While Frank continued fighting the Vampire Baroness, the other two undead champions had also encountered opponents worthy of their attention.
The appearance of several Rank 5 Vampires had changed the situation across Minvera City. The ordinary Vampire guards were no longer the only ones responding to the invasion. Powerful nobles who controlled entire districts had begun leaving their residences, bringing their personal forces with them.
Among them were two Vampire Barons who had decided to deal with the undead armies personally.
One appeared in Selene’s territory, while the other had encountered Rachel.
Both were Rank 5 Vampires, and neither was an ordinary opponent.
***
At Selene’s location, a group of Blood Rose Knights was advancing through a wide street when a powerful pressure suddenly descended upon them.
The knights immediately stopped. Those carrying shields raised them, while the greatsword-wielding soldiers moved into defensive positions.
A moment later, several nearby buildings began to shake as a massive figure stepped out from behind them.
He was an enormous man with a muscular physique. Thick, dark veins covered his exposed arms, and his skin had a metallic appearance. His black hair was tied behind his head, while a pair of crimson eyes stared coldly at the approaching undead.
Unlike the elegant Vampire Baroness fighting Frank, this man looked like a warrior who had spent his entire life on the battlefield.
He wore heavy armour covering his chest and shoulders. The dark metal was decorated with several crimson patterns, and a massive battle hammer rested in his right hand.
The Vampire looked at the Blood Rose Knights surrounding the street before shifting his attention towards Selene.
"So you’re the one commanding these undead?"
His voice was deep and rough.
Selene remained seated on the shoulder of her Blood Rose Knight Captain. Her expression didn’t change as she looked down at him.
"Who are you?"
The man raised his hammer slightly.
"Vampire Baron Darius Ironblood."
He paused before continuing.
"And I’m the one who will crush your army."
Selene looked at him for a moment before activating her inspection ability.
[Name: Darius Ironblood]
[Race: Vampire]
[Level: 585]
[Rank: 5]
[Class: Vampire Baron]
[Rule: Ironblood Rule]
[Rule Category: Lesser Rule]
[Rule Level: High]
Selene’s eyes moved across the information.
’Another Vampire with a High-level Lesser Rule.’
The Ironblood Rule was primarily focused on strengthening the body, blood, and physical attacks. It allowed its user to transform his blood and flesh into something resembling extremely durable metal.
Considering Darius’s enormous physique and the massive hammer in his hand, it was clearly a Rule that suited his fighting style.
Darius looked at the Blood Rose Knights again.
"You’re nothing more than a bunch of dead bodies. Do you really think you can challenge the Vampires of Minvera City?"
Selene didn’t bother answering.
She simply raised one hand.
The Blood Rose Knight Captain immediately moved forward. The enormous knight stepped away from the formation, carrying Selene on its shoulder as it approached Darius.
Behind them, hundreds of Blood Rose Knights began spreading out. The shield-bearing soldiers moved to the front, while the greatsword-wielding knights prepared to surround the Vampire Baron.
Darius narrowed his eyes.
"Are you ignoring me?"
He raised his battle hammer.
A powerful crimson aura spread across his body, and the metallic appearance of his skin became even more pronounced.
"Then I’ll destroy every last one of you!"
He slammed his hammer against the ground.
BOOM!
The street trembled.
A wave of powerful energy spread in every direction, smashing the stone pavement and throwing several Blood Rose Knights backwards.
However, the knights quickly recovered.
Their bodies were damaged, but their Immortal Blood began repairing their injuries.
Darius frowned.
’Their regeneration is troublesome.’
He had already heard reports about the Blood Rose Knights. They were known for their ability to recover from injuries that would normally destroy ordinary undead.
However, hearing about an ability and experiencing it personally were two different things.
He raised his hammer again.
"Come!"
The Blood Rose Knight Captain stepped forward.
Its enormous greatsword descended towards Darius, carrying enough physical strength to split a building in half.
Darius didn’t retreat.
Instead, he raised his left arm.
Clang!
The greatsword struck his forearm.
A metallic sound echoed through the street.
The Vampire Baron had covered his body with the power of his Ironblood Rule, making his flesh as hard as refined metal.
He pushed the greatsword away and swung his hammer towards the captain’s chest.
BOOM!
The impact sent the enormous knight flying backwards.
It crashed into several Blood Rose Knights, forcing them to retreat.
However, before Darius could follow up, several greatswords descended towards him from different directions.
The surrounding Blood Rose Knights had already moved into position.
Darius’s expression remained cold.
He released another wave of Ironblood energy, strengthening his body before swinging his hammer in a wide arc.
Several knights were sent flying.
Their armour cracked, and some lost their weapons.
Yet they continued getting back up.
Selene watched the battle without changing her expression.
She had already understood that Darius possessed considerable physical strength. His Ironblood Rule was also at a High level within the Lesser Rule category, making him considerably more dangerous than the ordinary Vampires they had encountered.
However, she wasn’t particularly concerned.
Her Blood Rose Knights weren’t ordinary undead.
