Chapter 279

Daylight was a vampire’s greatest weakness.

“KURGHHH!” Haema groaned with severe burns all over his body as he stood up.

Blood was evaporating from inside him, and black smoke rose from his body.

“You did not have to approach him, my descendant. It is not too late to fall back and—”

“SHUT UP!” Haema screamed, his pride damaged, as he focused on his condition.

His muscles, which had expanded due to True Mad Blood Body, were shrinking. Not only did maintaining Mulleus’s body require a continuous, large supply of blood, but he had also boiled a significant amount via True Mad Blood Body. To make matters worse, the Sun Wolf King’s attacks carried the sun element, which could burn blood.

“I need... blood!” Haema mumbled as he looked around, repetitively activating the same skill.

[Activating Unique Skill: Blood Call-up.]

[Activating Unique Skill: Blood Call-up.]

[Activating Unique Skill: Blood Call-up.]

...

“GRAHAHAHAHAHA! AWOOOOO—!” Pseraslav howled, sound waves filled with Beast Force, as he looked up at the blinding Sun Wolf Star in the sky.

“Modak’s supernova impostor! You fucking mutt!” Haema growled.

Beastfolk had extremely heightened senses. They preferred to trust their gut feeling over logical judgment to make decisions—one could call it a hunch. It tended to be more accurate for them the majority of the time. Among the beastfolk, Modak’s extrasensory perception was the pinnacle of gut feelings, allowing him to be a master of the supernova impostor.

I can’t believe this dog can use it, too! I need to buy more time! It’s time to switch to a battle of attrition! Haema thought, immediately switching his strategy.

The weakness of the supernova impostor was its short duration. As long as Haema waited long enough, Pseraslav would use all his strength in no time, and his caliber would fall due to the supernova impostor’s aftereffects. He also had the residents of Lunatic coming his way thanks to Blood Call-up, so he could kill them to replenish his blood.

Just then, he felt a chilling gust behind him.

An ambush! Haema thought as he quickly turned around.

“KURGH!” he grunted, feeling a sharp pain in his flank.

His eyes widened at the subsequent Akasha Messages.

[The Holy Blood of Degradation lowers your caliber.]

[Temporarily reducing the magnitude of Blood Moon.]

[Magnitude: 1.9 → 2]

“BASTARD!” Haema shouted as he instantly activated an ability to retaliate.

[Activating Star Power: Exploding Bloodbath.]

Orange explosions occurred all around Haema.

“Kurgh!” Seong-Hwi grunted, appearing once Shadowless Plum Blossom Branch and Hermit’s Robe were cancelled.

The sixteen Wings of Evolution were shining on his back, the golden Absolute Crown was over his head, and he was wearing the old Knight-errant’s Armaments while on the scrawny Rocinante. However, all Haema could see was the hasta spear in Seong-Hwi’s hand—to be more exact, the sweet-looking yet seemingly dangerous blood on its spearhead.

Haema felt the curse that had infiltrated his caliber and thought, Most curses are lifted once the caster is dead!

“DIE!” he shouted.

A hundred blood spears sprouted from Haema’s pores and flew at Seong-Hwi.

I’m going to die! Seong-Hwi thought, sensing that his death was almost fully written in the Akashic Records.

“Desire!” he called his star.

A golden light fell from Desire, shining in the sky, on Seong-Hwi like a spotlight. It wasn’t the simple overclocking with minimal side effects using the Absolute Crown as RAM, but the full overclocking by directly receiving power from the Fruit of the World Tree.

“GAAAAAHHH!” he screamed as his stats rose exponentially, and cut off the spotlight moments before he felt his body falling apart.

[Cheon Seong-Hwi

Health: S(25+15) Strength: S(20+15)

Dexterity: S(28) Sense: S(20)

Magic: S(61) Destiny Force: S(70)]

Seong-Hwi had become a Hexa-S. Mana circulated throughout his body like a typhoon, and his Destiny Force erupted like a volcano. He immediately manifested the Pentacles and enveloped himself with them, but the thirty-six Pentacles were instantly reduced to powder.

This time, he unsheathed the Titanic Tide Kris and deflected the blood spears wrapped in a terrifying amount of fatalistic power. However, the Titanic Tide Kris broke in half after deflecting around a dozen blood spears.

[The Steel Tortoise Heart Guard detects danger.]

[Activating Item Skill: Steel Plate.]

The rectangular steel shield that appeared in front of him also only lasted a few seconds. Despite all that, there were still over ten spears remaining, each foretelling his death.

“AHHHHH!” Seong-Hwi screamed as the danger of death and the instinct to live mixed, and his Destiny Force moved as if to pioneer his future.

Desire flashed with a silver light as if undergoing a supernova.

[Cheon Seong-Hwi attempts to record in the Akashic Records.]

[Insufficient causality stored within Desire.]

[The causality stored within the ■■■ is released.]

[Temporarily enhancing the magnitude of Desire.]

