**Chapter Thirty-Five: The King of VoidShadow (10)**
—
I felt as if I had been reborn. The Pain that had gnawed at my soul just moments ago was gone, replaced by an overwhelming sense of invincibility, as if the entirety of night had become my ally.
Lord Holos’s spell was flawless. It seemed that the power accumulated during my escape had reached a level sufficient to trigger a Mutation. The shackles released by Kiwar Doro allowed my physical body to mutate in an instant, swallowing the curse of Seーブル that had tormented me for so long.
And without Pain, I found no hindrance to my movements.
Before me stood the King. His jet-black hair evoked the essence of Darkness. A robust physique clad in metallic armor, he gripped a thick metal spear in his right hand.
The King of VoidShadow.
Though he seemed to inherit the powers of a previous life, the aura of Death was barely perceptible. Yet, from his scent, I could tell he was one of my kind.
However—hierarchically, I was superior.
I had lingering attachments to Sunlight. But that was fine. I was done with the past. There was no need to contemplate what lay ahead. The die had already been cast.
The newly acquired power from my Mutation eagerly awaited its moment of manifestation within my soul.
The King of VoidShadow had defeated Senri, who possessed unfathomable strength that I could not hope to match. Yet, before my greatest enemy, I felt no Fear.
This was instinct.
The combat instinct of a Vampire, which had been suppressed during my time as a lower-ranked Vampire, surged forth. The instinct of Darkness, which I had feared, that craved to kill the living and drink their Blood.
But—this was less daunting than I had anticipated. I remained calm.
Senri, the one who had saved me, lay motionless on the ground, not a single twitch. The radiant Life force she had always exuded had dwindled to this state since the time she had been gravely injured by Albaトス.
An overwhelming impulse surged within me, and I hastily pulled my arms away, pressing my forehead. The liberated King of VoidShadow stepped back.
The liquid streaming from my eyes down my cheeks was not tears, but Blood.
I was forced to understand, whether I wanted to or not.
I was not at my best. A rapid Mutation likely came with significant drawbacks.
Previously, when I had devoured the Lord’s soul and mutated from a Shiki (Ghoul) to a lower-ranked Vampire, I had writhed in pain for several hours. This time, I could say it was still better than that.
Unlike before, I still had the strength to fight.
“The Reincarnation spell has… multiple flaws. That’s why it has fallen into disuse.”
“What… did you say!?”
The knowledge possessed by the Lord seeped into me, albeit slightly. The alert gaze of the King of VoidShadow widened.
In that instant, I unleashed a punch.
My palm pierced the air, leaving sound behind. The King of VoidShadow displayed terrifying reflexes, swinging his spear to meet my fist. The arm I had thought broken had long since regenerated.
However, a half-hearted lower-ranked Doro could not withstand my current attack. The curse was power. Vampires bore a significant Weakness against the Deceased, yet possessed a power that was unparalleled.
The thick spear I struck shattered. The sensation of flesh being crushed and bones splintering sent an indescribable joy coursing through my entire being. Time seemed to freeze. I could clearly see the armor of the King of VoidShadow shatter, his flesh contorting as he crashed violently into the ground.
Was this what they called the frame-by-frame of a projector?
Ah, I despise violence, but I could not help but feel exhilarated.
My instincts rejoiced. The curse that had plagued me cheered in triumph.
The King of VoidShadow, in the midst of his fall, managed to roll and instantaneously created a new spear, plunging it into the ground.
The earth was gouged, leaving a deep line. By the time the King finally regained control, the distance between us had widened to several meters.
The King of VoidShadow rose. His shattered armor regenerated, and his limbs, which had been crushed and nearly dangling, returned to their original form in the blink of an eye.
A lower-ranked Vampire. There was no doubt about it. That was the rank I had held just moments ago.
Despite having been attacked, the King’s awareness seemed to be elsewhere. He muttered in a daze.
“Flaws… you say?”
The Death energy he had gathered was immense.
If his assumptions were correct, he should have been able to Reincarnate at least into a Vampire. A lower-ranked Vampire was merely a half-baked being that could not utilize the special abilities that came with the DemeliN/A trait.
