Chapter 277
Chapter 277
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 277
Chapter Title: Vampire (2)
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‘Gotcha.’
Rokan’s movements changed as he pretended to barely hold on, using his battle axe to shield and support his body.
The moment the vampire’s claws, sharper than those of any beast, dug into his body, he swung the battle axe with every ounce of power he could muster.
“Lion Flame Slash!”
One strike. Terrifying power converged into that single blow.
Not only was it amplified to its limit with critical damage, but the Golden Lion’s crimson flames burned everything they touched.
“Kraaaaargh!”
It was a strike that could have been dodged or grazed if launched before the attack hit. But with its heart pierced by Rokan—and ironically caught in his grasp—evasion was impossible.
The fiercely blazing flames, like the sun itself, tore through its body and set it ablaze.
Even a vampire boasting superior recovery and evasion couldn’t emerge unscathed this time.
“B-Bat trans……formation!”
Yet it was still a level 400 powerhouse.
Finishing it in one hit proved too much, and it scattered once more into hundreds of bats.
Many were already burned to ash, but it had managed to preserve its life.
“Where do you think you’re going! Wild Slaughter! Lion Frenzy!”
Rokan’s frenzy engulfed the swarm of bats.
The Golden Lion’s power infused it as well, and before they could scatter, hundreds more bats burned away in flames.
“Bombardment!”
For those that fled farther, he unleashed Bombardment!
Converting to magic damage and exploding with power, it would surely work against the bats.
After all, their defense and resistance paled in comparison to the vampire’s.
“Kyaargh!”
Shaslock, reformed from the few remaining bats, let out a furious screech in rage.
But there was nothing it could do. It lacked blood. Or so it thought. It didn’t yet realize that Blood Magic still wouldn’t work.
“Steps of Valor.”
“B-Bloody Tornado!”
Boom!
Rokan’s body shot forward.
A ferocious madness exploded from him, as if intent on finishing it off for good.
The panicked Shaslock forcibly drew on its power to activate Blood Magic. Blood swirled around it like a protective barrier and clashed against Rokan.
Ruuuuumble.
“Hngh!”
Rokan forced it open with sheer strength.
He jammed the battle axe in and pried it apart wide with both hands.
Boom!
The blood whirlwind exploded alongside it.
Its blood rained down on the two like a benediction.
“Kyak!”
In that instant, Shaslock thrust out its face.
More precisely, it lunged to sink its fangs into Rokan’s forearm.
“You bastard!”
Thud.
But it was a futile attempt. Rokan immediately extended his arm and seized its jaw. He locked it tight with his signature grip strength and gathered power in his left arm.
“Strike of Ruin!”
Splat!
He slammed a devastating blow into its face.
With enough force to shatter every fang.
Shaslock hurriedly tried to transform into bats under the brutal power, but Rokan was faster.
He crushed its face and left it dazed, unable to recover.
“Heh heh! I’ll grind you into the blood you love so much!”
Rokan began pummeling the near-dead foe until it was reduced to a handful of blood.
[You have leveled up.]
Thanks to the 30% experience boost? He even gained another level after fully finishing it off.
On top of that, he obtained the demon heart he’d aimed for, along with several items.
But Rokan didn’t relax. The commotion was dying down, so the other one would come soon.
Even without Stormwind Avatar off cooldown, at High Master level, Berserk alone would let him hold his own—but negotiation came first.
Creeeak.
“Baron?”
As expected, Sharack opened the door and entered moments later.
Shaslock had ordered him to wait outside, but with this much noise, he couldn’t help but check.
His eyes met Rokan’s, who had been waiting.
Beckon, beckon.
Rokan crooked his finger at him.
It wasn’t a taunt. If he’d intended to fight, he’d have ambushed from beside the door before Sharack even noticed.
Sharack seemed to know that too, staying calm even with his master Shaslock’s corpse nearby.
He didn’t attack recklessly.
‘Maybe this is why.’
Of course, it could be for another reason. Like the divine beast heart Rokan held.
Just like the first time he’d seen it, Sharack stared at Rokan with entranced eyes.
“Shall we talk?”
Smirk.
Rokan grinned at the sight. Everything was going according to plan.
“I’ll give this to you.”
“……What do you want?”
Sharack reacted to Rokan’s direct words. He seemed ready to do anything if handed the divine beast heart.
“With this, can you take this guy’s place here?”
“……It should be possible.”
“Good. This’ll make things easy. I want you to seize this position. And help me.”
“How shall I assist?”
“First, demon hearts. I want to collect them. Is there anyone here who drops a demon heart?”
“……I’ll prepare.”
Fortunately, Sharack obeyed meekly. It seemed demon hearts weren’t exclusive to level 400s.
