Chapter 246
Chapter 246
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 246
Chapter Title: Vampire Rise (6)
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Whoosh—
Blood-red flames roared fiercely into the sky.
Yoon Jiyoon, fully immersed in the heat of battle, fixed her sharp gaze on it.
The sudden intrusion and ambush by an outsider amid the intense clash had severed the battle's momentum in an instant.
The fight that had shaken the entire area ended all too anticlimactically because of it.
'No, it wasn't a simple attack.'
On the surface, it looked like he'd simply appeared behind Alpha's back, pierced its heart with a hand chop, and incinerated its body with the flames that erupted from there.
But she could sense the dozens of intricate, exquisitely layered causal flows that had transpired in that sequence.
A killing blow that sealed off every possibility of resistance at its root.
Alpha, drained from its fight with her and vulnerable to a vital-point strike, couldn't have coped with it.
'The leader of the Korean vampires, Heinz.'
That was why she was on high alert during her first encounter with the infamous 'Heinz,' known to her only by reputation.
'This guy's beyond what I expected.'
Even if the Blood Alliance had recently adopted a moderate stance, most of its members were still vampires, reviled by society.
Naturally, constant vigilance was essential even in their amicable relations, and she thought they'd thoroughly investigated and prepared for them.
'But the intel on their leader was wrong from the start! We figured level 8 at best, top-tier at that. What a massive miscalculation...'
She'd missed the mark by a mile.
The oppressive aura still prickling her instincts even now—it had to be at least level 9.
Such beings weren't even publicly known; she'd only heard rumors of a few in Europe, and she was the branch chief of the Association.
To think one was in Korea...
'And even in Thunder Body Transformation, I didn't sense him until he was right up close? Even with my attention divided by the fight?'
She already perceived the world differently through the magnetic fields permeating her surroundings.
This was the first time anything had slipped past those senses to approach her so stealthily, so wariness was inevitable.
Of course, in combat with full focus, she might detect it, but what if such a being ambushed her in daily life? Could she block it unscathed?
'...No, that's not the concern right now. I'll think about that later.'
Dialogue came first.
She addressed Heinz, who was gazing at the fading flames.
"A pleasure to meet you. You're Heinz, the leader of Heterosis, right?"
"Hm, likewise. To think I'd encounter the renowned Thunder Sovereign here."
Fortunately, he seemed willing to talk, turning to her without resistance.
They'd maintained an implicit amicability, but this was their first formal exchange, so she'd been a bit worried.
"Thanks for the assist first off. You helped wrap this up quickly."
But before that.
There was something she absolutely had to clarify.
"That just now... that wasn't kin consumption, was it?"
Yoon Jiyoon narrowed her eyes at Heinz, tilting her head slightly.
A top-tier powerhouse like her wouldn't miss the signs of bloodsucking, even hidden by the blazing blood flames.
Vampire kin consumption was a highly sensitive issue.
Not just among them, but a global taboo.
Even this incident's culprit, Alpha, was a mad bloodfiend, wasn't it?
Yet Heinz remained nonchalant at her sharp question.
"I get what you're thinking, but I just extracted and stored the blood. Easiest way to halt its regeneration."
Blood was the source of a vampire's power, so it made sense.
Unless you could wrest control from a level 9 vampire, which was near impossible.
Even Heinz wouldn't have taken it down so easily without this perfect opportunity.
"...I see. So you're saying you have no intention of using that blood?"
"Nah, not quite. Even filthy blood at this grade has plenty of uses. Too valuable to waste."
Yoon Jiyoon stared into Heinz's eyes as he responded indifferently to her probing.
She sensed the inhuman coldness befitting a predator vampire and the arrogance unique to the strong, but none of the twisted madness Alpha had shown.
'He's surprisingly forthcoming too. Not socially inept.'
Of course—the man who turned the volatile Blood Alliance into a society-friendly group.
Honestly, she'd prefer he dispose of Alpha's blood right now, but overreacting here could sour relations, so better to back off.
"Sorry if I came off sensitive; it's a touchy subject."
"No offense taken. Valid concern."
His demeanor carried a regal, old-world air like a monarch's, but that wasn't odd.
She herself had held a position even emperors couldn't trifle with in that other world.
Ssshh—
Then, sensing the external battle's end, the barrier enveloping the area began to dissipate.
Soon, personnel would enter to handle cleanup, leaving her swamped with aftermath.
"We have much to discuss, but timing's poor. How about scheduling soon?"
"Fine. No helping it now."
Heterosis was a victim too, but tangled in this major incident, they couldn't fully wash their hands of it.
A hassle, sure, but Heinz didn't mind.
'Eh, leave the tedious admin to Jin Soran. Could even turn this to our advantage.'
Alpha belonged to the Reverse Heaven Society, already blacklisted terrorists in Korea.
