Chapter 127
Chapter 127
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: Sacred Blood (2)
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"......"
"Eh, no real nutrition there."
Harley smacked his lips and grumbled pointlessly.
The world didn't dictate that only vampires could suck blood.
He, with his Gluttony, had his own expertise when it came to eating.
So he'd been able to steal a massive amount of blood—the source of their power—while facing True Bloods, but the effect was far less impressive than he'd hoped.
Well, come to think of it, Harley already has plenty of vampire genes.
He'd consumed a huge quantity of the evolved blood from Heinz 2nd, the pinnacle among them, allowing him to hunt beasts with a solid foundation of strength right from the start.
At this point, ordinary vampire blood offered little gain.
True Bloods are a far cry from ordinary, though. Still, it doesn't mesh well with this body. Monster cores are the way to go for me.
Vampiric factors and blood demon power were forces tailored exclusively for vampires.
To wield their abilities fully, most of one's body needed remodeling to match theirs...
But that would tank my vitality and Bio Aura efficiency.
For Harley, who cherry-picked genes to grow, vampire power—with its rigid framework—was nothing but a constraint.
Why bother when there were easier paths to strength?
"......"
"Hm, quite satisfying. True Blood lives up to the name—feels entirely different."
In stark contrast, Heinz stroked his chin with a pleased expression.
This was his first time draining a True Blood, and the progress exceeded expectations.
I devoured Earth vampires of True Blood rank before, but blood from the same dimensional roots hits different.
As an epicurean, he'd give it five stars, no question.
It even built anticipation for the main course ahead.
Of course, plenty of vampires had caught on to Heinz devouring his own kind in the process...
But who cares at this point?
Who would dare challenge Heinz?
If anything, overcoming mental corruption—the root taboo—only amplified their awe and fear.
Such sentiments could even aid in ruling.
"......"
"Hmm? I wondered what the new Lord would be like, and you're... different from what I imagined? How to put it—impressive in every way!"
"Thanks for the praise. You're Sacred Blood from Brocoslak Clan, right?"
"Call me Briki? I like this name better."
"Got it, Briki. I'm Heinz."
"Heinz! Sounds delicious. That's a compliment, of course."
Thanks to Briki's unexpectedly warm reaction, Heinz shared a friendly chat with her, building rapport.
I figured she'd be hostile after I took her entire clan.
Far from it—her goodwill was plain as day.
Given the situation, she couldn't be faking it; the sharp senses of his two avatars picked up her blatantly genuine emotions.
Still, she's a Sacred Blood who's lived millennia. Better stay cautious.
Not that it mattered right now.
She wasn't in any position to act against him.
Crackle—!
Heinz glanced aside at her opponent.
"......"
The white-haired, white-eyed vampire—Visk Yuphersh—had been silently scowling since earlier.
"Kuhahaha! Hey, buddy, lighten up—I'm not gonna eat ya! Well, just me. No clue what my pal here thinks!"
"Oh my, I thought the same earlier. Such a reliable fellow. Heinz, your friend?"
"Business acquaintance. We're on friendly terms for now."
"I'm Harley! Operating out of Tarack in Tulke Kingdom these days."
"Briki here. Oh, and thanks for the help earlier—I didn't get to say it. You saved my skin."
"No big deal!"
The lively chatter resumed.
Briki, Harley, and Heinz 2nd surrounded one man amid crackling space, chatting amiably.
Visk Yuphersh, the lone outcast, clenched his teeth and trembled with rage.
Whoa, this feels like we're bullying the one kid left out...
Suddenly, guilt crept in—like they were the bad guys.
Even though they were the attackers, he the invader!
"Hm, we've dragged this out long enough. Shall we wrap it up?"
"Yeah—sounds good! Gotta head back soon anyway!"
Heinz proposed, Harley agreed.
They'd only pressured to wear him down, but ending it quick seemed better.
Thus began Visk's lonely struggle, abandoned by his minions—all dead or subdued.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Sching—!
Heinz's blood sword clashed with Visk's whip, shockwaves erupting outward.
"Hup!"
Spiderweb gashes spread across Heinz's body, thick blood mist rising.
Even with Super Recovery, his regeneration lagged severely from whatever the foe had done, and he couldn't reclaim lost blood as usual.
Crackle—sching—!
Visk's left arm severed amid sparks, then flew back as if time reversed.
The blood from his stump coalesced midair into jagged gears, hurtling at Harley charging from behind.
They spun ferociously, striking like lightning.
Krunch!
His scale-covered hands caught them midway, shredding mercilessly.
But unflinching despite mangled palms, Harley gripped tight and—
"Kuhahat!"
tore them apart with brute force.
Bloodied hands aside—regeneration slowed—he charged ahead undeterred.
Crackle—splat!
Another gaping hole punched through Visk, then healed.
