Chapter 64: 11th Floor. True Ancestor (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 64: 11th Floor. True Ancestor (1)
"Roar!"
Four werewolves pounced through the air, their claws bared. Eldiria’s eyes bled into a deep, predatory crimson. Shimmering droplets of blood rose from her skin, hovering in the air for a heartbeat.
Squelch!
The blood hardened into jagged thorns, lancing through the clearing.
The werewolves didn't flinch. One threw its massive body forward, acting as a meat shield for the pack.
Crunch!
The blood thorns skewered the creature, turning it into a grisly pincushion. Even in its death throes, the werewolf swung its claws wildly, desperate to draw blood before the end.
Clang!
The beast collapsed, dead before it hit the dirt. Stepping over the twitching corpse, the remaining three lunged.
In an instant, Kang Jun-hyeok stepped into their path.
"A human bewitched by the princess!"
"Die!"
Two werewolves fell upon him simultaneously. Jun-hyeok’s hands blurred as he drew his blades.
Clang!
Steel met enchanted claws. The werewolves unleashed a guttural, beastly assault, their strikes fueled by raw fury.
If vampires commanded the mystical power of blood, werewolves were the masters of pure physical devastation. They were strong enough to snap ancient oaks like dry twigs and fast enough to outrun the wind.
Yet, they couldn't touch him.
Even with two attacking in perfect tandem, they were utterly suppressed by Jun-hyeok’s overwhelming strength. They couldn't keep up with his speed—his stats had long since transcended their tier.
"Grrr!"
Driven to desperation, the werewolves lunged with reckless abandon. They were willing to trade their lives just to pin him down for a single second.
[Stealth]
In that heartbeat, Kang Jun-hyeok vanished.
His presence, his form, even his killing intent—gone.
Total erasure.
The werewolves’ eyes widened in confusion. It was the last expression they would ever make.
Thuck.
Appearing behind them in the blink of an eye, Jun-hyeok held a greatsword in one hand and a longsword in the other. He drove both blades through their necks. With his massive attack power and strength, the single blow was an instant execution.
[Proficiency in Stealth has increased significantly.]
Only one remained. Jun-hyeok started to turn, then paused.
"I have dealt with it."
Eldiria stood nearby, the last werewolf’s severed head dangling from her hand. Jun-hyeok calmly sheathed his weapons.
The howling of wolves echoed from every corner of the forest. They weren't retreating; they were closing in, more aggressive than before.
Just as I remember.
Nothing had changed on this floor. While Jun-hyeok remained stoic, Eldiria was visibly shaken.
"How... How can mere werewolves be here?"
The werewolves had been lying in wait. It meant they knew her destination. Jun-hyeok spoke, his voice grounding the flustered princess.
"There’s no time for confusion. Those were just scouts. The main force will be here soon."
"...Right. You’re right. What do you think we should do?"
"Pardon me for a moment."
Jun-hyeok wrapped a firm arm around her waist. Eldiria let out a small gasp of surprise.
[Wall Climbing]
Tap.
He stepped onto the trunk of a massive tree and began to sprint upward. He moved as if gravity were a mere suggestion, scaling the vertical surface as if it were flat ground. In seconds, they reached the canopy of a tree that pierced the clouds. Eldiria murmured in awe.
"You... you are quite skilled at climbing."
From their vantage point, Jun-hyeok surveyed the woods.
Werewolves were scattered throughout the forest, tightening the noose. After tracking their movements, Jun-hyeok asked, "You said the altar is in the center of the forest, correct?"
"Yes."
"Understood. Follow me."
Jun-hyeok dropped from the heights and hit the ground running. Eldiria hurried to keep pace.
Instead of a straight line, Jun-hyeok led them through the forest in a complex, zigzagging pattern.
[Low-Rank Passive Skill: Ears That Hear Many Things]
The skill granted him hearing that transcended human limits.
He mapped the forest through sound, tracking the rustle of fur and the padding of paws, navigating the gaps in their formation. Despite the sheer number of werewolves hunting them, they didn't encounter a single one. Eldiria watched him, her eyes round with wonder.
But even his senses had limits. As the perimeter tightened, a werewolf burst through the thick brush and spotted them.
"Over here—!"
[Spear Throw]
A spear manifested in the air and whistled through the brush.
