Chapter 97: Vampire Queen Eldiria (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 97: Vampire Queen Eldiria (6)
“Then—”
Just as things were about to wrap up, space suddenly split open. A hand thrust out from the rift, followed shortly by a figure stepping through.
It was a man. He wore brilliantly shimmering armor, his handsome features framed by a mane of azure hair. Eldiria’s face immediately contorted into a grimace.
“I thought things had finally quieted down, yet here you are, crawling back again.”
“Ah… ah…”
The man’s eyes widened the moment he saw Eldiria. His pupils trembled before quickly filling with pure ecstasy.
“Ah! Lady Eldiria! Lady Eldiria! I have finally found you! I have been searching for you everywhere!”
The man cried out with feverish passion.
“I am the First Prince of the Akurotia Kingdom, Haldenberg Akurotia! I realized it the moment I met you on the 10th Floor—that you are the only partner I shall ever spend my life with! Please, come with me!”
“What a nuisance.”
Eldiria clicked her tongue. Players who saw her past self imprisoned in the Tower and came seeking her love—by now, it was beyond tiresome; it was pathetic. Until now, she had simply killed any Players who found her after a brief exchange.
However, a strange smile played on her lips as if a better idea had occurred to her. She walked slowly, positioning herself behind Kang Jun-hyeok.
“Lady Eldiria?”
“You said you would grant my wishes. Well then, here is my first.”
She gestured with her chin toward the man.
“Dispose of this trash who dares to beg for my past self's affection. Do it with your own hands.”
Realizing her intent, Kang Jun-hyeok let out a short laugh.
“Understood.”
Kang Jun-hyeok stepped forward. The man’s face twisted violently at the sight of him.
“You. Who are you?!”
“Lady Eldiria’s successor,” Kang Jun-hyeok replied simply. “Unfortunately, Lady Eldiria isn’t in the mood for company. I’d appreciate it if you turned around and left.”
“Company? You’re calling me company?! Don’t make me laugh! I am her one and only partner!”
“There have been over a hundred idiots who said the exact same thing,” Eldiria muttered indifferently.
With bloodshot eyes, Haldenberg drew his weapon.
“I see it now! You’re trying to cloud Lady Eldiria’s judgment by staying at her side! Oh, Lady Eldiria! Please wait just a moment! I shall kill this wicked liar and open your eyes!”
Boom!
The moment he finished speaking, the man lunged at Kang Jun-hyeok. Kang Jun-hyeok drew his own blade to meet the attack.
Clang!
A massive collision echoed through the chamber. Eldiria leaned back in her chair with a smirk.
“Go on. Work hard to win me over. Put on an entertaining show.”
Her personality hasn't changed a bit.
The way she viewed men dueling over her as mere entertainment was identical to his past life. Kang Jun-hyeok grumbled inwardly.
* * *
Crrrash!
The man’s sword thrust forward.
He swung violently, aiming for Kang Jun-hyeok’s vitals. Kang Jun-hyeok was pushed back as he blocked the onslaught. A flurry of strikes fueled by rage rained down. Kang Jun-hyeok twisted his body to dodge. The man raised his arm roughly.
[Strike]
The sword slammed down with immense force. With a thunderous roar, Kang Jun-hyeok was driven to one knee.
He was fast. He was strong.
On paper, he was stronger than Kang Jun-hyeok.
On Earth, there was no Player stronger than Kang Jun-hyeok. But that was only on Earth. The universe was vast, and Players were countless. At this point in time, there were quite a few Players stronger than him—especially since he was nearly ten years behind. The man before him was one of them. It was simply that Earth was far too weak.
Clang!
Kang Jun-hyeok retreated two steps. The man swung his blade with murderous intent. Kang Jun-hyeok caught his breath.
The man was a stronger Player than Kang Jun-hyeok. But that didn't mean he would lose.
[Thrust]
Clang!
The sword lunged at the man. He managed to defend quickly, but [Thrust] activated once more.
The man was momentarily flustered but responded swiftly to the rapid follow-up. He was a Player as well; he understood the mechanics and effects of skills.
[Block]
The man used a skill to defend against the two consecutive thrusts. Kang Jun-hyeok countered immediately.
[Shock]
“Urgh!”
A powerful impact bypassed his defense and surged through his entire body. The man forced his trembling hands to maintain his grip.
[Spear Throw]
Swish-swish-swish!
Seizing the opening, spears shot out in succession. The man used a skill to defend himself, but Kang Jun-hyeok neutralized that skill with another of his own.
Clang-clang-clang!
“Ugh, damn it!”
In an instant, the man began to be pushed back.
He was certainly stronger than Kang Jun-hyeok. His stats were higher, and he possessed a variety of skills. His talent for swordsmanship was also incomparable.
But that was it. His ability as a Player was overwhelmingly inferior. Eldiria, watching the fight, murmured in fascination.
“He’s quite skilled.”
Kang Jun-hyeok was overwhelming the man purely through the strategic use of his skills. The man also possessed powerful abilities, including High-Rank skills that Kang Jun-hyeok had yet to acquire. Despite that, he couldn't mount a proper counterattack.
“Eeeek!”
Driven into a corner, the man stomped his foot hard.
[Earth Shatter]
Rumble!
The ground began to shake and crumble. [Earth Shatter]—a powerful High-Rank Active Skill available in the Shop. It was a skill Kang Jun-hyeok did not have. The earth collapsed like a sinkhole, threatening to bury Kang Jun-hyeok deep underground.
[Earth Shake]
At that moment, the ground vibrated.
It was a Low-Rank Active Skill possessed by Kang Jun-hyeok. Naturally, given the vast difference in rank, it had little effect on the collapsing earth.