He did not know. I would not tell him. That was one of the reasons the Reincarnation spell had fallen into disuse long ago.
You will be destroyed without even knowing why you failed.
Vampires are creatures of Blood.
One cannot become a true Vampire without drinking a single drop of Blood.
The King of VoidShadow summoned a sword from the ground. It was earth magic. There was once a time when Mages were the core of production. Those who wielded earth magic were said to refine metals and excel in their crafting like no other.
Though it was far before my time, he was likely a sorcerer from that era.
The King of VoidShadow swung the jet-black sword, a fierce grin on his face. Yet, his eyes were deadly serious.
“Younger one. Magic has no effect on Vampires. But my magic is different!”
I had not witnessed the battle between Senri and the King of VoidShadow. However, with those words, I understood why Senri had been defeated.
It seemed the King’s name was not mere decoration. But if he would not flee, then that suited me just fine.
The machete had vanished somewhere. But I needed no weapon. Understanding the disparity in our ranks, I declared to the King, who maintained his arrogant demeanor.
“Ah… old man, you’ve already lost once. No matter how Immortal you are, your stubbornness is excessive. This time, I shall bury you in your grave.”
A crack echoed from my arm. The bones in my right arm shifted, transforming into a spear.
I would settle this before dawn. Anyone who interfered with my love story would meet Death.
—
That attack was completely unknown to me.
It was a terrifying power that seemed impossible for one who had just been revived.
When the King of VoidShadow thrust his spear into the ground, the earth heaved, and with a few murmured words, a storm of gravel rained down upon me. Countless spears and swords were created from the rubble, launching toward me.
There was no doubt that this power had completely destroyed the ancient castle.
It was as if the world itself had been turned upside down. Earth magic, which I had considered a mere convenient auxiliary spell, could transform into a formidable attack when wielded by an exceptional sorcerer.
Amidst the thunderous sounds, the laughter of the King of VoidShadow echoed.
“How about this!? This, this, this! Ha ha ha ha!”
The relentless barrage of attacks was made possible by an unfathomable amount of magical power.
Magical power is distinct from Blessing or the power of Blood.
In my previous life, I had been bedridden and regularly received treatment through healing magic. During my escape with Senri, I had accidentally been struck by an attack spell from a mercenary.
Yet, the power wielded by the King before me was utterly beyond those experiences. Facing this power, no mere mercenaries would stand a chance.
It was hard to believe that this was the aftermath of my fierce battle with Senri, yet the sheer magnitude of magical energy was evident at a glance.
He absorbed power and magical energy from the earth, wielding it. Given that Vampires are known for their formidable magical power, it would be difficult to exploit the fundamental weakness of mages—magical depletion.
—Well, I had no intention of dragging this out into a war of attrition anyway.
Without hesitation, I dashed toward the overwhelming mass of energy.
I crushed the massive rubble that obstructed my path with my bone spear, ignoring the ground beneath me as it trembled and the blades that threatened to slice me apart.
A dagger jutting from the ground pierced my leg, and small debris struck my body. The dull Pain coursing through me was quickly swallowed by my fighting spirit.
Ah, what a glorious feeling.
Indeed, it seemed that earth magic could affect Vampires as well. But it was sweet, sweet, sweet.
I was—a monster. Not human. Such half-hearted attacks could not deter me!
Minor injuries would heal in an instant. The only threats to be wary of were attacks with silver and being pierced through the heart. However, it seemed that the King of VoidShadow could not create silver, the bane of exorcists.
As for my heart, as long as I remained aware and avoided it, there would be no problem.
I had already resolved to endure the Pain.
A distance of several meters was nothing to a Vampire. I would breach his defenses in an instant. Hiding was a waste.
Vampires could see magical energy. I could even sense its scent. With such an overwhelming amount of magical energy being used, there was no way I could not trace its source.
My perceptive abilities had reached their peak.
I intercepted a slashing attack unleashed from the Death angle with my bone spear. The King of VoidShadow clicked his tongue.
“You… Death soldier!?”
“Ah. I’m already dead.”
Perhaps realizing that this was going nowhere, the King of VoidShadow advanced further.
