Super God: If I punch you, you will die

These three rituals were performed under the most perfect conditions he could conceive of; yet even so, the compatibility rate of his body and soul had fallen below 60%. Someone who was not himself was gradually taking control of him.

Even if the next ritual is executed perfectly, I'm afraid I'll only become someone else named Danic Prieston Yggdomernia. Even with the memories, even with every detail meticulously recorded... that person will definitely not be myself.

In other words, Danic's attempt to devour Lancer's soul as a Servant without performing the ritual was nothing short of suicidal.

After all, that is the soul of a Heroic Spirit. A supreme and immense soul that can activate the Greater Grail simply by gathering the seven Heroic Spirits. For humans, who are not "vessels," it is simply impossible to contain such a thing.

0193 Absurd [Please Subscribe]

"This is absurd, impossible...!"

Therefore, it is only natural that "Red" Archer makes such a sound.

“Command Spell. No, even that is impossible. Danic… no, you now… are neither Danic nor Vlad III.”

"Black" Lancer... no, "someone" who resembles Danic said with a smile:

“You’re right, Archer. Even if I were to process the soul of the Heroic Spirit named Vlad III into… the ultimate state most easily fused with by me, using the Third Command Spell, it would still be impossible to control a Heroic Spirit. So, devouring him is even more out of the question.”

The shallow laughter was no longer discernible as to whether it came from Danic or Vlad III.

"But, well, it's still possible to inscribe it. At least I can inscribe my longing of the past hundred years... and my obsession with the Holy Grail... I'm no longer Darnic, but I'm not Vlad III either! I'm just a monster seeking the Holy Grail, and I don't mind that...!"

Even when summoning Heroic Spirits using relics, there's still a tendency to summon a Heroic Spirit whose spirit is similar to one's own. Washing away the stain… meaning that Darnic and Vlad III, both possessing excessive confidence and pride, are very similar in spirit… in terms of their souls.

Moreover, although it was only a short period, they were, after all, two people who lived together as master and servant. If we add the binding force of the Command Seals to this, then it is by no means impossible to imprint an inherent existence like "Daniel Prieston Yggdrasil" into the soul of a great Heroic Spirit.

This magician's obsession does indeed slightly surpass that of a Heroic Spirit.

"Stop! Stop, stop, stop, stop right now...!! I am the King of Wallachia, son of Vlad II... Don't come in here!"

"Black!" Lancer screamed desperately, his face contorted with resentment. But his features were gradually transforming into an ambiguous shape, resembling both Danic and Vlad III. He looked like an amorphous monster.

"Alright, now you are me, and I am you. Lord! No, vampire! Your power will become our shared property! Everything is for the Holy Grail! My dream, my hope, will take root in your heart and live on forever!"

Danic Prieston Yggdomernia. He is now parasitizing the soul of Vlad III in a vile way, akin to cancer cells.

"hateful!"

No more.

Karna, who had been observing from the sidelines, suddenly closed in on Lancer, preparing to stab him in the chest from behind with his own spear. He didn't see it as a despicable act, because it was Lancer himself who was distracted during the fight.

His spear pierced the heart where the spirit core resided. For almost any Servant, this would result in instant death. If it were a Heroic Spirit known for its endurance, it might be able to maintain a connection with the mortal world, but Vlad III, having lost his fame, was not such a powerful Servant.

That's right, if the target of "Red" Lancer's attack was Vlad III.

"..."

The "red" Lancer did indeed pierce the heart of the Lord, whose back was exposed without any defense.

But instead of eliminating him, he didn't even turn his head. What flowed from the pierced part wasn't blood, but an unidentified object resembling a black shadow.

"Red" Lancer stared wide-eyed at his gun and said:

"Even though it has a definite feel, wouldn't it lose its effect if it turned into that?"

"Lancer, even your gun has no effect?"

