Chapter 36

Chapter 36
## Chapter 36

Earth’s Vampire (3)

The manner in which Hans’s internal energy had been analyzed by the observer was far from flawless.

As an immortal of the night, that particular gift tied to heritage worked far better against those of lesser strength, proving nearly futile against true powerhouses.

It merely offered a vague calculation regarding immense fonts of power.

Furthermore, even if Hans lacked that dark heritage, discrepancies would naturally arise when trying to fit them into their specific ranking metrics.

In a perfect scenario, evaluating the baseline immortal traits and categorizing them into tiers would be the proper methodology.

Yet, none of those technicalities held any relevance to the group at this precise moment.

A creature of monumental, crushing authority stood directly in their path.

[Ah… You have dabbled in the forbidden arts,] Hans remarked aloud, fixing his gaze upon Gamma.

The distinct vibration that had slipped past notice during the confrontation as Heinz was now faintly discernable.

Still, it could not evade the perception of Hans, who had long since ascended into the mastery of the forbidden arts.

“Ugh, how did you manage to pierce through my shroud?”

Gamma, completely blind to the mechanism used against him, could only grind his teeth in frustration.

The inherited gift of ‘shrouding’ and the forbidden arts it masked were now stripped bare beneath Hans’s scrutiny.

[Fascinating. An entirely unfamiliar framework of the dark arts. Fortune truly smiles upon me today.]

While executing his duties to maintain public order, Hans had occasionally crossed paths with practitioners of the dark arts.

The majority were unhinged zealots obsessed with forbidden research, and Hans had taken great pleasure in absorbing their accumulated knowledge.

‘I achieved quite a bit of progress utilizing their remnants. But to stumble upon an entirely new framework in a place like this… ‘

He paused, letting the thought trail off in his mind.

These particular immortals were meant to serve as mere stepping stones for Heinz’s advancement, were they not?

‘If Heinz absorbs contaminated energy during the feeding process, his own essence will suffer damage… In a state of total expiration from feeding, memories cannot be extracted, and mental domination faces strict thresholds. How should I proceed?’

As Hans wavered under the weight of this sudden predicament, Gamma and his subordinates seized the passing second, scattering in separate directions to stage a frantic escape.

How miserable.

[Your struggles are entirely futile. This domain already belongs to me. Without my explicit consent, not a soul departs this space.]

Kwoong—

Hans struck the floorboards softly with his staff, sending ripples of corrupt energy cascading outward into the surroundings.

And then…

[Kihhihihi!]

“Ah! What are these abominations?”

The walking dead, their flesh stained a deep, midnight black, lunged at the fleeing figures, emerging from the walls, the ceiling, and the floorboards that were now completely enveloped in shadow.

While Heinz had been watching them intently to gather intelligence, Hans had not simply been lingering passively inside the boundary.

Throughout the duration of the wait, a subtle preparation had been taking place, superimposing his own personal domain directly over the existing boundary.

It stood as undeniable proof that Hans’s mastery over the forbidden arts was expanding with each passing day.

“Ugh…”

“Form a perimeter! If we separate, they will tear us to pieces!”

True to what had been observed during the prior chaos involving Jinsol, these entities, being individuals who had returned, displayed a diverse array of talents.

Elemental manifestations such as flame and frost, telekinetic forces, bursts of rapid acceleration, and even…

“Huup!”

Kwoong—!

Directly before Hans’s eyes, an individual possessing physical augmentation swung a massive fist forward.

‘He belonged to Jinsol’s faction. Was his name Minyeong?’

Adopting a stance for battle, Minyeong’s physical frame warped past anything resembling a normal human.

Massive muscle groups expanded aggressively, his facial features twisted into a horrific grimace, and rows of jagged, shark-like teeth filled his maw.

“Kraaaaah!”

Boom! Boom! Kwaaang—!

The protective barrier maintained by Hans shuddered violently beneath the concussive force of Minyeong’s rapidly striking fists.

Utilizing incredible agility, he slipped past the walking dead, shattered the grasping limbs bursting from the floorboards, and maintained an unyielding offensive.

“Hmm, it appears that is the defining trait of the immortals from that region. They adapted more heavily toward the amplification of physical power… Fascinating.”

As a fellow immortal of the night, Heinz could easily deduce that this was not some random aberration brought about by supernatural gifts, but rather a standard evolutionary path for immortals hailing from an alternate realm, akin to the ‘Thralls’ found in Outerica.

When paired with a specialized talent for physical augmentation, the resulting force was quite formidable.

Puff—!

“Kheuk!”

Naturally, there were boundaries to such strength. Dark spikes erupting from every angle skewered Minyeong through his entire form.

Though the initial plan had been to harvest these immortals with as little damage as possible, it appeared that a degree of collateral damage was simply unavoidable.

[Subduing them is proving more tedious than anticipated.]

Had the objective merely been to exterminate them completely, the battle would likely have concluded already.

However, because every single one represented vital sustenance for Heinz’s progression, the engagement became significantly more complicated.

It mirrored the meticulous care required for delicate cultivation.

