Kl'Drog let out a low gaunt and his almost human-like face instantly contorted into a deep scowl. His sharp canines glistened sharply as if to mirror his frustration.
What in the world was happening? How could the Bloodpolis vanish? The crimson mist was supposed to spread even more, not dissipate.
"That explosion," a sudden thought raced through Kl'Drog's mind. "Did someone disrupt the runic circle?"
But who could it be? And how did they learn of it? Not many individuals should be aware of a spell like Bloodpolis.
And even if they were aware of it, the runic circle for Bloodpolis was hidden deep beneath the concrete ground, placed there by their trusted spy.
No one should have been capable of digging so deep, let alone casting an explosive spell potent enough to destroy the runic circle in such a brief time.
Especially considering the corrosive and poisonous effects of the crimson mist they should be under. No one should be strong enough to pull off something like that.
But someone obviously did!
Who?! Who was behind this? Did the academy's defense system activate already? No, it should have taken at least ten minutes for that to happen.
Then how...?
While Kl'Drog was trapped in such thoughts, a brilliant arc of blinding white light flashed in the vast expanse of the night sky.
Soon after the flash of light, a deafening thunderbolt struck the ground somewhere on Kl'Drog's right.
Startled, Kl'Drog snapped his head around and saw a bolt of blue lightning hurtling toward him.
"...Huh?!"
An artillery spell? Someone shot an artillery spell at him?!
Was he being attacked? No! It wasn't just a stray spell. The lightning appeared to be targeting his... heart?!
In an instant, his vampiric instincts took over. Kl'Drog shielded his chest with his left hand and swung his sword at the approaching bolt of blue lightning with his right.
Clang—!!
The lightning bolt collided with the scarlet blade of his sword in a rain of sparks, resulting in a resounding clash of metal clashing against metal.
Indeed, it wasn't an ordinary lightning bolt.
From this close-up, Kl'Drog could clearly see a young silver-haired boy surrounded by an Electric Aura.
It was Lucas. He had used his spear to parry the strike of the high-vampire commander's sword.
Without wasting a breath, Lucas coiled his spear around Kl'Drog's blade and thrust it forward.
Kach—!!
"Arghh!" Kl'Drog grunted in pain as Lucas' sharp spearhead struck his left arm.
'He is trying to pierce my heart?!' Kl'Drog frantically thought.
"Foolish boy!" Kl'Drog roared, releasing a crimson shockwave that surged from his body, rippling across the arena.
The power of the shockwave sent Lucas hurtling backward a few meters, but he managed to land on his feet, jamming his spear into the ground to kill the momentum pushing him back.
Residual sparks of electricity crackled around him as he pulled out his spear from the ground and aimed its pointed tip at the figure before him.
Earlier, Lucas had asked Nero to unleash a bolt of lightning at him using his Gift.
Using the ambient electricity, Lucas supercharged his Electric Aura and streaked toward Kl'Drog at the literal speed of lightning.
His intention was to take down the high-vampire commander in one unexpected blow.
A surprise attack.
However, his plan appeared to have failed.
In the novel, Liz barely managed to defeat Kl'Drog. She had to use every spell available at her disposal.
Lucas was confident that even in this reality, Liz must've given her all, but under the influence of Bloodpolis, her efforts did not amount to much and she failed to put Kl'Drog down.
Lucas knew that Kl'Drog would try to kill Liz before moving on to target Nero— unlike in the novel, where Kl'Drog focused on Nero first— since in this reality, the Bloodpolis was activated.
Lucas' strategy was to swiftly dispatch Kl'Drog and end the fight immediately. Sadly, he couldn't do it.
Indeed, killing a high-vampire wasn't a simple task, huh?
Thankfully, he only had to hold off Kl'Drog for a mere seven more minutes at most. After that, the academy's defense system would activate.
Could he manage that, though? Yes, he could definitely do that, right...? Right…?