The werewolf choked on its words, twisting its body mid-air to dodge. Jun-hyeok closed the distance in a flash and drove a dagger deep into its throat.
As they neared the center of the forest, the density of enemies spiked. It was becoming impossible to avoid them entirely. If they were surrounded, they would have to fight dozens at once.
If that happened, a Perfect Clear would slip through his fingers.
After a moment of calculation, Jun-hyeok spoke.
"Princess. Is this forest itself important to you?"
"No, it is not. What matters is the Altar of the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, not the trees."
"Then you won't mind if I burn it to the ground."
Understanding his intent, Eldiria nodded firmly.
"Do it."
Jun-hyeok pulled out a staff.
[Fireball]
Boom!
A massive explosion rocked the clearing. The dry undergrowth ignited instantly. Jun-hyeok pulled jars of oil from his inventory and scattered them into the growing inferno.
Whoosh!
The flames, fed by the oil, roared to life. The dry climate acted as tinder, and the fire spread with terrifying speed.
Flames and thick black smoke choked the air, obscuring everything. The panicked howls of werewolves rose above the crackle of the fire. Jun-hyeok lowered his stance and took Eldiria’s hand.
They sprinted through the chaos.
The inferno provided the perfect screen, allowing them to reach the heart of the forest undetected.
However, the path wasn't entirely clear. Just as the goal came into view, Jun-hyeok skidded to a halt.
"Princess. You have finally come."
Two werewolves blocked the path. They were half again as large as the others, their fur lustrous and swaying like silk in the wind. Eldiria gnashed her teeth.
"The Royal Guard. You're still alive."
"Only the two of us remain. The others perished alongside His Majesty... and your father."
"Then I shall kill you here and send you to serve him in the grave."
Eldiria’s eyes turned a violent red. The werewolves charged. One lunged at Jun-hyeok, while the other targeted the princess.
Clang!
Sword clashed with claws. A heavy, vibrating force traveled up Jun-hyeok's blade.
Their strength and speed were leagues above the common rabble. They truly earned the title of Royal Guard.
But they were still no match for him. His sword moved in a silver blur.
Clang! Clang!
He parried the heavy strikes with surgical precision. Jun-hyeok stepped into the guard's reach and drew a dagger. He used his entire body—hilt, wrists, and weight—to apply relentless, suffocating pressure.
It wasn't a wild brawl; it was the refined, lethal grace of Erlaon Hashka's Dagger Technique.
"Urgh!"
The werewolf barely managed to catch the dagger aimed at its heart with its bare palm.
[Shock]
Boom!
The dagger vibrated with a high-frequency burst. The werewolf’s hand was blown back, shredded. The blade plunged straight into its heart.
Even then, the beast refused to die. In a final, suicidal struggle, it tried to sink its teeth into Jun-hyeok’s throat.
[Thrust]
The dagger twisted, piercing through the chest and emerging from the creature's back.
The werewolf coughed up a spray of gore and collapsed.
"How... how can a human possess such power... If not for you, we would have ended the bloodline..."
"Don't resent me too much," Jun-hyeok said coldly. "History wouldn't have changed even if I weren't here."
[Level Up]
• Stamina +20
• Strength +1
• Speed +1
He dismissed the system windows. Eldiria had sustained a few shallow wounds, but she had successfully finished her own opponent.
"Let's go."
Eldiria nodded, her expression grim.
They pushed deeper into the heart of the grove. As they moved, Jun-hyeok searched his memories.
Was it a bit further?
He remembered reaching the destination in his past life, but the details were hazy. Back then, he had mostly just followed in Eldiria’s wake.
While Jun-hyeok focused on the path, Eldiria’s eyes widened as she scanned the clearing ahead.
Blue thickets came into view.
And between them stood ancient stone pillars engraved with the royal vampire crest.
This was it. Her heart hammered against her ribs. Eldiria broke into a desperate run.
Someone was already standing before the altar. Eldiria, assuming it was another werewolf, began to surge her blood for an attack—
Then she saw the person's face. Her pupils dilated.
"...Ah?"
The man had skin as pale as moonlight.
He wore a luxurious crimson cloak, and his jet-black hair fluttered in the heat of the distant forest fire.
It was a face she knew better than her own.
