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Just as the Blood Thralls launched their attack and Brunhild conjured a protective barrier, a shadow emerged silently behind her. In that very moment, an overwhelming aura suppressed her instantly. The power radiating from it belonged to a being far beyond anything she could have imagined.
She had expected to encounter a vampire at some point, but never like this. Certainly not while she was still growing stronger and developing her abilities. To face something akin to an endgame boss at this stage felt staggeringly ridiculous in every possible way.
Yet reality was cruel. It never accommodated anyone's expectations. If one was not prepared for anything and everything, reality would gladly deliver the worst possible outcome.
Sharp fangs rushed toward her neck. A monstrous, bloodthirsty beast prepared to devour her. An immense pressure paralyzed her body completely.
While her family and friends screamed her name and desperately ran to save her, they could not reach her in time. What could Brunhild do at that moment?
Alistair laughed darkly as his sharp fangs sank into her tough skin. His immense strength extended even to his fangs, allowing them to pierce her hard scales and hardened skin with ease. They dug deep into her jugular, drawing forth a stream of warm blood.
The moment the blood entered his mouth, Alistair's eyes widened. A sea of delicious, sweet flavor overwhelmed his senses, spreading an incredible warmth throughout his entire body, warmer than he had ever felt before.
"What is this delicious flavor?!"
"Ahhh, it feels like I am taking a warm, comfortable bath!"
"I can't get enough of this!"
"So warm, so warm, so… Guh?!"
It quickly became too warm.
His eyes widened in alarm as he tried to pull back. Suddenly, Brunhild grabbed his neck and arms with surprising strength, wrestling him firmly in place.
"You like my blood, you fucking creepy bastard? Have at it! Drink as much as you want!"
"W-WHA…!"
The warmth rapidly turned into searing heat. It burned his tongue and set his stomach ablaze. Holy flames erupted from his eyes, mouth, ears, and nose. Alistair screamed in agony and slashed at Brunhild, forcing her to release him.
"Kuaaaaaaaggghhhh!"
He writhed on the ground as golden holy flames consumed him. The power within Brunhild's bloodline was immensely hot and intense, carrying such high concentrations of holiness and fire. Combined with her divine blessing from the Sun God himself, her blood had become completely undrinkable for any vampire.
"A-Aaaaah! It burns! It burnsssssss!"
Alistair clutched his head in horrifying agony and rolled across the snow. The intense heat caused the snow around him to melt rapidly into vapor.
Brunhild pressed a hand to her wound and quickly cast healing magic to purify the curse he had tried to inflict on her. Although her divine physique and the blessing of Solaris would likely prevent her from turning into a Dhampir, she took every precaution.
"Here!"
She roared with fury and transformed into her Holy Phoenix Form while also activating her Draconic Bloodline heritage. She stacked both powerful forms together and channeled their strength into a single, devastating punch.
"Eat more!"
"GAAAAHHH!"
Alistair screamed as he tried to flee, but Brunhild caught him and delivered a crushing blow to his face. The force sent him flying through the forest. Dozens of trees exploded and burst into flames on his path.
BOOOMMM!!!
Alistair's body erupted in flames as he crashed into a nearby hill, sending giant boulders flying in every direction. The intense heat ignited the surrounding forest, creating a massive wildfire.
Brunhild leaped into the sky, using her winged boots and phoenix wings to soar toward him. She conjured two gigantic Cruel Holy Suns through the use of her Shadow Clone Jutsu.
"Let's see how much heat you can take, vampire!"
"W-Wait!!!"
Two enormous spheres of holy flames and plasma descended upon him. The bombardment caused the entire area to collapse, burn, melt, and explode violently.
"Gaaaaaaaahhhh! Aaaaaaiiiiiieeeeehhhh!"
Alistair twisted in unbearable agony. His mouth hung open as his eyeballs melted away, leaving empty sockets. His fair white skin turned charcoal black, and his hair burned away completely.
"Die!"
Brunhild refused to take any chances. She descended with Atlas in hand and unleashed several consecutive attacks against the burning and agonized vampire.
"Burning Dragon Soul Style."
"Red Fang Axe Style."
She fused the power of both techniques into her body, boosting her soul and physique to extreme levels. Her aura exploded with such intensity that a giant dragon of flames faintly emerged around her.
"First Form: Searing Cleave – Burning Claw!"
