Chapter 319 Who is the True King of Blood (8k)
Everything was going according to plan.
From the moment Ditto transformed to deliver chocolates, Dak had been watching the entire sequence of events alongside Professors Kazel and Shylph.
If any part of the plan faltered, they would find a way to correct it.
But in reality, the plan had gone much smoother than anticipated.
Dak understood Wit and Robert’s personalities and behavioral patterns thoroughly, nearly predicting all their reactions.
That’s why this scene unfolded as it did now.
Professor Kazel had adjusted the behavior patterns of the constructs on this route, making them play a game of “cat and mouse” with Robert.
This was done to repeatedly chase Robert, causing him to feel threatened without realizing it.
This would potentially provoke a reaction from the vampire soul within him.
The soul and body share a mutual fate.
With no other host around, if Robert died, the vampire Vlad would inevitably dissipate!
So, if Robert truly faced danger and felt it wasn’t a deliberate trap, there was a chance to lure out the vampire.
If Vlad showed even a hint of its presence, Professor Kazel could use his formidable mental power to sense and confirm it!
…
The flaw in this plan was that the astronomy class last night had already raised Vlad’s suspicion.
Thus, Vlad might be more cautious than usual, making it harder to deceive him.
Fortunately, Dak’s method was foolproof.
Even Robert himself would believe every action was his own decision.
Vlad’s depth of thought seemed less profound than expected.
…
Indeed, Vlad managed to evade Professor Kazel’s detection, so he was treated as a wise individual by both professors.
However, Vlad was a vampire who had lost most of his memories and was arrogant and conceited.
He didn’t know how to restrain himself until he was humiliated in the secret passage and brutally beaten by Dak.
Even then, after parasitizing Robert, Vlad revealed minor flaws.
…
A few minutes ago.
Robert, who had been fleeing for a long time, reached his limit.
His remarkable stamina gradually depleted, feeling his legs weakening and his side aching.
Throughout this process, he nearly exhausted his mana cards but couldn’t completely escape the constructs!
The only comfort was that he hadn’t seen Wit in the castle’s second floor, leading him to believe Wit had evaded the constructs and possibly returned to the dorm before curfew.
Yes…
It was already past midnight.
Curfew time had arrived.
He couldn’t return to the dorm.
Thinking about spending a night outdoors in such cold weather, Robert’s despair deepened.
Without Wit by his side, his luck seemed worse.
Last time, he went out to track Wit and ended up suffering an accident, sleeping outside all night.
This time, though not caught, the outcome of sleeping outside was inevitable.
These two incidents clearly demonstrated—following someone really doesn’t work!
…
In a blink, he came to a familiar corner and took a familiar drift turn.
“Bang!”
Unprepared, he kicked a “Beetle,” causing his body to tilt forward.
Just as he was about to fall, Robert grabbed the Beetle’s long neck, barely managing to stay upright.
But as the Beetle’s neck bent, he had to support himself with his other hand, slowly lowering his body to avoid a harsh fall.
Yet this delay triggered the Beetle’s alarm, its red gem flashing wildly.
Not only the pursuing constructs behind him, but even the ones patrolling ahead moved closer upon receiving the call.
Robert rolled to reduce impact, quickly rising and fleeing.
But as soon as he started running, he heard the sound of wheels approaching from the front.
His expression changed instantly.
“Surrounded?”
Before he could think further, a “Light Cavalry” from behind rushed around the corner, its long sword slashing down without hesitation.
“Swoosh—”
Robert’s robe was torn open by the sword in an instant.
He didn’t have time to worry about it and continued to flee frantically.
But before he could run far, a shadow appeared ahead, another “Light Cavalry” blocking his path!
Wolves in front, tigers behind!
Robert’s heart sank!
…
Under the pressure of the front “Light Cavalry,” Robert suddenly stopped and instinctively reached into his mana card deck.
But the magic flowing through his fingertips passed over the mana cards, giving him only despairing information.
“Whoosh!”
A sword whistled past his ear.
Robert’s face changed abruptly.
Unable to determine the angle of the sword, he could only throw himself sideways with all his might.
This move successfully avoided the attack from the rear “Light Cavalry.”
However, once he fell, he lost balance, struggling to get back up, his limbs weak.
For a moment, he could only cling to the wall, his face filled with terror, watching the two “Light Cavalries” approach.
The “Light Cavalry” in front stepped close to him.
