Chapter 684

[Boss monster selected.]

A red status window flashed along with a brief message.

“……Where am I?”

The one who appeared was a handsome man with soft silver hair.

Michael.

The vampire who had fought Jinhyuk at the frozen lake alongside Bertion and Ophelia, the hunting dogs of Decasus. The Decasus bloodline, who had died and been forgotten after being defeated by the combined efforts of Jinhyuk and Alice, returned to the world once more through Jinhyuk’s Unique Holy Spear.

“Hello?”

Jinhyuk waved at Michael.

It was their first meeting, after all.

He offered his kindest smile and gentlest voice.

“You…!”

Michael’s red pupils narrowed.

It was only natural for his reaction to be fierce upon meeting the one who had killed him.

However, before the blood skewers could reach Jinhyuk, droplets of blood completely blocked their trajectory.

[‘Blood Explosion’ is activated!]

Poof poof pop!

The skewers shattered, utterly pointlessly.

Michael froze on the spot.

It was only a brief exchange, but that single exchange was enough for him to feel the insurmountable gap.

“When… did you become so strong?”

“A lot of time has passed since you died. A lot happened, too, so you should consider the playing field different from back then.”

In other words, whether it was revenge or anything else, coming at him a hundred times would be useless.

“……Ha! So you dragged me out of hell again with that impressive power of yours just to toy with me? Was getting your fill back then not enough?”

He wasn’t some child, and he didn’t know who Michael took him for, to see him as such a petty and vile person.

“No. I called you because I want to give you another chance.”

“A… chance?”

“Yes. You wouldn’t know, but Excension is dead, and the other Family Heads have all fallen. The short version is that everything ended with Alice reclaiming her position as Family Head of Ataraxia.”

“Lord Excension… no, are you saying the other Family Heads are dead too? All of them? And Lady Alice ultimately….”

Michael staggered, visibly shocked.

Strength momentarily left his body.

It was only natural it would be hard to accept this reality.

Clearly, Michael had admired Alice before her exile.

The beautiful, strong, and noble Empress of Pure Blood. He had believed without a doubt that she would one day raise the vampires to a higher plane.

‘It was simply because his admiration for Alice was so strong that the sense of betrayal, when that expectation was shattered, was all the greater.’

If so, all that was needed was to let him correct the mistaken choice now stained with regret.

“If you join me, I’ll give you a chance to live again as a member of a great family. The Decasus Family Head position is vacant, so if needed, I could give you that too.”

“…….”

Michael’s face turned serious.

Whether it was because he’d been offered a second chance, or because he coveted the Decasus Family Head position, one thing was certain: the bait dangling before him was irresistibly attractive.

His deliberation didn’t last long.

The enemy he’d once held nothing but hatred for was no longer an enemy.

To pursue new interests and goals, it was time to board the same boat.

[The vampire ‘Michael’ has decided to join you.]

Michael stood by Jinhyuk’s side.

“Now that I’ve already decided to join you, it might be pointless to say this, but what exactly am I supposed to help you with?”

Though many things were still unfamiliar, he’d already grasped that this place was unusual.

Not only was Jinhyuk now on a completely different level, but the terrifying aura in the distance carried a dread he had never felt from any Family Head.

It was Mana he could hardly believe existed in this world.

To Michael’s question, Jinhyuk answered nonchalantly.

“You have something you were good at, right?”

[Blood Wayport].

The large-scale spatial magic he had once tried to use to send the monsters created through sacrifices outside the tower.

“Activate it one more time. I’ve newly reconstructed the ritual, so you just need to properly build the altar according to it.”

—

A large-scale ritual using blood.

Normally, it would require thorough preparation, but with time running short, he had to rely on maximum improvisation and tricks.

For example, Ophelia was now standing beside Michael as well.

After hearing the whole story, Alice had attached members of the Ataraxia bloodline to assist.

-You’ll have to explain this properly later.

After hugging Teresa, and now with Michael popping out, Her Majesty the Queen’s gaze was bound to be sharp.

“What crime did I commit to deserve this?”

Ophelia, too, found herself stuck in an uncomfortable position between Jinhyuk and her former superior, Michael.

“Focus, Ophelia.”

“Yes… no, yessir! Lord Michael!”

Ophelia bit her fingertip and let drops of blood fall.

Right at that moment.

[The foundational ritual of Blood Wayport is being materialized!]

Vwoooom!

The red magic circle made of blood began to activate.

An unusual energy coalesced.

From the ritual, completely altered by Jinhyuk, a turning point that could literally change the tide of this battle was being created.

Simultaneously.

Whoosh!

…KABOOOM!

“Gyaaaaah!”

The half-breed ‘Misha’, born from a mix with a Red Dragon, screamed her throat raw.

Even with Red Clan blood mixed in—specialized in handling fire—Yomaganto’s flames were on a level that even a dragon’s fire resistance couldn’t endure.

Thud, thud.

The blackened ashes were absorbed as they were.

Yomaganto’s flames deepened into an even more intense hue.

Step.

Yomaganto took a step.

Then another.

Slow, deliberate footsteps that almost seemed leisurely, as if to say nothing could stop him.

“How dreadful.”

“It won’t be easy to hold on.”

The Spirit Kings formed their final stronghold.