[Magnitude: 8.5 → 5.9]

The blood spears penetrated the Archane Hoodie and pierced Seong-Hwi. He shook like a rag doll, and it seemed as if one of the spears had pierced his heart. However, Seong-Hwi was still alive.

“Cough!”

“How?!” Haema shouted, unable to understand.

I used more than enough of my star’s power to kill someone of inferior magnitude! he shouted inwardly.

As he raised his arm to attack again, a chain whip wrapped around Seong-Hwi’s waist and dragged him away.

“You’re not going anywhere!” Haema said as he was about to pursue Seong-Hwi using the Dark Blood Cave.

However, Pseraslav had reached him while he was distracted, his fist shining like the sun. “YOUR OPPONENT IS ME—!”

“Kurgh!”

Haema gave up on pursuing Seong-Hwi and focused on defense.

***

“Urgh! Cough! Cough!”

Pwoo! Daddy!

“Second Knight!”

Bulgasal ran to Seong-Hwi after dragging him to a safe distance, and Echo flew toward him with a deathly pale face.

Bafor flew toward them after defeating the pureblood soldier of Berto and landed beside Seong-Hwi.

“You are far too reckless. Do you have more than one life to spare or something?” he said.

“I didn’t—Cough! Expect the gap to be this wide,” Seong-Hwi replied as he touched the holes on the Archane Hoodie and the Steel Tortoise Heart Guard, which had a deep hole bored through it.

He would have died if the attack had bored even a tiny bit more. Seong-Hwi couldn’t believe the difference in their caliber—it had taken all he had to defend against Haema’s attacks for just a few seconds.

“Of course, it is! Think about the difference in your magnitudes! You may be growing stronger exponentially, but it’s a miracle you returned alive!” Bafor criticized.

However, Seong-Hwi continued to smile. He had been nowhere near the level of the Ten Lords and Fiends in his past life, and they were his objective in his current life. That was how much the weight of that position meant to him.

Now, he had exchanged blows against the Ninth Fiend, one of the Ten Lords and Fiends, and it had not even been two years since he had been Lost to the Mirror World. Although his growth speed was unprecedented, he was still not happy.

Exchanged blows? No, that’s not enough! Seong-Hwi shouted inwardly.

He needed to surpass them. He was still weak. It was still not enough.

What can I do to fill this deficiency? I need more! I need to devour even stronger opponents! Whatever it takes!

He would do so, even if it led him down a path devoid of humanity.

Seong-Hwi turned toward the direction from which he could hear thunderous explosions, his eyes filled with intense desire. The battle between Pseraslav and Haema Sanguis was becoming more violent. The future continued to change; Seong-Hwi felt a deja vu in which Pseraslav died, then felt another deja vu in which Haema Sanguis died. They were in a desperate battle to secure their future.

The clashes between Sun Wolf Star and Blood Moon in the sky were also growing more intense. Sun Wolf Star shook unstably as it emitted light irregularly, and the light from Blood Moon had severely dimmed.

“Lord Bafor,” Seong-Hwi called as he licked his lips.

Bafor hesitated momentarily and replied, “I know.”

He nodded and smashed Ustrina’s Hammer down on the ground.

[Activating Unique Skill: Iron Vein Seal.]

Iron sand rose from deep underground like soaring dragons.

“Help him,” Seong-Hwi said to Bulgasal in his arms.

Pwoo! Bulgasal energetically replied as it pointed its trunk toward the sky.

An enormous amount of metal poured out of Bulgasal’s trunk like a fountain, mixing with the Iron Vein Seal and creating a giant steel dome covering the entire area. It resembled a cloche, or a tableware cover used to keep food warm in a restaurant.

“Just a little more!” Seong-Hwi mumbled, filled with anticipation like a restaurant guest waiting for the main dish.

Bafor remained silent, staring at Seong-Hwi solemnly.

***

“Step aside, Glutton!” shouted Ranko, the black tiger beastfolk, at the giant being before him.

Gargantua outstretched his arms wide and said, “I cannot.”

“Bastard! Why are you getting in my way?! I have to help the wolf!”

Ranko stared anxiously at Pseraslav’s Sun Wolf Star in the sky. It had cracks all over, and it looked like it was about to explode at any second. He knew why Sun Wolf Star was dimming.

Pseraslav! You used the supernova impostor! he thought.

Ranko had also learned the technique from Old Man Modak, but he wouldn’t dare use it recklessly since it involved gambling with one’s life. If the wolf used the technique, it meant he was in a life-or-death situation.

“Grrr! Move! I must destroy that dome!” Ranko growled intimidatingly.

“Calm down and look over there,” Gargantua said as he pointed at a certain area of the giant steel dome.

The vampires called by Blood Call-up were pounding on the Iron Vein Seal.

“We must get through!”

“The Lord is calling us!”

“Hurry!”

“The Steel King created this steel dome to prevent their approach, and you want to destroy it?” Gargantua said.

