I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 117

……But.

Considering all the posing we did to prepare for battle, it ended way too easily.

We stared down at the Fallen Blood, torn to shreds and collapsed before us, cold sweat trickling down our backs. What was that?

“Well, his stats were definitely strong….”

“Is it because he’s a fallen vampire? He moved way too simply.”

Being a former vampire who was left with only a thirst for blood and instinct, he was no different from a beast.

No matter how fast or strong he was, his movements were predictable, and his actions were easily anticipated. So, it was easy to deal with him.

Junior and Damian shot from a distance, while Lucas and Evangeline pushed him with silver weapons at close range. The Fallen Blood didn’t last long before collapsing.

I awkwardly scratched the back of my neck with my staff. Seriously, after all that posing, this is it?

“Hey, uh… isn’t there a stronger one?”

I asked, looking up at the stage.

《…….》

Jackal, who was looking down at us as if we were absurd, cleared his throat, “Ahem, ahem.”

《Alright! It’s time to bring out the freshest and most lively monster among the ones we’ve caught!》

He said, opening the iron-barred door.

Thump…!

[Fiery Colosseum – Wave 6]

– Defeat the enemy!

– Lv.50 Vampire: 1

– Victory Odds: 2.00 vs 2.00

Vampire!

Finally, we were going to face a real, proper vampire.

《Versus! The self-proclaimed noble, the leech! Ah, I’m too lazy to introduce him! Just go out there and die! The fallen vampire! Bernato~~~!》

Clink. Clink.

What appeared was… a young man bound in chains all over his body.

His skin was pale, his dry hair was curly and blue, and his eyes were blood-red.

《Ugh…》

The vampire, Bernato, blinded by the arena lights, found Jackal on the stage and yelled.

《You damn Jackal! Do you think you’ll get away with this?!》

《Huh? What are you saying?》

《This little colosseum game of yours is only allowed because the great commanders tolerate your existence!》

Bernato thumped his chest with his hand.

《But I am a family member of the great Nosferatu [a powerful vampire clan], Lord Selendion! How dare you touch me and make me look like this, the lord will surely judge you-》

Swoosh!

Bernato’s arms suddenly flew off before he could say more.

Blood splattered everywhere. Bernato, not realizing his arms had been cut off, made a dumb sound.

《Huh?》

In no time, Jackal had drawn a dagger in each hand.

He drew the daggers at an invisible speed, unleashed an invisible slash, and cut off the vampire’s two arms.

《Shut your iron-smelling mouth, you filthy bloodsucker.》

《Wh, what-》

《If you’re caught by me and dragged here, you’re just a disposable item in this Jackal Colosseum. I don’t care if you’re a family member or who’s ass you were under!》

Jackal pointed the daggers in his hands at Bernato.

《Next time, I’ll cut off your head. If you understand, fight properly! Before I grind garlic and stuff it in your mouth! Got it?!》

《Tch…!》

Bernato, trembling with anger, turned away from Jackal and looked at us.

Blood connected the two arms that had fallen on the floor with his torso, and the arms floated into the air and reattached to his body.

《I don’t know where you’re from, I haven’t checked your lineage, and I don’t even have an appetite right now.》

Bernato moved his fingers to check if his arms were properly attached and bared his fangs at us.

《I will have to kill you. If you don’t resist, I’ll send you off comfortably in one go.》

“Oh, how very kind of you.”

I spun the staff in my hand and grinned.

“Let me tell you in advance. We’re going to kill you. And it’ll be a problem if you don’t resist, so struggle with all your might.”

《What?》

“It’s my first time fighting a vampire in a real battle. We need to gain some experience, don’t we?”

Bernato looked like he didn’t understand what I was saying.

Well, from a vampire’s perspective, humans probably feel like juice bottles on display at a supermarket.

I understand that he’d be dumbfounded if a juice bottle suddenly said, ‘We’re going to kill you too.’

But, vampire friend, right now, even the goblin voters have a 50-50 prediction of our victory.

It’s time for your head to be smashed by a juice bottle.

“Alright, everyone. Before we face that guy.”

I turned to my party members and slightly raised my staff.

“Shall we do a high-five for old time’s sake?”

As soon as I finished speaking, Lucas, Evangeline, and Damian stood in a row and held out their palms to me.

“……?”

Only Junior couldn’t grasp the situation and stared at us with a horrified look.

“Uhm, what are you doing…?”

Slap! Slap! Slap!

I quickly slapped each of their palms once and gave Junior a sly smile.

“Hand.”

“Huh? Ah, okay?”

“It’s okay. The pain is temporary, and the joy will last… about 3 minutes.”

“W-wait a minute, I don’t like punishment- Ouch, it hurts?!”

Slap!

[Mid-level Buff Acquired!]

[‘20% increase in elemental damage for 3 minutes’ buff applied to Jupiter Junior (SSR)!]

“……Huh?”

Junior checked the buff he received and wore a bewildered expression.

Lucas, Evangeline, and Damian nodded at Junior simultaneously, making an “Mmm!” sound.

