**Chapter Six: Lower Rank Vampire**
Vampires. They are one of the most renowned species among the myriad of creatures in the realm, reigning as the kings of the night.
Possessing numerous special abilities, they are true monsters capable of facing entire armies single-handedly. I may still be a Lower Rank, but even so, I possess a combat strength that rivals a thousand. If a human were to share my physical prowess, they would undoubtedly be hailed as a Hero.
I land on the ground, feeling countless eyes fixated on me. The wind caresses my cheek, and the scents of earth, grass, and prey tickle my nostrils. A powerful surge of violent impulse and omnipotence rises from the depths of my being, prompting me to lick my lips.
I can see them. The moonlight is faint, but I can clearly make out a black beast hiding among the tall grass, watching me intently. However, it seems the creatures have also noticed me. Countless eyes observe me with cold detachment, showing no signs of fear.
There are nearly ten of them, and their size is twice that of the Night Wolves once commanded by my Lord.
Yet, I am not overconfident—I do not feel intimidated.
I lack the special abilities typically associated with vampires. The significant difference between a Lower Rank and its mutated counterparts is that the Lower Rank possesses only the physical body of a vampire, devoid of the various special powers one might associate with the term “vampire.”
Indeed, I am a Lower Rank. But that is more than enough.
With inhuman strength and an extraordinary regenerative ability, I feel no pain or fatigue in my body.
The End Knights, including Rufuri, wield the sacred silver weapons that are the vampires’ weakness. Even in fairy tales, the End Knights are depicted as armed with these holy weapons. They gather their weaknesses, form a group, and aim for dawn.
This means that even those who harbor vast amounts of holy energy must exploit weaknesses when facing a mutated creature; otherwise, they risk danger.
They band together, relentlessly seeking my life. The necromancer is an enemy of humanity. The remnants of my Lord claimed that only a handful could defeat me.
Senri’s hand, which had been stretched out before me, begins to loosen. I place my hand atop hers.
“Don’t back down. It’s fine.”
I possess no combat skills. However, such things are unnecessary for a monster.
The blood of Senri that I drank last night burns within me.
What I need is to control myself. I must rein in my instincts, preventing my mind from being dragged by my body, lest I become a monster like those in the tales.
I suppress the urge to extend my claws, and I draw my ‘Light Eater’ from my waist.
There is calculation behind this. While I seek to score points, Senri is a professional in combat. I wanted her to see my fighting style just once. Most of my hunting in the forest had been solitary and ended with a single strike, so this is the first time she will witness it up close.
I calm my raging heart and narrow my eyes. Perhaps as a form of intimidation, the beasts take a step forward. However, in terms of ferocity, I am superior.
I will kill them. I will slay them, and through that, I will demonstrate my harmlessness, and then… I will learn their weaknesses. I need to understand what to do when the End Knights or vampire hunters come for me.
The black beast lunges at me. Its agile movement appears slow to my inhuman reflexes.
I shift my footing slightly and swing ‘Light Eater.’ The thick, jet-black blade easily pierces through its foreleg and continues on to decapitate it. The sensation of cutting through flesh elicits an overwhelming sense of happiness from the monster within me. I bury that feeling deep inside and pivot as I step.
I kick away a beast that leaps at me from the side. The sensation of crushing a hard object spreads through my toes as the creature emits a small scream, bouncing off the ground several times before lying still.
Though its claws had shallowly cut my leg, by the time I returned to the ground, the wound had already healed completely.
I do not require breath. I lower my body and charge at the nearest beast. Fear flickers in its lifeless eyes. I swing my blade down with all my might toward its skull, and that alone renders the beast motionless.
—What a glorious feeling. The joy of moving freely fills me, mingling with the exhilaration of violent impulse.
I pause for a moment, focusing on Senri behind me to calm my emotions.
It’s a dangerous sensation, different from bloodlust. I find myself inexplicably craving Senri’s blood. I realize just how precarious my situation is.
If I acted purely on emotion, it would feel good. But that would not allow me to survive.
From behind, I hear multiple footsteps pounding against the ground. There are five beasts remaining. They are not fleeing. They are coming to avenge their fallen comrades. They are coming to pounce on me.
Had they been mere wild creatures, they would have fled after I took down three of their number. This fighting spirit must belong to magical beasts.
If they wish to kill me, they must do so decisively.
I spin my body widely, shielding Senri behind me. The chance of failure is almost zero. What I need to consider is to avoid being consumed by the thrill of battle and to eliminate my enemies without soiling my clothes.
While the beasts swing their claws once, I can strike with my blade three times.
The thick muscles I have honed, along with my fur and bones, pose no threat to me, enhanced as I am by Senri’s blood and the evil curse. There is no need to devise a strategy.
I cleave through the skull, severing the face, and with my outstretched left hand, I deeply slice into its flesh. I outmaneuver a beast attempting to circle around me with even greater speed, killing it effortlessly.
