136 – The Day I Became a Vampire – 1

[Double Persona (Legendary—) — Sanguis]

[Switchable — Ignis]

[Durability — 3,583/4,200]

[Defense Power (L) — 35]

[Option 1 — Opens the Unique-grade Anti-Blood Power stat when Sanguis is equipped]

[Option 2 — Increases all abilities by 25% when facing vampires]

[Option 3 — Blood-sucking against vampires is possible]

[Equip Restriction — Possession of ‘Vampire Hunter’ title]

[As a result of two powerful egos miraculously locking together in harmony, the artifact’s rank has transcended its limits and reached Legendary. Currently, the ego of the legendary vampire hunter is manifested. Any vampire that locks eyes with the flashing blood-red single eye beyond the mask will taste the terror of falling from a hunter to a prey.]

[Double Persona (Legendary—) — Sanguis]

[Switchable — Ignis]

[Durability — 3,583/4,200]

[Defense Power (L) — 35]

[Option 1 — Opens the Unique-grade Anti-Blood Power stat when Sanguis is equipped]

[Option 2 — Increases all abilities by 25% when facing vampires]

[Option 3 — Blood-sucking against vampires is possible]

[Equip Restriction — Possession of ‘Vampire Hunter’ title]

[As a result of two powerful egos miraculously locking together in harmony, the artifact’s rank has transcended its limits and reached Legendary. Currently, the ego of the legendary vampire hunter is manifested. Any vampire that locks eyes with the flashing blood-red single eye beyond the mask will taste the terror of falling from a hunter to a prey.]

In the process of exploring the ruins of the legendary vampire hunter, Sanguis, the second persona residing in Gi-jun’s mask, was an absurd monstrosity that granted a special bonus against vampires just by wearing the mask.

In particular, the stat called Anti-Blood Power, which could suppress the blood power of vampires, made it easy to guess how Krat van Helsing was able to operate for a long time under the name of a vampire hunter.

[Gi-jun (1st Year): Earth Representative]

[Titles — The Last Hero (Legendary) and 12 others]

[Light Human (Rare) Guide of Light (Unique) Lv84]

[Strength (Unique) — 99+30]

[Dexterity (Legendary) — 54+20]

[Endurance (Legendary) — 3+20]

[Light Mana (Legendary) — 66+25]

[Charm (Legendary) — 48+20]

[Spiritual Power (Legendary) — 68+20]

[Anti-Blood Power (Unique) — 1+20]

[Gi-jun (1st Year): Earth Representative]

[Titles — The Last Hero (Legendary) and 12 others]

[Light Human (Rare) Guide of Light (Unique) Lv84]

[Strength (Unique) — 99+30]

[Dexterity (Legendary) — 54+20]

[Endurance (Legendary) — 3+20]

[Light Mana (Legendary) — 66+25]

[Charm (Legendary) — 48+20]

[Spiritual Power (Legendary) — 68+20]

[Anti-Blood Power (Unique) — 1+20]

When he opened his status window to check, the Anti-Blood Power added at the very bottom of the stats was only 1, but it was boosted by a whopping 20 due to the effect of the [The Last Hero (L)] title.

‘Flame Control was like that too.’

Flame Control was an additional stat granted to the first persona, Ignis.

It was a stat that increased the power of all the flames he handled and allowed him to control them more delicately—according to Tilla, it was the stat that made a Flame Human truly like a Flame Human.

That had also been 1 when he first checked it, but as Gi-jun handled flames while wearing the mask, it grew little by little and had now reached around 15.

What Gi-jun had been curious about was whether the Flame Control, which had grown to 15, would be directly substituted for Anti-Blood Power—but it seemed that it was not compatible to that extent after all.

‘It doesn’t matter, since I can grow it a lot here.’

When Gi-jun’s atmosphere changed completely, Ji-hye, who sensed it, shook her head in amazement.

“You were hiding something like that all this time? You’ve become quite devious, Oppa.”

“Accept it. ——It’s coming!”

“I know. Spread!”

The moment Ji-hye shot the mana sphere gathered at the tip of her staff forward, it discharged and spread wide in all directions, forming a spiderweb of lightning.

―A bunch of annoying things have swarmed in, quite proudly at that――!

The enemy, who had been running down the hallway like a dark cloud in the form of black mist, realized the moment they saw Ji-hye’s magic that it held intense light and heat that was no less harmful than sunlight. They immediately condensed into their true form and—stepping heavily in midair as if treading on solid ground—rushed straight toward them.

―This is nothing!

Blood-red mana quickly raced down the hallway, drawing a straight line of blood.

Sticky blood clumped at the tip of the hand extended by the bastard, turning into a giant, sharp-tipped charging lance. It then collided with the spiderweb formed by the mana Ji-hye had gathered, tearing it apart like a sheet of paper.

