( Vega and Regus's POV )
" The Kingdom of Life has sent 7 legions to Ixtal to neutralise Dracula. If my estimations are not wrong, a massive war can start any minute now- " Vega reported as he passed a glass full of warm human blood to Regus.
Regus took the glass and enjoyed a sip before asking the question on his mind.
" Why is she getting involved in this? I don't believe there is a shred of honesty in her aid.
Her power level is undetermined yet she has some of the universe's strongest gods wrapped around her little finger.
Even now, she has sent 7 legions and over 300 tier6 god's to level Ixtal, yet she hasn't gone herself to heal the injured.
If she's so worried about the loss of life, why not show up herself to save all those that she can?
There is a bigger angle to all this Vega, Beniogre knows this old monster personally, I can feel it in my bones " Regus theorised as Vega nodded his head
" The history around that time is muddy and unclear, it's almost like our ancestors have purposefully erased everything conclusive about that time frame.
But I agree with your assessment, Beniogre knows more than we do, and her responding to our aid message is indeed shady " Vega replied as he took the cup of human blood back from Regus and took a sip for himself.
" It doesn't matter what her intentions are, if she does indeed help us with killing Dracula, I'll personally shower her with heaps of praise and build her temples on Ixtal.
Although I doubt anyone except a coalition of several monarchs has the strength to take that man down.
I'm afraid the seven legions are headed to their deaths " Regus commented with a sigh of a defeated man.
He had acknowledged Dracula's power to be superior to his own and it had made a dent on his confidence levels.
" Numbers do matter, maybe he can block 10 attacks at once, heck maybe he can block 299.
But I'm sure that if 300 god's attack him at once, there will be a point where he is either completely drained or overwhelmed.
Nobody can keep up with such a relentless assault by themselves " Vega commented as Regus shook his head to his remarks.
" Us modern vampires can't….. but he's a primordial one " Regus replied as Vega's eyes widened at this revelation.
The primordial vampires were famed to be unstoppable beasts as they could regenerate their HP and stamina for as long as there was a blood source around.
It was the reason they became unstoppable on a bloody battlefield and the reason behind why they were feared across the universe.
Maybe it was indeed hopeless to send 7 legions against Dracula…. Maybe they were indeed headed towards certain death.
************
( Meanwhile Max )
As Max walked onto stage 6 after clearing stage 5, he heard an almost ethereal voice enter his ears.
" Welcome Max Rajput, the human turned vampire that bears the blessing of my master " the voice said directly into Max's head as although he did not hear the voice physically, he could somehow listen to it in his mind.
As Max looked above, he was immediately captivated by the being hovering before him.
Standing at an imposing height of nearly 10 feet, the being was emanating an otherworldly aura that filled the space with both awe and dread. Its face was an ethereal mask, beautiful yet terrifying, with eyes that were black voids shimmering with countless stars.
Although it had no mouth, Max knew it could communicate with other means.
Six wings extended from its back; the uppermost ones glowed with radiant golden light, the middle ones were translucent and silvery like the moon, and the lower ones absorbed all light in a dance of darkness.
The being's long and slender arms were encased in armour that reflected the soul-fire illuminating the chamber, changing hue as if alive.
In its hand, it held a staff, about seven feet long, made from a material that seemed to be forged from pure darkness, topped with an orb containing a swirling vortex of lost souls.
The air around the being wavered, as though reality itself was straining to contain its immense power, filling Max with a mix of dread and reverence that kept him on edge.
" Who are you? " Max asked as he had never seen anything close to this being.
It was certainly not a part of any species that Max knew, nor resembled anything he had even remotely heard about in lore.
" I'm Seraphiel, a soulmancer serving the interests of my Lord Junfred in this universe.
I'm the keeper of this dungeon, the one who rewards all challengers who step in here and claim the souls of those who die.
I used to be the jailer for Dracula too, however, with you having granted his freedom it's no longer a task I'm concerned with.
Congratulations, for you have made it to the last level of this dungeon.
Defeat me thrice and you will be rewarded with the ultimate price this dungeon has to offer.
Are you ready? " Seraphiel asked as Max felt his soul tremble when listening to his voice.
A soulmancer?
Max had heard about only one such individual existing in the universe from Sebastian.
Apparently it was a soulmancer who had shifted Sebastian's soul from the body of a demi-god human to that of a dwarf while trapping asmodeus the servant of Lucifer within the original vessel.
Soulmancers were a rare profession, in fact they were so rare that Max had only heard of one existing in the entire universe and even that guy had gone missing once Thor died.
Max did not wish to shy away from the challenge posed by this soulmancer, however, something about his very aura gave Max the jitters.
This was certainly not a run of the mill opponent that he was facing today, Seraphiel might easily be the strongest and most unique opponent that Max had fought till date.