Chapter 50 – Blood Christmas (1)
TL: Boko
Editor: Frost
The vanguard, which consisted of Rash, the Red Axe Tribe, and some Dragonkin had failed miserably. News was relayed to the representatives of the Species Alliance first.
“Orc representative, you seemed so confident… But it seems like you’re not anymore.”
The Vampire representative, Rivulheim looked at the Orc representative and gently remarked.
Though the various species were allied together, they weren’t close, as evidenced by their history of war.
This was especially true for the Vampires like Rivulheim. Not only did he regard himself as a noble, but he considered the tribes like Orcs or Trolls as inferior.
The Vampires’ conduct caused problems within the inner circle of the Species Alliance.
“Urgh… You damn Vampire.”
“You have to restrain yourself.”
The Troll representative, Kulare, grabbed Helrod’s arm, which reached for the handaxe at his waist, and calmly spoke.
“You’re up against a Vampire. Please remember that.”
Helrod gritted his teeth. The reality was staring him in the face, so his rage abated. The Vampires consisted of the best of the best.
There were less of them than the Orcs, but the Vampires, like the Dragonkin, possessed the ability to summon ‘Living Armors’, so a number advantage was meaningless.
“We’ll be annihilated if we antagonize the Vampires.”
Helrod felt intensely anxious. His Orcish aggression reared its head, but he forced it down. Reality was too cruel.
The most important thing to him was the Orcs’ prosperity. He had no intention of recklessly antagonizing the Vampires.
“You made the right decision. If you had antagonized them, then us Trolls and the Ogres would’ve done the same. However, now’s not the time for us to be divided,” Kulare said.
The Vampires, Dark Elves, and the Dragonkin were part of one faction, while the other faction consisted of Orcs, Trolls, and Ogres.
Therefore, if the Orcs fought against the Vampires, then the Species Alliance would be split in half.
“What will you do now? The vanguard has been annihilated.”
The Elf representative, Nias spoke sharply, in contrast to her beautiful appearance. She wanted to know who would take responsibility. Her gaze was directed at the Orc representative, Helrod, rather than Rivulheim, who was pretty much the leader of the Species Alliance.
“Had the Dragonkin given us more reinforcements, we wouldn’t have lost.”
Helrod looked at Nias and said. Then, the Dragonkin representative, Rodium stepped forward and said.
“Please don’t distort the truth, Orc representative. Weren’t you the one who said you didn’t need reinforcements? I remember you saying that,” Rodium said and smiled coldly.
He didn’t want to make any invidious remarks, but because they were close associates with the Vampires, they couldn’t just do as they pleased.
“I’ll redeem myself.”
“Isn’t that obvious? You’re not just going to leave it like this, are you?”
“Please stop, Dragonkin representative. That’s enough,” Rivulheim said.
On the surface, it seemed like he was stopping him, but he sported a wicked smile. He acted politely, but he was a snake on the inside.
“I know you’ll redeem yourself. Am I right, Orc representative?”
“Don’t worry. I won’t make anymore mistakes.”
“Let’s end today’s conference here.”
Rivulheim announced the ending of the conference and everyone left the room. However, the Orc representative, Helrod remained in the conference room for a very long time.
* * *
While the Orc representative planned his revenge, Sung Joon conquered an S-rank dungeon with his guild members and was in the middle of returning to the surface.
Sung Joon led in front and was going up the stairs, while the guild members followed a few steps behind him.
Rishubalt surveyed their surroundings, went beside Sung Joon, and said.
“Your synchronization rate is at 60%.”
Once he hunted the S-rank boss, his synchronization rate had increased. Sung Joon smiled. He wondered what new technique he’d be able to use.
“Any changes?” Sung Joon asked softly, so that only Rishubalt could hear him.
With a calm expression, Rishubalt spoke.
“Aside from your physical abilities increasing, there are no other changes.”
“Is that so…?”
He hoped that the limitations of his current techniques would be lifted, or that he would gain a new technique, so he was a bit disappointed.
“However, I feel like I have changed.”
“Explain.”
“I believe I can temporarily assume a ‘physical form’ by using your mana, my lord,” Rishubalt explained, and Sung Joon’s eyes shined.
“Can you use a ‘sword’ too?”
He didn’t need to explain much. Being able to use a ‘sword’ was paramount.
“It’s an unfamiliar technique, but yes, I believe I’ll be able to use a sword.”
“That’s plenty.”
