#75
Brokoslac Clan (2)
Heinz diligently moved to subjugate the vampires scattered throughout the capital after gathering information about Frigia through Rosilika.
The “Refined Blood Essence” forcibly evolved the vampire factor in their bodies the moment it was injected.
And the moment the vampire factor, the source of the vampire’s power and the origin of their abilities, mutated, the ‘Blood Subjugation’ involved was destined to change its subject as well.
From ‘Brokoslac’ to ‘Heinz II.’
Heinz told the vampires he had subjugated some of the lies he told Rosilika and instructed them to move as per usual.
“I deliberately injected only a small amount of ‘Refined Blood Essence’ to minimize the blood’s mutation. They probably won’t notice anything odd.”
High-ranking vampires sensitive to the smell of blood might feel a slight discomfort, but who would think those who had shared meals up until yesterday would suddenly switch allegiance?
The very premise that the vampire factor could mutate and change the subjugation relationship was impossible in this world.
Unless they had completely gone mad from devouring their kin, which was not the case, so it was an unpredictable situation from the start.
“It’s also why vampires like Rosilika and others were more easily convinced to believe my words.”
As they were all from the same root, it was possible to rationalize the situation, albeit forcefully.
Of course, it was still hard to accept, but since it had already happened, he understood and moved on.
However, among them, there would likely be those with exceptional loyalty, and even if he set controls tightly, it wouldn’t be long before it would be discovered.
The person at the highest risk of finding that out would be none other than Frigia Brokoslac, who oversaw surveillance in the capital.
Heinz quickly prepared a stage to lure her out based on the information he gained from several vampires.
“Then shall I catch a big one?”
After finishing preparations, the moment for action was approaching.
*
“Lady Bright, you truly are beautiful today.”
“Would you like to see this newly arrived ruby necklace? It’s made by a jeweler who’s been gaining a lot of fame lately…”
Frigia Brokoslac was indulging in her lavish lifestyle as usual.
Today was a day for patrolling the southern part of the Earth.
After leisurely finishing her shopping at the jewelry store, she was enjoying tea and snacks in the rooftop garden of an upscale café, looking down at the bustling humans in the streets.
“It’s always amusing. The way they struggle hard just to survive. Hehe…”
Her public identity was ‘Frigia Bright,’ a member of the Bright Duke’s family, which held significant power in the Talia Kingdom.
As the only duke family in Talia, they boasted overwhelming power that could surpass that of the royal family within the kingdom.
“Most of them are merely our puppets. Due to the church, we can’t step out in the open, but even this is enough.”
What concerned them was merely the signs that the Holy Church Order’s Talia Diocese was trying to expand its forces with assistance from the main body.
“The lord will try to exert himself as much as possible, but I can’t help but feel things may get a bit more troublesome.”
Still, if there were political maneuvers from the kingdom to counter them, the church wouldn’t dare act hastily.
One of the reasons the church had earned everyone’s respect was that they always sought understanding and permission before taking action, no matter where they happened to be.
They showed consideration for other factions by minimizing internal interference, which led to those factions respecting and yielding to the church.
During the undead king subjugation, they’d been too pressing to resist, but that wasn’t the case anymore.
Slurp—
Frigia took another sip of her tea.
Enjoying the good aroma of tea was one of her small pleasures.
Just as she savored her hobby and spent a leisurely moment…
“Hm?”
Outside the southern gate of the capital, she felt the approach of an unfamiliar vampire energy at the edge of her sensing range.
“What is this…? The energy seems pureblooded, but something feels off…”
Furrowing her brows slightly, Frigia set down her teacup and stood up.
If she didn’t know, she’d just have to check it herself.
Her keen senses demanded that if there was something uncertain, she had to confirm it directly.
Judging by the energy, it wasn’t a particularly threatening opponent for a Trueblood like her, nor would a fool attack them within Brokoslac’s territory.
Whoosh—
From the rooftop garden, her figure vanished like a gust of wind…
A moment later, she appeared on a hillside outside the castle walls.
After stopping her move, she quietly looked down at the capital from behind an unknown vampire.
She leisurely spun her parasol and opened her mouth.
“Who are you? It’s better to admit your identity willingly…”
Swish—!
But at that moment.
A thick smell of blood seeped out and a blood-red pattern rose from the ground, encircling the hillside where they were situated.
Unbeknownst to her, it was a barrier created using “Concealment” and “Blood Mystery.”
The moment it activated, the internal and external spaces were completely severed.
Until this barrier was destroyed, not only escape but even the slightest hint of energy would not leak out.
“…A trap?”
But Frigia remained calm, merely frowning as she looked around.
Her noble pride as a Trueblood and confidence in knowing the opponent’s strength made her feel no sense of crisis.
“Can I take this as you declaring a fight against me, Frigia Brokoslac?”
Her previously disguised blue eyes gradually turned red.
And her willful, ominous gaze shifted towards the black-haired vampire who was slowly turning to look back at her.
“Get down on your knees right this instant… Cough!”
As she cast her magic eye upon the opponent, she staggered back a few steps, distorting her expression.
Her eyes quickly avoiding his, a trickle of blood streamed down her cheek.
Did my magic eye bounce off?! The backlash this strong? Unbelievable!
Before she knew it, that vampire’s black eyes had also turned crimson, silently staring back at her.
At that moment, Frigia realized the opponent was not a mere pureblood.
One who possessed such tremendous skill that he could perfectly deceive her, a Trueblood.
“…What’s your purpose? A Trueblood invading Brokoslac’s territory without any notice? Are you declaring war?”
She raised her tension, slowly closing her parasol.
