Facing the approaching mage, Fars would have been too intimidated to make a sound if the mage were at full strength; he would have fled at the first opportunity. However, this particular mage was gravely injured, likely struggling even to maintain his flight spell. This was a delectable opportunity for Fars, saving him the effort of chasing down his prey. Although he had previously envisioned a fierce battle that would ultimately leave him as the victor, the unexpected turn of events had only shifted the outcome in his favor. Why not take advantage of it?
As Master Perugino was about to fly over the castle walls, Fars no longer held back. He pointed a finger at the mage, casting the "Finger of Death," a spell he had only recently learned and was still clumsy with. Given the mage's formidable mental fortitude, Fars did not expect to kill Perugino outright. He merely wanted to test whether the master had any tricks left up his sleeve, considering the numerous protective talismans he bore. Who knew what strange defenses he might still possess?
In mid-air, Perugino immediately recognized the source of the sudden attack. It seemed that Lady Luck had truly abandoned him. After decades of hardship, rising from a mere magic apprentice to a high-ranking mage, he had endured countless trials, only to find himself facing death at the hands of a vampire with merely high-level mage strength.
In normal circumstances, a spell that could only kill an ordinary person would hardly warrant a second glance from someone of his stature. But given his current condition, he understood all too well that he could not afford to remain calm. With a resigned sigh, he activated the only remaining defensive talisman he had. This was meant to save his life, capable of countering a spell of the "Scorching Death Ray" caliber, yet here he was, wasting it on a half-baked "Finger of Death." In this situation, the mage couldn't help but chuckle bitterly at how his life had come to such a low point.
Once Fars completed his spell, he immediately flew out of the magic tower, wielding the massive sword conjured by Danis, and pursued the old mage. The pure phoenix aura radiating from Danis enveloped the entire castle without reservation. Influenced by the earth dragon's final roar, Danis could no longer contain herself. With noble phoenix blood coursing through her veins, how could she bow before a lowly sub-dragon? How could she allow a mere roar to suppress her? Now that Fars was no longer forcing her to remain quiet, the great sword in his hand began to tremble slightly, sending waves of sound rippling across its blade. Eventually, as the vibrations reached a certain threshold, the sound waves coalesced into a phoenix cry that rivaled the earlier dragon's roar.
The pure-blooded ice phoenix's cry echoed throughout the Gonsago ruins, even causing the earth dragon, which was still desperately battling, to momentarily pause and glance in Fars's direction. Joanna, with her keen eyesight, was equally astonished to see Fars wielding an exquisitely ornate sword, poised to strike down Master Perugino. However, their situation was no better than that of the mage who had been ambushed by Fars; the earth dragon's immense power was evident, and even in its weakened state, the residual force it unleashed was not something a mere seventh-level assassin like Joanna could withstand.
With Danis's full power unleashed, the surrounding air seemed to freeze, as if it were being encased in ice. Moisture in the air began to crystallize into swirling ice shards, and before the sword even fell, frost had already begun to coat Master Perugino.
Realizing that his time was up, the mage let out a chilling laugh, a sound akin to a mournful wail, which abruptly ceased as Fars's sword struck. The ice blade pierced through the mage's chest without any hindrance, the eerie ice-blue blade not even staining with a drop of blood. The black flames entwined around the great sword quickly engulfed the mage's body, draining his life force and transferring it to Fars. The mage's soul, too, could not escape; Danis showed no mercy, effortlessly absorbing the powerful mage's essence, releasing a joyful phoenix cry.
The black flames were no trifling matter; the lifeless body, stripped of the mage's power, could not resist their corrosion. What remained of the once-living flesh was reduced to ash. However, Master Perugino had possessed many valuable items. While the black flames consumed his body, the more durable treasures on him remained intact, and Fars quickly salvaged them, storing them in his own space.
Unable to contain his overwhelming excitement any longer, Fars, still merely a vampire count, laughed maniacally in the air. With a twisted, sinister grin, he truly resembled an evil villain.
