The undead army slowly entered the castle.
Kaiser walked at the front, with Ripple floating beside him. Behind them, Selene, Rachel, Frank, and Night followed alongside their respective forces. The Blood Rose Knights and Ruination Knights marched in orderly formations, while Frank’s Chimera soldiers moved behind them.
The interior of the castle was far more impressive than its exterior.
The enormous hall was decorated with black marble pillars and intricate silver patterns. Crimson crystals were embedded in the walls, providing enough light to illuminate the entire chamber. A long red carpet stretched from the entrance towards the throne at the far end.
However, Kaiser wasn’t particularly interested in the decorations.
His attention was fixed on the woman sitting on the throne.
She was, without a doubt, the most breathtakingly beautiful woman he had ever seen.
Her long silver hair flowed down her shoulders, contrasting beautifully with her pale, flawless skin. Her crimson eyes were clear and bright, carrying an unusual elegance that made it difficult to look away. She wore a magnificent black dress decorated with silver and crimson patterns, and her appearance was further enhanced by the faint aura of nobility surrounding her.
In her hands rested a silver-red sceptre. A large ruby was embedded at its top, glowing faintly as it reflected the crimson light of the hall.
She held the sceptre across her lap while looking down at the approaching group.
Her gaze moved slowly from one person to another.
First, she examined Kaiser.
Then her eyes shifted towards Ripple, followed by the four pets and the undead champions behind him. She paid particular attention to Selene, Rachel, and Frank, seemingly recognising that they were different from the ordinary undead.
Despite the enormous army standing before her, the woman showed no signs of nervousness.
Instead, she appeared rather curious.
"I remember creating my abode far away from human civilisation," she finally said. Her elegant voice echoed throughout the throne hall. "So, why have you come here, human?"
Kaiser paused.
He hadn’t expected the final boss of his trial to begin with a question.
’Well, how am I supposed to explain this?’
He glanced at the woman sitting on the throne before giving a somewhat awkward reply.
"Umm... The Cosmic System chose me for this."
Elmira stared at him for a moment.
Kaiser hadn’t released any killing intent or any aura. He wasn’t trying to intimidate her, nor was he treating her like an enemy he desperately wanted to kill.
To him, she was simply another being he had encountered during his trial.
Of course, he understood that the situation wasn’t ordinary. The Cosmic System had sent him here, and he couldn’t simply abandon the trial because he happened to meet someone who don’t feel monstrous to him.
He rubbed the back of his head.
"Honestly, I don’t really know what to make of this situation either. But I can’t exactly lose the trial, can I?"
He looked directly at Elmira.
"So, how about we settle this with a fight? A simple competition not a battle to death. No need to make things complicated."
For a brief moment, the throne hall fell silent.
Elmira continued looking at him.
Then, a faint smile appeared on her beautiful face.
"At least you’re willing to talk about it."
She slowly adjusted her position on the throne, her silver-red sceptre resting against her lap.
"Very well, human. I like your attitude."
Her crimson eyes gleamed.
"Let’s fight, then."
Kaiser smiled.
"Glad we could agree."
Elmira slowly rose from her throne.
The moment her feet touched the floor, an enormous aura spread throughout the hall. The crimson crystals embedded in the walls began glowing brighter, and the silver patterns covering the pillars responded to her presence.
Her long silver hair moved gently as an overwhelming pressure filled the chamber.
The woman who had appeared so relaxed moments earlier now carried the presence of a powerful Vampire Marquis.
Kaiser could feel the difference immediately.
She was on an entirely different level compared to the five Rank 5 Vampires his army had defeated outside.
Ripple moved slightly closer to Kaiser, while Selene and Rachel remained alert. Frank’s three heads turned towards Elmira, and Night quietly disappeared into the shadows.
Kaiser raised one hand, stopping his summons from attacking prematurely.
"Don’t interfere unless I tell you to."
He wanted to see just how powerful the final opponent of his Rank 3 Nightmare Trial really was.
Elmira noticed his action and smiled.
"You’re quite confident in yourself, aren’t you, human?"
Kaiser shrugged.
"Well, I wouldn’t have come this far if I wasn’t."
Elmira gave a soft laugh.
"Interesting."
She raised her silver-red sceptre, and the enormous ruby at its top began shining.
"Then show me what you can do."
Kaiser stepped forward.
Kaiser stepped forward, stopping several meters away from the throne.
Elmira watched him with interest. Her crimson eyes moved over his body, seemingly examining him from head to toe.
"So, human. How do you intend to fight me?"
Kaiser glanced at the silver-red sceptre in her hand.
"Well, I suppose we’ll start with a simple exchange of attacks."
Elmira smiled.
"Simple? You make it sound as though you’re fighting an ordinary opponent."
She gently tapped the bottom of her sceptre against the floor.
Clang!
A strange vibration spread throughout the throne hall.
The crimson crystals embedded in the walls began glowing brighter, and the blood-red patterns covering the floor slowly lit up.
Kaiser immediately felt a change in the surrounding atmosphere.
’She’s already using her Rule Power.’
He inspected her again, trying to obtain more information.
However, unlike the previous Vampires, her status wasn’t revealing everything. Most of the details were hidden behind a layer of powerful energy.
Kaiser narrowed his eyes.
’As expected of the final opponent.’
Elmira stood up from her throne and descended the few steps leading towards the centre of the hall.
