Chapter 91: Vampire Lord

For vampires who have lived for hundreds of years, their only true pleasure was drinking fresh blood.

Therefore, among all organizations, the vampire in charge of the Pasture held the greatest power.

They were also the most powerful.

Not only did they have to repel external intruders, but they also had to subdue the internal vampires who broke the rules and rushed into the Pasture.

A report came in for such a vampire.

“Rukel-nim, there is an intruder in the Pasture.”

Someone had brazenly trespassed into the Pasture.

Rukel used the special ability possessed by the Vampire Race.

An ability that allowed communication even over great distances.

He tried speaking to the vampires in the Pasture, but received no response from the other side.

“I’ll move right away. Ready everyone.”

“Yes, sir.”

Rukel rose from his seat and headed toward the Lord’s office.

Knock, knock!

“Lord-nim, it’s Rukel.”

“What is it?”

“There’s been an intruder in the Pasture. I thought I should report it since I’ll need to handle that before joining the war.”

“An intruder? Hm, have the enemies formed a Division?”

“I’ll need to check in person to know the details.”

“Understood. Clean it up quickly and rejoin us at the Central Area.”

“Yes, sir.”

Rukel turned and leapt out the wide open window beside him. In an instant, he transformed into a Bat and soared swiftly into the sky.

The Ranch Guard gathered around him as he flew.

Dozens of bats formed ranks and moved quickly toward the Pasture.

“It seems the enemy is alone.”

“They’re the ones who neutralized the Pasture. Don’t let your guard down—surround the area.”

“Understood!”

Rukel gazed at the being who had emerged from the Lake at the center of the Pasture.

‘A Human?’

No humans lived in the Sleeping Forest.

That meant this one came from outside.

“…A Human, huh?”

“Wow… that scent of blood is incredible.”

“Captain… my body… something’s wrong with my body.”

Vampires spread out and surrounded the Human, their eyes reddening and nostrils flaring.

Rukel was no exception.

The Sweet Scent of Blood wafting from the Human clouded his mind. But now was not the time to lose control.

“Pull yourselves together.”

“Ugh! I… I can’t!”

“Kraaaagh!”

These vampires had never experienced a Human before.

Some, losing control, charged at the Human.

Rukel reached out and used Blood Magic.

A crimson spike shot from his fingertips, piercing the hearts of the vampires.

Puuk!

Puuk!

Puuk!

The vampires, their hearts impaled, collapsed to the ground.

【What’s this? Betrayal or something?】

Vampires didn’t die as long as they had some blood left, even if their hearts were pierced.

Rukel clung to his sanity and stared at the Human.

“Fresh blood is for the Queen.”

【Ah, so you did that to offer my blood to the Queen first? But can you handle me alone?】

“That’s more than enough.”

Rukel kicked off the ground and reached out his hand.

The blood of the fallen vampires flowed toward him and formed weapons.

A sword and a shield.

Rukel attacked the Human with the sword and shield in his grasp.

Flash!

The Human vanished in an instant, reappearing some distance away.

【Your movements aren’t as smooth as I expected. Are you that affected by my scent as well?】

Wearing a relaxed expression, the Human grinned and used a claw to make a shallow cut on his own forearm.

A thin trickle of blood emerged from the shallow wound.

At that moment, an indescribable, overwhelming scent hit them. The self-control they had barely managed to maintain was shattered in an instant.

“Grrr…!”

Rukel charged forward, driven solely by the desire for blood.

His movements weren’t graceful, but savage beyond all else.

A ravenous greed to claim the blood.

Now like a wild beast, Rukel was subdued by the Human in an instant.

KWAANG!

With a powerful spell, one of his arms and his heart were blown away. As his blood drained, the greed intensified.

With his willpower completely lost, a voice echoed into his mind.

【Kneel.】

Rukel was made into a Guardian and his information extracted.

As a result, the location of the Castle where the vampires lived was discovered at once.

【It’s over there.】

Rukel pointed toward a distant Castle.

The Castle was hidden in the shape of a basin.

The black clouds blocked all sunlight from above, and gray mist shrouded the area around the Castle.

A place perfectly suited for vampires.

From the noble Castle at the center, a multitude of Presences could be felt.

“Fewer than I expected.”

【Everyone left for the Central Area.】

It seemed Lopenheim and the Guardians were doing a good job holding them off. Thanks to that, cleaning up the Fourth Forest became much easier.

With the Main Force of the vampires gone.

If I just handled the Lord, I could take this forest in an instant.

“I’ll take on the Lord. The rest are yours.”

【Do you want me to kill them?】

“Just subdue them.”

【Understood.】

Rukel moved toward the Castle first.

I walked on, watching as he cleaned up the surrounding vampires one by one.

Following the already-cleared path, I soon arrived at the Lord’s office.

Creak!

Rukel threw the door open wide, and there stood the Vampire Lord.

A being of captivating beauty.

With legs crossed, she held a goblet of red liquid in one hand.

【Rukel, what is the meaning of this?】

【I have brought a Human.】

【He seems far too free for someone you’ve brought in.】

The Vampire Lord’s eyes grew cold.

In an instant, the air in the room became icy.

[Activating Golden Dragon Eye.]

[Lord of the Fourth Forest, Rynne (SS)]

-The Vampire Lord who leads the Vampire Race and rules over the Fourth Forest.

-Is frightened.

-Overall Abilities: SS+

-Potential: SSS

-Possessed Items: Blood Jade Necklace, Blood Jade Ring.

