Ch.60Chapter 60: Vampire (16).

“Hah!”

Slash!

“Argh!”

Despite the larger than expected number of troops, Valt’s group was unstoppable.

The level of the deployed troops was at most Grade 5.

It was impossible for them to stop Valt’s group.

“Good, looks like we’ve cleared things up.”

Having arrived at the main plaza, Valt’s group begins searching for the entrance to Franz’s Mirror.

“What should we do now, Lati?”

“Finding Franz’s Mirror is very easy. Lilith, do you remember the angle the mirror was reflecting from?”

The mirror was suspended slightly in the air, reflecting the plaza from above.

Considering the approximate angle, the mirror’s position would be…

At that moment, Lilith notices something glimmering.

“It’s this way!”

What Lilith pointed to was a clock tower overlooking the main plaza.

Though not as large as the royal palace, it was quite a massive building.

Valt’s group wasted no time and rushed toward the clock tower.

But the main entrance to the clock tower seemed to be blocked by a barrier and wouldn’t open.

Yuria, who was leading the way, tried to open the door, but a red energy prevented her approach.

She struck it with her claws, but Yuria’s attack simply bounced off. Robin’s attack met the same fate.

Clang!

“Tch! It’s blocked! What should we do?”

If it’s a barrier, only Lilith and Lati could examine it.

After briefly inspecting the barrier, Lati shakes her head.

“It’s a blood magic barrier. The level is too high…”

Lilith also looks pessimistic.

“The only person capable of creating a blood magic barrier of this level would be Uncle… Moreover, this barrier appears to have been created using almost all of his power.”

Lilith bites her lower lip hard as she examines the barrier.

He’s still her uncle after all. Though he had shown opposition to King Bladir’s views, he was caring and always reliable when Lilith was young.

When she first suspected her uncle of communicating with outsiders, she thought it impossible.

But now, Lilith has confirmed the most definitive evidence.

“Uncle Ishuran… In the end…!”

Valt, observing the situation, urges Lilith.

“I understand how you feel, but can you open the barrier? Time is of the essence, Lilith.”

“Ah?! Yes, I’m sorry, Valt. But… it’s a bit difficult with my abilities. Since it’s a barrier created by my uncle, an 8th Circle master, it would take a long time to dispel.”

Hearing Lilith’s words, Valt shakes his head.

“Can’t be helped then, we’ll break it.”

“What?”

“Breaking a barrier by force is common sense. You two, overlay your strongest magic onto the spell I create.”

Valt plans to apply the combined magic technique once more.

“Hup!”

Drrrrrrrrrr!!

A rock drill, like the one he used against Solpin in the tournament, begins to emerge from Valt’s arm.

Whoooosh!!

Followed by vibrations.

Crack-

Crack!-

Crack!

“Now! Cover this magic with the most compatible spell you can!”

Compatible magic.

Instantly thinking of a spell that would complement the rotating drill-like magic, Lilith forms a hand seal and quickly casts a spell.

“Blood Encase!”

A magic that simply coats with blood. However, it’s a defensive magic frequently used by vampires who materialize mana into blood.

It’s a basic vampire defensive technique that surrounds the body with hardened blood for protection or creates barriers in the air.

The magic gathers crimson mana that coats Valt’s drill like a layer.

“Good! Lati!”

“Blaze!”

Though she could have used a different spell, Lati realized that using Blaze again would allow her to concentrate more power since she had already synchronized it with Valt’s magic once.

Thus, a four-layered composite magic combining wind, stone, blood, and fire is born.

“Hahaha! Magnificent! Here I go! Blood Spiral Fire Drill!”

The name was bizarre, but its power was not.

Boom!!

Drrrrrrrrrr!!

As the barrier and Valt’s magic collide, they create a tremendous magical storm, and the intensified rotation begins to push back the barrier.

“Yuria! Robin! Lend your strength!!”

With Valt’s shout, auras burst forth from Robin and Yuria’s bodies.

Beast transformation!

The beastified Yuria crosses her hands and slashes in an X-pattern toward the barrier.

“Hah!”

The Beast King’s signature technique ‘Lion Rend’ – an aura in the shape of massive crossed claws shoots forward, tearing through space itself.

Following is Robin’s arrow. Already enormous, the arrow gathers aura like a pillar as it’s infused with power.

Tendons bulge in Robin’s arm as he pulls the bowstring, gritting his teeth.

“I’m going too! Hah!”

Pillar Violent Arrow – a massive pillar-like arrow. It’s Robin’s strongest single-target attack currently available.

Seeing the attacks of the two, Valt also charges with his drill, intending to add more power to his magic.