He could engage in close combat!?
His movements were strange. His center of gravity was unsettling. It was not within the range of human mobility, and it felt inherently wrong.
Yet, I quickly dismissed my discomfort.
This one is a Lower Rank Vampire, just like I was previously. A mere cocoon of a Vampire, lacking any special powers. Therefore, its attacks must rely on the strength it has cultivated.
That leads to one conclusion—this strange movement is a result of earth magic. It’s likely manipulating the ground it stands on through sorcery.
The movements of the Void Shadow King were not something one could master overnight. It glided smoothly without moving its feet, unleashing rapid slashes that surpassed Senri’s attack speed.
A newly formed wall blocked my escape route.
I snorted and deflected a straight slash imbued with the power of a One Strike with my bone spear. The Void Shadow King’s eyes widened. I received its attack again as it shifted position. I parried, parried, and parried once more.
As I continued to deflect its strikes, the Void Shadow King’s expression twisted in agitation.
Does it not understand why it is falling short? How pitiful. It may have once been the Strongest, but it is not so now.
“You’re an Elemental Person. Your slashes are nothing but brute force.”
“N/A!?”
The combat technique mixed with magic is impressive. It would pose no problem against a Human. Even an Eclipse Knight, accustomed to evading attacks, might be overwhelmed.
However, no matter how fast and unpredictable its movements are, its swordsmanship is lacking.
To challenge me, who has repeatedly sparred with Senri and possesses superior physical abilities, with a sword that can hardly be called a sword is the height of foolishness.
I have been guided countless times. I’ve been laughed at, scolded, and exasperated by Senri, learning the ways of the Eclipse Knight through experience.
After all, my fighting style ultimately relied on physical ability, but the teachings I received are firmly ingrained within me.
I struck back with a powerful parry and took the offensive. As I stepped forward, the walls surrounding us—BaトRufィールDoro—shattered.
Realizing the disadvantage of close combat, the Void Shadow King retreated. This is my chance. It’s too late for it to realize its miscalculation now.
The Void Shadow King muttered something under its breath. Suddenly, countless spears shot up from the ground, and I lightly jumped over them.
I soared through the air. The Void Shadow King’s eyes widened in shock.
What a terrifying spell. It has almost no chant time, a weakness of Mages.
However, I can see the magical energy. If I can at least grasp the general nature of the attack, avoiding any ambush is not difficult.
I had already anticipated that attack. My experiences from previous death battles taught me the optimal movements.
“Ugh… N/A…”
The Void Shadow King staggered back as if pressed. As a result, the tip of a bone spear that jutted from above barely grazed its cheek. The sensation of piercing something soft left a pleasant tingling in my hand.
For the first time, the Void Shadow King’s expression twisted in pain. The damage I inflicted was far from fatal, and the wound would heal quickly, but I had certainly landed a One Strike.
I know from experience the regenerative abilities of Vampires. Battles between Vampires devolve into a muddy brawl until one side exhausts its strength.
—Originally, that is.
“I cannot understand. Why, as a Dead Person, have you undergone such a mutation and are willing to sacrifice yourself to help Humans?”
The Void Shadow King distanced itself significantly. It was now within the Mage’s range.
I did not pursue. It would be troublesome if it escaped, but the Void Shadow King intended to kill me with all its might. My One Strike must have made it serious.
However, it seems it has no intention of taking any risks. If the opponent were a Human, it would use any dirty trick, but against another Vampire, pride likely gets in the way.
The ground, raised by magic. I stepped onto a large flat piece of rubble and narrowed my eyes.
“Sacrifice myself…? I haven’t sacrificed anything yet.”
To sacrifice means—this.
I grasped my right arm, which had hardened and transformed into a spear, with my left arm and twisted it off in one swift motion. A sickening crack echoed, and a dull pain accompanied the loss of sensation.
The Void Shadow King stared in disbelief. Then, the severed right arm—burst into flames.
“What!?”
I had grown stronger. The range of powers available to a Lower Rank Vampire and a Noble Vampire is vastly different. While I am reluctant to test this new power against such a formidable King, this is merely an application of my previous abilities.
