Under the relentless bombardment of invisible essence, the bronze bells began to tremble violently. In the blink of an eye, countless cracks spiderwebbed across their surface.

Fear consumed the fox vampire's eyes, but she was utterly helpless. She could only watch in silent desperation as her last line of defense crumbled.

When she tried to flee, she found she couldn't even move a finger.

Harmonious Quartet! It was the signature technique of the H.A.R.M. Admiral of Cascadia!

That damned woman had even taught this technique to him!

"That woman, I have a tracker on her." This was her final bargaining chip. But it elicited no response.

Despite her frantic thoughts, the boundless essence suddenly pierced through the fox vampire’s body, like countless arrows tearing through a tattered flag!

Pop! Pop! Pop!

Horrific blood holes erupted across the vampire's body, gradually merging under the continuous onslaught of essence until her entire form became an unrecognizable mass of bloody flesh.

The only thing that remained intact was the vampiric core, which I had deliberately spared.

I retrieved the fox vampire's core. As for the tracker, whether it relied on magic or satellite technology was irrelevant. With the fox vampire reduced to a bloody pulp, any tracking device would be useless.

Besides, I wasn't worried about finding Rose. All I needed to know was that she wasn't taken by the foxvamp.

Her identity was now abundantly clear. A woman, hunting vampires alone, under 30, and already a Colonel in H.A.R.M. The only person fitting that description was the Admiral's disciple Butcher Garcia had mentioned, the Vampire Hunter who had achieved Wave Realm Perfection in a mere ten years.

The fox vampire's third great-uncle, powerful enough to capture and subdue Rose, was clearly a formidable force. Yet, even he hadn't dared to harm her. This begged the question: who else in Pinewood County would be bold enough to kidnap her, knowing full well who she was?

The kidnapper hadn't killed her on sight, indicating she wasn't the ultimate target.

If this was a plot against H.A.R.M., it was far beyond my capability to intervene. But if it was aimed at me, surely the kidnapper would have left a message.

With that in mind, I searched the house for clues. And there it was, on the living room wall, likely where Rose had been taken, a line of crooked, blood-red words: "Livia Simian." As if afraid I wouldn't find her lair, she had even included the coordinates. No other message was left. Perhaps she was simply efficient, or perhaps she had wanted to leave a more elaborate taunt but lacked the vocabulary to do so.

… …

The roar of a waterfall grew louder as Livia Simian slowed her pace, signaling their approach to the ape vampire's dwelling. Rose was surprised when they emerged beside the cascading water to find a grand mansion, indistinguishable from a human residence.

Without hesitation, Livia entered the hall. A staircase led to the second floor, flanked by corridors on either side. Livia turned left, stopping at a door that stood out from the others - it was made of reinforced metal.

With a clang, the metal door swung open, revealing a long, winding stone staircase descending into the depths.

Stolen novel; please report.

Though unlit, the darkness didn't hinder Livia's progress. Moments later, they reached another, even larger metal door, this one covered in rust. A small, embedded door was set within it, secured by three thick metal bars.

Livia retracted the bars one by one, opening the small door. It was just large enough to fit a human girl, and that's exactly what Livia Simian did, shoving Rose inside. A damp, earthy smell immediately assaulted Rose’s nostrils.

In the light streaming through a small opening high in the thick concrete wall, a silhouette stirred. As her eyes adjusted to the gloom, Rose saw a massive ape squatting a few yards away. It observed her with intense interest, as if she were both a delicate toy and a delectable meal.

Its black fur was clean and shiny, evidence that it frequently washed itself with the water hose connected to a faucet on the wall. The cell was stark, devoid of any furniture except for a metal toilet installed on the opposite side.

I might be able to squeeze through that window, was Rose's first thought. But the massive ape vampire stood between her and that potential escape route.

"Don't even think about it," the ape monster growled, a cruel grin twisting its lips. "I'll toss you out of there, once you are left with only bones."

"What's your name?" Rose asked, her voice steady.

The ape vampire was taken aback by the question. The other girls were always terrified, trembling and screaming. At first, it had relished their fear, but the novelty quickly wore off. Some even soiled themselves before it could begin its cruel games.

This girl, however, showed no signs of fear. It sensed no aura emanating from her, yet her composure was unwavering. Where did this confidence come from?

"Primus Simian," it finally answered, intrigued by the unexpected conversation. It had been decades, perhaps even a century, since it had last engaged in a meaningful exchange.

"Have you been locked up here for long?" Rose inquired.

"We only moved here..." Primus trailed off, its brow furrowed in concentration. The concept of time had long since lost its meaning. A flicker of anger flashed across its face. It had been mistreated for far too long.

"Why did they lock you here?" Sensing an opportunity, Rose posed the most inflammatory question.

The ape let out a guttural roar. "Don't you provoke me! I'll tear you limb from limb!"

Rose remained unfazed, even offering a smile that enhanced her already captivating beauty. For a moment, the ape was stunned into silence.

"Your name is Primus," Rose continued, her voice steady and clear. "You are the alpha male of the new generation. And your father feared your challenge. You must have reached your current level before being imprisoned." Every word resonated with Primus, echoing his deepest fears and frustrations. "And I can help you!" Rose added, sensing the emotional turmoil brewing within the ape.

"For someone as fragile as you, you certainly talk a big game."

To the ape's astonishment, Rose rose to her feet and walked directly towards him, stopping just inches away. She took its hand and placed it on her wrist. "Feel this," she commanded.

Even though her chambers were sealed, her body, constantly nourished by celestial essence and precious elixirs, coupled with years of relentless training, thrummed with the unmistakable energy of a Wave Realm practitioner.

Primus's face contorted in disbelief. Apes revered power, even dormant power.

"How? How is this possible?" he marveled, then his brow furrowed in concern. "Are they mad to provoke whoever trained you?"

"Not them," Rose emphasized. "You!"

Slowly, the realization dawned on Primus. He nodded, deep in thought.

… …

[Foxvamp (Perfection of First Realm), total lifespan 602 years, 472 years remaining - absorbed]

[Remaining Absorbed Lifespan: 657 years]

This fox vampire possessed the greatest talent and the most remaining lifespan I had encountered thus far.

However, I couldn't dwell on that now. Rose Hightower was in danger, awaiting my rescue. It's not because I'm in love or anything, I reassured myself. It's simply that I can't let anyone die because of my actions.

I won't recklessly charge into the enemy's trap like someone blinded by love and acting on impulse either. Preparation is key.

First, I needed to replenish the essence drained by the Harmonious Quartet. Without hesitation, I invested five precious years of absorbed lifespan into the True Explanation of Astral Fortification.

Instantly, although I remained pale, the empty chambers within my body were filled. I could now unleash another 131 attacks of the Harmonious Quartet and have the chambers refilled if I had to.

Next, equipment. The ideal source for gear suited to a nocturnal forest battle in the mountain wasn't the police station, but the barracks. As if God himself intervened, the usually heavily guarded military camp was sparsely manned today.

By the time I headed towards my destination, the sun had begun its descent, casting a warm glow over the Berkshire Mountains. The ape vampire's dwelling was nestled deep within their slopes, but I was undeterred. The "Restless Ape" talent, gleaned from a vampiric core, granted me an uncanny agility on the mountain trails.