Chapter 52

"You've lost."

Without hesitation, Karna drove his spear through Vlad III's body, shattering the former hero's essence with a precise thrust. The battle was over; without his iron stakes and land-based enhancements, Vlad was no match for Karna. However, Karna felt uneasy. The fight had ended too quickly, and Vlad's final attack seemed more like a desperate move—or even a suicidal one.

"My King..." Darnic knelt, his eyes wide with shock.

Vlad's spear clattering on the ground was the only noise in the tense silence. Karna looked down, waiting for the conclusion.

Then, Vlad's pale hands shot up, gripping Karna with an unnatural strength. This wasn't the power of a broken spirit core; it was something entirely different. Vlad hadn't used this power before. Karna struggled to pull his spear free, but it felt as though invisible chains held it in place.

"I've caught you..." Vlad's eyes burned with a wild, red fury, and his fangs protruded menacingly.

Noble Phantasm—Bloodline of the Damned Activated

"You are no longer a Heroic Spirit!"

"Indeed, I've become a monster," Vlad growled, His head shot closer in an instant his mouth opening to bite Karna's neck.

Karna's instincts flared—this was no ordinary bite. His golden armor could usually deflect such attacks, but something told him not to underestimate this threat. Flames erupted from him, scorching Vlad and momentarily engulfing him.

"My King!"

"Even in this form, you still call me your king?" Vlad's voice was a mix of defiance and hunger as he reformed in front of Darnic.

"No matter what form you take, you remain the savior of this land, our noble king!" Darnic declared, standing tall with his hand over his heart.

Vlad clenched his fists, his strength seemingly boundless. Despite his head being shattered, heart pierced, and body burned, as long as any part of him remained, he could regenerate. The restriction on his iron stakes was lifted, and he gained the ability to subjugate his enemies. With this power, he could defeat both Karna and Achilles.

It was bitterly ironic—his only hope of victory and protection lay in the power he despised.

Karna watched Vlad closely, piecing together what had happened. Vlad was no longer a Heroic Spirit but a vampire. Even with his core shattered and body scorched, Vlad could regenerate. Karna's instincts warned him that Vlad now possessed something capable of bypassing his armor.

"Come on, Red Lancer! I will defeat you and claim the Holy Grail!" Vlad roared, charging at Karna with renewed ferocity.

Karna frowned. He didn't plan to defend. Flames wrapped around him like armor as his spear lashed out, piercing Vlad's form. But instead of blood, black mist poured from the wound. Vlad's head and right arm transformed into bats, circling around Karna.

Karna's eyes narrowed. He spun to strike the bats, but Vlad's remaining hand gripped the spear, and his ribs acted as a cage, locking it in place.

The vampire's power was overwhelming. Vlad's transformed half swung the spear with monstrous force, crashing into Karna's neck.

Karna was sent flying, crashing into the wall, rubble falling over him.

"Impressive," Darnic said, watching as Vlad's transformed form loomed over Karna.

Unstoppable immortality, the ability to manipulate his form, and unparalleled offensive power—Vlad was a force beyond even Red Lancer's capacity.

"I see now, this is the true power of your Noble Phantasm," Karna said, emerging from the debris, his expression neutral despite his injuries.

"Yes, I have become a demon," Vlad brandished his spear, "to defeat you, obtain the Holy Grail, and protect my people."

"Such resolve deserves my utmost effort," Karna said, breathing deeply. He might regret not meeting his master, but only full commitment would suffice against an opponent who would fight even from the abyss.

"Prepare yourself, Black Lancer!" Karna's eyes blazed as flames roared around him, engulfing his spear.

The ground cracked as Karna accelerated, his form blurring with speed.

"Come!" Vlad cast aside his spear and lunged through the black mist, hands reaching into the flames to seize Karna's spear. His hands, unaffected by the fire, gripped the weapon tightly, while his clothing burned away.

Unfazed by the flames, Vlad's regeneration was relentless. Karna felt the intense pressure and knew he was on the brink of exhaustion. Vlad's hunger drove him, an insatiable craving that gnawed at his core.

"Aaaaah!" Vlad screamed, lifting Karna and unleashing a torrent of iron stakes from his body, like a machine gun's rapid fire.

Karna, unable to sustain his flames, had only enough power left for one final strike. He braced himself, ready to confront the onslaught.

The stakes hammered into him, pinning him against the ceiling, obscuring him in debris.

"Consciousness..." Vlad clutched his head, his eyes dripping with shadowy substance. The hunger was unbearable.

"King!" Darnic rushed to Vlad's side, his concern palpable.

"Stay back!" Vlad's eyes, filled with primal hunger, locked onto Darnic, but Darnic approached nonetheless.

"It's alright, my king," Darnic knelt, offering himself. "For your sake, I would sacrifice my life."

"Leave now..." Vlad gasped, his hands reaching out uncontrollably despite his resistance.

If he could just consume this human...

"By Brahma, curse this body—"

Flames erupted above Vlad's head as if the sun had come out, Karna, expressionless, hurled his spear with deadly precision.