Chapter 298
Chapter 298
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 298
Chapter Title: Romania (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Clatter—! Crash—!
A middle-aged man with tousled brownish-gray hair bustled about, frantically preparing this and that.
Sounds rang out one after another in the cluttered space filled with trash and unrecognizable odds and ends.
"Ah! It's already starting!"
But his frantic movements didn't last long.
The middle-aged man—Doctor—spotted a holographic projection of a forest scene on one wall and tossed aside what he was holding, rushing over in a hurry.
"Uho ho! I can't miss this moment. It's not as good as experimenting firsthand, but real combat data is crucial too! This is exciting already!"
He plopped down on the sofa prepared in front of the hologram, rubbing his hands together eagerly, his eyes gleaming.
His sparkling gaze filled with strange anticipation and the corners of his mouth lifted high radiated pure madness.
"I prepared all sorts of backups just in case! It's a bit disappointing, but also a relief that it ended so easily..."
Right after detecting the intrusion of the target he'd waited so long for.
He unleashed everything he'd prepared at once, successfully cornering the foe.
Strictly speaking, this trap was designed to succeed from the start.
No matter what, Phantom was bound to come to Bucharest.
From the moment he knew the target's goal, the situation was as good as over.
The simplest method would have been for the target to venture deep into the city, but judging by their actions so far, that was too optimistic.
"Keh! At least my efforts weren't wasted. I put them to good use in the end!"
So he'd cast a net over the entire surrounding area.
Densely enough that no matter where the enemy tried to flee, they couldn't escape.
Of course, there were considerable losses, both material and intangible, but compared to the importance of this operation, they were negligible.
"Now, shall we enjoy the show? Time to check the specimen's freshness too!"
Having waited quite a while, all experiments were fully prepared to start the moment the target arrived.
He'd just gotten overly excited earlier and poked around unnecessarily.
There was nothing more for him to do now.
"Come on—show me, Phantom! Your infinite potential! The clue to reaching the end of evolution! The key to the truths the world hides—hand it over!"
Munch munch—
Doctor grabbed a handful of popcorn, stuffing it into his mouth while clutching a cola in his other hand.
Ever prepared, he'd set up everything for viewing.
Popcorn, nachos, cheese, cola, and more snacks covered the table in front of the sofa.
Above all, his special magic tool, the 'Non-Melting Ice Cream Container,' brimmed with mint chocolate ice cream as the crowning touch.
"Oh? Starting? Is it time? Let's gooo—!"
And so, with one relaxed spectator added to the mix.
The scene in the forest was reaching a boiling point.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After a staring contest with the duke for a while, Heinz tilted his head slightly.
'Impressive.'
Europe's strongest lived up to the hype; the aura emanating from him had a density far beyond anyone Heinz had faced before.
Even for Heinz, who'd grown stronger through unimaginable means, this felt like a tough fight.
'Well, I'm not the only one with special abilities in this world. He's probably powered up in ways I didn't expect.'
Plus, unlike Heinz, this guy was a monster who'd been active since the early days.
Of course, that didn't mean Heinz thought he'd lose.
It might be tough, but victory would be his in the end.
...Though from the duke's wary glance, he seemed to think the same.
'The problem is how one-sided the other conditions are.'
Heinz kept his senses sharpened, vigilantly watching the duke while scanning the surroundings, then grimaced slightly.
Wasn't this a bit much?
The barriers encircling them were a complex web of multiple systems, hard to fully discern at a glance, and magic tools radiating unusual auras were placed everywhere to support him.
'And those guys too.'
Transcendent powerhouses from the Oath of Reverse Heaven's European branch, by the look of them.
Only three had shown themselves so far, but Heinz knew.
They were frontline fighters, so they'd stepped up first.
'There's a sniper and that eye freak too. Mana flow suggests at least one mage... and something lurking nearby. Assassin?'
The vampires who'd come with the duke were no pushovers either.
About twenty exuding True Blood-level auras.
Most were vampires in name only, having reached their level through other means like France's Tyrant, but considering that Outerica's 'Hybrid' faction had only about a dozen True Bloods after absorbing most vampires, this was absurd firepower.
'Though originally, vampires were a minor race hiding like lycanthropes.'
Heinz's mind grew complicated.
As an avatar, he could dismiss the summon and escape anytime.
However...
"You look deep in thought. I can hear your brain churning from here."
At that moment, the duke, who'd been sizing him up through their aura clash, sneered first.
His mood soured more than expected by Heinz's unexpected strength.
"Let me make it easier for you."
And with those words—
Scree—! Crack—!
A fierce explosion erupted between them as they closed in instantly.
The duke swung a blood spear over three meters long, pressing relentlessly, while Heinz parried and slowly retreated.
Dozens of clashes in a blink twisted the air, whipping up aftershocks.
'Strong, as expected.'
Heinz's brow twitched as he responded to each attack without slackening his guard on the surroundings.
He wasn't retreating by choice.
Sure, unlike the duke, he had to mind other threats, but...
'Each blow is heavy. Excessively so.'
It wasn't just a realm difference.
You couldn't pour full power into every strike; projecting force naturally followed efficient flows and rhythms.
Yet the duke ignored all that, slamming straight punches like jabs in rapid succession.
'And he doesn't seem strained or tiring. ...Similar to Ise-ah's type?'
It felt like her, unleashing high-level spells nonstop with near-infinite mana.
Overwhelming, inefficient barrages of energy.
'Let me probe more.'