It raised its left sword, leaned forward, and thrust its left arm, the sword piercing through his head with a “thud,” pinning him to the wall!
“Aah!”
After a half-second delay, Robert screamed in terror.
The “Light Cavalry” then maintained its forward-leaning posture, raising its two spider legs high, its sharp tips stabbing toward his neck.
This formed a triangular position with the sword, locking Robert’s head in place.
Robert panicked, trembling uncontrollably.
He slightly lifted his head, firmly meeting the “Light Cavalry’s” gaze, fearing some beam might shoot out from its mechanical eyes!
On the other side, the “Light Cavalry” blocking his path also approached.
It stopped beside him, raising its right sword above its head, ready to slash down at his head!
At that moment.
The vampire Vlad, parasitizing Robert, could no longer hold back and leaked a trace of his presence!
A layer of blood-red light flashed across Robert’s eyes.
Without knowing why, his right hand reached into the mana card deck again.
Then, his fingers flipped, magic flowed, and a small spell circle appeared inside the deck.
As the spell circle lit up, a hidden compartment appeared inside the deck!
Only when his fingers touched the cool card inside did Robert suddenly awaken.
“Where did this mana card come from?”
Without time to think further, Robert quickly channeled mana and recited a summoning spell!
To him, this mana card was like a treasure chest from the sky, a timely aid!
No matter what, he had to use it.
“By the name of Vlad, Mana Summon!”
“Vlad?”
As Robert’s fear and confusion grew, the red glow in his eyes intensified.
His body was no longer under his control; his right hand lifted, drawing out the mana card hidden in the secret compartment.
As the dark red mana card was held aloft, blinding blood-red light flashed!
A huge bat with bloodshot eyes suddenly flew out, its burst of blood-colored aura pushing back the “Light Cavalry” pressing against Robert and the one beside him!
Liberated, Robert tried to lift his foot to escape, but he was shocked to find that both his hands and feet were beyond his control.
At this moment, the panic in his brain was even more intense than when pressed by the “Light Cavalries.”
He realized he had become a puppet!
And from the incantation he blurted out, it was clear that the one controlling him was still the terrifying vampire—Vlad!
“Vampire Vlad!”
“Pawns, mist, divination, Blood Princess…”
Even Robert connected these clues, forming his own judgment.
Although his judgment wasn’t entirely accurate, his understanding of the current situation was spot-on.
“I’m possessed by Vlad?”
At the moment his body was manipulated.
Robert couldn’t vent the fear and anxiety inside him beyond his facial expressions.
His face twitched and distorted. Suddenly, he saw the huge bat after pushing away the “Light Cavalry,” turned around, revealing its coarse fur, bloodshot eyes, and a rat-like face directly towards him.
Then…
That huge bat counterattacked.
In his terrified and helpless gaze, it bit into his neck!
The sensation of cold blood loss spread throughout his body.
Robert screamed frantically in his heart.
But his voice couldn’t come out.
And that bat, after sucking a large amount of blood, actually stopped.
“Chirp chirp chirp!”
Robert felt as if the bat was staring at him and communicating through its eyes.
But he didn’t understand it at all.
He only saw blood dripping slowly from the fangs in the bat’s open mouth—his own blood!
“Chirp!”
The bat suddenly let out a scream.
Then it abruptly turned around, charging toward one of the “Light Cavaliers.”
All one could see was the “Light Cavalry” already reassembling, lifting both long swords, piercing like wind at the bat’s wings!
Although this bat was vicious,
its wings were still fragile, and the long swords pierced through them directly.
If it had been before, Robert would have wished for the “Light Cavalry” to be defeated on the spot.
But at this moment, he only wanted to see the bat torn apart!
However, things never go as one wishes.
The huge bat with its wings pierced, without hesitation, pressed closer.
A strong bloody radiance suddenly burst forth from within its body, illuminating the entire tunnel.
“BOOM!”
A loud explosion.
That huge bat, after absorbing Robert’s blood, chose to self-destruct!
This explosion was earth-shattering.
The protective light armor of the “Light Cavalry” was blown to pieces!
After the explosion subsided, a pitch-black hole had been blown open in its chest!
It was completely destroyed!
…
Just when Robert thought that the huge bat had also vanished completely with this explosion.
Blood gradually coalesced in the air.
Then, small bats made of blood began to emerge!
More than ten small bats, flying in groups in the air.
