Chapter 227
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 227
Chapter Title: Demon King's Armor
There were numerous divine weapons in the world imbued with magic and mystical powers.
It was said that there were shields that could deflect swords or arrows before they even struck by altering their trajectory, and swords that emitted a blinding flash at critical moments to dazzle foes.
Daggers whose blade length could change freely depending on the situation, axes that flew out and returned on their own, and even spears sealed with fire spirits that spewed flames—he had heard of all these.
The divine weapons in Eugene's possession were each extraordinary in their own right.
Even the most ordinary(?) among them, Wolfslaughter, was forged from darksteel, capable of slicing through chain mail with ease and infused with a mystery that prevented wounds from healing easily, whether on humans or monsters.
However, in Eugene's opinion, the pinnacle among his divine weapons was undoubtedly the magic armor, Armis.
Its defensive power surpassed that of plate armor crafted by Maren's dwarf artisans, yet it weighed less than half as much. It fit like custom tailoring, offering perfect comfort.
Moreover, it instantly nullified all but the most exceptional magic and curses upon contact.
The only drawback was that it thirsted for so much blood it could threaten the wearer's life—but aside from that, it was perfection incarnate.
Yet that single flaw was devastating.
An armor meant to protect its master was instead devouring the master's life force—who would wear such a thing?
That was why Eugene had felt uneasy when he first received Armis.
But he understood when Armis flew to him on its own accord, guided by its will, and equipped itself automatically.
Armis's bloodlust, beast-like as it was, wasn't for harming its master.
It simply required an immense amount of blood to fully manifest its inherent abilities and mysteries.
Thus, for any race other than a vampire, even half that amount would be insufficient, leading inevitably to death.
Armis had been crafted from the start for the Dark Clan—and not just any, but the highest-ranking vampires capable of effortlessly slaying mid- or high-tier monsters.
And when the required blood was fully supplied, the magic armor finally unveiled its true mystery.
It became one with its master.
Just like this.
Kwaaaa...
The armor, radiating a vivid crimson glow, trembled violently.
Eugene concentrated his blood and will, transforming his body into a thoughtform.
The armor itself, along with Wolfslaughter and Madarajika, decomposed into thousands of black granules, merging into the shadow-like thoughtform.
“...!!!“
Princess Lilisein and the elf knights watched this astonishing sight with eyes wide open.
Even for elves accustomed to magic and mystery, the scene unfolding before them was an incomprehensible marvel beyond belief.
But the shock they felt paled in comparison to that of the intruders—the vampires who had come rushing in gleefully, thinking the enemy's power was spent.
* * *
“...!?”
From the moment the mass of black smoke took flight, the vampires recognized it as the unique ability of a highest-ranking vampire, just like their revered master.
However, they had never encountered any high-ranking vampire besides their master. Moreover, they sensed no overwhelming presence that could freeze body and soul like their master's.
Having no way of knowing Eugene had deliberately restrained his presence, the vampires could only feel confusion.
But it was fleeting.
Kwarrr rumble!
The thoughtform, flying like a swarm of black bats, unfurled in an instant, enveloping the vampires.
Trapped in darkness thicker than the dungeon's shadows, the vampires froze in place. No matter where they looked—front, back, left, right—there was only pitch-black void.
Vampires were the Dark Clan.
Night and darkness were their sanctuary and home. Yet the blackness now surrounding them was utterly severed from the world.
No sound, no smell, no touch.
They perceived nothing at all.
Perfect isolation.
Darkness transcending darkness.
This space, nonexistent in the world, instilled even the Dark Clan with profound terror.
“...!”
The vampires, chilled by this unprecedented situation, screamed in fear, but no sound emerged.
Then.
Kikikikik!
With eerie noises, countless red silhouettes began appearing within the blackness.
They were glowing red eyes.
The crimson gazes fixed on the vampires. Each pair carried an aura more formidable than that of their own master.
It was overwhelming dread.
Pure 'presence' in the truest sense.
The vampires dropped their weapons unwittingly, drooling as they collapsed to their knees one after another.
All they could do was prostrate before this absolute being.
Indeed.
The perfected magic armor's ability wasn't merely mimicking the wearer's form.
It wasn't made merely for highest-ranking vampires either.
For one sole individual.
Not for the hierarchical system vampires used in their organizations, but for the true 'Vampire Lord.'
It was the Demon King's armor.
* * *
“...!?”
Christian Helmund, the vampire waiting irritably for his underlings, felt his eyes twitch.
Something... was stirring from deep within his chest.
His heart, which beat far more sluggishly than other races', began to quicken gradually.
There was no time to panic at this novel sensation.
The feeling spread from his chest throughout his body in an instant, and his limbs convulsed beyond his control.
He didn't need to wonder what this alien sensation was.
“Urk...!”
It was fear—making him stagger and his underlings flatten themselves, trembling.
“Me, afraid...?”
Christian couldn't believe the situation.
Something invisible and inaudible, conveyed solely through aura, had filled him with terror.
