CHAPTER 78

Skirmish (1)

"Level 50…"

It was one level higher than the guy I'd seen last time.

But the higher the level, the greater the difference a single level could make — it was never something to take lightly.

"Offer citizenship."

I immediately offered him citizenship.

"Accept it!"

Controlling over 50,000 citizens was no easy task — but controlling a single problematic one? That was almost laughably easy.

Through quests, I could restrict their actions, or even assign death penalties.

In essence, the moment he accepted citizenship, the game would be over.

Of course, there were downsides.

"It's a waste of EXP and settlement money, but…"

This was only speculation, but if I hunted down someone after granting them citizenship, I probably wouldn't get any rewards.

"When Jegal Seong-gyu killed citizens, their bodies remained."

At that time, even though Jegal Seong-gyu clearly had citizenship himself, the bodies of the citizens he killed didn't disappear.

Naturally, there was no EXP or settlement money either.

"Same thing with the low-ranking vampires I killed after heading there."

The low-ranking vampires who had shown clear hostility toward me had their heads explode — but their bodies were left intact.

They too must have had citizenship, which prevented proper settlement.

Considering that, it was obvious this guy would be the same.

"If I grant citizenship and then kill him, I'll gain nothing."

Even so—

"High-ranking vampires are too dangerous. If possible, it's best to deal with him right here, right now."

Sure, I'd lose out on EXP and money, but considering the safety of the hunting teams roaming outside the territory, this was the best choice.

"Besides…"

Once he became a citizen, I could extract information from him.

"Something about this is bothering me."

When Ha Dong-geon's party took down a high-ranking vampire together, that vampire had mentioned "that person". The term kept gnawing at my mind.

It was certain that "that person" possessed power beyond that of a high-ranking vampire. If so, when the enemy finally arrived, would Ha Dong-geon's party really be able to handle them alone?

What if this guy commanded not just one or two high-ranking vampires, but many?

"That'd be tough."

Ha Dong-geon's party was undeniably powerful, but high-ranking vampires were no joke.

Even facing three vampires of the level we fought last time might make victory uncertain — let alone if there was someone even stronger involved.

No matter how much I supported them, it would be Ha Dong-geon's party that would be annihilated.

"Would we stand a chance if we gathered all the hunting teams together to fight?"

Honestly? I was doubtful.

Sure, the other hunting teams had grown quite a bit, but they weren't at a level where they could take on high-ranking vampires in battle.

"Unless I somehow raised the levels of all the retainers…"

I shook my head to clear my thoughts.

Thinking about these things was pointless right now.

I didn't have any information on the enemy.

As the saying goes: Know the enemy and know yourself, and you will not be endangered in a hundred battles.

"I need to gather as much information as possible."

What was his power level?

How large was the force he commanded?

How many beings like high-ranking vampires did he have under him?

"…But what's with this guy? Why's he stalling so much?"

The high-ranking vampire was pressing his hand against the transparent barrier, his harsh, menacing face stiff.

After stalling for a while, the conclusion he came to was:

[The target has declined the citizenship offer.]

"…Why?"

[An unauthorized entity is attempting to enter.]

[An unauthorized entity is attempting to enter.]

The vampire tapped on the transparent barrier for a while, as if gauging its size — then suddenly adjusted his posture.

"What's he doing now?"

His right arm began to swell, his skin flushing red.

And then—

BOOOOOM!

With incredible speed, his fist slammed into the transparent barrier, creating a massive explosion-like sound.

Shockwaves spread across the entire barrier, absorbing the impact.

[An unauthorized entity is attempting to enter.]

Of course, his fist didn't manage to pierce the barrier.

The wall remained perfectly intact, not even a scratch on it.

Rather, it was the vampire's fist that was shattered.

Szzzzt

Watching his hand regenerate in real-time, I hardened my expression.

"This guy's dangerous."

Even though he couldn't break the barrier, the momentum and destructive power of that punch weren't things I could take lightly.

"Honestly… It looked even stronger than a Cyclops' punch."

Judging by the shockwaves and that absurd explosion, it definitely seemed stronger than the wild punches of a Cyclops.

"A skill?"

If he had some kind of awakened ability, it wouldn't be surprising.

