Chapter 295

Chapter 295
## Chapter 295

War Preparations (2)

In the theater of conflict, intelligence was the ultimate currency.

Uncovering the strategy of the adversary—precisely when, where, and through what means they intended to strike—formed the bedrock of any triumph.

Consequently, espionage networks stretching across the entirety of Auterica stirred into motion, unified by a singular mandate.

Their objective was to dredge up any indication, any scrap of data, regardless of how minor it appeared.

Naturally, not a soul on the planet suspected that this entire global apparatus was being steered by the hands of just one man.

‘The real issue… is the timeline available to me.’

A considerable period had elapsed since the Master of Heaven’s Turn Society departed from Earth.

Yet, his presence had not yet materialized within Auterica…

‘He might have detoured to an alternative destination prior to his arrival… or perhaps breaching the barriers of this reality is proving problematic for him.’

Reflecting on the divine prophecy, the second hypothesis carried greater weight.

Conducting an invasion across dimensional boundaries was an incredibly complex feat.

Nevertheless, he had achieved this breakthrough on multiple prior occasions, meaning he could not be disregarded safely.

Ganghwange was currently enduring severe devastation from the lingering effects of his previous incursion!

‘I must also anticipate his intended target. Where will his focus land the moment he steps into Auterica?’

During his time in Ganghwange, the Master had plundered the Dragon Heart, which served as the nexus for the Dragon Veins—the foundational conduits distributing Ki throughout that realm.

Granted, the metaphysical principles and energetic frameworks varied wildly from one dimension to another, rendering any direct parallel imperfect… yet fundamental commonalities endured.

‘Auterica is devoid of Dragon Veins or Dragon Hearts. But if I contemplate what assets would capture his attention here… ’

Two specific areas surfaced in his thoughts.

The initial candidate was the sacred territory nestled in the heart of the Ion Continent.

While it lacked a tangible, utilitarian application comparable to the Dragon Heart, its profound symbolic weight as the world’s axis and its theological prominence as a realm blessed by the Almighty rendered it a primary objective.

He was required to devise contingencies for such an occurrence, merely to be safe.

As for the alternative…

‘On second thought, this entity bears a far closer resemblance to a Dragon Vein.’

A living manifestation and sacred emblem of a deity anchored upon the terrestrial plane.

The physical confirmation of a celestial phenomenon, preserving life across an entire landmass.

An actual shard of divine essence.

The World Tree.

‘…I need to instruct Harris to implement defensive measures there.’

It appeared the demi-human populations inhabiting the Enamel Continent would be denied a reprieve for the foreseeable future.

—

Even as he concentrated his efforts on safeguarding Auterica, his primary stronghold,

He recognized the impossibility of abandoning Earth to its fate.

After all, Earth was a realm where Heaven’s Turn Society had thoroughly entrenched its operations, effectively rendering it their domain.

He could ill afford to pass up this chance to sabotage their infrastructure, particularly regarding his long-term strategy.

‘Furthermore, this campaign will provide the necessary conditions for Heinz to cultivate greater power ahead of the ultimate confrontation.’

The military progress of Heinz the Second across the European theater was unfolding without a hitch.

Upon making landfall in Italy, he immediately established communication with an operative from Thermidor who had been embedded in the local underground.

While he had been forced to orchestrate every detail personally during his initial campaign in France, the availability of capable agents meant he could bypass the tedious preliminary arrangements entirely.

Moreover, functioning as a competing syndicate in an adjacent territory, Thermidor possessed remarkably detailed intelligence reports concerning Gomorrah, the reigning Italian vampire syndicate.

‘Maximizing productivity is paramount.’

Where he had previously moved with deliberate care, current circumstances permitted no such extravagance.

He was perpetually migrating between Earth and Auterica, utilizing the 「Interdimensional Transfer Formation Summon」 twice every twenty-four hours, while amplifying his administrative output via 「Monarch’s Authority」, his specialized organization management capability.

Due to these relentless efforts.

