Chapter 53

Jinjo is the emperor of all vampires, the ruler who leads the clan.

Even a war that seems lost can be overturned when Jinjo appears. The land is dyed with blood, and crimson flames bloom everywhere. In this Blood Land, the power of vampires surges, while all other races are unable to exert their strength.

Those who step into the Blood Land will have their blood controlled.

Their blood flow will not move as they wish, and their bodies will grow heavy, pressed to the ground.

Unlike vampires, who gain strength here, other races continuously lose their power. However, as the Land of Blood reached Roka’s feet, the moment it touched the tip of her shoe, a sizzling sound echoed, and smoke rose. Wherever her foot touched, only ashes remained, and the land could not invade Roka.

“Kyahaha, that’s it! The sun, the power of the sun!”

Strictly speaking, Roka wasn’t fighting alone.

The Law of the Universe stood firmly behind her, endlessly supporting her. Who else could experience something like this? It was an infinitely mysterious and unfamiliar sensation.

Every time the power of the sun touched the Land of Blood, it retreated helplessly. This is the Law of the Universe.

‘Maybe I can win…?’

This was why Roka, who had been trying to flee, adjusted her stance and gained confidence. Everything in the world is relative, and even opposing forces can be overcome with enough power.

Just as water extinguishes fire, but if the fire is strong enough, it evaporates the water, all oppositions can be overcome. However, the sun and vampires cannot.

The Law of the Universe has made the sun the absolute nemesis of vampires, and no exceptions are allowed. This is the law, the rule.

This rule is not created by humans, so humans cannot break it. The universe itself is the absolute judge, overseeing the rules.

But Roka is not the sun. She merely wields the power of the sun.

How strong is the power of the sun? Its energy is nearly infinite.

Only a fraction of that power reaches Pyros, but it is enough to light up the sky and warm the earth. All plants use it as their energy source.

That power is an inexhaustible, infinite force by human standards. Compared to that, Roka is so small that even calling her dust would be an understatement.

Of course, even a tiny fraction of that power could have driven Kamira to her death. But that situation wasn’t created. Magical power is not something that is permanently lost; it cancels out and disappears.

“Blood Sea, sweep away.”

Facing the confident wolf, Kamira merely flicked her hand. Suddenly, the blood filling the wide bathroom surged to the ceiling, becoming an endless tsunami rushing toward Roka! Even a wave that only reached the knees could knock someone over, so what about this?

‘Can’t dodge.’

Her animal instincts whispered. The wave was too wide and strong; even if she ran, she would be swept away.

She had no choice but to charge through with all her might. Roka, clad in magical power, leaped into the wave, but the expected pressure didn’t come. Wherever she went, the wave boiled and turned to ash, the blood’s power burning away.

Strictly speaking, it didn’t disappear. The magical powers canceled each other out, but the total amount of magical power in the universe remains constant. Magical power doesn’t disappear or appear; it merely changes form. The more it’s used, the harder it becomes to perceive and use, eventually becoming unusable by anyone.

Of course, the universe is so vast that a little magical power used by humans won’t change its density. Pyros is not an isolated system; it constantly receives and releases magical power from the universe. Thus, the used magical power drifts into the universe, and fresh magical power is continuously supplied.

The problem is that just because Pyros receives magical power doesn’t mean it becomes Roka’s magical power.

Shiver…

The girl’s body trembled. Not from fear.

A massive amount of magical power was consumed in an instant, draining her body of strength. Master-level experts can actively control the surrounding magical power, pulling it in to recover when their power is depleted. That’s why they are considered capable of overwhelming forces alone.

Experts below the master level can show off their prowess in battle for a while, but once their magical power runs out, they need time to rest and recharge. They can never dominate the battlefield.

Only then did the girl truly feel fear. Roka, who had been hesitating, faltered and turned to flee.

No matter how much the power of the sun is an instant death sentence for vampires, it is still magical power. It is continuously consumed and canceled out. It is not infinite.

“Oh my, running away?”

If Roka had three times more magical power, or even just twice as much, she could have definitely ended it, but not now. The child finished her calculations and fled, but that was a mistake.

Moving only by the book leads to defeat by the book. Outmatched in skill and ability, the only way to win now is through unpredictable madness and recklessness.

Pretending to be crazy and risking her life to charge at Kamira was the only way out, perhaps the only way to bring victory.

But once you retreat in fear, there’s no second chance.

Not only will you not advance, but you won’t even be able to return to where you stood before. Kamira chuckled and gestured again. She muttered softly.

“Blood Flame, burn.”

The blood-colored flame, as if alive, rushed toward Roka with a strange laugh. Creating this flame required five vampires to sacrifice their lives.

Thud, thud, the sound echoed as corpses piled up, and their blood turned into flames, joining the fire. The flame engulfed Roka, turning to ash upon contact with the power of the sun.

But this time, Roka screamed. It felt like her body was burning.

‘No… magical power…’

The power of the sun was depleted. The Blood Flame’s momentum also greatly diminished, but it still opened its maw to swallow Roka. Roka barely suppressed the flame with her dark blue magical power, panting heavily.

Her condition was quite miserable. The hair Kyle had neatly combed was now a mess, her breathing ragged. Soot covered her body, turning it black.

“Haa… haa…”

“Now you’ve used up all your strength, haven’t you?”

“Shut… up.”

The excessive consumption of magical power left her dazed, her head spinning.

She wanted to stand on her trembling legs, but Kamira made one last gesture. Earth, water, flame, and next would be wind. A gust of blood wind howled as it struck.

“Blood Wind, sweep.”