Heinz prepared a counter in an opening of the duke's assault.
The instant the duke sensed something, his eyebrow twitched—
Boom—!
A massive roar sent him flying back roughly.
Screech—
Heinz skidded to a halt, leaving two long gouges in the ground.
But the duke, standing firm, didn't press the attack and merely looked down at his body.
At the gaping hole in his side exposing raw innards.
"...Not just fast. Skipping the process entirely. I nearly lost my heart there from a moment's lapse."
His expression remained calm, contrary to his words.
As if to prove it, the hole in his side began regenerating, soon healing perfectly.
Despite the energy cost of repairing a wound infused with Heinz's power, he showed no concern.
"Hmm, Phantom, was it? Which dimension are you from? ...No need to tell me now. We'll have plenty of time later."
Regaining his composure in an instant, he didn't resume attacking but planted his blood spear and spoke leisurely.
As if to boast that such an attack was nothing to him.
"Hmm."
Heinz's eyes narrowed slightly at the sight.
Unfortunately for the duke, Heinz had gained certainty from this exchange.
'I've got a read on him.'
The duke was indeed the strongest on Earth Heinz had faced, barring the Oath of Reverse Heaven's leader.
He might even put up a good fight against Hans.
But—
'Good. I can take him without much trouble.'
A rising thirst escaped as his tongue lightly licked his lips.
Back when Heinz 2nd acquired 「Hybrid Evolution」early on and devoured the Blood Alliance hardliners, he'd gained a bonus effect.
As a predator, partially ignoring other vampires' hostile abilities and instinctively dominating them.
For him, who'd made kin-devouring his main growth method, it was invaluable, always giving him the edge in subsequent battles.
'And it applies here too.'
Their realms might be similar, but Heinz was the duke's perfect counter in how they'd built them.
That was karma.
Not just the duke—Heinz was the natural enemy of all vampires in existence.
Because he was a 'Kin Predator' who endlessly grew by eating fellow vampires.
But things didn't go entirely his way.
"Your Grace, may we join now?"
"...We know you'll win, but dragging this out feels off."
"Hahaha! Let's finish quick and interrogate him! Doctor's probably sweating bullets waiting!"
After the duke took a hit, the watchers began signaling their intent to join.
Not average foes, they'd judged it time to intervene for real.
"...Tch, fine. Can't capture him intact alone."
The duke, feeling uneasy after their final exchange, reluctantly accepted.
Now Heinz truly faced everyone here alone.
'Close. A bit more leeway, a slight opening, and I could've ended it.'
Feeling enemies closing in, Heinz smacked his lips.
Retreat just like this?
With this feast within reach?
'...No way.'
It was too regrettable to back off.
No telling when such a chance would come again, and he needed more power now for the future.
'No leeway? Make some.'
Lacking forces? Add more.
He had the ability, didn't he?
Amid the onslaught, he rapidly narrowed candidates.
'Exclude Hans and Heinrich for now.'
Dragging in those active in Korea lately felt risky.
Heinz had been there until recently; overt links were unwise.
'That leaves.'
Ultimate evolved lifeform Hari and high elf spirit archer Harris.
Which to summon for maximum impact...
Riiip—!
Before he finished thinking.
A space-rending sniper shot flew in.
Blink blink— wink wink—
Eyes sprouting everywhere winked disgustingly at him.
Vmmm—!
Light beams rained like a storm from the sky, bombing him relentlessly.
Shink—
An assassin's sudden strike unleashed a chain of swords, hammers, and fists from all sides.
Unknown energy clung to his limbs, weighing him down and disorienting him.
"Phew—not ideal. I could handle you alone, but Doctor asked, so no choice. Let's end this quick."
With the duke and his vampires joining—the no easy marks...
'Ah, this won't work.'
In the chaotic melee, Heinz, barely holding on, steeled his resolve.
And...
That instant.
The wind blew.
"Hm?"
"Wait, what's this?"
True to their realms, they reacted sharply to the small change.
Space trembled.
Auras rippled.
The tide shifted.
"Intruders!"
"How'd they sneak in here...!"
———!
Silently slicing the air, dozens of flashes streaked from somewhere, cutting off their startled shouts.
But not toward the chaotic center—far off to the forest outskirts.
Rumble—!
Shockwaves rolled in from afar.
Simultaneously, the sniping exploiting gaps ceased.
The myriad eyes vanished at once.
The massive magic circle overhead dispersed.
"Which bastard...!"
"Calm down! Find them first!"
"I'll handle Phantom! Dracul—scatter and search!"
After brief panic, the Oath of Reverse Heaven crew, veterans through hell and back, swiftly regrouped.
But.
The variables didn't end there.
Craaack—!
A black shadow suddenly dropped from a tree.
One-armed, one-legged, in tattered black garb.
The assassin writhed silently before going still.
Thud—!
As it dissolved into smoke, a hulking man landed fiercely atop it, gripping something in both hands.
"Kehahaha!"
Crunch!
With savage laughter, he crushed the heads of two Dracul vampires in his fists.
Skulls burst like overripe fruit, blood spraying everywhere.
"...What the hell is that?"
"Wasn't it just one?!"
All eyes locked on him amid the shock.
His frame towered over two meters, packed with transcendent muscle and feral tattoos.
He embodied violence itself, violence given human form.
'Yeah, if we're doing this, go big.'
And in that chaos.
Heinz, finally with breathing room, smacked his lips again.
From his two options.
He'd chosen.
'Call both' ...was his decision.