Chapter 75

Chapter 75
## Chapter 75

### Brokoslack Clan (2)

Utilizing the intelligence gathered through Rosilica, Heinz moved swiftly and systematically across the capital, bringing the hidden vampires under his control.

The substance known as “Refined Blood Essence” worked instantly upon injection, compelling the internal bloodsucking factor to evolve.

The very moment this factor—the fundamental wellspring of a vampire’s strength and the root of their supernatural gifts—underwent alteration, the accompanying ‘Blood Subordination’ bond was forcibly rewritten as well.

Their allegiance shifted from ‘Brokoslack’ to ‘Heinz the Second’.

Heinz maintained the same deception he had fed to Rosilica, casually instructing his newly bound thralls to maintain their normal routines for the time being.

‘By intentionally introducing only a trace amount of “Refined Blood Essence,” I kept the transformation of their blood subtle. It is highly unlikely they will sense anything amiss.’

While upper-tier vampires with an acute sensitivity to the scent of blood might detect a faint, unusual dissonance, it was hard to imagine anyone suspecting that comrades they had dined with just the day before had suddenly shifted their loyalty.

The fundamental concept that one’s bloodsucking factor could be tampered with, thereby flipping a subordinate bond, was entirely unheard of in this realm.

Short of losing their minds entirely to the madness of cannibalism—which was clearly not the case here—such a development was utterly beyond anyone’s predictability.

‘This unimaginable premise is precisely why Rosilica and the others found it easier to accept my explanation.’

They could rationalise the phenomenon to some degree, concluding it was plausible if he originated from a collateral branch sharing the same foundational root.

Naturally, they remained incapable of fully grasping the underlying mechanics, but given the reality before their eyes, they simply resigned themselves to it.

Even so, individuals fiercely dedicated to the clan were bound to notice eventually, meaning his tight authority settings could not keep the truth cloaked forever.

The most probable threat to his secret was Freesia Brokoslack, the figure overseeing the intelligence and monitoring network within the capital.

Acting on data extracted from multiple thralls, Heinz set about arranging a theater designed to draw her out into the open.

‘Time to reel in the prized catch.’

Not long after his preparations were finalized, the moment to strike arrived.

—

“Lady Bright, your elegance remains unmatched today.”

“Pray, cast your eyes upon this novel ruby necklace. It was crafted by an artisan who is rapidly gaining immense renown…”

Freesia Brokoslack was indulging in her accustomed life of opulence and leisure.

Her schedule for the day included overseeing the capital’s southern sector.

Having concluded her purchases at a luxury jeweler, she sat beneath the protective awning of a rooftop garden situated atop a premium establishment, sipping tea and observing the ordinary mortals bustling through the streets below.

“A perpetually amusing sight. Watching them scramble so desperately just to survive. Hehehe…”

To the public, she maintained the persona of ‘Freesia Bright’, a noblewoman of the Bright ducal house, which held the true reins of authority within the Talia Kingdom.

As the sole ducal family in the entire land, their reach was formidable, casting a shadow that eclipsed even the influence of the Talia Kingdom’s royal line.

‘The majority of them are merely puppets under our direction. Were it not for the constraints imposed by the Church, we could operate without concealment, but this level of control suffices.’

Their solitary source of apprehension stemmed from the Talia diocese of the Main God Church, which gave indications of bolstering its presence through reinforcements dispatched from its central authority.

‘The Lord will undoubtedly manage the situation, yet it appears matters will become considerably more vexing moving forward.’

Even so, should the Church employ political leverage and meet resistance from the crown, the holy institution would find itself unable to strike blindly.

A primary reason the Church had maintained universal reverence until now was its strict adherence to seeking mutual understanding and formal consent prior to taking action.

The surrounding factions extended deference and prestige to the Church precisely because it consistently demonstrated a desire to restrict internal meddling by showing deference to regional powers.

Mounting a defense against the Church’s aggressive maneuvers during the crisis involving the Immortal King subjugation force had proved difficult due to the sheer gravity of the event, but no such justification existed at present.

*Slurp—*

Freesia took another draft of her beverage.

Partaking in richly aromatic tea stood as one of her cherished personal pastimes.

Yet, right in the middle of her quiet indulgence and relaxation…

“Hmm?”

At the absolute perimeter of her sensory perception, she detected an unfamiliar vampiric aura drawing near the metropolis from beyond the southern gates.

“What could this be…? The strength resonates at a Pureblood intensity, yet the quality feels peculiar.”

Knitting her brow slightly, Freesia lowered her teacup and rose from her seat.

If the answer eluded her, she would simply investigate firsthand.

Possessing highly refined instincts, her temperament dictated that she could not rest until every anomaly was personally verified.

