Chapter 283: Entering Europe (2)

The outskirts of Paris, as the day was slowly drawing to a close.

Bastian, a virtuous young vampire who had gone out to carry out his daily duties as usual, had encountered something completely unexpected.

While he was moving to patrol his clan's territory, he had been suddenly attacked by a strange masked figure.

He, a member of "Thermidor," the largest vampire organization in France that ruled the nights of major cities, including Paris!

'Is he crazy! How dare he do this on this land? And at night, too?'

The French capital, Paris, was a world-renowned large city and also a honey pot where a lot of rights were concentrated. Naturally, the organization also poured a lot of effort into this place.

To the point where Bastian, a level 5 vampire who was able to take on a middle-ranking executive position in other regions, was directly deployed to a patrol mission that even the low-ranking members would do.

'He really was a crazy bastard. He must be confident in his skills, but even if I die, you'll never be safe.'

His body had become stiff, unable to blink for some reason.

At the moment when he was murmuring a final curse that would not leave his lips, feeling his end coming near due to the cold grip that was slowly tightening around his neck—.

He realized that he had seriously misunderstood something.

'Huh?'

Something like a tidal wave flooded him from the fingertip that had pierced his neck.

Before Bastian, who had realized what it was, was able to express his shock, an immense presence shook his mind.

And, some sort of substance, which seemed to have been hidden on purpose, was forcibly hammered into his mind.

'This is…!'

It took his breath away.

It was an awe that could not be expressed with words.

High and distant.

Broad and vast.

Big and awe-inspiring.

Deep and eerie.

The reason why his body had become stiff was not because the other party had done some trick.

It was only because his instinct, which had faced an unfathomable difference in levels, had unknowingly been filled with fear.

His limbs were trembling without him even realizing it.

'At least level 7…? Level 8? No, it's not a level I can gauge.'

The strongest vampire that Bastian had ever faced, a high-ranking executive of Thermidor, was level 7.

At the time when he had been standing in line with his comrades, he had been frozen with extreme tension for a long time, and he had only managed to catch his breath after getting a little farther away.

'Maybe more than that… maybe even Lord-level.'

Compared to now, that was like a vacation.

To the point that they could not even be compared.

But he could not continue to ponder on useless thoughts.

Creak— Snap!

Influenced by the blood that had entered his body, all of the foundations of his body, from head to toe, had been undergoing an overhaul since earlier.

'To think… to think that something like this is possible…!'

It was like a revolution, an evolution.

His body had surpassed its limits in an instant, and his circuits were expanding.

Bastian was quietly shuddering while being engulfed in an all-powerful feeling as if he could face even dozens of his former self.

Of course, that feeling was only a side effect that had been created while an excess of hormones were being secreted, but he, who had been completely high from head to toe, did not care about such a trivial problem.

Bastian, whose head was filled with awe, a sense of belonging, and loyalty, prostrated himself on the floor and uttered a word of obedience that came from his heart.

"Please just command me! I, Bastian Duboisque, will do everything I can so that Phantom-nim can find Christine!"

"..."

It seemed like he did not even know what he was saying as he was already obsessed by the oppressive presence, but.

Heinz's disapproving gaze was fixed on the back of his head.

'He's making me do it like this.'

Heinz looked down at the young vampire, Bastian, who had prostrated himself before him, with a displeased gaze.

He was overusing his one slip of the tongue.

But his all-out cooperation afterwards was not bad.

He had been answering Heinz's questions very enthusiastically, as if he had been worshipping a god, and confessed everything he knew.

Just like a fanatic who was worshiping a god.

It was clear at first glance that his reaction was not normal.

'Was "Bewilderment" at play here as well? I didn't know it would have such a great effect.'

Even though he had subjugated him with "Refined Blood Essence", it did not have that much power to bewitch the target.

Perhaps the difference in their level had also had a considerable influence on that.

In any case, it was a good thing for his side that things had become easier.

'It's good that I could save time.'

The only information that he had about France in Europe was what he could get from the internet.

The cooperation of the locals was indispensable for comfortable activity and quick handling of matters.