If he could use a sword and give himself a physical form, then he’d be able to ‘cut’ down his opponents.
If Sung Joon was caught on the defensive, then he could use his mana to manifest Rishubalt in an unexpected location and ambush his enemies.
At some point, they had arrived at the surface. Sung Joon paused his conversation with Rishubalt and approached the standby Dungeon Bureau worker to report the success of his dungeon conquest.
“I’ve confirmed your conquest of the S-rank dungeon.”
“Thank you for all your hard work.”
“Hunter Kang Sung Joon? Please wait a second,” the worker said urgently. Sung Joon tried to leave quickly, but then stopped.
“What’s the matter?”
“Team Leader Kim Hyun Sung left a message requesting for you to contact him.”
“Ah… Team Leader Kim?”
“Yes.”
“I understand.”
After Sung Joon nodded his head, he parted ways with the worker. He could tell why Hyun Sung had asked Sung Joon to contact him. It was probably regarding his payment for the raid.
“Choi Han Seok,” Sung Joon called. Han Seok, who silently followed behind him, came beside him and answered.
“You called?”
Han Seok had now became his second loyal aide after Rishubalt.
“Sell the magic stones to the Dungeon Bureau with the other guild members. I’m going to the Hunter Bureau.”
“I understand.”
Although the two Bureaus were close, the parking lots were separate, so it was a pain in the ass. Han Seok nodded his head, joined up with the other guild members, and relayed Sung Joon’s message.
“I’ll go first.”
Sung Joon waved his hands at the guild members and then called Hyun Sung in front of his Hunter sedan.
“Yes, Mr. Kang Sung Joon?”
Hyun Sung took his call immediately, as if he were waiting for Sung Joon to call.
“It seems like you were waiting for me to call you.”
“Hahaha. You got me.”
“Is it regarding the payment for the raid?”
“Yes. Han So Eun’s not in right now, so it falls to me,” Hyun Sung replied. So Eun was responsible for Sung Joon, but she couldn’t work 24/7, so Hyun Sung filled in when she wasn’t there.
“I just have to come to the Hunter Bureau, right?”
“Yes. I’ll get ready for you.”
The call ended. Sung Joon drove his Hunter sedan to the Hunter Bureau. After parking, he joined up with Hyun Sung on the first floor and they walked over to his office.
“I’m done with the preparations. All you have to do is go over this and sign it, Mr. Kang Sung Joon.”
Sung Joon accepted the document and examined it. It detailed the rewards for his performance in the raid.
“Your reward amounts to $500 million. However, the government has promised another 30% and as the MVP, you get another 30… Plus, you get another 10% for leading the other Hunters, so its adjusted to a total of $850 million. The other Hunters weren’t the same rank as the raid, so they get less, but because you were, you aren’t affected by the penalty,” Hyun Sung added. His payment was high because no other Hunter had been SS-rank.
“It’s a lot less than I thought it would be,” Sung Joon said honestly. He thought his payment would surpass $1 billion, as it was an SS-rank raid. Hyun Sung smiled faintly and said.
“We judged it to be an SS-rank raid because so many warp gates opened. However, aside from your warp gate, not many monsters appeared.”
“Is that so?” Sung Joon asked and Hyun Sung nodded.
Although the Species Alliance had mobilized, most of them were Orcs, so that overall level of the monsters wasn’t very high. Therefore, it wasn’t really an SS-rank raid.
“If it were a real SS-rank raid, then half of Seoul would’ve been destroyed,” Hyun Sung said with a serious expression. Sung Joon was South Korea’s only SS-rank Hunter, so if a raid occurred in a place where he wasn’t available, then it would truly be a calamity.
“Of course, if you weren’t here, then there would’ve been a lot of damage regardless. You took out the warp gates that unleashed the most powerful monsters.”
“I was just at the right place at the right time.”
“The raid situation room expected a third of Seoul to be destroyed, but you stopped that from happening, Mr. Kang Sung Joon.”
South Korea was lucky that Sung Joon was in the area where that specific warp gate opened, as their main forces (which were their most powerful) came through that gate.
“I live in Seoul with my family as well. I don’t even want to imagine what would’ve happened if the battlefield had spread.”
It seemed like Hyun Sung’s eyes had become damp. Hearing that, Sung Joon silently nodded his head. Hyun Sung soon calmed down and proceeded with processing Sung Joon’s payment.
