The blue wolf, desperate to escape Fars's pursuit, was struck by several more Shadow Arrows. Fars considered unleashing more powerful spells to finish it off, but he found that he couldn't match the injured wolf's speed. Instead, he continued to bombard it with the easily cast Shadow Arrows. Given Fars's current rate of mana recovery, the cost of such minor spells was quickly replenished, and he was determined to wear the wolf down.
Shadow Arrow was a basic attack spell of the shadow school. Although its power was weaker compared to spells like Arcane Missile or Fireball, it inflicted a corrosive effect upon hitting the enemy, similar to the slowing effect of Ice Arrow. Now, after being struck by over a dozen arrows, the blue wolf, despite its decent magical resistance, began to move sluggishly, its actions becoming less fluid than at the start. However, it was still slightly faster than Fars; while Fars could pursue in a straight line, the wolf had to dodge the incoming arrows, preventing it from shaking off its pursuer.
This situation continued for about ten minutes, with Fars trailing the blue wolf deeper into the forest. They were no longer in the outskirts; although high-level magical beasts were rare, the chances of encountering them were much greater here. Fars began to pursue the wolf more cautiously, remaining vigilant for any ambushes in the surrounding area.
After such a long chase, the blue wolf finally exhausted its stamina. Realizing it couldn't shake off its pursuer, it stopped and, like at the beginning, locked eyes with Fars, preparing for a last-ditch counterattack. Fars felt that this hunt had dragged on too long; if it continued, he might have to abandon it, as this area was not as safe as the outskirts, and there were plenty of beasts that could pose a threat. Unfortunately, although Fars possessed the strength of a vampire noble, he was still relying on the methods typical of a mage, unable to hunt with the elusive and graceful techniques of a true vampire. Moreover, having only become a vampire two days ago, he was still unaccustomed to this entirely different combat style, which was tied to his past habits and current offensive capabilities. It would likely take a long time to find a combat style that truly suited him. A mage who moved like a wraith—that was the development direction Fars had set for himself.
While the blue wolf excelled in speed, it was at a disadvantage compared to a vampire of the same level; the speed of vampires was widely recognized across the continent.
Knowing that this battle was nearing its end, Fars prepared to deliver the final blow. This time, he decided to use a relatively obscure and complex mental spell. He chose a mental spell over a Fireball or similar spell because Fars wasn't looking for a roast; he needed blood without letting the blue wolf bleed too much, which required a certain level of finesse.
"Mandate—Death." As Fars uttered the final words, an invisible ripple surged toward the blue wolf. This spell compared the mental strength and willpower of both parties; the opponent could make a saving throw against the will check, and if the opponent was too strong, such as a high-level magical beast, it could even backfire. However, given the blue wolf's severe injuries and significant stamina depletion, using this spell now could very well lead to its demise.
The unfortunate blue wolf had prepared to fight to the death, its mouth wide open, gathering a massive amount of wind elements. Unfortunately, before it could unleash its mental attack, it was struck by the "Mandate of Death" and perished. Generally, even magical beasts require considerable preparation time to cast high-level spells; they can't simply unleash magical attacks on a whim as ordinary people might believe. Moreover, their techniques were often crude; the difference between low-level spells like Wind Blade and those used by humans was not significant. The higher the spell, the longer the preparation time required compared to humans, who could use various magical devices to reduce casting time and increase power.
The blue wolf's final choice was somewhat foolish. Although it was severely injured, it could have prolonged its life by engaging Fars in physical combat, yet it chose to compete in spellcasting against a pure mage like Fars.
Now, the blue wolf was dead, and its body remained relatively intact, with its blood still fresh. This battle had exhausted Fars; after chasing for so long, his previously weak body would have been worn out by now. The blood spilling from the wolf's wounds had tempted him greatly, and he was already quite hungry. After confirming that the wolf was truly dead, Fars wasted no time sinking his sharp fangs into the wolf's neck. The wolf's thick fur couldn't withstand Fars's fangs, and a torrent of warm blood flowed into him. There was no need to think about how elegant it would be to drink from a wolf; if it were a young maiden, Fars would have been more than willing to display his noble demeanor. But now, it was just a wolf, and with no one watching, the important thing was to drink deeply.
He couldn't help but marvel at the structure of vampires; a blue wolf, nearly two meters long and stronger than a human, had its blood completely drained in one go, leaving Fars wanting more.
Today's prey was far more delicious than the small fox from last night, the energy contained in the blood was incomparable. If the first taste of blood had been exhilarating, tonight it was a surge of power that needed to be released.