Since the consumption of "Refined Blood Essence" was not that large when subjugating someone of level 5, he was the perfect candidate.

'I wouldn't even feel it, if I was to eat someone of that level.'

In order for Heinz II, who had already reached transcendence as a sacred bloodline, to complete his own bloodline and break out of the mold, he needed the blood of vampires that were at least the true bloodline level.

And even that was the minimum. He would need several of the sacred bloodline level for a proper metamorphosis.

'There's one sacred bloodline level… a level 9, in France right now.'

Heinz's gaze turned in the direction where the "Yearning of the Bloodline" was guiding him.

However, since the other party's level was so high, he could only sense it vaguely. Unlike before, he could not clearly identify their location.

He coldly judged the situation, ignoring the urge of his thirst that had been continuing to throb ever since he had arrived in Europe.

'It's stupid to just ram right into it in this situation.'

This was the enemy's base and also a foreign country.

There could be traps, and if he recklessly moved around, the government could intervene like in Japan.

'I need to shake the board a little.'

Therefore, he immediately started working with Bastian's cooperation.

A bit of preliminary maneuvering for an easier hunt.

Murmuring—

"This fragrance is quite good. You have a very good taste."

"Right? It's hard to obtain, but there's nothing better than this."

"Nadia-nim, I have an urgent matter to discuss with you…"

One of Thermidor's bases, which was located in the city of Versailles near Paris.

"This is a mess."

In the luxurious mansion, where a chaotic party was being held, a cold voice whispered out.

It was a small sound that could be buried in the noise of the party, but…

"Hmm?"

"…Who was that just now?"

Those who were in that space were not so naive that they would miss such a dissonant discord.

The loose atmosphere tightened up in an instant.

And as they quickly looked around, creating an intimidating aura, they were able to naturally discover an uninvited guest who was mixed into their ranks.

"Who are you!"

"How did you get here? No, when did you?"

The fierce aura, that was released from them along with wary shouts, began to cover the surroundings.

But even in that situation, Heinz II, who was wearing an opera mask, calmly looked around while having a stoic expression.

The huge chandelier that was hanging from the ceiling, the tableware that was decorated with all sorts of precious metals, and even the art pieces that looked extraordinary at first glance.

It was such a luxurious appearance that the figures of the boys and girls who were shivering while wedged in between them felt out of place.

Not to mention the disharmony between the blood in the silver goblets that the participants were holding, and the blood that was purposefully splattered everywhere as if it was décor.

'…Tsk. I should've come sooner.'

Heinz, who had lightly clicked his tongue, looked around at the vampires again, who had been holding a party with the fresh blood of their victims.

They had all finished preparing their countermeasures, having surrounded the entire party hall and were ready to attack.

"Oh, the communication is not working!"

"What? Since when…?"

Except for broadcasting the situation to the outside world.

He was only causing a commotion like this even when he could have dealt with this quietly. It was not like he was just acting without any thought.

"Since there isn't much time, let's finish this as quickly as possible."

Since the situation was already over.

Snap—

Along with the light sound of snapping his fingers.

"Mysteries of Blood" was activated.

The blood, that was scattered everywhere like abstract art, as well as the blood that had been in the goblets, all at once, began to surround the area in a thick mist.

"It's a blood magic barrier!"

"Gather around! Prepare to respond immediately…!"

What followed after that was not a battle.

It was just a one-sided domination.

Heinz, who was feeling the resentment contained in the blood of the victims, was looking at the chain of events that were flowing through the area, and seized a part of it.

And, when he had decided to do that.

—It became so.

Thump!

Kwoooom—!

The chandelier that had been cut off from the ceiling fell, scattering its fragments everywhere.

Whoosh—!

Slash—

The sound of something being torn apart burst out in succession.

"Cough!"

"Gggrrrk…"

The streaks of blood of the vampires, which were scattered like rose petals in the sunset-colored mist that was covering the space.

That attack, which had transcended cognition, was impossible to defend against or evade.

And, the paltry regenerative abilities that they had were meaningless against the unfathomable level contained within it.