“I’ve deposited your payment. Please check that it is successful.”
“I checked it. Thank you for all your hard work.”
Sung Joon did a final check and they were finished. Although a ton of money had been deposited into his account, the process didn’t take very long.
Sung Joon parted ways with Hyun Sung. Before he returned to his residence, he visited the Blue Dragon Group to see Seol Ah, calling her at the first floor.
“I’ll come down right away.”
Seol Ah sounded enthusiastic. He didn’t have an appointment, but she would make time when Sung Joon came by.
They talked about how they were doing for thirty minutes. After that, Sung Joon returned to his mansion, went to the B block and met with Jung Chul.
“How is the party preparations?” Sung Joon asked. While Seol Ah was responsible for reserving the location, Jung Chul was responsible for all of the various, informal tasks.
“I’ve spread the news that you are hosting a party. They’re people who have responded already.”
“They’re pretty fast.”
“Most people who want to attend are politicians or high ranking businessmen.”
His response made it clear just how far reaching Sung Joon’s influence as an SS-rank Hunter was.
“Please organize the list for me and give it to me later.”
“I understand.”
Jung Chul nodded his head. At dinnertime that day, Sung Joon picked the attendees from the list that Jung Chul had given him. They were all powerful individuals who had great influence in South Korea.
And finally, it was the day of the party.
//
Chapter 50 – Blood Christmas (2)
TL: Boko
Editor: Frost
It was the day of his Christmas party. More people had shown up at the Blue Dragon Hotel than normal. Most of them were reporters who had heard the news.
Although they showed up at the Blue Dragon Hotel, they weren’t able to go into the banquet hall, as Sung Joon had employed numerous guards to keep people out.
He couldn’t help but to emphasize safety, as there were so many high profile people that had been invited.
“When is Hunter Kang Sung Joon showing up?”
“The party is going to start soon…”
The reporters conversed, waiting in the parking lot for Sung Joon. They planned on asking him a question or two once he got out of his car.
However, contrary to their expectations, Sung Joon had come on a helicopter and was in the middle of landing on the roof of the Blue Dragon Hotel.
Sung Joon had gotten the urge to buy one after seeing Han Seok ride one.
“Please, this way.”
As soon as Sung Joon got off the helicopter, a hotel employee that was waiting for him lead him to the banquet hall.
Most of the attendees were already waiting for Sung Joon in the banquet hall. All eyes were on him once he opened the doors and entered.
“It’s the SS-rank Hunter, Kang Sung Joon.”
“He seems more handsome in person.”
Sung Joon could hear the others talking about him as he walked to the center of the banquet hall.
They were speaking quietly, but he could hear them. It seems like they didn’t know how much greater a Hunter’s hearing was compared to a regular human’s.
He couldn’t really call it ‘talking behind his back’, as they were all complimenting him.
No one tried to initiate a conversation with Sung Joon before he got to the center of the banquet hall. People were intimidated by his title as South Korea’s first and only SS-rank Hunter, so they couldn’t easily approach.
“Mr. Kang Sung Joon. It’s been a long time.”
Once he got to the center of the room, someone spoke. He turned his head towards the familiar sounding voice and he was met with the sight of the South Korean president.
The president was able to initiate a conversation with him as he was already acquainted with Sung Joon and had a high position.
“Ah… You came, Mr. President.”
“I heard you destroyed the main warp gate in the raid. You pretty much saved Seoul, Mr. Kang Sung Joon.”
“I just did what anyone would have done.”
Sung Joon replied, and the President smiled faintly. Sung Joon turned his attention towards the man attending to the President.
‘Son Young Jin.’
The refined, suit wearing man was the Minister of Health and Welfare.
He needed to talk with him, so that he could discuss animal testing for his new drug.
The president seemingly noticed that Sung Joon was looking elsewhere, looked around, and then spoke.
“It seems like you have business with Minister Son Young Jin.”
“I had something I wanted to ask him.”
Sung Joon didn’t deny it. Then, the president smiled.
“I can give you up to Son Young Jin for today. You’re… alright with this, right?” the President looked at Young Jin and said.
“I’m ok with that,” Young Jin replied.
Seeing that, Sung Joon smiled. The Minister of Health and Welfare, Son Young Jin, was famous for being close to the president.
And because he wasn’t on bad terms with the president, so he thought the discussion would progress favorably.
“Then I’ll leave you two alone.”
