Chapter 548: Jealousy is My Power (48)
Chapter 548: Jealousy is My Power (48)
One step, two steps.
I tried several more times after that, but the result was always the same. No matter how many steps I took, the distance between the vampire and me did not shrink.
At that moment, a phrase suddenly flashed through my mind.
'Spatial Distortion Barrier.'
Recalling the Great Witch's warning, I bit my lip. I lacked the means to counter sorcery.
The vampire had known this and was taking her time, acting with leisure.
Even now.
Having vomited out all her rage, the vampire sat with her upper body slumped, her shoulders shaking with laughter.
"Pfft, hehe… Ahahahaha!"
When she looked up again, five strange dots were flickering in her eyes.
For a moment, my breath hitched.
They were white dots, so bright they were unpleasant to look at.
"To think that not only 'that bitch' but even her disciple achieved my life's goal in just two months? Don't make me laugh… The likes of you… the likes of you...!"
Slowly, the vampire raised her hand.
I instinctively knew it was the prelude to an unavoidable strike. It was a relief that I had already been circulating my Aura.
The distance wouldn't close?
Then I would simply intercept her from here.
The moment my hand swept past my waist like a bolt of lightning—
"…Do you really think the likes of you can reach me?!"
Flash. In a world frozen in time, my hand axes flew, tracing a bizarre and mysterious trajectory.
It lasted only a few seconds.
But when the world regained its color, countless lines were erupting like lacerations in the air.
Of course, I didn't come out unscathed either.
Splatter!
The blood flowing through my body erupted inward and outward like needles. I tried my best to regain control using mana, but I could do nothing about the agonizing pain of my entire body being torn apart.
"Ugh, k-khh…."
With a dull thud, my body collapsed helplessly onto the ground.
I had endured as much as I could, yet I still ended up in this state. Still, if the vampire had taken another direct hit, she wouldn't have been able to avoid a critical wound.
It was then, as I gasped for air and barely managed to lift my head.
"…But I see. This sweet scent."
Hearing that calm voice, my face immediately contorted.
It couldn't be.
But despite my desperate hopes, I saw a woman walking leisurely through my blood-stained vision.
There wasn't even a scratch left on her body.
Had she regenerated already? Even so, there shouldn't have been any room to dodge my strike within that frozen time.
The vampire trampled over my shock and murmured softly.
"As expected of 'Dragon's Blood'… That explains the talent. Ah, how much I have yearned for this…."
"…H-how."
I coughed up blood as I forced the question out.
Only then did the vampire wake from her private reverie and fix her gaze on me.
It didn't take long for an exclamation to escape her lips as she stared blankly at me.
"It's the Five Elements Barrier."
"What does that…."
"You're a possessor of Dragon Blood Runes, aren't you? I survived thanks to you. The barrier nodes I installed throughout the Academy were still incomplete. But thanks to finding a suitable Core like you, the plan was moved forward."
With that, the vampire knelt slightly and grabbed my hair.
She forced me to meet her eyes.
I could only glare at her through gritted teeth.
"Did you know? The 'Dragon' is the first child born of the Heavenly God Arus. And religiously, the 'firstborn' holds a very symbolic meaning. The successor, the agent, and the most precious sacrifice…."
As if whispering a deep secret, the vampire flashed a seductive smile.
Her sweet breath tickled the tip of my nose. Her moist tongue flicked out, lightly licking my cheek.
The vampire shuddered, lost in ecstasy, even pressing her thighs tightly together.
"Haa, it's so sweet… Nephew-in-law, the 'Dragon Blood Runes' are a terrifying power. It's a forbidden sorcery that completely transforms not just your constitution, but your very blood. Into 'Dragon's Blood,' no less."
"What does that… have to do… with this…."
"Ahaha, do you still not understand? The reason I set a trap in the Academy at this specific time, the reason I installed the barrier… It was to gain power, of course. Rarely has so much Dragon's Blood gathered in one place…."
