Chapter 120: Vampire's High Castle (2)
Vampire.
One of the world's most infamous monsters.
Its defining trait: the more fresh blood it sucks, the stronger it gets.
Insane regenerative abilities came as a bonus. That bloodsucking power made it one of the most notorious monsters around.
‘In that sense, the undead are its natural predator.’
Undead?
Most of them don't have blood.
Sure, a few types do, but it's rotten corpse blood at best.
Drinking it would actually harm them.
The only blood worth sucking was their own.
‘Well, just dodge it well enough.’
That made their trickiest ability half-useless.
Thud.
Thud.
It was when they drew near the high castle, accompanied by Dolsae's heavy footsteps.
―Kyaaak!
Suddenly, a swarm of black shadows charged from all directions.
About ten in number.
Vampires ambushing under cover of night. Their crimson gazes all locked on this side.
The standard tactic against summoners was to target the main body.
These vampires knew that too.
The undead horde reacted swiftly.
[Dolsae uses Taunt (A) on Idran!]
Dolsae raised his shield, blocking overhead as one vampire's head snapped toward the golem.
‘Here we go.’
Kim Minwoo thrust his hand forward.
[Death Ground (S) is cast!]
Death Ground activated first.
[Curse of Aging (D)+9 is…]
Amplified by the Ring of Ascension, the curse enveloped their bodies.
['Serina' is afflicted with the curse!]
['Albolton' is afflicted with the…]
[Possesses strong blood! Curse effect and duration greatly reduced…]
Every one of them had names. A trait of purebloods. Even so, the curse took hold.
Around 10% speed and defense reduction.
Merhen unleashed her magic toward the slowed vampires.
[Merhen uses Aquatic Prison (SS)!]
The horde charging at Kim Minwoo got trapped in a water prison conjured in midair. Red blood gathered over their hands, shaping into claws.
Sizzle!
A mass of blood slicing through the water.
A few vampires tore through the prison and poked their bodies out.
As if waiting, Cedric's spear greeted them.
―Kill them all!
[Cedric activates Dragon Strike (S)!]
Blood claws clashed against the elongated spear.
Boom!
The vampire's form shook as it was pushed back.
Cedric's stats had already surged with his second seal released.
Plus Death Ground buffs and skills—he wouldn't be pushed easily.
Dullahans, specters, and skeleton hordes swarmed from all sides, while the mages' curses blinded the vampires' eyes.
A chaotic melee erupted everywhere.
In the midst of it, two vampires broke through and charged straight at Kim Minwoo.
“Fire.”
―Kuh.
['Hayangi' shares attributes with the master!]
[Fire attribute can now be utilized!]
[Fire resistance increased by 10.2%!]
Hayangi's attributes had risen a lot lately. Now even without ice, it was plenty useful.
['Law of Victory' activates!]
[All stats increased by 50%!]
[All damage increased by 50%!]
10% per 100 levels from the title.
50% meant a 500-level gap bridged.
‘Their levels are pretty high.’
Of course, that was still irrelevant.
Fire was the vampire's hard counter.
He swung the flame-wreathed sword.
[Necromancy Swordsmanship (S) is used!]
[Mana 3,000 consumed…]
Dozens of fire-clad sword qi strands engulfed their bodies.
The spurting blood suddenly reversed, sucked back into their bodies like rewinded footage.
Blood Origin.
One of the pureblood passive skills.
Simple effect: spilled blood returns to the body.
A mini-immortal, essentially.
‘The counter…’
Inflict wounds heavy enough to bleed more than they can recover.
Dodging the vampires' attacks, he swung his sword.
In the brutal melee.
After three minutes of combat, the first vampire's head flew.
That was the moment.
The headless vampire rose, dangling its arms.
“…!”
The nearby vampire recoiled in horror.
No pureblood could survive decapitation.
Maybe a high noble, but…
The one just killed was a regular tier pureblood.
‘No way?’
The bad premonition became reality. The undead vampire stabbed its claws into its comrade's body.
The tide turned sharply.
* * *
Creak.
A coffin in the high castle opened for the first time in decades. A vampire lay inside, amid pooling blood.
“We pay respects to the great Duke Timorn.”
The vampire horde bowed deeply to the one who opened his eyes.
The figure before them wielded power worthy of such reverence. A noble among purebloods.
A duke, the highest rank.
“Why have you awakened me.”
The vampires bit their lips and knelt as one.
“…Please help us, Duke. A necromancer has invaded. It's beyond our ability to handle.”
Interest flickered in the duke's eyes at their plea.
A vampire's power came from blood.
In other words, purebloods were strong from birth.
After settling here, they'd fed countless intruders to the crows.
Yet they came to him…
The duke rose from the coffin.
Sss…
The remaining purebloods followed worshipfully in his gliding wake.
As they advanced.
He frowned, feeling vitality drain from his body.
‘Using annoying debuffs.’
At his level, a bit of lost vitality was no big deal.
Just irritating.
Soon, he beheld the chaotic banquet hall.
Blood splattered everywhere.
Debuff spells scattered in disarray.
Hordes of undead, and in the center, a human standing calmly.
Timorn's eyes narrowed.
‘A necromancer.’
A summoner wielding undead.
Some even included purebloods turned to corpses.
He'd killed and raised them with some special ability.
‘I get the gist.’
The necromancer invaded, and in resisting, they'd only bolstered his forces.
The duke stepped forward.
Instantly, a parasol-wielding woman fired magic.
Boom!
A massive lightning bolt surged toward the duke. The purebloods trembled at the sight.
Many comrades had fallen to that witch's spells.
Then.
