CHAPTER 42: A COWARD’S WAY

As protected himself while swinging his sword, turning each direction in an attempt to catch the elusive figure. It felt like trying to catch a fly with a needle, only hitting the air with each attempt.

"Beneath the Nebula Eclipse, I am empowered. All monsters gain amplified strength during the eclipse, but none more than vampires," Khan claimed, drifting along the grass with steps as if hovering just above the field.

"Blah blah blah...What’s even the point of this? You were a human at some point, right? What do you get out of any of this?" Leon asked tiredly with a huff, checking body as small bite marks were left.

"You seek to know my reasons for siding with these mindless brutes? Allow me to show you," Khan responded.

As the voice answered him, the nobleman witnessed again as the vampire lord vanished from his sight, moving as a shade across the field. In the direction he moved, Leon considered where he was going, only realizing a second later as he found the inhuman figure going right towards a group of tents.

"Stop–!" Leon shouted.

["Body of Surging Thunder"]

Shifting the mana in his body to empowering electricity, he bolted forth in pursuit of the vampire. As quickly as he arrived, he was a step too slow as the shadows merged back into the lordly monster.

"Stop right here, Lord Schoeller!" Khan ordered with a vicious smile.

"--!"

He had no choice but to halt his pursuit, finding the vampire with his hands around the neck of a helpless man. The elder mann with a bushy mustache mumbled for help, struggling to get any words out as the vampire’s nails dug into his neck.

"Let him go–" Leon demanded.

Khan only held his eased expression, "Do you enjoy wasting your breath? I am not one of your servants, Lord Schoeller–don’t command me as such."

"Alright, just–I’m the one you’re fighting here, right? You want me, yeah? So, let’s just step away from him," Leon tried to calmly dissuade the figure.

The inhuman of silver hair’s lips curled with a madness sidestepped from mercy, bringing the young lord to realize one, simple truth: even if Khan was once human, even if he resembled so, he was a monster.

"I want what I want, and I take what I want, all in accordance to my whim," Khan claimed.

As the arm of the vampire flexed, bringing his nails to extend like claws, stabbing right into the helpless old man’s neck, Leon lunged forward.

"No–!"

In the time it took to shout, the color faded from the elder’s skin, all of the blood being siphoned into the veins of the avaricious monster. All that was left as he reached the vampire was a husk of a human, being dropped without any care.

Leon swung his sword, casting it with all of his strength as the silver narrowly missed the elusive figure. Even as he dodged, gliding backwards on the backstep, the vampire smiled in the face of the lord of the land.

"Have I angered you, Lord Schoeller? I’ve met lords like you in my years–those who care for the common folk, those who lie to themselves!" Khan talked as he avoided the sharp edge. "Disgusting! Repulsive! Abhorrent! A lord must rule with an iron fist! Take everything for himself! Benefit from those beneath him!"

Leon pursued the swift vampire with electricity following each of his steps, dashing across the verdant fields, chasing with each swing, only to hit the trails of shadow, "--You’re a monster. That’s all you are!"

"That’s right! I’m a monster that has transcended humanity–that’s why it will be my place to sit on a throne above the likes of you!" Khan dispelled.

In the direction they were heading, the glint of the vampire’s eyes led the noble to find another camp in the near distance. At that moment, his eyes met with those residing at the camp. A young boy watched worryingly, clutched in the arms of his parents, who looked towards him with much the same fear.

This time, he moved faster, dashing around the inhuman to intercept his path. Like a curving bolt of lightning, he placed himself in the vampire’s ire, raising his blade to block him, only for the speeding shadow to grab his throat.

"I want to enjoy this, Lord Schoeller. After all, blood like yours–it is a rare delicacy," Khan claimed, gripping tightly.

As much as he tried to resist the inhuman, the hold around his throat seized the strength he could summon as he was lifted from his feet. Gasping for air, he attempted to lift his blade, though his arm did not listen, only hanging limp at his side as the weapon slipped from his fingers.

Only the smile of the scarlet-eyed vampire watched him as his consciousness flickered–

"--Get yer hands off the boss!"

Just as his eyes felt the heaviest, they opened again at the echo of the familiar voice. A flash of burning light came into view, colliding directly against the vampire’s body. The timely wave of flames released the grip around his neck, letting him drop back to the grass.

He sat there on his knees, coughing for air as ran his fingers over the grass, finding the handle of his sword. A raise of his head found a hand extended down to him from the fiery man he’d never been happier to see.

"Did you finally sober up?" Leon asked, still rubbing his neck as he accepted the hand.

Phoenix hoisted the lord to his feet with a small laugh, "A goblin bit me on the ass, so that took the booze right outta me. Anyway...That guy is a problem, isn’t he?"

"Yeah," Leon nodded.

Some meters away, the vampire stood amidst billowing smoke, casting it aside with a disgruntled breath, "Grrrh...A fire user? Troublesome insect..." Khan exuded.

–

Sitting in the lobby, the man with tired eyes stayed posted up on the railings overlooking the first floor as the sounds of battle seemed to never end past the walls.

["Jon Blue"] [CLASS: Lancer] [Designated Level: 15]

"Sounds like it’s getting real tiresome out there," Jon remarked, only seeing flashes of magic and smoke beyond the windows.

On the first floor, the elder butler stayed ready with his hands behind his back, watchful of the interior, "We must operate with the belief that they will remain successful on the frontlines."

"Yeah, guess you’re right," Jon remarked, looking down as his boots dangled over the lobby. "Hey...You know who I am, right?"

"—" Thorgul didn’t answer, watching the front door like a hound ready to strike at anything that may enter.

"You let me take this position because of my history, didn’t you? Well, I can’t blame you," Jon asked.

"You volunteered. That’s the reason," Thorgul finally answered. "I know of your infamy, yes. However, I do not judge a man based on hearsay."

"So you say–" Jon began to mutter.

Just as the breath left the shaggy lancer’s lips, the entire mansion rumbled with an unusual violence. The shaking of the walls brought the adventurer to hop from the railings, landing as the butler was already on the move.

"Hey–!" Jon shouted towards the elder servant.

There was no chance to discuss anything as Thorgul already headed down the right corridor, only shouting a response, "I’ll leave the other side to you!"

For a moment, the unkempt man stood there with his lance resting on his shoulder, scratching his head, "Crap. Guess I don’t have a choice."