Play this right, and they could naturally ally with the Korean state!
'They're a global secret society lurking in the world's shadows. I was planning to build an anti-Reverse Heaven force anyway—adding Korea gives it real weight.'
How they responded was up to him.
He had no intention of dancing to their tune.
With that, Heinz vanished again, slipping away quietly amid the arriving crowds.
Calmly reviewing his gains from draining Alpha.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 📰 Breaking News Shocking! Massive Terror Attack in Seoul's Daechi-dong. Hundreds of Casualties, Total Damage Still Being Tallied. The Impact One Powerful Individual Can Have on Society. South Korea's National Security Shaken by a Single Villain. Perpetrator a Mad Bloodfiend from an International Terror Group?! Is Our Vampire Regulation Adequate? The Alpha incident had just concluded.
Korea's media erupted over the rare large-scale terror attack.
Not just the damage scale, but the sensational elements drew massive attention.
💬 Comments — User123 Whoa, insane; Association responded fast, but one guy wiped out hundreds in minutes lol ㄷㄷ — CCTVWatcher Saw the CCTV footage from afar? Dude's moving casually, buildings exploding like bombs hit them. — Fanboy88 But Thunder Sovereign took him down lol, without a scratch ㅋㅋ One hot topic was the villain's displayed power.
People knew returnees were strong from media, but experiencing it in a real incident hit different.
Even the branch chief credited with capturing him.
Other reactions poured in: condolences for victims, fury at the villain, vampire hatred, rants at the state and Association's incompetence.
But amid it all, one unexpected trend—
— Netizen456 Where's Hahoe Mask? Base got raided without you;; — LolKing Fr ㅋㅋ Country goes to shit the moment he's away ㅋㅋ — Skeptic He really dead? Heard he ghosted Japan too. — ReplyGuy ↳ Reply Not dead, Hahoe Mask lives. — AnotherReply ↳ Reply If caught, they'd brag nonstop; silence means otherwise. — TrollKing Scared off by a strong terrorist ㅋ — FactChecker Check Hahoe Mask's feats and footage first. Talk of Hahoe Mask.
"Yeah, makes sense they'd say that. First big incident since Hahoe Mask showed up."
I skimmed the reactions, stroking my chin and nodding.
During Hans's vigilante days, major criminals were executed daily, cowering crime rates—no big cases.
Plenty of quiet terror preventions that could've escalated like this.
'Hm, Hans is deep in research, and 'Entity Projection' feels risky right now.'
It'd been less than a week Earth-time since Hans clashed with the Reverse Heaven Lord and fled.
Summon release worked then, but projecting out and getting cornered again? No escape—better hold off.
'Strong world transfer research is nearing end... Once done, resume spot activities. Wrap Japan too.'
Progress looked promising; not long now.
And with the timing, Heinz—who profited nicely—could sub in.
"Eh, as expected, not quite enough to break through."
I smacked my lips and shook my head lightly.
Alpha's blood helped plenty, but as a patchwork of dimensional factors forcing a breakthrough, its overall quality was shoddy.
'If it'd grown purely in one dimension, fully embodying its essence, it'd be way better.'
Like perfecting one trait to 100.
Alpha was 30 in one, 10s in seven—plus absorption losses? Efficiency obvious.
'Greedy, I know.'
I reviewed the messages right after fully draining Alpha's blood.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Collecting new blood factors. Under the influence of special skill «Hybrid Evolution», physical abilities, magic resistance, and regenerative power are enhanced. ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Under the influence of special skill «Hybrid Evolution», enlightenment gained. Acquired skill «Bewitchment». Seemed Earth still held blood factors Heinz hadn't collected; encountering new ones evolved his body closer to perfection.
Even awakened a low-probability potential in the blood—got all he could.
'Mental ability to mesmerize foes. Perfect fit for a vampire.'
And that wasn't all for Heinz.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Entity met conditions and gained enlightenment. Acquired special skill «Bloodline Craving». «Bloodline Craving» was arguably the skill he needed most now.
A guide ability to perfect his incomplete factors.
And right now, it urged him to leave this land for elsewhere.
Far beyond Korea.
To Europe.
'Timely skill, but...'
Via Mind Hub, something subtle clung—a faint emotion.
Not mere guidance, but coercive, like its name: stoking raw desire.
'Can't just follow blindly. No rush anyway. Wasn't planning to go yet—think it over carefully.'
For now, prioritize night security amid the terror fallout chaos.
Tonic for Blood Alliance members, weed out lurking troublemakers too.
'Subbing for Hans, maybe get Heinz a mask too?'
Hans wore his to hide his skull; Heinz's face differed from the main body, no need... but irrelevant now.
I just wanted to.
After deliberation: a white opera mask.
The moment 'Phantom' joined Hahoe Mask in making his debut.