Chapter 163: The Eastern Sanctuary

Chapter 163: Chapter 163: The Eastern Sanctuary

Three days passed.

During that time, Ronan remained inside Bloodfall City, recovering from his injuries and studying the information obtained from the Ashen Covenant.

He had also received several documents from Varkos’s archives, including records of ancient expeditions into the Ashen Reach.

Most were incomplete.

However, after comparing them with the information provided by Kael, Ronan had identified several locations that might contain underground structures.

The eastern sanctuary was the most promising.

According to Kael, it served as a regional base for the Ashen Covenant, housing several senior guardians and storing artifacts recovered from nearby ruins.

If Ronan wanted to understand the strange energy, that was where he needed to go.

There was another reason, too.

The Covenant’s members possessed techniques for refining the black crystals. Learning those techniques could provide him with another source of energy and potentially allow him to develop his existing abilities.

He wasn’t going to waste such an opportunity.

Ronan stood before a mirror, adjusting the necklace that concealed his appearance.

His long white hair was hidden beneath a dark hood, and his clothes had been replaced with a set of ordinary travel garments.

He didn’t intend to enter the sanctuary announcing his identity.

Although Varkos had agreed to provide an escort, Ronan had decided to travel ahead of the main expedition.

He wanted to examine the area before the others arrived.

The Vampire Lord hadn’t been particularly pleased with that decision, but he eventually agreed.

After all, Ronan wasn’t his subordinate.

And neither of them wanted another disagreement.

Ronan left the castle shortly after sunrise.

---

The eastern ridge was quieter than usual.

The journey took several hours, but Ronan encountered no significant obstacles.

When he finally reached the remains of the old fortress, he immediately noticed the difference.

Several sections of the structure had collapsed, and thick vegetation had grown between the broken stones. The place appeared abandoned.

However, his Predator’s Perception detected movement beneath the ground.

He stopped near the entrance.

Someone was watching him.

Ronan glanced toward the ruined walls.

There were no visible guards, but that didn’t mean the area was unoccupied.

He activated Formation Sense.

Faint traces of energy appeared beneath the ground, connecting several points around the fortress.

A defensive formation.

It wasn’t particularly sophisticated, but it was well concealed.

Ronan examined the structure.

The formation had two primary functions. It concealed the entrance beneath the fortress and detected anyone attempting to approach.

He followed the energy channels until he located a small stone embedded beneath a broken pillar.

After studying it briefly, he pressed his palm against the stone.

The formation flickered.

A section of the ground shifted, revealing a staircase descending into darkness.

Ronan smiled.

"Found you."

He entered the passage.

The entrance closed behind him.

---

The underground sanctuary was larger than he expected.

Several corridors extended from a central chamber, while red crystals embedded in the walls illuminated the surrounding structures.

Unlike the ruins he had previously explored, this place was clearly maintained.

There were living quarters, storage rooms, training grounds, and several chambers containing different types of equipment.

It was an organized settlement.

And it wasn’t empty.

Ronan detected dozens of presences.

Most were relatively weak, but several carried powerful auras.

He quietly moved through the corridor, examining the surroundings.

A group of armored warriors passed through an intersection ahead.

Their equipment resembled that worn by the Covenant members he had captured, although their armor was considerably better maintained.

Ronan waited until they disappeared before continuing.

He needed information about their leadership and their collection of artifacts.

Killing everyone immediately would accomplish little.

Besides, there was no guarantee that the sanctuary contained nothing capable of threatening him.

He reached a storage chamber and slipped inside.

Rows of shelves contained sealed containers, weapons, crystals, and various materials.

His eyes brightened.

There were several black crystals similar to those he had recovered from the previous expedition.

However, some were considerably larger.

He approached one of the containers.

A faint notification appeared.

[Concentrated unknown energy detected.]

Ronan examined the crystal through the glass.

Its energy was much denser than the fragments carried by the Covenant warriors.

He continued inspecting the shelves until he discovered a small metal box.

Inside were several thin plates covered in inscriptions.

He picked one up.

The markings were familiar.

They resembled the energy channels he had observed in the underground formations.

He examined the plate carefully.

Unlike the inscriptions on the walls, these markings remained stationary.

They appeared to describe a process.

Ronan couldn’t understand every symbol, but Formation Sense allowed him to recognize the general structure.

It was a refining method.

His interest increased.

