Chapter 453: Trial That Defies Fate (16)

Muri of the Waning Moon.

With movements uncanny and silent, she melted into the darkness—literally, even her body seemed to melt away.

Once a famed dancer and a member of a secret assassination order, she had attempted to assassinate the Progenitor, Tyrkanzyaka, on a commission—but instead caught Tyrkanzyaka’s eye and became an Elder.

Assassins were trained from a young age, in a way that verged on brainwashing.

For Muri, a puppet with neither purpose nor will, living as an Elder was the better option.

There were still many she had to kill and many more who wanted to kill her, but at least she no longer had to live under the constant tension of possibly dying.

That’s why she resented Tyrkanzyaka for setting her free.

Muri’s current attack was nothing more than a sulky tantrum.

Through a small gap in the broken wall—barely wide enough for a head—Muri slipped out like flowing water.

Slipping through the dark crevice, she positioned herself behind Tyrkanzyaka without even a trace of killing intent or presence, then thrust her dagger toward the Progenitor.

Muri’s dagger, the Crescent Fang, aimed directly at her.

[Your dance may be yours, but your blood is mine.]

With a murmur, a massive fist swept through the space where Muri had been.

Vampires typically pay little mind to defense.

Let alone when it’s a shadow forged of darkness—it’s better to ignore it and press on.

But Muri couldn’t underestimate the monstrous power she felt from the giant.

It wouldn’t kill her, sure, but something about it felt ominous.

She abandoned her attack and dodged.

– Whoosh.

The fist, wrapped in storm-like pressure, brushed past her face.

The texture was solid, the presence bearing certain weight, and beneath that, she could sense the blood, pulsing beyond the pitch-black dark.

“It’s full of Blood Aura—? So even without her full power, it’s more than enough to fill that giant?”

“Blood Aura!”

Catching the scent of prey, Bakuta lunged at the giant.

He opened his monstrous mouth and chomped into the giant’s right hand, ripping off a chunk of blood-filled darkness.

After chewing a mouthful of that Blood Aura, he grimaced and muttered.

“…This is… not tasty.”

Just as Bakuta mumbled his underwhelmed disappointment while gnawing on the darkness, the giant grabbed him with one hand.

As if seeking revenge, without the slightest hesitation, it shoved Bakuta into its mouth.

– Crunch.

The giant’s teeth crushed Bakuta’s lower body whole.

A being who had spent his life devouring now experienced what it meant to be devoured.

– Chomp, chomp.

As the shadow munched on Bakuta’s leg, Blood Aura dripping from its mouth, it muttered.

[You taste just as awful.]

“Huh? Mama’s hungry too?”

Even while being eaten, Bakuta asked cheerfully.

But Tyrkanzyaka’s shadow sneered.

[Not particularly. Anything that silences you will do.]

“…That’s disappointing. I thought you’d finally discovered hunger.”

[That much, I understand. I’m still craving.]

The power of vampires lies in Bloodcraft—in manipulating blood.

Tyrkanzyaka could still wield it.

It’s just that she insisted on where the blood “should be,” and thus couldn’t handle her overwhelming power.

So Tyrkanzyaka “fooled” the blood.

The giant’s upper body emerged behind her.

The Blood Aura flowing from Tyrkanzyaka’s own body streamed into the giant.

This giant, encircling her, was a second body crafted in her image.

Even though it was created with her power, every aspect was identical to her.

The blood, trying to return to its proper place, couldn’t tell it wasn’t her original body and sank in naturally.

That was fine—Tyrkanzyaka had enough blood to fill a lake.

“…The Clan Chief learned how to wield her power.”

The Watcher, Rahu Khan, murmured.

Rahu Khan, the Lord of the Wasteland, could enhance his physical abilities by concentrating his Blood Aura.

While his entire body could be empowered, his eyes were his most powerful weapon, thus earning him the title “Watcher.”

As befitting that name, he gazed at Tyrkanzyaka’s shadow with crimson-gleaming eyes.

He could see what trick she’d pulled, how she used her power, and how it might be unraveled.

“She’s powerful. That’s all. Same method as Valdamir. Her Blood Aura’s stronger… but crude.”

Rahu Khan drew his slung-back spear.