The splattered blood ignites an indescribable thrill within me.
At this rate—perhaps I won’t even learn their weaknesses.
As that thought crosses my mind, Senri suddenly cries out sharply.
“End it!”
“What!?”
I had completely let my guard down. I hadn’t noticed at all. I thought I was being calm, but perhaps I had lost myself in excitement.
Light flooded my vision. It was a volley of flaming arrows. Countless arrows of brilliant flame scattered sparks as they flew toward me from all directions.
It was an offensive spell. The speed was incredible—there was no time to evade. They were clearly homing in on me. I quickly shoved Senri’s arm away and rolled backward.
Almost simultaneously, the blazing light pierced through my entire body.
There was no pain. The flames erupted, filling my vision with light. Heat licked at my body, and the shock sent me tumbling backward.
In that fleeting moment, a series of past scenes flashed through my mind. My bedridden previous life. The resurrection through evil magic. The days spent as my Lord’s puppet, the moment I rebelled against that, and my subsequent defeat. The deal with Ruu, the battle between the End Knights and my Lord. The construction of Ruu’s grave. Conversations with Senri. The moment I was reduced to just a head and drank blood.
And then, silence fell, and the world returned to darkness.
I was left in a daze. Dazed, I examined my body. There was no pain. I no longer felt the heat. My clothes had numerous large, charred holes, exposing my skin.
I ran my fingers over the surface. There was no pain. No wounds.
“End it…”
“Oh, I see… Vampires—”
Now I understand. How foolish I have been.
The vampire’s body possesses a powerful resistance to all forms of magic. The countless flaming arrows that should have brought about my demise only pushed me back a few steps. It seems that the visions I experienced were merely my mind jumping to conclusions…
Senri rushed over to me, her gaze filled with concern. It appeared that all the flaming arrows had struck me, leaving her unscathed.
Thank goodness…
“It’s fine, no problem…”
I turned my gaze toward the direction from which the flaming arrows had come. Surrounding us in a fan shape were about ten figures. Judging by their light armor, they must be the guards from the carriage I had seen moments ago.
Among them, two men and women wielded staffs. They were likely the ones who had shot the flaming arrows. However, their expressions were now one of shock.
The power of their magic had been considerable. While I couldn’t be certain since I emerged unscathed, it likely had the capacity to easily incinerate beasts of the same caliber as those I had slain.
Though they outnumbered me, none of them bore the aura of holy energy like the End Knights. They were mere mercenaries.
They were not trained to fight vampires, just ordinary soldiers. From their petrified expressions, it was clear they were not formidable opponents. Compared to Senri, Rufuri, or Nebira, they were vastly inferior.
The unique issue here was that my heightened senses had failed to detect their approach, as I had become engrossed in hunting the beasts.
The primal instincts of a monster, having hunted magical beasts, incessantly urged me to kill the humans before me.
“End…”
Senri called my name in a trembling voice. But there was no need for concern.
I smiled and raised my voice to the encircling figures.
“Wait! If I’ve caused a misunderstanding, I apologize. We are humans!”
“What…?”
Finding a single person slaughtering beasts in a place devoid of light would naturally provoke an urge to strike first. I wished they would at least acknowledge my presence, but there are countless monsters that take on human forms.
Since both of us were unharmed, I decided to forgive them with an open heart. I should forgive them. There was no need to be swept away by impulse. Perhaps I am… a truly good person?
As those thoughts crossed my mind, a chuckle bubbled up.
“Hehe… Sorry, but I’m in a hurry. I’ll be on my way.”
“Ah… N/A…”
While negotiating for compensation wouldn’t be a bad idea, I was unfortunately in a state of N/A. The longer I talked, the more likely I was to slip up. I had gathered precious metals from the ruins of the lord’s mansion, so the money on this side should be fine.
Without waiting for a response, I swiftly scooped up Senri with both hands and dashed away with all my might.
An attack was launched against me, but I felt fantastic. The offensive magic had no effect. I had forgotten.
Vampires possess a strong resistance to all forms of magic. Mental manipulation spells are ineffective, and so are offensive spells. Moreover, that trait seems to be even more powerful than I had imagined. This is great news for someone like me, whose goal is survival.
A Mage capable of casting offensive magic is a type of weapon. Compared to swordsmen, a Mage’s attacks are extremely powerful in both range and potency. Mages are elite and are favored in every nation. It is said that the strength of an army is determined by the number and quality of Mages it possesses.
The fact that magic is ineffective against me is significant. While it’s still possible that the Mage who attacked me just moments ago was weak, I can’t afford to let my guard down; it feels as if the potential enemies have suddenly decreased. If magic doesn’t work, my options in a pinch will also change.
Realizing this—thank goodness.
In the blink of an eye, the presence of people vanished. I continued to sprint at full speed for several minutes, and once I was confident that I had completely shaken off my pursuers, I set Senri down on the ground.
