Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 526 - 480: Despicableness is the Advantage of Humanity

Chapter 526: Chapter 480: Despicableness is the Advantage of Humanity

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Loshutar Castle.

The decadent aristocratic air was thick with the scent of blood, and Lyle’s eyes were hidden within Beatrice’s hair, his blood-red pupils fixed on the Bloodstone Chalice resting in the hands of a statue in the center of the hall.

The revelry with the Loshutar Blood Clan had been going on for about seven days, and through Nia’s disguise and Beatrice’s assistance, Lyle had been accepted as one of their own. Just like now, as they were feeding, embracing each other, sinking their fangs into each other’s necks. Lyle even suspected that vampires’ regenerative abilities had been self-developed from the minimum three feedings a day, using their sharp teeth to cut each other’s skin. The blood addicts would even crush each other’s spine in such embraces, causing more damage amidst screams and cheers that echoed through the festivities. Whether one kind of sound or the other, both further whetted their appetites for feeding.

To keep up the ruse, Lyle and Beatrice also pretended to feed on each other, though it was only Lyle who was pretending. He had become numb to Beatrice’s sharp teeth—if it weren’t for Nia coordinating and supporting him from within, Lyle doubted he would have made it through.

"The ritual arrangement is ready," Lyle whispered to Beatrice, swaying slowly like the other feeders in the hall, rotating in a dance-like motion. "As an important Blood Sacrifice, Karen will certainly appear at the ritual, saving us the trouble of looking for her."

Beatrice’s cheek rubbed against Lyle’s shoulder as from the two bite marks left by vampire fangs, dark, writhing tentacles emerged, pushing Beatrice’s teeth out. Nia was strictly controlling every part of Lyle’s flesh, not letting Beatrice drink a drop more than necessary—even though Lyle’s blood could regenerate endlessly. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"Beatrice is such a glutton!" The black tentacles swelled at the tips into little flesh-bulbs, lightly tapping her cheek.

The vampire’s face broke into a smile as she pressed the tentacle down with her cold cheek.

Beatrice’s gaze swept through the vampires, gauging their strength by their feeding status. Vampires are dark creatures with a strict hierarchy, a fact reflected in their feeding habits. Higher-ranking nobles received the best partners and food, because in Loshutar, beauty and strength were correlated.

A humming sound rose behind Lyle’s ear, and he smiled. It was one of Beatrice’s cute habits—when she felt happy, her nostrils would emit an amusing sound, like the purring of a cat.

"There shouldn’t be any major problems, apart from Duke Delaries. My strength isn’t inferior to anyone here, thanks to your blood, dear Lyle."

"My pain has its rewards, then. But are the Loshutar Blood Clan a bit weak? I mean, the Duke and his kin, the gap in strength is so large." Judging by the pressure exerted on him by the Grand Duke of Vampires, Lyle estimated him to be at least Seventh Tier, one level higher than Mister Dragon, though the White Bone Mechanical Combat King’s actual combat capabilities might be off the charts. But in the hall, most vampires didn’t exert much pressure on him, not a single marquis, only Earl Level individuals like Joshua and Beatrice after feeding on him.

A rift in strength.

"Blood is the strength of vampires, but Delaries is not as selfless as he claims. How much power do you think he gives his progeny? One percent? One-tenth of a percent? His blood is merely a catalyst, a key that unlocks our own power."

That is to say, Beatrice’s ascension to Earl Level was solely due to her feeding on Lyle these past few days. The so-called divine blood was Serio’s blood, and Lyle, in person, was akin to a vampiric artifact, naturally healthy.

"I’m looking forward to a good brawl, Lyle. Are you sure the call for help has been sent out?"

"Of course," Lyle said as he twirled Beatrice around on the dance floor, blinking, "Just be patient and wait for the surprise."

...

A hundred meters away from Degonris, two figures crouched in a cave, looking out towards Degonris and the vampire castle.

"Mister Nameless, have you not eaten for a while?"

Simulating celestial bodies, they pulled moisture from the air to distort light around them, creating an optical camouflage with the leaves.

"Is that so? I’m a Spellcaster, I only need to consume magic," Nameless said as he pulled a small box from his pocket.

