Chapter 72: Man-Eater (2)
Those flames were jet black. I’m hot. My body, my flesh is burning. I understand what happened. I fell prey to a surprise attack. The constant and indescribable pain and heat erodes my body and mind. This is a duel. This is a 1-on-1 duel. Other soldiers are watching too. I didn’t expect to get ambushed even before I came face to face with my opponent. I didn’t intend to do it either. I was naïve. I was taking Man-Eater too lightly. No… that’s not it. This is not a matter of taking them lightly.
Man-Eater turned out to be more of a… scum than I expected. It would be one thing if we were enemies, but ambushing me before I even showed hostility towards them is just unbelievable. Even the actions of that Lizardman… Selzard, when he attacked me out of nowhere, was more understandable than this. He had a killing intent. However, this time, Man-Eater has ambushed me for their own benefits despite recognizing me as their opponent in the duel for the spoils of war.
I hear a voice. I can’t recognize the words, but I understand that it’s ridiculing me.
Darkness spreads before my eyes. I can’t tell my left from right. My senses are delayed. Sadness, fear, anger, I’m being overwhelmed by all sorts of feelings. However, what I strongly remembered as I lay face down, were the words Senri taught me.
It’s hard to kill the vampire that’s already dead. Neither flames, nor ice or lightning work against them. The second death is hard to come for those that are already dead. Magic doesn’t work on vampires who possess strong mana. Fire magic, healing magic, mind control and even necromancy, they all have little to no effect on me.
And finally, curses don’t work on vampires born from the strong curses. A curse is both similar and very different from magic. It’s a high-risk high-reward. One cannot receive several curses. The stronger one overwrites the previous curse. The curse of the undead, which fundamentally violates this world’s rules, is the strongest curse amongst the numerous types of curses. Therefore, curses don’t work on vampires.
That’s right. The only things that can enforce death on me are ―― the blessing and the sunlight.
I won’t let ‘Man-Eater’ kill me just like this. I already used all sorts of methods to survive. Even if what happened to Lord and Albertus was their own fault, I was the reason why Roux died and why Senri’s life took a big turn. My soul isn’t light enough to be destroyed with just this much. I still haven’t been able to repay Senri.
I have already decided that if I have to die, I’d rather die by Senri’s hands.