#124
Yufershi Clan (3)
Under Heinz’s orders, all dealings with the Hubert Association passed through him, so Mulo could immediately recognize the identity of the suddenly barging in Harley.
Of course, there were things he learned for the first time this time…
‘That arm looks like dragon scales. Could he be a Dragonborn? So that’s how he could naturally break through my barrier. I don’t know how he found this place, but…’
Moreover, it seemed he had specifically come targeting the Yufershi Clan.
Given the situation, sudden support from a powerful ally was welcome.
He set aside various complicated thoughts and began to think about how to use the situation to his advantage.
However, at that moment, there were others besides Mulo who understood Harley’s words and frowned.
Namely, Theodore Yufershi, who issued the assassination order, and Klein, the pureblood vampire who executed it.
“…Klein.”
“Huff— Lord Theodore! I wiped away all traces perfectly! Please believe me!”
“There’s someone right in front of you chasing you down, and you’re trying to deny it?”
“Th-that is…”
Klein, who usually acted thoroughly, had a victimized expression, but Theodore merely glared at him.
Even though he was already on edge with how the operation was going awry, he was now worried that a subordinate’s failure to properly clean up would cause things to spiral further.
What was supposed to be a smoother operation had brought the opposite effect, and he was already developing a headache thinking about how to explain it to Bisk afterward.
‘Even if Klein was discovered, he came here through the blood gate. How did they find out we were here?’
Especially since they managed to come straight here at this timing was no small feat.
Unless Borkoslac’s side sensed something and took precautions…
‘Could touching Hubert have been a blunder? Is that why our operation was anticipated? No, if that were the case, their preparations shouldn’t be so thorough. Even now, we still have the advantage. Then what in the world…’
Naturally, all of Theodore’s plans had to be complicated.
Of course, no matter what they thought, it was a problem that wasn’t important to Harley.
_Pududuk! Kkiik—!_
From his tightly compressed muscles, a metallic essence began to seep out, and all over his body, his “Biotic Aura” and ‘Madness’ flared up like flames.
The glowing engravings on him were densely covered by crimson dragon scales, and in his reptilian-split eyes, red and green lights blazed fiercely.
“Haah—.”
_Swiik—!_
White steam mixed with his breath billowed out densely.
His body cells, already in combat mode, activated to the maximum, consuming energy non-stop and spewing steam alongside the mirage.
“Kkheh… Kkheuhaha—!”
Madness was consuming his body, and laughter spilled out involuntarily.
As his raucous laughter echoed through the space, the expressions of the vampires gradually stiffened.
The mana surrounding them reacted to his emotions, thrashing violently, and the madness scattered in the air resonated with him.
“Those who executed and commanded… No, all of you who are merely a bunch of troublemakers! I will make you all painfully feel the price of touching our Hubert!”
With all eyes on him, the barbaric warrior Harley grinned wickedly and charged towards the Yufershi Clan.
Thus, the vampire battle, which had briefly halted, resumed with the entry of a Dragonborn.
*
Purebloods are said to be the pinnacle of the Auterica vampires, but their abilities remained largely unknown.
This was largely because all purebloods were the progenitors of each bloodline, and there were not many left in the current age.
Clans that had their lineage cut off early fell into decline, while those who remained long enough became the top three in the current vampire realm.
Yufershi, Borkoslac, and Obaifo.
Among them, Yufershi was a successful case that completed the generational change of purebloods, and if the other two bloodlines failed to inherit purebloods…
The dominance of their clan would likely continue unchecked from the next generation onward.
_Creep—!_
Of course, that was a senseless assumption now that the two purebloods had come to a direct confrontation.
The one who lost here would fade into the annals of history.
Their battle was endlessly static yet dynamic.
– Bisk reached out and clawed at Briki’s neck.
– She cut off his arm before he could even extend it.
– He sidestepped to avoid the cut, slicing off Briki’s leg in the process.
– She delayed her timing and stabbed the spear of blood into Bisk’s heart.
_Creep—!_
Time and causality intertwined within each other’s intentions, causing sparks to fly without end at the boundaries of perception, colliding with fierce momentum and blood magic.
“Oh my, what is this? The valiant young man is being torn apart by his subordinates; shouldn’t I take a look?”
“Hmph, the lackeys on your side are so weak that they won’t collapse immediately. My subordinates are competent.”
“Bragging when you’ve taken the advantage by barging in suddenly, huh?”
“Hiding your own gaps and exploiting your opponent’s openings; isn’t that the way of the world? It’s the complacent who are in the wrong.”
Outwardly, it merely appeared they were standing face-to-face and bickering, but since the moment they met, they had been fiercely exchanging invisible blows.
If anyone else were to naively step into that zone, they’d become dust before realizing how they would die.
– Briki dodged Bisk’s attack and retaliated by smashing his head.
– He burrowed into her chest and pierced her heart.
– She reached out and bound him with blood magic just as Bisk was entering.
– He did not enter; instead, he cut off Briki’s outstretched hand.
– And she…
_Crack—_
“Ugh…?”
A sudden headache made her consciousness falter as she unknowingly flinched.
That moment was but an instant, yet it proved to be lethal in their duel…
_Creep— Thwaack—!_
That soon became reality.
Blood scattered, and Briki’s severed right arm floated in the air.
But such a sight didn’t last long.
As if time rewound, the blood that had splattered in the air was sucked back into a single point, and her severed arm naturally flew back and reattached seamlessly.
“Damn…”
As she regained her composure and flexed her right arm, it was apparent that, visually, it looked fine, but being in a pureblood battle had not left her without harm.
By allowing that last attack, she had suffered considerable damage not just to her blood magic but also to her mental and life force.
