There were many armaments that contained the power of magic and various mysteries. Rumors spoke of a shield that could autonomously change positions to deflect spears and arrows, as well as a sword that emitted a brilliant light to blind enemies at decisive moments. There supposedly existed a dagger that could freely extend and retract its blade, an axe that always returned to its owner, and even a spear in which a spirit of fire was sealed to emit flames.

Likewise, all of Eugene’s equipment was quite unusual. Even the most ordinary among them, Wolfslaughter, was made of meteoric iron, and it could easily slice through chainmail. Moreover, the injuries it inflicted were difficult to treat and would take long to heal.

Among his equipment, Eugene considered Armis, the demonic armor, to be the best. Armis boasted a defense superior to the plate armor crafted by the dwarven craftsmen of Maren, but it was only half as heavy. Moreover, it provided a perfect fit for the wearer, which meant maximum comfortability. In addition, Armis would extinguish most magic and curses before they could even reach its wearer. Armis was essentially perfect, except for its most critical flaw—it craved the blood of its wearer to the point that it would threaten their life.

The armor’s drawback was simply too serious. Armor was supposed to protect its wearer, so who would want to equip something that would eat away at their life? As such, Eugene had also felt quite uneasy when he first received Armis. However, he came to a realization when Armis flew over of its own accord and automatically equipped itself on him. Armis did not crave the wearer’s blood because it wanted to harm them. Rather, it only required a huge amount of blood to express both its intelligence and mysteries. That was why non-vampires would die without giving even half the amount of blood Armis wanted. In the first place, Armis was an armor made to be worn by a vampire of the highest rank, someone capable of easily killing intermediate and high-ranking monsters.

And only when the armor’s desire for blood was fully satisfied would the demonic armor finally reveal its true power and mystery.

It became one with its wearer, just like this.

Kwaaaaaa…

The armor emitted a bright crimson light before it started to quiver. Eugene concentrated his Fear and will to immaterialize his body. The armor, as well as Wolfslaughter and Madarazika, separated into thousands of black grains and merged into his shadowy, immaterial form.

“…!!!” Princess Lilisain and the elven knights were stupefied by the incredible sight. Although the elves were familiar with magic and the powers of mysteries, the scene unfolding in front of them was hard to believe.

However, their shock was nothing compared to the surprise of the vampires. The vampires had been running toward them with joy, thinking that the intruders had lost all their strength.

***

“…?!”

However, as soon as they saw the black smoke rushing toward them, the vampires realized that they were witnessing an ability exclusive to vampires of the highest rank, just like their own master. However, they had never met a high-ranking vampire except their master. Moreover, they did not feel a Fear as powerful as their master’s Fear, something that would cause them to instantly stiffen. The vampires had no idea that Eugene had intentionally withdrawn his Fear, and as such, they were confused by the conflicting information.

However, their confusion only lasted for a moment.

Kwaarrrrrr!

The cluster of bat-like, black smoke expanded in an instant and surrounded the vampires. The vampires froze on the spot as they became trapped in darkness even darker than the darkness of the dungeon. Everywhere they looked, they could see nothing but darkness.

Vampires were a tribe of darkness. Night and darkness were their homes. However, the darkness currently surrounding them was something completely isolated from the world.

Sound, smell, touch, etc…

They could not feel any of it. It was a perfect world of nothingness—a darkness beyond darkness. The otherworldly space caused even the members of the Dark Clan to feel terrible fear.

“…!”

The vampires shouted in fear, but no sound came from their lips.

It was then…

Kikikieeek!

An immeasurable number of red figures began to appear in the dark along with a strange noise. The figures were bright red eyes.

The red eyes watched the vampires, and each eye contained an energy more overwhelming than their master’s.

An overwhelming Fear. It was literally the purest Fear. The vampires unknowingly dropped their weapons on the floor, and then they began to kneel on the floor while drooling. The only thing they could do was worship the absolute being.

Indeed…

The demonic armor’s ability wasn’t to simply change shape along with the appearance of the wearer. Moreover, it wasn’t even an armor designed for the vampires of the highest rank; rather, it was designed for only one person.

Armis was designed for the true ‘Vampire Lord,’ but not in the sense of the word that referred to the hierarchical classification of vampires, but rather the lord of all vampires.

It was the King of Darkness’ armor.

***

“…?!”

A frown came to Christian Helmond’s face as he waited for his underlings with annoyance. He felt something from deep within his heart. His heartbeat, which was significantly slower than those of other races, began to accelerate little by little.

He couldn’t even begin to panic. What began in his heart quickly spread to his entire body, and the vampire’s limbs began to twitch against his will. He knew exactly what this unfamiliar sensation was.

"Keugh...!"

What caused him to reel and for his underlings to fall flat trembling was ‘fear.’

“I-I’m afraid…?”

Christian was in disbelief. He could neither see nor hear anything. He was fearful of nothing else but the energy he could feel from afar.

However, this was just the beginning…

“Ughhh…” Christian fell onto one knee while tightly grasping his chest. His expression was distorted like a demon, and his pale face had already turned red.

Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump…

The twitching became worse as his heartbeat accelerated.