Boom! Crackle—!

“Forward! Storm the perimeter!”

“Agggh! Have the leadership of Thermidor completely lost their minds?! To launch an assault against our domain?!”

“Clear the thoroughfare! Butcher those pizza-munching bastards!”

“Those French baguette dogs! Eradicate every last one!”

Before forty-eight hours had slipped by, Heinz had successfully closed in on his quarry.

A sprawling estate nestled within the mountainous terrain bordering Naples, a principal metropolis in the south of Italy and the nerve center for Gomorrah.

With his underlings managing the bulk of the tactical deployment, the execution proved vastly more fluid and rapid than the operation launched in France.

Heinz offered a silent nod, his focus locked onto the residence where a formidable, oppressive presence vibrated through the air.

‘Enlisting their services was an excellent tactical choice. Their utility is undeniable.’

He found himself reflecting on how advantageous it would be if he could compel the submission of Gomorrah’s sovereign, mirroring his success with the Tyrant.

Such an outcome would inflict an even greater blow to the authority of Heaven’s Turn Society across Europe.

Penetrating deep into the compound, he at last stood face-to-face with the proprietor of the estate.

“…Unrefined. Forcing entry into a gentlewoman’s residence unannounced.”

The grand, opulent chamber matched the scale of the surrounding architecture.

A statuesque, commanding female figure, her entire presence radiating absolute dominance, observed his arrival.

“I came close to executing the courier who informed me that the Tyrant had bent the knee to some oriental vampire. I dismissed it as falsehood… You have my regrets.”

Cropped dark hair, obsidian eyes framed by heavy cosmetics, dark lipstick matching her polished nails, and intricate markings sprawling across her skin.

The martial matriarch, clad exclusively in dark attire, flexed her powerful musculature as a guttural rumble vibrated in her throat.

‘…A stark contrast to the Tyrant.’

In opposition to the Tyrant, whose combat efficacy relied predominantly on his distinct trait, this matron’s power surged directly from the unadulterated potency of her blood lineage.

She projected the aura of a predator poised to spring forward and sever his limbs.

Furthermore, the sheer magnitude of that internal vitality rivaled the Sacred Bloods he had battled back in Auterica.

‘I entertained the notion that breaking through to transcendence solely via ancestral bloodlines was impossible without employing unorthodox systems… No, that was merely a flaw in my perspective.’

Diverse planes operated on unique systems. It was foolish to assume alternative avenues toward ascension did not exist.

And she represented a fully awakened anomaly, a localized deviation from the standardized constraints of this reality!

The complication lay in the fact that without her voluntary submission, achieving total dominion over her would be an arduous prospect.

‘Even securing the Tyrant was an incredibly narrow victory… I lack the certainty required to regulate a reservoir of blood lineage that vast.’

The potential ramifications of a failed subjugation were entirely unpredictable.

The more secure path involved a total consumption of her essence.

Though it represented a waste of potential, he refused to entertain perilous variables.

‘I shall designate a competent subordinate to assume command, utilizing the Tyrant as an enforcement asset to secure her territory.’

This constituted a viable alternative, given the geographical proximity of France and the Tyrant’s rapid deployment capability via his umbral techniques.

Thus, his immediate task was the rapid elimination of Bestia (Beast), the premier vampire monarch of Italy.

By executing this swiftly, he could position a surrogate leader before the external skirmish spiraled beyond control.

Heinz straightened the lapels of his formal attire and initiated the exchange, his delivery smooth and unperturbed.

“Let us conclude this piece of business. My schedule is demanding.”

“Bwahaha! Your arrogance is magnificent! A considerable duration has passed since a sensation has stirred my blood like this! To discover a competitor matching that Romanian nobleman!”

Crash—!

The instant her declaration ceased,

The uppermost levels of the estate dissolved into nothingness.

Had he neglected to anchor a defensive boundary beforehand, the collateral ruin would have escalated exponentially.

Shockwave—!

“Ahahaha! Formidable! Your strength is absolute!”