Just as he thought that three crescent arcs of ominous crimson aura, resembling the shape of a claw, surged toward him.
Lucas didn't evade or try to dodge; he didn't even attempt to move. When the arcs connected with his body, his figure wavered and dissipated like a distant mirage.
"Illusion?" Kl'Drog raised an eyebrow, immediately sensing an attack nearing him from behind.
Clang—!!!
Swiftly spinning around, he thrust out with his sword, using the crimson blade of his sword to stop a spear's attack. A loud clash ensued, accompanied by a cascade of sparks.
Lucas' figure came into view shortly, materializing out of thin air. His presence caused Kl'Drog's fangs to bare in response.
"Know your place and step aside, you vermin!" Kl'Drog mustered strength in his arms and used his sword with force to shove Lucas backward as if swatting a mosquito.
The impact hurled Lucas back like a discarded puppet. He careened across the ground ungracefully, crashing multiple times before finally coming to a stop and hauling himself upright.
"Kill him," Kl'Drog commanded in a low growl before proceeding toward Liz.
"Oh, good grief," Lucas muttered, massaging the back of his head to numb the concussion.
When he surveyed his surroundings, Lucas saw several eerie forms of nightmarish noble vampires, draped in obsidian armor, rushing toward him.
Grumbling, Lucas tapped on the communicator device in his ear and mumbled, "I shouldn't have tried to play the hero. Guys, help me out here a little."
As if waiting for that cue, under the fervent glow of the moonlight, several silhouettes appeared as if plummeting down from the night sky.
They donned black robes and their faces were hidden behind plain black masks, which were identity-concealing relics.
They were members of the New World Order. And as soon as they appeared, each and every single one of them rushed in and engaged with the vampire forces.
Blades clashed and sparks flew.
The members of NWO fought like elites without even showing a speck of fear or hesitation.
Every single one of them was elite, recruited and monitored by Kai himself, after all. Armed with powerful relics and enchanted weapons, all of them were a force to be reckoned with.
If nothing else, they would at least be able to stall the vampires long enough for the academy's defense system to come online.
Seeing that, two of the high-vampires decided to join the battle so they rushed into the chaos head-on.
Kai and Hugh jumped down from the audience stand, where most of the cadets lay sprawled on the ground due to being unconscious or in pain because of the effects of the Bloodpolis.
But surprisingly, much like Lucas, both of them also seemed unharmed. Both of them darted toward one of the high-vampires and clashed against him.
Using this chance, Lucas ran toward Kl'Drog who was planning to kill the Witch of Soul Harvest.
Obviously, it was something Lucas couldn't allow to happen. He needed to change Nero not break him. So he rushed to stop it.
While running, he spared a glance at his luxury watch on his left hand only to see he would have to stall Kl'Drog for six more minutes at best.
He could do that! Yes, he could definitely–
Thwack—!!
Before he could continue motivating himself in his mind, a powerful blow slammed into him from his side and sent Lucas toppling.
Rolling sideways a few times, the silver-haired boy quickly jumped back to his feet and looked to his side only to see a sword nearing his neck.
A low whisper escaped his lips, "Quinn."
Clang—!!
Immediately, from Lucas' shadow, a figure of a young man stepped out and parried the attack that would've been the end of him.
The one who dared to attack him was a high-vampire. And Quinn, after literally saving his neck, stood guard in front of him.
Lucas darted his eyes across the field which was plunged in havoc and saw Nero's figure rushing toward them.
"Tsk, he was supposed to engage another high-vampire but just like always he's running late," Lucas cursed Nero a few times and turned to Quinn.
"Quinn, can you stop this high-vampire for a few seconds? Nero will come to assist you in a few moments," Lucas asked.
"Sure, no problem." Quinn nodded and turned his head to look at the gruesome figure of the high-vampire in front of him. "You don't die, though."
Lucas didn't even bother to reply as he only tapped Quinn's shoulder once and rushed toward Kl'Drog.
