Episode 538
A deep, resonant hum filled the air as Carmilla’s ancient blood magic clashed with the lich’s power, redirecting the skeletons and zombies to new targets. Instead of advancing on the fortress, they turned to attack the army of the dead.
With a crackling roar, the number of skeletons bathed in a crimson glow increased as Carmilla’s magic intensified. The liches, sensing something amiss, scanned their surroundings and soon spotted Carmilla hovering in the air.
With a shriek, the liches commanded their wraiths to soar through the sky towards her. Carmilla, focused on her blood magic, was exposed and vulnerable. The liches wasted no time, sending the wraiths to attack.
Just as the wraiths let out their eerie cries and lunged at Carmilla, something shot out from the sky. It was Bacchus, riding a ghostly steed, wielding a dagger once belonging to the royal vampire, Garin. He swung it at the wraiths.
The dagger, though its power had been transferred to Carmilla, was still a rare artifact capable of harming the spectral wraiths. Bacchus swiftly dispatched them and charged at the liches.
His eyes gleamed like precious gems as the unique vampire blood magic enveloped his dagger. Though he could no longer wield aura, Bacchus, now a true vampire, could replicate the dragon-slaying techniques using blood magic.
He swung the blood-infused dagger at the liches, unleashing a secret technique of dragon-slaying blood swordsmanship.
A torrent of blood-red energy erupted from the blade, enveloping the sky and ensnaring the liches. Unlike ordinary magic, blood magic was deeply tied to its wielder’s essence, making it potent and binding.
Caught in Bacchus’s blood magic, the liches quickly lost their dark energy. Being partly spectral, they struggled to maintain their form as their power was drained.
Bacchus urged his ghostly steed forward, slicing through the liches with his dagger. Deprived of their magic, the liches shattered into bone fragments, scattered by the wind.
Though they could be revived by replenishing their life vessels, repeated resurrections would take their toll. The life vessels weren’t indestructible, and recharging them in a weakened state risked breaking them.
Under normal circumstances, this wouldn’t be a concern, but the current threat was formidable.
“If they rise again, I’ll just put them down once more,” Bacchus declared, standing guard to ensure no enemies reached Carmilla as she controlled the undead with her blood magic.
Shortly after Bacchus’s arrival, the vampire knight Bishop led a charge against the undead army’s flank with his knights.
Reborn as vampires from the abyss’s experiments, Bishop and his knights had lost their human memories and emotions but retained one clear recollection: the abyss had used them as test subjects.
Fueled by this anger, the knights charged at the undead, their vampire strength and blood magic far surpassing human capabilities. With each swing of their swords, the undead crumbled.
Ghostly steeds trampled the undead underfoot, while the knights atop them wielded blood-infused sword strikes, breaking enemy lines. Simultaneously, Carmilla turned the undead army against itself with her blood magic, causing their ranks to collapse.
With the liches and undead army faltering, the dark sorcerers leading them found it impossible to hold their ground.
“Retreat! Fall back!” they commanded, turning their forces back to their own lines.
From above, Carmilla watched, withdrawing her blood magic and instructing her followers.
—“Focus on defending the fortress. Do not pursue.”
Though they had repelled the undead army, they lacked the numbers to launch an offensive against the enemy’s base.
Carmilla descended from the sky, approaching the prince and Daria atop the fortress. The prince, momentarily flustered by the vampire queen’s enchanting beauty, quickly regained his composure.
“As the commander of this fortress, I extend my gratitude to you for your aid,” he said.
Carmilla, with a graceful bow, replied, “It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness. But the thanks should go to Sir Zeke. It was his wish to protect this fortress.”
Leo was taken aback to learn that the vampires had intervened at Zeke Draker’s request.
“The Knight of Salvation… just how far does his influence reach?” he wondered.
Bacchus, standing beside Carmilla, addressed the prince. “Thermo Fortress is a crucial gateway to the empire. It must not fall. The continental alliance plans to attack Jupiter soon, so we must hold this position until then.”
Daria, surprised, asked, “The continental alliance attacking Jupiter? Is this also led by the Knight of Salvation?”
Bacchus shook his head. “Sir Zeke has other important tasks. Regardless, we must defend this fortress until the alliance secures Jupiter.”
Leo nodded, determination in his eyes. “As commander, I will defend this place with my life if necessary.”
Despite the reinforcements Zeke had sent, challenges remained. The walls were crumbling, and the soldiers were exhausted. Leo clenched his teeth, unwilling to squander the opportunity Zeke had provided.
As Leo pondered how to regroup, a sudden transformation occurred.
Outside the broken walls, a barrier of bone rose, and solid ice filled the gaps. The fallen undead reassembled, forming ranks to guard the fortress.
Startled, Leo stepped back, but Carmilla gestured reassuringly.
