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Emperor of Midnight
Chapter 26 - The Blood Moon Appears

Chapter 26 - The Blood Moon Appears

Vecna's crimson eyes narrowed as Camio's transformation began, his demonic aura intensifying and his powers surging to new heights. The Archdemon's form grew larger and more monstrous, horns sprouting from his head, and his once sleek figure now twisted and distorted.

"I WILL KILL YOU!" Camio's thunderous voice echoed through the chamber, and he launched himself at Vecna with renewed fury.

Vecna's lips curled into a wicked smile, his own vampiric powers pulsating with excitement.

"Bring it on." he taunted, welcoming the challenge that lay ahead.

[Archdemon Camio (Soul Fragment) - LV. 100] (56,905/99,828 HP)

As the two powerful beings clashed once more, the battle intensified to a new level.

Camio unleashed a barrage of dark projectiles, each one aimed with deadly precision. But Vecna's 'Traversal' allowed him to dance between the attacks, closing the distance with a blinding speed that even Camio struggled to keep up with.

"Is this all you've got, Archdemon?" Vecna taunted, his voice filled with confidence. "I expected more from someone of a higher status."

Camio roared in anger, his frustration growing with each passing moment. He channeled his dark energies, summoning a massive shadowy beast to aid him in the fight. The creature lunged at Vecna, its razor-sharp claws poised to tear the vampire apart.

But Vecna was prepared. With a swift strike from his "Swift Strike" skill, he shattered the illusion, revealing the beast's true form – a mere shadow of its former self.

"You'll need to do better than that," Vecna mocked, his voice laced with mockery.

Infuriated, Camio abandoned his illusions and unleashed a torrent of dark flames, engulfing the chamber in a sea of darkness. The intense heat threatened to overwhelm Vecna, but he remained unfazed, using his "Sanguine Quenching" to absorb the life force from Camio's body, healing himself in the process.

"Burn to death, you thrall!" roared Camio, channeling additional mana into his fire spell, enveloping Vecna into a sea of flames.

[You are under the 'Burning' state. For 20 seconds, you'll lose 5% of your HP]

[You have lost 277 HP]

"I must admit, your flames are impressive." Vecna remarked, his crimson eyes gleaming with amusement. "But they lack the power to defeat me."

The regeneration ability of his Unique Stat, his life-stealing ability from Knightsblade, and Sanguine Quenching kept him ahead above the water, playing with his Health at 50-60% capacity.

Camio's frustration grew, and he decided to use his most potent attack yet. With a powerful incantation, he summoned a vortex of darkness, intending to suck Vecna into oblivion.

"Black Vortex!"

Feeling the gravity pulling him toward Camio, his mind instantly clicked with an answer for this skill.

He was not so easily swayed.

With a calculated 'Uncanny Grip' he anchored himself to the ground, resisting the vortex's pull. With a swift movement, he launched himself at Camio, his "Swift Strike" delivering a single powerful blow that sent the Archdemon reeling.

[Critical!]

[You have dealt 6,806 DMG]

Camio's HP dropped rapidly under Vecna's firepower, bringing his worst emotions out.

He released a desperate roar, akin to a cornered beast as he started channeling his remaining strength.

"Rule of Darkness!"

As Camio chanted the incantation for "Rule of Darkness," the chamber was enveloped in an even deeper shroud of darkness. The vortex of black energy swirled around Vecna, pulling him toward Camio with an irresistible force.

The vortex intensified, threatening to consume Vecna entirely. But the Vampire God was not one to be defeated so easily.

Finding himself dragged while his supporting skills were on cooldown, he remained calm, thinking lucidly about what options he had.

'Can't dodge this. Let's shell up if there's no option. The Shield spell would be enough.'

As the darkness closed in around him, Vecna's crimson eyes blazed with determination. He refused to let Camio's authority as an Archdemon control him in this chamber. Instead, he unleashed the defensive spell that Knightsblade owned.

Grasping tighter on his longsword's handle as the darkness started encroaching on him, he activated the spell with a chilling calm.

'Resilience.'

