#127 Sacred Blood (2)
“······.”
“Bah, there’s not much nourishment in it.”
Harley smacked his lips for no reason and grumbled.
There was no law saying only vampires were allowed to suck blood. As someone who possessed 「Gluttony」, he had a certain amount of expertise when it came to eating.
So while dealing with the True Bloods, he had been able to plunder a great deal of their blood, which could be called the source of their power, but the effect was far less impressive than he had expected. ‘Come to think of it, Harley has already obtained plenty of vampire genes.’ Among them, he had consumed a large amount of the evolved blood of Heinz II, who could be called top-class, allowing him to hunt demonic beasts with a certain level of strength from the very beginning of his birth.
In other words, there was not much to gain now from the blood of ordinary vampires. ‘Though True Bloods are far from ordinary. In any case, it doesn’t suit this body very well. As expected, monster mana stones are the best for Harley.’ Vampiric factors and blood mana were powers specialized solely for vampires.
In order to fully use their abilities, it was necessary to transform most of the body into something similar to theirs, but···. ‘If I do that, the efficiency of my bioenergy and 「Bio Aura」 drops.’ To Harley, who grew by splicing together only the genes he needed, the power of vampires, which had to maintain a fixed framework, was no different from a restriction.
When there were easier ways to become stronger, why would he bother?
“······.”
“Hmm, this is quite satisfying. As expected of True Bloods, they do feel different somehow.”
In contrast, however, Heinz stroked his chin with a rather satisfied expression.
It was his first time sucking the blood of a True Blood, and there had been more progress than expected. ‘I’ve devoured True Blood-level vampires on Earth before, but perhaps because this blood comes from the same dimensional roots, it really is different somehow.’ At this level, it would not be a waste to give it five stars as an appetizer.
It made him look forward to the main dish that would soon follow.
Of course, in the meantime, quite a few vampires had noticed Heinz’s act of devouring his own kind, but···. ‘At this point, it doesn’t matter.’ Who would dare call Heinz out on it?
If anything, it meant he had overcome the mental contamination that was the reason it had become an unwritten taboo, so their awe and fear of him would only increase.
And such emotions would actually be helpful in ruling them.
“······.”
“Hmmm—? I was wondering what kind of child the new Lord would be, but you’re a little different from what I imagined. How should I put it? You’re amazing in many ways!”
“Thanks for the compliment. You must be the Sacred Blood Brokoslak, then?”
“Would you call me Bricky? I like this name better.”
“Very well, Bricky. You may call me Heinz.”
“Heinz! That sounds like it would be delicious. Of course, that’s a compliment.”
And thanks to Bricky’s unexpected reaction, Heinz was able to share a friendly conversation with her and build a rapport. ‘I thought she would be hostile when she saw Heinz, since her entire clan was taken from her.’ Far from being hostile, her favorable attitude was plain to see.
Considering her current situation, it was hard to believe she was merely pretending; the emotions sensed by the two sensitive avatars were far too blatant. ‘Still, she is a Sacred Blood who has lived for thousands of years, so I should stay on guard for now.’ Of course, not right this moment.
After all, she was not in any position to do anything to him right now.
Crackle—!
Heinz turned his gaze slightly and looked at the opponent facing her.
“······.”
At the white-haired, white-eyed vampire who had maintained a rotten expression and silence for some time now—Bisk Yupersh.
“Khahaha—! Hey, brother over there, I’m not going to eat you, so relax your face, will you? Ah, of course, that’s only for me. I don’t know what this friend beside me is thinking!”
“My, I thought so earlier too, but what a dependable child you are. Heinz, is he your friend?”
“We know each other through business. For now, we have a friendly relationship.”
“Ah, I’m Harley! Right now, I’m active in Tarak of the Tulk Kingdom.”
“I’m Bricky. Come to think of it, I didn’t even thank you for helping me earlier. You were a great help.”
“What’s there to thank me for!”
The chatter began noisily once again.
With a space continuously scattering sparks between them, Bricky, Harley, and Heinz II surrounded one man as they conversed amicably.
Only one person was left out, Bisk Yupersh, gritting his teeth and trembling his fists. ‘Uh, this somehow feels like we’re in the position of isolating and bullying one person···.’ Seeing that suddenly made him feel unpleasant, as though he were doing something wrong.
