Chapter 77

Chapter 77
Chapter 77
Brokoslack Clan (4)

Tap, tap—

“Master, it is Freesia. There is an issue I must report, do I have permission to enter?”

“Come in.”

The entrance swung open upon receiving authorization from within, exposing the chamber wrapped in deep obscurity.

A solitary pair of crimson eyes gleamed amidst the dark, marking their location.

“Master, you ought to at least illuminate a candle or a enchanted lamp. Keeping the room this pitch-black is unnecessary.”

“I see no point in it, as I am not a mortal.”

The conversation felt surprisingly informal, likely owing to the fact that both individuals belonged to the True Bloods.

As they spoke, Heinz, who had slipped inside silently behind Freesia, scanned his surroundings with great care.

‘This is incredible. I was aware that the Master is a sorcerer-type, but this tier of blood sorcery ward… It is practically a citadel.’

Crimson runes were meticulously painted across the walls, floor, and ceiling of the massive chamber.

Furthermore, every single piece of decor inside served to amplify mystical arts.

‘I feel a sense of dread, as though I have stepped directly into a sorcerer’s territory… ’

Apprehension welled up once more as he evaluated the myriad wards utilizing “Blood Mystery”.

Yet, he possessed no alternative strategy.

Mulo Brokoslack, a vampire with centuries of existence behind him, had refused to cross the threshold of his chamber for several decades.

He had constructed a fortress within the most secure zone imaginable and remained stationary, deploying only his underlings to manage external affairs.

Enticing him out was an arduous task due to his fanatical obsession with personal security.

‘Still, if I can merely close the distance and strike from the shadows before he triggers the ward… ’

“Freesia, who accompanies you?”

Right then, Mulo inquired in a soft tone, fixing his gaze on Heinz who stood positioned behind her.

This was the window to draw nearer.

“Ah, Master. I was just about to present him. Heinz, step forward.”

Before Heinz could advance in response to her words, a grin playing on her lips, Mulo slowly spoke once more.

“Ah, indeed, prior to that… Freesia, there is something I wish to ask.”

“Yes? Query whatever you like.”

He grasped a glass container and a chalice situated on the side table, speaking in an indifferent manner, as if the matter were trivial.

“Have you switched your fragrance?”

Splash—

Scarlet fluid cascaded into the chalice.

A delicate aroma of gore permeated the chamber.

“I have kept you by my side for greater than a century, yet I have never encountered an aroma so unfamiliar.”

Mulo smoothly rotated the chalice, appreciating the scent.

Nevertheless, his stare remained locked onto the pair.

“I am unable to determine the origin.”

Freesia forced her expression into a smile, offering the explanation she had formulated beforehand within the high-pressure environment.

“Ah, Master. That is because…”

“Regrettably for you.”

Yet Mulo showed no interest in receiving her justification, despite having initiated the question.

“I perceive a detachment from you on this day.”

His conclusion had already been reached.

He was oblivious to the specific tactic employed, but Freesia was no longer bound by the dominion of Brokoslack.

‘The time is now.’

The instant that deduction formed, Heinz leaped forward with the speed of a thunderbolt by utilizing “Acceleration”.

Concurrently, Freesia’s parasol, positioned at a shorter distance, was driven directly toward Mulo, only to be obstructed by an invisible barrier before reaching its target.

Swish—

The scarlet runes inscribed across the entire chamber radiated a crimson light, warping the surrounding area.

The space, which had previously been a mere expansive chamber, stretched outward repeatedly, causing the gap separating them from Mulo to widen instantly.

‘Ah, this is precisely why drawing closer beforehand was vital.’

Though his expertise lay in sorcery, he remained a True Blood vampire.

His reflexes operated on an entirely different plane compared to standard sorcerers, which was why a stealthy approach was preferred, but they were detected before execution.

‘It appears I underestimated the Master.’

The assumption had been that defeating Mulo alongside Freesia would be a straightforward task, but…

“Descendants of Brokoslack, rally to my side.”

Reservoirs of gore materialized across the expanded domain, and vampires began stepping through them sequentially.

“What is the meaning of this? The Master has requested our presence!”

“Get ready for combat!”

