Chapter 155: Origin (2)

“……Aura Blade?”

The wound was deep enough to expose the bones of his chest.

Even so, the man did not retreat but stood firmly in place, frowning as he looked at Carl.

“A Master at twenty?”

“……”

Carl raised his sword expressionlessly as he faced the man.

But just like his opponent’s surprise, he too was inwardly startled.

‘That strike could have easily split his upper body in half.’

A slash imbued with the energy of the Primordial Unity Divine Art through the Divine Sword Cheonroe.

Anyone short of a true powerhouse would have found it nearly impossible to block.

The man had failed to counter his attack, taking it directly to the chest.

‘But this hardness… what is it?’

It wasn’t Protective Energy nor an Aura Barrier.

It was pure physical toughness.

The sensation transmitted through the blade was harder and more resilient than most metals.

Clang.

Carl once again took his stance.

At any rate, it was certain that this man was on a different level than the others, so he decided to capture him alive and find out more.

“Hm.”

Meanwhile, the man brushed his hand over the wound on his chest.

At once, the bright red blood sizzled, and the deep gash began to mend rapidly, healing cleanly in an instant.

“Ascalon sure has taken in a strange one as his subordinate.”

“Haha, he did pay quite a fortune to hire me. I’m doing my best to be worth it.”

“Your name?”

“Well, since I’ve learned who you are, it’s only proper that I tell you mine.”

Srrrk.

The man’s figure began to blend into the darkness.

At the edge of that fading silhouette, the half-torn lips moved faintly.

“Banabe.”

Carl immediately swung his sword toward his left flank.

Klang!

The sound had come from far ahead, yet Banabe’s presence was already right beside him.

‘A hand? A martial artist?’

He had deflected Cheonroe with a sharpened hand blade.

Was he planning to charge in head-on, trusting in his abnormally sturdy body?

‘Then I have a way as well.’

The distance favored Carl.

Banabe also seemed to realize that, as he persistently tried to close the gap, targeting Carl’s midsection.

Tak.

Carl tossed Cheonroe into the air and extended his hand.

Hardness could be subdued by softness — with the principle of Soft Overcomes Hard, he gently redirected Banabe’s strike and seized his joint.

“Where do you think—!”

Banabe hadn’t expected Carl to let go of his sword, but he quickly read the next move.

‘A joint lock, huh.’

A predictable thought.

No matter how tough the body, joints were always difficult to strengthen.

Those who had fought him before often aimed there as well.

‘I’ll crush his head right after this.’

Banabe smirked, clenched his other fist, and swung it toward Carl’s head.

But just before the blow could land, his movement froze.

Crackle—!

An intense chill swept through his entire body.

As ice crystals surged up and white frost filled the air, Banabe’s eyes widened.

‘Frozen? Me?’

His body wasn’t merely tough.

In the Central Plains, it would have been called the pinnacle of Vajra Indestructibility and Immunity to Cold and Heat.

Ordinary elemental magic would barely tickle him.

Yet the frost that burrowed into his very bones sent alarm bells ringing in his mind.

‘This… is dangerous.’

Banabe violently shook the arm Carl had seized, breaking free from the hold.

Then he hurriedly channeled mana to expel the frost that had devoured half of his body.

“It’s Extreme Yin Energy. Escaping it won’t be easy.”

“……!!”

But Carl didn’t intend to give him that chance.

Tak.

He snatched Cheonroe back from midair and pointed its sharp edge forward.

Heavenly Origin Sword Technique — First Form, Cheonroe (Heavenly Thunder).

As the same-named technique was unleashed, faint thunder rolled through the air, and a flash of white light split the void.

“……Kuhuk!”

Banabe spat blood as his body was hurled into the building below.

“Hi-hiiik…!”

The deafening crash made those hiding inside the house flinch in terror as Banabe crashed through their living room.

“Ptew.”

Banabe spat blood from his mouth and lifted his bloodshot eyes, spotting prey nearby.

Grab.

He lunged forward, seizing a person by the head and tightening his grip.

Sssss—!

A crimson current began to flow into Banabe’s body.

The marks left by Cheonroe’s technique slowly faded as his body regenerated.

“Ggh, aaaaargh…!”

The unfortunate person in Banabe’s grasp withered rapidly, their skin turning dark as if all blood had been drained.

Swish!

Carl leapt down from the rooftop, slashing at the arm holding the victim.

But Banabe released the neck just in time, retreating gracefully.

“Whoops, that was close.”

“……”

Carl narrowed his eyes.

The method of absorbing another’s vital energy was something he knew well from the Central Plains.

The most infamous among them — the Absorbing Star Great Technique.

A martial art that absorbed an opponent’s internal energy and life force to replenish one’s own.

‘This feels a bit different.’

Carl had once encountered a demonic cultivator who practiced the Absorbing Star Great Technique and Harvest Yin to Nourish Yang during his days as the Unkillable.

That man had been a notorious hedonist known throughout the martial world, but the energy Banabe used now felt slightly different from his.

It was as if he had drained blood rather than energy…

“A vampire, then.”

Carl reached his conclusion.

The crimson glow in the man’s eyes, the red aura swirling around him, and the lifeless victim completely drained of blood—everything pointed to that answer.