He was about to examine the remaining plates when a voice sounded behind him.

"You’re not supposed to be here."

Ronan turned.

A young vampire stood near the entrance, holding a spear.

The man’s eyes narrowed.

"Who are you?"

Ronan calmly returned the plate to the box.

"Someone looking for something."

The vampire raised his weapon.

"That’s unfortunate. You’ve entered a restricted chamber."

Ronan examined him.

Three-Star King Realm.

Not particularly powerful.

However, the young vampire’s armor contained several crystals that released faint energy.

He was probably a member of the sanctuary’s internal guard.

Ronan sighed.

"I was hoping to avoid unnecessary trouble."

The vampire charged.

Ronan moved aside, caught the spear, and pulled the attacker forward.

A single punch struck his stomach.

The vampire collapsed.

Ronan caught him before he hit the ground and dragged him behind a shelf.

He then searched the man’s equipment.

A small metal badge carried the same broken-circle symbol found throughout the ruins.

There was also a key attached to his belt.

Ronan examined it.

Interesting.

He left the storage chamber and continued through the corridor.

This time, he followed the energy channels toward the central structure.

The farther he went, the stronger the energy became.

Eventually, he reached a large circular room.

Several black crystals were arranged around a stone platform, and a group of vampires stood nearby.

At the center was a tall man wearing dark armor.

His presence was considerably stronger than that of the others.

Ronan immediately recognized him as a powerful King Realm expert.

The man was examining a large crystal embedded in the platform.

"Another fluctuation," one of the vampires reported.

The armored man frowned.

"How strong?"

"Stronger than the previous one. The eastern seal is deteriorating."

"Then increase the energy supply."

"We’ve already exhausted most of the reserves."

The man turned.

"Then recover more crystals from the lower chambers."

One of the vampires hesitated.

"Those chambers haven’t been cleared. The creatures inside—"

"Then kill them."

The man’s voice was cold.

"I don’t care how many soldiers you lose. We cannot allow the seal to collapse."

Ronan listened quietly.

So the sanctuary was experiencing the same problem as the other ruins.

The seals were deteriorating, and the Covenant was struggling to maintain them.

But something else caught his attention.

The large crystal embedded in the platform wasn’t simply storing energy.

It was continuously absorbing the surrounding power and redistributing it through the chamber.

Ronan activated Formation Sense.

The entire structure became visible to him.

The crystal was connected to several smaller formations, each directing energy toward a different section of the sanctuary.

He followed the channels with his eyes.

One of them extended beneath the floor, leading toward the lower chambers.

That was where the energy was coming from.

He had found another potential hunting ground.

However, before he could investigate further, the armored man suddenly turned toward his hiding place.

"Who’s there?"

Ronan remained still.

The man’s eyes narrowed.

"Come out."

Several vampires immediately drew their weapons.

Ronan considered his options.

He could attempt to retreat, but the chamber’s formation was already reacting to his presence.

Remaining hidden would only make matters worse.

He stepped into the open.

The armored man examined him.

"You’re not one of ours."

"No."

"How did you enter?"

"Through the entrance."

The man stared at him.

Then his gaze shifted toward the badge attached to Ronan’s belt.

It belonged to the guard he had knocked unconscious.

His expression darkened.

"You attacked one of our members."

"He attacked me first."

The man raised his hand.

"Surround him."

The vampires immediately moved.

Ronan sighed.

He had wanted to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Apparently, that wasn’t going to happen.

The first two guards rushed toward him.

He activated Burst Acceleration.

His body surged forward, and he struck the first vampire across the chest.

The second attempted to stab him from the side.

Ronan twisted, caught the weapon, and drove his knee into the attacker’s abdomen.

Both collapsed.

The remaining guards hesitated.

The armored man stepped forward.

"Enough."

His presence spread throughout the chamber.

The guards immediately retreated.

Ronan studied him.

Eight-Star King Realm.

A considerably stronger opponent.

The man drew a long black sword.

"You’ve made a mistake entering this sanctuary."

Ronan smiled faintly.

"People keep telling me that."

The man disappeared.

Ronan activated Predator’s Perception.

A disturbance appeared behind him.

He turned and raised his arm.

CLANG!

The sword struck his forearm.

The impact sent him sliding backward.

Ronan’s expression changed slightly.

The man’s physical strength was impressive.

The armored vampire followed with another strike, then another.