Eldiria cried out in shock.
"Uncle Kashan!"
The man was her father’s brother. Kashan offered a bright, warm smile.
"Oh! Eldiria! You’re alive!"
He stepped toward her. Eldiria’s mind raced. Why was her uncle here? She thought every vampire in the capital had been slaughtered.
But joy overrode suspicion. A member of her family had survived. With a radiant expression, she rushed toward him, her guard completely dropped.
Because of that, she failed to react until the blade of solidified blood her uncle conjured was inches from her chest. Kashan spoke softly, his voice devoid of warmth.
"Farewell."
"Huh?"
The blade was set to pierce her heart.
In that split second, Jun-hyeok grabbed her shoulder and yanked her back. He threw his shield up to intercept the strike.
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion rocked the altar. The surrounding bushes were leveled by the shockwave. Jun-hyeok rolled across the ground and clicked his tongue.
"Tsk."
His arms were numb from the impact.
Even though he knew the betrayal was coming, he’d had no choice but to take the hit directly to protect her.
He's stronger than I expected.
Jun-hyeok calmly assessed the threat. In contrast, Eldiria looked utterly broken.
"...Uncle?"
Her own flesh and blood had just tried to murder her.
Eldiria couldn't process it. Kashan reached out a hand, looking almost disappointed.
"If you had died from that blow, you wouldn't have had to suffer through this confusion."
Blood surged around him, forming lethal red lines in the air. They traced jagged trajectories, aiming to shred Eldiria. Jun-hyeok threw himself into the fray.
Clang!
He swung his greatsword, parrying the blood-constructs. The sheer force of the magic pushed him back, his boots carving furrows in the dirt.
"Princess! Open the altar!"
"...!"
Eldiria snapped out of her daze and scrambled toward the altar. Kashan clicked his tongue, manipulating the blood with a flick of his wrist. The crimson blades drew lethal arcs through the air.
Clash! Clash!
Jun-hyeok parried every strike. Kashan’s brow furrowed in irritation.
"A mere human dares..."
Crrrack!
The blood magic pulverized the earth as it lunged at Jun-hyeok. He kicked off the ground, but Kashan flicked his finger, and the blood rose from the earth like a cage to surround him.
[Air Jump]
Jun-hyeok kicked the empty air, leaping higher to evade the trap. As he landed, Eldiria’s shout rang out.
"It’s open!"
Jun-hyeok immediately lunged toward her. Kashan’s fingers danced aggressively.
"Where do you think you're going?"
The blood split into dozens of razor-thin strands, lashing out to seize Jun-hyeok. It was a wide-range attack that he couldn't possibly block entirely.
[Block]
His body moved automatically, guided by the system.
He struck down strand after strand. But even with the skill's assistance, the sheer volume was too much. Several strands coiled around his limbs. Just as Kashan prepared to tear him apart—
[Rift Movement]
Jun-hyeok’s form flickered through a tear in space, reappearing instantly beside Eldiria. The blood strands grasped at nothing but air. Kashan’s eyes bulged.
"What?!"
"Close the door," Jun-hyeok commanded.
"R-Right!"
Rumble!
The heavy stone door of the altar began to grind shut. Kashan rushed forward, but he was a second too late—he had committed too much power to the previous attack.
Thud.
The door sealed shut, plunging them into silence. Eldiria’s eyes were trembling, filled with tears.
"Why Uncle... Why would he...?"
"Calm down and think, Princess. The werewolves knew exactly where this altar was."
They had been waiting in the forest. Someone had fed them the location.
"And the werewolves attacked on the Night of the Lunar Eclipse. Didn't that strike you as strange?"
"...The Lunar Eclipse is when we are at our weakest. We had our strongest defenses active. And yet... they bypassed everything. Not a single alarm was raised."
As if an insider had deactivated them.
"Your uncle opened the gates," Jun-hyeok said softly. He had known the truth all along. It was one of the many tragedies Eldiria had lamented during their time together in his past life.
"But why...?"
"There’s no time for shock, Princess."
Creeeeak. Screeeech!
The massive stone door began to groan and warp inward. Someone was tearing it apart from the outside.
"You have acquired a quite peculiar vassal. I have never seen a human move like that."
With that low, chilling voice, the door shattered into fragments.