“C-coffin… My coffin…”

Christian struggled toward the coffin on one side of the wide space. Unfortunately, his body betrayed his will. The vampire floundered on the ground as his breath became increasingly sluggish. His fear-eroded, red, yellow eyes caught sight of something in the distance. In a way, the figure seemed to radiate light in the darkness, and in a way, it seemed to radiate an overwhelming darkness that had engulfed darkness itself.

“…!!!”

As soon as Christian laid eyes on the figure, he placed his knees, elbows, and forehead on the ground one after another. Afterward, he straightened his palms and raised them up.

“I greet the King of Darkness, the Supreme Lord of Blood.”

He had not acted and spoken out of reason nor intelligence. Rather, the instinct deeply imprinted on his soul as a member of the Dark Clan had commanded him to speak.

“…”

Eugene looked down at Christian with an indifferent expression.

He asked, “Are you Christian Helmond?”

‘The King of Darkness has called my name!’

Christian felt ecstatic. He responded in a trembling voice with his forehead on the ground, “Yes. That is the true name of my humble self. I dare ask of you, please command me as you wish.”

“Did you evolve the monsters and release them outside?” Eugene asked.

“Yes, my king,” Christian answered.

“Why?” Eugene said.

“That’s my master’s… Heugh.. Uaggh… Keugh! Argh!” Christian suddenly gasped while answering. Soon, blood vessels on his bluish forehead began to burst.

‘Magic!’

Eugene came to recognize the situation and quickly aroused his Fear. The Origin’s Fear surrounded Christian’s figure in an instant.

Eugene spoke, “I take precedence over all wills.”

It was a casual remark. However, it resulted in an enormous effect. The magic that had bound Christian disappeared without a trace.

“Huagh! Ugh, agh…” Christian once again bashed his forehead against the ground while breathing heavily.

“Glory to the Supreme Ruler of Blood!” Christian was even more convinced, although he had instinctively realized from the imprint on his soul. He was facing the supreme being of the Tribe of Darkness. The one who cast the magic on him was a monarch of the clan, and the only being capable of destroying it with authority was someone who stood even above the monarch.

“I have a lot to talk to you about,” Eugene said.

“This humble one will answer with a joyful heart,“ Christian responded while slamming his head against the ground. He felt a breathtaking fear and a greater joy than even his first time consuming blood.

***

“So Helmond is just Helmond?” Eugene asked.

“That’s right. The names of all clans are simply the names of the monarchs,” Christian answered with a bow on one knee.

“So this fellow, Helmond, was he the one who cast the spell on you?” Eugene asked.

Although Eugene had addressed his father, the heavenly monarch, as a ‘fellow,’ Christian did not feel outraged, let alone even a trace of anger. He answered, “No. It was my mother, Spineline. Of course, not my birth mother, but my father’s partner.”

As far as Eugene knew, vampires weren’t born vampires. They were born humans but were transformed into vampires. In other words, the female vampire named Spineline wasn’t Christian’s biological mother; she was the partner of the clan’s leader.

“Why did you come into this dungeon? And why did you evolve the monsters and release them outside?” Eugene asked.

Christian answered, “It was my father’s orders. My humble self does not know his intentions.”

“Hmm.” Eugene frowned. In the end, even this vampire didn’t know anything important.

“However…” Christian said cautiously before continuing, “I suspect that it’s not just the Helmond Clan and me. I believe the others in a similar position as me from the other clans are carrying out the same mission.”

“Other clans? Which ones?” Eugene asked.

Christian answered, “Please forgive me. This humble one does not know.”

A high lord of a vampire clan would be quite intelligent and crafty. As such, there was a good chance that Christian’s guess was true.

Eugene sank into thought for a minute, then spoke while recalling something, “You. Do you know anything about what happened in the Caylor Kingdom’s royal castle?”

“My apologies. Please punish me with death,” Christian answered in a remorseful voice.

Eugene clicked his tongue. “You don’t know very much.”

“Kieeeh? Aren’t undead already dead in the first place? He should be asking to be completely extinguished at times like these. Tsk. He doesn’t know how to show any sincerity, does he?” Mirian said with a serious expression. She had made her appearance after Eugene had completely subdued Christian.

“…”

Christian flinched at her words. He could take care of a spirit quite easily, but this particular spirit was special in the sense that she had a contract with the supreme being.

Eugene gave a brief explanation of the incident, “The court wizard of the Caylor Kingdom created an undead twin-headed ogre. So…”

Christian could not hide his surprise.

“According to your story, the court wizard must have been a member of another clan. Moreover, if they had been using magic like that, they must have belonged to one of those two clans,” Christian said.

“Hooh? Is that so? Which clans?” Eugene asked. His eyes sparkled in anticipation of finally obtaining some useful information.

“It must be either Ventroa or Bloodyshadow.”

“…!”

Eugene’s eyes filled with shock.

One was a name he had heard from Prince Localope, and the other was…

“Kiehh!? I-Is the raccoon a traitor? Is that it?!” Mirian was outraged.

‘Bloodyshadow? That’s the Blood Shadow School.’

So, instead of simply having a vampire ancestor, Romari’s school of magic was actually one of the vampire clans?