Chapter 298: Romania (2)

< Romania (2) >

Crash—! Bang—!

A middle-aged man with mousy brown hair bustled around, preparing something. Noises echoed through the cluttered room, filled with trash and unidentified objects.

"Ah! It's already started!"

But his movements didn't last long. The middle-aged man, Doctor, spotted a holographic projection of a forest scene on one wall, threw down what he was holding, and hurried over.

"Woohoo! I can't miss this. It's not as good as experimenting myself, but real-world data is important! I'm getting excited!"

He plopped down on a sofa in front of the hologram, rubbing his hands together with gleaming eyes. The manic glint in his eyes and the upturned corners of his mouth exuded madness.

"I've prepared plenty of other methods just in case! It's a bit of a shame, but also a relief that it ended so quickly…"

Immediately after detecting the target's intrusion, which he had long awaited…

…he unleashed everything he had prepared, successfully cornering his opponent. Strictly speaking, it was a trap designed to succeed. Phantom would have come to Bucharest no matter what.

He already knew the target's objective, so the outcome was practically predetermined.

The easiest way would have been to let the target venture deeper into the city, but judging by his past actions, that would have been too optimistic.

"Heh! Glad my efforts weren't in vain. I finally got to use them!"

So he cast a wide net, ensuring the target couldn't escape, no matter where he went. There were material and immaterial losses in the process, but they were insignificant compared to the importance of this operation.

"Now, shall we enjoy the show? And check the freshness of our test subject!"

He had been waiting for a long time, so the experiment was ready to begin the moment the target arrived. He had just been too excited to sit still and had needlessly fussed around. There was nothing more he needed to do.

"Come on— Show me, Phantom! Your limitless potential! The clue to reaching the pinnacle of evolution! The key to the truth hidden by the world! Give them to me!"

Munch, munch—

Doctor grabbed a handful of popcorn and shoved it into his mouth, holding a glass of cola in his other hand. He was thoroughly prepared for the viewing experience. Popcorn, nachos, cheese, cola, and other snacks were laid out on the table in front of the sofa.

And the highlight was the mint chocolate ice cream, filling his special 'Never-Melting Ice Cream Container.'

"Ooh? Is it starting? Is it starting? Let's go—!"

With one more spectator added to the scene…

…the situation in the forest was reaching a critical point.

Heinz, who had been locked in a staring contest with the Duke, tilted his head slightly.

'Indeed.'

The Duke's reputation as the strongest in Europe wasn't unearned. The pressure emanating from him was far denser than anyone he had encountered before.

It seemed like it would be a difficult fight, even for Heinz, who had become strong through unimaginable methods.

'Well, I'm not the only one with special abilities. He must have become stronger in ways I can't predict.'

Unlike him, the Duke was a monster who had been active since the early days.

Of course, that didn't mean he thought he would lose. Even if it was difficult, he would be the victor in the end.

…It seemed the Duke thought the same.

'The problem is that the other conditions are too one-sided.'

Heinz frowned as he scanned his surroundings, vigilantly keeping the Duke in check. Wasn't this a bit excessive? The surrounding barrier was a complex web of multiple systems, and magic tools emitting an unusual aura were placed everywhere.

'And those guys too.'

Peak-level individuals who appeared to belong to the Heavenly Wealth Society's European branch. Only three had revealed themselves so far, but he knew they were just the vanguard.

'There's also that sniper and the eyeball monster. Judging by the flow of magic, there's at least one more magic user… And someone hiding nearby. An assassin?'

The vampires who accompanied the Duke were also formidable. Each radiated a pureblood-level aura. There were about twenty of them. While most of them seemed to have reached their level through methods other than pure blood, like the French tyrant, it was still an absurd amount of power, considering that 'Hybrid' only had fifteen purebloods after absorbing most of the vampires in Auterica.

'I have to consider that vampires were originally a small, hidden race like lycanthropes.'

Heinz's mind raced. As an avatar, he could always escape by being recalled. However…

"You seem troubled. I can hear your brain working from here."

The Duke, who had been sizing him up, spoke mockingly, his mood soured by Heinz's unexpected strength.

"Then I shall ease your burden."

And as soon as he finished speaking…

Whoosh— Clang—!

A violent explosion erupted between the two as they clashed. The Duke attacked relentlessly with a blood spear over three meters long, while Heinz slowly retreated, parrying the blows. The air distorted and shockwaves rippled from the dozens of exchanges in an instant.

'He's strong, indeed.'

Heinz's brow twitched as he responded to each attack while maintaining his vigilance. He wasn't retreating voluntarily. While he had the disadvantage of having to be mindful of his surroundings, unlike the Duke…

'Each blow is heavy. Excessively so.'

It wasn't just a matter of level. Just as one couldn't attack with full power every single time, there was an efficient flow and rhythm to exerting force. But the Duke was ignoring all that, throwing full-powered strikes like jabs.

'And he doesn't seem to be tiring. …Is it a similar ability to Isea's?'

It felt similar to Isea, who could unleash high-level magic endlessly due to her near-infinite magic power. An inefficient barrage of overwhelming energy.

'Let's test it.'

Heinz prepared to counterattack, aiming for an opening in the Duke's assault. And as the Duke's eyebrows twitched, as if sensing something—

Kaboom—!

—Heinz was sent flying back with a loud explosion.

Screech—

He barely managed to stop, leaving two long skid marks on the ground. But the Duke, standing firm, didn't pursue the attack, instead looking down at his own body.

At the gaping hole in his side, revealing his insides.

