Chapter 52. The Bloodied King!
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I Will Eventually Embark on the Path of No Return Called a Hero [Arc2] - 52. The Bloodied King!
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"You've lost."
Without hesitation, Karna pierced Vlad III's body with a lance, the Brahmastra shattering Vlad III's spiritual core with precise accuracy.
The outcome was clear. Without the iron stakes and the benefit of his homeland, Vlad was no match for Karna. However, Karna felt some confusion; it seemed too quick, especially considering Vlad III's final attacks. Instead of being a true attack, they seemed more like a desperate attempt to close the distance—or perhaps… a way to die?
"King…" Darnic knelt on the ground.
"Clang—"
The lance in Vlad III's hand fell to the ground, and Karna lowered his gaze.
It was over…
"Bang—"
Vlad III's pale hands suddenly shot up and grabbed Karna. The immense strength made Karna's eyes widen; this was not the power one would expect from a heroic spirit whose core had been shattered, especially since Vlad III hadn't used such strength before!
Karna instinctively tried to pull out his lance, but it felt as though something was binding it. He couldn't pull the lance free.
"I've caught… you…" Vlad III slowly raised his head, his eyes flashing with madness and fangs protruding from his lips, giving Karna a chilling feeling.
Noble Phantasm—Legend of Dracula: The Succession of Blood activated!
"You are no longer a heroic spirit!"
"Yes, I have become a monster," Vlad III took a step forward, opening his mouth to bite Karna's neck.
"Hmm!"
If it were just a simple bite, there would be no need for defense. The golden armor covering him could reduce all hostile interference to a tenth. But for some reason, Karna's intuition told him he absolutely couldn't be bitten!
Magic Release—Flames!
Without hesitation, Karna trusted his instincts. Flames that could instantly burn through iron stakes erupted from his body, engulfing Vlad III in an instant.
"King!"
"Even in this form, you still call me king?"
Accompanied by the screeching of bats and black fog, Vlad III gradually took shape in front of Darnic.
"Yes, no matter what form you take, you are always the savior of this land, our king, the noble Vlad III!" Darnic stood up, placing his right hand firmly on his chest.
Vlad III clenched his fists. The power was overwhelming. Even with his head shattered, heart pierced, and body burned, as long as a part of him existed, he could achieve impossible regeneration. The limit on the number of iron stakes was lifted, and he gained the ability to turn enemies into his minions. With this power, he could defeat not only the Red Lancer before him but also Achilles.
It was truly ironic. To defeat his enemies and protect his people, he had to rely on this power he despised.
Yet, hearing Darnic's words, he felt oddly untroubled.
Karna calmly observed Vlad III. Through their brief confrontation, he had already grasped a few things.
The Vlad III before him was no longer a heroic spirit but a vampire. Even if his spiritual core was destroyed, his head crushed, or his body burned, Vlad III could regenerate. Karna's intuition told him he could no longer rely on the golden armor. The current Vlad III possessed something that could threaten him despite the armor.
"Come on, Red Lancer! I will defeat you and obtain the Holy Grail!" Vlad III roared and lunged at Karna.
Not planning to defend?
Karna frowned. The flames released from his magic wrapped around him like armor, and the Brahmastra swung out like a streak of light, piercing through Vlad III's body. However, instead of blood, black fog erupted from the wound, and Vlad III's head and right arm transformed into bats, circling around to Karna's back.
Karna's eyes widened, and he tightened his grip on the Brahmastra, trying to turn and strike at the forming Vlad III behind him. But Vlad III's left hand, left in front, grabbed the lance, and the ribs around the wound opened like a cage, trapping the lance.
"Troublesome flames," the half-formed Vlad III, now solidified, swung the lance brought by the bats heavily at Karna's neck.
"Boom—"
Karna was blasted like a cannonball into the wall, falling debris covering him completely.
"So strong," Darnic stared in shock at Vlad III, who had merged with the bats into his final form.
Immortality that ignores all attacks, the convenience of freely manipulating his body structure, and unmatched offensive power. Even a heroic spirit as formidable as Red Lancer couldn't handle Vlad III.
"I see, so this is the power of your Noble Phantasm," Karna pushed aside the debris and stood up, his calm demeanor betraying no sign of injury.
"Indeed, I have become a demon," Vlad III waved his lance. "To defeat you, to obtain the Holy Grail, to protect my people."
"Such resolve, if I don't respond with everything I've got, it would be disrespectful," Karna exhaled.
Although he felt somewhat sorry for the Master he had never met, facing an opponent who, even having fallen into the abyss, still seeks victory, he had no choice but to give his all.
Resolve must be met with resolve!
"I'm coming, Black Faction's Lancer!" Karna's eyes narrowed, and intense flames erupted from his body, enveloping both himself and his lance.
"Boom—"
The earth cracked, and Karna's figure stretched into a straight line, circles of sonic barriers appearing behind him.
"Come!" Vlad III discarded his lance and, accompanied by black fog, lunged at Karna, now like a fiery ball. His pale hands, seemingly impervious to pain, reached into the flames and grasped the Brahmastra. His arm's attire burned to ashes in the flames, but his arm remained unharmed.
Is he not afraid of the flames?
No! As the flames burned his flesh, new flesh was already replacing it!
Karna's expression grew serious. The force coming from the Brahmastra was so terrifying that even he couldn't resist it. His feet were starting to leave the ground, and his magic consumption was nearing the point where it could immobilize his Master.
Vlad III looked at Karna with a calm, almost cold gaze, but internally, he was far from calm. He was hungry…
The empty feeling from his soul continuously urged him to abandon Karna and attack Darnic behind him, to rip open his throat and drink his blood. This feeling intensified over time, and as he regenerated, his craving only grew. Though he could still suppress it, he couldn't guarantee he could keep it under control. If he lost control now, the heroic spirit Vlad III would disappear, leaving only the pure monster, the vampire Dracula.
"Ughhhh!"
Vlad III roared, lifting Karna up. Countless iron stakes emerged from his body, shooting out like machine gun bullets towards Karna.
Facing the terrifying wave of iron stakes, Karna retracted the flames. He could no longer afford to waste magic; the remaining amount was only enough for one more strike without harming his Master!
"Boom—"
Karna took the full brunt of the iron stake wave head-on and was almost instantly pinned into the ceiling.
"Consciousness…" Vlad III covered his head and bent down, his frenzied eyes slowly dripping shadowy substance. The feeling of emptiness had reached its limit.
"King!" Darnic instinctively ran toward Vlad III.
"Don't come closer!" Vlad III raised his head, his eyes filled with a craving for blood and a predatory hunger that tightened Darnic's chest. But Darnic didn't hesitate and approached Vlad III.
"It's alright, King," Darnic knelt in front of Vlad III, "For your sake, I can offer my life."
"Go quickly…" Vlad III began to breathe heavily, clearly resisting but unable to control his hands as they rose.
If he consumed the human before him, he could satisfy this emptiness…
Just as long as…
"O' Brahma, Curse Me—"
A burst of intense flames erupted above Vlad III's head, and Karna, expressionless, threw his lance at Vlad III.