Chapter 126

Chapter 126
## Chapter 126

Sacred Blood (1)

《A new vampiric trait has been acquired. The host’s physical capabilities have upgraded as a result of the unique ability “Hybrid Evolution.”》

Heinz gently rubbed his jawline as the notification materialized in his field of vision.

‘This marks the initial activation since arriving in Auterica.’

“Hybrid Evolution” was an attribute designed to drive advancement by absorbing diverse vampiric elements. Consequently, it functioned as an ability tailored precisely for Earth, a realm where vampires from countless dimensions cross paths.

Because this was his initial instance of draining a vampire outside the lineage of the Brokoslack bloodline, the skill triggered. However, the resulting transformation was modest, likely because both lineages originated from the identical dimension.

Even so, any progress was beneficial.

“Well then, shall we begin?”

With Heinz rejoining the fray, the conflict was essentially decided.

‘The current forces of Ufersh are far too massive to integrate immediately. I must pare down their numbers to ensure a seamless consolidation later.’

Granted, they lacked the capacity to defy him while under the influence of “Refined Blood Essence,” but bolstering Brokoslack to oversee them would make administrative duties far more manageable.

‘Furthermore, I need to restore the stores of Blood Essence depleted during my confrontation with the Mad Dragon. Intraclan consumption certainly has its merits.’

Ultimately, this would provide excellent sustenance for the individuals destined to serve under him.

Heinz lightly ran his tongue over his lips, resembling a diner anticipating a grand banquet, before silently slipping into the chaotic skirmish.

Relying on a combination of “Concealment,” “Invisibility,” and the refined arts of “Blood Mystery,” his movements remained entirely undetected.

By the time members of the Ufersh Clan sensed the shifting tide, the damage was already irreparable.

This unseen disruption quickly began to ripple outward, impacting adjacent areas of the battlefield.

—

The location where Freesia Brokoslack and Theodore Ufersh were locked in combat.

Boom—!

The point of a parasol charged with dense blood energy thrust forward with lethal speed. The instant he deflected the strike, her legs—ended by razor-sharp heels—lashed out like whips through the air.

Narrowly evading the blow, Theodore retaliated with a sharp whip of compressed blood, forcing Freesia to give ground. His expression darkened considerably.

Holding the firm belief that he reigned supreme among contemporary True Bloods, he possessed the tactical awareness to realize her current martial output was temporarily inflated by the active boundary.

Yet, having clashed directly with her concussive power, swift reflexes, and precise manipulation of blood energy multiple times, he was forced to concede to the reality before him.

‘Even with the assistance of an external reservoir, this surpasses standard logic. Her proficiency across every metric is multiple tiers above my projections. The Brokoslack Clan should not possess this level of martial excellence.’

He had previously calculated that even Mulo Brokoslack, the preceding leader, would fail to endure against him for long. It was deeply aggravating to find himself checked by Freesia, whom he had relegated to an inferior rank.

Unfortunately, the pressing crisis left him no luxury to dwell on wounded vanity.

‘What is causing this sudden descent into chaos? What exactly is occurring out there?!’

The Purebloods under his command, who had maintained a solid defense initially, were now collapsing without offering meaningful resistance.

Though he could not discern the exact catalyst due to the intensity of his duel, their active ranks had visibly plummeted.

‘At what point did our vanguard fracture to this extent?’

The rapid succession of anomalous variables was inducing a severe headache.

Worse still, he identified a highly bizarre pattern in the enemy’s movements. Under the direct guidance of Mulo, the Brokoslack forces were systematically incapacitating the remaining Ufersh Purebloods, who now numbered less than half.

‘What is their underlying objective? Are they attempting to secure live captives to leverage during terms of surrender?’

Despite the grim outlook, Theodore maintained a singular ray of hope.

He was banking entirely on the prospect of Visque Ufersh emerging victorious in the clash between the Sacred Bloods.

Should that occur, the current tactical paradigm would instantly invert.

Perhaps the enemy was taking these measures to insulate themselves against that exact outcome?

Yet, precisely as he entertained these comforting projections,

Chill—

An icy, treacherous sensation washed over him, a distinct warning that an apex predator had locked onto him.

Forcing his way past Freesia’s relentless assault, he leaped backward, fixing a wary gaze toward the exact point his instincts flagged.

“An impressive sensory reaction. Defeating you outright won’t be entirely straightforward, it seems.”

Recognizing that his presence had been detected, the newcomer abandoned all attempts at stealth.

A figure coalesced in midair where his attention was anchored, manifesting as silently as an apparition.

Theodore found the countenance entirely unfamiliar.

“Lord! Your arrival is most timely!”

However, Freesia’s immediate exclamation allowed him to deduce the entity’s rank instantly.

