Chapter 412: Dark Demon and the Blood Princess (4k)
It took only a few minutes for Dark Demon to safely cross the cableway without even needing the pre-prepared “Flight Spell.”
Those vultures were no different from the other monsters encountered along the way; they were easily defeated by the Wrestler Eagle.
After successfully stepping onto the black soil, he praised the Wrestler Eagle and returned it to the Magic Card.
He then continued advancing.
The “Demon King’s Castle” was just ahead, and according to the information transmitted earlier by Professor Shylph, Wit and the others had all entered the castle and were in the final stages of their assault.
As the center of the entire ritual, the monsters guarding the Demon King’s Castle would naturally be much stronger than before, greatly increasing the difficulty of the assault.
However, with the assistance of Tom Nixon and Professor Ryan Hux, it wouldn’t be too difficult for Wit to pass through.
The challenge lay in this being a ritual centered around the “Hero.”
As the actor portraying the “Hero,” Wit had to rely as much as possible on his own strength, with the other companions merely supporting him.
This required someone like Tom Nixon, who knew part of the “script,” to guide him.
“Guide the Hero to defeat the Demon King,” this was also one of the missions of Tom Nixon’s role as the “Wizard.”
Additionally, Ryan Hux, playing the “Grandpa” role, appeared as an elderly disabled person who rarely intervened, fitting the definition perfectly.
Currently, however, the situation was unclear.
Professor Metia could only see that the light points representing them had converged, but she didn’t know if they had met up.
Perhaps Ryan Hux was still observing secretly.
Professor Ryan Hux’s purpose for tonight’s outing, as he had told Dark Demon earlier, was to track down the red-haired woman, the actress portraying the “Demon King”—Ophelia Brad.
Ophelia had deliberately appeared in front of him, successfully luring him out.
So far, the ritual seemed to be proceeding smoothly.
Without Ophelia Brad using her identification card to send digital messages, neither Professor Shylph nor Professor Metia would have any cause for concern.
They trusted Ophelia Brad completely.
…
“Did the problem with Ophelia Brad occur before or after her contact with Professor Shylph?”
Even though he had arrived at the Demon King’s Castle, Dark Demon was still pondering this question, unable to comprehend it.
“If the problem occurred before, it means she deliberately contacted Professor Shylph and guided her to propose this ritual. The ultimate direction of the ritual is uncertain.”
“Assuming this is true, her statements to Professor Shylph must be mixed with lies.”
“At least, her claim to remove the influence of the first embrace is fabricated.”
“Her original goal was likely to revive the vampire Vlad and restore his memories.”
“But because she was caught by Professor Shylph, she had to confess, perhaps leading to more thoughts during the conversation.”
“For example, constructing such a ritual, creating a scenario where the Demon King can kill the Hero!”
“If the ritual ultimately leads to the Demon King killing the Hero, she might use the ritual to advance her bloodline.”
“Just like after being embraced by a vampire, one needs to progress from a blood slave to a blood mage, then to a vampire.”
“Ophelia Brad must also go through a similar process.”
“If the ritual goes as she wishes, she may gain the qualifications to become a Demon King.”
“The possibility is not low.”
“But I lean towards the latter.”
“If the problem occurred later… it is highly likely that the ritual itself influenced her, accelerating the completion of the embrace.”
“After all, she is defined as the ‘Demon King’ in the ritual.”
…
“Though human nature is complex, Ophelia Brad is still Wit Gold’s mother. Even a tiger does not eat its own cubs… let’s hope so.”
Upon entering the Demon King’s Castle, a sudden chill permeated the air, causing an involuntary shiver.
Dark Demon glanced at the surrounding ruins and noticed many signs of battle.
After a moment’s thought, he whispered, “Imp Beast, track.”
Flying in the air as a familiar, the Imp Beast immediately activated its tracking ability.
Its eyes widened, quickly collecting information, and instinctively flew in a certain direction.
Dark Demon gave instructions to Lion Beast and Deoxys, then cautiously followed behind.
Since the ritual centers around the Hero, Wit and the others would not advance too quickly.
Professor Metia always kept track of their progress.
There was still plenty of time.
…
The entire Demon King’s Castle was an exact replica, with internal roads crisscrossing. As they went deeper, the Imp Beast’s tracking ability became less effective.
Dark Demon had to take out the Magic Card containing the Mana Spirit and confirm the route based on the traces left along the way.
Most of the monsters had been cleared by the Hero and the others, so he faced almost no obstacles.
Soon, Dark Demon had already penetrated deep into the Demon King’s Castle.
“Should be close now?”
A premonition suddenly reached his mind, and Dark Demon slowed down.
All his thoughts were speculative.
His task was to ensure the smooth progress of the ritual.
Even if something happened to Ophelia Brad, as long as the ritual proceeded as intended and resulted in the Hero killing the Demon King, the initial embrace effect could be removed from her.
In other words, as long as the Demon King was killed within the ritual, it would suffice.
The challenge was that the Demon King was the Blood Princess, one of the heroes of the Golden Age!
“What are my chances of winning against a hero of the Golden Age?”
“No, I can’t get excited!”
…
Atop the Spiral Bell Tower.
Professor Shylph, still inside the Pumpkin Carriage, squinted at a wisp of wind in her hand.
That wisp, which should have no form, was manipulated like dough between her fingers.
“Metia, what do you think are our chances of success?”
In response to Professor Shylph’s repeated question, Metia impatiently replied, “Ten out of ten.”
Shylph’s expression turned serious. “I’m speaking to you seriously!”
Shylph’s eyes shimmered with moonlight, and her expression changed abruptly. “It’s starting!”
Shylph frowned and immediately pointed her finger. The wisp of wind, now shaped like a needle, began to tremble violently.
