Genji's resounding footsteps echoed from a rocky cave, terrifying the vampires in the vicinity. When he came into sight, they gazed in horror at the severed head that dangled by the hair. The blank look on its face told these spectators that their Baron was unprepared for the sudden attack, further adding to Genji's terror.
Genji stopped in front of them and rested the back of his saber on his shoulder before addressing the petrified audience. "I'm getting tired of killing all of you. Why don't you scram and save me the effort?"
Hearing his question, they pushed down their fear and followed his "advice." Who were they kidding? That's Night Stalker, a hunter known for his multiple genocides of vampire covens. After so long, his hunter title had long spread among their society despite how reclusive the two groups were.
Genji let out a yawn and sat down on a mossy log. At this point, he still didn't know where these bloodsuckers were coming from. It seemed like no matter how many he killed, another would always pop up to take their place. So much so that he was losing motivation to annihilate everyone
Bruce came over after the surroundings became safe and presented a wild boar. Genji then took out a random dagger and skillfully butchered the hunt. Since they had started traveling, they hadn't encountered a single human town in multiple weeks, which gave him plenty of time to get used to Bruce's weird behaviors.
Genji suspected he had entered vampire territory, but it could just be the wilderness. Whatever the case, he had killed his fair share of vampires and made a fearsome name for himself.
"I guess it's time to head back."
He pulled out a map and estimated his location on this incomplete map. Yeah, this pretty much confirmed it. He was either not in human lands, or the people of this world hadn't bothered with this area. Genji found the latter unlikely since the hunters needed to keep good records about each town.
If not, they would have lost more people each year before being overwhelmed by the vampires who realized this weakness. To put it another way, if a town wasn't on this map, there was a high chance it had already been destroyed.
Once he confirmed his vicinity, he hopped on Bruce and headed for the nearest town. On the route, he encountered numerous cannon fodder for some reason.
At first, he ignored them, but they kept accumulating as he continued, telling him that something was off about this situation. Genji manifested his flintlock and gunned down three of them in an attempt to intimidate them.
The tactic worked, but he soon realized they were still trailing him. Anxiety was apparent on their faces as they persisted in their efforts.
"Charge. We're breaking through their encirclement," Genji commanded.
Bruce, however, only looked at him stupidly, unsure about his intentions.
*Sigh.*
"Sometimes I wonder if you're a smart horse, a dumb one, or both," Genji mused aloud.
Genji slapped Bruce's behind and got the Nightbane to follow his orders. [Juguar] came out, and Genji transitioned into a cavalry fighter. This was the first time he had fought on horseback, and he had to admit it was quite enjoyable. All he had to do was swing when they got close and steer his mount in the correct direction.
They quickly broke through, but the vampires did something uncharacteristic again. Desperate expressions appeared as they did everything they could to slow him down. From throwing themselves at Bruce to using the corpses of their fallen friends, they did it all without care.
Genji recognized their actions and understood why they were so frantic. He often did the same when he was forced into a corner. Someone was pushing them to delay him—someone high in the hierarchies of vampire society. That was why they didn't have a choice if they wanted to survive.
And this person had set their eyes on Genji and was making his way over. Understanding this, Genji brought Bruce to a stop and entered a stare-off against his foes. There was no point in wasting his stamina against them. Not when he should prepare himself to go all out against the approaching adversary.
Knowing full well the dangers of a Marquis, Genji couldn't afford to hold back his trump cards anymore. The moment his pursuer appeared, he planned to use everything to finish the battle as soon as possible.
Sighs of relief sounded around him as the vampires slowly backed off. Since the target was staying still, why would they continue throwing away their lives?
Hours passed like this, and boredom got the best of Genji. Knowing he might be here for a while, he found a tree to meditate under. The vampires were astounded by his audacity, but none of them dared to approach him despite how vulnerable he appeared right now.
They had done their job, so why would they go beyond when they weren't even getting paid for it? Plus, who knew if this was a trap set by this clever hunter to bait them?
Bruce, though, was the opposite, fidgeting nervously under their gazes. Hey, stupid master. Why did you get off? We were so cool back then when "we" killed everyone.
Eventually, Bruce got used to it and nuzzled next to Genji for comfort. Ah, safety feels so nice.
Time continued to pass until Genji sensed a dangerous presence approaching rapidly. He quickly jumped up from the ground and drew his weapon, startling Bruce, who was next to him.
The surrounding vampires tensed up at his action but soon relaxed when they heard a loud whooshing sound above. Knowing their job was complete, they rushed to flee, fearful of becoming collateral damage. This esteemed one wasn't exactly known for his kindness. Rather, there were stories of how he often used his own people as portable blood banks to fuel his blood arts.
As if proving their fears, several of the slower vampires exploded into crimson mist as a large bat landed across from Genji. Compared to the previous bat form he saw, this one was bigger and exuded a brutal presence. Immense pressure came from it as it slowly morphed into a humanoid, its aura growing with each passing moment.