“Hmph.”

Bestia, having shifted into a predatory, monstrous manifestation validating her title, lunged straight toward his position.

Her appearance skewed far closer to a lycanthrope than a traditional vampire, yet the distinction was academic. The ancestral blood lineage remained intact within her.

“I cannot permit a feral creature to go around snapping at others.”

Heinz unlocked the entirety of his internal reserves.

Their physical forms collided, the sheer force of their kinetic impacts destabilizing the structural integrity of the entire estate. Their sanguinary sorcery erupted in tandem, conflicting auras grating against one another, warping the localized dimensions and fracturing the surrounding space.

The resulting cataclysm shook the territory, forcing the subordinate vampires to scatter in panic as the architectural marvel collapsed into dust around the combatants.

The conflict endured, showing no signs of abating until the grand manor lay entirely reduced to a field of shattered stone…

“Khhk! Astonishing… It is completely logical that the Tyrant capitulated. Conceivably… I might truly find defeat here…”

“This is the conclusion.”

“Hold your hand! You permitted that French sovereign to serve under your banner, why deny me the same?!”

“…What proposal are you advancing?”

“Heheh… Are you in possession of a vacancy for a loyal hound?”

He had successfully domesticated an unexpectedly compliant beast.

Naturally, she had suffered a more pronounced depletion of her baseline power than the Tyrant during the confrontation, yet the augmentation derived from 「Refined Blood Essence」 more than compensated for the deficit.

《Fresh blood lineage integrated. The subject’s metaphysical footprint gains sharper definition under the guidance of the specialized attribute “Hybrid Evolution”.》

With the resolution of the conflict,

‘Oh? Could this signify…?’

Heinz… or rather, Han Seong-hyeon…

…perceived that an opportunity had arisen to push the development of 「Avatar」 further through the application of 「Unique Skill Enhancement」.

—

Bucharest, the southern metropolis serving as the capital of Romania.

“What prompts an unannounced visit, Doctor?”

The Duke, presiding over the continental European division of Heaven’s Turn Society, received his uninvited contemporary.

“Hyahaha! A matter of immense gravity requires our consultation! My anticipation was too great to delay, hence my immediate transit! The hour is practically upon us!”

He was outfitted in a soiled laboratory coat that clashed violently with the opulent appointments of the manor, his posturing erratic and devoid of refinement as he sprayed saliva with his speech.

In contrast, the Duke, presented immaculately in aristocratic garments, merely knitted his brows and smoothed his facial hair.

Granted that Doctor retained a premier status within the Master’s elite vanguard—making him one of the most lethal assets in the collective syndicate—this interaction remained a formal meeting between a continental Director and an external operative.

He required the preservation of protocol.

‘Regardless of his status as an uncultured savage.’

Noblesse oblige!

The preservation of personal elegance remained the paramount obligation of the ruling class.

The Duke lowered his eyelids and offered a measured gesture of agreement, basking in his self-styled sophistication.

Oblivious to this, Doctor pressed on with his erratic dialogue.

“That figure known as Phantom has initiated operations within Italy. His arrival on our doorstep is imminent. We must audit our defensive traps. I demand personal confirmation of these systems!”

Phantom.

The features of the Duke contorted minutely at the articulation of that specific moniker.

‘What remarkable quality does this individual supposedly possess…?’

He had conceded to Doctor’s stipulations with great reluctance, yet deep-seated resentment over the arrangement persisted.

Why should a warrior of the Master’s vanguard, alongside his ancestral household, Dracul, be reduced to arranging an ambush for a solitary vampire originating from the Asian territories?

While Phantom’s achievements throughout France had turned heads, it fell short of shifting his perspective.

‘I maintained the capacity to systematically dismantle both Thermidor and Gomorrah independently. My restraint was solely due to the administrative demands of Dracul’s recent territorial growth.’

Differing from standard tier-9 vampires whose domains were confined by national borders, his dominion extended over the criminal enterprises of greater than ten sovereignties across Eastern Europe.