As Heinz scowled, adjusting his stance for battle against the swelling host of adversaries…

“…What could this mean? Is this the absolute limit of our numbers remaining in the capital?”

Even Mulo, the one who had invoked his followers, displayed bewilderment.

Scarcely half of those who should have answered his ‘Blood Call’—which summoned all nearby kin—were present in the room.

“Freesia… What actions have you taken?”

Freesia advanced in response to the low snarl directed at her, locking eyes with him.

“Well, the reality is…”

She proceeded to deliver a detailed account regarding the grand strategy she had devised alongside Heinz.

On this occasion, Mulo permitted her defense to conclude without offering any interruption.

“Am I to understand that you intend to surrender the governance of this entire clan to an unrecognized individual, relying solely on such preposterous assertions?”

Naturally, his reception of the news was hostile.

“No, but the validity has already been demonstrated…”

“Demonstrated in what manner? Granted, it is quite a feat that he managed to subjugate our kin without ending their lives, but where is the validation that such a method will succeed against opposing clans?”

No supporting evidence existed beyond the claims made by Heinz.

“Furthermore, does he truly possess the capability to dominate all clans and force them into submission? Surely you are aware? Visque Ufersh has claimed the heritage of the Sacred Blood.”

That single reality was the reason he had remained secluded within this room for generations, terrified to venture into the open world.

“Th-that may be true…”

“…It appears you are bound by some form of enchantment. Though the fact remains that ‘Blood Subordination’ has shifted to another.”

Allowing this dialogue to persist would only serve to erode Freesia’s resolve.

Heinz, experiencing a shred of remorse since he had subtly planted a mental prompt utilizing “Blood Mystery”, stepped in front of her to confront Mulo directly.

“Your mouth moves too much. In short, you harbor doubts regarding my capabilities?”

“You dare…”

“I never anticipated settling this matter through dialogue from the start. I shall simply force the understanding upon you.”

With that, Heinz closed the distance, unleashing his aura at maximum capacity for the first time since his clash with the zealots of the Blood Alliance.

Thud— Thud—

A dense, crimson mist began to flow from Heinz’s form with each stride he took.

“Ah!”

“Th-this sensation is…”

The aura belonged to an apex predator, one who had destroyed innumerable vampires across diverse realms, harvesting their vital traits to continuously ascend.

The thralls of Brokoslack retreated instinctively, crushed by the primal terror bearing down on them.

Mulo, too, found himself paralyzed by that very aura.

Heinz offered a chilling smirk at the sight of his rigid countenance and launched himself forward like a tempest.

—

“Intercept him!”

“His power is overwhelming… Argh—!”

Mulo scowled, observing the conflict transpire before his eyes.

This territory belonged to him, fortified over an extensive duration.

The summoned kin operated with significantly heightened power here compared to the outside world, while the intruders were suppressed by a multitude of debilitating curses.

Additionally, his blood sorcery possessed more than enough lethality to rip them to shreds.

And yet…

‘What is occurring? By what means?’

His forces were being cut down effortlessly, and his mystical arts failed to inflict significant damage upon Heinz.

His underlings, empowered by the ward, continued to reconstitute their forms even after suffering decapitation or cardiac destruction; however, if this trajectory persisted, it would amount to nothing more than a futile squandering of life.

The primary obstacle was their inability to match Heinz’s velocity.

‘This cannot continue. I require an asset capable of matching his swiftness.’

His long-range magical assistance faced clear boundaries.

Should the vanguard collapse entirely, the dilemma would amplify, meaning a countermeasure was required immediately.

“…Heed my call. Obor—!”

A pool of gore manifested before Mulo, who exhaled a heavy breath and uttered an incantation.

Subsequently, a youth with silver hair stepped forth from the pool.

“…What is the meaning of this? For what purpose have you summoned me, Master? Wait, what chaos is unfolding here?!”

‘Obor Brokoslack’, newly arrived, surveyed the environment in utter confusion, but he instantly moved to intercept Heinz upon receiving Mulo’s command.

The equilibrium of the engagement was finally restored once a True Blood endowed with the capacity to mirror Heinz’s swiftness entered the fray.

‘To think Freesia had achieved this level of martial prowess… ’

Despite the reality that every other vampire present, excluding Obor, converged upon her in battle, they achieved nothing beyond temporarily slowing her progress.