"Red" Archer could hardly conceal his astonishment. The spear Lancer used, like himself, was a divinely bestowed treasure. Even piercing a spirit core with such a thing wasn't a universal method, which meant…

"If this were before he became a vampire, this attack should have been enough to shatter his spirit core and kill him."

Bats gathered together and gradually took on the shape of a human.

"However, the one before us is not 'Black' Lancer... Vlad III. He is the vampire known and feared by the whole world."

In this world exist vampires known as Dead Apostles. Some of them blend into the human world to drink blood, while others remain aloof and do not communicate with anyone. Regardless, Dead Apostles have always maintained their unique concepts and culture, silently surviving on the innermost side of the world.

The one before the Servants now is not like that. From the perspective of mystical phenomena, it has only existed for a mere century. Yet its terror has completely enveloped the world. When people hear the word "vampire," they don't initially think of the Dead Apostles lurking in the shadows, but rather of the great Romanian hero Vlad III… and the "vampire Dracula" created based on him.

"It's a monster."

The "red" Lancer's frank thoughts would probably be agreed upon by all the Servants present.

The vampire, now fully restored to human form, turned to face the Servants. Though still utterly cold, his eyes had lost their former intelligence.

The once elegant black aristocratic robe was torn to shreds... What was revealed from the inside was not blood and flesh, but rather a shadow of substance.

The gun that "Black" Lancer originally held was completely destroyed on his side as a hero, and it also turned into dust and disappeared without a trace.

"Alright, give me back my Holy Grail. I must use that Great Grail to fulfill the long-cherished wish of my clan. Yes, to fulfill my wish, I must live on indefinitely, without end. I must constantly increase my bloodline. I must bear my children, and I must further increase my retinue. Talent, effort, and nurturing environment... I must prepare all of this to give birth to those who will inherit my cause. So, give me back the Great Grail... give it back to me, give it back to me, give it back to me...!"

This shout contained Danic's own dreams and his vampire instincts.

It wasn't about reaching the root, but about dedicating one's life to the stage before reaching the root... namely, increasing the population of the race.

The population must be continuously increased... for the prosperity of the race.

We must become stronger... for the prosperity of our race.

The desire entrusted to the Greater Grail is for self-proliferation, enhancement, and increase. A man who mixes his love for his people with his own obsessive delusions refuses to understand how destructive his dream truly is.

0194 Monster [Please Subscribe]

All that remained were bloodshot, cruel eyes and monsters baring sharp fangs. He slowly surveyed his surroundings as if carefully observing them, then locked his gaze on a single point.

This "nameless monster" has already sensed the location of the Greater Grail that has been placed in the garden.

"Ha, no matter what, he's still a monster far removed from the gods, that much will never change!"

"Red" Rider took a step forward. Holding the Hero Killer's Spear, he instantly closed the distance to the vampire with his swift feet. The spear he hurled as he leaped was aimed at the vampire with bullet-like speed…!

"no!"

The voice demanding stop came from "Black" Archer. But it was too late; the gun had already been grabbed by the other's hand.

"What……!"

A deadly shot fired at speeds exceeding sound. Faced with an attack that should have been impossible to dodge, the vampire somehow managed to catch the gun firmly with one hand.

That was as unbelievable as catching a missile with your bare hands. Of course, his flesh was torn, his nerves were severed, and his bones were smashed and scattered.

However, vampires regenerate much faster than they can regenerate from injury. The way they regenerate the moment they are severed is even chilling.

The vampire laughed and pounced on "Red" Rider. Rider, who was leaping, was instantly slammed to the ground. Even so, Rider still had energy to spare. Because unless the opponent was someone who inherited divine blood, all attacks would be ineffective against this body.

The reason Rider reflexively extended his arm the moment the vampire bared its fangs was probably because his extensive combat experience and survival instincts were giving him a warning. At the moment of being bitten, he experienced a strange, itchy pain.

Poison extraction!?

