Chapter 224

When speaking of the two most iconic races among the dark clans, the first to come to mind are vampires and werewolves. Both species originate from humanity yet exist outside the bounds of human society, feeding off it for survival. Their extraordinary longevity and abilities make them as awe-inspiring as they are feared.

Blood King and Wolf Emperor were the undisputed rulers of these inhuman clans.

Despite sharing similar reputations as apex predators, their mutual disdain for each other was well known.

Werewolves? Filthy creatures who can’t stand their own hideous faces and cover themselves in human skin. Come the full moon, they lose their minds, becoming ravenous beasts consumed by primal instincts like hunger, lust, and sleep. There’s nothing noble about such animals.

The Blood King sneered at the savagery and lack of self-restraint inherent in the werewolves.

Vampires? Pathetic wretches, sickly pale and unable to function under the sun’s gaze. They can’t fight, they’re always running away, and they’re no better than crippled cowards.

The Wolf Emperor derided the vampires for their weaknesses and dependence on the cover of darkness.

With such animosity between them, the idea of the Blood King and Wolf Emperor collaborating on this mission was laughable. Yet, the Nameless Lord’s influence had compelled them into the same plan.

Discord Among the Apostles

The conflict began during the mission briefing.

Ransack Perington? Lay waste to it without restraint? You expect me to engage in such a barbaric act? Absolutely not!

The Blood King reacted vehemently to the First Apostle’s request. A self-proclaimed noble, the Blood King saw himself as a connoisseur of beauty and art. To him, humans were nothing more than slaves supporting his decadent lifestyle, livestock to be consumed, or pets to be groomed and discarded at his leisure.

For someone like him, pillaging a city was an act of unbridled savagery—something more befitting a beast like the Wolf Emperor.

If you’d suggested turning Perington into a proper fiefdom or managing it as a ranch, I might have entertained the idea. But this? Utterly beneath me.

But the First Apostle’s next words changed everything.

If you’re unwilling, I understand. The offering is for our god, after all.

…Offering?

The one thing capable of swaying the Blood King’s obstinate nature was the Nameless Lord. The mention of an offering immediately piqued his interest.

Did you not know? Lately, the Nameless Lord has taken a particular interest in… Theo Ragnar.

The Blood King was stunned. Theo Ragnar? The same Ragnar who had defied the Nameless Lord repeatedly? The one who had sabotaged both the vassalship ritual and the resurrection ceremony?

Jealousy wormed its way into the Blood King’s heart. He had long craved the Nameless Lord’s undivided favor, believing it to be his ultimate validation as a noble. If Theo Ragnar were to usurp that affection, the Blood King’s own value would diminish.

Thus, the Blood King agreed to join the operation—but only to ensure Theo’s capture or death.

The Wolf Emperor, on the other hand, needed no such persuasion. The very idea of a large-scale raid was enough to send him into a frenzy. For him, pillaging and slaughtering were not means to an end but ends in themselves. He even suspected the vampires of plotting to steal his spoils.

Fine, take your livestock and turn them into pets for all I care. But Theo Ragnar’s head? That’s mine.

Hmph! And what of the Fifth Apostle’s interest in him? Will you risk offending her? the Blood King teased.

What do I care? I’m an Apostle, not her servant. If she wants him, she can come and get him herself.

In the Holy Demon Church, the Apostles’ ranks were not hierarchical but chronological, based on the order in which they had joined. Even the First Apostle could only “request” rather than command. For the Wolf Emperor, this meant he had nothing to fear from anyone else’s claim over Theo.

Thus, the Church’s forces were divided into two factions for this mission: one led by the Wolf Emperor and the other by the Blood King. Predictably, the werewolves descended into chaos, engaging in brutal slaughter and looting. The vampires, unwilling to dirty themselves, stayed back, awaiting Theo’s arrival.

The Trap

Perington was a meticulously prepared snare. Theo Ragnar, the second-most wanted target of the Holy Demon Church after Kyle Ragnar, was the true objective. The city’s destruction, the abductions—everything was orchestrated to lure Theo into their grasp.

The Blood King, watching Theo’s struggle, couldn’t suppress a derisive smile. ‘Even this supposed prodigy flails like a cornered beast. Typical of mortals facing their doom.’

“Lord Theo Ragnar, the rumors of you awakening the essence of the dragon are well-known even within our Church. The trait has remained dormant for over a millennium, not since the time of Sigurd. Truly remarkable.”

The Blood King straightened his attire and bowed with theatrical grace.