Even though in reality, this side had been the one attacked first, and the invader was the other side!
“Hmm, I think we’ve delayed too long. Shall we start wrapping this up?”
“Ah— sounds good! I need to get back quickly too!”
Heinz spoke, and Harley responded.
They had only been applying pressure to wear the bastard down, but as expected, it seemed better to simply finish it quickly.
And so··· began the lonely struggle of Bisk, who had been left all alone after all his subordinates were either killed or subdued.***
Claaang—!
The blade made of Heinz’s blood collided with Bisk’s whip, sending shockwaves in every direction.
“Hup!”
At the same time, spiderweb-like cuts spread across Heinz’s entire body, and a thick blood mist rose.
Whatever the opponent had done, even with 「Super Regeneration」, his regeneration had been drastically reduced, slowing his recovery, and he could not immediately reclaim his lost blood as usual.
Crackle— Slash—!
And with a spark, Bisk’s left arm was cut off, only to fly back and attach itself again as though time had been reversed.
The blood that had sprayed out when his arm was severed gathered in midair into the shape of sharp gears and flew toward Harley, who was charging in from behind.
The fiercely rotating mass plunged down like lightning.
Crack-crunch!
It mercilessly tore apart the scale-covered hands that caught it midflight.
But Harley, who did not even blink despite his palms being ground away, clenched it with all his might—.
“Khahat!”
Then ripped it apart to both sides as if tearing it to shreds.
His regeneration had been reduced, leaving his hands covered in blood, but he paid it no mind and charged forward again.
Crackle— Splurt!
And once again, a large hole opened in Bisk’s body and then healed.
At that moment, Heinz approached like a ghost and unleashed a swift sword strike using 「Acceleration」.
That strike was blocked by a curtain of blood that suddenly appeared, but it left a deep wound in it.
Immediately after, Harley’s fist followed up and slammed into its center, creating a large hole.
Then, as though he had been waiting for it, Heinz’s blood blade shot through the hole in the shattered curtain.
The combination flowed so naturally, as if they were one body, that it was simply worthy of admiration.
Though from Bisk’s perspective, having to face it made his blood boil.
He barely managed to knock it away with transcendent reflexes, but with another spark, his right eye burst apart.
Just as it had several times already.
“Graaah! You worms would be nothing in a one-on-one fight! How filthy you are!”
“Oh my—? I seem to recall someone saying that striking at an opponent’s openings is the way of the world. Did that person go home?”
At the sight of him unable to hold back and exploding in rage, Bricky smiled sweetly and twisted the knife once more.
Every time he tried to do something, his body repeated destruction and restoration, and as it continued, the intervals gradually shortened.
And finally.
Kwaaang—!
“Keheuk!”
“Uhaha! Finally got one in!”
Harley’s fist began to reach his body.
Slash!
“Indeed, to reclaim all your blood even while your body is being cut. That blood control is worthy of a Sacred Blood. I covet it.”
Heinz’s blade began cutting into his body.
By that point, Bricky, exhausted from the long battle, could do little more than keep him in check, but it did not matter, since Bisk’s condition, after being struck several times, was even worse than hers.
And after a little more time passed.
At last, the ending everyone had expected arrived.
“N-no···. I am destined to become the king of all vampires! I cannot fall here like this···!”
Bisk Yupersh cried out bitterly with death before his eyes.
“Do not worry. I will carry on that will.”
And Heinz II, who intended to forcibly seize··· no, inherit that will, faced him.
“Now, I am the king of vampires.”
Crunch!
“Kuhp!”
At last, a pair of sharp fangs dug into Bisk’s nape.
“Krr··· How arrogant, Lord of Brokoslak. You think you can forcibly steal it through kin-devouring, rather than properly inheriting Sacred Blood through the rightful procedure···? And the Sacred Blood of another clan, at that? Do you think such a thing is possible?”
But even as blood began to be sucked out through his neck in an instant, he did not stop mocking his opponent, pretending to be composed.
“You will die with me···! Just like the countless others who tried to inherit Sacred Blood until now!”
Having already lost even the strength to resist, he cursed Heinz in a powerless voice.
