**Chapter Seven: Growth**
The ability of the Dark Stalker, “Shadow Veil,” cloaks the physical body in darkness, concealing all traces of its presence. Even without this ability, the aura of a True Ancestor is already subtle compared to that of a living being, but when I activate it, my presence becomes so faint that I am surprised by it myself.
However, “Shadow Veil” is an ability that consumes an immense amount of energy. It might even be less efficient than the Cursed Flame I stole from the Flesh Eater. Even I, possessing considerable power as a lower-rank Vampire, can only maintain it for a short time, and whether I can sustain it indefinitely in the future remains highly questionable.
Yet, if I were to infuse an excessive amount of Blood power into this energy-draining ability—then I could become a complete “shadow.”
The necessary amount of power is likely to be far beyond what a Dark Stalker can provide. Nevertheless, this ability is exceptionally suited for assassination.
Even with my heightened senses as a Vampire, I would probably remain oblivious to an attack executed with this ability. It is no wonder that the True Ancestors are feared.
Senri detected the presence of the True Ancestor, which was gathered just below a castle built atop a steep cliff. Clad in black attire, their aura melded with the darkness, yet my eyes could not be deceived.
I approached from downwind. Perhaps due to some ability, the presence of Senri following behind me was faint. Originally, True Ancestors are sensitive to the presence of the living, but with this, there was little chance of being noticed.
The gathered group made almost no sound, but I could feel the unmistakable aura of negativity emanating from them.
This is—Necromancy. I can sense my kind. Perhaps I am perceiving something similar to what the Eclipse Knights use to track True Ancestors.
Most likely, they are Skeletons. However, I remained calm. Though there were many, considering the magnitude of the power I sensed, they posed no threat.
The Lord I first faced and the Order of the Final Knights wielded power that was insurmountable. My victory over Albatross was merely luck, and Rainer was a threat worthy of being called the Demon King. Compared to them, this group was far inferior. It would be presumptuous to even compare them; they might be weaker than the rabble I fought against in Rainer’s army.
Back when I served the Lord, I could not handle multiple Skeletons at once, but when did such a gap in strength develop?
Of course, it is not a fault of the enemy’s weakness. I turned to Senri and raised a finger to my lips.
The fact that I can sense their negativity means they can also sense mine. Currently, I am suppressing my presence by controlling my Blood power, so they likely have not noticed me, but if we were to face each other, my true form would be evident.
Though True Ancestors are in opposition to the living, I might be able to converse with them. Of course, it is an absolute condition that they understand language, but if it comes to killing, it should not be too difficult, so it is worth a try.
Perhaps sensing my intentions, Senri frowned and stepped back. It was a silent understanding.
I deliberately made a sound and stepped forward, releasing my presence as I approached the Skeletons.
The group, cloaked in black, raised their heads. As expected, they were Skeletons. The sound of bones clattering against each other filled the air, and within their dark eye sockets glowed an eerie red light.
Among the undead I have encountered, the most common are the Zombies, followed by Wraiths. For Skeletons to manifest, a certain amount of bone must remain, making their occurrence relatively rare.
The group of Skeletons was clad in black leather armor. Their ability to act in unison clearly indicated they were not mere manifestations.
Now, how should I initiate communication? I have had experience interacting with Skeletons under the Lord’s command, but they completely ignored me there. Upon reflection, I realized my communication skills are not particularly high.
Unsure of what to say, I fiddled with my glasses and raised my right hand.
“Hello, hello! It’s a fine night, isn’t it, Skeletons? What are you doing?”
“…………”
The Skeletons did not attack. Instead, they exchanged glances, their teeth clattering together. Skeletons are also True Ancestors. They harbor jealousy towards the living. Their lack of aggression likely stems from recognizing me as one of their own. Thus, it can be said that my expectations were not unfounded.
I observed them with a smile. There were ten Skeletons in total, each armed with weapons, and a leader stood among them. This leader was a Skeleton made entirely of black bones, a result of their rank mutation, known as the Black Bone.
According to my knowledge of True Ancestors, Skeletons struggle to accumulate negative energy due to their lack of flesh. The fact that they have mutated suggests they are formidable opponents.
I examined the weapons of the nearest Skeleton. Most wielded crude, dull swords. Though the blades were large, they were not made of silver, so they posed little threat. Only the leader possessed a long weapon, but it too was not silver.
The presence of a mutated species suggests they possess some degree of intelligence.
“Since we are both beings of death, let me join your ranks.”
As I approached with a friendly demeanor, the leading Skeleton nodded vigorously and cleared a path for me. It seemed they were willing to accept me into their ranks.
Until now, I had been shunned by the living, except for Senri and my father, but it appeared that the dead were more welcoming. The Skeletons kept by the Lord—whom I had named Jack—were rather unfriendly, but perhaps they had taken after their master.
With renewed confidence, I stepped into the circle of Skeletons. From their dark eye sockets, I felt an inexplicable sense of camaraderie.
—
And then, I intercepted a sword swung down from behind me, rotating my body to absorb the impact.
“I’m sorry, but I would prefer it if my clothes didn’t get torn.”
I hadn’t brought any spare clothes. If they ripped my outfit, Senri would surely demand I return to the tailor. The Skeletons all clattered their bones in unison. It was an eerie sight, but I felt no fear.
This was a waste. I remained vigilant. Even without scent or sound, I could feel the movement of the wind. I could not afford to be caught in a similar ambush again.
The Skeletons all swung their blades down at once. I crouched low and swept my machete at a nearby white, smooth, and sturdy femur.
