Episode 125 The Ufersh Clan (4)
'Uh oh… this seems a bit dangerous.'
Harley, after obtaining the dragon's characteristics, including the "Mad Dragon's Heart", became more sensitive to external energy.
Thanks to that, he was not only able to cleanly break through Mulo's barrier, but his basic detection ability had also increased significantly.
Crackle—!
And now, that sense was warning him.
That the flow of the space where the Sacred Bloods were located wasn't normal.
More precisely, the situation was overwhelmingly disadvantageous for the woman presumed to be Brokoslack, and naturally, that wasn't good news.
He could no longer just stand by and watch.
'It can't be helped. I need a more extreme method.'
Crackle—!
Harley's body began to change rapidly the moment he made up his mind.
Contrary to his body swelling even larger, the density of his muscles and bones, which defied the laws of physics with the power of "Physical Transformation", became even more compressed.
"What's that monster trying to do?!"
"…But this is strange. Is that really a Dragonborn?"
The True Bloods facing him raised their energy, not letting their guard down as the mana around him started to rampage.
They weren't being kind and holding back from attacking first, like villains waiting for the protagonist to transform.
Harley's transformation was too radical…
'If we go in now… we'll be counterattacked immediately!'
The ominous energy emanating from him was stimulating their sensitive instincts, suppressing their actions.
"Hooo—!"
His transformation was completed in an instant, perhaps because he had poured in the energy he had stored from continuously consuming dragon meat.
Crack! Crack—!
The framework was definitely based on a Dragonborn, but in detail, it was clearly a hybrid that transcended that framework.
Starting with the legs of a Mutant Minotaur for explosive power, all sorts of dominant genes he had collected were manifested.
"…What is that?"
"He was a real monster. A chimera, not a Dragonborn?"
And the internal changes were as violent as the external ones.
The madness controlled by "Madness Control" was activated through "Frenzied Beast", and that also affected the "Mad Dragon's Heart".
The life force dormant in his body activated the "Calcos-style Combat Tattoos" and was converted into "Bio-Aura", and "Gem Eye: Coercion" started to shine, using that as energy.
'Ugh— This is my first time using my full power since eating the Mad Dragon.'
But putting everything else aside, the energy consumption was no joke.
A considerable amount was consumed just for the transformation with "Physical Transformation", but he was also continuously burning energy to maintain this state.
'And the overactivated cells are necrotizing on their own, so I have to constantly activate "Super Regeneration". The fuel efficiency is terrible.'
But the effect was also excellent.
He was even intoxicated by the violent power surging from within and spreading in all directions.
It was the appearance of 'Complete Harley'.
"Kuhhoo— Now then."
He scanned the surroundings with his widened field of vision.
The True Bloods, tensely glaring at him.
The tension between them gradually heightened.
Harley's thigh muscles bulged, and his body leaned forward as if about to launch.
And…
Bang—!
He kicked off the ground—.
"Huh? Where is he going…?"
"S-stop him! He's going towards Visque!"
He ignored the True Bloods facing him and flew straight towards where the Sacred Bloods were!
'If Visque Ufersh is released, it's game over.'
Their current advantageous situation was only possible because he was tied up.
If he became the final victor, it didn't matter how the other battles went.
In other words,
'Restraining him is the top priority, everything else is secondary. And it would be even better if I could eliminate him!'
He successfully moved without any interference thanks to his sudden action and soon reached where the Sacred Bloods were.
Crackle—!
And a chilling magic power fluctuation and a storm of thoughts filled the space, sparks flying everywhere.
Harley didn't hesitate and pushed himself into that scene.
Clang!
Crackle!
His body started to crumble as soon as he entered the domain.
'Ugh, he's more amazing than I thought.'
Scales were shredded, skin tore, muscles ruptured, and blood spurted out.
His tough body, which pursued the ultimate evolution, was constantly being destroyed and restored, and his entire body was instantly covered in blood.
But he ignored it and broke through the torrent of magic power with the combination of the "Mad Dragon's Heart" and his gem eye, and finally…
"Ugh! What's this crazy bastard? What are you idiots doing, letting him get this far?!"
He was able to face Visque Ufersh.
"Kkahahahat! You're the boss of these guys, right? Nice to meet you!"
Harley gave him a refreshing smile, not even caring about his crumbling body.
But Visque just frowned at his benevolent smile, which had captured the hearts of Tarak's citizens.
It probably meant that his heart was that corrupted.
'As a concerned party, I came all the way here, and this is how the one responsible reacts?!'
He couldn't even apologize, what kind of reaction was that?
Harley, who couldn't tolerate injustice, couldn't let this slide.
"So first, one punch!"
His fist, imbued with fierce momentum, shot out like lightning.
It was an attack that even a True Blood couldn't dodge at such close range…
"Ugh! You insect, how dare you!"
Boom—!
But it was just a slightly annoying attack to Visque, a Sacred Blood.
Harley was thrown back like a cannonball by the counterattack that was launched simultaneously with his dodge.
A scar, as if a large beast had clawed him, remained on his back as he rolled on the ground.
"Ugh— Cheap shot, at least take one punch."
He got up, dusting himself off, and frowned at his chest.
'As expected of a Sacred Blood… And the wounds I received from him are healing slowly. Even with my infinite energy, it'll be difficult to win in a head-on fight.'
He didn't suffer much damage thanks to his strengthened body, but he realized once again that a Sacred Blood was a very troublesome opponent.
'Well, I achieved my initial goal, so it's fine.'
The enemy also had to pay the price for being distracted.
Crackle— Swoosh—!
Blood splattered in the air again.
"Gah!"