She maintained an even footing against a cohort of vampires operating at enhanced strength, even while the weakening properties of the ward were actively undermining her.

“Indubitably, you possess the merit required to speak with such arrogance.”

It appeared he would need to exert himself to a greater degree.

Mulo murmured softly with a grim expression, slowly drawing a deep breath into his lungs.

—

Crash—!

Heinz shattered the crimson briars erupting from the floorboards while simultaneously deflecting the youth’s hand strike that closed in rapidly.

“Curse it! The physical form of this wretch is incredibly resilient!”

Obor Brokoslack, the silver-haired youth, swore violently and threw himself back into combat with Heinz.

His self-esteem suffered because he was struggling merely to restrict the movements of his foe despite enjoying the Master’s empowerment, but time did not permit him to dwell on such thoughts.

Abnormal physical power and a durable hide were merely the foundation; beneath that lay unfamiliar blood sorcery of unidentifiable origin, alongside swiftness and concealment techniques that would draw admiration even from a True Blood focused on stealth operations.

Each time he briefly lost track of him only for the foe to lung straight for the Master, a cold shiver ran straight down his spine.

‘Furthermore, he is projecting an bizarre force! What sort of technique is this? A psychic assault?’

Obor grimaced at the predatory pressure weighing heavily upon his vampire nature.

It failed to completely incapacitate a True Blood like himself, yet he found his concentration continually disrupted by the persistent irritation during this high-stakes duel.

Conversely, handling them was no simple task for Heinz either.

‘This represents the true difficulty of engaging a sorcerer who has thoroughly prepared his sanctum. Managing two True Bloods within an active ward is a complicated affair.’

While exchanging blows with Obor, he utilized “Concealment” and “Invisibility” to mask his presence and relied on “Acceleration” to close in on Mulo, yet…

Swoosh—

In that exact frame of time, a blood-red vapor rising from every direction snared Heinz, halting his progress for a fraction of a second.

And that brief hesitation provided Obor with all the time necessary to react.

Thud!

“Your efforts are futile! Where do you imagine you are heading!”

He was intercepted once more by Obor, whom he had briefly evaded, causing the duel to restart.

He had attempted a variety of strategies, but executing a surprise strike on Mulo without assistance inside this specific ward was an impossibility.

‘It seems my only path forward is a direct breakthrough. A sorcerer entrenched within his own sanctum is an incredibly tedious adversary.’

Had it not been for his trait to ‘partially negate the antagonistic techniques of fellow vampires’—obtained via evolution after consuming vampires back on Earth—he would have found himself in a highly perilous state.

Aided by this particular trait, which proved exceptionally potent against blood sorcery and related hexes, alongside the ward’s debilitating aura, he managed to sustain the conflict with greater ease.

Right at that moment,

He detected a sudden shift in the environment simultaneously through his heightened perceptions, “Insight”, and “Blood Mystery”.

The subtle oppressive aura that had been restricting his movements vanished entirely, and Freesia, who had been contained by the lesser vampires, suddenly began to decimate them.

In inverse fashion, Obor, who was in the middle of launching an attack, experienced a sudden drop in strength and exposed a vulnerability.

He instinctively drove his clenched fist, coated in Blood Blossom, straight into the vulnerability while assessing the underlying cause.

‘The ward’s influence collapsed? What triggered this so suddenly?’

The exact moment Obor was sent crashing backward by the impact, wrapped in a cloud of crimson petals, the explanation for his query became clear.

A fleeting instant arrived where his guard was lowered immediately following the successful delivery of his strike.

Without a single hint of warning— Mulo materialized right beside him.

His mind ceased to function logically upon witnessing the phantom-like manifestation, causing him to immediately back away using “Acceleration”, yet…

Rip!

Gore sprayed into the open air.

“…Impressive speed.”

Mulo, who had delivered the strike, let out a soft laugh, his eyes saturated with crimson.

“This poses a minor complication.”

He had managed to retreat a substantial distance after reacting to the incoming assault, but his physical state was undeniably compromised.

His right limb below the elbow joint was completely missing.

And that precise limb…

Rested firmly within Mulo’s grasp, gripped by elongated, razor-sharp talons.