And she herself hadn’t even entered the battle.
Selene slowly raised her hand.
Several Blood Roses emerged from the ground around the fallen knights. Their roots spread across the street, connecting with the damaged bodies and restoring them.
The knights that had been thrown away stood up again.
Darius noticed the scene.
His expression darkened.
’Just how many times can these things recover?’
He tightened his grip around the hammer.
"Enough! I’ll destroy all of you at once!"
The Ironblood energy around his body surged.
***
At another location, Rachel was facing a different opponent.
Unlike Darius, who possessed an imposing and muscular appearance, the Vampire Baroness standing before her looked considerably more elegant.
She had long black hair, pale skin, and dark red eyes. Her dress was decorated with several purple patterns, and a faint mist surrounded her body.
The mist was unusual.
It wasn’t ordinary smoke or magical energy. It carried a strange poisonous aura that caused the surrounding plants to wither whenever it touched them.
Rachel looked at the woman with interest.
"Another beautiful Vampire. It seems this city has quite a few interesting nobles."
The woman didn’t respond to her remark.
Instead, she examined the Ruination Knights standing behind Rachel.
Their golden-white armour and flowing capes made them resemble an army of holy knights.
However, the woman could sense the dangerous energy contained within their bodies.
"Undead?"
Her eyes narrowed.
"You’re the one responsible for leading these creatures?"
Rachel smiled.
"That’s right. And who might you be?"
The woman raised her chin slightly.
"Vampire Baroness Seraphina Miasma."
She extended one hand.
The strange mist surrounding her body began spreading across the street.
"Remember that name. It will be the last thing you hear before I kill you."
Rachel glanced at the incoming mist before activating her inspection ability.
[Name: Seraphina Miasma]
[Race: Vampire]
[Level: 578]
[Rank: 5]
[Class: Vampire Baroness]
[Rule: Miasma Blood Rule]
[Rule Category: Lesser Rule]
[Rule Level: Peak]
Rachel’s expression remained playful, but her eyes became slightly more serious.
’Another Peak-level Lesser Rule.’
The Miasma Blood Rule was a rather troublesome ability.
It allowed its user to manipulate blood-based miasma, spreading poisonous energy that could weaken enemies, damage their bodies, and interfere with their recovery.
Combined with the natural abilities of a Vampire, it was particularly dangerous.
Seraphina looked at Rachel.
"You’re surprisingly calm for an undead."
Rachel tilted her head.
"Should I be frightened?"
Seraphina’s expression turned cold.
"Then die."
She moved her fingers.
The miasma spread across the street like a thick purple fog.
The Ruination Knights immediately raised their shields.
However, the mist didn’t simply attack their bodies. It seeped through the gaps in their armour and began corroding their flesh.
Several knights staggered.
Their movements became slower as the poisonous energy spread through their bodies.
Seraphina smiled.
"My Miasma Blood Rule can penetrate ordinary defences. No matter how strong your armour is, your undead will eventually be reduced to nothing."
Rachel glanced at the affected knights.
Then she raised one hand.
A golden-white light spread through the formation.
The Fallen Light energy flowing through the Ruination Knights immediately intensified. The poisonous mist surrounding their bodies began to weaken.
Some of the knights recovered their movements, while others continued advancing despite the damage.
Rachel smiled.
"That’s an interesting ability. Unfortunately, my soldiers aren’t as easy to deal with as you think."
She lowered her hand.
The Ruination Knights immediately charged.
The shield-bearing soldiers moved to the front, while the offensive units spread out and attacked from different directions.
Seraphina remained where she was.
She simply waved her hand.
The miasma gathered around several knights before suddenly compressing.
BOOM!
A series of explosions erupted inside the formation.
Several Ruination Knights were thrown backwards. Their armour was damaged, and their bodies were covered in purple-black energy.
However, the remaining knights continued advancing.
Some released golden-white light from their bodies, supporting the soldiers around them. Others attacked from a distance, launching concentrated bursts of Ruination energy through the fog.
Rachel watched the battle with interest.
Her Ruination Knights had been created to perform different roles, and this was a good opportunity to test their abilities against an opponent with a powerful Rule.
Seraphina raised her hand again.
This time, the mist gathered into several enormous blood-red spheres.
"Let’s see how long your army can endure!"
The spheres shot forward.
Rachel’s smile didn’t disappear.
She slowly lifted one hand, and a dark golden light began gathering around her fingers.
"Well, I suppose it’s my turn."
The Ruination Knights immediately spread out, creating an opening in their formation.
Rachel stepped forward.
The power of her Supreme Rule of Fallen Light began flowing through her body.
For the first time since the battle started, the Vampire Baroness sensed something that made her expression change.
She could clearly feel the difference in the energy surrounding Rachel.
It wasn’t ordinary Lesser Rule Power.
It was a Supreme Rule.
Seraphina’s eyes narrowed.
’An undead who possesses a Supreme Rule?’
Her expression became considerably more serious.
The two women stared at each other as the purple miasma and dark golden light spread across the street.