Just look at Ha Dong-gun's party — thanks to their awakened abilities, they've been showing results far beyond what their levels would suggest.

Even the high-ranking vampire we hunted last time could control blood as if it were part of his own body.

That power… it must be something similar.

At that moment, the vampire turned his back.

I watched him slowly move away from the barrier and thought to myself:

'There's no way I'm letting him go just like that.'

Immediately, I activated the Communication Ring.

"[Dabin, contact all hunting teams currently operating in Suyeong District and have them retreat immediately.]"

"[Understood.]"

I first recalled every hunting team that might cross paths with the vampire.

Then—

"[Yejin, head up to my place.]"

I summoned Seo Yejin.

"[Everyone, something urgent has come up. We need to handle this right away.]"

I even called in Ha Dong-gun's party just in case things went south, then paused to think.

After all, I had one last card up my sleeve.

"Should I use it?"

Meanwhile, the high-ranking vampire, Go In-seok, was hastening his steps with a grim, hardened expression.

'That overwhelming power…'

He had seen the massive transparent barrier with his own eyes — seen the ripple that spread across its entire surface when he struck it with his fist.

'Insane.'

Its size was beyond belief.

It was so vast that it was impossible to tell where it ended.

It was practically encasing an entire city.

And yet, despite its ridiculous scale, it had withstood Go In-seok's full-powered punch without so much as a scratch.

"There's something capable of maintaining a barrier of that scale at all times?"

Goosebumps crawled across his entire body.

Seeing that barrier, he immediately understood how Jung Young-hoon had died.

'That thing inside the barrier… that's what killed Jung Young-hoon.'

The reason Go In-seok could sense the overwhelming presence within just by seeing the size of the barrier was because — he had encountered a being like that before.

An existence that defied all logic and common sense.

'But still…'

Go In-seok looked down at his right hand — mangled beyond recognition.

Bone fragments jutted out through torn flesh.

As he watched his hand slowly regenerate, he thought to himself:

'Even he… could he really wield power on this scale?'

And then there was that offer of "citizenship" he had just received.

The moment the offer was made, it had triggered a strange memory — the very moment he had first become a vampire, when that great blood had flowed into his mouth.

His instincts screamed at him — this was not an offer to accept.

'This is not something I can handle alone. I need to go back.'

Having reached that conclusion, Go In-seok turned to head for his base.

Unaware that a single mouse was quietly trailing him from behind.

Tracking a high-ranking vampire wasn't all that difficult.

If he had fled at full speed, there would've been few ways to follow him — but since he wasn't rushing, Seo Yejin's mouse was more than enough to keep track of him.

But even that had its limits.

"What should I do? I think I'm about to lose the connection."

Seo Yejin, whose skill had improved considerably, was now able to maintain a sensory link with her familiars while still holding a conversation.

Not only that, but the range of her link had increased quite a bit too.

Even so, the fact that the connection was about to break…

"Where is he now?"

"He just passed Shinhaeundae Station."

That meant he was already ridiculously far away.

"Ah."

"Is it over?"

Seo Yejin, drenched in cold sweat, replied with a downcast expression.

"Yeah… sorry."

I patted her head to comfort her.

"You did great. It's fine — Ha Dong-gun's party is already tracking him."

Seo Yejin smiled faintly.

"That's a relief."

"You must be tired — get some rest."

"Mm."

As I watched her carefully lie down on the sofa, a thought crossed my mind.

"Is he really heading all the way to Gijang?"

I had hoped to figure out the location of the vampires' base through him — but it seemed their base was much farther away than I'd expected.

"Don't tell me… Ulsan?"

The tracks the high-ranking vampire was walking along were the Donghae Line — stretching from Busan all the way to Taehwagang Station in Ulsan Jung-gu.

Of all the possible tracks, the fact that he had chosen the Donghae Line was ominous.

'If the vampires' base is really in Ulsan…'

Then it made sense that another high-ranking vampire had shown up a month after the previous one was killed.

'…If, by any chance…'

It was a terrifying thought, but—

'If the entire city of Ulsan has fallen to the vampires…'

Ulsan was a massive city with a population of over a million.

If all those people had become food for the vampires, just how many high-ranking vampires would there be?

…Horrifying.

As my thoughts spiraled down this dark path, I could easily imagine what might happen if that high-ranking vampire — who had just scouted our district — returned to that place.

