Kulkiri's words proved true, as the first thing Endyr was met with upon entering the second layer was a fireball to the face. Having been on guard, she managed to raise her arms and create a water shield, countering the fireball.
As Johan and Erich poured in behind her, Kulkiri pulled two kukri's from under his sleeves. The blades were a shining silver, with gold handles styled in the shape of a dragon. With one look, Endyr could tell they were as expensive as they were deadly. Judging from the Mana currents running through them, they were a 4✪ Artefact, correlating to Epic Rank.
Before Endyr could focus on the fact Kulkiri had basically pulled them from nowhere, the next attack arrived. The first layer had two Masters nearing Grandmaster with four other Vampires in the middle of the Rank. Here though, Endyr spotted a genuine Grandmaster and four high-end Masters. She focused her Mana on her eyes, activating a single function of her Analysis.
[Lvl 24 (Grandmaster)]
[Lvl 80 (Master]
[Lvl 76 (Master]
[Lvl 83 (Master]
[Lvl 72 (Master]
The Level of the five Vampires became visible to her and she narrowed her eyes at the sight. A Grandmaster a quarter of the way through his Rank was a serious threat. The four Master Rank Vampires were also trouble. Even if Endyr and her teammates were all Grandmasters themselves, the Vampires had racial advantages. The gap between them would be closer than you'd think.
Perhaps sensing Endyr's scrying, the Grandmaster Vampire turned his head to face her. He had tousled black hair, red eyes and a thin face marred with scars. Casual brutality flickered within his irises, and he observed the invaders with a calculating gaze. His name appeared before Endyr as she locked gazes with him.
[Moriah Kasson]
With a single look, Endyr could tell this Vampire Noble was more experienced than Marianne had been. This was a true warrior, one who had fought in and survived his fair share of battles.
Kulkiri was the first human to make a move, transforming into a cloud of mist and rapidly converging on Moriah, clearly planning on taking out the ringleader first. Johan and Erich singled out two of the Master Vampires and lunged forward in sync, catching their foes off guard with their aggressiveness.
"We have the advantage, don't let them split you up!" barked Moriah before Kulkiri materialised in front of him, dual blades flashing. As the knives passed by his skin, Moriah grimaced. Endyr noticed his exposed arms seemed to blister slightly, just from the close presence of silver. 'Interesting' she thought before focusing on her own battle.
She went for a slightly hunchbacked Vampire with bleached-blonde hair and recessed eyes who wielded a spear, which he immediately tried to skewer her with. Flames danced along the polearm, attempting to jump from the spear to her. In response, Endyr let out a burst of Water Mana and beat back the flames. Her sword parried the spear's tip and flashed alongside the handle as it made its way towards the Vampire's heart.
The Vampire snorted and bent his knees slightly, a pillar of flame rising below Endyr's feet. She was forced to abort her attack and jump to the side as a searing tower of fire rose where she just stood. The Vampire seized the chance to swing wildly at her, using brute-force more so than skill. Endyr dodged most and blocked a few, her arm ringing from the blow. They danced for a minute or two, before Endyr decided to narrow the distance.
She caused water spurts to form under her feet, propelling her forward. Using the momentum, she swung her sword downwards at the Vampire's head. He hurriedly raised his spear to block, but Endyr only smirked. Her sword, which was poised to strike the Vampire's skull, suddenly shimmered and exploded into water. The water surged, forming a vague serpent shape, as it bent past the spear and struck the Vampire right through the heart.
His eyes widened in shock as a pained gasp blew past his lips, followed by a torrent of blood. He desperately released his Nether, dissolving the water serpent impaling his chest and forcing Endyr back.
He raised his hand to his chest and tried to stem the blood flowing from his wound as he glared at Endyr with undisguised hatred. Being grievously wounded by a Human had enraged him, as he forced as much Fire Mana out as possible. A suit of armour, forged in whitish flame, covered his body as his spear crackled with Nether.
Endyr raised an eyebrow at this, since Nether and Mana could not be used together, before she came up with a theory. 'It's likely a Technique or something that allows it' she thought as she increased the Mana in her eyes to focus on the Vampire's armour. Sure enough, the System responded.
[Technique detected!]
[Technique: Xerxes' Empowerment (3 ✪): Allows the user to store Fire Mana and release it all at once in the form of armour. The more Fire Mana is stored, and the longer it is stored, the greater defence the armour will afford. Allows the user to use Nether or Ether at the same time as long as the two forces do not directly interact.]
Judging from the colour of the fire armour, this Vampire had been storing Fire Mana from a long time. Endyr estimated touching it would result in third-degree burns instantly. Just getting close to it would cause damage, and it was a perfect counter for a Water user like Endyr. Of course, the Vampire had no way of knowing Endyr could use more than just Water...
A plan slowly formulating in her mind, Endyr put on a show of surprise and fear at the Vampire's transformation. Seeing this, the Vampire's face revealed a sadistic smile. There was no helmet of fire to match the armour, so Endyr could see his expression even if the heat warped the air and made it slightly hazy.
The Vampire ran forward, his spear ignited with the black-red smoke of Nether. As he plunged it straight at her heart, Endyr deftly manipulated her Mana between her fingers, like she was weaving imaginary strings. Three inches, two inches, one inch...the spear drew ever closer to claiming her life. Just before the inch made contact with her flesh, a wave of deep blue Mana exploded out of her. The blast swallowed the Nether-covered spear and clashed with the armour of fire, steam sizzling as it was formed a gigantic cloud.
Endyr bent her knees and darted forward, her Mana solidified into a ball of blue so deep it bordered on black. She pushed her arm forward and threw the ball of water straight at the Vampire's face, who was unable to see due to the thick wall of steam.
Once the ball left her palm, it began spinning wildly and churning in mid-air. By the time the Vampire detected the sudden Mana spike, it was already revolving on the spot fast enough to make him dizzy. It trembled once and the Vampire's danger sense began blaring, but he couldn't react in time.
Like a turret, the ball of water shot out a dozen water blades in all directions, like shrapnel grenade or a shotgun blast. The water blades tore up the ground around them, with multiple blades hitting the Vampire. One slashed him directly across the face, taking his left eye and leaving him reeling in pain. Some of the other blades were neutralised by the fire armour, protecting the rest of the Vampire's body, but the armour visibly dimmed.
Seizing the chance, Endyr crossed the last few steps of distance and wrapped her fist in all the Mana she had remaining. Drawing back her arm, the punched the Vampire in the chest full force. The fire armour hissed and tried to resist, making Endyr grit her teeth from the blistering pain. Yet she forced her way through, and the armour soon gave out. Her fist continued unabated as it pierced through the already damaged flesh and bone, ripping the Vampire's heart out through his back.
He froze, mouth agape, as he watched Endyr kill him. His eyes, formerly filled with savage bloodlust betrayed his confusion and fear. He tried to speak, but only wheezed as blood trickled past his lips as he collapsed to his knees. The fire armour flickered before dissipating into nothingness. The Vampire's spear clanged to the group, the Nether coating it similarly dispersing.
Endyr withdrew her arm and casually crushed the Vampire's heart, as the System's congratulations rang out in her ears.
[Congratulations! You have slain {Vampire Noble, Derrick Fontaine}!]