Vampyre's Castle
The sixth life had begun.
I checked my status the moment I came to.
"Good."
I'd finally secured gongryeok in the mid-to-upper first-rate range.
Starting from the sixth cycle, Madric Blood's reaction to me had changed slightly. She would stand before me and gaze at my head for a moment.
Was it because of the inner core from the Jade Legged Blood Hand? Or the Blood Cycle? Or both?
My hair, which had turned red from the roots, was now fully crimson.
"A fine color."
"Thank you."
Madric Blood liked red. Not only that, but she scanned me up and down for a good while. She must have sensed a familiar energy from me, something akin to her own. Yet she didn't voice her suspicions outright, lacking full certainty.
From there, things proceeded much like the second cycle. The main difference was her shock when she passed the Blood Cycle on to me.
"My theory was correct after all. At this rate, you might reach mastery soon enough, nira."
But it wasn't because I'd learned the Blood Cycle so quickly. She was simply satisfied that her research had yielded the results she'd hoped for.
With expectant eyes, I asked her, "Then you'll teach me the secret techniques as well?"
"Foolish nonsense."
Tch.
What about Gwak Do-cheol? The moment I learned the third form of the Black Moon Tyrant Sword from him, I unleashed it freely, leaving him in awe time and again.
"Ho. Young Jeongha might possess talent rivaling the finest later-generation disciples, o."
"You're too kind."
It really was excessive praise. It wasn't due to any overflowing talent on my part. Still, there was no need to feign clumsiness. Better to let him think I was a genius. That way, he might teach me even more in his eagerness.
Gwak Do-cheol nodded and said, "Mastering the first three forms is essential before the rest hold meaning. However, for young Jeongha, we might proceed to the next without delay, o."
"Excellent."
This was exactly what I wanted.
"After perfecting the basic three forms, one typically learns the linked five forms."
He promptly demonstrated the fifth form of the Black Moon Tyrant Sword. Watching it, I thought that mastering just this would make Lubrid a worthy opponent.
Under his guidance, I gave it a clumsy try.
"It's only your first attempt, so some awkwardness is natural. Young Kim has considerable talent, so I expect you'll grasp it soon enough, o."
"Understood."
Soon enough by the standards of Murim's later-generation disciples. With resolve to meet his expectations, I threw myself into training.
On the third day, we entered Lubrid's altar once more.
The most effective counter to his first pattern was the Black Tyrant Sword Principle.
Chaeng!
Of course, Lubrid blocked my blade, but I twisted it into a thrust.
A seamless motion like flowing water! A technique meant for when the foe anticipates and parries your initial strike.
It worked beautifully.
Puk!
Lubrid's clothes tore where my blade grazed him, a diagonal gash blooming alongside.
Wooong.
And with Kim Hansu's mysterious attack joining in.
Lubrid, who had overwhelmed me before, began falling back.
I smiled faintly at the sight.
His face twisted further.
"How can a mere human wield such power...?"
I'd devoured two inner cores from the Jade Legged Blood Hand, replenishing my losses. The Blood Cycle boosted efficiency. Channeling my elevated gongryeok into the Black Moon Tyrant Sword, the vampire before me seemed to sense the source of my energy.
"That's from Madric...—"
I shut my mouth before answering.
This Lubrid wasn't the real one anyway. Just a lingering thought puppeted by the spirit in his sword. No one's father, no true vampire.
Now we exchanged twenty bouts.
No need to die again. This time, I was the one left standing at the end.
Lubrid collapsed, blood pouring from his chest. His eyes had returned to ordinary human ones.
"Do you know why Vampyres hunt vampires?"
An out-of-left-field question.
"Well..."
As I started to reply, Kim Hansu, who had been picking his ear, spoke up.
"Creatures always despise those like themselves yet somehow different. Ethnic self-loathing or whatever."
Dying Lubrid let out a wry chuckle.
"...That might be the answer."
Then he looked at me.
"Please, my daughter..."
He couldn't finish, closing his eyes. His hand extended his sword toward me.
A lingering thought... no, because it was a thought, a father's consciousness remained. If only for a fleeting moment.
Hidden Stage 'Lubrid's Altar' Cleared.
I picked up the sword that slipped from his hand. It matched the cross standing tall at the altar's end.
Sealed Souls: 0.1/2
Two gems embedded in the blade. The bottom one was empty. The middle gem glowed halfway through the body.
Kim Hansu snickered beside me.
"What, stab his daughter with it? Heh heh."
"Something like that."
Everyone has a story. I removed Lubrid's necklace.
Tok.
I detached the gem at its end and slotted it into the empty spot on the Sealed Sword.
Sealed Souls: 1.1/3
Time to move to the next stage.
"Let's go join up."
Madric Blood should be reaching the boss stage by now.
Vampyre. Born between vampire and human. A half-breed, politely put—or a mongrel, harshly.
That was me, Angelica.
"How dare a mongrel set foot here?"
"Ugh! Get lost. Your mongrel blood might rub off."
"The half-breed scum!"
Words I'd heard growing up. Most Vampyres probably faced the same.
Vampires stuck with vampires. Vampyres with Vampyres. Half by choice, half by force.
But it didn't matter.
"My darling girl."
"My one and only treasure."
"The prettiest daughter in the world. Angelica."
Those who loved me didn't have to be vampires.
