Talent Awakening: I, the Weakest Awakened, Start with Dragonfire Spell-Chapter 68 -Marquess, Diamond-Grade BOSS!

Aside from Abby, whose lower level made her skills less likely to induce control effects, Howard's elevated spirit compensated for the level disparity, allowing him to trigger control effects with high frequency.

Not to mention, Glyn's Flash of Lightning also bore its control capabilities.

Once Vampire Viscount Nick fell under the first control spell, he was scarcely free from such states thereafter.

Continuously barraged by various skills, he was then assailed by Caitlin's relentless storm of attacks.

Her blade's aura shone like a rainbow, consistently striking Nick, while Howard's varied elemental skills dealt substantial damage.

In no time, Vampire Viscount Nick's health bar plummeted at an astonishing pace.

Witnessing this, Glyn couldn't help but exclaim, "I initially thought Howard was merely a summoner. Little did I expect such profound mastery in his magical craft! Even the most basic F-level skills, in his hands, deal more damage than any other magus I've encountered, and those magi all boast noteworthy equipment and levels!"

Little did Glyn know, Howard, despite being around LV20, was already equipped with Epic-grade and Legendary-grade equipment.

Beyond levels, equipment, and talent, there's scarcely anything that could influence skill damage.

Howard was no exception. His supreme talent lay precisely in amplifying both his equipment and skills!

In merely a brief moment, Vampire Viscount Nick met his end at the hands of Howard and Caitlin, without even mustering the strength to unleash a single skill.

[Ding! Congratulations to the awakened Howard for successfully defeating the Gold-grade BOSS, Vampire Viscount Nick. You've been awarded 32,000 experience points! ]

A resentful roar echoed as Vampire Viscount Nick's form dissolved into a luminous white, scattering a trove of bronze coins and materials across the ground.

A Vampire Cloak and two Vampire Fangs were left behind, predictably undamaged.

To their slight disappointment, no skill book was discovered, and the equipment's grade remained at Silver-grade, which Howard and his companions found uninspiring.

Without a second thought, they stowed the items in their backpacks, ready to face the next vampire BOSS.

By now, the roles within the team had become distinctly clear.

Abby was tasked with luring the foes, while Howard and Glyn controlled the monsters and supplemented the damage output.

Caitlin, on the other hand, was the primary damage dealer.

After all, when Howard refrained from using his SS-level skills, his damage paled in comparison to Caitlin's.

Aisha played the pivotal role of bolstering the statuses of Howard and the rest.

If any BOSS managed to break free from the control skills and inflicted harm upon them, a radiant, holy glow would immediately descend, rapidly mending the wounds of Howard and Glyn.

As an increasing number of vampire BOSS were roused, the synergy amongst the five, including Howard, only grew more impeccable.

Further aiding their cause was Aisha's unique skill, capable of restoring their vitality.

This meant that even after battling relentlessly for extended periods, they could remain at the pinnacle of their strength.

[Ding! Congratulations to the awakened Howard for successfully vanquishing the Gold-grade BOSS, Vampire Count Faral. You've been rewarded with 45,000 experience points! ]

[Ding! Congratulations to the awakened Howard for successfully vanquishing the Gold-grade BOSS, Vampire Count Lund. You've been rewarded with 45,000 experience points! ]

[Ding! Congratulations to the awakened Howard for successfully vanquishing the Platinum-grade BOSS, Vampire Count Zanado. You've been rewarded with 60,000 experience points! ]

[...]

As Howard and his team ascended to higher levels, the roused vampires had evolved into Platinum-grade BOSS, boasting significantly enhanced attributes.

At this juncture, Aisha's importance became glaringly evident.

Regardless of how the Platinum-grade vampire BOSS retaliated, even if they unleashed skills that ensnared Glyn or Howard, the piercingly pure luminescence would penetrate their cloaks, enveloping the two men before the vampires' razor-sharp fangs could sink into their necks.

The next instant, the vampire BOSS would release their grip on Howard and Glyn, recoiling as if they had witnessed something truly terrifying, not daring to sink their teeth in any further.

As for other attacks?

Being harmed wasn't a concern. With a simple gesture from Aisha, Howard and Glyn would be instantly rejuvenated, their vitality brimming.

While the vampire BOSS found themselves incapable of inflicting damage on Howard, Glyn, and the rest, they themselves were continuously battered.

This discrepancy in offensive capacities meant that despite their enhanced attributes, they were still no match for Howard's team.

Their health dwindled with time, and soon their forms faded away, transforming into experience points and spoils of war for Howard and his companions.

With numerous BOSS consecutively falling prey, the rate at which Howard and his team accrued experience was nothing short of terrifying.

