章 101: Chapter 95: Alliance (Part 2)
Fars's domineering assertion over life and death went unchallenged, much to his surprise. His overwhelming presence, combined with the sight of the church's destruction from his sword, left the old count feeling resentful yet unable to voice his complaints. He had no choice but to swallow his grievances for the time being.
Pleased to see the swarm of bats circling rather than fleeing, Fars noticed an older vampire emerging from the shadows, accompanied by a voice.
"Fine, he's yours."
With an elegant gesture, the vampire indicated Berlaute, sealing his fate. While he agreed, it was difficult for a vampire count who had lived for over two hundred years to bow to a mere viscount like Fars. However, considering their alliance, Fars brushed aside the count's reluctance and charged toward Berlaute, who was hastily turning his horse around.
Witnessing the devastation of the church, Berlaute wasn't foolish; he quickly decided to retreat and head for the Magic Guild, hoping to find refuge there. No matter how strained their relationship had become, it hadn't yet reached the point of outright hostility, especially with so many eyes watching in the city. The Magic Guild would likely not abandon someone seeking help at their doorstep. If he could escape, he might still have a chance.
However, before he could act on this thought, his horse, along with the mounts of his two knights, suddenly collapsed, blood gushing from their wounds. Berlaute, not particularly agile and lacking in horsemanship, fell to the ground as his horse went down. Instinctively, he attempted to cast a protective spell, but before he could, a blade pierced through his chest.
The eerie black flames penetrated Berlaute's body without resistance, consuming not just his flesh but also his very soul. He fared worse than Nasa, who had perished in the church; Berlaute left behind nothing but a desiccated skeleton.
Having consumed the essence of two white-robed priests, Fars felt the familiar sensation of his bloodline swelling within him, reminiscent of the power surge he had experienced upon his promotion. As the crimson aura enveloped him, he momentarily lost focus. Just then, a chilling wave emanated from Danys, snapping him back to reality.
Now was not the time for elevation.
He could not afford to be caught off guard by lurking enemies, leaving him with nothing but bones. It was clear that he could not linger here; the bishop was likely hurrying back, and he posed the real threat tonight. Not only did Fars need to eliminate him, but he also had to intimidate those in Yao City who might be looking to take advantage of the chaos. This was precisely why he sought to ally with the vampire count; having an extra hand would help, especially if the bishop proved too powerful, allowing them to delay him.
Fars briefly explained his plan to ambush the returning bishop to the older vampire and asked him to lead the way to the bishop's likely route back to the city. Once the two vampires took flight, Yao City returned to a temporary calm. The influential figures in the city dispatched their subordinates to follow and investigate the situation. Naturally, the most concerned was Marquis Osyka, who had sent his own eighth-level swordsman out of the city.
"Mr. Gu, I must rely on you for this matter," the old man said apologetically to a middle-aged man who had lost an arm.
"City Lord, you have saved my life; I must repay you in kind."
"You've been a great help for many years. Now, I'm at an age where I should be enjoying my retirement. Unfortunately, I have no suitable candidates to take on this task, so I must trouble you again."
"Rest assured, City Lord, I will handle this matter thoroughly."
A fierce glint appeared in Mr. Gu's eyes, which reassured the old city lord. After all these years, only he could handle matters with such reliability.
"Then I shall take my leave."
After bowing, Mr. Gu departed into the night, secretly leaving the city.
Meanwhile, within Joseph Tower, an old mage adorned with the crescent moon emblem of Yasia frowned as he watched Fars gradually shrink into a black dot. Moments later, he too took flight, heading out of the city.
After finally bringing down the bats that had fled south, the bishop's expression darkened. Since the vampire was no longer here, he must have escaped to Yao City. Without taking a moment to rest, he turned his men around and rushed back to the city. However, an ominous feeling began to swell within him. The church had been destroyed! The bishop had a connection to the church he presided over, a bond that allowed him to harness the power of faith during his training. The destruction of the church immediately tugged at his heart. In his fury, he couldn't fathom who would dare attack the church in his absence.