That's why I approached humans, our other half. After all, one parent was always human.
But humans were just as ruthless.
"V-vampire!"
"Eek!"
"Run!"
They fled in terror, calling us monsters or vampires.
"I'm not a vampire. I don't even need blood..."
No one listened to explanations. To ordinary humans, Vampyre or vampire—it was all the same.
Rejected by both humans and vampires. Shocking, but humans were slightly better. They just feared us, never tormented us.
One day, Vampyres gathered from afar for an all-night meeting. Some sought human acceptance. Others vented fury at vampires.
Different reasons, same conclusion.
"Let's hunt the vampires!"
That was why a Vampyre born of vampires hunted vampires.
A world of Vampyres fueled by rage and loathing! All our suffering blamed on vampires.
But I didn't see it that way.
Not until the day my mother was slain by a vampire.
"Angelica... run. Hurry..."
This was the soul sealed in the sword's memory, but Lubrid's lingering thought had mustered its last strength to show it to me.
As I retraced it carefully, walking the route cleared by my fellow hunters.
"There they are."
I spotted the Safety Planning Department hunters ahead and quickened my pace to join them.
Kim Hansu, peering over their shoulders, spoke.
"Looks like they're just about to start."
The boss of the Vampyre's Castle, Angelica, descended slowly from the air and touched down.
Madric Blood ground her teeth and shouted.
"Angelica!"
Angelica gracefully lifted the hem of her antique dress and curtsied.
"Long time no see, sister."
"...?"
"...!"
The Safety Planning hunters panicked at her greeting.
"What did she just say...?"
"Did she say 'sister'?"
Angelica widened her eyes.
"Oh? You haven't told your underlings? I figured those ragtag intruders before would have spilled it."
She meant the HR department.
"None of your business."
"Hee hee. Is it?"
"Do you even know what you've done?"
"Of course. I'm doing this purely of my own will. And I love every moment."
Madric Blood clenched her fist, her eyes trembling violently.
"Hmm... a tragic affair, o."
Gwak Do-cheol let out a sigh.
"Regardless of their circumstances, we must defeat this Angelica, o."
"True."
"I get it, but I'm worried the Director might let emotions cloud her judgment."
A natural concern. Not just for Gwak Do-cheol—all the hunters felt it.
But it was unfounded.
Angelica spoke in a cold tone.
"Then, sister. Die for me."
"Arrogant fool. You think you can beat me?"
"Hee hee. I'm a full vampire now. What do I have to fear?"
Madric Blood and Angelica. They clashed like enemies on a log bridge.
Their exchanges were evenly matched.
We underlings wanted to aid Madric, but illusions of Angelica spawned endlessly in the boss room.
"Not sure what they were at first, but swords work! Good!"
"Yeah. The problem is they keep coming until the boss is down!"
"Heh heh. What a pain."
"Jeongha-ssi. Got a plan this time too?"
I wasn't worried. I nodded at Choi Heejeong.
"Yes!"
"What is it?"
"Just keep swinging your sword!"
"Straightforward again? Got it!"
It wasn't a lack of tricks—the direct approach was the answer here.
Because the Sealed Sword was in my hands.
I slashed at the illusion before me.
-Kyaaak!
The illusion touched by the Sealed Sword's blade was sucked into it.
-Nooo!
These illusions were Angelica's spirits. Fragments from her human soul, torn out and shattered.
Choi Heejeong watched me with dawning realization.
"I see... That's why you went for that strange sword."
"I'll lend a hand too, bro."
Snap!
Kim Hansu snapped his fingers.
Wooong.
He'd used plenty in the bloody fight with Lubrid earlier.
Sure enough, twin streams of blood gushed from his nose the moment he activated.
"Sss."
He licked the blood trickling from his lips and glanced at Choi Heejeong.
She caught the signal, closing her eyes in focus.
"Jeongha-ssi, catch!"
I understood their strategy.
Dozens of spirits materialized before me.
I didn't know the principle yet, but Kim Hansu and Choi Heejeong's Gifts synergized massively. They enabled Transfer without swapping objects.
-Huh?
-What's this?
-Why am I here?
-I was just playing with that bearded old guy!
Prepared, I thrust the Sealed Sword forward with all my might.
Black Moon Tyrant Sword.
Full Moon Slash.
The dark crimson sword qi spread in a circle, absorbing Angelica's spirits one by one into the blade.
-Kiiyaaat!
-Nooo!
-I won't go!
-Stop!
Sealed Souls: 1.3/3
Nearly 200 spirits recovered in one strike.
"Perfect."
Our grim-faced comrades brightened.
"Kim Jeongha found the way again!"
"An artifact?"
"Where'd he get that?"
I felt like dancing.
Though Kim Hansu's limits were becoming a concern.
Snap!
"One more batch. Heh heh..."
I'll make him some nourishing food later!
The next batch from them: 100 spirits. Absorb these, and the rest would be smooth.
Then—
"Kim Jeongha! Watch out—"
"Ahahaha!"
Madric Blood's voice drowned in Angelica's mad laughter.
By the time I turned, Angelica was right in my face.
But another figure darted in swiftly.
Tseeng!
A blade heavy with cold energy danced through the air.
Its domineering aura softened into a perfect circle.
Black Moon Tyrant Sword.
Moon Reflection Path.