But that was merely the beginning.
“Ughhh...”
His face twisted like a demon's as he clutched his chest and dropped to one knee.
His once-pale face was now flushed beet red.
Thump thump thump thump thump thump thump.
His heart pounded at a maddening speed, intensifying the convulsions wracking his body.
“The coffin... my coffin...”
He staggered desperately toward the coffin standing in one corner of the room.
But his flesh betrayed his will. The vampire could only flail on the ground, breaths growing ever more ragged.
Then, in the yellow-red eyes of Christian—now overtaken by terror rather than reason—he saw something.
A being that seemed to radiate solitary brilliance amid the darkness, or perhaps embodied an overwhelming blackness devouring the shadows themselves.
“...!!!”
The instant he beheld it, Christian pressed his knees, elbows, and forehead to the ground in sequence. He then raised his palms straight upward.
“I come before the exalted Blood Sovereign, the Demon King.”
It wasn't an act of intellect or reason. It was instinct, etched deep into the soul of the Dark Clan's origin, commanding worship.
“...”
Eugene gazed down at Christian impassively.
“You are Christian Helmund?”
‘The Demon King has called my name!’
Shivering with ecstasy, Christian pressed his forehead to the ground and replied in a trembling voice.
“Yes. That is the true name of this lowly one. I humbly beseech you—command me in anything.”
“Did you evolve those monsters and unleash them outside?”
“That is so.”
“Why?”
“It was the order of my master... Hngh, hnghhh...! Krk! Kk!”
Mid-answer, Christian suddenly gasped for air.
His forehead, now deathly pale, bulged with protruding veins.
‘Magic!’
Realizing the situation, Eugene swiftly summoned his presence.
He enveloped Christian's body entirely with the instantaneously generated Origin presence, then spoke.
“My will supersedes all others.”
A single impassive phrase.
Yet its effect was tremendous.
The magic binding Christian vanished without a trace.
“Hahk! Heok, heok...”
Panting heavily, Christian slammed his forehead back to the ground.
“Homage to the exalted Blood Demon King!”
Though his soul's imprinted instinct had already informed him, Christian was now utterly convinced.
This being stood above all of the Dark Clan as the supreme sovereign!
The magic upon him had come from his clan lord.
Only one above that lord could shatter it with mere authority.
“You and I have much to discuss.”
“This lowly one shall answer gladly.”
Feeling suffocating terror and greater euphoria than his first bloodsucking, Christian kept his head bowed.
* * *
“Helmund is just Helmund?”
“Yes. For all clan lords, the clan name is their personal name.”
Kneeling on one knee, Christian meekly bowed his head.
“Then that Helmund cast magic on you?”
Though it referred to his father and sky-like lord as 'that Helmund,' Christian felt no anger or discomfort as he replied.
“No. It was my dam, Spinerin. Of course, not the one who birthed me, but merely my sire's mate.”
As Eugene understood, no being was born a vampire. All were born human and became vampires later.
Thus, the female vampire Spinerin wasn't Christian's biological mother but simply fulfilled the role of the clan's lady.
“Why enter this dungeon? And why evolve monsters and release them outside?”
“It was my sire's command. This lowly one knows not the true intent.”
“Hmm.”
Eugene furrowed his brow.
In the end, this one knew nothing crucial either.
“However.”
Christian cautiously continued.
“Not only I and our Helmund Clan, but those of similar status in several other clans are likely carrying out the same orders.”
“Other clans? Which ones?”
“I beg forgiveness, but this lowly one knows not that far.”
High Lords of a clan were cunning vampires, sharp and quick-witted even among their kind.
Thus, Christian's guess was likely accurate.
After a brief think, Eugene recalled something and asked.
“You. Do you know anything about the incident at Kailer Royal Castle?”
“I beg forgiveness. Slay me.”
Eugene clicked his tongue at Christian's apologetic reply.
“You know little.”
“Kieee? Undead aren't alive to begin with, right? In cases like this, they say 'Please annihilate me!' That's the sincere response. No sincerity otherwise.”
From the moment Eugene fully subdued Christian, the spirit that revealed itself advised gravely in jest.
“...”
Though he could swat away a mere spirit, being one bound by pact to a supreme being, Christian merely flinched and said nothing.
“Kailer Kingdom's court mage turned a Twin-Headed Ogre into an undead. And so...”
Eugene briefly explained the capital incident.
Christian couldn't hide his surprise.
“If as you say, that court mage is surely of another clan. Moreover, using magic openly suggests one of two possibilities.”
“Oh? Which clans?”
Eugene's eyes sparkled with anticipation of finally gaining useful intel.
“Likely Ventroa or Bloody Shadow.”
“...!”
Eugene's eyes widened.
One was the vampire name he'd heard from Prince Rocroft, and the other...
“Kiet! Y-You're the traitor? Is that it!?”
‘Bloody Shadow means the Blood Shadow School?’
Not merely employing vampires as servants—Romari's school was one of the vampire clans?
(To be continued)