The worst-case scenario flashed through my mind: a monster leading dozens of high-ranking vampires descending upon us.

'I absolutely cannot let him go.'

I reached a conclusion.

I contacted Ha Dong-gun's party, who were tailing the vampire.

"[We're switching to Plan B.]"

The moment I gave the order, Ha Dong-gun's party sprang into action.

'Eyes of the Absolute.'

SWOOSH!

Kim Geon, who had been flying through the air merged with Kkamang (his spirit beast), plummeted rapidly toward the railway tracks.

At the same time—

'Storage open. Releasing toxic gas.'

Fsssshhh—

A thick cloud of purple poison gas spewed out beneath Kim Geon, spreading downward and cutting off the advance of the high-ranking vampire.

It was only possible because the tracks connecting Sinhaeundae Station to the next stop, Songjeong Station, were built above ground rather than underground.

"Hmm?"

The high-ranking vampire halted in place, his gaze falling upon the sudden wall of poison before him. Then, instinctively, he looked up toward the sky — where Kim Geon was soaring overhead.

That split-second distraction was all it took.

Moon Byeongho, who had been tailing the vampire in stealth from dangerously close range, seized the opportunity and unleashed a barrage of gunfire.

Ratatatatat! Rata-ta-ta-tat!

His aim was precise — every bullet targeted the vampire's heart, the weak spot of their kind.

But—

Crack… Creak…

Clink— Clatter—

The bullets embedded in the vampire's back began falling out one by one, like loose pebbles slipping free.

His entire back was dyed a deep crimson.

"Tch… You pests…"

With a face twisted like that of a demon, the vampire lunged forward.

His fist shot out directly toward where Moon Byeongho had been standing.

"!!"

Though caught off guard for a brief moment, Moon Byeongho kept his cool and teleported away in the nick of time.

Whoosh! Shuuuk!

As the vampire swung uselessly at empty air, an arrow of light came flying in from the left, aiming once more for his heart.

"Tch!"

The high-ranking vampire rolled forward, narrowly dodging the shot.

But the moment he rose to his feet—

Screeee!

A spear cloaked in black energy came hurtling toward him.

"Rise."

In an instant, silver-armored knights began erupting from the ground all around him like bamboo shoots after the rain.

Clicking his tongue in irritation, the vampire made his choice — he dove straight into the cloud of poison gas.

A foolish move.

No matter how long he held his breath, he couldn't avoid inhaling at least some of the gas. And once Yoo Hyerin's paralyzing toxin seeped into his body, tracking him down would be a trivial task.

Besides—

'Ohnju is already waiting for him on the other side of the gas.'

In other words, no matter how far he ran, he was still trapped in the palm of their hand.

[Mr. Kim Geon. Assist Ohnju and buy as much time as you can.]

Once Ha Donggeon's party arrived and joined the fight, they would finish off the high-ranking vampire together — that was the plan.

However—

BOOOOM!

A sudden explosion erupted from within the cloud of poison gas.

At the same time, a powerful gust of wind blew the gas away, scattering it in all directions.

And from within that dissipating cloud… the high-ranking vampire emerged, his entire body stained a deep, terrifying red.

Damn it…

He hadn't jumped into the poison gas to escape.

He had done it to buy time — to unleash his power.

Clack!

An iron-clad knight charged at him.

But—

Clang—!

The halberd swung by the knight slid uselessly off the vampire's skin, unable to pierce it.

With a sneer of contempt, the vampire casually swatted the knight aside.

BOOM!

The heavily-armored knight was sent flying like a toy, hurled through the air by sheer force.

In the chilling silence that followed, the vampire let out a slow, twisted grin.

And the next moment—

"Tch!"

The high-ranking vampire charged straight toward Ha Donggeon, swinging his fist with overwhelming force.

Ha Donggeon braced himself, gripping his spear with both hands in an attempt to block the blow.

But—

CRACK!

The vampire's fist snapped the spear shaft like it was nothing and continued its path forward.

BOOOOM!

With an explosive crash, Ha Donggeon's body was sent hurtling far back across the battlefield.

[T/L: Read extra chapters on my ko-fi page "Pokemon1920" : https://ko-fi.com/pokemon1920 ]