This time, I was determined to face whatever was inside.
I was momentarily blinded by the radiant light that poured from the room. As my eyes adjusted, I took in the opulence before me. The room was far larger than I had anticipated, with an ornate chandelier casting its glow, and jewels sparkling on the walls. This abandoned mansion was dark and decayed, yet this single room radiated wealth and beauty, a stark contrast to the rest of the place. At the center of it all sat a red-haired young man, who looked to be in his mid-twenties, lounging on a golden throne. Behind him stood figures I assumed to be vampires, all dressed in luxurious suits and gowns, standing silently in reverence.
I discreetly activated Inspect, targeting the young man seated on the throne.
'Inspect'
═══════════════════
Name: Nosferatu (Great Hero)
Race/Gender: Vampire Progenitor/Male
Strength: 87
Agility: 79
Intelligence: 30
Mana: 56
Luck: §
Special Abilities: Complete control over vampires, regeneration through vampirism, and Luck ignore.
═══════════════════
Willem, who had guided us here, bowed deeply to Nosferatu, his back bent at a perfect ninety degrees.
"Nosferatu, I present to you Zeon and Lena," Willem said with utmost respect.
Nosferatu gave a dismissive wave. "Well done, Willem."
At this cue, Willem retreated towards the door, which closed on its own behind him with an eerie creak.
I felt a knot of unease tighten in my stomach. My finger pressed down on the hidden wireless button in my pocket. Nosferatu wasn't just any vampire—he was the progenitor, the very top of the vampire hierarchy, a monster of the Demon King's army. I had no idea someone of his stature would be coming after me. And that luck immunity… what the hell was that?
'Has the Demon King's army really thrown down the gauntlet with this one?'
In the comic books back on Earth, the villains would usually send weaklings first to soften up the heroes. But reality? Reality was a cold, hard slap in the face.
Nosferatu swirled the red liquid in his wine glass lazily and then called out a name.
"Bianca."
"Yes, Master!" A petite figure, looking strikingly similar to Lena, stepped forward from the group of vampires and bowed deeply. She wore gothic attire, and her demeanor oozed childlike devotion.
"Your loyalty pleases me. As a reward..." Nosferatu raised his hand, slicing his fingertip with a long, sharp nail. A single drop of his blood fell, and Bianca's eyes lit up with ecstasy.
"Ah! Your precious blood!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with excitement.
Bianca quickly leaned forward and licked the blood off Nosferatu's finger, her entire body shuddering with delight. "Oh, it's divine! Simply perfect!"
She returned to the group of vampires, paying no heed to Lena, who muttered under her breath, her expression forlorn.
"Mom…"
Nosferatu then turned his attention to me. His eyes gleamed as he spoke.
"I can sense the world's power within you. You must be the chosen champion."
I remained silent, trying to gauge his intentions.
"I came here to kill you," he continued, "but your talent intrigues me. How about it? Become a vampire. I'll grant you power, status, and more vampire women than you can imagine, all loyal to you."
I gave him a servile smile, trying to play along without provoking him.
"Haha. I appreciate the generous offer."
Lena shot me a glare, but I ignored her, keeping my tone respectful.
"But I have my doubts. Is the Demon King's army really the future?"
Nosferatu raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Ah, a man who thinks. You question the obvious. The Demon King serves Death, the Destroyer. Soon, this world will fall, and a new one will rise under Death's reign. I have been granted a portion of Death's power. Join us, and when this world is remade, you'll find yourself among the rulers."
'Wow, this guy's mouth really runs, doesn't it? Did I just unlock some secret dialogue option by sheer luck?'
Ting!
Luck Ignore (?) -> Luck Ignore (Death's Will)
"And why do you want to kill me?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"Don't play coy. You were chosen by the world to oppose Death. If you die or falter, the future where Death conquers is sealed."
"So, what exactly is this 'Death' being you serve?"
"Death-sama is…"
Just as Nosferatu was about to spill the beans, an explosion rocked the mansion, shaking the walls and making the ground tremble.
'Ah, damn it! Couldn't they have attacked five minutes later?'
Still, just learning about my role and what I was up against was a huge gain.
BOOM!
Screams echoed from outside as the sound of magic, metal, and death filled the air. The assault had begun.
Nosferatu stood up slowly, unfazed. "Heh. I knew this would happen. My slaves will hold them off. But as for you, Champion... negotiations are over. It's time for you to die."
I instinctively reached for the cross at the same time as Lena, both of us infusing it with mana.
Whooosh
A translucent white barrier enveloped us, courtesy of our holy magic.
Nosferatu smirked as he approached, his footsteps echoing ominously in the room.
"Do you really think such basic holy magic will stop me?" he mocked.
"Lena! Now!" I shouted.
"Right!" Lena responded, raising her hand and summoning ectoplasm into the air. "Astral Zeons, attack!"
