Chapter 271 There Is A Path To h.e.l.l But You Did Not Take It
Being the precursors (or ancestors?) of vampires, Nightstalkers shared the ability of most vampires but didn’t have as many vulnerabilities as they do.
For example, although sunlight which instantly kills vampires and burn them into ashes certainly could inflict some damage to Nightstalkers, the regeneration ability of most Nightstalkers would be compensate-or indeed overcompensate—for the damage sunlight could cause, which meant it wasn’t lethal to them.
Additionally, the rumor that anyone bitten by a vampire would become one was mistaken.
Vampires were basically Nightstalkers of diluted bloodlines. However, when the G.o.ds wiped out the Nightstalkers, the curse they forced upon the Nightstalkers extended to the vampires, forcing them to shoulder a great many vulnerabilities and curses.
Though human scholars had theorized that vampires were undead creatures, that was only because specimens were rare and any attributes of vampires could only be researched through the study legends and tales pa.s.sed down from generations before. Such information pa.s.sed down by word of mouth naturally lost veracity in information, just as folktales would be exaggerated or distorted.
In truth, vampires were alive and could procreate normally.
Victims of their bites were merely infected by the curse that plagues them, killing them instantly when they were bitten while their souls were bound in their corpse, turning them into blood slaves of the vampire.
The reverse was understandable as well—if vampires could increase their numbers by biting, they probably would be everywhere now, and wouldn’t be facing extinction like the giant panda…
***
Meanwhile, Edward was naturally struggling as hard as he could against Vlad’s grip, but the insurmountable gap between their stats meant he simply couldn’t free himself.
He wasn’t aware that Vlad was disgusted by the very same thing.
The Nightstalker believed that his kind stood above all other living beings, a n.o.ble race that deserves to transcend beyond all beings, which was true given their position in the food chain. Feeding upon every other creature, they were ent.i.ties that could stand alone against the world.
That was why Vlad, the Father of all Nightstalkers hold such contempt in drinking human blood when he had been alive. After all, they were nothing less than a species that had suddenly appeared out of some unknown gutter.
If the Roaring Blaze Tiger Warrior hadn’t punched off a third of his HP and the Players’ see-saw battle didn’t cost him what few mana he had left after his awakening, he would rather fly away to find more savory races, reluctant to even touch any human.
Be that as it may, the joint offensive of the Players did make him feel a genuine threat, and as his indignation boiled into rage, he finally admitted that the humans of today were tenacious enough to hurt him. That was the reason he would attack Edward personally.
Still, admitting that the humans were formidable enemies was one thing, but disgust remained disgust…
“Don’t fight it. Your blood and your flesh shall become a part of me, and you shall become my most loyal puppet. When the empire of Nightstalkers rise again, you would realize how wise a choice it was to become my slave!”
Vlad whispered into Edward’s ear.
But whether it was the Nightstalker’s words or because he was being strangled, Edward rolled his eyes, thinking: you’re not letting me choose, though!
In an instant, Vlad’s fangs pierced Edward’s neck and he drank mouthfuls of Edward’s blood, satiating the thirst that had never faded for a second after his awakening!
*
*
*
Although the others couldn’t see what was happening to Edward since he was shrouded in the eye of the hurricane, there were in fact a pair of eyes that saw it all from the very start.
Xi Wei had thrown aside the watermelon he was eating. He made a gesture as if he was clenching his fist when he saw Vlad sucking Edward’s blood—but he was excited, not angry.
As the G.o.d of Games whom all Players worshipped, he had already become upset by Vlad’s unrestrained slaughter of the Players: how much divine energy do you think you are you costing me with your ma.s.sacre?!
However, he did not make any bold moves even if the G.o.d sprout were still present and could block the vision of other G.o.ds to a certain extent.
It wasn’t a situation where ‘this G.o.d is overpowered but overly cautious’, but things were just delicate at the divine realm at the moment-undercurrents were surging even though things appeared calm on the surface, and the simplest of excuse could ignite a divine war in an instant.
That was the reason why the Great Lion hadn’t come visit Xi Wei and have cola for some time.
And yet, Vlad’s direct ingestion of a Player’s blood had given Xi Wei an excuse.
Whenever Players fight, they would follow the Rule of Skill which Xi Wei had implemented a very simple law that was made with the express purpose of easing the actions conducted through the System Xi Wei had created.
Over time, he had refined the Rule of Skill whenever he had the free time, and even though it hasn’t actually by much, it was a lot better than its simple original form.
The body of the Players being ‘digitalized’ in battle was naturally an ability granted through the Rule of Skill. Under such state, the Players’ would immediately have their lifeforce reduced when hurt, but wounds would vanish rapidly even though it could be inflicted.
One might even say that with their digitalized bodies, the Players had surpa.s.sed the domain of the living
Therefore, Vlad’s drinking of a Players blood ruins the digitalization—to put on serious terms, it was an attempt of breaking a Rule.
If it had been the Rule set upon this world (as in rules set by the Trinity), Vlad would immediately die.
On the other hand, even if it doesn’t kill Vlad instantly, the Rule of Skill was set in place by Xi Wei as the G.o.d of Games and that meant Vlad was committing blasphemy.
That was why he had every reason to openly deliver divine retribution!
“There’s a road to h.e.l.l but you don’t take it, and you would crash the divine realm when there’s no doors leading here… eat s.h.i.t!”
All at once, Vlad’s vision seemed to blur, and it felt like he was standing above the clouds.
Before he knew what actually happened, he saw a ball of light appear before him, and as he looked on in confusion it grew larger and larger…
“Ack—!”
Even as he drank Edward’s blood, Vlad was immediately maimed in spirit. He released Edward and stumbled a few steps back, before vomiting a mouthful of blood.
Edward himself dropped to the ground, coughing before looking up in confusion at Vlad.
Nothing changed to his body aside from some lost HP.
“You…” Vlad pointed a faltering finger at Edward then, his eyes full of disbelief while blood flowed freely out of his mouth. “You poisoned your own blood?!”
Edward: ???