In that exact split second, Heinz activated ‘Acceleration,’ throwing his body into a roll across the ground.

Ssslick—!

A blade of pure crimson sliced through the exact space where Heinz’s throat had just been, wielded by the stealth specialist who had arrived alongside Jinsol.

‘This is certainly no simple task.’

Had it not been for the void-like territory manifested by Hans, he might have failed to perceive the hidden strike entirely. Heinz, who shared a unified consciousness with him, succeeded in timing his dodge perfectly because Hans had already pinpointed the assassin’s concealment locus.

“Tsk.”

The thwarted killer clicked their tongue in annoyance, vanishing from sight immediately.

Heinz’s sensory perceptions still registered absolute emptiness.

‘Was the intent to create a moment of distraction?’

With no clear avenue for retreat available, the stealth user had likely targeted Heinz—who clearly shared an alliance with Hans—in hopes of disrupting their coordination.

Perhaps the goal was to cripple him and secure a bargaining chip.

‘A severed throat does not bring instantaneous termination to our kind.’

Then again, they were battle-tested veterans who had survived numerous warzones; it was only natural they believed they could succeed through sheer audacity.

[Even if we incur some spoilage, we must restrain them properly for harvesting.]

A dense torrent of visible dark energy poured forth from Hans.

A freezing temperature washed over the entire area, and an atmosphere of absolute dread permeated the enclosed space.

“Kheuk!”

“This monster suddenly unleashed more power… Ugh!”

The immortals who had been pushing forward in search of an exit began collapsing one after another.

Even those who ranked at Level 6 found themselves unable to withstand the corrupt force radiating from the encroaching shadows.

The ambush specialist who had remained hidden to strike at Heinz fared no better.

While carefully avoiding malevolent hexes that might taint the quality of the blood, Hans showed no reluctance in employing dark arts designed to rend flesh apart.

Most of them possess immense resilience, so things would have proceeded far more smoothly had I simply initiated this from the start…

“There remain plenty of specimens for us to harvest down the line. We possess a comfortable margin now. Shall I finish one off to begin?”

Heinz walked toward Minyeong, who was still fighting back fiercely despite being pinned by numerous dark spikes.

“Kraaaah! With just this! Do you truly believe you can restrain me—!”

Even as he roared like a savage creature, the dark spikes were snapping under his immense strain as he thrashed his body.

A possibility existed that he might break free through sheer will, but Hans, having no desire to permit an escape, bound his entire frame in heavy, black chains.

Chrrrurrr—

Naturally, Hans had no intention of allowing him any freedom beyond that.

“Kkuueeugh!”

His distorted visage flushed a deep, crimson hue as he strained against the overwhelming constriction binding him.

Heinz walked in a semi-circle, seized the massive frame by the shoulders, and pulled himself up onto the hulking, 2.5-meter muscular form.

“His physical dimensions are excessive; finding an optimal position to feed is rather awkward.”

A titan of muscle standing nearly two and a half meters tall, with Heinz attempting to drive his elongated fangs directly into the dense musculature of the neck.

Kwaak—

Leathery hide and fibers as dense as forged iron fought against the descent of his teeth.

Regardless, Heinz funneled crimson energy straight into his jaw and fangs, successfully tearing through into the throat.

“Krragh! Is this madman attempting to consume his own kind? Have you lost your mind?!”

Paying no heed to the desperate shouts, Hans persisted in extracting the fluid life force, pulling in the core of the immortal capabilities that served as the foundation of the giant’s power.

“Consuming one’s own species without filtering the essence is madness… How have I survived until this moment? I refuse to perish in this place… After betraying her with such absolute resolve… Betraying her simply to acquire strength… an even greater power…”

The giant’s consciousness, saturated with bitterness, animosity, agony, and hopeless despair, forced its way into Heinz’s mind alongside a torrent of conflicting sensations.

‘This is undeniably far more chaotic than the instances where I harvested my own kind back in Outerica. Were I unable to meticulously filter this utilizing ‘Mind Hub,’ it would pose a severe threat.’

At long last, the feeding process reached its conclusion.

Minyeong, completely hollowed of his life force, dissolved into a pile of pale ash.

“Huff—.”

His pulse began to race erratically. The flow of blood surged with violent speed, and his entire physical form felt as though it had been plunged into an oven.

His skin took on a glowing, crimson tint.

Unfamiliar immortal traits mingled within his vessels, producing a sensation of transformation… no, a distinct advancement.

“Haaa…”

Exhalations of vapor parted from his lips.

Looking closer, fine wisps of steam leaked from every single pore across his flesh, accompanied by a radiant warmth.

Wuddduk!

Skeletal structures shifted, muscle fibers compressed and lengthened, and pathways of blood ruptured and mended in a rapid, cyclical process.

An indeterminate amount of time drifted past.

[The immortal capabilities retained by the subject are undergoing an advancement, revealing pristine pathways. Gained specialized talent: ‘Blood Fusion Evolution.’]

[Unfamiliar immortal core harvested. By virtue of the specialized talent ‘Blood Fusion Evolution,’ the subject’s baseline physical metrics have experienced a monumental surge.]