That giant was essentially a magnified version of Tyrkanzyaka—a form devised to properly wield her overflowing strength.

No doubt powerful and useful, but the fact that it was constrained to the body still shackled her true strength.

…Still, perhaps because she was the master of Bloodcraft, she accepted that power in a way unlike any other.

As if she were simply reclaiming what was originally hers.

And technically, it was hers.

Before long, Tyrkanzyaka would surely absorb the power of all the Elders.

“If that power reaches completion… no one will be able to restore her to the Clan Chief she once was.”

The Watcher realized this moment was the turning point.

Lunken was the last of the boar beastkin.

Rahu Khan and his Centaurs were also on the verge of extinction.

Vampires were living taxidermy—frozen in the moment before their collapse, preserved for eternity.

As one with the duty to preserve his species, Rahu Khan could not allow the Progenitor’s whims to go unchecked.

She had to be eternal—so the Centaurs could be, too.

Even if he died by her hand, those Centaurs he had purposely kept away would remain to carry on their lineage.

“Huff—!”

Seizing a brief opening, Rahu Khan slammed the ground.

His hooves carved deep grooves into the floor as the four-legged beast charged forward at a speed two-legged beings couldn’t match.

Through the gap created by the structure of Tyrkanzyaka’s transformed body—from elbow to hand—his spear shot through.

The rotating spear tore through the shadow.

From the shattered body flowed Blood Aura.

The giant thrashed violently, but Rahu Khan’s agile movements avoided its rage as he smashed and dismantled it.

The remaining fragments of the giant shrieked.

Yet even as it suffered wounds, the giant’s gaze followed him.

Eyes glowing blood-red, as if soaked in blood, tracked Rahu Khan’s every move.

“My eyes?! So easily?!”

Rahu Khan’s eyes, the Watcher’s Eyes, stared back at him.

An Elder’s technique, replicated through the Progenitor’s Blood Aura.

Seeing the gaze locked squarely onto him, Rahu Khan realized…

Now was the only chance to stop her.

Not even Valdamir, who once surpassed the Progenitor with brute strength, nor Du Rahan, who once defeated her, would outpace her for long.

Which meant they had to arrive before she completed herself.

Valdamir and Du Rahan had to arrive now.

Before they could no longer best her.

Since arriving in the Duchy, this was the most desperate situation yet.

Five Ancillae. One Elder.

Six enemies by number, but considering their combined strength, they were practically an entire army within the Duchy.

On our side, I was just an ordinary human, and Hilde was merely a Star General.

A Star General wouldn’t normally be underestimated anywhere, but if you ordered one to act brazenly here in the Duchy, even they would shake their head in disbelief.

Power aside, thanks to the Ancilla’s immortality, it was already hard enough to kill even one Ancilla — let alone when they had an Elder backing them.

Escaping would be the best plan… if it were even possible.

“Would you maybe consider it positively if I volunteered to be a hostage now?”

“Eliminate him.”

“No intention of negotiating, huh.”

They were closing in, practically building a wall of blood to cut off all escape routes.

If it were just one Elder, I could maybe bluff or trick my way out, but the five Ancillae surrounding us from all sides left zero breathing room.

Damn it.

I had no choice but to leave it all to Hilde.

I was about to give up when—

“Wait.”

The tide of blood parted, and another Ancilla appeared: Countess Erte, the one I’d crossed paths with most often since arriving in the Duchy.

Seeing her appear at this critical moment, I shouted in relief.

“Countess Erte! You’ve come to save us!”

“It would seem so.”

Countess Erte admitted it cleanly.

My reinforcement!

You got here just in time!

It was a little close, but hey, the protagonist always shows up at the last moment for maximum catharsis!

“Erte. You’re one of Valdamir’s retainers. Why are you standing in my way?”

Erzsebet’s face twisted unpleasantly.

Even if she was an Elder, she couldn’t simply trample over another Elder’s retainer.

Rank aside, Ancilla were the limbs of their Elders—you couldn’t just kill or harm them without consequences.

And Countess Erte was highly trusted by Valdamir.

Her actions would reflect back onto him, so Erzsebet cautiously asked about Valdamir’s intent.