As if his momentum had not subsided, he closed the distance just like that, aiming for Gi-jun.

―Sloppy, so sloppy! You dare challenge me with only that level of power!

“So who the hell are you, you bastard!”

―I am the chief of the Dragon Knights who swore to bring dark night to this continent. As a member of the Lord of Thorns’ bloodline, I am one who has been promised a seat by his side in the final crusade――!

“Too long!”

―You who lack even the qualifications of a guest! To interrupt me――!

The two Kings of the Well merged together, creating a giant blood-colored fang.

Fortunately, the Anti-Blood Power he drew out as a test harmonized with his Light Mana and Spiritual Power, intertwining in the shape of a helix to form the fang, making it look more fitting for the name Moonlight Blood Fangs.

―The effects of the titles [Conqueror of the Behind Dungeon (L)], [Limit Transcender (L)], [Skill Creator (U)], [The Last Hero (L)], and [Vampire Hunter (R)] are active.

―The effects of the titles [Conqueror of the Behind Dungeon (L)], [Limit Transcender (L)], [Skill Creator (U)], [The Last Hero (L)], and [Vampire Hunter (R)] are active.

The moment the fang Gi-jun thrust out with the momentum to tear through space collided with the lance he had extended.

Surprisingly, the fang crushed it just like that, advancing to graze his face.

And at the same time the Anti-Blood Power residing on the fang came into contact with the vampire’s blood droplets spraying from his scratched skin—it triggered a massive explosion, blasting the Legendary-grade enemy away to roll on the ground!

―What?!

It was already humiliating enough that an opponent whose aura felt far inferior to his own had clashed with him head-on with force and surpassed him, but for the blood flowing in his own body to escape his control and even explode!

Since it was the moment the natural concept that no one could surpass vampires in handling blood was shattered, it was only natural for the bastard to freeze for a moment.

‘What the, this is much stronger than I expected.’

Gi-jun also flinched for a moment because he had never expected the power of Anti-Blood Power to be at this level, but he did not make the mistake of missing the opening shown by the enemy.

Bounding off the floor, the shield spun rapidly in Gi-jun’s grip before being thrust down to target the vampire rolling on the ground.

―Boom!

―I see, so that’s it.

He had wanted to crush the bastard’s head just like this if possible, but the Legendary realm was indeed not to be taken lightly.

Having composed himself in that brief gap, the vampire had somehow extended his blood power to create a thick shield.

―You are…….

Although the Anti-Blood Power infused into the tip of Gi-jun’s fang still repelled his blood power and induced an explosion, in the end, power was destined to be consumed by a greater power.

Because the vampire, who realized Gi-jun’s ability was dangerous to him, discharged a massive amount of blood power, the Anti-Blood Power failed to taste the bastard’s blood and was frustrated.

Glaring fiercely at Gi-jun from beyond the shield crafted of blood power, the vampire growled.

―You are a Dhampir!

If one equated the persona residing in his mask with Gi-jun, it was not an entirely incorrect assumption.

―To think a cursed, incomplete half-breed managed to reach this castle! I will kill you here and now and make you my loyal servant!

“With those skills?”

With the bastard at the center, blood boiled up from the floor, turning the area into a swamp of blood in an instant.

Gi-jun resisted the blood power that was trying to pull him down and sink him, instead taking another step forward.

Had it been a one-on-one situation, retreating might have been the wise decision, but the current Gi-jun had Ji-hye behind his back.

A party’s tanker did not back down in front of the enemy.

―If you think that just because you have gained that much power you can defeat the true master of blood, you are gravely mistaken!

“That bastard must fight with his mouth, Oppa!”

―I will kill you first, you bitch!

The tanker was the one who should draw aggro, so what was a magician doing drawing it!

However, Gi-jun was not unaware of the reason why Ji-hye deliberately opened her mouth at this timing.

The moment dozens of thorns sprouted from the swamp of blood and flew toward Ji-hye, Gi-jun also moved his body.

He aimed one of the Kings of the Well at the swamp pulling at his ankles, and at the same time he sprayed a strong wind forward—

“Ur!”

―Kiiiiii!

Ur fully ignited the wind Gi-jun created, causing it to explode magnificently!

In the mist where the swamp of blood collapsed in an instant and a massive amount of blood evaporated in the hot wind, quickly filling the area with red steam—

a giant fang of fire that rushed in while sucking it all up arrived right in front of the vampire’s nose.

―A spirit?!

“Too late—!”

―Booooom!

The shield that popped out of the mist struck his face, carrying light and flame.

The Anti-Blood Power that seamlessly penetrated triggered consecutive explosions, blowing him away to the end of the hallway.

“Ji-hye!”