But he added one more.
[Repulsion]
Vroom!
A force pushed away the surroundings. By combining the two skills, he succeeded in creating a small opening. Using that gap, he kicked off the ground.
[Air Jump]
He kicked off the crumbling earth twice to escape. He had neutralized a devastating High-Rank Active Skill using two Low-Rank skills and one Mid-Rank skill. It was a feat possible only by perfectly understanding the structure, mechanics, and power of the System.
The sword pierced the shoulder of the man, whose face was now pale with shock.
Crunch.
“Aaargh!”
The man was sent flying backward. With a face full of horror, he hurriedly tried to respond to Kang Jun-hyeok’s follow-up.
“He’s even adept at fighting other Players,” Eldiria murmured. To her eyes, the man was clearly stronger than Kang Jun-hyeok. If they fought ten times, the man should have won eight of them. Yet, Kang Jun-hyeok was overcoming that gap with pure understanding of the System.
Where on earth did a guy like this come from?
The fight didn't change much after that. Even though the man was stronger, he couldn't find an opening to counter and was busy just defending. His health plummeted in an instant.
“What… what are you?! Who are you?!”
“Someone who has what you lack,” Kang Jun-hyeok replied simply. The man’s face contorted.
My skills have recovered well enough.
It had been a long time since he’d fought another Player with his life on the line. This opponent had been perfect for his "rehabilitation." It was time to end this.
Taking a breath, Kang Jun-hyeok activated a skill.
[True Ancestor Awakening]
In that instant, he became a True Ancestor.
Every aspect of his physical body was enhanced. His senses became infinitely sharp, and he gained near-absolute control over blood. His dark eyes turned crimson, and his skin became deathly pale.
“…Ah, ah.”
The man, who had been preparing for an attack, stood with his mouth agape. He realized exactly what state Kang Jun-hyeok was in. And because he knew, he fell into despair.
“Why… why someone like you?!”
Flash!
Kang Jun-hyeok closed the distance instantly. His speed was noticeably faster than before. The man tried to respond with a skill in a panic, but blood rose up. It coiled around the man’s body, binding and suppressing him, pinning him down.
He then drove his sword through the chest of his restrained opponent.
“Cough!”
The man hacked up blood. Kang Jun-hyeok, having succeeded in the suppression instantly, gave a satisfied smile.
“So this is its performance.”
The duration of [True Ancestor Awakening] was only ten seconds. However, it was powerful enough that he felt no lack. His stats were boosted, and his control over blood was on a different level than before. Though the opponent had failed to respond properly due to psychological shock, he had suppressed him in an instant. This meant that with [True Ancestor Awakening], he could handle opponents far stronger than himself.
“Gah… cough.”
The man writhed. His health must have dropped to the double digits. One more thrust would kill him.
Just as Kang Jun-hyeok raised his sword, Eldiria spoke.
“Could you leave him to me for a moment?”
“As you wish.”
“Step back.”
Kang Jun-hyeok retreated three steps. Eldiria deployed a veil of blood. Having blocked out all external sound, she approached the man.
“Ah… Lady Eldiria.”
The man’s despairing face momentarily brightened. Even with death before his eyes, he rejoiced at her presence.
“Those who fall for my past self and defile the present.”
She loathed Players. She despised and hated them—in some ways, even more than the Victors.
“But… I suppose I can praise you this once. It is thanks to people like you that I was able to meet a man like him.”
Eldiria smiled brightly. There was a warmth in her eyes. Even though that warmth wasn't directed at him, the man momentarily wore a dazed expression.
“Lady Eldiria…”
“Your existence has been of use to me. So, die satisfied.”
Having finished her piece, Eldiria withdrew the veil. Kang Jun-hyeok, who had been waiting, asked, “Are you finished?”
“Finish it.”
Kang Jun-hyeok plunged his sword into the man’s chest. The man let out a groan and went limp. Something dwelling within him flowed into Kang Jun-hyeok, and simultaneously, a cascade of system windows appeared.
[Level Up]
• Health +30
• Strength +1
• Speed +1
• Swordsmanship proficiency has increased significantly.
• Earth Shake proficiency has increased significantly.
• Observation proficiency has increased significantly.
• You have obtained 1,534 Gold.
The proficiencies of over ten skills rose in a row. When a Player killed another Player, they plundered a portion of what the victim had achieved. From experience points and gold to skill proficiency—it was akin to a form of absorption. Eldiria waved her hand at the satisfied Kang Jun-hyeok.
“I assume your business here is done. Begone.”
“Don’t you want to say a proper goodbye?”
“Goodbye? Don’t be absurd. Stop wasting time and climb the Tower. You’ll have to climb diligently to reach your goal. Who knows? If you actually complete the quest, you might just win me over.”
Eldiria gave a playful smile. Kang Jun-hyeok looked puzzled.
That’s strange.
If she were the Eldiria he knew, she would have tried to keep him there longer. She would have killed time with trivial conversation. After all, she was someone who suffered greatly from loneliness. He had been prepared to be held up for at least a month.
Yet, contrary to his expectations, she was letting him go far too easily. Though slightly suspicious, he had no reason to stay if she was letting him leave. Kang Jun-hyeok bowed politely.
“Then, I shall look forward to the day we meet again.”
Kang Jun-hyeok’s body vanished in a flash.
In the silence, Eldiria murmured to herself.
“The day we meet again, is it? It won’t take that long.”
The reason she hadn't held Kang Jun-hyeok back was simple. When she had bestowed the True Blood upon him, she had designed a special mechanism within it.
It was a link—a connection.
“I won’t be bored from now on.”
She sat back down with a light hum. Blood began to crawl out, forming a complex magic formula.