At the same time, the wisp of wind’s blessing hidden among Dark Demon’s hair also started to vibrate, emitting a faint sound.
“The final battle begins!”
…
Dark Demon instantly focused, and a “Paradise” card appeared in his hand.
“Lion Beast!”
“On it.”
Lion Beast responded quickly and crouched half-way.
Dark Demon flipped and sat neatly on its shoulder.
Lion Beast raised its hand to support him and then stood straight.
Dark Demon’s field of vision suddenly rose. Once he steadied himself, he immediately said, “Get ready, let’s go.”
Almost simultaneously, a muffled explosion echoed as it was absorbed by thick walls.
Lion Beast charged toward the source of the sound without orders.
Deoxys ran alongside like the wind.
Imp Beast flapped its wings desperately to follow closely.
…
“We’re here.”
Lion Beast stopped at the entrance of the grand hall, not revealing its form.
Inside the hall.
Ophelia Brad lounged on the throne, looking somewhat lazy.
The enormous throne, filled with treasures, was disproportionately large compared to Ophelia’s normal human proportions.
She reclined there as if lying on a bed.
Her long, crimson hair flowed like a waterfall, cascading down the throne and pooling on the ground like a puddle.
In the midst of the ritual, Ophelia Brad had completely shed her disguise, revealing her true hair color and her exquisite features.
Her skin was pale, her deep-set eyes and high nose complemented by her petite yet sensuous lips, creating a striking contrast.
On her left cheek, from the corner of her left eye to her jawbone, a thin, blood-red line resembling a musical note was prominently displayed.
Her elongated neck led down to delicate collarbones, with slightly sunken shoulders that seemed to draw in one’s soul.
Unleashed, Ophelia Brad was a magnificent figure, a tight-fitting dress accentuating her curves, standing out like a mountain range.
Her entire body exuded a sultry aura.
This was completely different from the information and photos Dark Demon had seen about the Blood Princess at Professor Shylph’s place.
The Blood Princess in her student days should have been an introverted, shy girl with black hair.
During the battlefield period, the Blood Princess became gentle and graceful.
“If what I see is not an act…”
Dark Demon took a deep breath and looked around.
The “final battle” of the ritual had barely begun, but the situation was developing in an unexpectedly dire manner.
As a precious combatant on the Hero’s side, the third-year top student Tom Nixon had fallen unconscious.
It seemed Ryan Hux had suddenly appeared, saving Tom Nixon and was now using a cane to provide emergency treatment.
Meanwhile, Hero Wit and his partner Robert stood in the middle of the hall, looking as if they were… spacing out?
…
Dark analyzed the information swiftly.
Tom Nixon held part of the script.
If Ophelia Brad wanted to guide the ritual toward her desired outcome, she must eliminate him first.
The surface-level “lies” of the ritual could not be exposed.
Although Tom Nixon was not weak, his awareness was compromised because he knew the script, making him vulnerable to Ophelia Brad’s attack.
The explosion just now was likely caused when Tom Nixon’s emergency defense was shattered.
As for why Wit and Robert were spacing out in the middle of the hall?
Dark couldn’t analyze it.
His gaze continued to search until it landed on the Blood Spell Array beside the throne.
A liquid resembling blood rapidly flowed within the array, which emitted a blood-red glow.
A glass bottle with a diameter of thirteen centimeters floated above the array.
Inside the bottle was a transparent liquid.
A plump infant was curled up inside.
This was undoubtedly the young form of the vampire Vlad!
Dark felt the Magic Card containing the Mana Spirit tremble, finally gaining a relatively comprehensive understanding of the situation.
“Come out.”
Just as Dark tried to observe further, Ophelia Brad on the throne lazily spoke.
Her crimson eyes stared unblinkingly in this direction.
Dark knew he had been discovered.
He leaped off Lion Beast’s shoulder and stepped into the hall.
The grand hall, intricately carved pillars, and walls embedded with lanterns gleamed under the firelight.
The elegant golden-haired youth crossed the raised threshold and walked forward with steady steps.
“Good evening, Ms. Ophelia Brad, this is our third meeting.”
Including their gaze exchange during the duel festival, it counted as their third meeting.
As Dark thought this, Ophelia Brad suddenly said, “Good evening, daughter of Alvaraite. I’ve been waiting for you for a long time.”
Dark furrowed his brow.
Ophelia Brad extended her slender index finger and lightly touched the glass bottle floating beside the array on the side of the throne.
The infant inside the bottle suddenly opened its eyes, and blood-red light burst from them.
Dark’s Magic Card containing the Mana Spirit, hidden in his sleeve, immediately buzzed and released a crimson beam of light onto the infant.
Dark’s frown deepened.
Ophelia’s smile grew wider.
…
Dark Demon’s sudden appearance and brief exchange altered the atmosphere dramatically.
Ryan Hux noticed him faster, his heavy eyes flashing with sharp light.
He originally wanted to warn him to leave quickly.
But the following two sentences from Dark Demon and Ophelia made him suddenly alert, causing him to doubt Dark Demon, and he cautiously surveyed the area between them.
Wit Gold and Robert Broheim were slower to react, noticing another person enter the hall only a moment later.
They both turned around.
When Robert saw Dark, he exclaimed in shock, “Dark, why are you here too?”
But Wit’s face was filled with joy, even when turning to look at Dark, his smile never faded.
Dark glanced at the fallen Tom Nixon, unable to comprehend Wit’s reaction.
Out of concern for his classmate, he still said, “Wit, don’t stand in the middle.”
But Wit ignored him entirely.
He wasn’t even concerned about how Dark ended up here, but was eager to share his joy.
“Hold on, Dark, listen to me.”
“I found my mom!”