After the fairies, Spirit Beasts, and Divine Beasts in the forest built multiple layered walls, they once again steeled themselves to fight to the death.

“Pathetic paper walls. Even the ones who were swept away while trapped in this body called Angelis dare to think they can stop me in this state?”

A voice sunk deep.

Tremble tremble tremble!

The bodies of the lower fairies and Spirit Beasts shook like aspen leaves.

Some foamed at the mouth and collapsed, or went mad.

Even meeting his gaze was burdensome.

How could any will to fight remain?

It was clear as day their fighting spirit would shatter from a single light attack.

‘We have to move first.’

If they allowed the first move, there was no future. Having judged so, the Spirit Kings poured out all the Mana they possessed.

[The Spirit Kings activate the special skill ‘Age of Spirits’!]

Every tree and blade of grass in the ravine rose up.

Rumble rumble… KABOOOM!

Dark clouds gathered and lightning struck down. Vines and earth became waves and surged forward.

The very stratum itself, awakened with will, poured out everything it had to confront the approaching calamity.

However.

KABOOOM-KABOOOM-KABOOOM!

[Yomaganto activates ‘Sword of Incineration’!]

As swords made of red flames crossed the horizon, all resistance came to naught.

The valley was cleaved wholesale, triggering a landslide, and the severed lake bared its bottom.

Swish.

After sweeping away the minor obstacles, Yomaganto slowly raised his sword.

And just as slowly, lowered it.

Like watching a slow-motion replay.

Yet that single slow strike held power enough to cleave heaven and earth.

“……!?”

The Earth Spirit King, Madmunta, who regained his senses a beat too late, swung his hammer.

A combat hammer several tons in weight and five meters in length.

KABOOOM!

The moment sword and hammer collided, the rock split down to the atomic level. The sword continued on toward Madmunta’s heart, now left undefended.

“It’s dangerous!”

The Wind Spirit King, Wingrasia, raised a translucent shield.

A Sacred Relic capable of deflecting cold weapons.

But.

Crack… KABOOOM!

The Sword of Incineration twisted the very premise of “deflecting attacks.”

Crackle crackle!

Cracks formed across the shield.

They were no match.

This couldn’t even be called a battle.

A deep shadow fell over Madmunta and Wingrasia’s faces. They could already sense how their fate would be decided within seconds.

Right at that moment.

[Apocalypse of Revelation – ‘Empress of Pure Blood’ is activated!]

[Rainbow Bridge ‘Iridescent Slug Shell’ is summoned!]

Medrey and Alice joined the fray.

The strange shield, mixed with purple and silver light, withstood Yomaganto’s blade. Alice’s crimson rapier pierced through Yomaganto’s flames.

“Right. You two were here.”

For the first time, Yomaganto’s footsteps stopped.

He’d grown bored dealing with insignificant bugs, but now worthy opponents—ones who could shake off the embers clinging to his sword—had appeared.

Especially Alice von Ataraxia….

She was an existence not only Nyarlathotep, but even the one called ‘that man’ had taken an interest in.

-Cut off all her limbs if you must, but capture her alive. Don’t kill her.

That was the one and only constraint placed on this battle.

“Now, let me personally verify just how much the famous True Ancestor is worth.”

“Not a single one who has dared such insolence before Us has been left breathing.”

The two monsters, whose pride reached the heavens, crossed swords.

KABOOOM!

Flames and blood droplets exploded.

In terms of power and speed, Yomaganto was several levels superior, but Alice bridged the gap with the unique techniques of the rapier, which she had steadily learned from Jinhyuk.

It also helped greatly that for Yomaganto—who could overwhelm enemies from the start with pure physical might alone—there had been no need to learn swordsmanship separately.

Furthermore, the fatal strikes that came intermittently could be endured with the help of Medrey and the other Returnees.

“Support those two as much as possible.”

“We must cooperate to achieve our wish.”

“Tch! I know that too.”

The worn-out Returnees, having abandoned their pride, focused on survival and their goal.

Ever since realizing just how terrifying Yomaganto’s power was, they had long since given up thoughts of becoming heroes. Now, only the will to support in sync with the Veteran Corporation’s rhythm remained.

“How bothersome.”

Whoosh!

Yomaganto gathered the Flames of Fear.

He might not be able to melt even Medrey’s shield, but the area Medrey could protect would be limited.

He intended to turn everything else to ash first, then deal with what remained.

“Who said you could!?”

[Alice activates ‘Blood Eclipse’!]

Poof poof poof poof bang!

The Flames of Fear and the blood storm collided head-on.

The two energies, swirling at high speed, endlessly dug into the ground.

A perfect neutralization.

No—it was perfect, but it would be the first and last time an even match would be achieved.

“Haa… haa… haa….”

Alice panted heavily. She had little Mana left.

“Indeed, you are worthy of being called the strongest Pure Blood. You are the first to respond to my attack to this extent.”

Yomaganto gave his unreserved impression.

At the same time, he understood a little why some beings held such interest in Alice.

It was then.

A flinch.

Yomaganto’s gaze, which had been fixed on Alice, shifted to a place slightly removed from the battlefield.

Because something unusual—enough to completely change his priorities—had been detected.

‘Spatial movement…? A sealing array? Or an attempt to summon something?’

Whatever it was, some rather bothersome trick was about to begin.

A type of Mana Yomaganto had never felt before squirmed into being.