“…The reigning Lord of the Brokoslack Clan?”

The enigmatic figure who had engineered a coup to depose Mulo Brokoslack, subsequently binding the entire clan’s operational strength—including the former leader—to his absolute will.

Only now did the full scope of the disaster dawn on him, causing him to grind his teeth in fury.

Simultaneously, Heinz the Second, the architect of this engineered upheaval, calmly evaluated his target.

‘So this is Theodore Ufersh. The individual currently serving as the second-in-command for the Ufersh Clan.’

He had arrived at this sector after a brief consultation with Mulo while overseeing the neutralization of the Purebloods.

During that exchange, he had gathered relevant intelligence on the commander. To put it plainly, the man occupied a bureaucratic echelon identical to Mulo’s former station.

He was the executive who managed administrative functions directly beneath the absolute authority of the Sacred Blood.

In short, he represented an asset that required subjugation to ensure the efficient absorption of the Ufersh Clan.

‘Securing Brokoslack was vastly streamlined due to Mulo’s cooperation. Given that Ufersh operates on a larger scale, retaining an experienced administrator is mandatory.’

As an enterprise expands, the necessity for competent subordinates scales accordingly.

Having assumed the mantle of absolute leadership, he could no longer squander time micro-managing minor operational details.

“Indeed, I am the Lord of the Brokoslack Clan.”

Heinz offered a faint, calculated smile, the corners of his mouth curving slightly upward.

He signaled his approval with a brief nod as Mulo neared their position, having successfully concluded his prior assignments.

“Furthermore, I shall shortly assume ownership of you as well.”

“Absurd arrogance…!”

The mandate of a sovereign was to steer organizational policy correctly while leveraging the capabilities of efficient vassals.

That defined the monarchical philosophy he intended to practice.

He viewed himself as a magnanimous ruler, willing to absorb and elevate exceptional talents even from adversarial factions.

“I am oblivious to whatever schemes you have concocted, but this path ends—”

“Mulo, Freesia.”

“”We await your command, Lord!””

“Subdue him.”

Naturally, securing the explicit assent of the target during the recruitment phase was entirely optional.

He was, after all, the king.

—

The trio of Ufersh True Bloods locked in a fierce exchange with Harley quickly perceived that their theater of war was deteriorating rapidly.

The realization was unavoidable; the equilibrium of individual engagements across the wider battlefield had shattered simultaneously, bringing the conflict to a swift conclusion.

“Kkahahahat! This interlude was amusing, but all good things must end! Let us bring down the curtain, comrades!”

The True Bloods traded urgent glances in response to the mocking declaration.

Remaining stationary until Brokoslack managed to redirect its main force to this sector would guarantee their absolute destruction.

They were left with a singular, high-risk alternative.

“Advance!”

“Haa—!”

A pair of them lunged toward Harley in unison.

They moved with the grim fatalism of sacrifices intending to buy precious time.

Conversely, the individual among them who boasted the highest defensive resilience abstained from the counteroffensive, redirecting his flight directly toward the barrier isolating the Sacred Bloods.

Crackle—!

An atmospheric zone saturated with volatile energy discharges, cascading mental pressure, and erratic electrical arcs loomed ahead.

Even a combatant like Harley, possessing amplified defensive traits, risked being torn asunder upon crossing into that domain.

Sustaining catastrophic trauma was a statistical certainty.

‘With my departure from the front line, the remaining pair attempting to restrain that anomaly will inevitably collapse shortly.’

This maneuver effectively neutralized the combat efficacy of three True Bloods.

Even if Visque Ufersh held a temporary advantage, an intervention by Harley could jeopardize that victory, which explained his prior hesitation.

However, judging by the rapid disintegration of their external forces, awaiting a conventional turnaround was no longer viable.

Action was required. He had to proceed.

Steeling his resolve, he prepared to breach the perimeter of the Sacred Bloods’ domain, his form completely enveloped in a dense shroud of blood and active magic power.

“I cannot allow you to proceed further.”

“…What?”

An entity closed the distance from his flank at an incomprehensible velocity, intercepting him mid-stride while his focus remained fixed ahead.

And then…

Boom—!

A tremendous kinetic impact struck his side, sending his form hurtling laterally across the terrain before skidding to a halt.

“Ugh, you bastard…!”

Predictably, the source of the interruption was none other than…

Heinz the Second, the variable disruptive element who continued to materialize across disparate sectors, leaving a trail of tactical devastation in his wake.

“The engagement inside remains the centerpiece of the evening. I prefer to let it simmer properly before intervening.”

The statement sounded entirely enigmatic to the defender.

The True Blood surveyed his surroundings, but the tactical landscape remained bleak.

