Ch.4747. Vampire (3)

In this world, there exist various types of magic, each with its own powerful spells that could be called ultimate techniques, known as “Extremes.”

These “Extreme” spells are, so to speak, the most difficult and mystically superior applications of each magic type. Because of this, these “Extremes” differ in form, type, and number depending on the magic they belong to.

For example, the earthquake spell I’ve been casting is one of the “Extremes” of nature magic, and other natural disaster recreations like volcanic eruptions typically fall under the “Extremes” of druid magic.

“Haa, haa, haa, haaaa…”

And the spell that Sophia is now casting while breathing heavily is also an Extreme of magic.

To be precise, it’s a spell called “Celestial Meteor,” an Extreme of celestial magic.

This spell, worthy of the name Extreme, opens a passage connected to the celestial realm, draws power (energy) from there, and drops it in the form of a meteor with tremendous destructive force.

Since it’s magic derived from celestial power (energy), the meteor is imbued with powerful divine force, making it exceptionally effective against undead vampires, who are inherently vulnerable to holy power.

In fact, this alone would be more than enough to qualify it as an “Extreme,” but… the true value of this “Extreme” lies elsewhere.

Specifically, it uses celestial power to add “the fate of this meteor striking a specific target” as an additional effect.

The guaranteed hit effect is actually quite simple, present even in some basic attack spells, but the guaranteed hit effect built into the “Celestial Meteor” spell is on an entirely different level.

A fate-level guaranteed hit that confirms a future of impact makes evasion completely impossible.

While other guaranteed hit spells might be circumvented through loopholes, this fateful guaranteed hit is a conceptual effect that cannot be avoided by any means.

A fate that has already been observed and confirmed is a flow of the world that cannot be avoided or defied even by gods. A mere vampire noble cannot go against fate.

-KUGUUUGUUGUUGUUGUUU—KWAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGANG!!!!!

[KUGH, KAAAAAAAAAARGH————!!!!]

Thus, when the celestial magic’s Extreme, “Celestial Meteor,” touched the ground, an enormous white explosion occurred, and a terrible scream erupted from the vampire who took a direct hit.

It was a perfect demonstration of why this magic is called an Extreme… but at the same time, Sophia, who had cast the “Extreme,” wasn’t in great shape either.

“Haa, haa, hnngg…, phew.”

“Astra, please help her!”

[Yes!]

After instructing Astra to heal Sophia, who was clutching her head and groaning from what seemed to be considerable mental strain, I signaled Robo not to let his guard down and glared at the fading white explosion.

Logically speaking, it would be strange for anyone to survive after being hit by an Extreme spell of holy attribute, which is a vampire’s weakness, but…

[Y-you… filthy barbarians!!!]

Sometimes, logic doesn’t apply.

[I’ll kill you, kill you, killkillkillkillkill———!!!!]

The vampire noble, screaming with a terrible voice like scraping metal filled with hatred, had an incredibly horrific appearance.

Most of the clown-like clothes that had covered its skin were now melted and stuck to its body.

The skin was also terribly distorted as if severely burned, with fluid oozing from the cracks, emitting a serious stench.

The face, which had already been grotesquely distorted, was no exception.

The left half had completely melted on the surface, the hair had burned away entirely, and even the eyeball had been crushed, leaving it one-eyed for some time.

The right eye also seemed to have lost most of its light, giving the impression that its focus was oddly misaligned.

But despite this terrible condition, the vampire still appeared far from death.

[DIEEEEEE———!!!]

Having formed bat wings on its back to gain magical flight ability, it charged toward me with blood-formed spear-like objects in both hands, its eyes rolling madly.

I thought it might be more threatening if it threw those blood-made spears to keep me at bay, but if it wasn’t going to take advantage of this favorable situation, wouldn’t that make it the fool?

[Slash!]

-—SHRRK!

With my incantation, claw trajectories carved in the air destroyed the blood-red spears in the vampire’s hands, and the blood that lost its power as spears collapsed and flowed down.

[DIEEEEEE———!!!]

Of course, there was no way this already frenzied creature would stop there.

The vampire instead cupped the flowing blood from its hands, wrapped it around its nails, and unleashed a series of acrobatic combo attacks, transforming its own shape without hesitation.

‘—Dodge!’

[Got it!]

It wasn’t fast enough to catch up with Robo, who was not only naturally quick but also enhanced by the power of wild magic I had cast.

However, that unique body transformation that deviated from normal life form structures was quite troublesome.

From the perspective of maintaining self-identity, vampires who were originally human risk the collapse of their very self if they transform their bodies too drastically.

It sounds simple, but it’s a serious condition that could turn them into monsters if they’re not careful.

[■■DIE■■■DIEDIE——————!!!]

…Well, looking at that wretched creature now, it doesn’t seem to be considering such risks.

[Slash!!]

Anyway, the current battle situation wasn’t too bad.

Robo, carrying me on his back, was calmly responding to the vampire’s bizarre movements and using the textbook hit-and-run tactics, while my occasional slashing spells carved away at the vampire’s flesh.

I currently have about 15 percent of my total mana left.

With this much, it might be possible to hold out somehow until the vampire self-destructs by dragging out the time, but… there’s no particular need for that.

“—Now!”

[O Sun!!]

[Grow!]

The moment I retreated and shouted that, Minerva’s vines grew to bind the vampire, and simultaneously, Sophia, who had finished recovering with Enrok’s help, unleashed a magic of sunlight.

This magic, which merely emits sunlight, was originally a celestial spell used to secure visibility.

However, after it was discovered to be especially effective against certain races fatally vulnerable to sunlight… the direction of the magic changed significantly.

Instead of illuminating darkness with sunlight, it was condensed and fired like an attack spell.

[GYAAAAA■AAA■A■■A■■■———!!!]

-TSSSSSSSS…!!!

The condensed golden sunlight gradually melted the vampire’s body upon contact, forming smoke.

Although mid-level vampires originally had no major problems under the sun except for slight condition deterioration, it was too much to withstand condensed sunlight in a weakened state after being beaten up.

As the vampire screamed in the pain of its melting body,

I couldn’t help but be disgusted by the sight of this damned creature still tenaciously enduring despite taking so much damage.

Not only had its body been wrecked once from a failed spell casting, but it had also taken a direct hit from an Extreme of celestial magic, and if that wasn’t enough, it was still enduring my slashes, Robo’s claw attacks, and even having its body melted by Sophia’s sunlight beam.

The left arm, which was already disfigured with burn marks, had now melted into dust.

More than half of its body had already carbonized and turned into black charcoal, and the rest of its body could hardly be considered a normal form.

“…Prophet, I’m amazed that thing is still alive.”

“Honestly, I’m thinking the same thing.”

Of course, the vampire, literally just barely alive, had already reached its limit.

Its body was damaged beyond the point of self-regeneration, and its mind, which wasn’t particularly sound to begin with, had already collapsed.

Vampires tend to try to maintain their human-era self with an immortal’s mental structure and soul.

Considering how common mental illness is among vampires, this isn’t particularly surprising.

And now, it seems the end has come for this vampire as well.

As I simply watched the vampire, at some point, the mystical force that maintained its existence collapsed, and its body began to crumble.

The charred lumps that had precariously remained as limbs broke off and shattered. Its head sank to the ground, turning to powder.

Even the part that was once the torso was completely destroyed, and now the last remaining part of the torso lost its strength and crumbled.

This was the end of the evil mage who had worn the shell of a seemingly noble aristocrat, deceived himself with delusions, and created countless victims.