Page 137

"The bats rejoice, the rats sing."

"The blood mist shrouds the sky, shadows overflow."

"Daylight trembles, eternal night descends."

The vampire progenies bound to the pillars continued their murmured chants, which gradually turned into wails over time.

Blood steadily filled the runes carved into the stone platform, activating the sinister and wicked formation. Simultaneously, formations within the hundreds of iron cages in the bunker glowed red.

The bloodlight connected the progenies to Duke Brad, channeling streams of malevolent energy into his body.

"Ascension, truly marvelous."

Duke Brad raised his arms as if embracing the immense power about to engulf him.

Slowly closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply despite his undead nature requiring no breath, savoring the enticing scent of blood permeating the air.

His expression suddenly froze.

"Wait."

"I smell… unfamiliar blood."

"It seems my castle harbors a group of despicable, sneaky rats."

Opening his eyes, his scarlet gaze burned with boundless fury.

"Come out—"

"You’re courting death!"

Floating midair, Duke Brad’s cloak billowed without wind, surrounded by a thick mist of blood.

This ancient vampire would let no one interfere with the ascension he had planned for centuries!

Realizing their cover was blown, Medrolash, the mission commander, raised his blood-stained greatsword and roared.

"Attack!"

His usually calm face was now alight with excitement, his voice trembling.

The memories of his wife and children’s tragic deaths, the slaughter of thousands of his kin, and ten years of hardship—all led to this moment.

Finally, it was time to end it.

"Kill him!"

Medrolash charged forward.

At the entrance, the players were thrown into chaos, unprepared for being discovered this way.

【Crimson Duke - Brad Lackman】

Basic Abilities: ???

Challenge Level: ??? (Extremely Dangerous!)

A red interface symbolizing danger and hostility appeared before the players.

But as elite players, they quickly regained their composure, adhering to their pre-planned tactics.

"He’s found us!"

"Mage, cast your spells now!"

"On it!"

Charlotte raised her carved wooden staff, the vines at its tip shimmering with magical light.

【Cloud Fog Spell】

As the spell was cast, Charlotte lost her invisibility, revealing her form, but the dense fog swiftly enveloped the vampire’s platform.

Meanwhile, the bard player "Flying Guitar" drew his violin bow. As the strings vibrated, melodious music filled the air, rippling through the weave of magic. Such was the artistry of bard spellcasting.

【Witchfire Spell】

Witchfire clung to the vampire, outlining his silhouette with violet light, making him visible even within the dense fog.

Windcloud, vice president of the Royal Authority guild, waved his staff.

【Tidal Surge】

A massive wave surged forth, targeting the vampire, exploiting the "water-based damage" weakness of vampires.

Simultaneously, numerous mage and warlock players bombarded the vampire with spells like Sleep Rune, Prismatic Spray, and Charm Monster, as though spells were free. They followed with offensive spells like Scorching Ray, Magic Missile, and Fireball. Lightning, radiance, flames, and force energy converged on the outlined figure in the fog.

Meanwhile, melee players like monks, warriors, paladins, and barbarians charged into the fog, guided by the witchfire’s glow to attack.

Iron Frenzy summoned his newly built guardian mech, unloading a hail of bullets while raising a shield to charge the vampire.

Medrolash led the charge, his blood-stained greatsword glowing with the anticipation of vengeance.

But before they could reach him, a deep voice echoed through the bunker.

"Pathetic ants."

"Do you truly believe you can challenge me?"

A wave of blood-colored energy erupted, dispersing the dense fog.

Faced with dozens of incoming spells, arrows, knives, and even bullets, Duke Brad merely smirked. His body turned into a mist of blood and scattered instantly.

Lightning, radiance, and flames crisscrossed. Projectiles rained down, but all attacks hit nothing but air.

The players looked around, but the vampire was nowhere to be seen.

Only a faint blood mist lingered in the air.

"Let the blood boil within His body…"

"Let us embrace the grand ascension…"

The vampire progenies continued chanting, and the bloodlight still flickered.

Clearly, it wasn’t over.

Suddenly, Brad’s raspy voice echoed throughout the dark underground, seemingly coming from all directions.

"Foolish mortals."

"Your attacks are utterly laughable."

"For I am everywhere."

"I once swept the earth like divine wrath, but I gave it all up for immortality."

The voice grew louder and more powerful, filling everyone with an overwhelming dread.

"Now, I am immortality. I am darkness! I shall become the monarch of eternal night! And you all are but fodder for my ascension!"

Everyone present felt their blood boiling as if it wanted to escape their bodies, breaking free of its confines.

The blood mist in the air churned and swirled like turbulent seawater, forming a massive vortex. Finally, it reformed into a humanoid shape above the stone platform.

Brad Lackman now wore a robe of interwoven red and black. Floating high above, his glowing scarlet eyes looked down on the platform’s occupants with cold contempt.

He raised his hand slightly.

Blood mist formed into giant blood-colored hands midair.

Iron Frenzy raised his mech’s armored gun, firing at the hands, but the blood hand enveloped the four-meter-tall mech, crushing it and its pilot inside.

The shattered remains of the mech were casually discarded, while the pilot’s blood joined the blood mist, making it thicker and more tangible.

"Fresh blood…"

A trace of ecstasy and satisfaction appeared on Duke Brad’s pale face.

"Run, wail…"

"I shall thoroughly enjoy this moment."

Under the vampire progenies’ chants, Duke Brad toyed with the players, controlling the blood mist to hunt them down. He effortlessly killed them, draining their blood, leaving the players scrambling.

In just a few minutes, over ten players had perished—elite players, no less!

"Damn it, the guild leader got insta-killed again!"

"How do we even fight this?"

"This boss’s damage is insane—"

"Can someone cast Fly? I want to try melee combat."

Medrolash swung his sword to disperse the blood mist, staring at the vampire high above, muttering, "No, he’s absorbing power, growing even stronger."

"We must stop him."

Medrolash glanced into a shadowy corner, his jet-black eyes gleaming with determination.

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