“Hahaha. I wasn’t planning to reveal that much.”

Carl wasn’t sure if the vampire’s physical toughness came from their nature.

However, his ability to conceal both presence and form, along with his hand-to-hand fighting style, matched the records describing vampires.

“I should’ve brought some garlic.”

“Do you actually believe such nonsense? Why not fetch a cross too? There’s one right over there.”

Banabe pointed toward a cross hanging on the wall.

Both garlic and crosses were said to be effective weapons against vampires.

Yet judging by his demeanor, it clearly wasn’t the case.

“Then perhaps a stake.”

Carl raised Cheonroe in his hand.

A divine sword would make a perfectly good stake for destroying a vampire.

At that, Banabe exhaled an exaggerated sigh, his expression one of disbelief.

“Drive a stake through the heart and anyone would die—human or dragon alike. To say such an obvious thing as if it’s some profound truth… vampires find that rather absurd.”

Swish—!

While Banabe was rambling, Carl had already closed the distance in an instant.

In the blink of an eye, a dozen trajectories filled the air as his sword slashed across Banabe’s body.

Crackle—!

It was a strike imbued with the power of the Primordial Unity Divine Art.

Though deeper wounds appeared this time, Banabe still didn’t seem heavily affected.

“This won’t kill me. What will you do now? At this rate, you won’t be able to protect your colorful life in Bayern.”

Thud.

Carl did not stop.

Cheonroe became engulfed in a demonic flame, radiating a different aura than before.

Heavenly Origin Sword Technique — Fourth Form, Chaotic Flame.

The overwhelming heat distorted the air, warping Carl’s figure.

Banabe’s crimson eyes darted through the darkness, tracking his opponent’s presence.

Clang!

Sensing movement close by, he swung his arm with full force.

The divine sword was deflected, but Carl pressed on, unleashing another barrage of strikes.

Slash, slash, slash!

Rays of light exploded outward.

He minimized the shockwaves, focusing the full force of his assault solely on Banabe.

Any further commotion in this already chaotic scene would only attract unwanted attention.

“If you keep worrying about what’s around you…”

“You talk too much.”

Flash.

Carl struck with a speed far beyond what he’d shown before, slicing through the air with a flawless gap-seeking blow.

Banabe failed to track the motion and took the hit directly.

Slaaash—!

No matter how durable one’s body, taking a direct strike from a divine sword was impossible to block.

Sure enough, Banabe’s right arm was severed, spinning through the air.

Splat!

Blood gushed from the wound, and Carl moved in for another attack.

With one arm gone, Banabe wouldn’t recover immediately.

Carl planned to rip his heart apart while he still could.

‘My identity as Karl Leipzig and the Primordial Unity Divine Art have both been exposed.’

It would be ideal to capture him alive, but that no longer seemed feasible.

‘For now—neutralize him.’

A vampire this powerful wouldn’t die in a single blow.

Thus, Carl thrust Cheonroe toward his heart, but halted mid-attack and rolled aside.

Crack, crack, crack—!

The droplets of blood scattered in the air transformed into sharp projectiles, striking the spot where Carl had just stood.

“Tch.”

Banabe clicked his tongue in frustration.

The best time to finish off an even match was when one believed victory was at hand.

He had aimed for that moment—but Carl had evaded with swift precision.

Thud.

Carl landed lightly on the ground.

He hadn’t escaped unscathed, though.

Blood trickled down his shoulder, and his eyes narrowed.

“Phew…”

He exhaled deeply, steadying his agitated mind and body.

Then he held his breath, raising his sword parallel to the ground, completing his stance.

Pure killing intent emanated from him, and Banabe felt it clearly, wiping the smile from his lips as he gathered his strength.

‘His attacks can’t kill me anyway.’

Even if his heart were pierced, it would only last for a moment.

No ordinary attack could deal a fatal blow.

Not even the freezing chill that reached the marrow.

Srrrk.

Blood vapor rose from Banabe’s body, spreading through the air.

Carl immediately realized that each droplet of that blood acted as Banabe’s extended senses.

Otherwise, there was no way he could track Carl’s movements so precisely.

‘This will be over in one strike.’

Carl steadied his sword tip and kicked off the ground, rushing forward.

Banabe didn’t dodge.

Instead, he spread a crimson veil of blood before him, standing firm as if daring Carl to come.

Craaaash—!!

An enormous shockwave erupted, shaking the building to its foundations.

It was a final clash where both had staked their fates, and the aftermath was unavoidable.

Crack—!

Banabe’s eyes widened as the divine sword broke through his blood barrier and pierced his chest.

‘That power… incredible.’

But that was all.

Even with the divine sword impaling his heart, Banabe’s smile didn’t fade.

Instead, he grasped the blade tightly with both hands to prevent Carl from retreating and spread the blood he had scattered earlier.

“Come forth… my servants—”

But his call never finished.

His eyes snapped wide open as he looked down at the blade he was holding.

Flaaash.

The sword shone with a blue light.

It was unfamiliar, yet the aura it emitted was unmistakable—the power of Divinity.

Lifting his gaze slowly, Banabe met Carl’s indifferent expression as he spoke.

“For a short diversion, that wasn’t bad, vampire.”

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