CHAPTER 45: DEFENDING THE WITCH

Across the field, Leon fought in union with Phoenix, combatting the vampire with their assault.

Words didn’t need to be exchanged as the two men attacked the vampire in tandem. He moved with a quicker step than his companion, setting his blade back to prepare for a strike before–the inhuman moved away from him.

"Huh?"

To his shock, he was ignored entirely by the centuries old figure, instead witnessing the vampire set for the blazing adventurer.

"Phoenix!" He shouted.

As he turned himself around, kicking off the grass with a burst of strength, he was a step right behind the vampire. Unable to process such speed at the same rate, the red-haired swordsman was a moment late in realizing the blood-drinker was heading right for him.

Khan’s fearsome smile widened as his unusually long fingers clasped the face of the adventurer, allowing his necks to extend unnaturally. With his utmost, Leon forced himself forward, practically throwing his body behind his sword as he crashed it through the vampire’s arm.

It severed the undead’s limb at the elbow, freeing the adventurer from donating all the blood in his body.

"Ah–?" Phoenix blinked.

Not so much as a wince left Khan’s lips as his amputated arm reconnected itself through lines of blood, seamlessly being reattached as the vampire turned to face the one who severed it. The ancient figure only let out an exhale before flicking both hands. From the simple motion made by the vampire, the wind hissed, lashing out like sharp blades in all directions.

Beneath their feet, the soil split, being diced apart as though it were a fish beneath a chef’s knife.

["Leon, can you hear me—?"]

In the midst of battle, a feminine voice rang through his head. From the lack of a reaction by Phoenix, who stumbled backwards in an attempt to avoid being sliced, it was only heard by him.

"Huh—?" He let out.

As he blinked, the vampire took advantage of that millisecond opening, lunging towards him. He strengthened his body, bracing as he blocked the sharp fingernails of the centuries old menace.

["It’s me—Beatrice. I’m using a telepathic spell to communicate with you. It’s one way, but I can read your thoughts. Listen—I’m preparing to deploy the second form of the barrier."]

While the witch communicated directly to his mind, he did his best to listen while resisting the vampire. He kicked his boot against the undead’s stomach, forcing him back.

’Alright, well, do it—! We’re getting overwhelmed out here,’ he thought.

A flaming strike from behind the vampire brought Khan to spin around, delivering a kick that sent Phoenix across the grass.

"Ghh—!" The fiery adventurer winced.

There wasn’t even a moment for Leon to catch his breath before the primordial figure was relentlessly on the attack again. Single swipes of the vampire’s hand brought slices of wind, forcing him to stay nimble.

["I am communicating this with you because I will need your assistance while performing the invocation. The moment I begin the incantation, wraiths will converge on my position."]

’I’m a bit busy right now—you’re in the rune chamber, right? Even wraiths shouldn’t be able to bypass the seals on the walls,’ he thought, ducking beneath a slash of air that passed over his head.

["--Not with the quantity of mana that will be released into the air. Under the Eclipse, the wraiths will swarm on my position. I understand you’re busy–just get here when you can."]

The message was received loud-and-clear as he dashed with the grace of Haste, summoning cannon-fire to keep the vampire occupied. A vague time limit was set in his mind, knowing now it wasn’t just about overcoming the primordial figure, but doing so in a quick fashion.

He kept his distance, watching the vampire as the silver-haired figure casually flicked his wrists, sending eviscerating wind towards both men.

Phoenix held his sword up, using it to defend himself to the best of his ability, though multiple slashes cleaved into his armor, "--Nrgh! I can’t even get close to this guy...!"

While he performed better, Leon struggled to counter the unseen cuts as one slipped across his shoulder.

"Listen," he calmly said to the companion beside him. "Can you imbue my sword with fire?"

"Ah–? Yeah," Phoenix nodded, holding his hand out.

In an instant, a flame manifested across the lavish silver, igniting like a campfire given life in a dark forest. It was done as the vampire set towards them, leaving no chance for idle chit-chat.

