Chapter 300: Vampire, Elf, and Experiment (1)

< Vampire, Elf, and Experiment (1) >

Rumble—!

Harley, amidst the ongoing battle, glanced around.

'Something feels ominous. Are there more traps?'

But his senses detected nothing unusual. Only the Heavenly Wealth Society and Dracula's forces swarmed around him like gnats.

'Still, I can't ignore my instincts. Better be careful.'

Even as he scanned his surroundings, his body, accustomed to multitasking, continued fighting.

Thud— Slash!

With a heavy stomp, his thick, log-like arm swung, and the five claw-like nails at the end mercilessly tore through the air. Bestial movements driven by instinct, combined with the skill of a sentient being. His body was already incredibly strong, but now, with his understanding and application of martial arts, he was a walking disaster.

Spurt—!

"Gah— You monster…!"

"Ugh! Don't be reckless, Salmon! Is it ready yet?"

"Damn it! What kind of body does he have?! How high is his resistance…!"

The fight wasn't as easy as he'd initially thought. Even though there was a significant difference in their levels, his opponents were Peak Masters who had transcended their limits.

And they were receiving support from high-ranking vampires, each possessing unique skills and abilities.

'They brought some high-level personnel. They're taking this seriously.'

Harley tilted his head, meeting the gazes of his battered opponents. He had taken down a considerable number of vampires, but it wasn't enough. He needed to eliminate the Heavenly Wealth Society's pawns first, but the Peak Masters were stubbornly defending themselves, making it difficult to finish them off.

'I shouldn't be holding back to prevent information leaks.'

Perhaps he had underestimated them. It would be a greater loss if even one of them escaped. The number of powerful individuals was a key indicator of an organization's influence, so it was best to eliminate as many Heavenly Wealth Society members as possible.

"Keh— This can't be helped."

There was no point in holding back any longer. Hiding his true power now would be excessive.

"What is he planning…!"

"Be on guard! Don't engage recklessly…!"

Sensing something from Harley's reaction, his opponents tensed up.

Thump—

The 「Seed of Madness」 within him pulsed, and the madness flowing through his body began to surge. Fueled by it, 「War King's Brand」 glowed beneath his dark red scales, and a blazing 「Bio-Aura」 enveloped him like flames.

"Wait, this energy reaction…!"

"Falcon! Prepare to defend…!"

And then…

Crouching low, digging his fingers into the ground…

Crack— Boom!

"Kehhahaha!"

…he launched himself towards his enemies like a rocket.

"Fast…!"

"…"

An unknown force tried to restrain him, but it was useless. The aura of madness flowing through his dragon scales resisted the external energy, and the mystical power of the brand negated the hostile effects.

Spurt!

A vampire who rushed forward was obliterated with a casual wave of his hand. Even with their regenerative abilities, there was no coming back from that.

Boom—!

Harley's claws, now twice their original size, were blocked mid-air. By the defensive ability of the hammer warrior, who had been instrumental in the Heavenly Wealth Society's defense. Cracks spread like spiderwebs from the point of impact after a single attack, but that brief moment was enough for the Peak Masters to react.

'That was then.'

There was no reason to hesitate any longer.

Harley's massive jaw opened wide, revealing rows of sharp, jagged teeth—

Crunch!

—and he bit into the barrier in front of him.

"What?!"

「Gluttony」, which enhanced the act of consuming, combined with the energy of 'madness,' granted him destructive power on a different level. The invisible barrier in front of him was torn apart, creating a large hole.

And from there, everything happened quickly.

Crack! Crunch!

The shattered barrier, and the approaching muscular giant with his maw wide open, revealing rows of teeth. It was a grotesque sight, enough to instill primal fear, but the seasoned veterans reacted skillfully.

The hammer warrior met him head-on, swinging his massive hammer. The swordswoman aimed for his back with a sword imbued with a strange power. The martial artist descended from above, and the remaining vampires supported them.

If it had been before, Harley would have held back, maintaining a steady pace. But now that he had decided to go all out, there was no point in holding back.

Whir—

A green light erupted from his left eye as 「Gem Eye: Coercion」 activated. An immense amount of energy, infused with madness, ignited, generating a powerful physical force that restricted the movements of those around him.

"Ugh?!"

"What…?"

While the effect didn't last long due to their levels, it was enough for Harley.

Rumble—

"Gah!"

The hammer warrior was sent flying like he'd been hit by a dump truck. He had managed to block the attack with his hammer at the last moment, but it was meaningless.

