Reincarnated as a Vampire Who Acquires Skills Through Blood-Chapter 63 - Back in the Surface

A few minutes had passed since Verc left the throne room with Onyx in his arms, and by now—

"Ugh..."

Kael groaned as he finally broke free from the lingering effects of the paralysis. He flexed his fingers and rolled his shoulders, feeling the strength return to his limbs. He could move freely again.

"You idiots... why did you just stand there and let him get away?"

He asked, his brows furrowed in a mix of frustration and exhaustion. He looked at Gibson and the others who were gathered around him, none of them moving to pursue Verc.

"What were we supposed to do? He had you as a hostage. We couldn’t just risk him cutting your throat."

Stanford answered, a small, knowing smile playing on his face despite the grim situation.

"You guys are a bunch of absolute idiots."

Kael said, though there was no real heat in his voice. He sat up on the cold floor, wiping the blood from the small cut on his neck.

"Like you can talk."

Gibson quickly responded with that, crossing his arms.

They all looked at each other for a long moment, the silence of the massive room pressing in on them. But after a while— the five of them just smiled. It was a bitter, complicated smile.

"We just let a vampire, a natural enemy of our holy church, walk right out of here... What the hell are we even doing with our lives..."

Kael mumbled to himself, looking down at his hands.

"I mean, we can still technically go after him if you want?"

Kelton suggested, tilting his head toward the exit. But even as he said the words, he knew deep down that none of them would actually do it.

And he was right. None of them moved an inch toward the door.

Kael shook his head slowly, then looked around at the bodies scattered throughout the throne room. These were the members of the pursuit party that Verc had sent flying with his overwhelming strength.

"We have to take care of them first. We can’t just leave them here."

Kael declared, standing up with some effort.

They checked the fallen soldiers one by one. Remarkably, they were all still alive, just deeply unconscious from the impact of hitting the walls and pillars.

Except for the leader of the pursuit team who had been decapitated— Verc hadn’t actually killed anyone else. He had shown a strange amount of restraint for a monster.

"What a weird vampire he is."

Harper mumbled as he started preparing a healing spell. And the others silently agreed with him.

Anyway... after that, they immediately went to work. They moved among the scattered members of their group, using their [Holy Power] to heal the worst of the injuries and wake the men up.

And although none of them died, the sheer force Verc had used was evident.

Most of them had received permanent damage that would likely affect them for the rest of their lives.

... ... ...

*****

(Verc’s POV)

It’s been a while since I walked out of the throne room... and so far, nobody has tried to run after me.

Onyx was quietly tucked in my arms, his head resting against my chest. He seemed to understand that we needed to move fast.

Currently, I’m making my way through the 8th floor.

The 9th floor had been a breeze to get through. It was just a long, straight hallway that used to be filled with knight monsters, but now that the dungeon master is dead— the place is empty.

Still, even without monsters, this labyrinth is massive. It’s like a village buried under the earth. Luckily, I have a very good memory of all the paths I took on the way down. And considering that the pursuit team had made some shortcuts and broken down walls to get to me faster—

’I’ll probably be able to get out of this place in a day or two if I don’t stop to rest.’

Which was a very good thing because I only have a very few pieces of beef jerky left for Onyx. I can go without food for a long time, but the little guy needs to eat.

So right now, my only plan is to run non-stop until I see the sky again.

I’m not naive, though. I know that the City Lord is likely waiting for me above the surface. He’ll have his main forces stationed right at the entrance.

’The ones he sent down here to find me were mostly weaklings...’

Yes, there were a lot of them, but they’re nothing special. He probably just sent them down here to save face and show the parents of those noble bastards I beat up that he was doing something.

The City Lord probably didn’t even think for a second that I would actually survive this dungeon all by myself.

Anyway, my point is that the real threat— the main forces— will be waiting at the top. And along with them—

’Elianna will be with them as well.’

Just thinking about facing her made me frown already.

If I have to get away from her and escape this city for good, I’ll have to use every single skill and trick in my arsenal. But I know that by doing so— Elianna will finally realize the truth. She’ll know for sure that I really am a vampire.