The President smiled and left with his guards. Sung Joon surveyed his surroundings. There were way too many people here. Eventually, he looked at Young Jin and said.
“Would you like to go somewhere quieter?”
“Is it something important?”
“No, it’s not serious per say, but I don’t think we benefit from everyone else hearing about it.”
“I understand.”
Young Jin nodded his head. He understood what Sung Joon was really saying. There were too many eyes watching here.
“Please come this way.”
Sung Joon took Young Jin to the waiting room attached to the banquet hall. There was already a table and chairs set up inside.
The hotel workers placed some food and wine on the table and left.
Sung Joon took a sip of the wine and explained the situation that the Seo Guk research facility was in. Young Jin listened courteously with a serious expression.
“So you need permission to test the drug on animals?”
He had merely explained the situation; he hadn’t made any requests yet. Even so, Young Jin figured out what Sung Joon wanted.
Sung Joon just nodded his head, and Young Jin began calculating in his head. However, he soon shook his head.
Taking risks with an SS-rank Hunter was impossible. Rather than being half-assed, it was much better to gain Sung Joon’s good will by granting his request.
“I can get you permission for animal testing without much difficulty. You’ll get the official documents soon, so you can proceed. You won’t have any problems with the ethics board or the clinical testing board.”
Young Jin could guarantee that. It was difficult to influence these committees, but he could use other means to get them to comply.
“Thank you very much.”
“No, thank you. Please take care of us from now on.”
Sung Joon and Young Jin went back to the banquet hall, and joined the party. At the beginning, they were afraid and couldn’t approach him, but as time passed, the surrounding people began to crowd around him.
He was only freed once it was past midnight, and walked over to a window to relax. It had been tiring and suffocating to be around so many people for so long.
“It’s stifling, isn’t it?”
It was Seol Ah’s voice. Sung Joon turned his head towards her voice. He saw Seol Ah there, wearing a white dress.
It felt awkward seeing her like this, as he was so used to seeing her in a suit all the time.
“The dress… looks nice.”
“That’s a relief… I put in a bit of effort for today.”
Seol Ah was relieved he liked it. Contrary to when they had first met, her voice had become much gentler.
“When did you get here?”
“I got here when the banquet first started. I thought I’d just get in the way, so I just watched.”
Sung Joon asked, and Seol Ah replied. She didn't want to get in his way, so she observed him quietly.
“I see,” Sung Joon said as he looked through the window. He didn’t show it, but he appreciated her consideration.
Once Sung Joon began to look out of the window, Seol Ah smiled faintly and took a step forward.
“Did your business go well?” Seol Ah asked. She was already aware of the animal testing issues that the Seo Guk research facility faced.
“Yes, it went well.”
“That’s good to hear.”
Their talk, which seemed to be going smoothly, was put on hold. The banquet was over in a flash, but Seol Ah could tell that she and Sung Joon had gotten closer.
* * *
“Why did it have to be Christmas Eve that I get my appointment for a dungeon conquest…” Sung Joon looked at the fair sky and muttered, as though lamenting his misfortune. He didn’t have anyone to spend Christmas with, but it felt like he was losing out for some reason.
It would be a pain to cancel his appointment, as he planned on entering the Awakening Dungeon.
“Sir Kang Sung Joon!”
Zelos came rushing over to Sung Joon, who was mulling over his thoughts, in the garden.
“Could you come to my workshop please? I have a present for you.”
“You prepared a Christmas present for me?”
“It just turned out that way.”
Zelos went towards his workshop first, and Sung Joon followed behind him; Zelos was the first one to arrive at his workshop.
He took a small earring atop his testing table and gave it to Sung Joon.
“What is this?”
Sung Joon couldn’t hide his curiosity and took out his measuring tool. The moment he attempted to appraise it, Zelos spoke.
“I ‘adjusted’ it, so the measuring tool won’t be able to appraise it.”
“What do you use it for?”
“It collects traces of dimensional mana.”
“That’s possible?”
Sung Joon asked, and Zelos nodded his head.
“It’s possible within the Awakening Dungeon. If it’s as you explained, Sir Kang Sung Joon, then the Awakening Dungeon forcefully opens the dimension, so the dimension itself should be unstable. It won’t be difficult to collect dimensional mana in that situation,” Zelos explained simply.
Sung Joon had some knowledge regarding magic, so he could understand what he was saying without much difficulty.
“I believe it’ll speed up my work if you gather dimensional mana for me.”