Ronan blocked the first two before using Gravity Affinity to alter his movement and evade the third.

He retaliated with a punch aimed at the man’s ribs.

The vampire blocked it with his sword.

The collision produced a loud metallic sound.

Both retreated.

The armored man looked at Ronan with increased interest.

"Your physical strength is unusual."

Ronan didn’t answer.

He was already examining the man’s movements.

The vampire’s swordsmanship was refined, and his attacks were supported by an unusual energy technique.

Every time he swung his weapon, faint lines appeared in the air.

Those lines remained for a fraction of a second before disappearing.

Formation-based swordsmanship?

No.

It was something else.

Ronan activated Formation Sense.

The lines became clearer.

They were traces of energy released through the sword, creating invisible paths that enhanced the weapon’s cutting force.

A technique designed to concentrate energy along specific trajectories.

Interesting.

The vampire attacked again.

Ronan used Burst Acceleration to evade, then activated Wind Step and appeared beside him.

His fist struck the man’s shoulder.

BOOM!

The vampire staggered.

A crack appeared across his armor.

Ronan immediately followed with another attack.

However, the vampire twisted his body and released a concentrated wave of energy through his sword.

Ronan felt the danger.

He retreated just in time.

The attack cut through the floor, leaving a deep trench.

The armored vampire straightened.

"You’re stronger than you look."

Ronan smiled.

"And you’re slower than you think."

He activated Limit Break.

His energy surged.

Burst Acceleration carried him forward, while Gravity Affinity allowed him to adjust his trajectory halfway through the movement.

The vampire attempted to intercept him.

Ronan changed direction.

His fist struck the man’s abdomen.

The impact forced the vampire backward, and his sword slipped from his hand.

Before he could recover, Ronan seized his throat and slammed him into the platform.

The surrounding crystals flickered.

The armored vampire struggled.

Ronan tightened his grip.

"Now, let’s talk."

The vampire’s eyes narrowed.

"Do you have any idea what you’ve just done?"

Ronan glanced at the damaged platform.

Then he noticed the energy flowing through the chamber.

It was increasing.

The large crystal at the center had begun glowing brighter.

Something beneath the sanctuary was responding to the disturbance.

Ronan released the vampire and stepped away.

The man immediately rolled aside and retreated.

"Everyone, evacuate the chamber!"

The guards looked confused.

"Now!"

The armored vampire’s voice echoed throughout the room.

The smaller crystals began cracking.

Ronan activated Formation Sense.

He could see the problem.

The central crystal was no longer distributing energy evenly. One of the channels beneath the platform had suddenly reversed direction, drawing energy from the surrounding formations.

Something was absorbing it.

The floor trembled.

A section of the platform collapsed.

From beneath it emerged a massive claw covered in dark scales.

Ronan’s eyes narrowed.

The creature that followed was considerably larger.

Its body resembled a heavily armored reptile, but several long appendages extended from its back. Gray energy leaked from the gaps in its scales.

It raised its head.

A pair of crimson eyes swept across the chamber.

The armored vampire’s expression turned pale.

"An Abyssal Devourer..."

Ronan looked at him.

"You know what that is?"

The vampire swallowed.

"One of the creatures that consumes the energy sustaining the seals. We’ve been trying to keep them out of the lower chambers."

The creature roared.

The remaining crystals shattered.

A violent wave of energy swept through the sanctuary.

Ronan immediately retreated.

The Eight-Star King Realm vampire shouted at his soldiers.

"Fall back! Don’t let it reach the upper chambers!"

The creature’s attention shifted toward the nearest living being.

One of the guards.

It lunged.

The vampire barely managed to raise his weapon before the creature’s jaws closed around his upper body.

A horrible crunch echoed through the chamber.

Ronan watched the creature swallow its prey.

His expression remained calm.

But his eyes had brightened.

The creature was powerful, and its body was releasing the same mysterious energy he had been investigating.

More importantly, it appeared to possess a trait related to energy absorption.

That was something worth acquiring.

He examined the creature carefully.

Its aura was powerful, but not beyond his ability to challenge.

The Eight-Star King Realm vampire turned toward him.

"Are you insane? Run!"

Ronan smiled.

"I’ve been looking for something like this."

He activated Limit Break.

His body surged forward.

The creature turned toward him, releasing a deafening roar.

And the next hunt began.