Her movements were graceful, and she didn’t appear to be in a hurry.
"Before we begin, human, tell me your name."
"Kaiser Storm."
"Kaiser Storm..."
She repeated his name softly, as if committing it to memory.
"Very well, Kaiser. I am Elmira Rosette, the ruler of this territory."
She raised her sceptre slightly.
"Now, let us see whether you are worthy of reaching my throne."
The ruby at the top of her sceptre suddenly shone.
A crimson wave spread throughout the hall.
Kaiser immediately sensed danger.
He moved his hand, and a faint vibration spread around his body.
The next moment, several blood-red spikes emerged from the floor beneath him.
BOOM!
The spikes pierced through the space where he had been standing, but Kaiser had already moved several meters away.
He looked down at the floor.
The spikes were not ordinary blood constructs. They were dense, sharp, and carried an unusual energy that made them considerably more dangerous.
Elmira tilted her head.
"Oh? You managed to avoid that."
She moved her sceptre again.
This time, the blood-red patterns across the floor began flowing towards Kaiser.
A massive crimson hand emerged from the ground and reached for him.
Kaiser raised his right hand.
"Minor Vibration Manipulation."
A concentrated vibration gathered around his palm before he released it towards the incoming hand.
BOOM!
The crimson construct trembled violently.
Numerous cracks appeared across its surface before it shattered into countless fragments.
Elmira’s eyes brightened slightly.
"Interesting. That’s not ordinary energy manipulation."
Kaiser didn’t answer immediately.
He was still examining the energy contained within her attacks.
’Her control over blood is far more refined than the previous Vampires. The attacks are also much denser.’
Elmira lightly swung her sceptre.
The scattered blood fragments suddenly stopped moving.
Then, they transformed into hundreds of thin blades.
Whoosh!
They rushed towards Kaiser from every direction.
Kaiser didn’t retreat.
His Supreme Rule of Shattered Soul spread around his body, and a faint vibration passed through the surrounding space.
"Shatter."
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The incoming blades began breaking apart before reaching him.
However, a few managed to pass through the vibrations and continued towards his body.
Kaiser quickly moved aside, avoiding them by a narrow margin.
’Not bad.’
He looked towards Elmira.
She was still standing in the same position, holding her sceptre with one hand.
She hadn’t even moved from the centre of the hall.
"Your turn, human."
Kaiser smiled.
"Gladly."
He extended his hand.
A powerful vibration gathered around his palm, gradually forming a small sphere.
Unlike his previous attacks, he compressed the energy into a much smaller space.
The sphere trembled slightly, producing a faint buzzing sound.
Elmira watched it with curiosity.
Kaiser flicked his finger.
The sphere shot forward.
BOOM!
Elmira raised her sceptre.
A crimson barrier appeared in front of her, blocking the attack.
The impact caused the entire throne hall to shake.
Several cracks appeared across the barrier, but it remained intact.
Elmira glanced at the damaged surface.
Then she looked back at Kaiser.
"You’re certainly more interesting than I expected."
She raised her sceptre again.
This time, the enormous ruby at its top released a brilliant crimson light.
The blood scattered across the battlefield outside the castle suddenly began responding to her command.
Even the blood inside the bodies of the fallen Vampires started trembling.
Kaiser noticed the change immediately.
’She’s controlling the blood beyond this hall as well?’
Elmira smiled.
"Let’s make things a little more interesting."
The crimson patterns on the floor began spreading.
A vast blood-red domain slowly formed beneath her feet.
Kaiser could feel the pressure increasing with every passing moment.
He glanced towards his summons.
Selene, Rachel, and Frank were watching the battle carefully. Even they seemed to recognise the difference between Elmira and the five Rank 5 Vampires they had defeated earlier.
Ripple floated beside Kaiser, his rainbow-coloured eyes fixed on the Vampire Marquis.
"Father, should I help you?"
Kaiser shook his head.
"Not yet. I want to test her strength myself."
Ripple nodded, although he remained ready to intervene if necessary.
Kaiser turned back towards Elmira.
"Alright, let’s continue."
Elmira smiled.
"Of course."
She raised her sceptre high.
"Blood Domain!"
The entire throne hall was engulfed in crimson light.
Countless blood-red spears emerged from the ground, walls, and even the air around Kaiser.
The next instant, they all rushed towards him.
Kaiser immediately activated his Supreme Rule of Shattered Soul.
His eyes focused on the incoming attacks.
"Shatter!"
A powerful vibration spread throughout the hall.
The first wave of spears broke apart, scattering into crimson fragments.
However, the remaining spears continued approaching from different directions.
Kaiser moved quickly, avoiding the attacks while releasing repeated vibrations to destroy those he couldn’t dodge.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The throne hall shook continuously.
Elmira watched him with growing interest.
For the first time since the battle began, she took a step forward.
"You’re quite capable, Kaiser Storm."
She gently smiled.
"But I wonder how long you can keep this up."
Her sceptre shone again.
The scattered blood fragments suddenly gathered together, forming an enormous crimson serpent above the throne hall.
Its body stretched across the entire chamber, and its glowing eyes locked onto Kaiser.
The serpent opened its mouth.
A powerful wave of blood energy gathered inside.
Kaiser looked up.
His expression became serious.
’Now that’s a proper attack.’
He raised both hands, gathering his Rule Power.
The next moment, the crimson serpent lunged towards him.