Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Brocoslak Clan (4)
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Knock knock—
"Lord, it's Freesia. May I come in? I have something to discuss."
"Enter."
With permission from inside, the door opened, revealing an interior shrouded in pitch-black darkness.
Within the shadows, only a pair of glowing red eyes betrayed its presence.
"Lord, you really should light a candle or some glow orb. Is there any need to stay in such utter darkness?"
"It's not that we need it—we simply don't feel the need."
Perhaps because they were both True Bloods, the atmosphere between them felt surprisingly casual.
While they conversed, Heinz quietly followed Freesia into the room and cautiously surveyed the interior.
Impressive. I'd heard the Lord was a mage-type, but this level of blood magic barrier? It's a fortress in its own right.
The walls, floor, and ceiling of the vast space were covered floor-to-ceiling with intricate crimson runes.
Even the room's furnishings were all items designed to bolster magic.
Feels unsettling stepping into a mage's domain uninvited...
Tension rose again as Blood Mystery analyzed the countless barriers.
But there were no other options.
Mulro Brocoslak, a vampire who'd lived for centuries, hadn't stepped foot outside this room in decades.
He'd fortified his safest haven and holed up there, handling everything through his subordinates.
His obsessive pursuit of safety made luring him out nearly impossible.
Still, if I can get just a bit closer and strike suddenly, before he activates the barriers...
"By the way, Freesia. Who's this?"
Mulro's low voice cut in as he eyed Heinz standing behind her.
This was a chance to close the distance.
"Ah, Lord. I was just about to introduce him. Heinz, come forward."
Before Heinz could step up at her smiling invitation, Mulro spoke again, slowly.
"Oh, right... Before that, one question for you, Freesia."
"Yes? Ask away."
He picked up a glass vial and wine glass from the side table, continuing nonchalantly as if it were nothing.
"Did you change perfumes, by any chance?"
Pour—
Red liquid filled the glass.
A faint, metallic blood scent wafted through the room.
"We've spent over a century together, yet this is a scent I've never smelled on you before—utterly unfamiliar."
Mulro swirled the glass, savoring the aroma casually.
But his gaze never left the two of them.
"I just can't place the source."
As the mood stiffened, Freesia forced a smile and offered her prepared excuse.
"Ah, Lord. That's..."
"More than that."
Mulro showed no interest in her answer, despite asking first.
"Today, you feel... distant."
He was already certain.
He didn't know how, but Freesia had slipped from Brocoslak's shadow.
Game over.
The moment Heinz judged it, he activated Acceleration and surged toward Mulro like lightning.
At the same time, Freesia's parasol, closer at hand, thrust toward him—but it halted mid-air, blocked by something invisible.
Whoosh—
The blood runes etched across the room glowed crimson, warping space itself.
The modest chamber expanded rapidly, instantly widening the gap between them and Mulro.
Damn, should have stuck closer.
Even as a spell specialist, he was still a True Blood vampire.
His reaction speed far outstripped any ordinary mage's, so Heinz had planned a cautious approach—only to be exposed prematurely.
Underestimated the Lord, it seems.
He'd thought he and Freesia could handle Mulro handily.
"Children of Brocoslak. Come to me."
Blood pools formed across the vast space, vampires emerging one by one.
"Huh? What's this? You called, Lord!"
"Battle stations, now!"
As Heinz grimaced at the sudden influx of foes and braced for combat...
"...What the hell? Only this many left in the capital?"
Mulro, who'd summoned them, looked equally baffled.
The responders to his Blood Call were barely half the usual number.
"Freesia... What have you done?"
He growled at her, low and menacing. With a sigh, she stepped forward.
"Well, you see..."
She launched into a lengthy explanation of their grand plan with Heinz.
This time, Mulro listened to the end without interrupting.
"So you're saying we should hand the entire clan to this unknown on blind faith in such nonsense?"
His reaction wasn't favorable.
"No, but it's already proven..."
"Proven what? Sure, subjugating our kin without killing them is impressive, but what proof do you have it'll work on other clans?"
Heinz's word was all they had—no further evidence.
"Does he even have the power to subjugate every clan? You know Viscount Yuphersh inherited Sacred Blood, right?"
That's why he'd cowered here for decades, avoiding the world.
"Th-that's..."
"...Seems you've been ensnared somehow. Can't be helped once Blood Subjugation takes hold."
Letting this drag on would only sap Freesia's momentum.
Indeed, having laced his words with subtle suggestion via Blood Mystery, Heinz felt a twinge of guilt and stepped forward, facing Mulro head-on.
"Sharp tongue. You doubt I have what it takes?"
