Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 184 - 175: Ethnic Group

Lola Shaffer was like a squashed tomato—it’s hard to imagine that so much blood could be squeezed out from his standard, or perhaps slightly thin, physique. Blood soaked Beatrice’s cheeks, dyeing her a bloody hue, every inch of her skin, each strand of her hair stained scarlet. After Lola Shaffer’s death, those vampire nobles didn’t descend into chaos; instead, they flew into a frenzy, like an abstract tide of blood surging towards Beatrice.

Beatrice picked up the Blood Droplet Stone that emitted a red glow, its surface as smooth as new under the sticky blood covering it.

"Indeed, another Blood Divine Artifact."

Beatrice held the Blood Droplet Stone in her palm, facing the monstrous flood that surged towards her. On her chest, the red light from the Blood Droplet Stone turned scorching hot, its brilliance as blinding as the sun.

"I really do like the vampire race the best..."

The tide of vampire nobles swallowed Beatrice, followed by the dense, insect-like gnawing sounds.

In the midst of the densely packed "Human Cluster," the obscured red light burst forth, blowing a hole through the mass; Beatrice spread her Bat Wings and flew into the air, the vampire nobles below reaching into the air in vain.

"I love the strict hierarchy of vampires the most because my blood is always telling me, I am so much more noble than you trash."

From the torn wound in Beatrice’s chest, the glowing Blood Stone embedded itself into her flesh like a jewel.

Blood Divine Artifact: Blood Right Blood Oath.

Your kin will be protected, they will be immune to all abilities lower than your tier, and in addition, you will exert absolute dominion and crushing authority over the lower-tier vampire races.

"Then, in the name of Beatrice Naslan, Baroness of Blood, my lowly brethren..."

"All of you, go to hell!"

Blood flowed along with wails, every vampire noble’s blood draining away, their bodies began to wither, turning into something like dry kindling, and finally becoming ashes that crumbled at a touch.

Their blood, like rivers flowing into the sea, drew bright red ribbons in the air, merging with the radiating red glow of Beatrice in the sky.

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Nia’s tentacles were connected to Lyle, what he saw was as clear as what he heard.

Insects were gnawing at her clothing, gnawing at her bones. In the darkness, only Alianna’s soul flames brought light.

Now, those two blue-green flames flickered like candles in the wind.

Alianna’s protection shattered, and behind her emaciated figure collapsing onto herself, Lyle saw those detestable creatures.

They screamed, their original corroding assault pausing for an instant, the red glow on their bodies dissipating.

Lyle knew, the insects were ready to mutate.

He extended his hand, Nia’s black tentacles stretching along his arm, magic accompanied by an ominous hue, glittering like stars, descending upon the swarm.

"The time has long since come."

Flesh went berserk.

Their bodies began to contort, but the exoskeletons were of no use against the attack from within. Vivid red flesh tentacles tore their insides apart, carrying nauseating organic fluids, emerging from within the insects.

Along with the insects’ screams, those tentacles danced, seizing the lives of the insects, expressing the rage of the one who controlled them. Before long, the entire room turned into a forest of tentacles.

Lyle held Alianna in his arms; she was much lighter than he had imagined, yet also much heavier.

"Alianna..."

The flames went out.

Lyle’s body began to tremble, holding onto the skeleton, enduring the collapse of his heart.

"Ahhh!!"

Nia screamed irregularly as she deformed, just like the mass of blood-flesh tentacles, wreaking havoc on the surrounding insect corpses.

In the next moment, the door shattered, and from within the fragments, a massive figure lunged forward. Fierce claws grabbed Lyle’s head and slammed him viciously against the wall.

The giant bat-like head, with fangs like polished daggers, and hands made for destruction, carefully cradled Alianna’s white bones, as two lines of blood tears slid down again on that ugly head.

The body, solid as rock, touched Alianna, and the red stone on the chest emitted a bewitching light.

"Sister..." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

The fully transformed Beatrice sniffed gently above Alianna’s body, the unease in her blood-red eyes significantly lessened.

"It’s okay, only the soul is wounded."

Beatrice gave Lyle one last glare, with a chill in her eyes that could freeze blood. She embraced Alianna, her massive body broke through the castle window, and she vanished into the night sky.

"Lyle..." from behind the destroyed doorway’s rubble, Medusa crawled out, climbing onto Lyle’s body, gently touching him as he sat in a daze.

"Medusa..." Lyle extended his arms, allowing Nia to return to him. "I haven’t accomplished anything..."

Medusa patted his mask, like an older sister comforting her brother. "Alianna will be fine, Lyle. Everyone has their own tasks to do, Lyle, and yours is not yet finished."

"For instance, killing the master of this castle."

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Lyle returned to the hall, gathering with the others, as Heinz was sharing some knowledge.

"When you want to step into the Fourth Tier, you will find the insufficiency of individual power, only by joining a ’Clan’, can you advance to the Fourth Tier."

"A ’Clan’ is similar to a biological population, forming a collective with other Spellcasters of similar abilities, to share your knowledge and power. In many cases, a ’Clan’ is synonymous with your race. Vampires often are with vampires, Mages with mages, Druids with druids..."

Karen looked at Eliane, "Aunt Lianna, what about the Holy Light? Are we the same?"

"It’s the same, but we don’t call it a Clan; we call it a Legion, the Crusader Legion."

"The Crusader Legion is the world’s largest Clan."

Heinz glanced at the two Clerics and continued his explanation.

"Typically, a Clan is established for greater strength, with members all being at the Third Tier level, but there are exceptions..." Heinz pointed to the vampire ashes on the floor. "When one who is about to be promoted can’t find or doesn’t want to form a Clan with others of similar abilities, there’s another path; they can propagate their own Clan."

"That requires a series of complex and taboo rituals. The members that are propagated will enjoy the benefits of the Clan while they are still very weak. However, this self-propagation ability weakens the Clan master."

"Now, the weak members of Duke of Hamlet’s Clan have all been killed by Beatrice..."

"So we only have to face a weakened Fourth Tier monster now, what good news," William sighed with relief. Heinz himself was of the Fourth Tier, and with their own forces, taking down the Duke should not be difficult.

"Don’t be careless. Normal vampire Clans wouldn’t become those disgusting mosquitoes. Because of that stone, these vampire nobles can concentrate all their defense on their armor. This does not comply with the natural laws of biological evolution."

"Plus the soil contamination we saw outside Hamlet Town before."

"Contamination and corruption, interference and distortion."

"This is the Evil God’s forte."