Chapter 240

Chapter 240
## Chapter 240

Zepia Republic (3)

The initial move made by Heinz the Second involved evaluating the defensive wall encompassing the estate.

Through the application of “Insight” paired with his heightened perceptions, he dismantled the architecture of the barrier, while “Blood Mystery” began generating analytical conclusions.

‘A intricate formation rooted in blood sorcery. Woven with immense sophistication.’

“Blood Mystery” had been forged by merging the blood sorcery of Auterica with esoteric lore gathered from alternative realms.

It encompassed limitless potential and maintained an unparalleled dominance over any incantations tied to the element of ‘blood’.

To him, elaborate formations presented no real difficulty.

Regardless of how meticulously crafted they might be, they paled in comparison to the multi-dimensional sorcery he had encountered back on Earth.

‘They clearly invested substantial effort into this, however… ’

It amounted to nothing in his eyes.

While Heinz quietly scrutinized the defensive wall, Hans, who had been deeply engrossed in his investigations within the Immortal Fortress, paused his tasks for a brief moment to assist.

Utilizing his capabilities, including “Path of Magic”, he began interpreting the diagnostic data relayed by “Blood Mystery”.

‘Inverted phases layered upon one another. Its structural integrity is undeniable. To dismantle this, the approach requires… ’

He swiftly decoded the fundamental nature of the fortification and formulated a method to bypass it.

‘The conventional tactic involves striking the central nexus buried deep within, yet alternative routes exist.’

Namely, fracturing identical coordinates on both the interior and exterior faces of the barrier simultaneously.

In theory, executing this was nearly impossible, given that internal communications were entirely severed and calculating the precise spot from a single vantage point was unfeasible, yet…

Such minor complications posed no true hindrance to his capabilities.

“The expenditure of vital force will be substantial… fortunately, the harvest along the journey here was plentiful.”

Heinz offered a subtle nod, his serene demeanor remaining entirely unruffled.

Following this, multiple streams of crimson fluid erupted from his upturned palm, which he had elevated to the level of his chest.

Drip—

The deep red fluid shifted and intertwined, spiraling and condensing into a ruby-colored sphere the size of a fist under the precise guidance of “Blood Mystery”.

This served as a conductor saturated with the essence of blood sorcery, identical to the token he had previously transferred to Hesperon.

‘A pair of additional spheres ought to suffice. The raw destructive potential is somewhat minor on its own, but this merely serves as the opening signal.’

Once three distinct spheres had been manifested, the primary operation commenced.

He materialized Hugo, his sole unassigned manifestation, entrusted the spheres to his care, and directed him to breach the perimeter of the barrier.

The goal was to locate the internal point of alignment via this manifestation, whose sensory perceptions he directly shared.

“Phew.”

Hugo, who had evolved into a multi-purpose assistant on Earth, was steadily refining his domestic management capabilities through the utilization of his “Jack-of-All-Trades” attribute.

He stepped past the boundary of the fortification while carrying the spheres that resonated with the presence of Heinz, deploying one against a specific target area inside.

Rumble—

The outcome matched his calculations.

A potent surge of blood sorcery triggered, sending tremors through the defensive wall, though it was swiftly neutralized and faded into nothingness.

From the exterior perspective, not a single disturbance was visible.

“…Located.”

Nevertheless, that solitary trial provided Heinz with everything needed to identify the exact coordinates, having closely monitored the threads of cause and effect rippling through the estate.

Goooo—

He steadily extended his right hand, zeroing in on the intended mark.

A massive volume of crimson fluid was extracted from his fingertips, and a monumental wave of sorcerous energy welled up, blending with the fluid and compressing tightly.

‘No room for delay. Let us begin.’

A deep red sphere roughly the size of a basketball, vibrating with volatile pressure, manifested directly before his right palm.

Then, precisely as the secondary blood sorcery incantation detonated from within the perimeter—

Rumble— Boom—!

He discharged a concentrated torrent of crimson brilliance, reminiscent of a dragon’s breath, impacting the precise coordinates at the exact microsecond required.

Rumble!

The estate itself stayed unharmed, a stark contrast to the surrounding terrain which was pulverized by the residual shockwave.

Even so, Heinz detected the structural deformation and the emerging fractures spreading across the fortification through his “Insight”.

“It possesses remarkable resilience.”

This resistance occurred because the energy of the sphere lacked the capacity to obliterate the internal strata of the defense, impacting merely the outer segments, yet…

He had never anticipated a total collapse from a solitary strike.

