Episode 127 Sacred Blood (2)
"······."
"Ugh, this is useless."
Harley grumbled, smacking his lips in disappointment.
There was no law in the world that said only vampires could suck blood.
He also had "Voracity", and he was quite skilled at eating.
So he was able to steal a large amount of blood, the source of their power, while fighting the True Bloods, but the effect wasn't as good as he thought.
'Well, come to think of it, Harley had already obtained enough vampire genes.'
He had consumed a large amount of Heinz the Second's evolved blood, which could be considered top-grade, so he was able to hunt monsters with a certain level of strength from the beginning.
It meant that there wasn't much he could gain from ordinary vampire blood now.
'True Bloods are a different story, but… Anyway, it doesn't suit me. Monster magic stones are the best for Harley.'
The bloodsucking factor and blood magic power were powers specialized for vampires.
To fully utilize their abilities, he would need to transform most of his body similarly…
'But that would decrease the efficiency of life force and "Bio-Aura".'
For Harley, who grew by piecing together only the necessary genes, the vampire's power, which required him to maintain a certain framework, was a restriction.
Why would he do that when he could become stronger more easily in other ways?
"······."
"Hmm, I'm quite satisfied. It definitely feels different, sucking the blood of a True Blood."
But on the contrary, Heinz stroked his chin with a satisfied expression.
This was his first time sucking a True Blood's blood, and the progress was beyond his expectations.
'I've consumed True Blood level vampires on Earth, but it feels different, perhaps because it's blood from the same dimension.'
It was worth giving five stars as an appetizer.
He was looking forward to the main course that would follow.
Of course, many vampires noticed Heinz's cannibalism…
'But it doesn't matter now.'
Who would dare question Heinz?
Rather, it only added to their fear and awe, as it meant he had overcome the mental contamination that was the reason behind the taboo.
And such emotions could even be helpful for ruling.
"······."
"Hmm—? I wondered what kind of child the new Lord would be, but you're different from what I expected. How should I put it, you're amazing in many ways!"
"Thank you for the compliment. You're Brokoslack, the Sacred Blood, right?"
"Call me Briki. I like that name better."
"Okay, Briki. You can call me Heinz."
"Heinz! It sounds delicious. That's a compliment, of course."
And thanks to Briki's unexpected reaction, Heinz was able to have a friendly conversation with her and build a rapport.
'I thought she would be hostile towards Heinz because he took over the entire clan.'
She was being friendly, not hostile.
It was too obvious for his sensitive avatars to miss, even if she was pretending because of the current situation.
'But she's a Sacred Blood who has lived for thousands of years, so I should be wary.'
Of course, not right now.
She wasn't in a position to do anything to him.
Crackle—!
Heinz subtly turned his gaze and looked at the one facing her.
"······."
Visque Ufersh, the white-haired, white-eyed vampire who had been silently frowning.
"Kkahahahat—! Hey, mister, relax your face, I'm not going to eat you. Ah, of course, I'm the only one who thinks that. I don't know what my friend here thinks!"
"Oh my, I thought so earlier, but you're such a dependable child. Heinz, is he your friend?"
"We met through business. We're currently on friendly terms."
"Ah, I'm Harley! I'm currently active in Tarak, Tulk Kingdom."
"I'm Briki. Come to think of it, I haven't even thanked you for helping me earlier. You were a great help."
"Don't mention it!"
The chatter began again.
Briki, Harley, and Heinz the Second had a friendly conversation, surrounding one person, in the space filled with sparks.
Only Visque Ufersh, the ostracized one, was gritting his teeth and trembling with his fists clenched.
'Uh, this feels like we're bullying someone...'
He felt a bit uncomfortable, as if he was doing something wrong.
They were the ones who were attacked first, and the invaders were them!
"Hmm, it seems like we've wasted too much time. Shall we finish this?"
"Ah— Good! I need to get back too!"
Heinz spoke, and Harley agreed.
He had only been pressuring Visque to weaken him, but it seemed better to just finish him off quickly.
And so… Visque Ufersh's lonely struggle began, as his subordinates were all killed or subdued, leaving him alone.
____________________
Clang—!
A shockwave spread in all directions as Heinz's sword, made of blood, clashed with Visque's whip.
"Gasp!"
At the same time, spiderweb-like cuts appeared all over Heinz's body, and a thick blood mist rose.
His regenerative ability, which was usually incredibly fast thanks to "Super Regeneration", was severely hindered, and he couldn't immediately recover the lost blood.
Crackle— Swoosh—!
And Visque's left arm was severed with a spark, then flew back and reattached itself as if time was rewinding.
The blood that spurted from his severed arm gathered in the air, forming a sharp saw blade, and flew towards Harley, who was charging from behind.
It struck down like lightning.
Crack!
And mercilessly tore apart the scales covering both his hands.
But Harley didn't even flinch as his palms were shredded, and he gripped it tightly—.
"Kkahahahat!"
And tore it apart in both directions.
His hands were covered in blood because his regenerative ability was hindered, but he didn't care and continued to charge forward.
Crackle— Splat!
And another large hole appeared in Visque's body before healing.
At that moment, Heinz, who had approached like a ghost, swung his sword at high speed, using "Acceleration".
The attack was blocked by a blood curtain that suddenly appeared, but it left a deep wound.
And Harley's fist, which followed immediately, struck the center, creating a large hole.
Heinz's blood blade, shot through the broken curtain as if waiting for it.
Their combination, flowing naturally as if they were one, was simply amazing.