She had been suspecting me ever since the day we met. And as the Saintess of [The Radiant Church], it looks like she’s really set on hunting down my kind.

I don’t know how I’ll deal with her if she actually comes at me with her full power. Based on what I’ve felt from her, she’s probably many levels above me.

But if that time comes and she blocks my path—

’Then I’ll just have to fight back and do my absolute best to survive.’

I declared that in my head, my face hardening with a resolute look.

I won’t let myself be caught or killed here.

... ... ...

*****

(Elianna’s POV)

It’s been a few days now since the dungeon was closed. By my calculations, the pursuit team most likely caught up to Verc and engaged him by now.

And I think, at this point, either side should be on their way back to the surface...

"..."

A slight frown appeared on my face as I stared at the entrance. If my guess was right— if Verc really is a vampire and an ancient one at that— then Kael and the others are in serious trouble.

There is a very high probability that Verc will be the one coming out of that entrance instead of the pursuit group.

And that thought is making me worry more than I want to admit.

’Should I just go down into the labyrinth and go after them...?’

I thought to myself, my hand twitching toward my sword. But I immediately shook my head and dismissed the idea.

It was already too late for that. The dungeon is vast, and I would only end up crossing paths with them in the dark.

It frustrates me to have to say this—

"But staying here and waiting is the only thing I can really do for now."

I can only wish for the best.

"..."

I looked up at the sky. The sun was high up and the world was bright and warm.

’Please God... protect them down there.’

I prayed internally, closing my eyes for a brief moment.

Then I looked around at our camp...

The City Lord, along with the local barons, were currently having a very fancy, loud lunch under a massive, expensive-looking tent.

The knights they brought with them were sitting around having drinks and laughing, acting as if they were on a vacation rather than a military operation.

We set up this camp specifically to wait for the pursuit team to return so we could greet them, or to catch Verc in case he was the one who emerged.

(The City Lord and the others still have no idea that Elianna, Kael, and the rest of the squad actually know the suspect they’re after[VERC].)

Anyway, after just staying here for a few days and watching them while investigating around... I realized just how corrupt and rotten this city really was.

’The City Lord has no regard or care for his own people. He’s just focused on taking care of these young, entitled knights and making connections with the high-ranking nobles from the capital.’

And to keep those connections strong, he’s giving those young knights way too much power and total immunity from the law— and those bastards use that freedom to do whatever they want in this city.

The commoners here are completely silenced through constant threats and economic pressure.

They can’t do anything against a noble, after all. They just have to suffer in silence.

’This whole place is truly disgusting.’

The officials here are no different from the monsters and bandits they were fighting off.

That’s why, I made a promise to myself— once I’m done with this mission and I’ve returned to the main church; I will use all of my influence and power to clean up the corruption happening here.

I won’t let this stand.

Though, for now—

’I need to focus on the task at hand.’

I thought as I turned my gaze back to the entrance of the dungeon.

And just then—

TAP.

A single audible step echoed throughout the entire campsite. It was a heavy sound that seemed to cut through the noise of the lunch party.

"?!"

My eyes widened and my heart skipped a beat.

And the next thing I knew—

S W O O O O O S H~!!!

An incredibly heavy, suffocating pressure suddenly exploded outward, pressing down on everything and everyone around the dungeon entrance!

It felt like the gravity in the area had suddenly tripled!

"W-WHAT IS THIS?!"

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!"

The City Lord felt the pressure and flinched, dropping his wine glass. The local barons and the knights felt it too, their faces turning pale as they turned toward the source.

And there, standing at the mouth of the dungeon—

TAP.

We saw a single individual step out from the shadows and into the daylight.

"..."

My eyes widened... It was Verc. He was holding Onyx tightly in his arms.

I instinctively grabbed the handle of my sheathed sword, my knuckles turning white.

But before I could even say a word or make a move—

"[Void Summon]"

I heard those words come from Verc’s lips. His voice was low, but it carried across the camp with terrifying clarity.

And the next thing I knew— WHOOSH~!!!

"...?!"

The sunlight was suddenly snuffed out. The whole place went pitch black, as if we had all been plunged into the deepest part of the labyrinth.