The impact was solid. Though the Skeletons were made of human bones, their strength was far superior to that of the original. However, the thick blade of my “Light Eater” sliced through it with ease. I swung the blade away and stepped outside the crumbling circle.
The sensation transmitted through my hand made me frown.
“This weapon… Is it meant for slaying the dead?”
Now that I think about it, this was the first time I had used this weapon to cut down the undead, aside from the Lord’s Wraith. The sensation that traveled through my hand was distinctly different from when I had cut through living magical beings.
The thick blade that severed the Skeletons glistened with a wet sheen. It had originally been a heavy machete, but had it always shone like this? It seemed the Lord intended to fight alongside his comrades. He had never shown such an element in his previous life, but perhaps he was a cunning one.
The Skeletons began to encircle me slowly, their movements revealing a level of skill, but individually, they did not seem to match the capabilities of Jack, whom the Lord had controlled. Though they were of the same kind, the quality of their materials must have differed.
“This is a defensive maneuver. Let’s talk.”
I addressed the larger Black Bone.
In its grasp was a weapon known as a poleaxe. It was versatile for cutting, thrusting, and sweeping, making it a powerful piece of equipment. While it was difficult to handle, it was said to excel in close combat in open spaces, boasting unparalleled strength in battles between humans.
Its weight should have been a weakness, but against the True Ancestors, such a weakness was negligible. The shaft appeared to be made of metal, yet it was lifted effortlessly.
The pitch-black Skeleton advanced toward me. The blade, imbued with sufficient power, descended upon me like a whirlwind.
Strong. Skilled. I barely managed to evade that strike by stepping back just in time. The axe-like blade gouged into the ground, sending dirt flying. The only sound that echoed through the moonless night was the slicing of the wind.
The strike was sharp and smooth. At the very least, this was no ordinary soldier. If it were human, it would be called a seasoned warrior.
However, regrettably, I am not human, and the Black Bone is not human either.
That flurry of strikes was a technique reserved for seasoned veterans, but it was too fragile for a battle between monsters.
I fully captured the flowing barrage of attacks with my eyes. Utilizing gravity and centrifugal force, I intercepted a diagonal strike from above with my “Light Eater.”
The high-pitched sound of metal rang out. The poleaxe was deflected wide. That strike, which would have been impossible for a human to withstand, posed no threat to me, a lower-rank Vampire.
The opponents I had faced until now were overwhelmingly large. Size equates to strength. The pitch-black Skeleton was larger than me, but it lacked muscle and was too light.
With the force of the blow still resonating, I seized the axe spear with my left hand, halting its arc as it lunged toward me.
A shock coursed through my entire body, and my feet creaked slightly under the strain. However, that was all. Just that was enough to stop the barrage of attacks. I felt no pain, no discomfort. Not a single wound marred my skin, and I had hardly expended any of my Blood power.
I tightened my grip and wrested the axe spear from its wielder. The strength of the black bone was formidable, but my physical power surpassed it.
I had indeed grown stronger. As I pondered this, the black skeleton, now weaponless, charged at me without hesitation. This was completely outside my expectations. From where it had drawn its weapon, I could see a knife with a slightly elongated blade gripped at its waist. But this was no ordinary knife.
Its gleam was silver. The force behind it showed no regard for its own safety. It shattered the ground beneath it, and the murderous intent behind that attack was far beyond what one would expect from a mere skeleton.
—
I met that ambush with a light sweep of the axe spear’s shaft.
The sound of bones shattering echoed through the air. The larger black skeleton was sent flying effortlessly, impaling itself against a cliffside. The silver knife tumbled across the ground.
“Do you really think you can ambush me repeatedly? I learn too.”
No matter how strong I was, they would always try to burn, slash, or stab me with ambushes. I couldn’t tolerate having my clothes ruined time and again. The only thing that could lure me into a false sense of security now was Senri’s seductive charm.
As the surrounding skeletons witnessed their leader’s defeat, they scattered in unison. It seemed they had no intention of seeking revenge. I picked up a stone that had rolled at my feet and hurled it toward the fleeing skeletons.
The fist-sized rock flew straight and shattered the skulls of the skeletons. One skeleton soared through the air before crashing to the ground. I had never practiced throwing, but it seemed that a vampire’s athletic abilities were generally exceptional.
I dashed forward, systematically slicing through the escaping skeletons with my Light Devour. My speed outmatched theirs, and I could sense their presence. At this point, it felt like mere work. Although I hadn’t achieved my goal of eliminating all of them, the atmosphere didn’t lend itself to negotiation, so it couldn’t be helped.
Once I had thoroughly dispatched all the members, Senri finally appeared. It hadn’t been long since the battle began, and I had managed to avoid tearing my clothes. How had I performed in combat?
As I eagerly awaited her evaluation, Senri regarded me with a cold gaze and spoke.
“End. The reactions of the Adoro inside the castle have vanished. The surrounding Adoro are all heading toward the castle. Something has happened… We need to hurry.”
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An activity report has been posted on the Kōkyū Communication. We have released character designs for the comic adaptation, so please check them out!
Volume 1 of the Book Edition is now on sale. It’s packed with illustrations of the lovely Senri, power-up illustrations of Ruu, and a newly written short story. Please give it your support!
Recently, Senri has been acting cold. What should I do… Father-in-law?
Next Chapter: End vs. the last battle. Stay tuned!
*Note: The preview may differ from the actual content.
—Tsukikage
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