The attack came crashing down like a burning meteor. It combined her beastly spells, bloodline, tattoo, and other abilities through this technique. With Atlas shaped like an axe in her grip and her Shadow Clone fighting beside her, she cleaved the burning Alistair into pieces.
CRAAASH!
A massive pillar of flames erupted skyward, burning everything within a vast section of the forest.
Brunhild examined the remains, but only charred pieces of flesh and large bones remained.
"Where is his soul?!"
She received no kill notification either. Her eyes widened as she expanded her senses, merging her beastly instincts with her mana perception and stretching them as far as possible.
"He's running?!"
♢♢♢♢
"Haaa… Haaa… I can't believe this! Who would have thought a blessed child of the Sun God would be here? Our natural enemy of all things?!"
Alistair fled as fast as he could, gasping for air while his body slowly regenerated. His energy reserves had dropped sharply after spending a massive amount of power to survive the onslaught and regrow lost bones, arms, and other parts.
The vampire clenched his teeth and moved with blinding speed. Even after detecting him, Brunhild could not catch up. In mere moments, he reached the battlefield around the house and discovered that most of the Blood Thralls had already been eliminated.
Ragnar crushed the remaining thralls with powerful great axe techniques, unleashing rampaging, blazing attacks that the creatures could not withstand even in large numbers.
Magnus fought with raw ferocity; his body covered in heavy scales as he slashed through enemies with merciless claws.
Astrid battled bravely with her bone blade, summoning bone beasts while using her wings to dodge attacks and avoid damage.
Fenrir and Huginn guarded the area around the house, running and flying to ensure no monster could breach the barrier.
Ulf and Kara fired arrows relentlessly, supporting the front lines while constantly draining their mana reserves and drinking potions, even as their stomachs began to ache badly.
Sigrid was still recovering and searching anxiously for Brunhild.
"Heh…"
As half of his face regenerated, Alistair appeared suddenly before Sigrid. His claws shot forward at lightning speed and seized her.
"Wha…! Aaagh!"
She screamed in agony as he broke her left arm and suppressed her with his overwhelming aura, slamming her into the ground.
"Nnnggh!"
Sigrid vomited blood and felt her entire body twist in pain. She realized with horror that the vampire had survived after all.
"I need to recover my energy quickly, so stay still. It will be over before you know it, my dear!"
He opened his jaws wide, ready to bite her as she screamed. Ice and flames suddenly merged and blasted into his face.
BOOOM!
Yet his half-burnt face slowly emerged through the smoke and frost, still smiling.
"I love it when they fight back."
"L-Let go of me! Don't touch me!!!"
As Sigrid struggled helplessly, Alistair's claws dug deeper into her torso, piercing her ribs.
"G-Gaaaahhhhh!"
"Would you stay quiet now, my dear? Now, let the feast begin."
He licked his lips and leaned closer. Sigrid cried tears of pure horror and disgust as she felt his cold breath against her neck. She closed her eyes in despair.
...
CRASH!
"Eh?!"
There was no bite. In a single second, a giant hammer struck Alistair's head and shattered it into pieces, sending his body stumbling and hurtling across the forest.
"Gaaaaha…!"
Alistair roared in agony as his headless body began regenerating a new head, with a mouth forming where his neck had been.
"W-Who…!"
As he screamed in pain, a blazing meteor rushed through the skies and crashed down in front of Sigrid. Healing flames immediately washed over her wounds.
"Sigrid! Are you okay?!"
"B-Brunhild…!"
Sigrid cried out and hugged Brunhild tightly, refusing to let go.
"...!"
Brunhild saw the wounds on her body and the broken arm. She glared at the vampire with utter fury.
"You bastard…! She's just a child…! What the fuck is wrong with you?!"
"Eheh… Did I make you mad, heir of Solaris?"
Alistair slowly stood up again, half of his head now regenerated.
"You're strong… too strong," he said with a twisted smile.
He flicked his finger against the barrier.
BOOOM!
The barrier shattered instantly.
"But you must use that strength to protect these cattle. That is your weakness!!!"
With a sickening smile full of twisted fascination, Alistair summoned the rest of his Blood Thrall and Dhampir Army. They stormed the house and smashed through the windows.
"Let's see what you're hiding inside now! Hahahaha!"
"NO!!!"
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