Although she couldn’t use her magic eye, she wouldn’t blink and kept her gaze fixed on him to catch any movement.
At that extreme moment of tension.
“My purpose?”
The black-haired vampire smiled gently and slowly opened his mouth.
“Everything of Brokoslac.”
Boom—!
Immediately after, with a burst of shockwaves…
Frigia Brokoslac and Heinz II clashed head-on.
*
With a thunderous bang, the remnants of energy spread, shaking the surrounding barrier.
A noblewoman in her early twenties with bright blonde hair.
Despite her delicate appearance, as expected from a Trueblood, the fight against her was no easy matter.
Swish— Bam!
The parasol enveloped in blood magic traced a dizzying path towards Heinz’s intended direction.
Even from Heinrich’s perspective, it was enough to elicit admiration for the refined swordsmanship honed over many years.
“I had assumed you were a magic user because you used the magic eye, but I was quite surprised to find out you were a martial artist.”
They had started the fight already, and the synergy between the vampire’s physical body and the swordsmanship developed over the years exceeded imagination.
As her parasol sharply lunged toward his upper body, Heinz deflected it, using the recoil to sweep low at her legs.
Kneeling down to deflect…
Lightweight?
He felt no weight from the attack.
Crash!
At that same moment, her extended sharp high-heeled shoe pierced his ankle, catching Heinz off-guard for a brief moment.
As he stumbled, the parasol lunged once more towards his heart.
Boom—!
Using “Acceleration” to swiftly raise his guard, he managed to barely stop the parasol, but lost his balance and was sent flying backward.
However, the successful hit on Heinz only made Frigia glare at him with a slightly irritated expression from the distance.
“Hm, as expected… remarkable.”
As Heinz lightly rolled his shoulders and stretched, only a faint hint of admiration crossed his face.
Though charged with heavy blood magic that could pierce steel like tofu, the damage was merely something he could recover from in no time.
“You…! What kind of body do you have! And plus, blood magic!”
Frigia gritted her teeth and tightened her grip on her parasol.
While Heinz lacked her experience and combat techniques, in every other respect, he far surpassed her.
The overwhelming spec difference achieved through “Hybrid Evolution.”
The differences in strength, speed, durability, the amount and control of blood magic, and adaptability were on another level.
The concentrated blood magic at the impact point flowed off the attack, and the shock absorbed through his body dispersed throughout.
The damage he sustained was instantly healed by “Enhanced Regeneration,” which was utterly frustrating for Frigia.
What’s this…? I’m fighting with a significant penalty right now.
Heinz’s battle style was akin to that of an assassin, dealing deadly and stealthy attacks.
He was merely engaging in a frontal battle to prevent her from destroying the barrier.
No matter how well-crafted a barrier was, it wouldn’t withstand an attack from a Trueblood with determination.
Furthermore, the continuous leak of blood magic from the impact of their collisions posed a small handicap to keep the barrier intact.
But, having lived for over a hundred years, her level is extraordinary. Even though our specs differ so greatly, a straight-up close-combat clash might not end in my favor.
Of course, neither would he lose; the fight would just drag on indefinitely.
While Frigia’s blood magic was akin to a level 7 by Earth standards, her combat power was on a different level than that of hardliners’ betas.
The gap was the difference between an awakened one who had rapidly grown through various enhancements and unique skills and an individual honed over many years in another world.
“Truly excellent, but it’s a bit regrettable. How about following me? I can make you much stronger than you are now.”
Testing the waters for potential recruitment, all he got in return was a look as if she was staring at a madman.
Regrettable, but she too seemed like she would need a bit of coercion.
Now that I’ve analyzed Frigia to a reasonable extent…
There was bound to be a difference between what he had heard and what he experienced firsthand.
To gather a Trueblood under his command, he needed to have a proper understanding of the opponent.
“It can’t be helped. But the more we fight, the more your thoughts will change.”
“Hah… What arrogance. You could never—! Impossible for you to… Uck?!”
Interrupting her words, a blood-red blade shot forth from the barrier behind her.
The blade grazed her as she quickly twisted her body, reaching the opposing barrier and naturally melting away.
“You…!”
“I’m not sure what misunderstanding you have, but I’m not a martial artist like you. Until now, I was just indulging.”
From the very beginning, this internal space was Heinz’s domain.
As he began to actively use “Blood Mystery,” a portion of the barrier followed his will and extended its fangs.
Blades, arrows, harpoons, and chains—all sorts of attacks were aimed at Frigia.
The blood magic initiated by Heinz and the summoned blood magic from the barrier synergized to disorient her limbs.
On top of that…
Bang—!
“Gah!”
At the moment, using “Concealment” and “Transparency” to gauge her weaknesses, Heinz burrowed in with “Acceleration,” driving a punch full of blood magic into her side.
As her whole body flew sideways, blood-red chains entwined her, along with numerous blood magic attacks.
But Heinz slightly scowled and glanced at his shoulder.
As expected, this isn’t trivial.
At the moment of impact, Frigia’s instantaneous counterattack pierced a hole in his shoulder.
He had been too focused on the offense, neglecting his defense.
Of course, he recovered instantly using “Enhanced Regeneration,” but he knew he had to be more cautious.
As Heinz tightened his grip on her, the following situation flowed unilaterally.
No matter how desperately she struggled to escape, it was as if she was sinking into a quagmire, her momentum gradually waning.
And finally.
“You held out longer than I expected.”
“Gah… You…!”
With her body reduced to a rag doll, Frigia, bound by chains, lay sprawled before Heinz.
One of the Truebloods of the Brokoslac Clan finally fell into the hands of Heinz II.
