Chapter 86
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: 9th Floor - Lv. 79 Not-So-Weak Foes (3)
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Blood Dominion is actually a pretty vague and ambiguous power.
It all depends on your mindset to a certain extent.
Even with Barbaroi's authority, it's nearly impossible to directly extract blood from a living being's body.
That's because there's a basic magical field that exists inherently, even without studying magic or handling mana.
When I came to the Labyrinth and studied magic like my life depended on it, the thing that surprised me was how surprisingly legitimate it was as an academic discipline.
In the field of science, the Labyrinth's continent rarely surpasses modern Earth.
Even in eras with space stations and such futuristic setups.
More than half of what looks like sci-fi at first glance is just pseudo-science powered by magic.
But magic itself turns out to be surprisingly scientific.
In my opinion, the robust magical field inherent to living beings can be explained scientifically.
The same goes for other magic.
It's just that modern Earth's science hasn't reached that point yet.
They say highly advanced science is indistinguishable from magic, right?
In the Labyrinth, it's not a metaphor—it's literal fact.
There's no real difference between them. Just a slight divergence in direction.
Eventually, as they develop, they'll meet in the same fields.
Science discovers the soul, magic uncovers physical laws. They were one from the start.
Pretty fascinating, huh?
From that perspective, Barbaroi's authority—or a regular vampire's blood dominion—operates on some pretty intriguing principles.
It requires line of sight. I have to clearly recognize the blood's presence.
And the blood has to be separated from the opponent's body.
Normally, people don't recognize blood that's left their body as part of themselves.
That's why Blood Dominion works.
The instant it leaves the body.
It's an observation issue. Whether you observe and confirm it as part of your body.
Magic is deeply tied to that mental aspect.
Observation is a crucial element in magic.
I know another discipline where that's important. Something about quantum whatever.
I once asked an exiled physicist I'd met.
Couldn't quantum mechanics explain it somehow?
Wasn't Schrödinger's cat that kind of thought experiment?
The physicist burst out laughing and shook his head.
Schrödinger's cat is pretty far from reality anyway, and it's best not to drag quantum mechanics into it.
When I asked why, he gave a simple answer.
"Beats me. Quantum mechanics is just like that."
So I let it go. Figured that's just how it is.
It's not important anyway. You pick up trivial curiosities when you've lived as long as I have.
Like that, you can't just spout off about fields you're not an expert in—especially when even the experts don't know.
Magic's basically my major now, though.
Anyway, no way to verify it, so I'll just call the science-magic connection my hunch for now.
The Girl looked noticeably dejected.
Her face dripped with despair, like a high schooler who'd bombed the college entrance exam.
Having such expressive features is a drawback in times like this.
Just looking at her was making me feel down.
Her eyes were misty, even giving a faint glimpse of allure that was nowhere to be seen normally.
College entrance exam... That reminded me, so I asked.
"By the way, did you take the exam too?"
She mumbled a bit adorably but answered properly.
"I got in early admission..."
"Oh? What major?"
"Seoul University's Exorcism Department."
Hmm, definitely a free pass there.
But is that even a standard department?
"Think of it like a civilian military studies program. Exorcism was national defense stuff in our world."
"That's wild. In my world, combat was just between people."
"Same in ours. Human infighting seems universal."
Then tears suddenly streamed down her face.
I wiped them with the handkerchief I'd made for her and asked.
"Whoa, that big a shock?"
"I wanna go to the Han River."
"Why?"
"Uncle trusted me and gave me a shot, but I blew it..."
Sometimes I wonder.
What am I to this kid?
Am I some sleazy guy giving a love-starved high school girl fake romance vibes just to steal her talents?
Hmm, tough question. But I'll do my best sincerely.
No crossing lines, though.
I ruffled her hair as I replied.
"Pass!"
"Huh?"
"You passed."
Her baffled face was cute again. She's so compact and fidgety—her arms were flailing.
"You handled it that well with zero info. That's plenty."
Nobody could have done better.
Roguelikes are all about bumping into stuff blind, dying, and learning.
Deaths are expected; it's how well you hold out that matters.
Even enemies who start seriously skill-building can pull off all sorts of nonsense without context.
No real logic to it. Just unimaginable crap.
Same in the [Main Dungeon]. NPCs start acting up there too.
Unlike the continent built on some rational foundation, that place is pure irrationality incarnate.
Ultimately, adaptability is key, and the Girl nailed it.
"Well, I've memorized everything, but still."
"Show-off! For real!"
Crying and beaming ear-to-ear. And trash-talking me to boot.
Makes me wonder if I did something shady.
The other party members dragged over the subdued foes and tied them up.
I'd handled hemostasis, so even left alone, none had bled out fatally.
We confiscated their potion vials and sprinkled some on.
Of course, I slurped the blood from the ones who looked fine before healing them. Just enough not to kill—like a blood donation to the Red Cross.
Fiction often says vampires get different power based on blood quality.
Not here. Blood's blood; high-level doesn't change the composition much.
As a human-based vampire, I can't even consume non-human blood.