The next instant, "Red" Rider was kicked away by "Black" Archer. Once separated from his teeth, the pain and itching disappeared immediately.

"Red" Rider, groaning as he stood up, protested to his master:

"What are you doing all of a sudden, teacher!"

“An attack against you would indeed require a skill with ‘divine’ qualities to be effective. Because of your courageous nature, even illusion magic that interferes with the mind is completely ineffective. But even without inheriting divine blood, there is a way to ‘turn you into an ally’.”

After saying that, he nocked an arrow and fired without hesitation at the vampire who had been on his side until just now. However, the vampire casually pulled the arrow out of his body. Not a drop of blood was shed, and the wound healed and disappeared instantly.

“What he did just now wasn’t an attack, but a act of bloodsucking. It wasn’t to kill you, but to recruit you as an ally. Your body is indeed invincible against malice and murderous intent, but when begged, your resistance is very weak. Yes, that means…”

"Red" Rider... Achilles' mother, the goddess Thetis, roasted him in his infancy with sacred fire, attempting to evaporate all his human blood and transform him into a complete god. Although this act was interrupted by her husband Peleus, his body, except for his heels, gained immortality.

That means no matter what kind of attack, it has no effect on Achilles... However, this characteristic also has two drawbacks. First, anyone who also inherits divine blood will be injured. Second, if it's not an attack...

“It is not universally applicable to actions that demonstrate friendship.”

"Red," Rider continued, his face full of displeasure. "Black," Archer didn't laugh, but simply nodded silently.

The vampire suddenly looked in another direction. He frowned as if displeased and threw the "Red" Rider's gun, which he had been gripping tightly in his hand. His target was not any of the "Red" or "Black" Servants present, but the girl who had just arrived.

A dazzling flash, as if cleaving through the darkness.

The "Red" Rider's gun was shot down before it could reach the girl. The holy banner fluttering in the wind is the supreme baptismal weapon capable of shattering all darkness.

“Ruler…!”

Upon hearing Archer's call, everyone turned to look at her. This included Lancer, who had once tried to kill her, but Ruler paid him no attention... she simply stared silently at the vampire who had just been born there.

“Vlad III… no, both a vampire and Danic’s…”

Having abandoned even his Servant status, he was beyond the reach of even the Ruler's Command Seals. "Black" Lancer was already in a state of near-total annihilation; even if a Command Seal were used to order him to commit suicide, the parasite Darnic residing within him could refuse to carry it out.

Ruler has identified this vampire as the biggest cause of the disruption of the Holy Grail War.

He was not a Heroic Spirit with high dignity, nor even a Servant. He was a "nameless monster" who had gained vampire powers and lost all ethics.

The most challenging aspect is his concept. In Romania, the legends of Vlad III, as well as his legend as the Impaler, coexist with those of vampires, so Vlad III's prestige and fame are likely to be directly applied to him.

If he reaches the Greater Grail and is freed from the Hanging Gardens... Romania might turn into hell overnight.

In other words, it was a state of fusion and integration of history and tradition. It could only evolve into a masterpiece of tragedy—a simple, relentless massacre of the inhabitants of the land. Those with a discerning eye might name this tragedy… "Walachian Night."

As "Red" Assassin said, now it's all about taking him down first.

"In order to maintain order in the Holy Grail War, it is now necessary for you to form a temporary cooperative relationship."

"Oh, so the opponent is this vampire."

After listening to "Red" Archer's speech, Ruler nodded and said:

"Yes. Before we defeat him, please take a temporary ceasefire. We absolutely cannot let this vampire reach the Greater Grail... absolutely."

The vampire, as if waiting for his moment, stared intently at Ruler. Ruler raised his left hand high and proclaimed in a clear voice:

"In the name of Ruler...Joan of Arc, I issue this command by Command Spell to all Servants gathered here! Immediately defeat the vampire who was once Vlad III!"