It was then that the blood spilled on the ground slithered upward and snatched my sword.
The vampire struck herself with the sword as if to show off.
Thwack!
The blade, swung at high speed, passed straight through the woman's neck and slammed into the ground. Yet, not a single scratch remained on her body.
Meeting my clouded gaze, the woman wore a bright smile.
"Have you heard? The fact that the Five Elements circulate through Mutual Generation and Restriction… All physical laws are the same. But what if one could dominate those Five Elements?"
Silence.
When I only glared at her without a word, the vampire burst into a giggle.
"No one can touch me! Of course, even with a large-scale barrier, there are limits. At most, a range about the size of my own body? But that's enough… because in the entire world, there is only one being that can handle all the Five Elements!"
She shouted those words, her blue eyes burning with madness.
I realized the vampire was extremely agitated. So, I struggled to hold onto my fading consciousness, prompting her to brag even more.
Though I didn't know what use it would be.
"And what… is that…."
"A Dragon!"
As she shouted, even the whites of her eyes were bloodshot.
It was as if she couldn't bear not to boast about her achievement.
"But Dragons are extinct! Even that 'Great Witch' can only fully manipulate the principles of the Five Elements when she regains her true power… But that bitch can never use her true power… Why? Because my true self would be released the moment she did!"
Why was this woman so desperate to brag about her power?
That question was quickly answered. Between her burning blue pupils, I discovered fragments of familiar emotions once again.
'Jealousy' and 'Inferiority.'
The woman, who envied the talents of others, was screaming for her own abilities to be recognized. It was a common trait of those plagued by inferiority.
It was good for me.
Thanks to her, many mysteries had been solved.
The only problem was that my consciousness was starting to slip away.
The vampire was not one to miss this.
The monster wore a curve on her lips more viscous than ever before.
"Nephew-in-law, I still have to keep you alive… I don't care where you go. But I must keep you breathing. Only then will the barrier be maintained… Also, I have to find my runaway sister, don't I?"
So, sleep well.
Her fangs were slowly approaching. My vision was already so blurred I couldn't see properly, but my instincts were telling me.
It was time to sleep.
Yes, it was too dark and chilly here.
If I just slept for a moment and woke up, the sunlight would be pouring down again.
Just as I closed my eyes with that nonsensical thought—
Flash! The light of the entire world flickered.
"…?"
Even the vampire hadn't expected this; she pulled back from my neck and looked around.
Right then.
"Sword Soul (劍魂)."
The moment I heard that low voice, I snapped awake. Squeezing out the last of my strength, I rolled my body to the side.
The vampire instinctively reached out toward me. It was a natural attempt to catch a fleeing hostage, but unfortunately—
"…Huh?"
The vampire could only let out a dumbfounded sound.
Countless hairline cracks had already appeared on her arm. And before she could even grasp what was happening—
Splat! The sound of rotting fruit exploding echoed through the air.
Blood, flesh, and bone fragments showered down.
It was a sight so hollow it was almost absurd.
The vampire could only watch blankly. It took a moment longer for a faint, rupturing sound to escape her mouth.
"Agh, ah… Aaaaaaaagh?! Who?! Who dares… Who dares to do thissssss!"
The vampire shrieked in horror and immediately scrambled to her feet. As her wary eyes shot toward the sky—
Tap. A small girl landed on the ground.
She stood between me and the vampire, blocking her path.
"If you take the whole world as your sword, it matters not if you have no hands or feet. Even if you crawl on the ground, even if your body can no longer move, do you still wish to swing a sword?"
Saying so, the girl glanced back and looked down at me.
She was a woman with delicate features that left a deep impression.
The kind of pure appearance that would make anyone's heart flutter.
Except for me, that is.
I couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh.
"…Then, 'Sword Soul' is perfect for you!"
Pointing her index finger at me, the girl tilted her head slightly, her lips curling into a bold smile.
Yes, why hide it?
This girl's identity was the 'Sword Duke.'
A Master who truly didn't act her age had made her appearance.