The Girl, whose Labyrinth curiosity had spiked lately, asked.
"So what changes if you use a card to become a vampire?"
"Card?"
"Yeah. Like, no such thing as an angel undead, right?"
Spot on. Does using a vampire card turn you into a vampire of your current race?
Logical deduction.
But obviously, angels or demons bitten by vampires don't turn.
"Hmm, you know about progenitors?"
"Oh..."
"No need to say more since you get it."
Vampires from cards are on the level of all vampires' progenitors.
The original, the first vampire.
Powerful enough to rank as higher species like angels or demons, but nuanced.
Progenitors don't have uniquely special powers.
They're just immune to weaknesses regular vampires grind Mind Maps to overcome.
Saves tons of points—definite perk.
But it's territory any vampire hits around level 1,000, so endgame performance is meh.
At that point, you're just a high-level vampire, nothing more or less.
As NPCs, every server has one or two wandering around, but you rarely see them.
They don't need anything to survive—no bases required.
Sometimes they get spaced into the void and just... stop thinking.
"So much to know."
"Nah, vampires are easy—just memorize the weaknesses. Progenitors are hero-unit tier but don't mess with the mainstream."
"Like a field boss you unluckily bump into on the road?"
"Exactly."
Wait. We have this guy in our party who attracts every freak out there.
Still, what's the real chance?
There's a reason I built the cabin like a barracks.
To store the captives.
Knocked 'em all out and laid them down. Sealed their consciousness magically. Gotta be thorough when it counts.
"Hmm, even for Exiles, this feels a bit unethical..."
"Yeah?"
The party members looked a little queasy.
"But they're folks with extra lives, no pain, total comfort. Wake up and it's the next Run anyway."
The old man nodded big, orc-style.
"Once captured, they're fair game. Hahaha."
I get the visual issue, but scrutinized, it's not really shady.
Dead or like this—what's the difference to me?
Meanwhile, the Girl sat lotus-positioned, eyes shut like she was meditating. Nice form.
"Gonna gain enlightenment or something?"
She shook her head no, still meditating.
"Reviewing it."
She opened her mouth.
"The failed fight?"
"Always did it like this at home."
Good, no complaints about my Exile treatment.
Didn't want her uncomfortable, so I hung the kid's future cloak as a curtain to block the view.
Then we gathered around the table the youngest whittled from wood.
The Girl peeked with one eye, saw the post-battle menu was bird the Hunter snagged, and scurried over.
Everyone chuckled and tore into the meat.
Peaceful morning.
The savory aroma roused the pint-sized mage and temp allies from their stupor.
Snowy hellscape sucks, but free PK floors rock.
The parties hunting Exiles on Floor 9 all saw the free PK as a boon.
The Labyrinth limits resources and EXP per floor, no matter how hard you grind.
Few exceptions. Free PK floors are one.
Levels aren't absolute power, but they're the easiest path to strength.
Exiles aiming for the kingdom—or solid footing there—banded together easily.
New Floor 9 spawns are fixed spots. Ambushing is solid strategy.
Once powered up, no need for ambushes anymore.
Rich get richer, poor get poorer.
Early birds widen the gap on latecomers.
Not everyone, but some turn human-hunting into sport.
And some hate it just as much.
The Labyrinth's weird environment drives people mad easily.
Then you get folks who despise the crazies.
But they're all cooperating for profit. No real difference.
To protect it, they divvied territories and prey.
Now they all gathered.
"Barbaroi?"
"That clan master?"
Obviously, other party leaders were puzzled at the news.
Barbaroi's infamous among vets.
Never faced him, but kingdom-goers have heard.
"He can be in a party?"
"More like, does Barbaroi even use his powers like that?"
Puzzlement grew. But witnesses nodded.
"Manipulating blood like that? Only Barbaroi or a progenitor could."
"Confirmed the appearance?"
"Must've been stealthed nearby."
"That girl at the cabin's freakishly strong too."
Other parties had different thoughts.
"That house looks pro. Built in a day?"
"In this blizzard hell."
Their misfortune: no mage recorded the fight.
So someone got bold.
"Just kill 'em, same diff. What's hard?"
The growler wasn't human anymore.
Orc.
Tough, brave warrior race.
Bit aggressive temperament-wise.
Barbaroi's human-based, so maybe doable against him.
Other parties perked up.
"We'll pass."
"Go wild."
The woman and man who'd first seen the blood forest snorted.
Humans weren't the issue.
Unclassed Barbaroi gave off ominous vibes.
But the orc warrior wasn't dumb.
"Can't just watch someone poke the hornet's nest. Right?"
Then it was a staring contest.
No deep trust, so decision took time.
Orc warrior's party leads, others support from rear.
"Don't do something stupid like offering blood to Barbaroi. He heals, game's over."
The orc hefted a hammer engraved with lightning.
Great Run luck: warrior main got orc card and [Mjolnir].
[Fixed Artifact] outside magic/unique grades.
One per Run, per server. Priceless.
Worst case, sell in kingdom for riches.
But the orc's ambitions went further.
Kingdom settlers who weren't content always aimed next for ranker status.