Ch.63Chapter 63: Vampire (19).

Though weakened from not consuming blood and due to the sunstone, the vampires began to muster every last bit of their strength and charge at the soldiers in response to Lilith’s command.

“Fight!! Pay them back for what they’ve done!”

At that moment, Ishuran bit the neck of a human Lilith had taken down and sucked their blood.

“Gulp.”

Ishuran’s strength rapidly recovered, and reaching the 8th circle, he infused his voice with magical power and shouted loudly.

“Hear me, all my people!! I will take responsibility!! Blood must be repaid with blood! Drink the enemy’s blood and defeat them!!”

At first, the vampires were slightly pushed back despite their numbers due to their weakened state, but as they captured a few soldiers, the situation began to reverse rapidly.

“Aaaaargh!!”

Five vampires pounced on a single soldier, biting his arms, legs, and neck, bringing him down before summoning their magical power and rushing toward other soldiers.

The interior was being subdued in an instant.

Though there were weapons that emitted sunlight, they were few in number, and Lilith dealt with all of them.

It took less than a few minutes for the soldiers, who had lost their strongest means of subduing the enemy, to become prey for the vampires.

Even Valt, who had been enthusiastically crushing enemies, began to moderate his strength amid the wave of vampires.

After all, it would be troublesome if the vampires got swept away in his attacks.

“Hmm, we’ve succeeded.”

In truth, this would have been impossible without Valt.

Not only was Valt’s combat prowess formidable, but Lilith’s awakening after drinking Valt’s blood was crucial. Without it, they couldn’t have subdued the interior so easily.

Yuria and Lati, who had been running around excitedly, were the first to return to Valt.

“Valt, are you okay?”

Valt nodded and smiled at their disheveled appearance.

“I don’t seem to be badly injured… but you two have been through quite a bit.”

Yuria’s beautiful fur was singed black or cut in places, making her look unkempt.

“Aow! I almost died, you know?”

“Judging by how you’re talking, it seems it wasn’t too difficult. Where’s Lilith?”

Just as Valt asked Lati, Lilith was running toward Valt with Ishuran.

“Lord Valt!!”

Valt looked curious when he saw that Lilith’s hair had returned to black.

“Hmm? Your hair color is back?”

Lilith lifted her hair once and said:

“Ah, I must have used too much power… Perhaps it would change again if I drank your blood again, Lord Valt?”

At that moment, Ishuran interjected.

“Pleased to meet you, Barbarian. I am Ishuran Bloodwell.”

Ishuran spoke politely to Valt’s group, apparently aware of the debt of gratitude for saving his life.

“Yes, I’m glad you’re safe. I’m Valt Gerung.”

After Valt’s introduction, Ishuran continued with meaningful words.

“Did Lilith awaken after drinking your blood?”

“Yes, she did. Is there a problem?”

Ishuran answered with a slightly worried tone.

“Such tremendous power cannot come without a price. Such power cannot emerge without using Innate Vitality.”

Innate Vitality.

It refers to the life force that living beings are born with.

The fundamental source that sustains life, neither increasing nor decreasing.

It’s on a different level from ordinary life force.

Ishuran believed that Lilith had used this power just now.

“Innate Vitality?”

“Given the urgency of the situation, I’ll explain the details later, but could I have a drop of your blood, Valt? Just one drop will do.”

When Valt looked at Lilith, she nodded.

Valt opened a wound on his hand and let a drop of blood fall for Ishuran.

Ishuran brought it to his mouth.

After swallowing Valt’s blood, Ishuran’s eyes widened.

Whoosh!!

“T-this can’t be…”

Though not as dramatic as Lilith’s transformation, Ishuran, who had already recovered by drinking human blood, felt his power grow even stronger.

“Is this also the power of Innate Vitality?”

“Yes… not as much as what Lilith used, but it’s certain. It’s a forced amplification of power. It would be better not to use it anymore. It will shorten Lilith’s lifespan.”

Vampires live long lives. Even if her lifespan is shortened, Lilith is more than willing to use Innate Vitality to overcome the current situation.

“Hmm… such a side effect. Still, it’s better to be prepared.”

Valt took out a glass vial from his spatial pocket and handed it only to Lilith.

“I’m sorry, but since I don’t completely trust you, I’m only willing to provide blood to Lilith.”

Ishuran nodded.

If an 8th circle powerhouse like him grew stronger from just a sip of Valt’s blood, it was impossible to imagine how much stronger he could become with more. And what if he became hostile to Valt? Valt had good reason to be cautious.

Once the situation was somewhat settled, Lilith urged Valt to move.

“We need to go to the royal palace! We must save my father and cannot let the Strigoi’s blood tears fall into their hands.”

In response to Lilith’s words, Ishuran spoke gravely.

“There’s an incredibly powerful enemy there. I’ll go ahead and hold them off. Please, Valt, prioritize rescuing King Bladir—no, my brother.”