These actions were very arrogant, telling Genji his opponent didn't think much of him. Otherwise, why would he transform so slowly like he was inviting Genji to attack? Even the other Marquis transformed many times faster than this. Yet when Genji inspected his pursuer, he understood the reason behind his confidence.
[Duke Bellicose]
Health: 14,300/14,300
Blood Energy 1223/620
Con: 33
Str: 33
Dex: 31
Int: 31
Spc: 24
Skills:
- Boss: + 11,000 hp
- Other generic vampire skills
- Bat Transformation (active): Change into a giant bat that allows flight, but weakens blood arts by 40%. Available to all bosses.
No further skills can be read
[You have triggered the response mechanism: Duke's Pursuit]
Details: Due to your rampage in vampire territory, the upper-ranked vampires have become aware of your presence. Since they knew a Marquis had fallen under your blade, they dispatched a stronger combatant to finish you.
Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
"No shit, Sherlock!" Genji retorted against EverReal's useless notification and took a deep breath.
"Seems like I can only gamble on you," Genji muttered, knowing full well a normal battle against a Duke would only have a grim outcome. While the difference in stats between the two ranks wasn't huge numerically, the reality was different as the increments were staggering at that point.
Plus, Genji had a suspicion that what determined their ranks wasn't their stats, but their mastery over blood arts. After all, with each increase in rank, the opponents he faced became deadlier with their blood control. Since there was a pattern, it wouldn't make sense to deviate from it.
"How conceited of you to wait for me. For that, I will make you regret it."
"You're probably right, but I think I would have ended up worse if I chose to flee."
"At least you know your place. Let's finish this quickly so I can go back."
"I feel the same, only I want to be the one to leave."
"One can wish-"
But before the Duke could finish his sentence, a mental shock hit him when Genji activated Dominance Aura. Then, before he could recover, large tentacles burst out of the ground and strangled him. Genji poured everything he had into this ability and then some more by decomposing the crystals in his weapons.
It was literally all the energy he had access to, fueling the summoning circle to unseen heights. The grip strengthened, and the suckers activated, hindering Bellicose's ability to resist. Little by little, these tentacles contracted to suffocate the captive beneath.
Bellicose tried to send out some blood to utilize his blood arts, but the entrapment was airtight. In fact, the inward pressure was so high that he had a hard time even forcing the blood outside of his body.
Now deprived of his greatest weapon, Bellicose was forced to struggle with his physical body. Unfortunately, vampires rarely had to fight barehanded without assistance from their abilities. As a result, his movements were optimized to utilize the blood art's full potential instead of his physical body.
Bellicose possessed a strong body, but he wasn't able to make the most use of it. A lot of force was dispersed as the tentacles tightened and relaxed in the rhythm of his movements. Then these tendrils squeezed inward like an experienced predator, quickly depriving Bellicose of his strength.
His muscles spasmed and the feelers activated, further decreasing their movements. By the end of everything, Bellicose could barely move anymore as the whiskers paralyzed his limbs.
Next, the magic circle lit up, revealing the hidden source of his misery. A huge downward pull was exerted, giving Bellicose some ability to resist, but his movements were futile.
Little by little, he sunk into the ground. Little by little, the summoning circle got brighter. When its glow reached its peak, his entire body was buried, leaving only his head above the damp soil.
"I'm unwilling!" He let out a disgruntled roar before being yanked under. Afterward, the circle faded, sealing off the only connection between the two worlds and trapping him in the Kraken's domain.
Yet this wasn't the end of the battle. The curse energy around his arm swiftly dissipated as the ability tried its best to execute the duke. It wasn't until the dark mist disappeared completely that Genji finally received a killing prompt.
[You have slain Duke Bellicose]
[You have received 27 max energy, 45,246 coins, and Duke Origin Blood]
[Duke Origin Blood]
Rating: Epic
Effect: Upon use, 2% chance to convert your race into a Duke-level vampire, 20% for Marquis, 50% for Count, 25% for Baron, and a 3% chance of unknown mutations.
Description: A higher-quality blood condensed from what remained of Duke Bellicose.
Genji checked the armguard and realized it had also lost a significant amount of durability. This was expected since he had killed a being way above his strength with a single ability. In fact, this achievement was only possible due to all the curse energy Genji had accumulated that had severely increased the armguard's power.
Kraken's Resentment (Curse): The power of this equipment depended on the curse it possessed. Although it provided great power to its wielder, it would attempt to kill them when given the chance. Use this with caution.
You should understand that the curse energy had been piling on since the Spatial battlefield and was further fed by his recent genocides. It was as if Zepher had observed; that amount of curse shouldn't have been possible if it weren't for Genji's [Curse Bearer], keeping the resentful spirit in check.
Paul knew that attacking with this curse would only strengthen Genji, so it held back, giving Genji the chance to utilize it now. But this meant that he could only use this ability once. Plus, he was completely empty of energy, so his combat capabilities were severely weakened. If he encountered even a Baron now, he would have stood no chance.