"Kuh!"

Of course, not all of them had been dealt with in that one blow.

The strongest one at this Thermidor's Versailles branch.

Nadia, a level 7 high-ranking executive, who had been calmly directing the situation since the moment that Heinz had appeared, held onto the cross-section of her severed left arm and immediately attempted to escape.

'What the heck is this?! Is he a level 9? Level 9? This is absurd!'

An incomprehensible attack that they could not even hope to contend with due to their lower level.

She gritted her teeth, leaving her subordinates, who had been sliced to pieces and were strewn about, behind.

'Opera mask… just who is he? No, where did he come from? Italy? Germany? Please don't tell me it's Romania?'

There were not many level 9 vampires in the world.

Even in Europe, where their power was said to be the strongest, they could be counted on one hand.

And, as far as she knew, there was no one among them with such an attire.

'Could he have crossed over from another continent? The Americas? Asia? …Come to think of it, I think I heard something similar….'

But her thoughts did not continue for long.

Tap tap—

Because Heinz had appeared in front of her while parting the mist of blood.

"You seem to have a lot of thoughts."

Nadia, who had stopped in her tracks, bit her lip.

Originally, she would have been able to escape the grounds of this mansion in less than a second.

For some reason, she was still inside the mansion, where the red mist was thick.

"...Who are you? What is your purpose in all this…!"

"As expected, the others were too insufficient."

A calm remark cut off her words that she was raising as if she was trying to force it.

"You seem to be quite nutritious."

As soon as he finished speaking, a red tongue, that had licked his lips and then disappeared, could be seen under his mask.

Nadia's pupils dilated at the behavior that hinted at the forbidden.

"...Could it be you…!"

"Shhh—."

But what could she have possibly done?

Soon, an even denser crimson mist surrounded the area thickly.

"Collecting a new vampiric factor. Due to the influence of the special skill "Mixed-blood Evolution"…."

And, after an unnatural silence that seemed like the sound had been muted, only one person remained at that spot.

Out of the victims that had been dragged to the mansion as a part of the party, only around a dozen had survived until the moment that Heinz had arrived.

All of them were boys and girls who were on the verge of becoming adults.

"Ugh."

"Uhh…"

Because those who had been noisy or had resisted were chosen as the offerings first, they were desperately covering their mouths and trembling in fear even amidst the commotion that was happening during the party.

As ordinary humans, they could not grasp the situation due to the blood-filled mist that was covering the area.

That blood mist had a function of protecting the victims as well, but they could not know that fact.

'Please, please.'

'Mommy….'

But they were sure of one thing.

At the very least, the masked gentleman who had appeared later was a hundred times better than the monsters who had intended to use them as party food.

How long had they repeated their prayers while being full of tension?

The blood-filled mist, which had been surrounding the area, began to gradually fade.

And the scene that finally became visible was a large party hall with no vampires, or even a single drop of blood left.

"Huh?"

"No one's… here?"

Amidst the eerie silence, where there was no sign of anyone but themselves, those who were left looked around for the masked gentleman, who was thought to be the victor, but his figure could not be found anywhere.

The chandelier, which had been crushed and scattered on the floor, was particularly eye-catching.

They hesitated and looked around for a while, and then soon, one by one, they began to move their feet. And then, in the end, they all ran out of the front door, which had been wide open, as if they had all been running.

'Hmm, the police are also nearby, so this much should be enough. Then, shall we go to the next place?'

Such a surprise visit from the masked gentleman, Phantom, was not limited to just the Versailles branch.

They were attacks that had been carried out at the branches of surrounding cities in Paris, such as Saint-Denis and Créteil.

Even if all of that had taken place in the darkness of the city, it was inevitable that it would be revealed sooner or later, since so many things had happened consecutively in just one night.

Thanks to that, more and more survivors, who had managed to escape, continued to appear.

And those who were related to the Thermidor clan could read a message through that situation.

It was an explicit provocation aimed at someone.

For them to come out immediately, instead of hiding.

-I am here.

A provocation that was full of confidence.