“Then what happens?”
“I’ll be able to find a way to open a warp gate from this side.”
Sung Joon’s eyes shined. If what he said was true, then they, who have been stuck on defense all this time, can start going on the offense as well.
“That’s good news.”
Sung Joon checked his watch. It seemed like he would have to start heading over to the dungeon now.
“I’ll be waiting for the good news.”
“Alright.”
Sung Joon took his Hunter sedan to the entrance of the dungeon. He had an appointment for an rank dungeon solo play.
He could’ve soloed an S-rank dungeon as well, but because it took a lot of mana and stamina to clear the Awakening Dungeon, he deliberately chose an rank dungeon to save on both.
Sung Joon was skilled enough to clear rank dungeons without much difficulty.
Ultimately, he wouldn’t use much mana and stamina due to his liberal use of ‘Absorption’.
– Verifying conquest, measurement complete. rank dungeon, clear.
– Verifying the existence of a new item.
Once he killed the boss, the Orc Blademaster, his measuring tool responded. A magic stone and the Orc Blademaster’s sword was left behind where its body had disappeared.
“It’s an item,” Rishubalt said. Sung Joon nodded his head and picked up the blade. And used his measuring tool to appraise the item.
rank.
Verifying Bleeding Curse effect.
Verifying Muscular Strength Amplification effect.
This was the result of its appraisal. It was an rank item, but if he compared it to the ‘Awakened Roel’, then its abilities weren’t very good.
Rishubalt came to his side, looked at the appraisal results, and shook his head.
“It won’t be long before you advance even further, and it can also help increase your synchronization rate, so I recommend you continue to use the Roel.”
“I should just sell this.”
rank items sold for a lot. Sung Joon placed the ‘Cursed Sword’ into his inventory, turned his attention to Rishubalt again, and spoke.
“Rishubalt. The Awakening Dungeon.”
“Understood.”
As soon as Rishubalt raised his hands, the surrounding landscape melted away. And Sung Joon was greeted with new scenery.
When all was said and done, Sung Joon stood in the middle of the plains, and he saw a giant fortress in front of him. First, Sung Joon checked the flag.
‘A Vampire… Is it a Marquis?’
In the center of the red flag was the Vampires’ unique pattern. He could also see the mark that indicated nobility without much difficulty.
“It’s definitely a Vampire Marquis,” Sung Joon said confidently. Whenever the Species Alliance’s armies showed up, the Vampire’s flag was always present.
There was no way he could forget it.
“A Vampire Marquis is about at a low tier SS-rank level.”
Rishubalt calculated the Vampire’s strength level with Earth’s power levels so it was easily to understand. Sung Joon calmly drew his sword and spoke.
“Stealth.”
After he spoke the activation words, he melted into the darkness.
//
Chapter 50 – Blood Christmas (3)
TL: Boko
Editor: Frost
The main gate was shut tight, but the outer walls weren’t very high. Therefore, Sung Joon was able to enter the fortress without releasing his stealth.
Because the spatial barrier was spread over such a large area, the Marquis’s troops weren’t aware of the incoming disaster.
Security was tight, befitting a Vampire Marquis’s fortress. There was one Vampire and three Living Armors patrolling atop the castle walls.
“There’s a stealth detecting item set up on the path that leads to the inner fortress,” Rishubalt said after scouting around. Items that detected stealth were uncommon on both Earth and the other world.
It was probably set up because it was a Vampire Marquis’s castle. Sung Joon briefly hid within an alleyway and released his stealth. And then, he looked at Rishubalt and said.
“Is there any other way in?”
“A Vampire Baron is guarding the other path. He should be able to see through your stealth,” Rishubalt said.
Sung Joon nodded his head. A Vampire Baron should be able recognize when someone is using stealth in their immediate vicinity. Moreover, their abilities were heightened at night time.
“What will you do?”
“I’m going over to the Vampire Baron.”
“A wise decision,” Rishubalt said in awe.
He could take care of a Vampire Baron discreetly, unlike a stealth detecting item, which would enable him to infiltrate the castle without being discovered.
“Stealth.”
Sung Joon activated his stealth once again.
“I’ll take your there.”
Rishubalt moved first, leading him to a tall tower.
The entrance was guarded by two Vampire Knights. He sensed a powerful mana response from the top of a tower, signaling that the Vampire Baron was up there.
“The Vampire Knights cannot sense you, my lord,” Rishubalt reported.