Even Bisk himself, who had removed as many danger factors as possible with the help of his predecessor before challenging it, had only been able to succeed by luck after facing countless near-death crises.
There was no way it could be possible without any safety measures! ‘I don’t know how he endured the mental contamination and managed kin-devouring, but that alone is nowhere near enough!’ This was not merely a matter of mental contamination; it was a dangerous rite where anyone unqualified could die just by attempting it.
So he, too, would not last long before collapsing dead.
Sluuurp—
That was how it should have been.···It should have been, and yet? ‘Why··· is he still fine?’ He had already had a considerable amount of blood sucked away, and his eyelids were growing heavier and heavier, yet there was still no change in the other party’s actions.
No, if anything, he was simply sucking his blood in a frenzy, as though he had fallen into a trance.
Rustle—
Before long, Bisk could feel the ends of his body slowly turning to ash and crumbling away.
Now even his mind had grown hazy, and his thoughts began to cut off in fragments. ‘Ah, aah— don’t tell me. This bastard, this man··· can truly inherit the Sacred Blood of another clan···?’ And so, with all the strength being drained from his body and his consciousness growing dim, he finally came to understand.
—Do not worry. I will carry on that will. Now, I am the king of vampires.
There had not been a single trace of bluff in those words.
In truth, although he had dreamed of becoming king and even called himself such, he knew very well that it was impossible for him.
At most, even if one were generous, his limit would probably have been something like a colonial governor who had forced his way upward.
And yet···.
Sacred Blood was the progenitor and original form of a bloodline; it could never be usurped without the rightful procedure.
Then what did it mean if someone could accept it regardless of bloodline?
“Phew— Ah, and do not worry too much about the Yupersh Clan. They, too, will be able to continue their lineage under me, together with Brokoslak.”
Having finally finished drinking his blood, Heinz took his mouth away from the nape of his neck and murmured softly.
He had said it with the intent to mock him, but Bisk, who was no longer in his right mind, accepted it differently. ‘A central point that will bind all clans into one··· and unite the vampires. The one and only king who will lead us into the light···.’ As a declaration of entry from the vampire king, whom he had only vaguely admired!
Even as he felt his consciousness fading, he trembled silently.
For some reason, laughter kept rising from him.
Whether that was because of emptiness, expectation, or something else entirely, even he himself did not know.···Because now, he did not even have the strength left to think.
And so, the Lord of the Yupersh Clan, “Bisk Yupersh,” turned to ash and scattered. ‘What is it? Why is he suddenly laughing creepily? Does he still have some trick left?’ Of course, the sight of the man who had been cursing him to his heart’s content suddenly accepting death with a meaningful smile only left Heinz feeling uneasy. ‘Well, I suppose he was happy that I said I’d preserve his clan’s lineage. Or maybe he realized the vanity of life right before death.’ That was not the important issue right now.
After all, with the message that had appeared before his eyes and the feeling of his insides boiling, he had no leeway to pay attention to anything else. 《You have sucked the blood of a higher-grade being. Under the influence of the special skill 「Hybrid Evolution」, the individual’s vampiric factor begins to surpass its limits.》 Since he had already acquired the factors of the Yupersh Clan, the vampiric factor itself did not change.
However, the aftermath of the explosive increase in the inherent grade within him, as though he were shedding his skin, was more intense than any evolution he had felt before. ‘Krr— If I really didn’t have 「Hybrid Evolution」, I would have died ridiculously easily, wouldn’t I?’ The immense karma and grade of “Yupersh” transmitted through the blood he had sucked was swelling his body as though it would burst.
What was forcibly drawing that in and using it as nourishment to evolve his vampiric factor was none other than 「Hybrid Evolution」.
It had nothing at all to do with him being born under the fate of a king or possessing some special bloodline, as Bisk had thought before dying.
He was simply forcing his evolution to continue with the help of various skills.
But in the end, as long as one arrived in Seoul, did it matter which road one took? 《The individual has fulfilled the conditions and grows. The special skill 「Blood Clan (True Blood 眞血)」 evolves into 「Blood Clan (Sacred Blood 聖血)」.》 And so, the vampiric factor of Heinz II, which had evolved to its extreme, finally surpassed that limit.
A new Sacred Blood vampire was born in Auterica.