Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Brocoslak Clan (2)
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Heinz had obtained information about Phrygia through Roselika and then diligently moved to subjugate the vampires scattered throughout the capital.
"Purified Blood Essence" forcibly evolved the blood factor in their bodies the moment it was injected.
And the instant the blood factor—the source of a vampire's power and the origin of their abilities—mutated, the 'Blood Subordination' tied to it had no choice but to change its master as well.
From 'Brocoslak' to 'Heinz 2nd'.
Heinz fed the same lies he'd told Roselika to the vampires he'd subjugated, instructing them to carry on as usual for now.
'I deliberately injected only a small amount of "Purified Blood Essence" to minimize the blood mutation. They probably won't notice anything unusual.'
A high-ranking vampire sensitive to the scent of blood might sense a faint oddity, but who would suspect that the banner of those who'd shared meals with them until yesterday had suddenly changed?
To begin with, the very premise that a mutation in the blood factor could alter a subordination bond was impossible in this world.
Unless they'd gone completely mad from devouring their own kind, which they hadn't, it was an unforeseeable situation from the start.
'That's part of why Roselika and the other vampires believed my words so readily.'
They could at least grudgingly accept that it might be possible with a collateral branch split from the same root.
Of course, it still didn't fully make sense to them, but what was done was done, so they rationalized it and moved on.
However, there would surely be some among them with particularly fierce loyalty, and even with strict control imposed, it wouldn't stay hidden forever.
And the person most likely to uncover it was Phrygia Brocoslak, the overseer of surveillance in the capital.
Heinz immediately used the information gathered from various vampires to set the stage for luring her out.
'Then shall we hook the big one?'
With preparations complete, the moment of execution soon arrived.
*** "Lady Bright, you look as radiant as ever today."
"Would you like to see this new ruby necklace that just came in? It's crafted by that artisan who's been making waves lately..."
Phrygia Brocoslak was indulging in her usual lavish lifestyle at a leisurely pace.
Today was her patrol day in the southern district.
After leisurely shopping at the jewelers, she settled under the awning of a high-end café's rooftop garden, sipping tea and nibbling pastries while gazing down at the bustling humans in the streets below.
"No matter how many times I see it, it's always amusing. The way they scramble so desperately just to survive. Hehehe..."
Her public identity was 'Phrygia Bright', a member of the Bright Duke family—the real power holders in the Kingdom of Talia.
As the kingdom's only ducal house, they wielded influence that surpassed even the royal family, holding near-absolute power.
'Most of them are already our puppets anyway. We can't step into the spotlight because of the Church, but this is more than enough.'
The only thing currently on their minds was the Talia branch of the Church of the Main God showing signs of expanding its influence with support from the main headquarters.
'The Lord will do everything he can, but it looks like things will get a bit more annoying from now on.'
Still, if they used political maneuvering to stir opposition at the kingdom level, the Church wouldn't act rashly.
One reason the Church had earned everyone's respect was that they always sought permission and understanding before intervening anywhere.
Because they showed restraint by avoiding interference in internal affairs out of consideration for other factions, those factions reciprocated with concessions and respect toward the Church.
During the Immortal King subjugation force, the matter was so grave that it was hard to resist their high-handed approach, but that was no longer the case.
Slurp—
Phrygia took another sip of her tea.
Savoring fine tea was one of her minor hobbies.
As she leisurely enjoyed her pastime...
"Hm?"
At the edge of her detection range, beyond the capital's south gate, an unfamiliar vampire aura was approaching the city.
"What is this...? The energy feels like a Pureblood's, but something's off."
Phrygia furrowed her brow slightly, set down her teacup, and stood.
If she didn't know, she'd just check it out herself.
With her keen senses, she had a personality that wouldn't rest until she personally verified anything uncertain.
Judging by the aura, it wasn't much of a threat to her as a True Blood, and no fool would挑衅 them within Brocoslak territory anyway.
Whoosh—
Her figure vanished from the rooftop garden like a gust of wind...
Moments later, it reappeared on a hill outside the city walls.
Behind the unidentified vampire standing still, gazing at the capital.
She twirled her parasol leisurely and spoke.
"You there, what is your identity? It would be wise to reveal it honestly..."
Whoosh—!
But at that moment.
A thick scent of blood spread in all directions, and blood-red patterns rose from the ground, encircling the hill where they stood.
Though she didn't know it, it was a barrier created using "Concealment" and "Blood Mystery".
The moment it activated, the internal and external spaces were completely severed.
Until the barrier was broken, not even a hint of energy would leak out, let alone allow escape.
"...A trap?"
But Phrygia merely frowned calmly, surveying her surroundings.
Her lofty pride as a True Blood and her confidence in accurately assessing the opponent's power left no room for a sense of crisis.
"Should I take this as a declaration of war against me, Phrygia Brocoslak?"
Her eyes, disguised in blue, slowly turned red.
Her bewitching gaze, filled with intent, turned toward the black-haired, black-eyed vampire slowly looking back.
"Kneel right there... Gah!"
As she activated her Mystic Eyes while locking gazes, she staggered back a few steps, grimacing.
A trickle of blood ran from the corner of her eye as she hurriedly averted her gaze.
'My Mystic Eyes got reflected?! This level of backlash—it's impossible!'
By now, the opponent's black eyes had also turned blood-red, staring silently at her.
And only then did Phrygia realize the foe was no mere Pureblood.
A True Blood with skill great enough to perfectly deceive her detection abilities...
