**Chapter Eight: Growth②**
For a Vampire endowed with a robust physical body, exceptional abilities, and heightened senses, climbing a sheer cliff is a trivial task. Even if the surface is smooth and devoid of any protrusions, extending my Claw allows me to ascend effortlessly. While the Eclipse Knight can soar through the skies, they cannot match the stealth of a Vampire.
Neither darkness, cold, nor flame can halt my advance. The only things that can impede a Vampire’s progress are silver, garlic, and flowing water.
With Senri on my back, I scale the cliff. The castle of the Phantom Shadow’s Demon King looms before me, dwarfing even the Lord’s mansion and Rainer’s castle, which is similarly built into the mountains. Its height and breadth are on an entirely different scale. While Rainer’s castle utilizes the mountainside for its foundation, this Demon King’s castle is perched atop the cliff.
I find myself momentarily awestruck. The castle walls appear to be constructed from stacked stones, and I can hardly fathom how long it must have taken to create such a colossal structure. Some parts have crumbled, adding to its eerie charm. Surrounding it is an absence of light, giving it a desolate appearance. The nearest town—DeSeN/ADoro—was said to be a source of illumination, but it seems almost abandoned now.
The presence of the undead draws near from all directions. It seems some have already entered the castle, as I can sense several within. There are too many to discern their numbers, but regardless of quantity, their quality is lacking. Both Senri and I could easily dispatch them.
As I climb the steep cliff, several Skeletons appear. Maintaining my hold on Senri, I swiftly activate ‘Shadow Veil’ and leap onto the stone wall encircling the castle.
No sound escapes me. Small stones tumble and fall to the ground, yet the Skeletons remain oblivious. Their senses are not dull, but they cannot compare to those of a Vampire.
Feeling a twinge of disappointment, I lower Senri to the ground and crouch to observe below. The Skeletons do not seem to be conversing; they clatter into the castle, their armor scraping noisily. More Skeletons emerge from another direction, moving with a fluidity that is almost mesmerizing as they enter through the main gate.
Just moments ago, we were merely watching them from the shadows.
Senri answers my unspoken question.
“There’s a conductor. It’s likely that LiN/Aku has been applied.”
“LiN/Aku…?”
“A Necromancer can create a connection among the undead they summon. Through this link, the undead can communicate.”
I see… It certainly explains their coordinated movements. They wouldn’t act that way without a single command. When I was a mere undead servant of the Lord, I don’t recall feeling such a connection, but I was a Special undead, so that experience may not be relevant.
Then, I realize something crucial.
“Wait… Does this mean that my defeat of that one has triggered a change?”
“That is a possibility.”
“…You could have mentioned it sooner.”
“？ I cannot share my vision, so I didn’t notice your expression change.”
Senri looks at me with wide eyes, her voice tinged with curiosity. It seems that the Eclipse Knights have little regard for observing their surroundings; their priority lies in offense. They would rather charge in and annihilate all foes than linger in the shadows.
Senri adds thoughtfully, “But I don’t think their change in behavior is solely due to the defeat of one unit…”
…It’s a difficult judgment to make.
Senri mentioned that the presence within the castle had vanished moments ago. It’s certainly possible that this triggered the others to act. If we assume that the individual who entered the castle disappeared, it could mean that the remaining members began to move. But why did they vanish? Did they die, or could it be that they found the ‘Night Crystal’ within the castle? If they suppressed the negative energy emanating from the undead, it would appear to Senri as though they had simply vanished.
However, even after suppressing the negative energy, there are ways to track them. That ability only conceals their presence. My nose cannot be deceived. At that moment, I hesitate. Should I… become a dog?
“…”
The Vampire’s sense of smell is keen, but when transformed into a dog, it becomes even sharper. If I want to be thorough, I should indeed transform.
But if I become a dog, I will lose my clothes again. When I grow larger, my clothes tear. If I revert to my human form, I’ll be naked, and putting on clothes every time is a hassle.
Senri silently observes me. She likely wants to chase after the Skeletons immediately, yet she patiently waits for me to decide.
Skeletons continue to infiltrate the castle while we linger. If only I could transform into a humanoid form like Oliver…
Then, a sudden inspiration strikes me. It’s a wild idea, but it’s worth a shot.
“Senri, watch me.”
“?”
I gather my focus, channeling my Blood power to activate my ability to transform into a dog.
As always, I hear the unsettling sound of my bones shifting. However, I concentrate solely on my head. I remember how to control the Blood power. If I can adjust the strength, then I should be able to limit the transformation to just part of my body.
The transformation concludes smoothly.
Looking down, I see that I still have hands and legs. My clothes remain intact, not a tear in sight. I check my face; my head is now adorned with fluffy ears. My nose captures the scent of the dead with clarity, and my field of vision has expanded.