The wind lifted Roka’s body and brought her before Kamira. The sharp wind cut her body in multiple places, drawing bloodlines. She managed to suppress her screams, accustomed to pain.

Fury of the Winds. Kamira overwhelmed Roka with just four attacks, as she had boasted.

She grabbed Roka’s chin, lifting her exhausted body. Looking into her frightened eyes, Kamira smiled.

“You should have worn the collar earlier. It wouldn’t have hurt, and it would have been better.”

Kamira fastened the collar around Roka’s exposed neck.

Her brief freedom vanished, and bondage returned. The Scarlet Stone flashed, and the endless magical energy within boiled. No magical power could be drawn, and a sense of weakness spread through her body.

The depleted magical power would never recover. Roka tried to grab the collar and tear it off, but it didn’t budge. The collar was sturdy.

‘I shouldn’t have run…’

Too late, the child realized her mistake. And that she had learned nothing.

Back then, using her youth as an excuse, when humans slaughtered her tribe and enslaved them, she had fled. She turned her back on everything and ran. The result? She was captured as a slave.

Now, fleeing in fear, she lost everything. Her father’s words echoed in her mind: a wolf never runs. She should have done that.

She should have charged at that moment, even if it meant death. Hesitating and fleeing cost her the last chance, and a third chance would never come.

With bloodshot eyes, the girl looked at her new master.

“…Kill me.”

“Later, when I get bored.”

Kamira grabbed the girl’s hair, lifting her. Seeing the rebellious look in her eyes, Kamira chuckled. It’s more fun when they resist.

She flicked her finger, and a sharp sensation caused Roka’s body to convulse. The electric magic embedded in the collar punished the slave. Roka couldn’t even scream as she collapsed, and Kamira’s face was filled with joy.

“Finally,”

The electric shock wasn’t something that could be endured with willpower alone without magical power. Watching Roka roll on the ground, Kamira smiled meaningfully.

If Roka felt a shock, Kamira felt a thrill. Finally, she had dominated the sun.

“Finally, I have control over the sun.”

She had achieved the grand dream all vampires aspired to!

Well, since she was the master of all vampires except her mother, her desires were the vampires’ desires. There was nothing wrong with that.

The trivial fact that Roka wasn’t the sun didn’t even register. Because the real sun was something she could never defeat, no matter what.

So, she wanted to strike the sun in this way. The sun might not care, but does it matter? She was satisfied.

‘Captured.’

While Kamira reveled in self-praise, the fallen girl twitched.

Tears welled up in frustration. The terrible sensation of the collar brought back unwanted memories. Kyle had once freed her from the collar, but a second miracle wouldn’t happen.

‘I should have protected my master, but instead, I was captured.’

She still vividly remembered that moment.

-“Humans don’t need this. Roka, you are free.”

She clearly remembered the voice that freed her from the collar. It felt like that voice was replaying in her mind. Was this an illusion born of longing?

-“In the name of my Lord,”

A candlelight illuminated her mind. In the dark, Kyle appeared, but it wasn’t Kyle. It wasn’t the person she longed for.

Seeing those eyes, Roka shuddered. Eyes are the windows to the soul. Through them, one can glimpse a person’s heart. But now, seeing those eyes, she couldn’t think at all.

Blue, blue, endlessly blue.

In those blue eyes, an unknown emotion flickered. Perhaps a bit of curiosity, maybe a hint of mischief.

Who was it? Kyle would have recognized him immediately, but Roka didn’t know. The bird that appeared in Kyle’s form smiled slightly and repeated those unforgettable words.

-“You, Roka, are now free.”

The Apostle had promised in the name of the Lord.

That ‘Kyle’ recited it again. The Apostle had made the vow, and the Lord had accepted. The bluebird of hope flew in and sang the old promise again.

Thus, this matter is beyond dispute. Nothing on earth can challenge it.

-“Tell the Apostle, I don’t give my feathers to just anyone.”

Tap. The ‘Kyle’ from the illusion touched the Scarlet Stone glowing in the center of the collar with a feather. He, or she, whispered to Roka.

Then, with a sly smile, handed Roka the blue feather. Only then did the surreal dream crossing the boundary of reality and unreality end. Roka returned to reality, dazed.

The Scarlet Stone had already turned to dust, scattered in the bath. The immense magical power it held dispersed into the void without meaning. As the storm of magical energy enveloped the bathroom, Kamira screamed.

“Why…?! How…?”

Suddenly, the Scarlet Stone exploded without warning. Too abruptly, yet as if it was meant to happen. Watching the storm of magical energy pass by her, Roka looked up at the void. Of course, there was nothing. But now, it didn’t seem that way.

“You were watching all along.”

No answer came. Or did the voice reach her?

But now, the girl was certain. The Lord her master believed in had been watching over them.

What had descended in Kyle’s form was something sacred. It was clear that it was a holy being from the Lord.

“Then don’t just watch, help me.”

He wasn’t the type to help just because you asked, but Duke Shimira had broken the promise first. She had defied the promise with the Apostle, witnessed by the Lord.

The feather in the child’s hand boiled, sending her mind far away. Her body became as light as a feather, soaring into the distant void.

Perhaps only her spirit left, leaving her body behind.

There was no way to tell.

Whoosh.

Her vision changed, and unseen things began to appear.

Transcending the space we call reality, the girl’s vision expanded. Far. Farther. Wide. And wider. In an instant, she soared beyond the sky into the sea of stars.

A single thread of a dream, or perhaps just an illusion.

Maybe it’s reality. What does it matter?

Except for one exception, the Lord does not directly help humans.

He only provides the opportunity for them to help themselves.