The remaining “Light Cavalry,” guided by internal circuits, abandoned the gradually standing up Robert, raised its two swords, and charged toward those bats.
Robert could clearly hear his own panting.
His hands and feet suddenly regained some sensation.
It seemed that the manipulation by vampire Vlad was only temporary.
But when he struggled to stand up, a sudden massive impact hit his brain, and then he froze like a puppet.
He lost consciousness.
And vampire Vlad completely took control of his body!
…
“Cursed waste!”
Vlad opened his eyes, his pupils turning crimson red.
He stretched his limbs, but what he felt was the soreness and weakness in his limbs.
Choosing Robert as the host was a temporary decision he made after his confidence was shaken.
Although what truly attracted him was Wit’s body.
But he very clearly understood that such special talents would definitely be watched by many people.
The more people watching, the easier it was to expose himself.
So he finally chose the least noticeable person present besides Dark—Robert Broheim!
Choosing to possess a human body instead of finding a bat to reincarnate, aside from escaping and hiding, the biggest reason was that he understood the development of civilization and the changes of the times during his battle with Dark and others.
In other words, he knew he was outdated.
Therefore, he wanted to learn.
Learn new knowledge, accumulate again, and become stronger again.
Only then could the glory of vampires spread across the land.
But after possessing Robert’s body, he encountered unexpected hardships.
Because Robert didn’t love studying; he couldn’t even access books outside of textbooks!
Reluctantly, he could only do small tricks.
Guide Robert to feel the joy of learning by correctly answering questions in class.
Gradually lead Robert to become a proactive learner.
For this, Vlad paid unimaginable efforts.
The result was barely satisfactory.
But over the past month, Vlad had grasped some essential knowledge for first-year students.
He even managed to successfully refine several mana cards while Robert was sleeping, hiding them in the hidden layer of the card deck.
If this continued, though not smoothly, he would eventually master more knowledge and refine his mana technology.
Mana technology and magic technology had an inherent barrier.
The fundamental theory contradicted each other, making it harder for advanced mages to master mana technology.
But Vlad had already forgotten most of his memories.
This became an advantage for accepting mana education.
He was deeply fascinated by mana technology and wanted to learn more.
…
However, the recent series of abnormal events made Vlad feel uneasy.
Especially yesterday’s astronomy class and tonight.
His keen vampire intuition told him that he might be walking on the edge of exposure.
He was already considering whether to abandon Robert’s body and transfer part of his soul to someone else to avoid being detected.
But after having this thought, he suddenly realized that his soul seemed incomplete!
If he continued to fragment, he might face the danger of collapse!
At most, he could transfer once more.
Therefore, this time needed to be extremely cautious.
Vlad observed for a long time.
His target was a student from the Fool’s Academy.
Fool’s Academy students were low-profile and unremarkable; even if he accidentally revealed his excellence in the future, it could be seen as “accumulating strength.”
Look!
How suitable this identity was for him!
But before he could act, he had tonight’s encounter.
The swarm of golems gave him a feeling of being cornered, as if someone was deliberately forcing him into a trap.
He sensed this.
So he hid very carefully at first.
Even Professor Kazel didn’t sense his presence at all.
Unfortunately, when the time came, he ultimately couldn’t hide.
…
The moment Vlad summoned the “Blood Mother Bat,” he sensed that he might be exposed.
His premonition was correct.
But the outcome seemed better than he imagined?
Looking at the golden-haired youth walking out from among the golems, Vlad couldn’t help but sneer.
“So, everything was planned by you?”
“It was me.” Dark crossed his arms, responding frankly.
All the golems stopped moving after he appeared.
…
While Vlad smiled, his gaze remained dark.
He initially thought this was a plot by Saint Maryann Academy professors.
Those unfathomable professors were what he feared most.
But if the plot wasn’t by the professors, but by the golden-haired youth in front of him, although he still felt some trepidation, he wouldn’t be utterly hopeless.
“Do you think I’m still the same as I was in the past?” Vlad said, lowering his voice with Robert’s tone.
Dark paused slightly, then couldn’t help but laugh awkwardly, “No way? You don’t think I’m still the same as I was in the past, do you?”
Their gazes met.
Suddenly, Vlad laughed loudly, stepping back sharply.
The dozen or so “blood bats” born from the self-destruction of the “Blood Mother Bat” quickly gathered, showing their sharp fangs and swooping fiercely.