Sung Joon began to move. The Vampire Knights guarded the entrance without any idle chat, yet Sung Joon moved past them and went up to the top of the tower. As soon as he got to the top of the stairs, he saw the back of the Vampire Baron.
“Something’s here…”
The Vampire Baron noticed that something was stealthed. It swiftly drew its sword and kept its guard up.
At first, the Vampire Baron thought it might’ve been wrong, but as time passed, it felt a clear mana. It opened its mouth to call its subordinates, but at that moment…
‘Now!’
Sung Joon instantly closed the distance. Due to his rapid movement, his stealth was released. However, before the Vampire Baron could even get a good look at him, Sung Joon had already swung his sword.
“Huh?”
His aura clad blade cut deep into the Vampire Baron’s neck and blood gushed from the wound. The Vampire Baron stumbled, but didn’t fall.
It attempted to use Blood Magic to stem the bleeding, but Sung Joon wouldn’t give him that opportunity.
Sung Joon followed up with another attack.
His flash-like strike pierced the Vampire Baron’s heart. Even though a Vampire’s regenerative ability was leagues ahead of a human’s, if their heart was severely damaged, they would die.
“U-Ugh…!”
When the Vampire Baron died, its spilled blood shot into the air like a signal flare, ringing loudly through the air.
Before its death, it had used Blood Magic to send a signal that an intruder had entered the castle.
“The guards are moving,” Rishubalt reported.
He’d been discovered, but Sung Joon remained relaxed.
“I was thinking of killing the boss first, but I guess I won’t be able to…”
“Are you going to kill them all first?”
“Yeah. Let’s kill all the weaklings first,” Sung Joon replied and looked down. The troops were surrounding the tower. There were Vampire Nobles mixed in as well.
“Rishubalt. What’s the difficulty of this Awakening Dungeon?”
“It’s around a low tier SS-rank. It’ll put a strain on your stamina and mana, but you should be able to clear it easily, my lord,” Rishubalt replied.
If Sung Joon had been a normal SS-rank Hunter without the ‘Absorption’ ability, then it would’ve been impossible to clear this.
“I guess I should be careful.”
Sung Joon smiled faintly and jumped down the tower. At the same time, he gathered his mana and spoke.
“Slash.”
Once he uttered the activation words and swung his sword, an aura slash was launched at the ground with frightening speed.
“T-This is… Ugh!”
The battle had begun with a Vampire Knight’s right arm being severed. Sung Joon landed softly, and quickly swung his sword, unleashing a Tempest Sword.
“Ugh!”
“Ah!”
The swarming troops screamed and were torn to shreds. A Vampire’s skin was about as durable as a Living Armor’s armor, but Sung Joon’s ‘sword winds’ were able to cut through a Living Armor’s armor.
With one strike, Sung Joon had ripped apart dozens of Living Armors, and a dozen of Vampires as well. Only the Vampires Nobles that had used their Blood Magic or Aura Armor to defend themselves were left standing.
“There are three Vampire Barons and five Vampire Knights remaining.”
A Vampire Baron was about as strong as a low tier S-rank Hunter. In comparison, the Vampire Knights were only top tier ranks.
Some classified Vampire Knights as S-rank monsters, but that was only a minority, so Sung Joon didn’t worry about it.
“W-We can’t stop him! Ask the Count for reinforcements from the main army!”
“Tell the Marquis what’s going on as well!”
Two of the Vampire Knights moved quickly to relay the messages. Sung Joon threw his dagger, killing one of them. He killed the other by closing the distance with high-speed movement and piercing its heart.
“Damn it! Attack him together! I’ll cover you!”
One of the Vampire Barons said, and hastily began casting its Blood Magic. Now there were only three Vampire Barons and five Vampire Knights left. They had to hold on until reinforcements arrived.
But when they attempted to move into formation…
They were struck by a flash of light.
“Ugh!”
“Ah!”
Sung Joon swung his sword and the Vampire fell helplessly. Although there were three Vampire Barons, they couldn’t withstand Sung Joon’s sword.
By the time Sung Joon had stopped, there were no Vampires left standing, and blood fell from the sky like rain.
Sung Joon sensed Vampires coming from afar and smirked.
“It’s Christmas. Was I too flashy?”
“It truly is a Blood Christmas,” Rishubalt joked insipidly.
Sung Joon moved towards the approaching troops.
“Are you planning on killing all of them?”