Harley's objective was just beginning.

'I'll finish this one off quickly.'

In the blink of an eye…

…Harley's hands and the warrior's hammer became a blur. Hammer and fist collided, leaving shockwaves. Sparks flew as the long handle scraped against his claws.

Rumble—

The warrior's comrades joined the fray, supporting him. A sword imbued with a strange power grazed his dragon scales, leaving a large wound. The martial artist unleashed a barrage of shockwaves, trying to push him back…

But Harley, with his near-immortal regeneration, didn't care. He focused solely on the hammer warrior.

The outcome was inevitable.

"No!"

"Falcon!"

Despite his comrades' support, the hammer warrior lost his weapon and was caught by the neck.

"One down."

"Gah!"

Crack!

Ignoring the others, Harley twisted the neck of his captured prey.

And that was…

…the signal for the start of a massacre.

The Ultimate Evolved Lifeform, Harley.

His creation could be traced back to the time after Hahoe Mask Hans and the vampire Heinz II eliminated the hardliners of the Blood Alliance. To the moment when Hans first encountered Yulryeongja in the captured Heavenly Wealth Society executive's mind.

Hans had learned the location of the organization's Korean base from the memories he read and raided it, obtaining various materials…

…including the 'Perfect Evolved Lifeform Project' and a sample of the 'Predator Dragon's Blood.'

Doctor, busy with various research projects at the time, had intentionally distributed the project to different branches to foster competition and gain new perspectives. He believed that scientific and technological advancement stemmed from exchange and didn't care about potential information leaks. He was confident in his own abilities, believing no one, no matter how talented, could surpass him.

If someone made any progress with their brilliant creativity, it was even better. It would all become nourishment for him, and he would be the one to complete the project…

…or so he thought.

Gnash, gnash, gnash—

Doctor, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at the holographic image, gnawed on his fingernails, oblivious to the blood trickling down. He was too focused on his 「Eyes of Truth」 to care about anything else.

"…The added part is based on black magic? It's very similar to Hadesian magic. It seems like a composite spell, with various elements mixed in… And high-level chimera engineering. It seems like modern biotechnology is also involved…"

Doctor muttered incessantly like a madman. While not as good as seeing it in person, the holographic image, projected by a highly advanced magic tool, provided a wealth of information. And his conclusion was…

"…There's no mistaking it."

Although there were minor differences in the details, it was clearly based on his hypotheses, arguments, theories, and proofs.

"Haa— Haa— Hoo, hoo."

He bent over, catching his breath, then looked up at the holographic image of the muscular monstrosity, over three meters tall. At the beautiful 'work of art' rampaging against the Heavenly Wealth Society's forces.

"Who…?"

The pinnacle of efficiency that he had designed but failed to realize. The epitome of beauty, as if the concept of evolution itself had taken physical form. An unprecedented creation, artificially born yet surpassing even God's creations, transcending its limits and reaching a higher plane of existence.

"How…? Howhowhowhow…!"

An emotion he had never felt before surged within him. Doctor clutched his face with his bloodstained hands, muttering frantically. The theft of his research wasn't the main issue anymore. The problem was…

"Hoooow—!"

…he couldn't understand. How was it possible? Even as he witnessed it with his own eyes, he couldn't comprehend it.

And that drove him mad.

"Heh heh heh! Heh heh—"

Composite spells, scientific research data, black magic, chimera procedures, alchemical techniques, chemical treatments…

He had tried them all.

He had failed.

And someone else had created this masterpiece.

'Who? How…? Is that madness energy the key? No, that was clearly added later. Then how…'

Curiosity, questions, doubts. Inferiority, defeat, jealousy. And the humiliation of having to accept it.

He, unaware of Harley's unique characteristics as an avatar, the skill 「Adaptation」, and the Immortal King Hans's abilities, could never understand. Even if he did, his feelings probably wouldn't have changed. The fact remained that someone else had succeeded where he had failed.

"…Just watching this isn't enough."

Doctor, after a while of writhing, suddenly stopped and whispered.

The pursuit of knowledge was the highest virtue of a sentient being. He couldn't just give up because he encountered something unknown.

'If it's lacking, I'll just fill it.'

Things would change if he could conduct a proper analysis. Research belonged in the laboratory. If he could obtain that masterpiece, dissect it, and analyze it…

"Heh heh heh—"

Doctor's crazed gaze, filled with fervor, fixated on the experimental subject, Harley, displayed on the hologram.

< Vampire, Elf, and Experiment (1) > End