The most troublesome prey had been dramatically dealt with, lifting Fars's spirits. Since there were still a few other targets struggling, he had no qualms about sending them off one by one. It was impossible for Fars to feel any sympathy after just a few days of interaction; after all, they had never truly regarded him as a companion. Under the eaves, one must bow their head, and Fars had endured quite a bit of frustration during those days. Now that he had achieved success, if he didn't eliminate them all, wouldn't that be akin to releasing a tiger back into the mountains, leaving future troubles? Having already angered a powerful family, Fars no longer cared about whether he would be pursued by the Medici family. In a land as vast as Elras, there would always be a place for him to hide. At worst, he could spend a few years in desolate areas, avoiding the storm before returning to his mischief.
Master Perugino was killed before anyone could react, and a wave of despair washed over the young people present. In contrast, Sir Dull remained calm. As a knight, he had long been prepared for such moments, accepting life and death with a steadiness that others might lack. Knowing that he, too, might not survive, he resolved to defend his honor with his life. Dying on the battlefield would not tarnish his knightly glory; he silently prayed for the blessing of the God of Light.
Dull did not flee. Among the remaining four, he was the strongest and could hold out until the earth dragon perished. However, Fars's appearance filled him with a sense of helplessness, especially after hearing the sudden phoenix cry. The great knight resolutely chose to confront the earth dragon. If he could buy time with his life until the dragon fell, the remaining young lords and ladies might still have a chance against a vampire with merely high-level mage strength.
He, too, began to exchange his life for a fleeting burst of power. This noble knight, worthy of respect, faced the earth dragon with sword drawn. Dull's condition was slightly better than the dragon's, and as he burned his life force, the power he unleashed began to suppress the dragon. Each strike of his sword left deep gashes on its flesh. The dragon, having exhausted its strength, could no longer unleash its fiery breath and resorted to instinctual melee combat, its once formidable defenses crumbling under Dull's relentless assault.
Watching the bloody melee, Fars felt a surge of emotion. To sacrifice oneself for a companion was deserving of the utmost respect. As he prepared to clean up the aftermath, he hoped Dull's soul would find peace in its beliefs or rest in a tranquil place. Dull's death was inevitable; once the flame of life was ignited, it would burn until extinguished.
It was still too early to think about that. Since Dull and the earth dragon were both destined to perish, Fars shifted his focus away from them and prepared to deal with the young lords and ladies who had been fleeing. They lacked the noble resolve that Dull possessed; cunning and cowardice were synonymous with nobility, and taking their lives would require considerable effort.
Fars first set his sights on Panasus, the weakest among them, though he still had some tricks up his sleeve. When dealing with enemies, one must give their all; otherwise, there would be no chance for regret.
Even when hunting a rabbit, one must use full strength. Fars pursued Panasus and swung his sword at the fleeing young lord of the Medici family. Panasus had a magical shield, likely activated by a scroll, but it was insufficient to withstand the might of Danis's conjured great sword. The razor-sharp blade sliced through the shield as if it were made of paper, yet it did not cleave him in two. The reason was that the sword was blocked when it struck his shoulder. Fars's first reaction was that it was a good item. Without hesitation, he reversed his sword and aimed for Panasus's head, knowing that he could not block Danis's edge. Indeed, Panasus wore a family heirloom that provided defense comparable to that of the earth dragon. But it only protected him temporarily, and Fars's second strike took his life.
With brains splattered, Fars, having already feasted, lost his appetite. Reluctant to waste, he used the blade to drain the corpse dry. He would not let anything go, especially that heirloom armor that had withstood his great sword; it was truly a lifesaver.
There were still two prey left, and neither was easy to deal with. They had already gathered after Dull had sacrificed himself to battle the earth dragon, but Panasus was the first to fall under Fars's gaze.
One would think Fars should know when to stop, as dealing with Joanna and Agno would be quite challenging.
Casually donning the armor he had stripped from Panasus, Fars felt emboldened. With Joanna and Agno's abilities, it would not be easy for them to kill Fars, who hovered at a safe height in the air. They lacked the unparalleled leaping ability of the Wolf King and the formidable fighting spirit of Dull. All they could do was glare at Fars with intense hatred, the vampire who had driven them to the brink.
The situation on the battlefield had reached a stalemate after Dull and the earth dragon had both burned out their life forces. Joanna and Agno stood guard over the bodies of the dragon and Dull, and Fars did not dare to act recklessly.