Heinz felt an incredible lightness wash over him.

His frame had visibly broadened, granting him both greater elevation and physical presence.

The caliber and compactness of his muscle tissues had ascended, imparting a completely different tier of impact to his physical strikes.

“Excellent.”

The ‘Blood Fusion Evolution’ secured from this endeavor was a talent that promised continuous advancement with every unique variation of immortal essence he managed to acquire.

At present, the reason why those blood-starved predators had turned into such a menace became entirely transparent.

If entities wielding this brand of authority were permitted to operate without restraint…

“Now, that identical strength belongs to me, and there are still eight targets remaining to be processed.”

[If the yields are truly this remarkable, there is no alternative. Ultimately, countless prospects to study the dark arts will present themselves in the days ahead. The rewards gathered even now are quite substantial. Hehehe…]

Every single cohort member had collapsed, leaving only the isolated Gamma, alongside the ambush specialist, attempting to hold out by deploying obscured dark magic.

Hans, while keeping the pressure firmly applied to Gamma, was actively employing ‘Vile Wisdom’ to dissect the hidden dynamics of the situation.

“For the time being, these surviving eight present here. Following that…”

A resolution was formed.

It was imperative to consume the covenant.

The necessity for a properly structured, subservient organization had already made itself apparent.

If the radical elements intent on sowing discord could be completely purged, leaving behind only the compliant factions, the outcome would be flawless.

‘Throughout that endeavor, anyone who dares to stand against me will simply turn into my personal fuel. An absolutely flawless strategy!’

Heinz stepped toward the restrained immortals, the cruel expression on his face stretching wider.

—

[Under the governance of the specialized talent ‘Blood Fusion Evolution’…]

[Unfamiliar immortal core harvested. Under the governance of the specialized talent ‘Blood Fusion Evolution,’ a fundamental realization has been achieved. Gained talent: ‘Penetration.’]

Every passing second delivered a sensation of rapid progression.

With each completed feeding, the cellular matrix throughout his entire frame advanced, growing progressively more potent.

Occasional instances occurred where a completely unique immortal trait failed to manifest, likely due to shared dimensional heritages among the targets.

Even with that caveat, the amplified rewards of consuming his own kind were immense.

He also discerned that a minor probability existed to strip away the target’s unique ‘Bloodline Ability.’

‘”Penetration”…a highly practical talent. So it was an inherited bloodline gift rather than a standard trait unlocked during an awakening event?’

Certain immortals originating from specific realities were granted distinct functions entirely dependent upon their ancestral lineage.

That comprised the ‘Bloodline Ability.’

Heinz, leveraging the properties of ‘Blood Fusion Evolution,’ now possessed the means to strip away even those inherent gifts.

‘Though the likelihood scales upward when facing more powerful combatants who harbor a denser concentration of immortal essence. On this occasion, fortune was simply on my side.’

The specific target who had held the ‘Penetration’ gift, whose attributes had been assessed using that selfsame ‘Penetration’ talent, had not been an especially daunting adversary.

By their internal metrics, he would place him at roughly Level 5 at the absolute highest.

‘No matter, plenty of prospects will show themselves down the road. Regardless, a short while ago there was a crowd, and now a mere pair remains.’

In truth, reduce that figure to just one.

The stealth specialist who had attempted to strike down Heinz had already crumbled into nothingness.

Regrettably, no pristine talents were extracted during that specific harvest, though he did achieve a higher degree of mastery regarding the manipulation of sanguine force, which would prove highly beneficial for stealth maneuvers.

Naturally, magnified physical power and a deeper reservoir of internal energy remained the foundational rewards.

“You, you…! What have you done? How can you commit cannibalism upon your own kind and remain completely unaffected? How is this possible?!”

Gamma, thoroughly pinned down before Heinz’s feet, glared upward with wide, panicked eyes, froth spilling from his lips.

It appeared as though his sanity had fractured completely upon watching another individual seamlessly attain the exact summit he had gambled his entire existence to reach.

‘Given that he has proven remarkably useful to my endeavors, offering deep realizations, perhaps I should pacify his bewilderment on this final path?’

Whether by design or random chance, this adversary had provided immense value.

Gamma’s unwitting assistance had undoubtedly played a role in guiding Heinz’s advancement to this current tier.

“Very well, I shall enlighten you.”

Experiencing a rare flash of leniency, he elected to answer the final inquiry.

Up until the moment he closed the distance and pressed his sharp teeth against the bare throat, Gamma remained pinned and motionless, focusing entirely on the anticipated reply.

Heinz offered an honest response, honoring the weight of the question.

“To avert cognitive degradation, completely seal off the external thoughts that flood your mind during the feeding process.”

“What? What sort of ridiculous explanation is—”

Thud!

There was no deception involved.

The guidance provided had been entirely accurate.

[Under the governance of the specialized talent ‘Blood Fusion Evolution’…]

[Unfamiliar immortal core harvested. Under the governance of the specialized talent ‘Blood Fusion Evolution,’ a fundamental realization has been achieved. Gained talent: ‘Concealment.’]