there watching, as if touching his hand was a filthy act.

It was humiliating.

However, this did not change the situation.

The reality was that he couldn’t even shake off his subordinate.

Despite the tremendous speed of regeneration, the creatures that had taken root in his body were eating at an even faster pace. Even though his regenerated body was killing them, they were constantly infiltrating from the gaping holes in his torso.

The difference was so great that there was no room for resistance.

“Do you know the only way for a vampire to kill a demon?”

Ian was still motionless.

The demon’s blood was already pooling along with flesh.

‘Are they… killing me… more agonizingly…!!!’

To dominate him under his control as a subordinate, it would be enough to dominate him and leave some behind.

It wouldn’t have been strange if he had become a ghoul right then and there, dominated just like the demons next to him.

It’s as if this is a cruel way of enjoying the process of dying in agony.

“Y-you… vile… bastard…!”

Starting from the viciously torn right eyeball, the ghouls began to invade all the way to the head.

Shaking my body around, but as my loyal demons took turns tearing at my head and crushing my lower body, they began to trample me.

Dying, reviving, dying, reviving.

In a place filled only with red and black, the demons screamed silently.

Reaching out my final hand, he just stood there, silently staring.

As if, not even recognizing this as an act of murder. Unconsciously killing lives.

Just. A figure that kills without any emotion, like a killing machine.

“Look at yourself. Who knows how vile you are.”

With that, the demon died.

….

Vile indeed.

The demon being devoured by bugs is truly grotesque, with its entrails spilling out.

Frowning and turning my head, there hung Uriah in a semi-transparent state.

The only difference… she seemed more mature.

Glancing at the demon, she smiled as if asking for praise.

-“Did I do well?”

That expression.

In truth, apart from throwing the first punch, I did nothing.

Just following the incoming knowledge, as if someone else was controlling my body to fight.

This torturous style of combat wasn’t my way either.

It must have been Uriah’s retribution for causing ‘harm’ to my body.

-“He’s watching.”

Uriah’s message conveyed through her mouth shape.

Here, “he” referred to Baphomet and the other legion commanders.

He silently stared at me from the void.

Uriah destroyed his surveillance eye once, but soon it regenerated, watching over me.

With a twisted, eerie grin, he just watched me nonchalantly.

Silence fell over the forest.

The surroundings began to grow cold.

The nest was completely destroyed.

The reason he’s just watching might be because I nearly killed him, but more so because he’s now seen my current form.

The boundary will be unmistakably visible even at a glance. The power that has been absent for decades, I am using it. “…I wonder what kind of reaction I’ll get.” A vampire. Moreover, it is the manipulation of one of the most powerful abilities possessed only by direct bloodline, if measured solely by strength. Even while wielding this ability, she displayed a relaxed demeanor, maintaining her sanity and communication without resorting to forced contracts or drugs. It’s likely that he has never seen a human handle the abilities of a duke-level vampire so perfectly. “…Well, I didn’t write it myself.” I felt more like a conduit calling “her.” Next time I use this power, I might be able to mimic it to some extent, but this time it was a technique closer to possession. A woman who freely handles things that are usually unimaginable for me. All I did was lead him to kill. However, for now, I will be the primary target of Baphomet’s vigilance. After all, I possess and call forth this power. Perhaps… if the power I’ve shown here is revealed even in the demon world, there will be quite a few things happening. Because. “G…ugh.” Holding up the head of the demon, partially crushed by the shredder, I look into his eyes. After manipulating him and rushing him towards Baphomet. Thud, thud, thud, I crush his head. […….] “You too, will end up like this soon.” Subsequently, as the demon self-destructs. I completely burst Baphomet’s eyes.