Is it just my imagination, or do they look like they’re saying, ‘Isn’t it delicious?’

“Uh, uhh?”

The colors of the elements floating around Junior became much more intense. The buff seems to be taking effect immediately.

I whispered to Junior in a gentle voice.

“It only works once a day, so don’t try to get hit too often.”

It’s important to avoid becoming dependent on buffs, but more than that… this is kind of perverted!

***

The vampire’s combat methods are largely divided into two categories.

The first is blood magic.

All abilities related to blood are called blood magic.

It is an ability used based on one’s own blood and the blood consumed from others.

Most of the bizarre and powerful abilities used by vampires are this blood magic.

The second is the physical body.

It is the strength of the body, manifested in overwhelming regeneration that far exceeds common sense and a physique that is clearly superior to humans.

Many vampires train in the art of wielding weapons.

The weapons wielded by their superior bodies possess a terrifying power in themselves.

In short, there are two main skill trees, and most vampires focus on one of the two skill trees.

Even mastering just one can turn them into monsters with disaster-level power.

But unfortunately, Bernato.

《Kuaaaak!》

It seems he neglected both blood magic and physical training.

Whenever Bernato tried to gather blood to use some magic, Junior would interfere, rendering it useless.

And it wasn’t like he was ahead in physical combat either. His melee skills were terrible.

He was being torn to shreds by the combined attacks of Lucas and Evangeline.

It might sound like we’re winning easily, but.

“…….”

That’s not exactly the case.

The natural regeneration of the vampire race was at an incredible level.

No matter how much Lucas and Evangeline cut him down and Junior burned him with magic, Bernato would recover from his wounds in an instant.

And this was despite the fact that silver weapons had the effect of slowing down their regeneration.

‘How can we effectively end a vampire’s life….’

I groaned, watching the battle unfold from behind.

“Damian, can you see his core?”

“No, Your Highness.”

Damian had been carefully observing to snipe the core since earlier, but it seemed that even with his clairvoyance, it was hard to see.

“This vampire feels like his whole body is made of blood. His core isn’t fixed either; it merges into one, then breaks into pieces repeatedly.”

“Hmm….”

“Even if I snipe, it scatters right away, so I’m not sure how to shoot it.”

I stroked my chin and pondered.

‘What should I do…?’

When raiding vampires in the game, it was usually after the mid-game.

We would stack various healing reduction artifacts and slice them up with holy weapons.

But now, we’re still in the early stages.

We don’t have rare items like healing reduction artifacts, and we haven’t even drawn holy weapons yet.

‘We can’t just brute force it… is there a good way?’

The battle of attrition continued without us being able to land a decisive blow.

But it wasn’t just us who were being worn down. Bernato was also losing too much blood.

《Kuh…!》

Bernato, whose complexion had noticeably worsened, raised his head and looked around. Was he looking for a suitable target to feed on?

Then, he made eye contact with me.

《…….》

“…….”

Wait a minute.

No way, really?

《I’ll take your blood-!》

Bernato, with his mouth wide open, rushed towards me in an instant. His prominent fangs gleamed menacingly.

It seems I was targeted first again because I have the lowest level. How annoying.

‘But you know.’

If you advertise like that, ‘I’m going to suck blood now,’ then of course, we can counterattack.

Thwack! Thwack thwack!

Just before Bernato’s fangs could bite into my neck,

Three arrows flew into Bernato’s open mouth in an instant.

The arrowheads that pierced through his left cheek protruded out of his opposite cheek.

《Keuh… huh.》

Lucas and Evangeline rushed in front of and behind Bernato, whose movements had momentarily stopped.

Thwack!

Thwack!

Lucas’s silver sword pierced Bernato’s stomach, and Evangeline’s silver spear pierced his back.

The moment I saw that scene, an idea flashed in my mind.

“Lucas, Evangeline! Don’t retrieve your weapons, leave them stuck in his body and get away!”

Lucas and Evangeline executed my order as soon as they heard it. They left their sword and spear and quickly moved away from Bernato.

“Junior!”

I urgently commanded Junior.

“Lightning! Can you do it?!”

“Ah, yes.”

Rumble….

The sound of thunder echoed, and Junior smiled bashfully.

“I understand what you mean.”

Kuwagwagwang-!

The next moment, lightning struck.

The lightning, guided by the silver weapons stuck in Bernato’s body, burned him from the inside out.

《Kuaaaaaak-?!》

The vampire’s splitting scream echoed all around.

“Ah.”

At that moment, Damian muttered softly.

“I see it.”

Whoosh-!

A crossbow was fired from Damian’s hand.

Thwack!

The silver arrow that was shot pierced Bernato’s heart, and a small red bead was skewered on the tip of the arrow.

It was the vampire’s core.

Clang-!

The next moment, the red bead shattered into pieces.

《Kiyaaaa… aaaa….》

And Bernato slowly disappeared, turning into smoke from the end of his body.

Looking down at the disappearing red smoke, the party members all regulated their rough breathing.

The first vampire hunt was a success.