[User's defense has been increased by 25% for 60 seconds, each damaging blow being reflected with 15% of the damage received]

While a tangible aura formed around his body, he didn't resume to just one defensive spell, out of nowhere a blue barrier sprung out, encasing Vecna into another layer, as if he was a Celestial Body.

'Mana Barrier.'

[Shields you for two minutes of 25% of all incoming damage, absorbing up to 25,000 damage]

A shimmering barrier surrounded Vecna, absorbing a portion of the incoming damage and shielding him from Camio's Ultimate Ability.

"DIE!"

Camio was under a blind rage as he attacked Vecna, and yet as the blows landed, he felt something missing, the taste of misery of a defeated foe was nowhere to be found.

Instead, only the cracking sound of a ceramic bottle shattering echoed in darkness while the darkness subsided, revealing a well-off Vampire that didn't suffer much harm, his poker face being a forte that he relied on heavily.

[Health: 1,894/5,546 | Mana: 2,160/3,200]

"Still alive, you bug?"

"I must be immortal if I'm standing before you. Don't you think so?"

"You're on your edge, Vampire. I can feel you drowning under the pressure." commented Camio, watching Vecna with his monstrous eyes, clenching his claws in a maddening fashion as if he wanted to rip him apart.

"This is pressure? Hahaha, then let me help you experience some pressure too."

Vecna laughed menacingly, making it unsure who was the true villain, him or the Archdemon.

"Bloodlust."

[You have sacrificed 10% of your Vitality]

[554 HP has been lost]

It was the first time that Vecna actually voiced out his skill, but the way he called it had a malevolent allure to it, and immediately, Camio felt a strange emotion when he watched this "Thrall" transform under the effects of his spell.

As the "Bloodlust" skill took its toll on Vecna's health, he seemed unfazed, embracing the pain and the darkness that came with it. He was a being of the night, accustomed to the dance between pleasure and pain. The loss of vitality only fueled his desire for destruction and power.

This transformation overcame him, like a shadow engulfing his being.

His crimson eyes glowed with an intense, malevolent light, and his once stoic expression twisted into a wicked grin. His aura radiated a dark and ominous energy that filled the chamber with an oppressive presence.

"I wonder how long you will stay alive," Vecna remarked, his crimson eyes gleaming with wicked delight.

"Enough that you'll crawl before me," Camio responded, his arrogance waning as a crimson projectile struck him before he could finish his sentence.

[You have lost 221 HP]

[Effects of the spell Bloodlust have been modified.]

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

[The user will gain an increase in attack power by 80%, and attack speed will increase by 50%.]

His already supernatural speed and strength surged to new heights under the effects of his skill, and he wasn't going to miss this opportunity.

His movements became a blur as he activated "Golden Flash," making his footwork appear fluid and effortless, almost as if he were dancing amidst the chaos.

Vecna appeared before Camio with unparalleled speed and agility. The ground beneath him seemed to pulse with dark energy, and his longsword, [Corrupted Knightsblade], hummed with a hunger for blood.

There was no need for his "Lightning Strike" skill. The sheer force of his sword strikes prevented Camio from dodging.

Each time [Corrupted Knightsblade] slashed into the Archdemon's flesh, the aura around it intensified, sapping Camio's vitality and weakening him further.

[You have dealt 1468 DMG]

[You have dealt 1382 DMG]

In this state, Vecna felt like a predator toying with its prey. He was the puppeteer, controlling the flow of the battle with deadly precision. His senses were heightened, and every move Camio made felt predictable to the Vampire God.

Camio's frustration turned into desperation as he struggled to keep up with Vecna's relentless assault. He unleashed his full arsenal of dark spells, but they were deflected or absorbed by his body as the effects of Resilience had yet to wane off.

"You cannot defeat me!" Camio roared, his voice echoing through the dark chamber.

"Oh, but I can, and I will," Vecna replied, his voice dripping with malevolence.

With each passing moment, Camio's authority over his Weakened Hell Domain weakened, while Vecna's dominance grew. The oppressive aura of his spell field shifted, diminishing, as a new sensation surfaced out.