“I’m fine, so catch that bastard!”

Hearing Ji-hye’s spirited voice, Gi-jun did not bother to reply and bounded off the floor.

A giant snake head made of blood power was rushing from the direction the bastard had been blown away.

The appearance of the snake, which was so massive that it filled the wide hallway, truly made one realize the ferocity of a Legendary-grade monster.

―How dare you, how dare you――!

“—Krat van Helsing, please.”

Aiming the King of the Well toward the snake opening its maw as if to swallow him whole, he sprayed wind in a straight line this time.

The wind, strengthened by adding Ur’s flame and Gi-jun’s Anti-Blood Power, was dyed red, and shot out in a straight line like a laser, penetrating the snake—

―Kahack!

and went on to penetrate even the vampire’s shoulder.

Although it unfortunately failed to pierce his head or heart, since he had been hit cleanly by Legendary-grade Light Mana and the Anti-Blood Power that was no less effective against vampires, he would not have been able to escape a fatal wound.

―……I command.

However, right after that.

Feeling goosebumps all over his body, Gi-jun urgently shouted.

“Ur, protect Ji-hye!”

―Kyeeeet!

“Kyaaaah!”

In an instant, red thorns filled his vision.

No, it was not just in front of Gi-jun’s eyes.

The floor nearby, the walls on both sides, even the ceiling.

From all areas that could be perceived by Gi-jun’s vision—no, by the vampire’s vision—thorns made of blood had sprouted.

‘Ha…… this is a bit painful.’

―Beeeeeeeeeeep―!

The Shock Absorber, which had received an impact exceeding its capacity in a single breath, noisily announced the end of its turn as usual.

Just as he had proudly boasted of being of the Lord of Thorns’ bloodline, the bastard’s trump card held the status of the Lord of Thorns intact.

Vast blood power was contained in each and every one of them, so they would have pierced through Ji-hye’s defensive magic without her even being able to resist.

“Ji-hye……?”

“I survived thanks to Ur, Oppa. But I don’t have much mana left……”

“It’s fine, it’s all over now. Take care of your wounds. You’ll level up soon and be fine.”

Although he had urgently asked Ur to protect Ji-hye, she would not have escaped without injury.

Gi-jun gritted his teeth, feeling the pain from the blood thorns that had dug into his entire body, penetrating the hardness of the divine iron, Adamant.

He had thought he knew well enough how strong a Legendary-grade enemy was—yet even with a mountain of abilities effective against the bastard, he had failed to overwhelm him.

And it wasn’t even the Lord of Thorns, but an unnamed underling under him!

It was purely because of the difference in stature.

‘As expected, a Rare grade is nowhere near enough. I need to have at least a Unique grade.’

Would he be able to achieve his goal in this castle?

He did not know, but for now, his only choice was to run wild as much as possible.

Gi-jun put strength into his entire body and shattered all the blood thorns binding him.

Although the wounds themselves quickly stopped bleeding thanks to the transcendent regenerative power of Adamant, the blood flowing from his wounds turned into Anti-Blood Power and spread through the area, completely dispersing the thorns all around.

―How―― did you survive even after being struck by the authority of the Lord of Thorns!

Perhaps that attack just now had been his final struggle.

The vampire, who was rolling powerlessly on the ground after consuming the blood power of his entire body, cried out to Gi-jun while trying to block the blood flowing from his shoulder.

Gi-jun took long strides to close the distance to the bastard, smiling faintly.

“I’m originally a tanker. My defense is superior to my attack power. If you wanted to kill me, you shouldn’t have spread your power so recklessly, but focused it on a single point.”

―What……?

The vampire asked back blankly.

Was that because, even though he held a shield, it was not for attack after all?

Standing and looking down on the bastard before he knew it, Gi-jun expressed his sincere gratitude to him.

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I’ve come to my senses.”

To be honest, because Sanguis’s abilities were so broken, he had even had the absurd imagination of whether he could defeat the Lord of Thorns one-on-one.

Gi-jun chuckled, realizing it was an absurd delusion.

Of course, it was not that he had shown all his cards in this battle—but if he had known the enemy would be this strong, he would have done his best from the very beginning regardless of hiding his abilities.

“I was a bit reluctant to use this ability—but right now, I’m in no position to be picky.”

―What.

Gi-jun bent his knees and bared his teeth.

Seeing the fangs that protruded sharply like a vampire’s, the bastard finally realized that Gi-jun was not just a simple Dhampir.

―Y-You, by any chance―the True Moon, Helsing’s bloodline――.

“Don’t go adding confusing settings at this point. Thanks for the meal.”

Gi-jun opened his mouth wide and bit the vampire’s neck.

Surprisingly, the vampire’s blood that he tasted for the first time was quite delicious.