At the same time as he counterattacked Harley, Visque's neck was half torn off by Briki's hand.
His wound also healed quickly, but the balance of power between the Sacred Bloods, which had been tilted in one direction, was now closer to even.
"Lord Visque—!"
"H-how dare he!"
From Harley's charge and intrusion to Visque's injury.
It had all happened in an instant, as it was a battle between those close to the pinnacle.
The True Bloods of Ufersh, who were a step late, finally arrived with pale faces and surrounded Harley.
They couldn't help but be distraught, as their lord had suffered a major injury in an important battle because of the opponent who had slipped through their defenses while they were distracted.
They even considered throwing themselves at Brokoslack's Sacred Blood, but…
"Hahaha! I said hello to your boss, so let's play again!"
But Harley wouldn't let them.
'I've bought some time. And soon…'
He grinned meaningfully and charged at them, bursting into laughter again.
____________________
There were four main battlefields in the war between the two clans.
The Sacred Bloods, whose fight was prolonged by outside interference.
Harley, facing three True Bloods.
Freesia, holding back Theodore Ufersh, the second-in-command of Ufersh.
And the largest battle was here.
The clash between the lower-ranking vampires led by Mulo and Ufersh's elite Purebloods.
"Ugh, they're just Fledglings, why are they so troublesome! Is it the barrier's effect?"
"Even considering that, it doesn't make sense! Brokoslack wasn't this strong!"
The over forty Purebloods were all those who had been recognized for their skills and selected from the Ufersh Clan, which was already known for its strong combat power.
They were all true strong individuals who could perfectly handle their power and showed even greater potential.
But they were being pushed back by opponents who were mostly Fledglings, even though there was one True Blood among them.
They, who didn't know about Heinz's "Refined Blood Essence", could only think it was the barrier's effect.
'Ugh, was Mulo Brokoslack this strong? To think he can do this much with just a little over ten Purebloods and less than fifty Fledglings?'
Klein, the red-haired vampire, gritted his teeth and slashed at the body of a Fledgling charging at him.
But he couldn't instantly kill him because of his durability that surpassed that of a Fledgling, and his follow-up attack also failed because of interference from the side.
The injured Fledgling quickly retreated to the rear, regenerated his body, and then rejoined the battle.
This was happening all over the battlefield, and they couldn't find a way to deal with it.
And on top of that, there was Mulo, the mage, supporting his allies and controlling the battlefield…
They could only hope that Visque Ufersh would win and endure.
And that wasn't good news for Klein.
'No! If that happens, even if we win, the damage will be too great. Then I…'
What was the biggest reason why things had come to this?
He couldn't blame Brokoslack's Sacred Blood because there was no way they could have predicted it.
But what about that monster who was currently entangled with three True Bloods?
Who was the one who caused him to barge into this battlefield?
It was Klein, himself.
'If this continues, I'm finished. I have to do something.'
It was frustrating that he had just followed Theodore's orders, but there was no room for excuses now that he had been specifically targeted.
He couldn't avoid responsibility anymore, but he had to do something to at least lighten his punishment…
'Huh?'
At that moment, Klein sensed something strange.
He was definitely in the middle of the battlefield, but the enemies were avoiding him as if they couldn't see him.
Even his companions who were fighting nearby didn't seem to notice his situation.
"What the—!"
He reached out to an enemy passing by, but…
His hand just passed through the air, without any effect.
He was literally alone in a crowd.
The moment he realized that he was isolated from the outside,
"Yes, it's you."
He heard a stranger's voice.
Someone was speaking to him from behind in a cold tone.
Without any presence or energy.
Like a ghost.
'Ugh, who is it…!'
He tried to turn around, but he couldn't move his body or even open his mouth to speak.
Those around him were still ignoring him and continuing their own battles.
"How dare you…"
A chilling feeling crept up his neck, and the stranger's voice continued amidst the fear of the unknown.
"…Touch our Hubert."
An unexpected statement.
'…Hubert?'
And as he was flustered by the familiar name coming from the stranger's mouth,
Stab!
Sharp nails emerged in front of his chest.
"Gah—!"
Blood spurted from Klein's mouth.
The opponent's bloodsucking factor spread through his body like poison, destroying his heart.
And his blood, robbed of its control, was being sucked into the hand that pierced his heart.
"Can…ni…bal…ism…!"
Klein, who was able to move his body as the paralysis was lifted the moment he was hit, muttered and slowly turned around.
A vampire with pale skin, black hair, and glowing red eyes.
His presence, which he could only feel now that they were facing each other, was at least that of a True Blood.
"Ah…"
Klein sensed his death as his body slowly withered.
His life, which he had struggled through, flashed before his eyes, and regret, resignation, and questions filled his mind.
The identity of the opponent who appeared inside the barrier without warning, the cannibalism he casually performed, the ability that isolated him from the outside and subdued him…
There were many unanswered questions, but the biggest question that tormented him was just one.
"W-who… who the hell… is Hubert…"
The beginning and the cause of all this.
Just who was that merchant that such monsters were coming after him one after another?!
Was he a hidden prince of a country or something?
No, even if he was a prince, did it make sense for a Dragonborn and a vampire of this level to go this far for revenge…
But unfortunately, he didn't have much time left.
His body, which had been gradually turning to ashes from the extremities, was finally completely covered.
Poof—
And so, Klein turned to ashes and disappeared, along with his worries.
He couldn't even solve his last question.
"Who is Hubert?"
But as if to answer his question, the mysterious vampire muttered softly and fell into thought.
And the conclusion he reached…
"Well, a talent who will rule the continent's commerce in the future?"
Heinz the Second chuckled softly, his tone playful.
Of course, it was a joke.
For now.