Then Heinz ghosted in, unleashing a blinding strike with Acceleration.
A sudden blood veil blocked it, but he carved deep.
Harley's follow-up fist smashed its center, ripping a huge hole.
Heinz's blood blade shot through seamlessly.
Their fluid combo was breathtakingly flawless—like a single entity.
Visk, facing it, was apoplectic.
Transcendent reflexes barely parried, but sparks burst his right eye—again.
As it had several times now.
"Kraaa! Pathetic worms, worthless one-on-one! You just keep coming, filthy bastards!"
"Oh dear? Didn't someone say striking foes' openings is the way of the world? Has he gone home?"
Briki smirked, twisting the knife as Visk vented.
Each action met destruction and repair; the intervals shrank progressively.
And finally.
Boom—!
"Guhk!"
"Uahaha! Finally landed one!"
Harley's fist connected.
Sching!
"Impressive—reclaiming all blood mid-slice. Blood control befitting Sacred Blood. Enviable."
Heinz's blade began carving him.
Exhausted Briki offered mere checks by now, but Visk—hit repeatedly—fared worse.
A bit more time passed.
The anticipated end arrived.
"N-no...! I'm to be king of all vampires! I can't fade here like this...!"
Visk Yuphersh cried out bitterly, death imminent.
"Worry not. I'll carry on that will."
Heinz 2nd faced him, set to seize... no, inherit his will by force.
"Now, I am the vampire king."
Crunch!
"Kuhp!"
A pair of sharp fangs pierced Visk's nape at last.
"Kuh... Arrogant, Lord of Brocoslak. Not through proper rite, but cannibalizing kin? Another clan's Sacred Blood, no less? You think that's possible?"
Despite blood draining rapidly, he feigned calm, mocking ceaselessly.
"You'll die with me...! Like all the countless fools who tried inheriting Sacred Blood before!"
Powerless to resist, he cursed Heinz weakly.
Even Visk, with prior aid to minimize risks, had barely succeeded after near-death ordeals.
No safeguards? Impossible!
I don't know how he endured mental corruption for kin-devouring, but that's not enough!
This ritual killed the unworthy outright—not just corruption.
So he'd flop dead soon enough.
Slurp—
It had to be.
...It should have been.
Why... is he still fine?
He'd lost heaps of blood, eyelids heavy, yet Heinz showed no change.
No—lost in trance, he guzzled mindlessly.
Fsssh—
Visk felt his extremities crumbling to ash.
Mind fogging, thoughts fragmenting.
A-ahh... No way. This guy... could truly inherit another clan's Sacred Blood...?
All strength drained, in dazed stupor, realization dawned.
—Worry not. I'll carry on that will. Now, I am the vampire king. No bluff in those words.
He'd dreamed of kingship, claimed it—but knew it impossible for him.
At best, a puppet colonial governor.
Yet...
Sacred Blood was a bloodline's progenitor, archetype—never to be usurped sans rite.
Accepting any bloodline? What did that imply?
"Phew—oh, and don't fret over Yuphersh Clan. They'll carry on under me, alongside Brocoslak."
Heinz withdrew from the nape, murmuring lowly.
Meant as mockery, but deranged Visk took it differently.
Uniting all clans... The nexus to unify vampires. The sole king to lead us into the light...
A declaration he'd only vaguely yearned for—as true vampire king!
Even as consciousness faded, he shuddered quietly.
Laughter bubbled up inexplicably.
Resignation? Hope? Something else? He couldn't tell.
...No strength left to think, anyway.
Thus, Yuphersh Clan's Lord, 'Visk Yuphersh,' scattered as ash.
What? Why the creepy grin all of a sudden? Some final trick up his sleeve?
His mocking curses turning to enigmatic smile in death left Heinz uneasy.
Eh, probably thrilled I'd preserve his clan. Or had an epiphany on his deathbed.
Not the priority now.
His vision bore messages, body boiling— no room for distractions.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Drained blood of Superior Rank. Under the influence of Special Skill Hybrid Evolution, the entity's vampiric factors begin exceeding limits. Yuphersh factors already acquired, so vampiric factors themselves didn't change.
But the explosive surge—like shedding a shell—outstripped any prior evolution.
Kuh—without Hybrid Evolution, I'd have burst ridiculously.
The 'Yuphersh' blood's immense karma and rank swelled to rupture him.
Hybrid Evolution forcibly harnessed it, fueling vampiric factor evolution.
Unrelated to destined kingship or special lineage, as Visk pondered dying.
Just brute-forcing via skills.
But all roads led to Rome, right?
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Entity meets conditions and grows. Special Skill Bloodline (True Blood) evolves to Bloodline (Sacred Blood). Thus, Heinz 2nd's vampiric factors breached the limit at their zenith.
A new Sacred Blood vampire was born in Outerica.