Dark glanced at those “blood bats,” judging them to be merely one-star mana golems.
Thus, he moved his fingers, and the mana card hidden in his hand rapidly glowed.
“Wrestler Eagle!”
“Ha cha!”
The emergency-summoned Wrestler Eagle displayed boiling fighting spirit.
Its eyes twisted, and it lunged at the “blood bats.”
“Feather Dance!”
Following Dark’s command.
The Wrestler Eagle spun rapidly around its central axis in mid-air, countless feathers bursting from its wings and piercing the ferocious bats!
Several bats were pierced by the feathers, instantly exploding, leaving only a drop of blood behind.
That was Robert’s blood.
…
And some of the bats suddenly turned into light, merging with the bloody radiance coming from Vlad’s direction, forming a terrifying summoning array filled with a bloody stench!
“Sacrificial Summon!”
Dark’s pupils constricted.
Vlad had actually learned sacrificial summoning!
Were his mana cards created by manipulating Robert?
In just a brief moment of contemplation.
A hideous-faced
The blood beast, galloping out from the sacrificial summoning array!
This blood beast was over two meters tall, its entire body as red as flowing blood, with a form resembling a tiger or leopard. Two tentacles with mouths sprouted from both sides of its shoulders, and its tail whipped through the air like a great snake.
Judging from the number of sacrificed bats, this blood beast was at least five stars!
A five-star mana golem!
Even the current Dak had yet to refine even half a one, so how did Vlad manage to do it with Robert’s body?
Dak was surprised.
But he wasn’t actually panicking.
Just as the blood beast lunged forward, a white figure suddenly leaped down from the sky. After landing, it took several steps and leaped again, accompanied by a sharp cat’s cry. One claw tore apart the blood beast’s face, and it twisted and snapped off one of the tentacles!
“Roar!”
The blood beast let out a pitiful scream.
Blood sprayed from its wounds, splattering onto Deoxys.
Deoxys, who had some OCD, frowned deeply and glared fiercely at the screaming blood beast!
As Deoxys’ eyes widened, light rays emitted from its amber cat eyes spun like red wheels, piercing into the blood beast’s eyes.
Summoned just now, the blood beast hadn’t even swung its tail yet. It became dizzy in an instant, spiraling into chaos under the influence of the “cat eyes”!
“If that’s all…”
Dak looked at Vlad, somewhat curious. Why didn’t he attack fiercely with the blood beast?
Even if he was only parasitizing Robert’s body, since he was now controlling Robert’s body—surely it couldn’t be because of insufficient mana, right?
Robert’s mana limit was indeed not high.
It was probably far from enough to support Vlad releasing the crimson mana light seen earlier in the secret passage.
Without magical means, Vlad could hardly cause much trouble relying solely on Robert’s physical abilities.
But if not using magic, and not making a close-range assault…
With just mana technology, they were the experts!
…
However, Vlad’s laughter didn’t stop. After summoning the blood beast, he had already drawn the third mana card from the hidden compartment of his card deck!
This was the fruit of his efforts over the past month.
“Gathered blood will eventually become the sea of blood that nurtures life. King of the night shrouded in darkness, ritual summon, awaken, Vampire Count!”
He sharply cut his left hand, letting the blood drip, while raising the mana card with his right hand, his expression gradually turning mad.
The blood beast in a state of chaos exploded within his incantation.
Bright red blood flowed across the ground.
Merged with the blood dripping from the bats.
Reforming within the ancient castle.
Using blood as a guide.
The secret rite card, which was refined with Vlad’s soul as the core, shone in the air!
That vampire, which split into countless avatars, allowing Vlad to revive in the secret passage, had been the eight-star mana golem—the Vampire Count—who served as the hidden boss on the eighth floor during the Halloween event. Finally, he returned to the world!
…
This was the source of Vlad’s confidence!
…
Dak watched the Vampire Count summoned by Vlad, which bore some resemblance to the “blood monster.” He immediately recalled the scene from the Halloween event.
Only now did he begin to have a glimpse of the truth about Vampire Vlad’s origins.
For this reason, he couldn’t help but ask, “Vlad, is this the reason for your rebirth?”
After successfully summoning the Vampire Count, Vlad’s arrogance and confidence reappeared.
He looked at Dak without urgency and sneered, “How can someone with shallow human intelligence understand the true nature of things?”
Dak: “So you don’t know either?”
