Chapter 501
Chapter 501
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 501
Chapter Title: Nocternia (4)
S.O.D. Chairman Mikhail Coltman stepped into the command center.
He waved casually at the subordinates who snapped to attention with crisp salutes, then settled into the central chair and opened his mouth gravely.
"Alright, give me the report."
"Yes, Chairman! At 4:38 p.m. today, we received an urgent dispatch from the intelligence unit deployed toward Karankal."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the commander of the Ameria Continent Central Branch launched into a crisp briefing.
The commander was a seasoned Slayer veteran who had seen it all, serving as the top overseer of an entire continent. Yet even he was little more than a lowly junior in the presence of humanity's hero and S.O.D.'s pillar, the Chairman himself.
"...After that transmission, all contact with our intelligence agents was cut off simultaneously. We attempted communications multiple times just in case... but with no response, we have to assume they've all been taken out."
"Hmph."
Mikhail let out a heavy sigh at the grim situation report.
He pulled a cigarette from his pocket, slipped it between his lips, snapped his fingers to light it, and took a deep drag. Closing his eyes, he sank into thought.
'The vampires' movements are far from normal. This is unprecedented. What the hell are they after?'
In truth, his hasty flight from S.O.D. headquarters across the sea wasn't solely because of one otherworlder named Kang Taesan.
For some inexplicable reason, high-ranking vampires from various clans were converging on the Ameria Continent with machine-like precision, as if orchestrated by a single command. The fact that these longtime rivals, who had always operated independently, were now moving in unison was a grave threat humanity couldn't ignore.
'We need to uncover their objectives and what's happening on this land. For the survival of humanity.'
At the heart of this anomaly was the Laccas Clan, which used the Ameria Continent as its base. The Chairman had come here personally to respond more proactively. Given the unfolding situation, his power—humanity's asymmetric trump card—might soon be needed.
'...This stubborn old life of mine might finally meet its end this year.'
As a Slayer whose kind were notorious for short lifespans, he had no room to complain at over eighty. His only concern was what would become of humanity once his restraining influence vanished amid such instability.
'Vampire factions are already uniting into a formidable force. Without some game-changing catalyst to turn the tide...'
Just then, the image of that otherworlder, Kang Taesan, from the recent report flashed through his mind. Having approved the project himself after the briefing, he was well aware of the man's unique abilities.
'A power lethal to vampires. An ability that grows stronger through belief? Like a god answering fervent prayers...'
He'd checked it personally just in case, and nothing seemed amiss. With a bit more time, it could have bolstered humanity's overall strength immensely. Mikhail exhaled cigarette smoke with a pang of regret, quietly gazing at the ceiling.
'It makes sense to assume he's connected to this incident.'
The timing of his arrival and the location of the anomaly overlapped perfectly—no mere coincidence. Not only did Kang Taesan's abilities align, but there was circumstantial evidence that Laccas Clan's Rook had raided his base.
'If that's the case... we can't afford to let him go.'
A power the vampires themselves feared. That alone was a guarantee of sorts.
Retreating at the first sign of danger meant no progress. Both the Slayer awakening agents and S.O.D. itself were fruits born from the will and sacrifices of such predecessors!
'Crisis is opportunity. All we can do now is endure.'
It was a conclusion that seemed fitting yet somehow off-base. Unavoidable, given his ignorance of the irregular entity known as Heinz 2nd.
The fragile peace, sustained through the devotion of many, was beginning to waver. Amid it all, S.O.D.'s Chairman—one of humanity's leaders—steeled his resolve.
'For the prosperity of humanity!'
Utterly unaware that the true source of the anomaly lurked under the same roof.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Heinz 2nd's pair of red eyes gleamed.
"Success."
His gaze fell on Kang Taesan, sprawled on the floor, drenched in cold sweat and gasping for breath.
'Good. No major side effects.'
His expression remained icy, betraying none of it, but this procedure had been a major operation even for him—one that demanded utmost tension. Unlike before, where simply injecting Purified Blood Essence would suffice to make a familiar, this involved far more complex mechanisms and processes.
"Ngh... This is... Essence of the Origin?"
Staggering upright, Kang Taesan murmured at the air. Apparently the name of the skill he'd gained from the procedure.
He stroked near his heart, then looked up at Heinz and bowed lightly.
"Thank you. Though you went ahead without waiting for my answer, the result is good, so I won't nitpick. Still, next time something like this comes up, it'd be nice to at least check my intentions first."
Heinz shrugged at the barbed gratitude. It stemmed from habits formed while training him before transmission to Nocternia—back when he'd worked the man ragged without a word. Self-aware of his fault, he said nothing.
"So, how much did you absorb?"
"Hm, hard to say. It's so deeply concealed... but maybe around ten percent?"
Kang Taesan contemplated the mass in his heart and answered uncertainly. Yet instinctively, he knew: at this moment, he could now face a Rook-class vampire head-on.
"Ten percent..."
Heinz had anticipated Kang Taesan wouldn't fully assimilate the Purified Blood Essence he'd administered. The gap between them was too vast; no refinement could bridge it entirely.
'Even that was possible only by leveraging the essence already in Taesan's body. No matter how Blood Mystery skips intermediate steps, it can't replicate a full awakening agent process.'
Heinz slowly rubbed his chin.
In truth, he'd pushed ahead with the risky process out of absolute confidence in success.