It was only post-level 20, when the experience needed for leveling up multiplied exponentially, that Howard and Abby ceased their continuous advancement.

Yet, in comparison to others' pace of gaining experience, theirs was still rocket-fast.

Caitlin and Glyn, having surged to around level 40 within two years of awakening, were already considered some of the most prodigious talents in Adia city.

But their pace, when juxtaposed with Howard's, suddenly seemed utterly mundane.

Time flowed gently by.

After what seemed an eternity, even with Aisha's skills replenishing their HP and MP, Howard and his team began to feel the weariness setting in.

They found themselves, astonishingly, on the topmost level of the ancient castle.

The space at this pinnacle was not vast; in contrast to the lower levels, it felt more constricted.

Devoid of furniture or any such items, the walls even lacked any mural.

The sole presence was a solitary coffin, lying eerily in front of a window.

"Be cautious. That coffin's lid is in place, and a vampire could very likely be inside," Howard promptly warned. "This is the top floor; the vampire BOSS here is bound to be stronger than the previous ones. Aisha, do you have enough MP?"

"I'm good," she assured. "I've brought along plenty of MP recovery potions. There's no need to worry about me."

With Aisha's response, Howard and Glyn exchanged glances, then slowly advanced.

Thanks to Howard's consistent deployment of skills, a protective barrier always enveloped him, compensating for the team's lack of a shield bearer.

However, as Howard and Glyn approached the coffin, it began to tremble violently.

"Danger!" Howard instinctively retreated. Glyn, however, was a step too slow.

A resounding crash echoed as the forcefully upturned coffin lid slammed into Glyn, sending him flying several meters away.

Glyn's health bar plummeted by nearly half in an instant!

Thankfully, Aisha's reflexes were quick.

Her crystal orb floated up, channeling a radiant holy light into Glyn's form.

Verdant numbers promptly surfaced above Glyn's head.

"+9824!"

Seeing this, Howard's concerns were alleviated. Lifting his Soul Nurturer, his gaze remained fixed intently on the coffin.

From within, a figure slowly rose.

Clad in a purple cloak with a bat-shaped pendant resting on its chest, the figure's complexion was rosy.

Notably, it lacked the characteristic fangs and, at a mere glance, looked indistinguishable from a human.

Yet, witnessing this, a shiver ran down Howard's spine.

He knew he had encountered a formidable adversary.

The more powerful a vampire, the greater their ability to transform, even to the point of being indistinguishable from humans.

Even their vulnerabilities vanish, becoming immune to sunlight and holy water.

However, Howard didn't let his internal tension show.

He was aware that if he were to falter, it would inevitably unsettle Abby, Caitlin, and the others.

Such anxiety would assuredly put them at a disadvantage in the ensuing battle.

Simultaneously, the attributes of this vampire were revealed to the group:

?[ Vampire Marquess Modona] (BOSS)

[Level: 55]

[Rank: Diamond]

[Description: Among the vampire clans, the Marquess holds a noble position. Legend has it that there are only five Marquesses, each wielding control over all of the vampire kin. ]

[HP: 145000/145000]

[Attack Power: 5750–7108]

[Defense Value: 4100]

[Skills: Blood Bat Strike, Dark Descent, Undying Body, Death Sense, Vampiric Conversion, Blood Rage, Blink]

"What the hell? Straight to a Diamond-grade BOSS? And it's a Marquess?"

"Sheesh, Duke, Marquess, Count... Are we seriously fighting a second-tier vampire now?"

Despite Howard's effort to maintain composure, Caitlin and Aisha couldn't help but show a hint of apprehension in their eyes.

Just a glance at the attribute panel revealed the formidable power of the Vampire Marquess before them.

Vampire Marquess Modona scanned the room, his gaze lingering on Howard's party, a smile playing on his lips. "I never imagined, after so many years in slumber, that I'd open my eyes to the sight of humans."

Howard, Caitlin, and the rest wore stern expressions, choosing not to engage with Modona's musings.

The vampire sighed, "I had wished to converse, but it seems better to consume your blood and souls first, and then extract your memories. I wonder how much the world has changed."

As he spoke, a malevolent glint flashed in Modona's eyes.

With a flick of his right hand, a swarm of Crimson Bats materialized, converging like a tidal wave, bearing down on Howard and his team.

"Holy Light Shield!"

Once again, Aisha cast her skill, a radiant silvery light burst forth.

However, the shield barely formed when it met the onslaught of the Crimson Bats.

Like snow under a blazing sun, it melted away, leaving no trace.

The Crimson Bats, with lightning speed, darted towards Howard, Caitlin, Abby, and the rest.