He was widely designated as the ‘Paramount Sovereign of Europe’ across international intelligence networks.

Such was his standing. He stood as the undisputed master of Dracul and the uncontested overlord of the Eastern European syndicates.

“…Consequently, our deployment must commence with the dawn! I recognize your schedule is packed, Duke, so remain at ease. The logistics shall fall entirely upon me!”

Doctor’s rapid monologue finally concluded.

The Duke, who had maintained only superficial focus, gave an idle nod while continuing to stroke his beard with a self-satisfied expression.

He felt a sense of relief that he was no longer required to endure the company of this grating individual for the remainder of the afternoon.

“…The twilight deepens. I invite you to join me for a culinary repast prior to your departure. Neglecting the hospitality due to a visitor would violate etiquette.”

“Ah? My appetite is quite pronounced at the moment! I shall gladly accept your philanthropic gesture!”

He extended the dinner invitation with an air of magnanimity.

Ultimately, providing sustenance to a guest was a cornerstone of noble conduct.

Furthermore, as a creature of the night, he could simply partake in a minimal consumption of lifeblood without needing to engage in the consumption of actual food.

He executed a sharp motion with his digits.

The entryways parted without a sound, and attendants, advancing with the stealth of specters, rapidly arranged the dining surface.

“Incredible! Quite a spread! Tremendous!… Though… what exactly is that item?”

Doctor, who had been applauding with childlike enthusiasm, froze instantly and focused his vision on a specific platter.

He shifted an incredulous gaze toward the Duke.

“I received intelligence indicating your fondness for pizza, prompting me to instruct its preparation.”

An act of deep attentiveness.

The Duke, thoroughly satisfied with his own perceptive hosting, projected an assured grin. Doctor’s attention drifted back toward the culinary creation.

A circular flatbread, garnished with a variety of elements, the fragrance of melted dairy products permeating the immediate atmosphere.

It was undeniably a dish he frequented.

Yet, an anomaly presented itself…

“…Ananas?”

The dish in question was a Hawaiian variant.

The features of Doctor warped into an expression of intense revulsion.

He brought a hand toward his jaw and, his posture turning dead serious, glared directly at the aristocratic host.

“…Do you… actually ingest this?”

His countenance was a portrait of utter bewilderment, matching the horror of realizing a trusted companion dabbled in forbidden consumption.

An overt trace of absolute disgust lingered in his gaze.

“…My understanding was that it aligned with your preferences.”

The Duke countered, an uncomfortable expression manifesting across his features.

He had commissioned this specific item solely to gratify his visitor, and this served as his recompense?

Doctor merely executed a definitive negative shake of his head and spoke with venomous clarity.

“Duke, the world contains substances meant for consumption, and substances that are fundamentally barred. And fruit-laden pizza unquestionably occupies the latter category. How can such an aesthetic crime even be permitted to exist?!”

He launched into an impassioned tirade regarding the absolute sacrilege of Hawaiian flatbread, his volume escalating in tandem with his outrage.

The Duke, recognizing the rapid deterioration of the social dynamic, closed his eyes and abruptly terminated the discourse.

He experienced immediate remorse for offering hospitality.

“Understood. I shall record your feedback. It was my intention to subsequently present you with mint cocoa confections for the final course, but I concur that canceling that arrangement is prudent. I deduced you might harbor certain biases…”

“Ohoho—! Mint cocoa represents the absolute pinnacle of flavor! That crisp, sweet profile… It stands as the flawless conclusion to a meal! Your palate is truly sophisticated, Duke!”

“…”

“Mint cocoa, unlike alternative confections that leave a heavy coating on the palate, delivers an entirely pristine resolution! It renders post-meal hygiene entirely redundant! Furthermore, it is…”

The monologue pressed forward without interruption.

The Duke abandoned all attempts to inject rationality into the environment.

It had likely been a critical error to initiate a dialogue with this unstable individual from the very beginning.