Chapter 270: The Vampire King, Desmond (6)

What was the most important factor in war? Good equipment? Powerful soldiers? Or perhaps an exceptional leader? Each of these was undeniably crucial in battle.

However, people often failed to grasp the essence of war. Good equipment, strong soldiers, and brilliant leaders—deducing why these factors were necessary made clear that war’s most critical element was morale.

Enemies would feel intimidated when facing an opponent armed with overwhelming gear. They would shrink when confronted by ferocious warriors roaring into battle. And outstanding leaders, from the moment they woke until they slept, strategized how to raise their own army’s morale while crushing that of their foes.

From that perspective, the way Kai initiated this war was nothing short of perfect—a flawless hundred out of a hundred.

"

Kraaaah!

"

"I-I can't breathe!"

The wyvern had spread a poisonous fog inside the vampire fortress. The entire interior was now engulfed in a thick blue fog, making it impossible to see even an inch ahead.

Watching the scene from the plains, Kai smiled in satisfaction.

It’s obvious survival’s the only thing running through the vampires’ heads right now.

Vampires chose eternal life out of fear of death and were cursed for it. As creatures who cherished their own lives above all else, their survival instincts were second to none.

But it's already too late.

The city was filled with poisonous fog, and the buildings set ablaze by Hellfire were starting to collapse. Flames met the toxic, gas-laden fog, leading to a chain of explosions.

Boom! Boom, boom, boom!

Powerful blasts echoed through the black fortress like a grand fireworks show.

At the same time, the party’s XP rapidly rose.

[+4,217,196 XP]

[+4,331,257 XP]

[+4,198,625 XP]

.

.

.

Even before a proper battle had begun, Kai had already crushed the enemy’s spirit.

Soon, the tightly sealed gates of the black fortress swung open.

"

Graaaagh!

"

"

Huff, huff!

"

Instead of elite soldiers prepared to fend off invaders, those who spilled out were nothing more than deserters running for their lives.

Observing the panicked enemies, Kai raised his hand. "Protect our allies. Hymn of Angels!"

A dazzling light erupted from the Holy Ring Nike. At the same time, baby angels descended, sounding their horns.

Ding!

[You have heard the hymn sung by the angels.]

[Physical damage received is reduced by 30%.]

[Magical damage received is reduced by 30%.]

[All status effect resistance is increased by 40%.]

Now, all preparations were complete. All that remained was to tear into the prey.

Kai extended one arm forward. He gave no speech to rally his forces, no blessings, not even the command to advance. The dullahans were a legion that followed Kai’s orders unconditionally, so there was no need to voice commands out loud.

Clank, clank.

The armor of the advancing dullahans' rang louder than ever, filling the plains with its resounding echoes.

"

Ugh... H-huh

...?"

"What the hell!"

"How dare such filthy, lowly dullahans...!"

The vampires fiercely glared at the undead army that had appeared before them. They were in agony, and they needed someone to take their frustration out on. In that sense, the dullahans were the perfect targets.

They’re just mere dullahans...

They are in no position to bare their fangs at noble creatures like us.

Brimming with confidence, they charged at the dullahans.

Clang!

However, they immediately regretted it.

"A d-dullahan blocked my attack?"

"How are these vermins dodging my strikes?"

The dullahans before them were nothing like what they had known.

At that moment, the slaughter began.

Thud, thud!

Wielding the finest swords that Kai could provide, the dullahans tore through the vampires’ hearts and cut off their heads.

"

G-graaaagh!

"

"R-Retreat! Fall back!"

"Idiots! If you don’t want to die, take down the dullahans! Our city has already turned into hell!"

"

Argh

... These dullahan bastards don’t have flesh, so we can’t even suck their blood!"

They were in a no-win situation.

Watching the chaos unfold, Kai silently observed the battlefield with a cold gaze.

At first glance, we seem to have the overwhelming advantage...

However, the only enemies on the front lines were vampire soldiers and knights.

Where are the higher-tier ones?

His question was soon answered.

Ding!

[Mimic has been unsummoned.]

Mimic’s sudden death notification made Kai’s eyes shine.

I see. The higher-tier ones are strong enough to withstand the Blue Plague and those massive explosions.

Instead of fleeing in a panic, the high-ranking vampires remained inside the city, calmly dealing with Mimic.

So they’re not willing to show themselves over something like this, huh?

Still, Kai wasn’t too worried.

"That just means I have no reason to hold back anymore."

The enemy had made it clear that they would not fight outside the city. That meant he no longer needed to waste resources on surrounding the city gates.

Kai slowly took a step forward. At the same time, the dullahans’ movements drastically changed.

"W-what the?!"

"These bastards suddenly got faster and stronger!"

"Were they holding back this whole time?!"

"D-dullahans shouldn't be able to—

Aaargh!

"

The fifty dullahans moved with ghostly agility, mercilessly cutting down the lower-ranked vampires as if they had been deliberately hiding their true strength until now. In fact, that was exactly the case.

What a shame. If the higher-ranking vampires had come out, I could have wiped them all at once.