"Would you like a cookie, Kevin?"

"Thank you, Mister Nameless. I’m already quite full," Kevin replied, feeling uneasy looking at the box, "Mister Nameless makes cookies? What flavor are they?"

"Cremation ash flavor. I bought them for experimental studies, giving them to you wouldn’t be a waste."

In front of Nameless, Kevin’s curiosity was somewhat subdued. He turned his head towards the front, focusing on Degonris. It’s clear they made the right choice to bring Mister Ralph, since he had already blown up a tower, and while things were quieter the second day, Kevin wouldn’t believe that the savage wolf had rested.

True to his thoughts, the glow of fire in the eastern part of Degonris signified yet another of the savage wolf’s outrages.

Kevin smacked his lips.

"Does Mister Ralph intend to destroy Degonris? The letter I wrote clearly called for lifting the seal."

Mister Nameless continued to jot down observational notes next to him. Although he would like to keep going like this, he still showed concern as a colleague of the Liches.

"Kevin, when shall we begin the rescue mission for Doctor Epidemic?"

Kevin stroked his chin, his gaze shifting to the castle shrouded in shadows.

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"Wait a bit longer, the time isn’t right yet."

The great fire set ablaze by Degonris lit up the spark in Kevin’s eyes.

...

Degonris.

The third hunt had ended.

Ralph had set fire to the Degonris library.

This time, their target was the librarian of the eastern library.

It was another destructible terrain, and Ralph had not held back.

Knowledge is power, knowledge brings warmth.

When Ralph and his companions pushed open the library’s grand doors, what appeared before them was a vista completely filled with neatly organized, spotless bookshelves. This barren land harbored such a magnificent library, which even slightly surprised the wealthy young lady Verlet.

The townspeople of Degonris were currently struggling to survive, naturally, they weren’t visiting this library. But the tidiness of its shelves, the corners not even sporting a web, and the symmetrical arrangement of flames on the candelabra that cast a treasured glow onto the orderly books were testament to someone’s regular upkeep.

With no outsiders about, it was clear that it was the librarian who tended these tomes.

What the enemy cherished, Ralph would destroy.

The alchemical gunpowder detonated at the entrance, causing several bookshelves to collapse with a thundering crash. The burning books turned into fireballs, and the flames continued to spread.

Ralph, torch in hand, stood leisurely at the entrance with two others, watching the library begin to burn.

Dut dut dut dut dut dut dut dut...

The urgent footsteps did not mask the slight sounds as from the wall, a figure leaped from the ceiling.

The librarian, easily lured out.

His limbs were long and twisted, his joints scuttling rapidly across the walls like a swift whirligig beetle, yet his bent, long legs were more akin to a spider’s. His torso was thick, his abdomen grotesquely swollen with water to the shape of a gourd; insect-like mandibles tore the corners of his mouth, leaving a grin as sinister as a clown’s on his face, though he now resembled a crying clown.

He did not attack Ralph but instead rushed to douse the fire amongst the books, his horrifying maw emitting a piercing shriek.

"Do you know what you have done!? The age of these books surpasses that of your great grandfathers!! Arsonists!! Savages!!"

In the face of this moral condemnation, Ralph responded with bullets of the Sage’s Stone.

"My great grandfather is already ash, why don’t you old things do the same."

Then, the librarian dodged, his speed out of sight allowing him to easily evade the bullets.

Such a swift creature could easily plunge his short-bladed forelimbs into Ralph’s body, but he was instead focused on putting out the fire.

Ralph breathed a sigh of relief and took a large bunch of torches prepared by Verlet.

Under the librarian’s terror-filled gaze, he threw all the torches onto the surrounding bookshelves.

Ralph pulled out several small boxes from inside his coat, each filled with the dark bullets of the Sage’s Stone, all of it.

"I have plenty of these," adjusting the alchemical fire gun, Ralph stuffed a bunch of Sage’s Stone bullets into the barrel, "Ready to dance, librarian?"

The roar of dragon’s fire was ceaseless, the flying shards of the Sage’s Stone formed a rain of destruction.

The library was burned to a crisp.

When they left, Silvette happily clutched a sword hilt, while Ralph held a glowing bible.