It was truly a gamble, which was the main reason Genji never liked this ability. It was powerful, but if his opponent survived, it would be his downfall. That was why he had only been using it for its binding effect when he was low on energy to finish a fight. At least that way, he could change his mind if it wasn't required.
"Come on. Let's get out of here before we get surrounded again," Genji said, giving the quivering Bruce a light tap with his foot.
Once the Nightbane calmed itself, Genji pulled his tired body up and set off at top speed. Bruce was more than happy to accommodate him in escaping this terrifying place. That was the scariest vampire Bruce had seen, and he didn't feel like meeting another one, even when his master could easily kill them.
No, the only thought in the innocent horse's mind was how to get to a town to relax. Only then could he brag about his encounters with the other horses and hopefully woo a mate.
"I bet the other horses will be so jealous of my awesomeness."
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In an unknown location, a group of grimly dressed vampires gathered around a stone table. At the front of the group, an older male with streaks of red along his gray hair sat, emitting a heavy sense of authority. He brought his fist to his mouth and cleared his throat, starting the meeting with the council.
"I assume all of you know why we gathered here today."
"Bellicose has fallen."
"Yes, his bloodstone shattered."
"What a shock."
These murmurs came from the participants. A look of unease etched itself onto their faces when they heard that someone rivaling them in strength had fallen. The vampires under their rule had investigated the suspected battle location, but there were no traces, making this event even scarier.
"You know what that means," the older vampire said amidst the silence. "The prophecy is starting."
Hearing his claim, ruthless glares of red eyes locked onto him. They were unhappy with that statement, but nothing could change the workings of fate. The vampires had ruled for too long, and the world wanted them gone.
For context, the prophecy they were talking about came from a human woman three hundred years ago. At the time, their liege had awakened and led them in a revolution against the unsuspecting world. In a matter of weeks, they had pushed humanity to the brink of extinction and cemented their place as the ruling class.
They took pride in this, which was why they denigrated their hierarchy using the noble ranks of the time. They had skipped Viscount because they didn't like how it sounded. To them, you were either a Count or a Baron, nothing in between.
Back then, only a single fortress remained as the heroes made their last stand. It was a bloody battle, but vampires thrived in blood. With each casualty, the tides of battle swung in their favor until they finally destroyed the fortress walls. Then they quickly massacred the strong, disregarding their casualties to claim a pyrrhic victory.
To this day, they are still recovering from that, making them the weakest branch among the three princes. Furious about their losses, they captured the remaining defenders and prepared to vent their wrath through torture or other unsavory means.
Oh, that memory of their prey begging for death still brought joy to them. The only two who didn't utter a single whimper were a blue-haired warrior and a white prophet.
"My body may perish, but my spirit will live on to bring your demise. Wash your necks and await me in fear."
Then the warrior took his own life to cast some unknown spell under the white prophet's assistance. When questioned about the event, the woman bravely provoked them instead.
"A disciple of Cassava never backs down. One day, you will face your extinction as we did. I might not be able to witness that scene, but I have scryed the strings of fate. Your end will begin with a Duke's death!"
Then she refused to say anything more. Rather she provoked them until they lost control and her limb from limb. It was a painful death, but she maintained a deranged smile. It was unnerving, but the vampires didn't pay much attention to it afterward. That was until another warrior charged into their next 100 years later and unleashed a massacre.
Compared to his predecessors, this warrior didn't possess as much power as them, but that was not to say he was weak. Quite the opposite in fact, since he almost killed a Duke under their encirclement.
That was the wake-up call that told them they had gotten complacent. Then, out of paranoia, they unleashed a giant witch hunt and tore through the newly recovered human population to comb any potential threats. The act had reset all of humanity's progress, but the vampire overlords were comforted from their urgency so it didn't matter.
After that, they prospered for another hundred years until a pesky vampire-hunter group popped up. Unleashing a storm of guerrilla warfare, they chipped away at their lower ranks but were otherwise not a threat. In fact, these vampires welcomed their existence as they now had a shepherd for their food and a whetstone to weed out the weak.
As long as the Dukes and Marquises survived, their core forces remained unharmed. They didn't care about the lower ranks because once they dangled a title in front of them, countless vampires would push themselves to fill those ranks. It was not like they were lacking them after such a long period of prosperity.
Occasionally, there were a few Marquises that died under the hunters' traps, but a Duke had never fallen. That was why they were so grim when they heard of Bellicose's death.
"I don't care if that prophecy is real or a bluff," a busty woman said and barbarically slammed the table. "We'll just do this like last time."
"Yes. It's time for another massacre," a vampire with high cheekbones concurred.
"And let the world know our terror once again," a tall man with long fangs followed up.
"I also felt that we've been too tame recently," said a man with a creepy grin.
The other Dukes also agreed with one who abstained from speaking. Seeing the majority in agreement, the head Duke knocked on the table to redirect everyone's attention.
"Since we're all in agreement, make the preparations. It's time to destroy this prophecy once and for all."
With that, the thirteen Dukes got up from the table and returned to their own nests, ready to unleash hell onto the world.