"The Chalice of Blood can do that?" Jack asked.
"I honestly have no idea that it can…," Peniel replied.
Jack noticed Aubelard among one of the nine vampire elders. He was a level 80 Rare elite, which was what Horatio said his original power was.
From the eyes of the nine vampire elders, Jack saw that they were aware of what was happening. Their eyes darted around surveying their surroundings. Aubelard's eyes expressed hatred and fury when they landed on Jack and Arlcard, but his expression was more intense when the dead vampire noticed Marcus. All those dead vampire elders showed hatred when they looked at Marcus.
They couldn't talk though, nor could they move without Marcus say-so. They were nothing but puppets under Marcus' control.
However, they were a collection of powerful puppets. The weakest among them was Aubelard. The strongest were Isaac who was a level 82 mythical. Zara was a level 81 mythical. Another two elders were level 80 mythical. The remaining four ranged from level 81 to 85 and were rare elite grades. All of them were ancient vampires except for Aubelard who was an archaic. The older a vampire was, the more skills they were more likely to possess.
"I'm glad all these backstabbers met their demises, but to think they are all used by you even after death makes me almost pity them," Cain said.
"Almost?" Marcus chuckled. "You were also one of the vampires under the blood contract when this kingdom was formed, but you never appeared when I used my regal outfit's ability. That's how I know you must have done something to your soul. I've been waiting for centuries for you to come, Cain. Now, I can finally get rid of you for real. Destroy them!"
The nine vampire elders acted then. Each of them used different skills and spells.
"You can call your siblings, I can also call my predecessors!" Jack exclaimed. He used Judgement of Past Kings. The ghosts of past Themisphere kings appeared and unleashed their powers.
However, Themisphere kings only attacked once. They vanished after carrying out their attacks, while the vampire elders remained. They used their defensive skills and reduced the damage they suffered.
Jack called out Therras, his spirit weapon, and the ten golden wolves during the interference. Cain cast a spell and a giant crimson bat appeared. Leavemealone called the Lesser Tiger God Manifestation using his pendant. Unfortunately, Leavemealone couldn't summon Ihhi just as Jack couldn't call his royal agents due to the lockdown.
"Hahaha! I've expected you people to call out reinforcements immediately to even the number," Marcus laughed.
Zara was casting a spell while Marcus was speaking.
"Shit!" Cain cursed as he recognized the spell formation.
"That's Zone Banishment!" Peniel also identified the spell when the spell formation was almost completed.
Jack didn't need to ask what the spell's effect was because it took effect soon. The giant bat, Lesser Tiger God Manifestation, and Jack's ten golden wolves all went poof. Therras and Jack's spirit weapon remained, though, which drew surprised gazes from everyone, including Jack himself.
Jack later understood after Peniel's explanation. The Zone Banishment was similar to Master's Forced Unsummon. The success depended on the target's grade and the intelligence stat difference between the caster and the summoner. Leavemealone's summon was banished because his intelligence stat was low. Cain's summon was banished because the bat was a rare elite grade.
Jack's ten wolves were only elite grades, but Therras was a mythical grade. Jack's spirit weapon didn't have a clear description of a grade. But since it was summoned from a unique-grade weapon, it had power equal to a mythical grade even if its HP was not.
Zara's intelligence stat was very high, but it was not more than four times Jack's. Hence, her spell failed to unsummon Therras and the spirit weapon.
"Hmph, never mind," Marcus said. The nine vampire elders who could summon helpers now did their summon.
The enemy's number increased even more. A pack of five red-furred werewolves, a giant iron-skinned snake, a giant blood bat like the one Cain summoned just now, and an armored minotaur.
"Cunning piece of shit! They banished our summons before they summon theirs," Jack cursed.
"Doesn't matter! We just need to beat them all!" Leavemealone exclaimed. His large tiger body was covered with flame as he activated the Fire God Suit. He used Fire God Barrage and rushed forward.
"I like your spirit!" Jack followed suit. His body was covered by the Lightning God Suit. He used Reset and twenty large lightning balls shot ahead following Leavemealone's fireballs. Therras also fired its Earth Core Bomb.
The founding elders were ready. As ancient vampires, they had plenty of powerful defensive skills and spells. These defensive skills protected them from getting hit directly by the two divine skills. They still received damage but it was greatly mitigated.
"Take out Marcus! Once he is down, all these dead vampires will be gone as well!" Cain told them. Arlcard's body thrust forward using his rapier while his red smoke form enlarged and struck at nearby enemies.
Jack used the Strength of Hope. His dragon's body glistened with brilliant light. He then cast Perpetual Lightning Judgement. His runestone of spellcasting was right beside him. This runestone had no duration, he could keep it on indefinitely for as long as his mind could afford. This was no problem thanks to his Hundred Synchronous Thoughts.
While the enemies were defending against his lightning snakes, he shot forward.
Isaac brute-forced his way through the lightning and came to block Jack's path. Isaac's halberd was coated with blood-red energy.
Jack used Devouring Cross. The skill hit and stopped Isaac. Jack then used the burst attack of his sword art.
Under the effect similar to the Strength of Hope, Jack could fight Arther when he was level 70. Now, his level was higher. Isaac was forced back by his swords. He resumed flying forward again.
Marcus came into Jack's sight. The emperor was surprised when he saw Jack successfully break through the barricades to get to him.
However, the emperor's surprised expression lasted only an instant. His face was soon back to his cold contemptuous expression, which unsettled Jack. Did Marcus have something up his sleeve?
He then saw Zara not far away. She was casting a spell and she was aiming at Jack. It was almost completed and it was a nine-rune spell.
"What?!" Jack was taken aback by the number of runes. He wanted to use Cancel Magic but he had noticed Zara's casting too late.
Zara's spell took effect. All of Jack's buff was suddenly gone, including the Strength of Hope and his beast form. He landed before Marcus in his human form.
"It's… It's Greater Dispel," Peniel said about Zara's spell just now.