This time he was feeling a tremble, as he watched this Vampire look more like a Royal Archdemon.

'It's impossible for a thrall to possess such power and combat abilities. Were Beriache's powers so overwhelming that I feel less than a thrall?'

Camio tried to retreat, to regain control, but Vecna was relentless. He pursued the Archdemon akin to a psychopath with his soon-to-be prey, striking him down with unparalleled force.

'Urgh! I'll be damned if I loss against a fucking thrall. Once news reaches hell that one of my fragments got defeated by a lesser being, I'll be the laughing stock of the Upper Cities.'

'Let's drag this out. This Berserker State would wane off after a while.'

The Archdemon, while an amalgamation of dark emotions, wasn't a total moron not to see the bigger picture, and as such, he strived to drag the fight, utilizing his illusion spells and defensive magic to protect his body.

He felt pleased whenever Vecna would grunt, annoyed that he couldn't land a decisive blow.

Minutes passed, and the stalemate reached its breaking point. Camio knew he couldn't hold out much longer.

"You're looking down on my intelligence if you think I didn't catch on to your plan."

"Thanks to your stupidity, my mana has recovered enough for a final play."

[Health: 4,094/5,546 | Mana: 3,052/3,200]

"Huh? You're talking out of your ass Vampire. Without your Berserk State, you're no match for me."

"Is that so? Then blame yourself for what's to come."

The dark world trembled as Vecna prepared to unleash his ultimate ability.

"Sanguine World."

[User has sacrificed 50% of his Vitality]

[You have lost 2773 HP]

As Vecna activated the "Sanguine World," the chamber underwent a horrifying transformation. The air itself seemed to thicken with an oppressive aura, and the once familiar walls turned a deep shade of crimson, pulsating with malevolent energy.

The ground beneath their feet was now a pool of dark, swirling blood that seemed to draw one's gaze into an abyss of despair.

The twisted and menacing blood world extended in every direction, an unending expanse of torment and suffering.

The once grand chamber now appeared like the domain of a malevolent deity, a place where the very essence of evil thrived.

Camio could feel the terrifying power emanating, and he had an involuntary shudder and trepidation, voicing out his disbelief.

"Impossible. This Power… Akin to the Pinnacle Archdemons."

Inside the Sanguine World, Vecna stood at the epicenter, bathed in a crimson aura that made him appear nightmarish. His crimson eyes gleamed with an intensity that sent shivers down the spines of all who gazed upon him.

"Six seconds. That's your expiration date."

The oppressive pressure caused Camio to step back, feeling his strength draining away. The air itself seemed to leech the life force from him, leaving him weak and vulnerable.

Camio, he found himself at a distinct disadvantage within the Sanguine World. His demonic powers were weakened, and he struggled to maintain his composure. The authority he once held as an Archdemon seemed to wane in the presence of Vecna's overwhelming darkness.

Vecna's laugh echoed through the blood world, a chilling sound that sent shudders down the spines of all who heard it.

"It seems that demons can feel fear."

He relished in his newfound power, feeling like a true deity of darkness. This was the world he was meant to rule, a realm of blood and despair where he held absolute authority.

His time was limited, and he couldn't experiment too much since he had to time his Mana Potion use.

Suddenly, right in front of Camio, he disintegrated into the Blood World, appearing one second later behind the shocked Archdemon.

With each step he took, the blood world seemed to twist and warp around him, conforming to his very will.

In this exact moment, Camio felt like a mere insect, insignificant and powerless.

'Swift Strike'

As he struck Camio, he could feel the demon's life force draining away, strengthening him further.

[You have dealt 5,218 DMG]

[The Field Effect -1- has triggered. The Blood Magic Spell, Blood Missile, has been triggered]

From one of the bloody walls, a large blood projectile was sent landing on Camio's exposed body, as it brought additional pain to his receptors.

[You have dealt 3,562 DMG]

The effects of the Sanguine World were visible instantly, from all the effects available to Vecna, they were triggered immediately with his onslaught.