Gushing blood encircled the duke spherically.
Fizzle!
The lightning fizzled out upon contact with the blood.
“Impressive minions you command.”
Timorn stared intently at Kim Minwoo with keen interest.
* * *
A vampire in antique attire.
His aura alone was extraordinary.
A horde of vampires trailed him since entering the banquet hall.
‘That must be it.’
The reason this mission was worth 500,000 points plus? rewards.
Likely that vampire.
[The high castle boss, 'Duke Timorn,' appears!]
The message confirmed he was no pushover.
A duke, no less.
Kim Minwoo tested with an attack order to Merhen. The magic that shredded countless purebloods barely fazed the duke.
‘High magic resistance.’
Makes sense.
Duke rank.
Centuries of life meant sky-high levels.
Merhen's mana had surged with her second seal, but levels were another matter.
He sent revived purebloods from Death Ground at him.
To gauge physical prowess. The undead vampires charged with gaping maws.
Racial abilities were long gone upon undeath.
But raw physicality remained useful.
―Kyaaak!
The duke frowned at the swarming undead.
“Tch.”
He swung his hand with a click of his tongue. Over ten undead vampires split in half instantly.
‘…Way stronger than expected?’
Weaker than Vulcan from last time.
Problem was, he wasn't alone. Nearly sixty purebloods followed.
With just over forty downed, mountains loomed ahead.
‘Good thing I prepped the bombs.’
Without them, it'd have been a death sentence.
“I shall grant thee an honorable eternal life.”
His fangs gleamed sharply. Greed overflowed in the duke's eyes.
‘Planning to turn me?’
Vampires could make blood thralls of victims.
Not unlimited numbers, so they chose carefully.
Apparently, his abilities tempted him.
‘Perfect.’
Thralls required fangs to the neck.
He needed them close for the light bomb anyway.
The duke's greedy eyes meant no issue there.
Sure enough.
The duke closed in.
Purebloods swarmed as a bonus. While undead handled them.
Cedric and Dolsae.
He charged the duke with them.
[Dolsae uses Taunt (A) on Timorn!]
[Level difference too vast! Taunt fails…]
Level gap nullified the taunt.
Whoosh!
Dolsae swung his mace.
The duke bent at the waist, dodging lightly, as Cedric thrust his spear.
Shadow Spear fused with Dragon Strike, a 14x damage combo.
The duke caught the spear barehanded.
Cedric unleashed a roar with jaws agape.
The duke opened his mouth too.
A misty blood fog poured out, devouring the breath entirely.
Kim Minwoo stabbed into the gap.
['Law of Victory' activates!]
[All stats increased by 80%…]
Over level 1,000 monster.
The necromancy sword barely pierced his waist. A few blood drops trickled, then absorbed back.
The duke's head snapped around.
Timorn smiled chillingly this way.
Desire burned in his eyes.
“Thou art most tempting.”
His constant composure showed no thought of defeat.
“Got a gift for you?”
“…?”
The duke tilted his head at the sudden words.
A small light orb formed in Kim Minwoo's hand. A light bomb from inventory.
[Light Bomb is used!]
[No damage to allies!]
“…!”
The duke's eyes bulged.
A prickling dread made him hastily form a blood shield, but the point-blank blast rendered it moot.
“Kraaak!”
Blinding light that could scorch retinas.
Nearby purebloods suffered too. Like ants in a typhoon, their bodies shredded apart.
When the explosion faded, a strangled groan escaped.
“Guhk…”
The duke, burned head to toe, vomited blood.
A clear critical hit.
Yet he survived.
His tier was that high.
Enraged by the unforeseen blow, fury filled his eyes.
“…Thou shalt die.”
“Yeah, got another one.”
“…?”
Boom!
Another massive blast. He'd blocked one somehow, but two broke him.
All his blood evaporated, body shriveling like a mummy.
When the seemingly eternal light finally faded, the duke's body was a wreck.
“B-blood… give me… blood…”
The duke desperately craved blood.
Unfortunately, an impossible wish.
Bereft of blood and weakened, he faced no easy prey.
The swarming undead crushed his body like a snack.
‘Worth the points.’
Two shots felled such a beast.
No wonder 500,000 points each. Kim Minwoo approached the duke.
“Farewell.”
The necromancy sword severed his neck.
That instant.
[Necromancy Sword absorbs the prey's blood!]
[Powerful foe! Absorption greatly increased! (4/10)]
‘Huh?’
When he hunted demon Han Baekgil, it absorbed 1.
Now it jumped to 4.
‘Like Vulcan?’
Vulcan gave 2,000 per blood feed—similar mechanic.
Proof of the duke's strength.
Messages continued.
[Title 'Vampire Duke Executioner' acquired…]
[Legend's Beginning - Upper Volume: New entry added…]
[Upper Volume fully completed! (10/10)]
[Reward: Title 'Upper Volume Completer' acquired!]
[Legend's Beginning - Middle Volume created!]
Title acquisition notices.
[Vampire's High Castle mission completed!]
[Rewards granted!]
[1. 500,000 points acquired!]
[2. VVIP Shop Unlock Ticket granted!]
The hidden? reward.
VVIP Shop Unlock Ticket, apparently.
He checked details.
[VVIP Shop Unlock Ticket]
[Grade: Special]
[Effect 1: Unlocks VVIP Shop upon use. (VIP Shop must be unlocked first.)]
[Effect 2: Enables purchase of 'Nuclear Bomb' in VVIP Shop.]
What.
Some weird phrasing caught his eye.
“…Nuclear Bomb?”
Kim Minwoo tilted his head.
Did it mean the nuclear bomb he knew of?