His unique skill Indomitable, granting extreme mental and physical resistance.
The Growth Elixir (7 Days) (200,000), providing massive compensation for forced growth.
And on top of that...
'Strictly speaking, the moment he contracted with me and gained access to divine power, he became my apostle as well, right?'
Direct care from Heinz 2nd, whose Sacred Blood linked him strongly via blood and divinity.
The divine power Kang Taesan wielded had been devastating to vampires partly due to Heinz 2nd's stake in it. With such a being personally intervening, failure would have been the real anomaly.
'You're one lucky bastard.'
No ordinary person could dream of such serendipity pouring down like a waterfall—explaining his absurd growth. Pleased at settling some old debts, Heinz nodded contentedly when...
"But won't this raise suspicions? With frequent checkups, if word gets out something like this suddenly appeared in my heart..."
Kang Taesan stroked his chest, unease evident. The unabsorbed energy lump from his insufficient power. How to explain it away?
"Pointless worry. No mere checkup will detect it."
Heinz scoffed dismissively. It wasn't that Kang Taesan couldn't gauge absorption; the essence, shrouded in his Existence Denial, was imperceptible even to transcendent foes.
"The rest is up to you. Push your body to extremes, and you'll absorb the essence faster. I'd love to lend a hand myself, but..."
A chill ran down Kang Taesan's spine. Memories of pre-transmission hellish training overlapped vividly.
"Unfortunately, urgent matters prevent it. You can handle that much on your own, right?"
"Whew."
An involuntary sigh of relief escaped. Snapping to, he nodded confidently and hurriedly changed the subject—fearing Heinz might reconsider.
"There's a Slayer training program here, so that's no issue. Oh, that reminds me—I had one question..."
Fortunately, the pivot to a new topic was a resounding success.
"Spreading faith, eh..."
Heinz's lips curved slightly as he rubbed his chin.
"Not bad. No, it's a brilliant idea."
"...You think so? Glad to hear it."
"I'll help with that too. Spreading faith in a world with no foundation isn't easy."
"Oh, you don't have to go that far..."
Kang Taesan stammered, flustered by the excessive favor, but Heinz ignored him. It aligned perfectly with his own interests, after all.
'Absorbing the vampires overflowing in this world is jackpot enough, but human faith on top? I can't pass that up!'
Nocternia's Main God, as he'd assessed, was a laissez-faire evil deity. The culprit behind corralling destined enemies—vampires and humans—into one world, fomenting endless strife from history's dawn. Yet it showed zero interest in the faith of its creations, a utter slacker.
'As long as I don't stray from the Main God's grand design, it won't care what I do here.'
Existing religions in Nocternia had no ties to the Main God. Founded by transcendental pioneers rooted in magic and mysteries, at best. The people barely acknowledged the Main God's existence.
'All that wasted faith. Time I claimed some.'
Heinz flashed a meaningful smile. Seeing it, Kang Taesan gave an awkward chuckle and stepped back.
'...This is really okay, right, Seonghyeon?'
He'd only suggested a mutually beneficial plan. Now he felt like he'd unwittingly joined the forces of evil.
"Heh heh heh."
"......"
Whatever the circumstances, it was far too late to back out.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Vampire clans scattered across the world.
High-ranking vampires who never strayed from their territories unless catastrophe struck now mobilized en masse, dragging their heavy forms toward one destination.
Their massive convergence headed to the Karankal region of the Ameria Continent. Where Earthling awakener Kang Taesan first set foot upon transmission to Nocternia. The domain once overseen by Rook Berno Amarantis, now utterly cut off from the clan. And crucially—
"How's it looking? Find anything?"
"...Nothing. Is this even the right place?"
—the site of the mysterious King, publicly declared enemy of vampires, last sighted.
"The Clan Lord's word is law. Still, if even you—a Rook specialized in tracking—can't pick up a scent, it means even basic searches need a Lord-class out here..."
"Damn it, that's trouble. How many clans are tangled in this? The Lord who assigned me will lose face! Incompetence won't be forgiven lightly."
Two Rook-class vampires scanned the surroundings while chatting idly. They didn't expect perfect tracking—just the slightest clue would do.
"Even a King can't erase traces this thoroughly. Concealment bloodline ability, maybe?"
"Grab some humans nearby? Someone might know something."
"Waste of time. All humans around here fled like rats—no one's left."
"Sharp instincts."
"That's how the weak survive. Gotta be quick on the uptake to scrape by."
No meaningful traces emerged despite combing the empty outpost. Once ravaged by a Rook-led vampire assault, it lay in ruins, exuding eerie desolation. The defenders maintaining it had grabbed what they could and retreated the moment news of high-ranking vampires gathering spread.
"What about Berno's base? Any word from there?"
"Same story, I hear... Hold on."
In the midst of their fruitless banter, one Rook narrowed his eyes, staring intently at a spot.
"Hey, that guy."
"Huh?"
In the direction they'd just passed moments ago. Unnoticed until now—no traces at all—they'd overlooked it entirely. There stood a man in a suit, calmly poised. Danger radiated from him, tightening their throats instinctively.
"It's about time."
As the two Rooks froze under the unknown tension prickling their instincts, the figure slowly spoke.
"Shall we begin the harvest?"
A vampire man whose appearance matched the relayed description perfectly.