"Struggle all you want! I’ll consume that royal blood running warm in your veins, Lord Schoeller–!" Khan claimed as his body flexed with unnatural strength.

With time dwindling like sand in an hourglass, he drew in a single breath before transmuting the mana in his body harshly. The act caused his entire body to feel as though it were being stabbed from within, bringing his hair to rise as if imbued with static electricity.

["Body of The Self-Realized Storm"]

From a single push off the soil, it shattered, erupting the wind with a shock wave that made Phoenix cover his ears by instinct. Within that moment between milliseconds, he met the vampire halfway, spinning around in a whirlwind of fire, guiding the blazing steel through the primordial being’s neck.

"You–?!" The frustrated word escaped the figure’s lips as his head was removed from his shoulders.

Not a single further sound was made as the rest of the vampire’s body burst into flames, dispersing unceremoniously into ash that glided through the wind.

[EXP: +40,000]

[Level Up!] [29] [11000/75000]

[Physical Attributes: +5]

[Magical Attributes: +5]

[New Skill(s) Obtained: Mansion Expansion Module]

"Phew," Leon breathed out, dismissing the skill as the veins protruding over his sweat-clad body settled.

The effects of the advanced version of the lightning-enhancing skill were too drastic even then, though if only used for a single burst, it was manageable. He turned back towards Phoenix, who seemed to still be processing what had happened.

"I’m going inside to help Beatrice!" He shouted. "Don’t die out here!"

"I’ll...err, try! Good luck, Boss!" Phoenix yelled in return.

[Schoeller Warp]

Using the unique ability, he instantaneously moved himself from the war-occupied fields, shifting to a scenery encompassed in steel walls. In the center of the room of shifting steel, as if the interior was built of clockwork mechanisms, the witch stood, weaving the mana gathered at a crystalline tree.

It rose with a shifting radiance, from magenta light, turning to a bright hold, then to a cerulean hue.

Beatrice glanced back, releasing a sigh, "I see you’ve made it in a timely fashion–good. I can begin the invocation of the secondary barrier, then. It will collapse the first one entirely."

"No offense, but it wasn’t doing much anyway. We were getting swarmed as it is," Leon said, stepping closer as he peered at the mana-formed tree.

It was a construct hidden within the basement of the mansion–an "Incaneo Tree", abundant in a seemingly endless reservoir of mana, meant for such occasions. However, its mana pool could only be used within direct contact, no further.

Beatrice furrowed her eyebrows, "I believe then that you have a misunderstanding of the situation outside of the walls. If that many monsters found their way in, it leads only to one reasonable conclusion."

"--That what we’re fighting is only a small portion," Leon hesitantly reached the answer.

"Correct...That is a disturbing concept to imagine, isn’t it?" Beatrice wondered. "Upon the activation of the second barrier, it will be focusing on absolute defense over an illusionary protection."

"If it keeps them out, it doesn’t matter," Leon reasoned.

"Correct, but this will bring the entire swarm’s focus onto the estate. It’ll likely only hold for a day, maybe two," Beatrice estimated, caressing a branch of the crystalline tree. "Leon, you’re strong–I’d wager you’re the most powerful person at your age right now."

"Thanks for the compliment–" He said with a confused look.

"That being said, don’t bear the lives of those here on your conscience. During this Eclipse, it’s hubris to believe people won’t die," Beatrice advised him with her calm, silken words spoken like truths derived from the cosmos. "You can’t save everybody, so don’t hold yourself to that standard."

"Appreciate the advice. I get it, y’know," he responded, scratching his head, feeling the cold wind that emanated from the mana-housing tree like a winter gust. "The only thing I’m kicking myself over is using the Forgotten Element. If my magic wasn’t sealed–"

"It is, so don’t beat yourself up over an alternative that doesn’t exist," Beatrice advised him further before facing the glowing construct, holding her hand to it. "--I am going to begin the invocation of the barrier now. Please see that I am not bothered while doing so."

"Leave it to me," he nodded, drawing his sword.