As Valt nodded, Ishuran quickly rushed toward the central portal.

In truth, Valt’s group alone would be insufficient to face an opponent powerful enough to defeat even King Bladir.

Ishuran was offering to be the bait so that Valt’s group could focus on rescuing King Bladir.

“Let’s go too. Lilith, are you alright?”

Apart from her hair turning black, she seemed fine for now.

Woong—

After checking her physical condition and magical power, Lilith answered energetically.

“Yes!”

“Then let’s go!”

***

Crash!!

“Argh!!”

Deep beneath the royal palace.

King Bladir, who had been attacked by Prok and slammed into the wall, groaned in pain.

“Ugh… What are you doing?!”

Prok looked at King Bladir and sighed.

“Haah… Let’s make this easier, do you think I don’t know you’re stalling for time?”

“That’s not true! The path to the Strigoi’s blood tears is only here, the only one. Why blame me for the time it takes because you’re human!”

Prok was convinced that Bladir was stalling for time because this place’s barrier made it impossible to detect power.

According to his information, the interior wasn’t supposed to be this complicated.

“Really? That’s unfortunate. I’m irritated by how long this is taking, so I’ll have to vent my frustration by killing him.”

At that, one of Prok’s masked followers held a knife to the throat of Kulea, whom they were holding hostage.

“Ugh… Y-Your Majesty…”

“Stop! We’re almost there! We’re almost there, I tell you!!”

Prok smiled sinisterly at King Bladir’s words.

“Hmm… If only I could believe that…”

“Ten minutes! Just ten more minutes from now!”

“I’ll give you five. Otherwise, your subordinate’s head will roll.”

He had stalled as much as he could. Now there was nothing more King Bladir could do.

‘Please… I hope Lilith is safe…’

.

.

.

They finally arrived at the entrance deep underground. In the vast plaza, there stood a massive door emanating a bloody aura.

And in front of the door, complex geometric patterns were spread out chaotically.

It appeared to be a magic circle made of blood magic.

The reason Prok had reluctantly brought King Bladir this far was because of this barrier’s access requirements.

A barrier using sacred artifacts left by Laculad, the first vampire.

Even for an 8th tier powerhouse like Prok, this was insurmountable.

“Open it.”

When King Bladir hesitated, the blade once again pressed slightly into Kulea’s neck.

“I said I would do it!! Remove the knife!”

At that moment, incomprehensible ancient language flowed from King Bladir’s mouth as he formed several hand seals, and a bloody aura extended from him toward the door.

Woooong—

Then King Bladir sprayed his already depleted blood toward the door.

Splash!

Instantly, the patterns forming the barrier began to glow, and the door started to open.

Whoosh!

Creeeeak—

Thud!

A smile spread across Prok’s face as he witnessed the scene.

“Heheh, finally…”

Just as Prok took a step forward to retrieve the Strigoi’s blood tears.

“Aaaagh!!”

The arm of the masked follower holding Kulea was severed, freeing Kulea.

Then came a series of blood explosions!

Bang! Boom! Bang!

“Ambush!”

True to their elite status, the masked followers didn’t easily panic at the surprise attack and launched their own assault.

Swoosh!

Dodging the blade energy, someone took position in front of King Bladir.

“Ishuran!? How?”

Ishuran grinned as he confirmed that King Bladir was unharmed.

“Are you alright, brother? It seems this younger brother of yours has made an irreversible mistake.”

“You’re fine! You weren’t a traitor after all!”

At King Bladir’s words, Ishuran shook his head.

“No, I am a traitor. I caused this mess. But now that I’ve realized my error, I’m here to take responsibility. Brother, please escape from here with Lord Kulea.”

With those words, Ishuran tossed a glass vial to King Bladir.

Though he couldn’t get Valt’s blood, it was fresh blood taken from an ordinary human. With this, both King Bladir and Kulea could recover some strength and escape.

“What about our people! What happened to our people?!”

At King Bladir’s question, Ishuran’s smile deepened.

“It seems our niece has grown up splendidly.”

King Bladir’s expression brightened dramatically as he fed the blood to Kulea, who appeared to be in poor condition.

“Lord Kulea, drink this! Ishuran! I will fight too! We cannot let the sacred artifact fall into their hands!”

The barrier he had released could only be secured again if King Bladir reapplied it.

Fleeing now would be equivalent to abandoning the sacred artifact.

Now that the safety of his people was confirmed, King Bladir had no reason to retreat.

If he could recover his strength by drinking this blood, they could hold off the enemies before them. After all, the three vampires present were among the most powerful in their forces.

Just as King Bladir was about to drink the remaining blood after confirming that Kulea had recovered some strength—

Clang!

The glass vial King Bladir was about to drink from shattered, and—

Squelch!!

“Guhk…?!”

A blade made of blood was deeply embedded in Ishuran’s back.

Then came a languid voice.

“Hah… You really make things complicated…”