And so, the first negotiation concluded smoothly.
“What else do you want?”
“An alliance. Form an alliance with me.”
“Alliance……you say?”
An unexpected reaction. He’d assumed a lord-vassal relationship, like with Shaslock.
‘Motivation is key.’
But from Rokan’s perspective, lord-vassal or alliance made little difference.
He wasn’t planning to profit off this place like on the surface.
Rokan nodded, and Sharack pondered before nodding back.
“Very well, I accept.”
“Good choice.”
But he didn’t hand over the divine beast heart right away. What if Sharack reneged? Precautions were necessary.
Flutter.
What Rokan pulled out was a contract.
The absolute power of Trade intervened between them.
[A contract has been established with Vampire Sharack.]
Only after signing did he hand over the divine beast heart.
The contract was utterly unfair to Sharack, but it was worth it.
Squelch.
The moment he sank his fangs into the divine beast heart, immense power began flowing into him.
A mere low-tier vampire couldn’t have handled the divine beast’s sanctity, but he was different. Nearing Grand Master already, he suppressed it and made it his own.
Whoooosh.
[Vampire Sharack][Lv 400]
He fully assimilated it.
Level 400.
By devouring the divine beast heart, he’d reached level 400 and Grand Master realm.
It would take time to fully digest the power, but that was only a matter of time.
He’d claim the baron’s position and combine what he’d learned from reports and Shaslock to forge his own strength and skills.
“Good. Shall we get started?”
“Please wait a moment.”
Whether due to his butler role or the contract’s constraints, Sharack remained polite even after gaining that power.
Once Rokan’s aftereffects subsided, he bowed and descended, soon returning with one vampire after another at the cusp of High Master.
Squelch!
Next? Naturally, slaughter.
Sharack assisted by suppressing them with Blood Magic, allowing Rokan to quickly farm experience and demon hearts.
“My apologies. This is all for now.”
“No helping it.”
After hunting exactly ten, Sharack bowed apologetically.
They were all the underlings worth dropping demon hearts.
Of course, plenty more vampires remained beyond these, but Rokan didn’t get greedy.
To maintain the alliance and let Sharack grow, he needed to leave minimal forces.
“What’s next?”
“Werewolves nearby. Their vitality and regeneration are annoying, but no issue for you, Rokan.”
“Excellent.”
In exchange, Sharack provided necessary info and conveniences.
Loyalty as fellow demons? Nothing of the sort.
The demon world was like that.
They’d sell out their own kind if it didn’t concern them. Rokan planned to exploit that.
Soon, a carriage was prepared. Pulled by a high-performance ghost horse from a titled noble, it achieved tremendous speed.
Pure speed-wise, a unicorn was faster, but he couldn’t pull out the divine beast here.
‘I’ll need to figure something out for this too.’
Thinking he couldn’t rely on this forever, he entered the Howling Forest where werewolves dwelled.
“Grrrrrr.”
The moment he entered the forest, watchful eyes fell upon him. The forest’s denizens had noticed the intruder and turned their attention to Rokan.
They were on guard, baring hostility.
But none dared attack rashly.
The madness Rokan exuded, amplified by the Divine Beast Hunter title, instilled instinctive fear in them.
‘Here they come.’
Amid them, Rokan spotted the werewolves.
Whether they fully controlled the area or not, the lesser ones fled with tails tucked at their appearance, making them easy to find.
‘Shall I pull it out?’
As the others vanished and only werewolves remained, Rokan slipped a hand into his inventory.
He considered using one of his two remaining divine beast hearts but gripped his battle axe instead.
He could resolve this easily with talk, but where’s the fun in that?
Securing superiority before negotiations was key. Especially since he needed their demon hearts.
“Kraaaaaargh!”
His mad roar paralyzed the Howling Forest.
As if to remind them who the true predator was, he charged at the frozen werewolves.
“Kr, kngh!”
Werewolves truly boasted the strongest beastly senses and instincts. Even paralyzed, they thrashed to evade somehow.
But that was all.
Rokan was stronger, faster.
Each time his battle axe rent the air, a limb flew into the sky.
Overwhelming power rendered even their signature regeneration useless.
“Savage Rampage!”
“Moon’s Blessing!”
They didn’t just tremble in helplessness as kin fell endlessly. They activated Master skills for synergy, buffing themselves.
Moon’s Blessing.
The skill that drew out werewolves’ peak power under moonlight to its utmost.
Creating an artificial full moon to forcibly awaken their strength.
Not quite a real full moon, but a comparable aura settled over their bodies.
“That’s right. Come at me like that. Stormwind Avatar!”
But such abilities weren’t theirs alone.
Rokan grinned demonically and manifested Stormwind Avatar.
If they were wolves, he was the lion.
Class was in session.