Senri wobbled slightly but quickly regained composure and looked up at me. She touched the charred hole in my clothing with her fingertips.
“End… Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Not a scratch on me. They didn’t retaliate. Senri, vampires are immune to offensive magic!”
“…I know. But there’s a limit to that…”
I could grow stronger. There were still many challenges ahead, but I felt a sense of accomplishment. Considering my current status, having learned no fighting techniques from anyone, if I were to learn from Senri, I could become even stronger.
That’s right. Perhaps… I might even become capable of using magic as well. I am a candidate for the lord’s body. I can’t imagine a Mage like the lord would choose a vessel without magical elemental properties.
In my previous life, such a thing was out of the question. If I were to learn the magic to transfer souls like the lord, my chances of survival would greatly increase.
As I was filled with determination, Senri let out a sigh of exasperation.
§ § §
I had given it enough time. Looking down at the town bathed in sunlight from the window, Epe squinted. The bustling sound of passing carriages filled the air. There was a peaceful human activity taking place, something that the End Knight was meant to protect.
I had waited long enough for End, who was still human, to succumb to the impulses of a demon. I had given them time to think. Senri had not returned.
“Time’s up… Senri. I don’t know what happened, but… you’ve really done it this time, End-kun.”
Her tone was calm, but the glimmer in her eyes was sharp.
Senri Sylvis possessed extraordinary talent as an End Knight. At just seventeen, she was already on the verge of becoming a First-Class Knight, an achievement that even Epe, who was known as one of the strongest End Knights, recognized. If Epe had been the same age, she might have even felt jealousy towards Senri’s shining talent. And eventually, that power would surpass even Epe’s.
End Knights are rare. They must be retrieved at all costs. It shouldn’t be too late.
Even at this point, Epe hadn’t considered the possibility that Senri had been killed. The body of an End Knight, trained in manipulating Sei energy, instinctively erects defensive barriers. I couldn’t imagine that End could break through that.
However, if, for some reason, Senri had been seduced, then at that moment—she should be killed without feeling pain. That would be the last mercy of a master.
The eyes of her third-class Knight disciples were sharp. The exhaustion that had been present immediately after Senri’s disappearance was already gone. Their condition was excellent. End Knights are accustomed to tragedy. They do not let emotions interfere with their missions. Even Nebira, who was most affected by Senri’s abduction, had completely recovered.
Noticing Epe’s change in demeanor, Nebira briefly confirmed.
“Master… Are we going to pursue her?”
“…Nebira, do you have confidence that you can defeat Senri? The possibility of confrontation is not low.”
“…That is…”
Nebira’s expression twisted, and he hesitated.
In every aspect, third-class Knights are inferior to second-class Knights. Moreover, Senri possesses a blessing that is almost object-like among second-class Knights.
The blessing—Sei energy is the most important thing for an End Knight. It is used to purify the dark minions, enhance physical abilities, and sometimes even converted into destructive energy to unleash. It can even be used to expand the range of perception.
The absolute amount of it is a significant aptitude for End Knights. Moreover, the purification that End Knights excel at does not work on humans like Senri.
There is a significant gap between first-class Knights and second-class Knights, but there is also a considerable disparity between second-class Knights and third-class Knights.
“But if it’s Master—”
“That’s true. However… there are more suitable candidates.”
At the gentle words of her master, Rufuri gasped in surprise.
Epe had not yet given up on retrieving Senri. She was certainly not a person to be discarded over a battle with a lower-ranked vampire. She was a precious asset capable of even destroying higher-ranked vampires that cast a long shadow over the world, or even the king of the dead.
End was a hindrance. Then, it would simply be a matter of destroying that hindrance.
Killing End would be easy. However, if Epe and the others surrounded and destroyed End as usual, it would leave a scar between them and Senri. In that case, someone else could take care of it.
End is an otherworldly vampire, but at this stage, there are many who can defeat End.
“I’ve been waiting. Come in.”
The door opened. At the sight of the figure that appeared, Nebira’s brow furrowed. Rufuri’s eyes widened, and Telma’s expression turned serious.
The figure that emerged was a large man clad in a black coat, with a deep hood pulled over his head. His hands were wrapped in bandages, leaving little skin exposed. Three swords hung from a thick leather belt, sheathed in rust-colored scabbards. A large silver cross dangled from a chain around his neck, adding to the man’s eerie presence.
He was accompanied by a large, powerful black dog that looked as if a human could ride it. Its golden eyes, filled with intelligence, scanned Rufuri and the others, letting out a low growl.
He resembled a terrifying monster. If this is a human, then there can only be one answer.
“A vampire hunter… Seriously, Master? Are you planning to bring crap upon crap?”
Nebira’s voice strained to suppress his irritation, and the man in the black coat let out a knowing chuckle.