Vampires were cunning. After facing them thirteen times, Kai had learned that lesson firsthand. That was why he had intentionally restrained the dullahans' power. The enemy needed to feel safe. Only when they let their guard down and underestimated the dullahans would they finally make a move.

I didn’t expect them to be this cowardly, though.

Kai smirked, amused by the so-called nobles of the night and their pitiful lack of courage. He slowly walked toward the city gates.

The vampires who had once blocked the entrance were now nothing more than cold corpses. The only ones left to welcome him were the neatly aligned dullahans on either side and the crimson carpet—woven by the purebloods—that the vampires so proudly boasted about.

Kai walked through the pool of blood expressionlessly. No one dared to obstruct his path. As he advanced, the dullahans naturally followed behind him, but that wasn’t all.

Clatter, clatter.

[When an undead under the caster’s command kills an enemy, the fallen enemy rises as a skeleton and follows the caster.]

Another effect of Knight of Nightmare had activated.

The slain vampires rose as skeletons where they had fallen. The blood-red aura radiating from the dullahans, the Heart of the Legion, empowered them as well.

Now this looks like a real legion.

Kai’s undead army had grown to a staggering three hundred.

With a satisfied smile, he stepped through the city gates. Simultaneously, a spear, spinning with immense force, was hurled toward him.

Claaang!

A dullahan knight lunged forward and blocked it perfectly. The arm that took the hit was shredded, barely hanging on.

An attack strong enough to destroy a dullahan’s arm in a single strike?

Kai smiled.

They’ve finally come out.

It was unmistakably an attack from a higher-tier vampire.

"Sunlight’s Warmth."

Golden light enveloped the dullahan’s arm, rapidly regenerating it as if time had rewound.

Kai scanned the buildings. The fog created by the Blue Plague had mostly vanished in a massive explosion, giving him a clear view of the city.

"They’re hiding."

Typical of bat bastards.

Kai confidently walked forward, his gaze locked on the massive mansion straight ahead.

That must be where this Desmond or whatever his name is resides.

The so-called Vampire King—the one they worshipped so fervently.

After walking for a while, Kai stepped into the ruined plaza and suddenly stopped. From the rubble of the collapsed buildings, dozens of glowing eyes flickered to life.

"I’ve finally found you guys."

Just as he had chosen the battlefield to maximize his army’s morale and advantage, the vampires had chosen a battlefield that worked in their favor.

A hundred vampires emerged from the shadows, atop the remains of burned buildings, and behind the fallen pillars.

"

Hmm.

"

Kai scanned their faces. Unlike the vampire soldiers and knights, these figures wore fancy clothing and capes, exuding an aura of nobility.

Vampire nobles, huh?

Their levels were certainly high enough to be called nobles. With an average level of 400, the nighttime and full moon buffs would push them to the high 500s.

They spoke confidently.

"This is as far as you go."

"How dare you think of stepping into Desmond’s domain?"

"You’re delusional if you think defeating our soldiers and knights means anything."

"Kill him!"

The vampire nobles charged forward. In response, Kai simply snapped his fingers.

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

At the same time, the undead following him surged like a raging tide in all directions. Each one lunged at one or two vampire nobles, relentlessly dragging them.

"W-what?!"

"Using tricks, are you?!"

"Damn it! Ignore the dullahans! Kill the adventurer first!"

"Not a wise choice."

The vampires quickly suffered for turning their attention away from his legion.

"

Aaaaagh!

"

"W-what the hell is with these dullahans?!"

"Even the skeletons...! They’re far stronger than what we knew!"

They were now experiencing exactly what their soldiers and knights had felt earlier.

No need for me to waste time here.

Kai kicked off the ground and dashed toward the mansion. Of course, his undead legion couldn't hold back every vampire noble completely.

"Got you!"

One noble who had broken past the encirclement grabbed the back of Kai’s cleric robe.

"

Bahaha!

I caught the enemy commander! Without the dullahans protecting him, this adventurer is—"

"You can’t win."

Kai suddenly spun like a top, the Holy Sword now in his grasp. He swung his sword upward, carving a bright, glowing line from the vampire noble’s groin to his crown.

"

G-grraaaagh!

It hurts! It hurts!"

"Of course it does. It’s imbued with the power of the sun you despise."

Kai raised the sword again and swung downward.

Shhhkkk!

A fountain of blood erupted from the vampire's head.

The noble thrashed in pain. "I-I can't see!"

Kai began to dance. It took no more than two seconds to sever the tendons in the vampire’s arms and legs.

Kai’s movements were precise, wasting no stamina.

"Chasing Light Arrow."

Hundreds of holy arrows embedded themselves into the fallen vampire.

Crunch.

Kai stepped on the vampire's head, silencing him before he could even scream. He then scanned the few vampire nobles surrounding him.

"Whoever wants to die first, come at me."

The vampire nobles silently glanced at their convulsing comrade. Soon, they slowly began to back away.

In response, Kai turned back and walked toward the mansion. No one dared to chase after him.