**Chapter 16: The Battle of the Ancient Castle II**
Observation strengthens me. The power of the King of Stakes is so immense that it feels utterly unattainable. Yet, Seーブル stands alone.
I cannot claim to be just a person myself, but perhaps due to my overwhelming strength, the Vampire is overly complacent. It is only natural for them to be hunted by humans.
In the darkness illuminated solely by moonlight, my eyes clearly discerned the surrounding situation.
Seーブル stepped forward, sword in hand. Perhaps it requires concentration to hide one’s presence; the aura that had completely vanished had returned, albeit slightly.
The reach of the sword isn’t particularly long, but it is made of Blood. The concept of distance becomes irrelevant.
“Let me entertain you, with the power of the ‘Ancestor,’ the ‘King of the Dead!’”
Her eyes narrowed in delight at the thought of destruction. An indescribable chill coursed through my body from my feet upward.
I already knew how to fight against Vampires. I simply needed to do what I had always hated when facing strong foes. Seーブル was careless.
I stepped back. Seーブル observed my movements, a faint smile gracing her lips, as if to flaunt her confidence.
In that instant, I lunged forward with all my might.
A Blood sword? Alertness? Measuring distance? Nonsense. I am not human.
I have learned.
To defeat a Vampire requires—power that surpasses theirs.
After all, the Blood stakes are not something that can be easily wielded. If the conditions were that lax, there would be no way Rainer would struggle against them.
“!?”
If I do not apply weakness, and the opponent is of a higher caliber, I must subdue them before they can unleash their full power.
Seーブル’s eyes twisted in shock. The Blood sword shattered, transforming into arrows that were launched toward me.
Several arrows pierced my body. A dull pain and shock jolted through me. Yet, I had resolved myself completely. The only thought that raced through my mind was:
—Another fine outfit ruined.
I swung my machete, severing Seーブル’s right arm at the shoulder.
Her delicate face contorted in an instant. However, I would not grant her the opportunity for retaliation. While a Vampire’s regeneration ability is formidable, it requires energy, and mending an object the size of an arm takes time.
I would not let my guard down. I would do everything that had previously frustrated me.
The Blood that flowed from the severed shoulder writhed, instantly forming a shield.
Indeed, what a nuisance of a power. It is incredibly versatile. The speed of its formation is rapid. While it is no different from ‘Sharp Claw’ or ‘Sharp Fang’ in that it transforms a part of the physical body, the degree of freedom is unparalleled.
And then, I realized something. It felt as if I had received divine inspiration.
It wouldn’t particularly grant me an advantage. However, amidst the battle against a higher caliber, I felt exhilarated. The curiosity for the unknown was something I had never satisfied in my previous life.
“I see… I understand now. The power of the King of Stakes is—an evolved form of ‘Sharp Claw’ and ‘Sharp Fang.’”
“!?”
Just as my ‘Curse Absorption’ seemed to have altered ‘Vampirism,’ the necromancer who created the King of Stakes must have modified ‘Sharp Claw’ and ‘Sharp Fang’ to produce the ‘Blood Curse.’
What keen insight! While any Vampire can wield Vampirism, ‘Sharp Claw’ and ‘Sharp Fang’ are strictly abilities of Shiki, making them inaccessible to those who have directly become Vampires through the power of Familiarization.
The King of Stakes became a major force likely because the powers passed down through Familiarization were incredibly useful.
I unleashed ‘Light Devourer,’ shattering the Blood shield. Against the blow unleashed by the Vampire’s strength, the Blood shield held only for a fleeting moment.
But perhaps that was sufficient. Seーブル, who had been mere meters away, literally ‘dispersed’ into mist.
It was the ability of ‘Mistification.’ I had been alert. However, there was nothing I could do. The power I possessed could not counter Mistification.
“N/A… I underestimated you, ‘Ancestor’ N/A! I never thought you would charge in without hesitation…”
Seーブル reappeared a few meters away.