Visque, who was facing them, was frustrated, but…
He barely managed to deflect it with his transcendental reflexes, but his right eye exploded with a spark.
It had already happened several times.
"Kraaagh! You insignificant insects who wouldn't even be a match for me one-on-one! How dare you gang up on me!"
"Oh my—? Didn't someone say that exploiting the opponent's weakness was the way of the world? Did they go home?"
Briki grinned and provoked him again as he vented his frustration.
His body was repeatedly being destroyed and restored every time he did something, and the gap between them was gradually closing.
And finally,
Boom—!
"Gah!"
"Ahahat! Finally got him!"
Harley's fist started to land on his body.
Swoosh!
"Indeed, even while being cut, you're recovering all the spilled blood. Blood control worthy of a Sacred Blood. I want it."
Heinz's blade started to cut him.
Briki, who was exhausted from the long battle, couldn't do more than just keep him in check, but Visque's condition was worse than hers, so it didn't matter.
And after a while,
The end everyone had expected finally arrived.
"Ah, no… I'm going to be the king of all vampires! I can't die here like this…!"
Visque Ufersh cried out in frustration, facing his imminent death.
"Don't worry. I'll inherit your will."
Heinz the Second, who was about to forcibly steal… no, inherit his will, faced him.
"Now I am the king of vampires."
Crack!
"Ugh!"
A pair of sharp fangs finally pierced Visque's nape.
"Ugh… You arrogant Lord of Brokoslack. Not even trying to inherit the Sacred Blood properly through the established procedures, but trying to forcibly steal it through cannibalism…? And from another clan's Sacred Blood? Do you think that's possible?"
But even as his blood started to be rapidly sucked out through his neck, he didn't stop mocking his opponent.
"You'll die with me…! Just like all those who tried to inherit the Sacred Blood before!"
He cursed Heinz with a weak voice, having lost even the strength to resist.
Even he, Visque, who had challenged it after eliminating as many risk factors as possible with the help of his predecessors, was only able to succeed after experiencing countless life-or-death crises.
There was no way it would be possible without any safety measures!
'I don't know how he's enduring the mental contamination and committing cannibalism, but that alone isn't enough!'
This wasn't just a matter of mental contamination, it was a dangerous ritual that could lead to death just by attempting it if you weren't qualified.
So he would soon die.
He had to.
…But?
'Why… is he still fine?'
He had already lost a considerable amount of blood, and his eyes were getting heavy, but the opponent's actions didn't change.
No, he was just mindlessly sucking his blood as if in a trance.
Poof—
Eventually, Visque could feel the extremities of his body turning to ashes and crumbling.
His mind was also becoming hazy, and his thoughts were being cut off.
'Ah, ah— Don't tell me. This guy, this guy… can really inherit the Sacred Blood of another clan…?'
He felt all his power being drained from his body, and he finally realized in his hazy state of mind.
-Don't worry. I'll inherit your will. Now I am the king of vampires.
That there wasn't a single ounce of bluff in those words.
He had also dreamed of becoming a king and even called himself one, but he knew it was impossible for him.
At most, he would be a colonial governor forcibly placed in power.
But…
A Sacred Blood was the progenitor and the origin of a bloodline, something that couldn't be usurped without proper procedures.
Then what did it mean that he could accept it regardless of bloodline?
"Whew— Ah, and don't worry too much about the Ufersh Clan. They will also be able to continue their lineage under me, along with Brokoslack."
Heinz muttered softly after finally finishing sucking his blood and detaching himself from his neck.
He meant it as a taunt, but Visque, who was no longer in his right mind, took it differently.
'Uniting all the clans… the center that will unite all vampires. The only king… who can lead us to the light…'
As a declaration of candidacy for the vampire king, something he had only vaguely dreamed of!
He quietly trembled as he felt his consciousness fading.
He couldn't help but laugh.
He didn't even know if it was out of absurdity, anticipation, or something else.
…He didn't have the strength to think anymore.
And so, 'Visque Ufersh', the Lord of the Ufersh Clan, turned to ashes and scattered.
'What? Why is he suddenly laughing? Does he have another trick up his sleeve?'
Of course, the sight of him suddenly accepting death with a meaningful smile after cursing relentlessly only made Heinz feel uneasy.
'Well, maybe he was happy that the clan's lineage would continue. Or maybe he realized the futility of life right before death.'
That wasn't important right now.
He didn't have the energy to care about anything else because of the message that had been appearing before his eyes and the feeling of his insides boiling.
《You have sucked the blood of a higher rank. The individual's bloodsucking factor starts to exceed its limit due to the influence of the special skill "Hybrid Evolution".》
His bloodsucking factor itself didn't change because he had already acquired the Ufersh Clan's factor.
But the aftereffects of his inherent level increasing explosively were more intense than any evolution he had felt before.
'Ugh— If it hadn't been for "Hybrid Evolution", I would have died.'
Visque's immense karma and level, transmitted through the blood he sucked, were expanding his body as if to burst it.
And "Hybrid Evolution" was forcibly drawing it in and using it as nutrients to evolve his bloodsucking factor.
It had nothing to do with him being born with the destiny of a king or having a special bloodline, as Visque had thought before he died.
He was just forcibly evolving with the help of various skills.
But in the end, all roads lead to Rome, right?
《The individual meets the conditions and grows. The special skill "Blood Kin (True Blood)" evolves into "Blood Kin (Sacred Blood)".》
And so, Heinz the Second's bloodsucking factor, which had evolved to its limit, finally broke through that limit.
And a new Sacred Blood vampire was born in Auterica.