I pick up a pair of glasses that had fallen to the ground. Unfortunately, I cannot wear them due to the ears sprouting from my head, so I tuck them into my pocket.
I did it—I managed to transform only part of my physical body. It requires skill, but having accomplished it once, I can surely do it again.
Now, I can track them using the advantages of a dog while retaining the benefits of a human. I grin at Senri, my canine features causing me to pant and stick out my tongue.
“Senri, I’m ready. Let’s track them down.”
“End… Your actions always surprise me.”
Senri, usually so composed, has a twitch in her cheeks, her lips trembling.
What on earth could be troubling her?
Stepping back slightly, Senri speaks with a hint of apology, “But it’s really scary, so… I want you to come back.”
“！?”
The shock causes me to instinctively retract my tongue. The same Senri who bravely fought against those monstrous undead is now scared—her apologetic expression only amplifies my surprise.
“Am I… black right now?”
“End, would you remain calm if my head suddenly turned into a dog?”
Senri speaks rapidly, an unusual occurrence for her. It’s a perfectly reasonable concern. If Senri’s head turned into a dog, I would feel far more sorrowful than if my entire body transformed.
I see… It’s about appearance. That’s a blind spot. I can’t see my own face, and even if I looked in a mirror, I would appear semi-transparent as a low-ranking Vampire. However, if Senri feels that way, then I must look quite absurd. Just when I thought I had a brilliant idea…
With a flicker of hope, I ask, “…Could you give me some Blood?”
“End… Don’t get carried away.”
Her cold voice pierces my ears. At that moment, I catch a scent on the air.
Looking down at the main gate, I detect a smell… It’s the scent of the living!
“Senri, there are Humans inside!”
“！?”
The scent of excitement wafts through the air. Senri must have been too focused on the undead to notice. I leap off the castle wall, simultaneously channeling my Blood power to extend my jaw.
I understand how to wield this power. While magic has always eluded me, this ability feels instinctual.
As I leap down, I open my jaw wide, aiming for the head of a Skeleton that is just about to enter through the main gate. My fangs crush through its helmet and skull, a metallic taste flooding my mouth as I spit it out. By that time, the other Skeletons had readied themselves, but even in formation, mere Skeletons cannot hope to challenge me.
No mutated individuals are present. I seize a spear and, with a single swing, obliterate the Skeletons that had taken a defensive stance. Finally, Senri leaps down beside me.
She discards the spear. It’s a decent weapon, and its reach is appealing, but my machete is far more powerful and ill-suited for indoor combat.
I suppress my Blood power, returning my head to its original size.
“Let’s go.”
“End, sometimes I can’t keep up with you. Change back.”
“There’s a human scent. No Blood scent, but we should hurry.”
“End… change back.”
“It might be dangerous, so I’ll go first. Senri, follow me. Woof woof.”
“End…”
It’s a little lonely not having a tail to wag.
Perhaps it’s because of the illumination; as we enter the castle, the curse seems to have no shadowy resonance.
Generally, traps shouldn’t affect me. Poison and magic won’t work, and I possess regenerative abilities. I doubt there would even be traps in a castle used for illumination, but—resolving myself, I dash into the castle.
The interior of the castle was as desolate as the outside. Though it was grander than the lord’s mansion, it lacked furnishings and even light, with massive spider webs draping from the ceiling. The opulence of its construction only deepened the sense of melancholy that hung in the air.
It is said that some vampires build castles of their own. I wondered if, after living for so long, I might one day possess a castle myself. It would be difficult through conventional means, but if I could navigate the web of laws, it didn’t seem impossible. If I had managed to seize all the wealth of the mafia I had destroyed, surely I could have constructed a small castle by now.
The air was damp and cold, yet I felt no chill. Senri seemed unaffected as well.
My nose twitched, and my heightened sense of smell was able to discern an incredible array of scents. I could detect the presence of Alba from hundreds of kilometers away; this ability transcended mere sense and bordered on the supernatural.
I could perceive scents in a chronological order. I could identify the smell of the dead as well as that of the living. Following these scents, I pressed on without hesitation.
I encountered clusters of skeletons along the way, but they were easily dispatched with a flick of my wrist. Senri’s swordsmanship shone even in the darkness. With the skeletal remains reduced to mere husks, Senri spoke.
“End… return to the original.”
I perked my ears at the sound that reached me. It was the clash of swords. Voices echoed—human voices, breaths that whispered through the air. An indescribable thrill pulsed at the back of my mind. My instincts reveled in the manifestation of my vampire abilities. It was a dangerous sensation.
“This scent… it leads underground.”
“End…”