Of course, the hierarchy between an Elder and an Ancilla didn’t change.

Countess Erte respectfully knelt before Erzsebet and answered.

“It is the wish of the Crimson Duke. Lord Valdamir wishes that the situation does not change drastically before his arrival.”

“Valdamir’s wish?”

An Ancilla would never falsely claim the will of their Elder, especially not Valdamir’s.

Erzsebet pressed further.

“And does that ‘situation’ include the life and death of the Progenitor’s consort?”

“There was no specific mention of it, but I believe it likely does.”

“Reason?”

“How could I presume to understand the will of such a great Elder? I merely follow orders.”

“…Tch.”

｢Valdamir is a crucial asset. I would like to respect his judgment if possible…｣

But Valdamir overlooked one thing: the Elders had now broken free from their shackles and run wild.

Erzsebet, growing impatient, made her decision.

“If there were no orders to spare him, then I’ll deal with it swiftly. We can fix the aftermath later.”

“Lady Erzsebet, please wait—“

“Ignore her. Continue as ordered.”

Erzsebet’s retainers were her limbs.

They didn’t care for the will of other Elders.

Ignoring Countess Erte’s attempt to stop her, the Ancillae raised a wave of blood to crash down on Hilde and me.

Hilde managed to split the first wave with her Holy Sword, but the waves kept coming, pushing her back step by step.

Well, of course—how could a traitorous Elder be expected to obey Valdamir now?

What we needed now wasn’t words, but strength.

“Madam Erzsebet, please stop!”

“We’ll be late if we wait any longer.”

“No—Lord Valdamir has arrived!”

At Countess Erte’s shout, the sound of urgent footsteps echoed from afar.

– Dadadadada—

Just hearing the desperate speed of those steps made you want to check what was wrong.

The approaching footsteps closed in rapidly around a corner.

Countess Erte knelt down toward the sound in advance.

And finally, my awaited reinforcements arrived.

“Ha. I almost didn’t make it.”

With no regard for dignity, sprinting at full speed—was none other than the Crimson Duke, Valdamir.

Stopping firmly before Countess Erte, he handed her the bundle he was carrying and quickly surveyed the scene.

Erzsebet, her retainers, Hilde, and me, surrounded.

Valdamir grasped the situation in an instant and moved toward Erzsebet without hesitation.

Erzsebet, oddly enough, received him without hostility.

“Almost late? You’re already late, Valdamir. Where have you been on such an important day?”

“I went to awaken Du Rahan.”

“I know that. I’m asking why you’re this late, even factoring that in. Seeing you run here on foot, it doesn’t look like you were slacking… Weren’t you supposed to be riding Ralion?”

“Ralion left me midway and ran straight toward the Progenitor.”

The Sanguine Horse Ralion was the Progenitor’s cherished mount.

No—he was the first retainer she created, the last trace of her human days.

Ralion would never betray Tyrkanzyaka.

Erzsebet reminded him of this.

“You were supposed to separate Ralion from the Progenitor. That was the plan, wasn’t it?”

“No. I only rode with Ralion because he was fast.”

“Then why?”

Valdamir replied, as if it were obvious.

“I was pressed for time. I borrowed his speed out of necessity. I’m sorry for using the Progenitor’s beloved horse for personal reasons, but it was unavoidable.”

It was the simplest, most straightforward reason for riding a horse imaginable.

Erzsebet looked momentarily stunned, then pressed further.

“How long could it possibly take to awaken Du Rahan? And where is he? Did he ride off after Ralion toward the Progenitor?”

“He is here.”

“Here?”

It sounded like Du Rahan had come with him.

But Valdamir appeared alone, only carrying a bundle.

Only then did Erzsebet’s gaze fall upon the bundle.

Right. Inside that heavy bundle was a grand gift.

We’re saved.

I hurried over to Countess Erte and motioned to untie it.

After getting Valdamir’s nod, she untied the bloody cord binding it.

The heavy bundle collapsed open, and what emerged was… a severed head, glaring at Valdamir with bloodshot eyes, filled with rage and hatred.

Still seemingly alive, the head rasped out hoarsely.

“…Val…d…amir…!”

The severed head of the Black Knight, Du Rahan, had made a most unexpected appearance.