‘An expected outcome, given the indirect nature of the assault. I foresaw this variable.’

In contrast to the initial strike which had undergone instantaneous restoration, the fortification was now severely compromised, its self-healing capabilities heavily impeded.

This opened the exact window of opportunity he had been anticipating.

Goooo—

A manifestation of light far more radiant and devastating than the initial beam from his right hand erupted from his left palm, targeting the identical coordinate.

It slammed into the compromised sector, infused with the manipulation of causality,

Simultaneously, by vibrating in perfect harmony with the resonance of his ‘own internal sorcerous energy’ exploding from the inside, it warped the structural integrity of the barrier from both flanks.

Kaboom——!

Unable to endure the concentrated strain, the defensive perimeter collapsed entirely.

A thunderous detonation, far eclipsing any prior noise, vibrated through the immediate environment.

‘Proceeding precisely as calculated.’

He had drained a notable quantity of internal reserves adjusting the threads of causality, yet the outcome left him satisfied.

A massive breach, wide enough for a transport wagon to pass through, had been torn directly through the estate, originating from the main entrance where he stood.

‘So that is… ’

With the fortification shattered, Heinz dispelled Hugo from existence and shifted his attention toward the elderly figure resting quietly at the termination of the path, wearing an uneasy countenance.

Instinct provided the answer.

This individual was Obaifo, the progenitor of the Obaifo Clan and one of the pristine Sacred Bloods.

Gratified by this direct and impactful confrontation, Heinz advanced toward him with measured steps.

“At last, our paths cross.”

Upon hearing the greeting, the elderly man slowly shifted his gaze to face the intruder.

His initially alarmed demeanor was rapidly replaced by a carefully manufactured facade of neutrality, though the slight twitching of his mouth betrayed his inner agitation.

“Pardon the forceful entry. The master of the house appeared hard of hearing, leaving me with no alternative but to improvise.”

The elderly man’s expression contorted further under the weight of these words.

The deliberate goading had clearly achieved its intended effect.

Heinz the Second offered a freezing smirk, observing the sorcerous energy of Obaifo erupt and radiate fiercely around his form.

His posture remained utterly self-assured and dismissive, openly inviting the elder to unleash whatever hidden strategies he might be harboring.

—

The twelve primordial lineages.

In an era long past— when the Sacred Bloods, including figures such as Obaifo, Ufersh, and Brokoslack, initially came into being.

A mere twelve vampires walked the world.

As eras rolled by, vampires multiplied across the territories, and the distinct factions bearing the titles of each Sacred Blood began to materialize.

They transformed into an established race, seamlessly embedding themselves within the global order.

‘Yet in the current era, memories of that epoch have vanished from common knowledge.’

Obaifo stood as one of those primordial Sacred Bloods.

His lifespan was calculated to exceed ten thousand winters.

Unlike the ancient dragons, whose cognitive endurance and flawless recollection scaled alongside their centuries, vampires did not possess the same psychological permanence.

Granted, they were exalted entities existing far above common mortals, yet even their minds faced fundamental boundaries when confronted with the weight of infinite time.

On average, the Sacred Bloods retained a cohesive grasp of their individual identity for roughly two millennia.

Past that threshold, various individuals began losing their recollections, causing their collective presence to diminish.

Certain members succumbed to psychological instability, acting erratically until they were tracked down and eliminated.

Others were decimated by furious dragons after targeting their offspring for sustenance.

Some were eradicated by holy factions for neglecting to obscure their operations.

A few chose absolute self-destruction, finding themselves unable to sustain the psychological weight of an endless existence.

It was entirely logical that the count of Sacred Bloods had dwindled from the primordial twelve.

‘My choice was to systematically purge all recollections older than the preceding ten centuries to safeguard my sanity. Brokoslack opted for extended periods of dormancy akin to dragons to minimize his conscious existence, while Ufersh sought survival by fragmenting his essence and memories, dispersing them into alternative vessels.’

Consequently, the historical data Obaifo held regarding ancient eras did not stem from personal recollection, but was instead data he had pieced together down the line through historical investigation.

Exchanging vibrant, lived experiences for cold, recorded chronicles.

Through this methodology, he had managed to endure into the modern era.

However, as the overarching dominance of the Sacred Bloods diminished, their respective factions similarly experienced periods of prosperity and decay, their destinies bound together.

Those factions stripped of their guiding Sacred Blood disintegrated at a catastrophic pace.

It was during that era of decline that a specific aspiration began to form within Obaifo’s mind.

…Or perhaps it had occupied his thoughts from the very beginning.