The Magic Guild? He couldn't believe that a mere vampire count could reach Yao City so quickly and destroy the church in such a short time, especially with two white-robed priests present. Only the Magic Guild would dare to openly challenge the church. However, he doubted they would act so brazenly as to destroy the church outright. In the ongoing struggle between the two major powers on the continent, direct confrontations were rare.
If it wasn't them, it was certainly related to them. In his impatience, the young bishop found the pace of his horse too slow. He dismounted and summoned a pair of massive wings of light, soaring toward Yao City at incredible speed.
As he flew, a sudden mist enveloped the sky ahead, and before he could evade it, it spread around him.
This mist was Fars's signature "Corrosive Fog," lying in wait on the path back to Yao City, soon ensnaring the bishop. Whether Fars was overestimating himself remained to be seen.
Under Fars's command, the old count concealed himself within the mist, waiting for the right moment to strike. However, a beam of holy light suddenly erupted from the fog, dispersing it in a flash.
"Guiding Light," a high-level divine spell, was commonly used by followers of the God of Light to dispel darkness, fog, and illusions. This spell was particularly disadvantageous for Fars. During the day, he would never dare provoke a bishop, but under the cover of darkness, he had the advantage, as darkness could suppress light.
Upon detecting the enemy's presence, he realized that the only one before him was the fleeing vampire count, along with a viscount? He scoffed at the audacity of these two bloodsuckers thinking they could ambush him. Summoning a massive sword of light, the bishop swung it fiercely at the old count. As for Fars, a mere viscount, he didn't even regard him as a threat, assuming the residual energy from the battle would be enough to eliminate him. He was puzzled, however, as to how the church had been destroyed. He wanted to wrap things up quickly and return to Yao City to investigate.
This beam of light would not purify a vampire count, especially one as ancient as he, who had lived far longer than the young bishop. The experienced count deftly dodged the attack in mid-air. Underestimating his opponent, the bishop prepared for a swift conclusion. He removed the cross from his chest and began to chant a lengthy incantation. Layers of gentle holy light emanated from the cross, quickly enveloping his entire body. Before he could finish the incantation, the emerging holy light began to change, expanding outward.
"The Gospel of Gabriel?"
The old count exclaimed in surprise. After all this time, he had some knowledge of it; many blood clan texts documented this common high-level divine spell used by their arch-nemesis. The Five Gospels were a series of advanced spells attributed to Gabriel, one of the five archangels who came to Elras to spread the teachings of the God of Light. Even ordinary people found solace in its words, while believers grew increasingly devoted to praising the greatness of the God of Light. However, the clearer the gospel became to Fars, the more it sounded like a curse, ringing painfully in his ears, as if a fire was igniting within his mind, threatening to consume his very soul.
Fortunately, his mental fortitude was strong, and he quickly suppressed the sensation. He managed to endure the gospel, but the old count was not faring as well; he clutched his head in mid-air, struggling and growling as he tried to resist the relentless spell.
The bishop, still chanting the gospel, was astonished to see Fars merely flinch before quickly regaining his composure. This viscount was no ordinary foe; even a count-level vampire would find it difficult to resist the gospel's effects. Fars, unwilling to lose his newly acquired ally to a mere incantation, resorted to the mental techniques taught to him by the demons in the Gonsegor Ruins, transforming his mental energy into a sharp needle that pierced the old vampire's mind.
The struggling count awakened from his stupor, gradually breaking free from the gospel's influence. Seeing that the gospel's effects had faded for both vampires, the bishop halted his recitation. Fars's clever use of mental energy to assist the old count had made the bishop realize that this young man was perhaps an ancient vampire himself, which explained why he was unaffected. Such powerful mental energy could almost render one immune to the gospel's influence. Normally, hearing the gospel would bring peace and tranquility to an ordinary person, but someone with strong mental faculties, like a mage, would instinctively filter out its subtle influences.
Fars's identity was becoming increasingly clear to the bishop: a mage! A damned mage, and one of considerable rank, as evidenced by his calm demeanor. Was he a high-level mage? A sorcerer? An ominous premonition began to rise within the bishop.
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