A thin anger flashed in Vlad’s eyes: “Scum, prepare to die!”
“Blood is power!”
The Vampire Count roared in anger.
His deep red cloak, formed from blood, fluttered without wind, causing his entire body to float in the air.
Boiling blood gushed from his outstretched hands, surging toward his feet and head, gradually forming two swirling seas of blood!
Frightening and terrifying blood beasts emerged from the churning seas, tearing each other apart, roaring, and bellowing throughout the castle.
Dak had witnessed this scene during the Halloween event.
The Vampire Count before him belonged to the “summoner” type, primarily summoning endless blood beasts from the blood sea!
As for himself, besides being able to infinitely revive using the blood sea, he barely showed any attack or defense capabilities matching an eight-star mana golem.
Perhaps he lacked them.
Or perhaps he hadn’t displayed them.
After all, he was a one-time summon activity boss, possibly restricted by chains limiting his power.
However, the current Vampire Count’s blood sea was far smaller than the previous hidden boss.
This might be related to the lack of a “blood altar” beneath his feet.
Dak slightly narrowed his eyes, revealing a second mana card from his sleeve—”Fusion”!
At that moment…
A black cat quickly ran over and met up with the suffering Deoxys, whose face was stained by blood.
This was the mana golem—Black Diarumon—that Dak had summoned and evolved ahead of time before appearing!
This battle against Vampire Vlad wasn’t a reckless engagement.
Dak had made meticulous calculations.
As a large amount of mana was injected into “Fusion.”
The black and white fish on the card suddenly flicked their tails and swam out of the card, emerging from his sleeve and growing rapidly in the wind!
Responding to the call of “Fusion,” Black Diarumon and Deoxys simultaneously lifted their heads.
The black and white fish grew to over two meters long and flew toward the two mana golems representing darkness and light.
The black fish circled around Black Diarumon, while the white fish adhered to Deoxys’s body.
The two mana golems transformed into black and white light under the circling fish, intertwining like spirals.
A vast and mysterious magic circle suddenly unfolded in the air.
Then, the mana golem modeled after the “Egyptian cat god” emerged once more from the magic circle!
…
Adorable cat ears, tempting cat tails.
Paired with smooth orange-red hair and a delicate face, a slender waist and graceful figure like a cat.
Like walking artwork, she made people unable to resist being captivated.
Adding to this were pearls, gems, and gold rings covering her body, giving off a dazzling glow of wealth.
Money and wealth, women and beauty.
A mana golem embodying two fatal factors.
This was, Bastemon!
Cat Goddess!
…
“Between a seven-star Bastemon and an eight-star Vampire Count, who truly masters the blood?”
Dak’s lips curled, his eyes filled with anticipation, but he still held the final card—”Paradise”!
“Bastemon” originated from “Imp Beast” and “Deoxys.” After fusion and evolution, they still belonged to “Paradise,” but when combined, they could only be counted as one entity.
Therefore, if “Paradise” were activated, Bastemon’s magical offense and defense would instantly increase by 900!
In this form, Bastemon could easily handle not just an ordinary eight-star mana golem, but even a nine-star mana golem!
But doing that directly would surely make Vlad despair, right?
That wouldn’t do.
He needed to appear evenly matched.
…
“Bastemon, can you handle this?” Dak said slowly, looking at Bastemon’s emotional back.
“Miao—”
Bastemon turned her head, gave him a flirtatious wink, and then walked forward.
Vlad’s expression changed slightly, but the Vampire Count continued to roar.
When the blood sea formed, a large group of blood beasts leaped out, roaring ferociously towards Bastemon.
Each of these blood beasts was more ferocious than the previous five-star blood beast.
They seemed endless, surging out of the blood sea, forming a terrifying blood tide.
However, Bastemon stopped gracefully after walking a certain distance. She reached out slightly, and the leading blood beast, upon touching her fingertips, instantly lost its form, turning into the most fundamental blood!
Bastemon’s lips curled, softly chanting, “Vampire Dance!”
The blood cluster floating at her fingertips was instantly absorbed, transforming into purer dark energy!
Though the blood beasts lunged ferociously,
in front of the Cat Goddess, they were mere snacks to be casually consumed.
Bastemon chuckled, her eyes flashing with bloodlight as she walked against the flow of blood beasts, gracefully.
The blood beasts passing by her naturally turned into blood, like ribbons of a dancer, swirling around her, especially captivating.