-Possessed Skills: Blood Magic (SS), Trait Steal (SS)… Strong Body (SS), Magic Resistance (SS), Physical Resistance (SS)

Her specs were overwhelming.

Among all the forest lords I’d encountered, she was by far the most formidable.

But there was a Status Window that didn’t match her specs.

‘She’s frightened?’

I calmly examined Rynne’s status.

Her outward appearance was filled with rage, her killing intent overflowing.

If I made even the slightest move, I felt like I’d be cut down instantly.

【Speak clearly. What’s your true intention?】

【……】

When Rukel didn’t answer, Rynne snapped her fingers.

Crunch!

Rukel’s heart burst, and he collapsed to the floor. He wouldn’t die from this, but the pain would be excruciating.

【Khhhhh!】

【Is this your doing? Not bad, for a Human—taming a vampire.】

Rynne’s gaze turned to me.

From her voice and presence, I didn’t feel any fear.

But the Status Window had never lied. That meant she really was frightened.

‘Is she just putting on a brave face?’

Or maybe she simply wasn’t used to this situation.

Whatever the case.

Knowing she was scared, I could use it to my advantage.

“My blood smells that good, does it? If you listen well, I might let you have a taste.”

【It’s true. It’s a very sweet scent. No wonder Rukel couldn’t control himself.】

Rynne dropped the goblet in her hand and stood up.

【Shall I have a taste, then?】

“If you want, I’ll give it to you.”

【You must be confident in your strength. For a mere Human, to act so arrogantly in my presence.】

I chuckled lightly as Rynne’s red eyes flashed.

“You. Acting tough like that—guess you’re scared of me, aren’t you?”

【What nonsense is this, you madman?】

Rynne reached out and unleashed Blood Magic.

Red blood gathered in both her hands, shooting out in all directions toward me.

Hundreds of tendrils.

I used Absolute Barrier to block Rynne’s attacks and closed in step by step.

KWAANG!

KWAGAGAGANG!

There was no need for a counterattack.

The closer I got, blocking all her attacks—

I started to notice small changes in Rynne.

First, her pupils trembled.

She quickly returned to her original expression, but after that slight change, her attack patterns shifted.

A relentless barrage.

She unleashed every spell she knew at random, overwhelming me with magic.

[Due to the Blessing of Magic……]

[Due to the Blessing of Magic……]

[Due to the Blessing of Magic……]

Unfamiliar spells I’d never seen before flowed into my mind.

They weren’t unique to vampires.

They were spells from other races.

It seemed that by using Trait Steal, Rynne had absorbed the magic and knowledge of other races.

With the knowledge now imprinted in my mind, blocking Rynne’s attacks became much easier.

If you understand the structure of a spell, blocking it is no problem.

KWAANG!

KWAANG!

By exploiting affinities, I broke through all of Rynne’s attacks.

Whenever I was low on mana, I used Anne, Queen of Witches’s Potion to replenish it and reassessed Rynne’s condition at my leisure.

‘Is it lack of experience?’

Her atmosphere and the abilities listed in her Status Window didn’t match—her lack of combat experience was clear.

The composure she had at first had vanished.

Now, all that was left was a frightened figure, wildly casting spells.

She was definitely pretending to be strong.

But it wasn’t easy to just endure endlessly.

【Die!】

Rynne’s spells poured out, seemingly without end. As the magic grew stronger, even countering with affinities became overwhelming.

“Hup!”

I focused and used Absolute Barrier to block a wave of attacks.

Immediately, I used Teleport to get behind Rynne and clenched my fist.

“Burning Impact.”

Blue flames flared up instantly.

I squeezed my fist with all my might and unleashed its power.

KWAANG!

The curtain of blood Rynne created burned away, and my fist landed squarely.

The moment I confirmed my attack had landed—

Rynne’s body turned to blood and scattered in all directions. She avoided my attack and reformed her shape.

【So you weren’t an ordinary Human. You’re the one behind all this, aren’t you?】

“That’s right.”

Rynne clicked her tongue and shook her head.

【I’ll stop. I don’t think I can win. What do you want?】

I thought she’d keep fighting.

But she gave up more easily than I expected.

If she’d gone all out, I couldn’t guarantee my own life. It was as if she didn’t even know her own strength.

Well, that works for me.

“Swear loyalty to me.”

【I have conditions.】

“What are they?”

【Don’t enter my Castle as you please. Especially not my office. Stay away from me. I absolutely hate people invading my space.】

Is she some kind of shut-in tyrant?

“And?”

【…Blood. Let me have your blood sometimes. Then I’ll serve under you.】

Rynne spoke shyly but kept her haughty expression.

From my perspective, those were acceptable terms.

If she surrendered this quickly, it would save me a lot of time.

“Deal.”

After making Rynne a Guardian, I used a piece of the Tablet of Time to achieve the Domination of the Fourth Forest.

Then I returned at once to where the Sacred Relic was kept.

[You have completed the Trial.]

[You have passed the Comet Trial.]

[Sacred Relic: You have acquired the Sanctified Fragment.]

[Sanctified Fragment (Sacred Relic)]

-An artifact left by a divine being for this forest.

-Greatly increases the efficiency of Sacred Power.

-Greatly increases knowledge of Sacred Power.

-If you meet special conditions, you will gain a unique ability.

That wasn’t the end of the messages.

[Sacred Relic: Sanctified Fragment has been registered.]

[All those belonging to the Dragon Lair will have their recovery greatly increased. They will be able to live for a much longer time.]