"…Not just fast. An attack that ignores the intermediate process. I almost lost my heart because of a moment of carelessness."

Despite his words, his expression remained calm. And as if to prove his point, the hole in his side began to close, quickly regenerating. It must have taken a considerable amount of energy to heal a wound inflicted by Heinz, but he didn't seem to care.

"Hmm, Phantom, was it? Which dimension are you from? …No, I don't need to know right now. We have plenty of time."

Having quickly recovered, he planted his blood spear in the ground and spoke leisurely, as if to show that such an attack was nothing to him.

"Hmm."

Heinz's eyes narrowed. Contrary to the Duke's intention, he had gained a certain conviction from this exchange.

'I'm starting to get a feel for it.'

The Duke was indeed the strongest he had faced on Earth so far, excluding the Heavenly Wealth Society Master. He might even put up a good fight against Hans. However—

'Good. I can take him without too much difficulty.'

His tongue darted out, licking his lips as he felt a growing thirst.

When Heinz II first acquired 「Hybrid Evolution」, after devouring the hardliners of the Blood Alliance, he gained an additional effect. The ability to partially negate the hostile abilities of other vampires and exert an instinctive pressure as a predator.

It was an incredibly useful ability for him, whose primary means of growth was consuming his own kind, and it had always given him an edge in battle.

'And it's no different now.'

While their levels might be similar, Heinz was the Duke's natural enemy due to the way they had accumulated their power. It was their Karma.

He wasn't just the Duke's natural enemy; he was the natural enemy of all vampires.

Because Heinz was a 'kin-eater,' constantly growing by devouring other vampires. But things didn't go entirely his way.

"Duke, may we join the fight?"

"…I know you'll win, but it's not good to drag this out any longer."

"Hahaha! Let's finish this quickly and interrogate him! Doctor must be waiting impatiently!"

Seeing the Duke injured, the others who had been watching began to show signs of joining the fight. They were no ordinary fighters, so they judged it was time to intervene.

"…Tsk, fine. It can't be helped if we want to capture him alive."

The Duke, seemingly sensing something amiss after the last exchange, reluctantly accepted their proposal. Now, Heinz would be facing everyone present, alone.

'Too bad. If I had a little more time, a small opening, I could have finished this.'

Heinz clicked his tongue, feeling the pressure from the surrounding enemies. Should he just retreat? With the feast almost within his grasp?

'…No way.'

It was too much to give up on. He didn't know when another opportunity like this would come, and he needed more power now, considering the future.

'If there's no opening, I'll make one.'

If he lacked power, he could just add more. Didn't he have the ability to do so?

He quickly narrowed down his choices amidst the barrage of attacks.

'First, exclude Hans and Heinrich.'

He was hesitant to call the avatars active in Korea to this place. Since Heinz had also been active in Korea recently, he needed to avoid making their connection too obvious.

'Then, what's left is…'

Harley, the ultimate evolved lifeform, and Harris, the high elf elemental archer. Which one should he call for the most effective…

Crackle—!

Before he could finish his thought…

…a sniper shot tore through space.

Blink, blink— Wink, wink—

The eyeballs that had sprouted all around winked at him disgustingly.

Woooong—!

Beams of light rained down from the sky, bombarding him relentlessly.

Swish—

A sudden attack from the assassin, followed by a barrage of swords, hammers, and fists from all directions.

An unknown force clung to his limbs, weighing him down and making him dizzy.

"Phew— This is displeasing. I can handle him alone, but Doctor asked for it, so I have no choice. Let's finish this quickly."

With the Duke and his vampires, formidable opponents, joining the fray…

'This isn't good.'

Heinz, struggling to hold on amidst the chaotic onslaught, finally made up his mind. And…

…at that moment…

…the wind blew.

"Hmm?"

"Wait, what's this?"

Everyone, being Peak Masters, reacted sensitively to the subtle change.

Space distorted.

Energy fluctuated.

The tide of battle shifted.

"An intruder!"

"How did he sneak in…!"

———!

As if cutting off their surprised cries, dozens of flashes of light shot out from somewhere, silently streaking through the air. But they weren't aimed at the center of the commotion, but towards the outskirts of the forest, far from the current battle.

Rumble—!

A shockwave reached them from afar. At the same time…

…the sniper fire ceased.

…the countless eyeballs vanished.

…the giant magic circle in the sky dispersed.

"Who dares…!"

"Calm down! We need to find him first!"

"I'll handle Phantom! Dracula, spread out and begin the search!"

After a moment of confusion, the Heavenly Wealth Society members, seasoned veterans, quickly regrouped and began their response.

But…

That wasn't the end of the variables.

Crack—!

A dark figure suddenly fell from a tree.

In a gruesome state, his right arm and leg torn off. The assassin, clad in black nightclothes, twitched silently before stopping completely.

Rumble—!

As he dissolved into smoke, a giant figure with something in both hands landed heavily on the spot where he had been.

"Kehhaha!"

Crunch!

With a savage laugh, the giant crushed the heads of the two Dracula vampires he held in his hands. Their skulls burst like ripe fruits, spraying blood everywhere.

"…What's that?"

"There was another one?!"

All eyes were drawn to the newcomer. Transcendental muscles and savage tattoos covered his massive frame, well over two meters tall. He was the embodiment of violence, as if the word itself had taken human form.

'If I'm going to do this, I might as well do it properly.'

Amidst the chaos…

…Heinz, finally having some breathing room, licked his lips.

He had chosen…

…'both.'