The pitch-black flames—Cursed Flames—burned, yet my right arm retained its form. Even severed from my body, it did not lose its power. It had not returned to dust.
The Seーブル continued to move even after its heart was removed. Therefore, there is no reason I cannot do the same now.
Even if it is not physically connected, the magical connection remains intact. Though it is already severed, I can feel the power of Blood flowing into my right arm. It is sufficient to be used as a weapon.
I swung the hardened spear of my right arm high. The Void Shadow King shouted.
“Are you serious, N/A!?”
Ah, yes. It is true. However, there was another mistake in the King’s words.
I act not to save Humans, but for Senri.
Knowing full well what kind of outcome awaits, I fight without seeking a reward for the sake of Senri, who helped me without expecting anything in return.
I do not expect to be understood.
As I forcefully stomped on the rubble, I hurled the spear.
In an instant, multiple walls sprang up between the Void Shadow King and me. Yet, the flaming spear, unleashed with the power of a Vampire, pierced through the thick walls as if they were mere paper.
The power I seized from a man-eater—the cursed flames consumed the walls, turning them to ash.
A full-force One Strike that even a Vampire could not escape from. In response, the Void Shadow King took the action of ‘evading.’
The Void Shadow King leaped. The bone spear struck the ground where the King had been just moments before. The rubble exploded, creating a large hole in the ground. Even as it stopped, the pitch-black flames did not extinguish.
Seeing the spear embedded in the center of a small crater, the Void Shadow King stared blankly at its palm.
“Fool… How could this Void Shadow—despite being a desperate attack—resort to evasion against a rookie King!?”
Was I underestimated? No—this is different.
Perhaps at the core of the existence of these Dead Person Kings lies ‘power.’
The Lord did not choose to escape, even as he sensed the approach of the Eclipse Knight. The Death Mage who had unleashed the undead upon the ancient castle was the same.
They continued to seek strength, regardless of the reason. And as a result, they overcame Death and continued to fight, feared as Kings.
The Void Shadow King was defeated by the Order of the Final Knights. Yet, that self-negation has not changed in the slightest.
Perhaps it was a shock, for the Void Shadow King’s face contorted.
“It cannot be…”
No, it can be. I will definitely kill you here. This endurance—if given time, the opponent’s immortality will become unmanageable.
My lost right arm—the surface of my right shoulder throbbed with dull pain. The twisted and thrown right arm did not regenerate.
The Yuan right arm’s bone spear was still stuck in the ground.
Looking back, the Seーブル I drained of blood had no heart. For Vampires, the heart is the most vital organ, yet it did not regenerate, remaining lost.
At that time, I did not even question it, but now I understand. The reason the Seーブル’s heart did not regenerate was that a hidden heart remained somewhere, maintaining a magical connection. Just like me now.
I must think. I need to turn my mind.
My physical abilities are superior, their experience is superior, and on top of that, they are adept at using magic. It may seem like I’m pushing the first impression, but if I stop moving, I cannot use my trump card.
How can I kill this one?
At that moment, the Void Shadow King raised its face. Its eyes, red like blood, reminiscent of my own from the past. The voice that emerged was different from before, solemn.
“I must acknowledge this. Twilight Palace. You are strong… perhaps even stronger than this Void Shadow—ジェN/Aト-ヌーマイト-ブラクLiオN/A.”
Names are important to Mages. Just as the Lord once tried to bind me with a name. And when facing the Deceased, they introduce themselves by name.
The expression of the Void Shadow King—ジェN/Aト—returned to calmness. Anger and sorrow suppressed, it delivered a single proclamation.
“I will kill you. In the name of my Void Shadow, which has reigned since ancient times.”
I felt a shift in consciousness. Just a moment ago, the Void Shadow was undoubtedly alert to me. It was using all its strength.
But it was not fighting for its life. The next time, it would surely come at me with the intent to kill.
Its expression stiffened. Just a moment ago, it must not have felt an ounce of fear… but I cannot run away.
I steeled myself. I transformed my tense expression into a smile.
I have those I must protect. It does not. This is a significant difference.
I will hold my head high, End-BaロN/A.