The macro-engagement involving the Purebloods had concluded, and it appeared Theodore Ufersh had already been rendered incapacitated.

“Kkahahahat! Where do you think you are going? Return here! Let us share another bout!”

“Ugh! You unhinged abomination!”

“How unfair! Your faction is permitted to indulge, yet I am denied?!”

Deprived of his defensive support, the remaining pair of True Bloods stood no chance of enduring against the monstrous warrior for long.

‘An alternative measure must be executed.’

He needed to disrupt the current momentum before total capitulation occurred.

As he scrambled to engineer a tactical opening…

“In all candor, the sheer volume of True Bloods within Ufersh is somewhat excessive. While a robust roster of high-tier combatants is useful, an overabundance risks structural factionalism later.”

A quiet, measured voice reached his ears, conveying sentiments he found entirely baffling.

“Consequently… prior to consuming the Sacred Blood, utilizing a single True Blood as a preliminary course seems quite appropriate, wouldn’t you agree?”

Following those words…

Accompanied by a predatory chuckle, Heinz’s fangs glinted ominously in the dim light.

—

Visque Ufersh had successfully re-established his dominance over Briki, navigating past the initial disruption caused by Harley’s uninvited entry.

Given that she had commenced the duel below peak operational efficiency, the exchange of blows ultimately favored him over an extended duration.

Regrettably, that advantage belonged to the past.

Maintaining tactical composure grew increasingly difficult amidst the catastrophic shifts occurring outside his immediate duel.

“Oh dear, it appears your concentration is beginning to fracture?”

“…Silence.”

“You were quite vocal earlier, labeling me a relic of a bygone era. Your current reticence is rather stark. Has an issue arisen within your household?”

“Brokoslack…”

His brow furrowed deeply as he ground his molars together.

The gesture broadcasted his profound irritation, yet his immediate options within this space remained severely restricted.

Whether he attempted to extricate his failing subordinates or sought to breach the surrounding boundary to escape independently, either course of action would demand a massive expenditure of his core energy.

Furthermore, the adversary confronting him was far too vigilant to permit the luxury of such an opening.

‘What catalyzed this rapid descent into ruin? How did this transpire…?’

Every phase of the initiative had proceeded flawlessly throughout the planning stages.

He had meticulously verified the intelligence channeled through the Oath of Heaven’s Defiance, deploying a detachment calculated to easily overwhelm the enemy’s projected ceiling.

The intent was an efficient, casualty-free annexation of this critical outpost.

‘The operational parameters were intentionally oversized, yet what explains this outcome?’

Faced with a mounting crisis, Visque’s cognitive faculties accelerated, systematically reviewing the unfolding disaster.

The analysis yielded five distinct determinations.

First, the presence of Sacred Blood Brokoslack at this location was entirely unanticipated.

Second, the baseline combat efficiency of the Brokoslack Clan exceeded prior intelligence reports.

Third, an unclassified anomaly had infiltrated the theater as a direct consequence of Theodore’s flawed tactical choices.

Fourth, the operational capacity of the current Brokoslack Lord surpassed reasonable projections.

Finally, the fifth point…

‘Where are the operatives from the Oath of Heaven’s Defiance who pledged immediate intervention should complications arise?!’

The current situation epitomized a critical complication, yet the very organization that had initiated the proposal was conspicuously absent.

If this trajectory persisted, both he and the Ufersh Clan faced absolute annihilation.

‘Could they have severed ties? Is this entire scenario a calculated ambush? Was Ufersh engineered to fall from the start?’

Ultimately, Visque found himself steered toward that grim deduction.

For reasons unknown, the organization must have discarded him in favor of an alliance with the Brokoslack Clan.

Contrary to his dark theories, however, the Oath of Heaven’s Defiance had indeed dispatched a relief force.

The contingent consisted of highly capable elites well-suited to alter the course of the engagement.

Unfortunately, that relief detachment had failed to breach the outer perimeters of the capital, let alone approach the estate of the Bright ducal lineage.

The obstacle preventing their advance was similarly straightforward.

[Hehehe! To think you would hand yourselves over directly saves me an immense amount of tracking.]

“Ugh! What business does the Immortal King have here…!”

Their advance had been compromised by Immortal King Hans, who was keeping a protective watch over Talaria.

A group exceeding twenty individuals lay confined within a localized boundary, enveloped by dark, twisting tendrils on the earth, entirely stripped of consciousness.

Utilizing the perceptive power of the “Abyssal Eye,” Hans ensured that no entities aligned with malice could navigate past his vigilance undetected.

To review the calculus: while Briki represented the primary catalyst for Ufersh’s undoing, the second through fifth structural failures were entirely attributable to the machinations of a singular individual.

Of course, that reality remained completely hidden from every participant on the battlefield.