“But the wolf is—”

“All the more reason you should leave it be. If those vampires reach Haema Sanguis, it will only endanger the Sun Wolf King more. Haema Sanguis will use them to replenish his blood.”

“But—”

“If you want to help the Sun Wolf King, you should be stopping those vampires, not destroying the dome. Am I wrong?”

Ranko couldn’t refute anything Gargantua said because he was right.

“Grrr! Dammit! I’m destroying that dome after I kill those fucking bastards!” he shouted.

“I shall assist.”

Ranko charged at the horde of vampires, and Gargantua followed behind him with his giant steps.

Gargantua stared at Ranko’s back and mumbled inwardly, Cheon Seong-Hwi... You may be filled with madness, but... I hope you will not cross that final line.

***

“GUUURRRGGGHHH!” Haema groaned as Pseraslav pummeled him with punches.

True Mad Blood Body was canceled, and he was back to being skin and bones. Pseraslav’s sun mana was making his Blood Force obsolete, and all his blood was burning.

“Kurgh! This... cannot be...”

I have to force... a battle of attrition! Haema thought as he looked around.

A giant steel dome, filled with significant history, had completely covered all sides. He was certain it was the Iron Vein Seal, Bafor’s skill that had become famous after the Subterranean War. Because of it, no forces that could replenish his blood would come, no matter how many times he used Blood Call-up.

“Cowards!” Haema shouted painstakingly.

“GAHAHAHA! THIS IS THE END!” shouted Pseraslav, who wanted a short battle, unlike Haema, as he brought his hands together as if holding an invisible ball.

[Activating Star Power: Solar.]

Solar was Pseraslav’s ultimate skill, which focused his infinite sun mana from Extreme Daylight into a single point to create an artificial sun. It initially began as a dark spot resembling a sunspot, then red-gold sun mana began to gather around it.

“HAAAAAHHH—!” Pseraslav screamed as he raised his hands high, creating a small sun that emitted unfathomable heat, and charged at Haema with it.

“Dammit!” Haema cursed as he tried to activate Dark Blood Cave to run.

However, the mana storm from Solar interrupted the space manipulation skill’s activation. It was like a geomagnetic storm generated by solar wind, disturbing electronic devices.

“Mulleus! Tell me what to do!” Haema shouted, confiding in Mulleus at last, but there was no reply.

“DIEEEEE—!!!” Pseraslav screamed as he threw Solar.

Haema gritted his teeth as he watched the inescapable, fast-approaching sun.

If only my caliber were normal! he thought.

He had overused his trump card, the Bloodstream Stone, when taking Mulleus’s body out of the dungeon. There was only one choice he could make: to trust that this body and his Blood Force could endure the attack.

[Activating Star Power: Blood Rule.]

Haema extracted all the blood inside him and established rules for it.

Absolute defense! Fire resistance!

The blood with the Blood Rule established on it wrapped Haema in a sphere. Pseraslav’s Solar and Haema’s spherical wall clashed, resembling two planets colliding, and caused a massive explosion.

***

The resulting heat wave remained inside the steel dome, unable to escape. The surroundings turned dark once Extreme Daylight was canceled.

“Kurgh! Bleghhh!” Pseraslav vomited blood as he forced his closing eyes to stay open.

[Permanently reducing the magnitude of Sun Wolf Star.]

[Magnitude: 2.1 → 3.5]

His star’s magnitude was reduced as a result of the aftereffect of the supernova impostor. He would need to work tirelessly for years to restore the causality he had lost. However, he couldn’t care less about the Akasha Messages right now—his eyes were only on the battlefield, where the dust cloud was slowly settling.

“Hurgh! Kurgh!” Pseraslav panted as he watched black smoke endlessly rising.

A heat storm that had been blowing in the area took the dust cloud with it, revealing the standing Haema Sanguis in terrible condition. All the blood in his body had evaporated, reducing him to the mummy he had looked like when he was still in the coffin, and a few patches of skin had burned off to expose bones.

“Urhhh...Urghhh...” Haema groaned, seemingly unconscious.

“Huff! Huff! Kekekek! I—Cough! I... won!” Pseraslav mumbled, forcing his trembling legs to move, and approached the half-dead Haema.

He planned to kill him and take the spoils. Just then, steel restraints rose from underground, binding his hands and feet to stop his advance.

“This is—”

Before he could finish his sentence, an iridescent light flashed, and a man with black hair, black eyes, and sixteen wings on his back thrust his hand through Haema’s heart. Magenta lightning then electrocuted Haema.

“Guuurrhhh...” Haema groaned as his entire body started to corrode, and he soon turned to dark red dust.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye. The man turned around with a teardrop-shaped red gem in his hand.

“He did have it, as I’d thought. The Bloodstream Stone, huh?” said the man with black hair and eyes as he smiled in satisfaction.

“Cheon... Seong-Hwi—!” Pseraslav screamed.