Chapter 331 : Bloodborn Count
Chapter 331: Vampire Count
It had been three hours since Janna stepped into the Misty Forest.
And in those three hours, she had encountered five waves of surprise attacks from shadow creatures.
Fortunately, the strength of the shadow creatures wasn’t particularly formidable. With the aid of Law power and the cooperation of several Contracted Creatures, Janna was able to complete the hunts with ease.
「Crack—」
Stepping on a broken branch, as Janna ventured deeper, the Celestial Finch that had been perched on her shoulder suddenly stood up alertly.
「Master, I smell that stench again!」
At the Celestial Finch’s warning, Janna nodded calmly, then gently grasped the Rook pendant with her left hand and continued walking forward.
Thanks to treatment from [Lucifer], the Celestial Finch had regained consciousness later that same night.
After awakening, besides gaining a deeper understanding of the [Law of Purification], the Celestial Finch also acquired a new ability—Elemental Possession.
As the name implied, [Elemental Possession] allowed the Celestial Finch to transform into an elemental form and directly possess its contractor, Janna.
Janna had tested this ability with the Celestial Finch. When it used [Elemental Possession], it transformed into a golden emerald ornament worn on Janna’s head.
While being "possessed", Janna experienced no abnormality in body or mind, except for a remarkable enhancement in her purification abilities.
What the Celestial Finch referred to as [Elemental Possession] was completely different from what Janna understood as "possession"—it was more like equipping a Witch Tool onto her.
The function of this Witch Tool was to integrate the Celestial Finch’s purification ability into Janna’s [Fragment of the Law of Purification] in the form of energy.
Once the fusion was complete, whenever Janna used the power of purification, its potency surpassed even that of the [Fragment of the Law of Growth].
It was as if the inherent power of Janna’s [Fragment of the Law of Purification] was compounded with the Celestial Finch’s purification strength, achieving a synergy greater than the sum of its parts—one plus one equaled more than two, perhaps even more than three.
Of course, this fused form also greatly taxed the Celestial Finch and could only be sustained for about thirty minutes.
「Master, that stench is getting closer and closer!」
The Celestial Finch’s nearly shrieking voice echoed in Janna’s mind. Simultaneously, the warning from the [Danger Perception] talent made goosebumps rise on Janna’s arms.
「So, you are the one His Grace has been searching for.」
Just as Janna was ready to activate the Rook pendant, a sharp voice, like a blade scraping across glass, suddenly sounded in her ear.
「As expected, a vampire.」
Black mist billowed, blood energy pervaded the air.
As the voice appeared, a silver-white bat with eyes like blood-red rubies slowly emerged from a narrow Shadow Rift and perched on a branch not far from Janna.
「A pleasure to meet you. I am Yulan-Bloodred, a Count of the Blood Clan.」
A Count of the Blood Clan... that meant a Vampire Count!?
Hearing his words, Janna’s pupils involuntarily contracted.
As someone superior to a Vampire Baron who was equivalent to a Third Tier Wizard Apprentice, the power of a Vampire Count was comparable to that of a First Tier Wizard.
「No, that can’t be right!」
Snapping out of her momentary panic, Janna immediately denied that thought.
Because Anthony-Rook had once said that any shadow creature that reached the level of a formal Wizard would inevitably be repelled by the Law Repulsion Force of the [Material Plane] upon entering the Magic Tower Barrier—it was impossible for such a being to appear before Janna so leisurely.
Therefore, this so-called Vampire Count claiming to be from the Blood Clan likely hadn't reached the level of a First Tier Wizard.
Or perhaps, this silver-white bat was not Yulan-Bloodred’s true body, but a downgraded doppelgänger.
Yet the constantly triggered [Danger Perception] talent kept alerting Janna that the real strength of this silver-white bat was unfathomable—far beyond what Janna could handle at her current level.
While Janna assessed her opponent, Yulan-Bloodred was likewise scrutinizing her with his blood-red eyes.
Her robe was loose, but her tall, graceful figure was still faintly visible as she moved.
Though the hood obscured most of her face, the glimpse of her slender neck and fair, delicate chin stirred a flame of desire in Yulan-Bloodred’s heart.
「Beautiful young witch, I bear you no ill will. I appear today merely on the orders of His Grace, to invite you to visit my castle.」
Hearing this, Janna couldn’t help but curl her lips into a cold smile. However, when she spoke, she deliberately added a trembling tone to her voice.
「I’m just a weak Wizard Apprentice. Why would the Bloodred Archduke go to such lengths to seek me out?」
「Oh? It seems you’ve already guessed something.」
After confirming there was no one else nearby, Yulan-Bloodred shifted his form from a silver-white bat into a tall, middle-aged man with handsome features and a scholarly demeanor.
「As for the reason His Grace seeks you, I cannot disclose it. But one thing I can assure you—so long as you cooperate obediently, I will not harm you.」
「I’m willing to believe you—but even if you don’t intend to hurt me, how can you guarantee that the other members of the Blood Clan who came with you won’t?」
Upon hearing Janna’s near-crying tone, the smile on Yulan-Bloodred’s face softened even more.
「Beautiful witch, there is no need to test me. I can assure you very clearly—besides the two of us, there is no third person present.」
「Really?」
No sooner had she finished speaking than Janna slowly removed the hood from her head.
And Yulan-Bloodred, who had been watching her every move, momentarily forgot to breathe the instant he saw her face—an indescribably beautiful visage.
「Crack—」
Her allure was overwhelming, her beauty in full bloom.
At the very moment Janna removed her Wizard Hood, the power of the [Fragment of the Law of Beauty] instantly surged to its peak.
And while Yulan-Bloodred was momentarily dazed by the power of the Law, Janna crushed the gem embedded in the Rook pendant, activating the array.
「Buzz—」
The array activated, radiating light. As blue-white flames flared up, Anthony-Rook, dressed in a black Wizard Robe, slowly emerged from the flames.
「You did well.」
Hearing Anthony-Rook’s praise, Janna swiftly retreated behind him, silently gripping her wand, ready to cast a spell at any moment.