After landing the 'Swift Strike' he saw Camio motion into a defensive stance, but he didn't allow him such generosity of defending himself. Instead, he activated 'Lighting Strike' followed by his 'Blade Dance' skill that slashed the Archdemon five times in rapid succession.

All his attacks contributed to the triggering of Sanguine World's first effect, unleashing Blood Magic Spells that he owned.

With five attacks that caused considerable damage, the effect was triggered two times, having the Blood World attack with two Blood Missiles.

[Archdemon Camio (Soul Fragment) - LV. 100] (18,246/99,828 HP)

Camio's HP rapidly dwindled, and his once fearsome form now looked like that of a wounded beast. His demonic powers were no match for Vecna's vampiric might, and he knew that he was facing a true villain, a being of unimaginable power and malice.

"CURSE YOU THRALL! DESPICABLE!"

"HOW CAN DIRT LIKE YOU POSSESS SUCH POWER?"

"Without it, you would be NOTHING!"

Camio's demonic form wavered, his once fearsome visage now a shattered form of his past.

He had underestimated Vecna's power and the true extent of his abilities. In this blood world, Vecna was the ultimate villain, a nightmarish figure that heroes must face to save the world.

In his rage, Camio swung with all the darkness he had around him, just so he would create space between himself and Vecna, only to miss it by a long run.

The Vampire Lord disintegrated again, only to appear by Camio's side, gulping down a Mana Potion.

"You are nothing, Camio." Vecna declared, his voice resonating with a sinister echo that seemed to come from all directions. "In this world of blood, I am the ultimate ruler. Your pathetic attempts at resistance are in vain." retorted Vecna dropping the glass vial.

As the Sanguine World neared its end with each second passing by, Vecna unleashed his final strike, starting with a Curse Spell.

'Blood Corruption.'

[You have lost 831 HP]

Vecna channeled the blood energies into Camio's bloodstream, corrupting and weakening the demon. Camio's defenses were compromised, and he entered a slowed state, struggling to keep up with what Vecna intended.

This sudden change to his body was felt by the Archdemon, who stopped questioning this situation, acting on pure instincts.

With a final, desperate attempt, Camio unleashed his last remaining power, but it was futile.

The next sword strike sealed his fate, as Vecna's "Blood Requiem" transformed itself under the environment of the Blood World, appearing far deadlier than in the past usages.

[You have sacrificed 10% of your HP]

[Health: 704/5,546 | Mana: 1,052/3,200]

Streams of dark energy surge forth from Vecna's blade, coalescing into twisting tendrils of blood, all containing malevolent eyes on them, that surge towards the Archdemon, all of them piercing into his flesh like impaling spears.

[Critical!]

[You have dealt 25,396 DMG to the target.]

"DAMN IT!!! HOW CAN I LOSE LIKE THIS?"

The Archdemon let out a final, defeated roar before dissipating into nothingness.

Meanwhile, Vecna stood victorious, breathing heavily but triumphant. The battle had pushed him toward new limits, and he finally let loose to find out how far can his new power hold.

Slowly, with his drained mana, even the Sanguine World began dissipating, returning to its progenitor, the Vampire God, but his crimson aura was still pulsating with power.

He was no longer just a vampire.

He was a force of darkness, a malevolent deity that demanded fear and reverence.

With things settling down after the shattering engagement between Vampire and Archdemon, the system was sent into a delirious state, bombarding Vecna with endless notifications of what he achieved.

[Ding!]

'Here it comes, the noise.'

'...'

[A great achievement has been established by a User!]

[The Fragment of Archdemon Camio has been vanquished from Middle Earth!]

'Wait. No! What is this stupid Admin System doing?'

'Don't let others see what I'm doing!'

[You have defeated 'Archdemon Camio (Soul Fragment), earning the following rewards:]

[You will gain: 2,076,350 EXP]

[You will gain, Camio's Demonic Horn, Abyssal Ring, Cloak of Shadows, Camio's Shadowed Talon, Sanguine Elixir, Darkbane Enchantment]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up]

[You have reached level 70!]