The ghostly warriors materialized and charged at Nosferatu.
Thud, thud, thud!
Nosferatu turned to his minions. "Deal with them."
"Yes, Master!" they hissed, baring their fangs and claws as they rushed toward the Astral Zeons.
With a flick of his wrist, Nosferatu caught one of the Zeons' attacks effortlessly.
"Pathetic."
His other hand shot forward, claws extending, piercing through the head of the Zeon. The creature's ectoplasmic form dissolved, evaporating into smoke.
Nosferatu advanced, walking calmly as more Astral Zeons met their end at his hands.
When he was close enough, I threw a vial of holy water directly at him.
"Take this!"
The holy water splashed against his face, sizzling as it burned his skin, revealing the muscle underneath.
But it only took a moment for the skin to regenerate.
"To a lesser vampire, this might have been fatal," Nosferatu said, his voice dripping with contempt. "But to me? It's just a sting."
He gripped the glowing barrier around us with one hand and effortlessly tore it apart.
Snap!
With a predatory grin, Nosferatu extended his claws, aiming for my head.
"Champion, it's over."
"Wait!" I stammered. "The magic tower's forces are closing in! You should run while you still can!"
Nosferatu chuckled darkly. "Killing you ensures Death's victory. Even if I fall here, I'll rise again in the new world."
His hand shot forward.
"Aaaaah! Someone, help!" I screamed.
CLANG!
A translucent blue shield suddenly materialized, repelling Nosferatu's attack. It was the shield Pooh had given me.
"Thank you, Pooh's Shield!" I exclaimed, relief washing over me.
Nosferatu's eyes narrowed. "To block my strike... That must be a relic of an ancient spirit. How curious. But you won't stop me twice."
With another blow, Nosferatu shattered the shield and plunged his claws into my skull.
"Fu…ck…" That was my last thought as everything went black.
My body collapsed, my head shattered, spraying brain matter across the floor.
Nosferatu wiped his hand clean and laughed maniacally. "Death's victory is assured! I shall become the god of the new world! Hahahaha!"
Lena fell to her knees beside me, shaking my lifeless body. "Zeon? Zeon, please! This has to be a joke. Zeon!"
But my body didn't respond. My headless corpse lay still as blood pooled beneath it.
Tears welled up in Lena's eyes. "Zeon, I'm so sorry! This is all my fault… I'm nothing without you…"
Nosferatu raised his hand, ready to finish her off. "Death's victory is inevitable. Let me grant you a merciful end."
Suddenly, the ceiling caved in with a massive crash.
BANG!
Nosferatu let out a scream as something heavy collided with him, sending him crashing through the floor.
"You killed my Darling! I'll destroy you!" Kasha's furious voice echoed through the room. Her eyes burned with the fury of a berserker.
Without giving Nosferatu a chance to recover, Kasha pounded him with a barrage of blows.
Bam, bam, bam!
Nosferatu, with his stats of 87 strength and 79 agility, was no match for Kasha, whose strength and agility now surpassed 100 thanks to the power of love.
Each of her punches crushed Nosferatu's face, only for Nosferatu's face to regenerate repeatedly, creating a crater in the ground from the sheer force of her blows.
Thud, thud, thud, thud!
"Argh! Cough! Stop! Kaaaah!!"
"Die! You piece of trash! Die!!!" Kasha screamed, her fists blurring with speed and force, blood splattering with each hit.
Nosferatu tried to counter with his own strength, but Kasha's overwhelming power, enhanced by her berserker rage and the blessings of love, made him seem like a rag doll.
Just when it seemed like Kasha was about to finish him off for good, Nosferatu's body suddenly turned into red mist.
"Ssshhhhh!"
The mist slipped past Kasha, trying to flee.
"Oh no, you don't!" Kasha roared, her nails slashing through the mist. With each swipe, she sliced away a bit of the smoke, but it continued to reform as Nosferatu fled.
At that moment, a girl appeared, running towards them from outside.
"I don't know who you are, but I'll help you kill this damn vampire! Mega Freeze!"
The newcomer's magic blasted out of her wand, unleashing an icy storm. The mist froze, encased in a massive block of ice.
Nosferatu's form began to take shape within the ice, solidifying back into his humanoid body.
"Cough… Cough… You fools... You cannot stop what is coming… I am not afraid of death. I've already finished my work. Soon, I will be reborn as the god of the new world..."
"Shut up!" Kasha spat. She pierced the ice with her fist, shattering it along with Nosferatu's chest.
Crack! Pow!
Kasha's hand ripped through Nosferatu's body, pulling out his still-beating heart.
Thump, thump, thump...
Without hesitation, she threw the heart to the ground and stomped on it, splattering it in a bloody explosion.
Nosferatu's body twitched, then collapsed, motionless.
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
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