The repercussions from that might significantly affect her next battles.
“Hah… Borkoslac, I thought it was merely a hunch, but indeed you’re quite strained right now?”
Finally, Bisk, having gained the upper hand, looked at her with a sinister smile.
‘At my peak, this would’ve been nothing…’
Briki, whose weakness had been discovered, slightly frowned.
She had opted for a long-term hibernation to hold on as long as possible, but her lifespan was already nearing its limit.
Moreover, that hibernation had been unnaturally interrupted, leaving her condition far from normal now.
With multiple disadvantages compounding, her potential was pitifully diminished compared to her prime…
She had inadvertently revealed a gap after a prolonged clash of wills.
“Still, I’m more than enough to handle someone as green as you!”
“Khaha, your bravado has only increased as you near death. Do you think such bluffing will work on me?”
As he said, there was indeed a limit to compensating for a lack of ability with mastered skills.
Mulo’s barrier did not affect the purebloods, so they were left to fight solely with their abilities, and due to her recent misstep, the balance had shifted heavily against her.
‘For now, I can probably hold out, but I can’t guarantee it over time…’
Briki maintained an outwardly calm demeanor while inwardly sweating bullets, gritting her teeth.
She couldn’t allow herself to be humiliated in front of the other kids, so she vowed to fight as much as she could.
And just as the battle of the purebloods continued in a seemingly thoroughly static manner…
In one of the most intense battlefields, there was Harley, who was rampaging.
“Khaha! Truly resilient! There’s a satisfying tearing sensation!”
“Kkhk, what the hell is this monster?!”
“Don’t overdo it! His strange energy is deteriorating our regeneration!”
The Truebloods facing him numbered three.
Excluding Theodore, all were rushing to stop him.
Only after a few of the purebloods who recklessly charged in were torn apart did the Truebloods manage to strike a rough balance once three of them joined forces.
“Hahaha! Where are you trying to escape to?! Come here!”
“…Damn it!”
Although they were trying to restrain Harley without facing him head-on, they struggled to evade against his speed.
Eventually, the one chosen for front-line combat due to the high durability and recovery capabilities grit his teeth and summoned more blood magic.
His entire body was already soaked in blood from absorbing the shocks, but after several clashes, he knew from experience.
_Screech—!_
“Khph!”
He understood well that all these defenses couldn’t last long against that merciless grip.
The blood armor that had hardened to block external shocks shattered, and the flesh inside was grinded, blood splattering everywhere.
But at that moment…
“Enough already… just stay down, monster!”
The blood that burst from his body instantly transformed into several vines, wrapping around Harley’s body and firmly securing him against the surrounding space.
‘Considering his strength, this won’t last long…!’
But even if it were just for a few seconds, it was ample time for his comrades.
“Die!”
“…!”
The great red demon’s hand, with its sharp fingertips, targeted Harley’s back, while unilaterally applied lethal force sharp enough to slice his neck.
_Crak! Wow—!_
The hardened dragon scales shattered, and blood scattered.
The combined assault of the Truebloods inflicted fatal damage to his body.
A large wound exposing bones formed on his back, and his neck was nearly severed, blood pouring like a waterfall.
For an ordinary opponent… No, even a Dragonborn would undoubtedly suffer significant combat losses with such an attack.
_Crrr—_
But Harley, possessing “Enhanced Regeneration,”…
In what seemed like reversing time, his body swiftly healed back together.
“…Was the regeneration of Dragonborn always this fast?”
“I could have guessed if I had seen it before. …Damn.”
The sight caused the Yufershi Truebloods to catch their breath and gritted their teeth.
With a regeneration rate at that level, they, the Trueblood vampires, were suddenly at a disadvantage.
The Dragonborn race was so rare that not much was known about them, yet knowing this much was now a shock.
“Dragonborn blood… let’s see! Khph! Ptooey! Ugh!”
The Trueblood who tasted Harley’s blood, now soaked in it, grimaced and gagged.
“What the hell is this? Is Dragonborn blood supposed to be like this? This is dirtier than monster blood!”
He had expected so much from the rare blood but found Harley’s blood, a concoction of all sorts of filth, contrasting sharply with the delectability he anticipated.
This was even worse than monster blood!
“How outrageous! You’re too harsh on that!”
Harley, fully healed, grumbled in dissatisfaction at the poor evaluation.
Where could he find anyone as healthy and clean as him!
Though, being a creature with high energy consumption, he could eat only meat…
‘Well, those Truebloods are still somewhat troublesome. Even if my efficiency has increased, I can’t digest the “Heart of the Bone Dragon” at 100% yet.’
Moreover, the average combat power of the Yufershi Truebloods was higher than that of Borkoslac.
Had it not been for the enhancements from “Refined Blood Essence,” these would not even be competitors.
‘Right now, I can maintain a slight advantage… but to think the gap would be this wide. It makes sense why Borkoslac is stuck in the periphery while being one of the top three.’
Harley loosened up his body lightly and began to scan his surroundings once more.
He took note of the trio of Truebloods preparing for battle before checking the other battlefields.
Thanks to him immobilizing several Truebloods, the rest of the battlefields were progressing much more smoothly.
Faced with Theodore Yufershi alone, Frigia managed to put up a respectable defense against a foe she wouldn’t have stood a chance against before.
Mulo was leading his clan members and smoothly pushing back the more than forty purebloods.
He could spot the assassin, his first target, mingled among them, but for now, he would have to postpone revenge.
But then…
‘Uh, but is it okay over there?’
In the crucial battle of the purebloods, a rift that could decide the outcome of this battlefield was unfolding.
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