“Do not worry. This, too, is part of Sir Zeke’s plan.”
A massive shadow loomed overhead—a dragon-shaped tyrant with Richmond and Bane riding atop it. Alongside them were the barbarian troops led by King Fist, the Three-Eyed Clan, and naga healers from the southern continent, all arriving at Thermo Fortress.
Zeke had dispatched those unable to join the continental alliance directly to defend Thermo Fortress, ensuring its protection.
With the arrival of these reinforcements, the once-desperate fortress found hope.
—“The fortress defense is stabilizing,” Bacchus reported through the secure crystal.
Zeke nodded. “Have you detected any signs of high-ranking demons among the undead?”
—“Aside from the dark sorcerers, no demon traces have been found.”
Zeke raised an eyebrow, surprised. “No demons attacking such a strategic location like Thermo Fortress? That’s odd.”
Perhaps the empire’s forces alone were deemed sufficient to seize the fortress, making high-ranking demons unnecessary.
Then, a thought struck Zeke.
“The demon princesses.”
The abyss had summoned Elizabeta and Yekaterina, demon princesses, to attack Mycenae. Summoning such powerful demons required significant karma.
“Maybe the abyss can’t afford to summon more high-ranking demons,” Zeke speculated.
Summoning demons required bloodstones, and Zeke had persistently targeted and destroyed the abyss’s bloodstone factories, disrupting their production. With limited bloodstones, summoning more demons would soon become impossible.
Zeke instructed Bacchus through the secure crystal. “Stay vigilant. High-ranking demons could appear at any time. If they do, contact Mycenae immediately.”
—“Understood, my lord.”
Zeke turned off the crystal, lost in thought.
“If that’s the case, the abyss’s resources might be concentrated at their headquarters in Siemens’s labyrinth.”
He suspected the abyss’s priests were using all available resources to protect their base and prepare for the demon king’s descent.
Zeke rose from his desk, resolved. “We must strike now. Delaying could give the priests time to enact their plans.”
Beyond the abyss, if Arthur Draker, disguised as death, truly possessed the black star, Zeke needed to uncover his intentions.
“Though unlikely, if the abyss and Arthur Draker join forces…”
The alliance between Grandmaster Arthur Draker, who had absorbed the Black Star, and the Abyss was nothing short of a nightmare.
Zeke shook his head.
He couldn’t fathom why Arthur Draker would join forces with the Abyss in the current situation.
Then, a thought flashed through Zeke’s mind.
‘What if Arthur Draker’s goal is the power of the Demon King…?’
Just as Ramon Jimenez had tried to consume the Demon King’s power using the authority of the malevolent god Azitahaka, perhaps Arthur Draker was also after the Demon King’s power.
The power of the Demon King residing in the body of a Grandmaster with the heart of an Elder Dragon.
It could potentially lead to a situation even worse than when the Demon King descended into the body of Jimenez Apollyon.
Yet, even if such a thing were possible, it was hard to see why Arthur Draker would covet the Demon King’s power.
As the head of the Draker family, he wielded power and influence akin to that of a king on the continent, with no need to take such risks.
‘Or is there something I don’t know, a reason he needs it? Perhaps to counter an even greater force?’
A myriad of thoughts chased each other through Zeke’s mind.
Bang! Bang!
The loud knocking on the door snapped him out of his reverie.
The door swung open, and Alicia strode into the office, a bottle and a glass in hand.
“Zeke Draker! What are you doing holed up in here, unlike yourself!”
Without waiting for an invitation, she plopped down in a chair and poured herself a generous amount of liquor.
“It’s been ages since we last met, and you call this a reunion without a proper celebration?”
Despite her delicate appearance, her words were as rough and straightforward as any northern knight.
Zeke chuckled at Alicia’s antics and sat across from her. He picked up the glass she had poured, clinked it against hers, and downed the strong drink in one go, in true northern fashion.
Alicia nodded approvingly.
“That’s the Zeke Draker I know! Impressive.”
She too downed her drink in one swift motion and refilled her glass.
Zeke, with his immortal body, never got drunk no matter how much he drank. Alicia’s cheeks were flushed, but her eyes remained sharp and clear.
After finishing another glass, she set it down and spoke to Zeke.
“Zeke Draker.”
Her voice dropped as she addressed him.
“What do you think of me?”
Zeke was momentarily puzzled by her question.
“What do you mean, Your Grace?”
Instead of answering, Alicia stood up, gripping the sword she had leaned against the chair.
“I’m asking about my capabilities as a knight.”
By now, any trace of intoxication had vanished from her face, her eyes blazing with a fierce competitive spirit.
Zeke met her intense, icy blue gaze and replied.
“If you want my honest opinion, I’ll give it to you.”
His voice was cool and measured.
“You’re a complete mess.”