In the battle against Albaトス, I was the one being protected. The battle with Rainer, though it was a matter of circumstance, had its origins in my actions.
Until now, I had fought for myself. But this time is different. This time, I fight for the person I love, just like a Human would.
It’s fine, I can win. No matter how much it tries to kill me, its abilities won’t change drastically.
I pressed down on the surface of my right shoulder, filled with murderous intent, and glared.
Transforming his remaining left arm into a sword, I did not announce my name, yet the expression on Jett’s face remained unchanged.
Perhaps it was a kind of switch for him.
“I thirst. My throat is parched. Ah, you cannot possibly understand the heart of one who has long lost their desires.”
I understand.
From the earth, power was being siphoned away from Jett.
Rubble turned to sand, and immense magical energy began to concentrate in one spot.
This magic was clearly different from anything that had come before.
Darkness took form. In his hand, a beautiful crystal sword was born. Instantly, I could sense the power infused within that blade. The transparent, polished edge was as pitch-black as Darkness itself, absorbing the surrounding essence of Death.
Surely, this was the ultimate technique of earth magic. A thin stream of blood trickled from the corner of Jett’s mouth. His regeneration ability was not functioning. The power of his blood was running low.
Jett lightly swung the sword. The blade sliced through Darkness, cut through the air, and deeply cleaved the ground. It was shockingly foolish. The horrendous sharpness was such that even a bone sword could not withstand it.
“The Sword of Dawn. You do not know, but this is the wisdom that has faded even in my era. Here I come—King!”
Dawn. A word meaning the break of day. It was a sword far too unsuitable for a Vampire to wield. Jett advanced. Despite being weakened, his every movement was as graceful as it had been just moments ago.
Though he was no longer using magic, his pressure was far greater than before.
I could not afford to think of it as merely a sword. I extended the transformation of my left arm into a longer blade. A significant reach difference. My blade reached him first. Jett parried my horizontal strike with his sword.
The shock was minimal. The blade of the Sharp Claw, far surpassing ordinary metal, severed silently. I had anticipated this, but the power was terrifying. As I stepped back, Jett pressed forward once more.
A flurry of slashes followed. The crystal sword’s blade clearly reflected my face, which should not have been visible in the mirror.
I unleashed Cursed Flame, kicking up the ground to obscure my vision. Yet, Jett’s advance did not falter. He pressed forward without evasion or defense.
Despite not employing walls or pebbles, his attacks began to carve into my physical body, slowly but surely. The pain was sharper than before. I could distinctly hear the footsteps of Death approaching.
I was not being cowardly. My opponent’s advances had become bolder. He had given up on magical support and was pouring all his abilities into his sword. Ironically, this was the same tactic I had used against the King of VoidShadow just moments ago.
The difference in physical abilities that should have existed was rendered meaningless at this point.
My opponent was parched. However, even if he were to wither away right now, Jett would not cease his attacks. There was not even a moment’s respite to push him back.
Now, I should be able to use the power of the Vampire. Yet, he was aware of this.
In this extreme situation, I chose the magic I had been practicing all along.
It was a spell I learned from the lifestyle magic guidebook that Senri had bought. I had thought it might come in handy someday. I knew the Vampire’s weakness. The sword deeply sliced into my side. I chanted.
“Create-Water!”
“What!?”
A very basic and commonplace spell that creates a small amount of water from the air. However, when I used it, such a simple spell became a sufficient means of attack.
The air dried up instantly. The extracted flowing water surged toward Jett—and was swallowed up by the massive amount of earth that had risen from the ground.
“You fool. Do you think you can defeat me with a spell?”
“N-no!?”
I had been too slow. I had chanted the spell first, yet he caught up to me.
Realizing I had missed, I felt a searing pain shoot through my entire body. My stance faltered. No—my legs had been severed.
As I crumbled, his blade mercilessly descended upon me.
The sensation of my physical body was abruptly severed. I had no idea where or how many times I had been cut.
When I came to, I was looking up at Jett.
My body—was not moving. No, my body—was gone. My heart and brain seemed to be intact, but being severed from most of my body would take time for regeneration.