Her black attire melted into the darkness. The right arm that had been severed began regenerating at a visibly rapid pace.
Her pupils, the color of blood, widened. A strong killing intent made my body tremble.
“Truth be told—my power isn’t all that great.”
I see, she cannot regenerate while in mist form. And the time she can transform into mist is limited.
She must be expending a significant amount of energy. It is only logical that she would use a power that cannot be ignored even with ‘Shadow Veil.’ This is quite the learning experience.
I kicked the ground hard and charged straight at Seーブル. The female Vampire narrowed her eyes.
“N/A… Don’t think the same trick will work on me again… N/A!”
The flowing Blood swirled, instantly forming a massive triangular prism—a Blood spear.
To match the full power of a Vampire’s leg strength is quite the feat. However, I did not charge in recklessly.
The transformation of my left arm was already complete. It wasn’t that my skill was high; I had activated my ability the moment I stepped in.
The power I used was ‘Sharp Claw.’ However, I infused it with Blood, excessively transforming it. Seーブル’s expression twisted.
“N/A!?”
During my battle with ‘Person Eater,’ I had transformed my entire arm into a blade. But now, what I had created was—a ‘Bone Shield’ with a smooth, streamlined surface.
While it wasn’t enough to turn Blood into a sword, if I could develop this power to create the ‘Blood Curse,’ there was no reason I couldn’t do something similar.
It seems that ‘Sharp Claw’ and ‘Sharp Fang’ are not strictly abilities to transform claws or fangs—but rather abilities to transform bones.
The white shield clashed against the crimson spear. I did not know which was stronger, the bone shield or the Blood spear. However, the shield was not created to withstand the attack.
The spear’s tip slid across the surface, flowing behind it. Seーブル hastily raised her remaining left arm. I mercilessly brought my machete down upon it.
I felt the sensation of bone and flesh crushing beneath my strike. I swung the machete in a series of attacks, but the protection of her head was undeniably tough.
“This is the best N/A! What a feeling N/A! Maybe Rainer is satisfied as well.”
I was saved, so Seーブル’s interference ultimately became a tailwind for me, but aside from that, avenging a formidable foe was quite a rewarding experience.
Seーブル vanished again. Another instance of Mistification. What a nuisance of a power.
The black mist moved at high speed. It would be difficult to distinguish the black mist from the darkness of the night.
—If one were human, that is.
“!?”
Without hesitation, I pursued the black mist, kicking off the ground.
I pressed forward. I must not give Seーブル any leeway. While Mistification is a powerful ability, even the mightiest abilities have their weaknesses.
The mist climbed the wall. As I chased it up the wall, I blew a breath toward my still-rarely-used outfit.
Black sparks ignited, engulfing my entire body in an instant. A dull pain and heat tormented me.
I would not let my guard down. I was unsure if I could burn the mist away with fire. However, even if it declared war against the King of Stakes, I would finish Seーブル here. With the power of Blood still remaining, I had little worry of my physical body being consumed.
“Hahaha, how do you keep your clothes from disappearing? Teach me, N/A!”
“N/A… Are you serious? ‘Ancestor’ N/A!”
I extended my left arm, cloaked in black flames. The flames touched the mist, but I could not tell if it had any effect.
However, even if the flames did not penetrate the mist, I could at least evaporate the Blood she controlled. It was not a bad strategy. It would have been perfect if my clothes hadn’t disappeared.
The black mist ascended to the heavens. Even I could not follow it into the sky. I could jump, but that would be reckless.
In the sky, the mist began to gather. Against the backdrop of the moon, the tattered Seーブル took form.
Vampires have the ability to transform into bats. But… could it be that she wouldn’t fall?
As I looked up with faint hope, Seーブル spoke.
“Hah, hah, I’m surprised. It seems you are—much more accustomed to battle than I anticipated.”
Seーブル did not fall. Two pairs of crimson wings sprouted from her back, and she hovered perfectly in midair.
