The Cloak of the Ghost King

Howl...

As one of their comrades was slain by Allen and devoured on the spot, the remaining vampire guards erupted in fury, charging forward with relentless speed. Their five-inch-long claws were bloodred, stained by the lifeblood of countless enemies. Yet, before they could even close the distance to launch an attack, Allen's figure blurred, vanishing from sight. Moments later, a chilling scream pierced the air.

One of the vampire guards, unable to dodge in time, felt Allen's large hand seize his throat, his life force rapidly drained. In the blink of an eye, only a shrill, terrified scream echoed, and nothing remained of him—nothing but the air where he once stood.

"Who are you?"

The small leader of the vampire guards turned pale as he looked at the dark wings formed from shadowy mist behind Allen. Despite the wings only being a mere illusion, Allen's speed was almost unfathomable, and the deathly aura radiating from the shadows made even the bravest shudder.

"Who am I?" Allen replied with a cold smile. With a simple flap of his wings, he appeared before the small leader in the blink of an eye. A stroke of his black magic pen conjured a swirling orb of violet flames that engulfed his enemy. "You have desecrated the dignity of the Lich King. You, and every vampire here, shall meet the same end."

The vampire guard leader's eyes widened in horror. With a desperate screech, he flapped his wings, attempting to flee the searing flames. However, before his head could even poke out of the flames, two powerful hands pressed down upon him. It was as if a mountain had crashed upon him, and in a searing moment of agony, his consciousness faded.

Compared to the six-tiered skeleton king Allen had encountered before, the vampire guard's speed was far superior. But Allen had long since surpassed those limits.

Having broken through from a mere third-tier magic apprentice to the pinnacle of the ninth-tier, Allen's battle prowess had increased far beyond just six times. Even without invoking any special techniques, the sheer magnitude of magic he could summon was enough to crush a vampire's body under the sheer weight of power. In just one breath, he had slain the mightiest vampire guard leader.

"Retreat!"

Seeing Allen's terrifying prowess, the remaining vampire guards were filled with dread and instinctively pulled back. They could not fathom who, apart from the Vampire Lord deep within the crypt, could stand against the wrath of this terrifying Lich King.

A Lich King, no less!

It was said that the Lich King of the Eastern Castle had been cultivating for nearly ten thousand years in the Cursed Valley, his strength unimaginable. To die at his hands was to be utterly erased from existence. The vast and ominous magical figure looming behind Allen made the remaining vampire guards feel their morale drain, their faces ashen.

A Storm of Terror!

While devouring the vampire leader's soul, Allen had secretly used a mental assault to break down the psychological defenses of the other vampires. He wasn't worried about them scattering; his concern was that they might regroup and resist, delaying his advance. With a flick of his black magic pen, he inscribed an ancient and intricate character in midair—'困'—and a vast, pitch-black barrier descended, encircling a hundred-meter radius. No matter how fast the vampire warriors were, none could escape.

"I told you, you must all die. Not a single one will escape alive!"

Allen's face was icy, his wings growing sharper and clearer with each passing moment. With a single flap, he appeared before a terrified vampire warrior, quickly dispatching them one by one, breaking their ranks and making quick work of their defenses.

After devouring the strength and blood energy of fifteen seven-tiered vampire guards, Allen's magical and soul power reached the peak of the ninth-tier magic apprentice level. His energy, which had been steadily building, was now pressed to the very limits, compressing further still.

"Lord, shall we encircle the vampire crypt, or deal with the vampires outside first?"

Isu's voice rang out as he led the Lich Legion toward the crypt, benefiting from Allen's clearing of the sentries, allowing the skeleton soldiers to move far more quickly.

"Directly assault the crypt, no mercy!" Allen commanded coldly, his dark wings flaring as he soared into the air, his body crackling with raw energy, like a fearsome demon bent on devouring everything in its path.

The Kill Order!

With a surprise attack, and overwhelming numerical advantage, there was no reason to delay. Allen issued the order for a complete annihilation. The sea of skeletons surged forward, unflinching, storming into the vampire crypt without hesitation. No casualties were spared; they marched onward, each skeleton relentlessly charging toward the vampire warriors.

A small group of skeletons fell, only to be replaced by others, rising from the dark mist to continue the charge.

First-tier skeletons were no match for the six-tier vampires, but their sheer numbers, combined with the devastating power of the Great Spirit Gathering spell, soon overwhelmed the vampire guards defending the crypt. With Isu commanding the skeleton legion, the vampires were forced to retreat in disarray.

"Even the little skeletons have great power!"

Allen chuckled softly as he watched a vampire warrior be pinned down by a first-tier skeleton. With a flick of his wing, he swooped in to devour the vampire's soul and blood. His dark wings flared once more, and he quickly turned toward a formidable vampire guard, landing a fatal strike with the black magic pen, leaving only a streak of blood in his wake.

Under the leadership of the Lich King, the skeleton legion surged forward with unstoppable force!

Howl...

By the time they reached the third layer of the crypt, a furious roar suddenly echoed from below. A powerful vampire appeared before them. With a flicker, the leading skeleton warriors were swiftly dispatched, their bones crushed under the might of this new enemy.

The Vampire King!

Finally, the Vampire King, who had been in deep cultivation within the crypt, made his appearance. He wore a grand, black cloak, his face pale but handsome. His eyes lacked the characteristic red glow, and his fangs were nowhere to be seen. He exuded no magical aura, his presence more that of a refined noble than a terrifying vampire. But beneath the courteous exterior, a chilling danger emanated from him.

The Cloak of the Ghost King?

Seeing the cloak, Allen's heart skipped a beat.

According to the memories of Ovissis, Vampire Kings usually possessed the strength of the eighth tier. But those who had crafted the Ghost King Cloak were far more powerful, having reached the peak of the eighth tier. Their combat strength far surpassed that of ordinary vampire guards. They could move like the wind, their teleportation abilities perfected. What was even more terrifying was that the Ghost King Cloak could conceal all energy signatures, making the wearer undetectable.

"Those who dare invade the crypt, die!"

The Vampire King roared in fury. With a flap of his wings, he appeared before a skeleton warrior, his eight-inch claws aimed at the warrior's skull. Just as everyone thought the skeleton would perish, the vampire king vanished in a blur, reappearing behind Allen. His deadly claws, still poised to strike, were met by a surge of dark energy that corroded the very air.

Ghost King's Poison!

With a feigned attack, the Vampire King struck directly at Allen, launching a lethal blow. His speed was lightning-fast, and his actions silent. The corrosive poison, rumored to even erode a soul, was now aimed directly at the Lich King. A single drop on the skin could cause the poison to spread throughout the body, turning the victim to nothing but dust.