“This can only mean that Lord Lodbrok has returned. As your host, it is only proper for us to offer you the welcome you deserve.”

『Host?』 Lodbrok’s voice resonated with disdain.

“Indeed,” the Blood King replied, his smile widening to reveal gleaming fangs. “This land has always been our pasture, and you, dear dragon, are now part of it.”

“Enough talk!” The Wolf Emperor’s roar interrupted. “Blood King, are you going to fight or flap your gums? If you won’t kill him, I will!”

The Blood King scowled. “Barbaric as ever. Very well, have it your way.”

“Ha! The taste of dragon flesh—I’ve missed it!” The Wolf Emperor charged, his massive frame shaking the earth with each stride.

The Clash of Titans

Lodbrok, despite the incomplete restoration of his heart, roared furiously. Flames erupted, mingling with the infernal blaze Theo had summoned earlier, creating a wall of destruction. But the Wolf Emperor’s laughter rang out undeterred.

“Is that all, dragon? You’ll need more than fire to stop me!”

The werewolf’s claws tore through the flames, carving a path toward Lodbrok.

Meanwhile, chaos erupted across the battlefield. Werewolves charged the Ragnar knights, their raw physical strength rivaling even the most elite warriors. Vampires transformed into swarms of bats, flanking and ambushing from above.

“Hold the line! Keep formation steady!”

“Protect the children—get them to the rear!”

“Bats overhead! Cover the skies!”

Kincarnon faced off against the werewolves, while Lezé and Ancio engaged the vampires. Despite their efforts, it was clear the 6th Unit was at a disadvantage.

Above the fray, Theo watched grimly as the Apostles closed in. The battle for survival had only just begun. ‘This isn’t just a fight; it’s a test of everything we’ve built.’

***

"Mighty Foe"

Theo gritted his teeth as he faced the Blood King. The enemy before him was an Apostle, a being second only to the Divine Dragon Sovereign in the Church’s hierarchy.

‘A being of this caliber shouldn’t be within my reach,’ he thought. But retreat wasn’t an option.

‘I have to find a way.’

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The clash of their abilities resounded through the battlefield. Theo remained focused, his every move calculated and deliberate.

‘At least… he’s not on the same level as the Divine Dragon Sovereign.’

This assessment, while audacious, was rooted in experience. Theo, having assimilated the remnant will of the Sovereign, could make an objective comparison.

‘The Blood King doesn’t measure up to the Sovereign.’

One crucial indicator of this was Theo’s ability to predict the Blood King’s movements, albeit faintly. The fleeting glimpses provided by his “Insight” gave him a fighting chance, albeit slim.

If his predictions held true, countering the Apostle was theoretically possible, though each move tested Theo’s mental limits to the brink of collapse.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Clang! Clang!

Even as Theo drove Drake’s blade toward the Blood King with unrelenting precision, he simultaneously unleashed four autonomous swords to strike at blind spots. Lightning crackled across the battlefield as Theo infused his attacks with thunderous energy, creating an electrified cage around his foe.

The flames of Infernal Sun further restricted the Apostle’s movements, forming a deadly arena of fire and lightning.

The Blood King smirked as he parried a series of strikes, his blade deflecting Theo’s attacks with ease.

“Your sword… and those eyes of yours,” he said, his tone tinged with disdain. “They remind me of someone I loathe.”

It didn’t take much to guess who he meant.

“That only makes me want to tear you apart more,” he continued. “What shall we do about that?”

“If you think you can, go ahead and try.”

“Confident, aren’t we? Very well, let’s put that confidence to the test. Truth be told, I’ve grown tired of toying with a lesser opponent like you.”

As the Blood King spoke, the pale hue of his skin began to shift, a vibrant crimson coursing across his body. The blood-red energy surrounding him—Bloodlight—flared brilliantly, radiating with unmatched intensity.

Whoosh.

The oppressive energy of the Nameless Lord began to seep into the air like a heatwave, wrapping around the Apostle’s body like tendrils of smoke.

“He’s activating his finishing technique.”

A translucent figure of the Nameless Lord appeared above the Apostle, its face etched with a chilling smile. The sound of wailing ghosts reverberated through the battlefield.

Theo’s Insight screamed warnings in his mind.

‘I can’t block this.’

Even his predictive abilities faltered, their limits clear. There was only one way to counter the Blood King’s ultimate technique:

‘Enma…’

The third form of Radiant Sun, a technique Theo had yet to fully master, was his only hope.