"...You. What is your purpose? A True Blood invading Brocoslak territory without warning. Are you looking for war?"
Heightening her tension, she slowly folded her parasol.
Though she couldn't use her Mystic Eyes, she stared piercingly at him without even blinking, determined not to miss a single movement.
In that moment of peak tension.
"My purpose?"
The black-haired vampire smirked faintly and slowly opened his mouth.
"Everything of Brocoslak."
Boom—!
Immediately after, with an erupting shockwave...
Phrygia Brocoslak and Heinz 2nd clashed head-on.
*** Each explosion and surge of energy shook the surrounding barrier repeatedly.
A noblewoman in her early twenties with lush golden blonde hair.
Contrary to her delicate appearance, the battle with Phrygia was no easy feat, befitting a True Blood.
Swoosh— Boom!
The parasol cloaked in blood qi traced erratic paths, predicting Heinz's movements.
Even from Heinrich's perspective, it was impressive swordsmanship honed and refined over long years.
'I thought she'd rely on magic since she uses Mystic Eyes, so I was quite surprised to hear she was a martial artist.'
Even knowing in advance, the synergy of a vampire's body and centuries-honed swordsmanship exceeded expectations.
The parasol tip stabbed sharply at his upper body; he deflected it, using the recoil to sweep in a semicircle toward his legs.
He raised his knee to block it...
'It's light?'
No weight behind the attack.
Crack!
At the same time, fooling Heinz's senses, her pointed high heel stabbed into his ankle.
As Heinz staggered momentarily, the parasol thrust again toward his heart.
Boom—!
Heinz, who barely blocked the parasol with a hastily raised guard using "Acceleration", lost balance and was flung backward powerlessly.
But Phrygia, having landed a solid hit, only glared at him from the increased distance with a hint of irritation.
"Hmm, indeed... Impressive."
A faint admiration was all that showed on Heinz's face as he lightly rolled his shoulders in a stretch.
The attack, infused with dense blood qi enough to pierce steel like tofu, was mere recoverable damage to him.
"You...! What kind of body is that?! And that blood qi too!"
Phrygia gritted her teeth and gripped her parasol again.
Heinz lagged behind in combat experience and technique, but he surpassed her in every other aspect by a wide margin.
The overwhelming spec difference from "Hybrid Evolution".
Not only physical prowess like strength, speed, and durability, but also the volume, control, and application of blood qi were on another level.
Blood qi concentrated at the point of impact glanced off the attack, with the shock dispersed and absorbed throughout his body.
Any damage incurred was healed in the blink of an eye by "Super Regeneration", leaving Phrygia fuming.
'To think she'd hold out with this... I'm fighting with considerable handicaps right now.'
Heinz's style was closer to an assassin who struck stealthily and lethally.
He was only engaging head-on to prevent her from breaking the barrier.
No matter how elaborate the barrier, it wouldn't withstand a determined assault from a True Blood for long.
Additionally, continuously leaking blood qi to protect the barrier from clash aftershocks was a minor handicap.
'Having lived over a century, her skill level is no joke. Even with this spec gap, close-quarters frontal combat gives me no clear path to victory.'
Of course, he wouldn't lose either, so the fight would drag on endlessly.
Phrygia's blood qi was equivalent to level 7 by Earth's standards, but her combat prowess was leagues beyond the hardliners' betas.
The difference between an Awakened who skyrocketed via growth buffs and unique skills, and one from another world who polished themselves over ages.
"Impressive indeed, but a bit lacking. Care to follow me? I can make you far stronger than you are now."
He floated the recruitment idea just in case, but she only looked at him like he was insane.
Pity. It seemed a touch of coercion would be necessary for her as well.
'I've analyzed Phrygia sufficiently now.'
Information from others inevitably differed from firsthand experience.
To bring a True Blood—not a Lesser or Pureblood—under his wing, he needed to grasp her properly.
"No helping it. But keep clashing, and you might change your mind."
"Hah... Such bravado. With your skills, it's impossible. And no matter how tough your body is, if I keep hammering away, eventually... Huh?!"
Her words were cut off as blood-red blades shot from the barrier behind her.
The blade grazed her twisting body and reached the opposite barrier, melting away naturally.
"You...!"
"I don't know what you misunderstood, but I'm no martial artist like you. I've just been playing along until now."
This inner space had been Heinz's domain from the start.
Activating "Blood Mystery" more aggressively, parts of the barrier bared its fangs at his will.
Blades, arrows, harpoons, chains—every manner of attack targeted Phrygia.
The synergy of blood magic from Heinz and the barrier's barrages threw her off balance.
And then...
Boom—!
"Gah!"
Using "Concealment" and "Invisibility" in an instant, spotting an opening with "Penetration", and closing in with "Acceleration", he drove a blood qi-laden fist into her side.
Blood-red chains wrapped around her flung body, chaining into countless blood magics.
But Heinz frowned slightly, glancing at his shoulder.
'Not to be underestimated after all.'
In the moment of impact, her instantaneous counter had pierced a hole in his shoulder.
Too focused on offense, his defense had slipped.
Though "Super Regeneration" healed it instantly, he'd need to be more cautious.
As Heinz tightened his grip more thoroughly, the battle flowed one-sidedly thereafter.
She struggled desperately to escape, but like sinking into quicksand, her momentum waned.
And finally.
"You held out longer than expected."
"Urk... Y-You...!"
Phrygia, her body reduced to rags, lay sprawled before Heinz, bound in chains.
One of the Brocoslak Clan's True Bloods had finally fallen into Heinz's hands.