Judging by the signature, the intruder posed no true threat to a True Blood of her caliber, and no rational creature would commit the folly of initiating hostilities within Brokoslack domain.

*Whoosh—*

Her form vanished entirely from the rooftop sanctuary, swept away like a sudden draft of wind…

A mere heartbeat later, she materialized atop an elevated ridge situated beyond the metropolis fortifications.

She stood directly behind the unidentifiable vampire, who remained motionless, gazing intently toward the capital.

Spinning the sunshade she held with casual grace, she spoke aloud.

“You there, what is your identity? It would be prudent to reveal your… true…?”

*Whoosh—!*

In that exact instant,

The heavy aroma of fresh blood permeated the air, and crimson runes manifested across the terrain, encircling the elevated ridge they occupied.

Though she remained unaware of the exact mechanics, she was now enclosed within a boundary manifested through the combined use of “Concealment” and “Blood Mystery”.

With its deployment, the interior environment was entirely severed from the outside world.

Until this perimeter was shattered, escaping was out of the question, and not a single shred of spiritual pressure could seep past its boundaries.

“…An ambush?”

Freesia merely narrowed her eyes and scanned her surroundings, her composure unshakeable.

Her regal haughtiness as a True Blood, paired with her absolute assurance in evaluating her opponent’s capabilities, shielded her from experiencing any dread.

“Am I to understand this actions as a formal declaration of combat against me, Freesia Brokoslack?”

Her sapphire gaze, previously masked by illusion, gradually shifted into a deep crimson.

Her captivating, intent stare locked onto the vampire with dark hair and dark eyes who was unhurriedly turning to face her.

“Drop to your knees this instant… Ugh!”

Stepping back abruptly, her features twisted in discomfort, and she quickly wrenched her gaze away the moment their eyes connected and she attempted to trigger her Devil Eye.

A thin line of blood ran down her face.

‘My Devil Eye was deflected?! To encounter such immense resistance… this should be impossible!’

The dark-eyed stranger’s gaze had likewise transformed into a deep scarlet, matching her stare.

Only now did Freesia comprehend that the individual before her was no ordinary Pureblood.

He was a True Blood—one possessing unparalleled expertise, sufficient to utterly hoodwink someone who prided herself on her sensory recognition.

“…What do you seek? For a True Blood to violate Brokoslack land without prior notification. Is your objective to instigate an open conflict?”

Her focus sharpening, she gradually collapsed her sunshade.

Though deprived of her Devil Eye, she kept her gaze locked onto him, refusing to lose track of his slightest shift in posture.

Amidst that suffocating suspense,

“What do I seek?”

The dark-haired vampire offered a subtle grin and spoke in a measured tone.

“Every single asset that is claimed by Brokoslack.”

*Boom—!*

Immediately following his declaration, a violent concussion erupted…

And Freesia Brokoslack collided directly with Heinz the Second.

—

The surrounding boundary trembled unceasingly as scattered bursts of power detonated in rapid succession.

Her opponent was an aristocratic woman appearing to be in her early twenties, blessed with striking golden hair.

Contrary to her graceful exterior, engaging Freesia proved highly demanding, fitting for a warrior of True Blood lineage.

*Whoosh— Boom!*

The sunshade, saturated with crimson arcane force, traced an intricate, lethal arc, tracking the trajectory of Heinz’s evasive movements.

The display exhibited flawless martial technique, refined and perfected over decades, capable of garnering praise even from Heinrich.

‘Given her reliance on the Devil Eye, I presumed her capabilities leaned toward the arcane, but discovering her proficiency as a close-quarters combatant is an unexpected revelation.’

Even with that foreknowledge going into the engagement, the harmony of her vampiric physiology and her deeply ingrained weapon mastery surpassed his calculations.

The moment he deflected the point of the sunshade aimed directly at his upper torso, she instantly harnessed the momentum to sweep a low arc, targeting his lower limbs.

He brought his knee upward to counter the strike…

‘Weightless?’

He registered zero mass behind her maneuver.

*Crack!*

Simultaneously, her pointed footwear, having completely evaded his perception, drove into his lower leg.

The instant Heinz lost his footing, the sunshade lunged relentlessly toward his chest once more.

*Boom—!*

Heinz, hurriedly crossing his arms to intercept the weapon using “Acceleration”, was thrown backward as his balance shattered.

Yet Freesia, despite delivering a flawless strike, merely glared at him with an expression of mild irritation as the gap between them widened.

“Hmm, truly… remarkable.”

Heinz’s features betrayed nothing more than a passing sense of respect as he rolled his shoulders and loosened his frame.

The thrust had been reinforced with dense crimson arcane power, sharp enough to sever solid iron like soft dough, yet it resulted in nothing more than a superficial scratch that his body began repairing immediately.

“You…! What manner of physical form is this…! And your reservoir of arcane power!”