Jett was also in a pitiful state. His pale complexion had already turned earthy, and his eyes glimmered with madness. Standing above me, he held the crystal sword in reverse grip, its tip aimed at my skull.
“Haah, haah… not bad. But this is the end.”
“Is there no possibility of recruitment, as a fellow Vampire?”
The question, laced with a thread of hope, caused the King of VoidShadow to frown.
“Of course not. You will not be accepted.”
I understood well. It seemed that in the brief moments of battle, he had come to understand me deeply. I could not stand. I could not hold a sword. It seemed my limbs had been severed. I could not move. Regeneration would not be fast enough. I gave up struggling and relaxed my body.
Tentatively, I made a request.
“Lastly… I have something to say.”
“…Go ahead.”
This was not a plea for my life. I did not ask him to save Senri. Even if I did, he would not listen. My head was spinning. I steeled my resolve and uttered what might be my final words.
“Woof, woof.”
“What… N-no!?”
A howl echoed. A dog, wrapped in pitch-black flames, sank its teeth into the arm of the King of VoidShadow, who had been looking down at me. Just moments ago, my severed right arm.
The burning black dog pounced upon him. The King of VoidShadow, caught off guard by this unexpected ambush, stumbled.
What I transformed into was a dog, but not just any dog.
I had believed it was possible. It is said that true Vampires can transform into a swarm of bats. I had transformed only my face into that of a dog. Therefore, transforming just my severed right arm into a dog was merely an application of that.
The flames scorched the armor of the King of VoidShadow. A scream echoed through the moonlit night. Even if he were Death incarnate, the first taste of Cursed Flame would surely bring him pain.
I had won the gamble. In that moment of distraction, I concentrated my power and began regenerating my physical body, rising to my feet, except for the arm that was still struggling as a dog.
Having recovered from the pain, the King of VoidShadow, who had just slain my loyal right arm, rose once more. Anger and emotion surged forth.
“This… is a ridiculous trick.”
Thanks to the dog’s demise, my right arm began to regenerate. Indeed, it was a silly trick. But my rhythm returned. I felt a little calmer.
Jett attacked with even greater ferocity than before.
I received the onslaught of attacks without any stance, as if I were a raging fire. His blade barely missed my shoulder and fell short of my abdomen, sending my entire body flying with a powerful swing.
But I was not finished yet. Jett’s expression twisted as he pressed forward, but it was already too late.
Did he not know? This was the evasion technique used by Abiko Doro.
Feeling the flow of magic, I did not resist the air currents, instead flowing like a willow to evade the attacks. No matter how powerful the weapon or how otherworldly its sharpness, if it could not connect, it meant nothing.
Though it was imitation, I had managed to pull it off reasonably well.
I thought that the King of VoidShadow had been invincible. Because he possessed an invincible physical body, he hardly knew the art of evasion. The fact that my attacks had landed was proof of that.
A thick metallic wall rose behind me. Jett coughed up blood in a grand display. His physical body, which should have been immortal, was screaming in agony. There was no impossibility here.
To fight this far without drinking a single drop of blood was abnormal. It was a terrifying obsession. And his insight, able to see through even the slightest discomfort to predict my evasion.
The magical presence had vanished from the surrounding earth. Rubble and earth, perhaps due to the side effects of losing magical power, had turned into fine sand and began to swirl upwards. This was likely a temporary depletion, but this wall was probably his final magic.
Perhaps he had no more words to spare, as the King of VoidShadow charged forward recklessly. Whether fatigue had dulled his senses or not, his footwork and demeanor were far more refined compared to his first attack.
From the strongest sword, the strongest strike was unleashed. On my side, I was cornered, lacking even the ‘Light Devourer’ that had always been with me.
I focused solely on concentration. The scenery and the descending blade flowed in slow motion.
Jett’s distorted expression. I could see everything, even the joy stemming from his filled combat instinct, smoldering deep within his eyes.
And then, at the moment that blade was about to reach me—Jett was pierced through by pillars of blood that erupted from all directions.
His expression froze in ecstasy. Completely caught off guard. The blood stakes pierced his entire body, capturing his neck and heart completely.
“I had forgotten to mention. I have power too.”