The wounds I had painstakingly inflicted slowly began to heal.
This was not an application of bat power. The wings sprouting from her back were made of Blood.
Upon reflection, the movement of Blood freely is magic itself. I merely transformed the shape of bones, but Seーブル’s curse had completely reached the realm of ‘Liquid Manipulation.’
The wings did not flap. Rather than flying like a bird, they were likely fixed in the air, allowing her to float.
“You coward, come down, N/A! Don’t you have any pride as a Vampire, N/A!”
“Say what you will. I will no longer—let my guard down.”
I widened my eyes, gazing up at the pale Seーブル.
Yet, the emotion I felt was not anger.
—I want it. I want that ability.
With the ‘Blood Curse,’ I could fly.
I could catch that cowardly Senri who flies away—and beyond that, there seemed to be many uses for it.
Seーブル claimed she would not let her guard down, but I had yet to reveal my ‘Curse Absorption’ to her.
The unknown cannot strategize against me.
Then, Seーブル, fully healed, let out a deep sigh.
“While it is vexing to retreat under pressure… unfortunately, I am here on my master’s orders.”
Suddenly, I heard the distant howl of beasts. It was not just one or two.
Now, I became aware of the presence of multiple living objects surrounding me. Just a moment ago, there had been nothing, so it was likely that Seーブル had summoned them somehow.
Without making a sound, massive shadows emerged around me. Towering figures with developed limbs and sharp, hooked claws, their golden eyes glinting in the dim light. The familiar scent filled the air—a strong, beastly odor. Werewolves.
There were about ten of them. They bore no weapons like swords, but I had already experienced the sharpness of their claws. A sticky, suffocating malice made me shudder. The Werewolves did not flinch at the sight of me, unlike Oliver, who had surrendered at the mere appearance of my form.
I frowned. It had been a while since I had gained this new life, and while I had faced overwhelming numbers of weaklings before, this was the first time I was surrounded by such powerful foes.
As I remained alert, Seーブル spoke in a soothing voice.
“Stay calm, End. I mean you no harm. You are strong. With you, we can surely create a realm for the dead.”
A realm for the dead, huh? I had no idea what they desired, nor did I care. However… it seemed that Seーブル and his faction were not to my liking.
I focused my power, retracting my left arm that had transformed into a shield. I extinguished the Cursed Flame and dropped the Light Eater I had been holding onto the ground.
Seーブル’s eyes instantly softened. The powerful Vampire had seized aerial dominance, and we were surrounded by elite Werewolves. It was a dire situation, to say the least.
And then, without hesitation, I poured my power into the air.
“Let me take a page from the strong foes I’ve battled thus far. Right now, I am—stronger than Albaトス or Rainer, without a doubt.”
After all, tonight was a Full Moon—and just yesterday, Senri had gifted me a generous supply of his blood.
I felt an overwhelming surge of power, as if my body might tear apart. This was not an external force; it was a power rising from within.
My skin split, and dark, needle-like fur burst forth from beneath. My bones creaked and groaned as they shifted, my skeletal structure altering and muscles swelling. My vision rapidly expanded.
If I reached out now, I might just be able to grasp Seーブル floating in the air. But unfortunately, in this form, I couldn’t seize any object.
My body was ablaze with heat. My mind felt as if it were on fire. Power surged through me. It was worth it to pour the blood’s strength beyond necessity.
The Werewolves, who had been twice my size just a moment ago, now seemed like children. I was certainly larger than I had been during my battle with Rainer.
I could hear it. I could smell it. The scent of fear. It was something I had not encountered in my previous battles. The Werewolves were unsettled.
Indeed, being large had its advantages. With a single swipe of my forelegs, I could crush those I found displeasing.
Seーブル’s expression twisted, despite knowing I could transform into a dog.
“This power… Your ability is—”
“Just between us, it’s to become a fire-breathing dog.”
As I narrowed my eyes and replied, I poured my entire being into a mighty roar.