Freesia ground her teeth once more, tightening her fingers around her weapon.

While Heinz might rank below her regarding sheer battlefield experience and martial finesse, the scales tipped entirely in his favor regarding every other metric.

The staggering disparity in basic attributes was a direct result of “Hybrid Evolution”.

His physical traits—comprising raw power, velocity, and resilience—as well as the magnitude, regulation, and execution of his blood magic were operating on an entirely superior tier.

The arcane energy concentrated at the point of impact had instantaneously diverted her strike, and his physique neutralized the remaining force by dispersing it across his frame.

Furthermore, whatever trauma he absorbed vanished in a flash due to “Super Regeneration”, leaving Freesia deeply vexed.

‘What is the meaning of this…? I am operating under a severe disadvantage.’

Heinz’s natural methodology aligned more closely with that of a concealed predator, designed for executing stealthy, lethal ambushes.

He was engaging her in an overt duel solely to deny her the opportunity to shatter the surrounding boundary.

No matter how sophisticated the construct, it could not endure indefinitely against the focused wrath of an enraged True Blood.

Additionally, the reality that a portion of his arcane energy was continuously being diverted to shield the perimeter from their collateral shockwaves acted as a minor constraint.

‘Still, her capabilities are exceptional, likely a testament to a lifespan exceeding a century as a vampire. Given this gap in basic attributes, I would possess no advantage if we restricted ourselves to standard close-quarters combat.’

Naturally, he faced no risk of defeat either, ensuring the engagement would simply prolong itself indefinitely.

Freesia’s magical capacity hovered around Level 7 by Earth metrics, yet her actual combat efficiency vastly outstripped the Betas of the hardliner faction.

It highlighted the distinction between an awakened entity who had surged in power via various developmental multipliers and specialized traits, versus a denizen of a foreign realm who had spent lifetimes perfecting their craft.

“Your talents are formidable, which makes this a pity. Do you possess no desire to pledge yourself to my cause? I can elevate your strength far beyond your current limits.”

He extended an offer of recruitment on the off chance she might comply, but she merely glared at him as though he had lost his sanity.

Regrettably, it appeared subduing her would require a more forceful demonstration.

‘I have secured a sufficient understanding of Freesia’s capabilities.’

A profound difference always existed between secondhand intelligence and data gathered through direct personal engagement.

To bring a True Blood under his dominion, it was essential to fully comprehend the individual, a requirement far more stringent than dealing with a Fledgling or a Pureblood.

“It cannot be avoided, then. Though perhaps your perspective will shift after sustaining a few more blows.”

“Ha… Save your arrogance. Your techniques lack the refinement to even graze my form. And regardless of your physical resilience, if subjected to continuous trauma…”

Her retort died in her throat as a blade composed of condensed blood erupted from the barrier directly to her rear.

The edge nicked her form as she violently wrenched her torso aside, retreating toward the opposite boundary line, where the projectile dissolved and vanished naturally.

“You…!”

“I am uncertain what misconceptions you hold, but I am no traditional martial artist. I was merely accommodating your style until this moment.”

This enclosed space had functioned as Heinz’s personal territory from the very inception of the duel.

As he wielded “Blood Mystery” with greater intensity, segments of the perimeter bared their teeth in accordance with his consciousness.

Spikes, shafts, projectiles, and binding lines—an assortment of offensives rained down upon Freesia.

The arcane arts cast directly by Heinz combined with the automated strikes launched from the boundary walls, creating a flawless synergy that crippled her evasion options.

And then…

*Boom—!*

“Gah!”

Momentarily deploying “Concealment” and “Invisibility”, he detected a momentary vulnerability via “Insight” and lunged forward with “Acceleration”, plunging a fist saturated with crimson power directly into her flank.

Deep red bindings lashed securely around her form as she was hurled laterally, followed instantly by a barrage of secondary spells.

However, Heinz knit his brow slightly, casting his gaze toward his own shoulder.

‘She remains dangerous.’

A clean puncture had been driven through his shoulder joint—the result of a split-second counterattack Freesia had executed the precise instant his own fist connected.

He had dedicated too much focus toward his offensive, neglecting his defensive guard.

Naturally, the cavity closed instantly under the influence of “Super Regeneration”, yet it served as a reminder to proceed with greater vigilance.

As Heinz tightened his restriction over her movements, the conflict transformed into a one-sided subjugation.

She thrashed against her bonds to break clear, but her vitality steadily withered away, resembling someone sinking into a treacherous mire.

At long last,

“You displayed greater resilience than I anticipated.”

“Ugh… You…!”

Her entire form marred by injuries, Freesia slumped to the earth before Heinz, thoroughly immobilized by the binding constructs.

One of the True Blood elites commanding the Brokoslack Clan had finally been brought under Heinz’s dominion.