"You..."
"Never expected words alone would sway you. I'll etch it into your flesh instead."
Heinz unleashed his full aura for the first time since battling the Blood Alliance hardliners, advancing on him.
Step— step—
With each step, a viscous crimson aura bled from his body, spreading outward.
"Hmph!"
"Wh-what is this...?"
The predator's pressure, honed from hunting vampires across countless dimensions and assimilating their factors through endless evolutions.
Brocoslak's vampires instinctively recoiled.
Mulro felt it too.
Heinz flashed a cold smile at his stiffened face, then shot forward like a gale.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Block him!"
"Too strong... Ack—!"
Mulro scowled at the scene unfolding before him.
This was his domain, refined and strengthened over long years.
Summoned kin grew far stronger here, foes crippled by debuffs.
His blood magic alone could shred enemies.
Yet...
What? How in the world?
Subordinates fell like autumn leaves, his spells bizarrely ineffective on Heinz.
The barriers bolstered them—heads severed, hearts burst—yet they regenerated endlessly. But at this rate, it was pointless attrition.
Especially since they couldn't match Heinz's speed.
No good. Need resources to keep up with his pace.
Even his firepower support had limits.
If the front line broke, things would worsen. Countermeasures were needed now.
"...Come to me. Obor—!"
With a deep sigh and incantation, another blood pool formed before Mulro.
From it emerged a white-haired youth.
"...What the? Why'd you summon me suddenly, Lord? And what's going on here?!"
Obor Brocoslak glanced around in confusion at the abrupt call, but obeyed Mulro's command and moved to bind Heinz's feet.
Only with this True Blood to match his speed did the battlefield balance tenuously hold.
To think Freesia grew this strong...
With Obor joining him, the rest swarmed her—yet they could only tie her down.
Despite the barrier's full weakening effect, she matched the empowered horde evenly.
"Indeed, you seem qualified for such arrogance."
Looks like he'd need to push harder.
Mulro muttered grimly and drew a deep breath.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Boom—!
Heinz crushed rising blood spikes underfoot while blocking the swiftly approaching youth's hand chop.
"Damn! What the hell is this guy's body made of?!"
White-haired Obor Brocoslak vented frustration and lunged again.
Even with the Lord's buffs, just grabbing his heels bruised his pride—but no time for that.
Monstrous strength and durability were baseline; add bizarre blood magic of unknown origin, assassin-type speed and presence concealment that drew gasps even from him.
Each time he shook pursuit and charged the Lord, chills ran down his spine.
And he's leaking this weird aura! What is it? Mental attack?
The predator's pressure on vampires furrowed Obor's brow.
Not devastating to a True Blood, but the subtle distraction frayed his focus in this razor-edge fight.
Nor was it easy for Heinz.
So this is battling a fully entrenched sorcerer. Facing two True Bloods inside the barrier is a nightmare.
Mid-clash with Obor, he chained Concealment and Invisibility to mask his presence, added Acceleration for a dash at Mulro—but...
Whoosh—
Blood mist rose from all sides, clinging and halting him briefly.
Enough for Obor to react.
Bang!
"Useless! Where do you think you're going?!"
Caught again by the momentarily shaken Obor, combat resumed.
He'd tried every trick, but sniping Mulro alone inside the barrier was impossible.
Guess I'll have to smash straight through. Mages hunkered in their domains are such a pain.
Without evolutions from devouring Earth's vampires—partially nullifying hostile vampire abilities—he'd be in real trouble.
The barrier's debuffs and blood sorcery's super-effectiveness were mitigated, letting him fight on equal-ish terms.
Then.
His keen senses, Insight, and Blood Mystery all pinged anomalies simultaneously.
The faint weakening effect binding him vanished. Freesia, tied down by vampires, suddenly overwhelmed them.
Conversely, Obor lunged—but power drained, exposing a gap.
He reflexively slammed a blood-flower-wrapped fist into it, analyzing.
Barrier effects gone? Why now?
As Obor flew back, engulfed in crimson petals, the answer came swiftly.
Post-strike vulnerability—a split-second unguarded.
Without warning—Mulro appeared at his side.
At the ghostly arrival, he Accelerated back instinctively—but...
Slash!
Splatter—!
Blood sprayed through the air.
"...Quick on your feet."
Mulro, tears of blood streaming, sneered.
"This is problematic."
Heinz muttered, frowning.
He'd retreated far on reflex—yet wasn't unscathed.
Despite reacting instantly... his right forearm below the elbow was gone.
And that arm.
Was clutched in Mulro's hand, sharp claws extended.