“They can’t run away anyway, so I’ll slowly kill the weaklings first.”
Unless Sung Joon was killed or the Awakening Dungeon was cleared, no one could escape, as the spatial barrier cut this place off from the rest of the world.
He could clear the Awakening Dungeon by killing the boss, but because he had been discovered, Sung Joon had no other choice but to ‘annihilate’ all of the Vampires here.
Sung Joon soon saw the Marquis’s guards.
“The commander is a Vampire Count,” Rishubalt reported, and Sung Joon nodded his head.
Sung Joon couldn’t lower his guard against a Vampire Count, as it possessed top tier S-rank power.
“The Empire’s Battle Priest Vestments…? Is he a Heretical Judicator?”
The Vampire Count saw Sung Joon’s clothes and misunderstood. Though the Heretical Judicators wore the Battle Priest Vestments as well, the Heretical Judicators consisted of the best of the best, unlike the Battle Priests.
“It seems like they’ve mistaken you as a Heretical Judicator, my lord. This will be interesting.”
“I guess I can really mess around with them.”
Sung Joon smirked.
“I should change my plan. I’m not going to annihilate them. I’ll let a few of them live,” Sung Joon said.
If he acted like a Heretical Judicator and mercilessly killed the Vampires, then he would be able sow discord between the Empire and the Species Alliance.
“What are you muttering? Human… Answer my question. What is one of the Empire’s Heretical Judicators doing here?”
“I’ve come to strike you down in the name of the Empire,” Sung Joon said clearly with a booming voice.
A normal Heretical Judicator would refer to his ‘Imperial Majesty’, but Sung Joon was disinclined from doing so, so he just mentioned the Empire instead.
He was perfectly mimicking a Heretical Judicator. It was only possible because he had known several Heretical Judicators in the past and had fought on the battlefield with them several times before.
“What did you say…? Have you forgotten about the treaty between the Empire and the Species Alliance!?”
“That’s irrelevant. I merely annihilate the Empire’s enemies.”
Sung Joon raised his sword. Once he gathered his mana, the Vampires hurriedly used their Blood Magic and erected shields.
“Gale Sword!”
Once he swung his sword, a whirlwind swept up his surroundings. The high rank Vampires were safe, but the lower rank Vampires were ripped apart, along with their red blood shields.
The outer ranks, which mostly consisted of Living Armors, crumbled. Sung Joon used his high-speed movement, and once he broke through the toppled ranks, the Vampire Knights attempted to stop him.
“Do everything you can to stop him!” a Vampire Viscount ordered.
A Vampire Viscount was about as strong as a high tier S-rank. Sung Joon looked at them with sharp, gleaming eyes.
“Are you going for the commander?”
Sung Joon nodded his head. A fundamental strategy when fighting against many enemies was to kill the commander and lower the troops’ morale.
“Petrify.”
The red ray, which contained the petrifying curse, was directed at the Vampire Viscount.
“S-Shit…!”
The Vampire Viscount noticed the ray, but it couldn’t move out of the way in time. It was so fast that even a high tier S-rank monster couldn’t react.
It consumed a considerable amount of mana, but it would petrify the Vampire Viscount with a single hit. Its body became stiff and it turned to stone.
“Don’t let your guard down!” the Vampire Count yelled whilst drawing its sword.
It had felt the need to fight itself, as it realized that Sung Joon was much more powerful than it had anticipated.
The Vampire Knights surrounded Sung Joon and the Count extended its left hand.
“He’s using telekinesis!” Rishubalt warned.
Sung Joon felt as though he were being suffocated by the powerful telekinesis. He attempted to release his mana to counter it, but it didn’t work. Blink wouldn’t work either.
‘It’s a lot stronger than I expected… Then…!’
He had to stop the Count. Sung Joon turned towards Rishubalt and said.
“Rishubalt!”
Once Sung Joon transferred his mana to him, Rishubalt drew his sword.
“I pledge my sword to you once more, my lord.”
He instantly closed the distance and swung his sword at the Vampire’s neck.
However, the Vampire had quickly sensed danger, so it had stopped using its telekinesis and retreated immediately, avoiding Rishubalt’s sword strike.
“Ugh… my lord! My apologies!”
“That’s good enough!”
Once it had stopped using its telekinesis, Sung Joon was free to move again. Sung Joon used Blink to teleport right behind the Count, and then he forcefully swung his sword.
The Count spurted red blood.
//