It was the opportune moment to check on the progress of the vampires. Acting promptly, Ethan projected an image towards the area where the vampires were. The scene unfolded on the screen of the stone pillar, ripples cascading across it before the image stabilized, revealing the original vampire leading her group in confrontation with a five-star Iron Bull Beast. Notably, Vampire No. 1 and No. 2 did not engage directly; instead, they orchestrated the battle from behind, deploying the newly subjugated Black Iron four-star Giant Troll, three-star Ironclad Beasts, and other mystical creatures to the forefront of the fight.
Size-wise, the Giant Troll and the Iron Bull Beast were nearly equivalent, their strengths closely matched. However, in terms of defense, the Giant Troll was significantly outclassed by the Iron Bull Beast, which boasted a hide as tough as metal, rendering it nearly impregnable. Under the tactical guidance of the original vampire, the allied creatures didn't clash directly with the Iron Bull Beast; rather, they executed a strategy of constant harassment, depleting its stamina bit by bit.
"Such an intelligent approach—this method effectively drains the Iron Bull Beast's stamina," Ethan observed with approval from behind the screen. Provoked into a rage, the Iron Bull Beast rampaged, snapping several towering ancient trees in its vicinity. Nonetheless, some creatures accidentally struck by the Iron Bull Beast ended up with large holes gored by its horns, including the Giant Troll, which sustained several significant injuries.
The battle waged on for about half an hour, during which the Iron Bull Beast began to show signs of fatigue, its once formidable defense visibly weakening. Seizing the moment, the Giant Troll managed to inflict a deep wound on the beast. The Iron Bull Beast let out a roar of pain and repelled the Giant Troll with its body.
Then, the original vampire swiftly intervened, elegantly dripping her own blood into the Iron Bull Beast's wound. The transformation in the Iron Bull Beast's demeanor was instantaneous—from frenzied aggression to calm submission, eventually kneeling in deference to Vampire No. 1. The rapid healing of the wounds on the Giant Troll and the other creatures highlighted the vampires' advantage: their capacity for swift recovery from non-fatal injuries.
"Incredible, such a feat achieved in just half a night. With Skeleton Warriors, managing two two-star Ironclad Beasts would have been the limit in the same timeframe," Ethan reflected, profoundly impressed. He now understood why the prodigies of the myriad tribes looked down upon humanity—it was their possession of vastly superior troop types.
Upon checking the merit panel, Ethan found his merit points had increased by 8, totaling 15 merits. "I had not anticipated the vampires' talents to be so formidable. Well then, it's time for your advancement." Ethan set aside his initial plan to prioritize upgrading Fei's Temple, having reconsidered his strategy. The strategic advantage the vampires offered was unforeseen; by quickly advancing the levels of the vampires, he believed he could accelerate the assembly of the vampire army within the surrounding hundred miles.
He located the attribute panels for Vampire No. 1 and No. 2, which indicated that upgrading to two stars required 2 merit points, and to three stars, 3 points.
Vampire Nos. 1 and 2 were christened by their creator, marking their inception among the Avalon Continent's vampire lineage. "With a commendable merit tally of 15 points, we're poised to elevate one of the vampires to the distinguished four-star tier while gracefully advancing the other to the realm of three stars," Ethan mused, his fingers deftly navigating the upgrade interface with intent. In the secluded embrace of the mountains, the domain of Vampire Nos. 1 and 2 was suddenly bathed in cascading flares of radiant white light. In tandem, there was an unmistakable ascendancy in their essences, heralding the rise of their vampiric might. "Sister, such invigoration! It seems our elevation has been sanctioned by the Count himself. Perhaps, he harbors a benevolent spirit after all," opined Vampire No. 2, her curiosity awakened. "Indeed, I perceive an enhancement in my prowess, surging by at least tenfold," Vampire No. 1 contemplated, her brows arching in a semblance of enchanting concern. "Is that so? My own capabilities feel augmented, by perhaps seven or eightfold, though they pale beside yours," Vampire No. 2 teased, her tongue coyly displayed. "Your performance is laudable," Ethan's voice permeated the distance through a projection device, transcending the confines of space. "The Count!" A wave of tension instantly seized Vampire Nos. 1 and 2, unprepared for the revelation that their overseer could scrutinize their essence from afar. "Sister, the Count undeniably epitomizes the zenith of our lineage!" Vampire No. 2 whispered, her voice imbued with admiration. "Do not harbor any anxiety. My intention was merely to appraise your advancement," Ethan clarified, perceiving their tension. While the confrontation persisted, Ethan found solace in tranquility, a stark contrast to his previous forays. He envisioned, within a mere month, the rallying of all mystical entities within a hundred-mile radius into a formidable legion under the banner of the Arcane Warrior Academy. Furthermore, the vampiric contagion harbored the potential to proliferate among the beasts, an insidious boon that could exponentially augment their ranks. Such a force, meticulously amassed, promised to present an indomitable front. With such a legion at his command, the conquest of the Avalon Continent would be but a trifling endeavor. As midnight deepened, the system relayed notifications of magical beasts succumbing to vampiric corruption, among them a notable Black Iron six-star entity. This accelerated pace of corruption, a hallmark of the progenitor vampires, endowed them with the capacity to bridge significant disparities in power, a formidable edge. However, a caveat lingered: the gulf in strength must not be overwhelmingly vast, lest the corruptor fall before reaching their potential quarry. "What do my merit points stand at now?" Ethan pondered. Upon inspection of the merit system, he was astonished to discover his points had burgeoned to 35 within hours, a quantum leap from the meager 4 points he previously harbored. This unforeseen windfall exceeded his boldest expectations. With decisive action, he allocated these points toward the vampiric ascension, a strategic maneuver aimed at bolstering their ranks. To ascend to Black Iron 4 stars required 4 merit points, each subsequent tier demanding an additional point, culminating in the elevation to Black Iron 7 stars for a total of 7 points. With swift precision, Ethan orchestrated a series of promotions. Vampire No. 1 was promptly elevated to Black Iron 7-star stature, while Vampire No. 2 achieved a commendable 6-star status. Perusing their enhanced attributes, Ethan accessed the detailed attribute panel. [Vampire No. 1][Strength: 98][Agility: 103][Intelligence: 56][Skill 1: Bloodsucking Aura, a formidable ability enabling blood absorption from adversaries, pegged at 7% of inflicted damage. ][Skill 2: Corrosion, a sinister power to convert foes through blood, binding them as vampiric minions. ][Skill 3: Fear, a potent ability to emit an aura of terror, compelling lower-tier entities into submission] After reviewing Vampire No. 1, Ethan turned his attention to No. 2's attributes. Notwithstanding slight deficiencies in strength, agility, and intelligence, their core attributes remained remarkably consistent. Following the promotions, Ethan found his merit reserves dwindled to a mere 2 points, a testament to his ambitious undertaking within the realms of the Avalon Continent.