The Command Seals etched on his left arm instantly emitted a powerful light, binding the "Black" Archer, "Black" Caster, "Red" Archer, "Red" Lancer, and "Red" Rider with chains of restraint.

0195 Obstacles [Please Subscribe]

This chain does not hinder fighting vampires at all... in fact, it enhances your abilities as a Servant when fighting them. However, if you attempt to fight an opposing faction, your movements become sluggish, and the strength to swing your weapon is immediately and significantly weakened.

Given this, it's obvious who they'll be fighting. They are heroes, warriors who defeat monsters, demons, evil spirits, and rakshasas.

“Alright, 'Black' Archer and I will provide support. Rider, Lancer, you two can fight as you please.”

"Okay, big sister. That's it, Lancer."

"I do not mind."

"Caster, could you create a cage using puppets like you did when you captured 'Red' Berserker?"

"While it's not impossible, it won't be as smooth as it was with Berserker. At most, it could only slightly slow him down. And if he transforms into mist or a bat, there's nothing we can do."

"Black" Caster flicked his fingers a few times in the air, and ten puppets began to move nimbly. Each finger controlled one puppet. With just this, the ten puppets attacked the vampire with completely different movements.

Compared to this, a puppet that acts autonomously on the battlefield is practically a wooden puppet.

While dodging the vampire's outstretched arm, the puppet launched attacks with his bronze fists. Facing a powerful blow that would inevitably cause some damage even to an ordinary Servant, he simply retaliated as if nothing had happened.

However, now that Ruler has issued his Command Spell, he has no allies left, and everyone standing around him has become his enemy.

"Red" Rider and Lancer coordinated perfectly, simultaneously attacking the vampire with their guns. One wielded the Hero Killer Gun, a gift from their master, while the other wielded the Gun of Light, capable of defeating even the gods.

Furthermore, the two archers, whose skills had reached the divine level, were able to freely pass through the gaps and continuously fire arrows even when their comrades were so close.

In addition, Joan of Arc, the Ruler, was added. The girl held a holy banner that had a special effect on vampires, and knocked away the vampires' outstretched arms one by one.

There were six of them in total, each one a worthy contender to be called the strongest Servant. Yet, none of them showed the slightest sign of relaxation. This wasn't to avoid carelessness and mistakes; they were truly giving it their all.

"Ugh, it's turned into fog again...!"

Vlad III was summoned as "Black" Lancer and was given the Noble Phantasm "King of Execution" because he was known as the Piercing Duke in his own territory.

After being transformed into a vampire and devoured by Danic, although his Noble Phantasm was sealed, he was given new weapons: the unparalleled abilities possessed by vampires.

The black coat blends seamlessly into the night, and iron stakes are summoned from within. Since the summoning doesn't originate from the ground, there's no need to worry about being ambushed... but the iron stakes, hurled with the vampire's monstrous strength, naturally exceed the speed of sound.

"Ugh, so annoying...!"

"Red" Rider stepped forward, swiftly deflecting it. Among the many Servants present, probably none could surpass him in speed. This was true regardless of whether he was mounted or not. Achilles, the great hero of the Trojan War... no one, whether alive or dead, could surpass him in speed.

Although slightly less agile than him, "Red" Lancer was equally nimble. From the very beginning, he repeatedly shattered the iron stakes shot by the vampire.

But… one of the many iron stakes fired finally caught “Red” Lancer’s foot. The stake pierced his instep with the force of a Noble Phantasm. Just as he was about to pull the stake out, Lancer’s movements paused slightly.

With his vampire-like superhuman strength, he simply sent Lancer flying. Just like that, Lancer was sent slamming into the wall. Although the damage was minor, Lancer couldn't hide his astonishment at the vampire who had overpowered him with such incredible strength.

"Red" Rider reflexively glanced at the wall Lancer had crashed into. As if seizing the perfect opportunity, the vampire immediately attacked Rider, baring its fangs in an attempt to turn him into a familiar by sucking his blood.