After finishing his meal, Fars sent a dark flame to the unfortunate blue wolf, instantly turning its body to ash. Last night, he had been unable to control himself during his first feeding, leaving the fox's body intact.
This was something he needed to be cautious about. While this was indeed the Qihai Mountains, the presence of many magical beasts meant that hunters venturing here were also numerous. The bite marks left by a vampire were unique and couldn't be mistaken for the result of a beastly struggle. If the bodies were left behind, and before they were consumed by other magical beasts in the forest, they were discovered by human hunters, Fars would find himself in serious trouble. This would reveal the presence of a vampire in the area.
These hunters might not pursue Fars, but once the news spread, many adventurers and knights from the church would come hunting for him. The head of a vampire was worth more than the core of a high-level magical beast. The Church of Light spared no effort in hunting down vampires, viewing them as abominable heretics who defiled the sacred. If a high-level vampire were killed, even ordinary adventurers could be knighted by the church, earning the title of Holy Knight. It was akin to a commoner becoming a noble. Thus, wherever rumors of a vampire circulated, there would always be those unable to resist the temptation to hunt. However, vampires were not easy prey; the outcome of such encounters was uncertain. Moreover, it was well-known that the eastern part of the continent was rife with vampires, and some high-ranking nobles were vampires themselves. Unless a holy war was declared, anyone who attempted to hunt vampires would likely meet a grim fate. That region was a haven for vampires. Fars was already considering that once he gained enough strength, he could venture there to develop his abilities.
With the moon hanging high in the sky, Fars wasn't in a hurry to return. However, this area was becoming increasingly dangerous, so he decided to retreat toward the forest's edge. Having just begun to grasp the basics of flying and feeling well-fed, he prepared to travel by flight.
Summoning his Shadow Wings, he looked at the broad bat-like wings, which seemed even stronger than the day before. It was said that a vampire's level could be discerned from their wings; the higher the vampire's rank, the larger the wings. If the bloodline was noble, there might even be runes adorning them. Legend had it that the wings of a vampire prince were adorned with dark silver patterns, exuding unmatched grandeur. His wings were sizable, comparable to those of a vampire noble he had read about in books. However, they bore no runes. Was his bloodline not noble enough? That seemed impossible. Perhaps his noble status was too weak to truly embody that of a noble. It was like a container; Fars was that container, one that had reached the size of a noble but had yet to fill itself with enough power.
Regardless, Fars began to flap his wings with determination. Perhaps due to being well-fed today, he easily soared to a height of several dozen meters. At this altitude, he was already above the average trees in the forest. Looking down at the sprawling forest, he began to accelerate, feeling the same surge of energy he had experienced after his first blood meal yesterday. Today was no different; Fars felt as if he had boundless strength, with more blood flowing into his wings, opening up areas that had yet to fully extend. Closing his eyes, Fars could even feel every tiny blood vessel expanding, the flow of blood invigorating him. It seemed that the moonlight was drawn to his dark wings, continuously converging upon them.
Wherever Fars flew, the night sky dimmed, and without careful observation, one might not even notice him in the air. As more moonlight gathered on his wings, Fars felt a gentle power seeping from the outside into his wings, cleansing and strengthening them. With this external support, the flow of blood from within to his wings quickened. The blood seemed to be absorbed by the wings, with more flowing in than returning. If it weren't for the ample blood he had consumed, he might have doubted whether his wings would drain him dry. But it was clear that what was happening was beneficial; he could feel his wings flapping with greater strength, and his control over them became simpler and more agile.
Lost in this flight, Fars finally experienced the thrill of soaring through the skies. He had risen to several hundred meters, and his wings now effortlessly carried him higher. Gazing at the towering Qihai Mountains in the distance, the vast forest below resembled a piece of dark green silk. His vision seemed sharper, and as his focus honed in on a specific point below, he could even see scenes of magical beasts hunting each other in the jungle. An increasing amount of information flooded his senses; the winds at high altitude brushed past him, and the moonlight gently enveloped his wings, while the elemental winds danced joyfully around him...
At this moment, Fars truly felt like he was flying.
Time slipped away in this state of bliss. He soon noticed that the intensity of the moonlight converging on his wings began to wane, and the air grew slightly warm. Fars understood that dawn was approaching, and he no longer lingered; he didn't want to be scorched by the sunlight. Adjusting his course toward the ruins, he quickly flew in that direction.