“Haaah!!”

Boom!!

Crack-

Crack crack-

Crack-

“V-Valt!!”

There was a tremendous magical explosion, but Valt, protected by his full-body magical armor, was unharmed.

“I’ve broken through the barrier. Everyone, this way!”

Having (easily?) broken through the barrier, Valt’s group heads toward where they believe the mirror is located.

Perhaps due to overreliance on the barrier’s strength, there were no additional troops in the clock tower.

In the middle of the tower, a well-maintained room appears, possibly where the clock tower keeper stays.

Slam-

Without hesitation, they open the door and enter, surprising a person wearing a magician’s robe.

“What? H-how!?”

Slash!

A blood-colored blade separates the magician’s head from his body, and Valt’s group confirms Franz’s Mirror installed by the window.

“Hmm, so this is the artifact.”

As Valt reaches for the artifact, Lati stops him.

“It’s better not to touch it. If the reflection direction changes, the inner world changes too.”

Heeding Lati’s warning, Valt stops and asks about the method of entry.

“Then what should we do now?”

“As far as I know, there are two ways to enter the mirror. One is for the user to use mana to reflect the target, and the other is for the person wanting to enter to send mana to the back of the mirror to enter the mirror world. The front creates the world, and the back is the entrance to that world.”

“So just by infusing mana and reflecting, one can kidnap people?”

“Yes. But the way out is easy, though it might be difficult now.”

It seems like an absurd ability, but apparently there is a way to counter it. Valt thinks there are many strange items indeed.

“What’s the way out?”

“There should be a portal inside. Just jumping into it should allow escape.”

He seems to understand how it works roughly. Now the question is what to do once inside.

“And after entering?”

“You’ll probably emerge in a clock tower identical to this one, but with left and right reversed, so keep that in mind.”

“Good, let’s enter right away.”

It’s unknown how many troops are in the mirror world.

But when they checked with the crystal ball earlier, not many troops were visible.

Even moving this many people secretly requires tremendous effort, so it would be difficult to move even more troops.

“One of us should guard outside. Robin will stay.”

“What? Me?”

“Yes, you’re more reassuring than Yuria, Robin.”

“Huh? Are you insulting me right now?”

“Of course not, I’m just considering efficiency.”

While Robin is certainly strong, he’s still somewhat lacking. It might be better for him to stand guard outside.

“What if enemies rush in?”

“Take the mirror and run.”

“What? But you said if the mirror reflects something else, the inside changes…”

“That’s just to avoid being detected by those inside now. Though it’s unlikely, if the mirror breaks, know that we’ll be trapped inside forever.”

Being an artifact, it probably won’t break easily, but it can’t be guaranteed.

Gulp-

“Haha, that’s quite a burden…”

“You’re the most suitable for this role among us, Robin. I’m counting on you.”

“I guess I have no choice. Take care.”

Nodding, Valt explains the plan before infusing mana into the mirror.

“As soon as we enter, if there are guards, we’ll subdue them and look for an opportunity. If we’re discovered immediately, Yuria and I will lure the troops away while Lilith and Lati rescue the hostages.”

The agile Valt and Yuria will distract the troops, while Lilith and Lati, who are less likely to be detected with magic, will rescue the hostages.

Simple, but they’ve established basic roles and will have to adapt to the rest as they go.

“Let’s go then.”

Whoom-

Everyone simultaneously infuses mana into Franz’s Mirror, and the four are instantly sucked into the mirror world.

Pop-

A world with left and right reversed.

Valt’s group appears in the clock tower room.

Of course, there had to be guards in the room.

“W-who are you!?”

Thump-

Valt’s large hand covers the magician’s mouth, and he asks in a menacing voice:

“If you scream or try anything, you die. If your eyes leave mine, you die. Understand?”

Valt creates a sharp stone awl and lightly presses it against the magician’s neck, drawing a trickle of blood.

“If you understand, blink twice.”

Blink-

Blink-

As Valt slowly removes his hand from the magician’s mouth, the magician keeps his gaze fixed on Valt.

‘Hmm… it’s strange. Those who use aura wouldn’t hesitate to commit suicide, but magicians don’t do that.’

It’s interesting that magicians seem to have a stronger attachment to life than warriors who use aura.

Magicians themselves are beings who explore the world and magic, so they can’t help but fear death. It’s not so much the fear of death itself, but the fear of no longer being able to explore.

Either way, it’s fortunate for Valt.

Anyway, he won’t get answers about who these people are or what they’re doing.

Valt asks the most important question first:

“Tell me the troop formation of your people here and the number of Grade 6 or higher fighters.”