WeTried Translations

Translator: Hydrogen B

Editor: Hydrogen B

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Chapter 448: Heaven-Defying Trial - 16

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Meurie of the Dark Moon. With mysterious movements, she blended into the darkness and literally made her body "melt." Once a renowned dancer and member of a secret assassination group, she had attempted to assassinate the Progenitor, Tyrkanzyaka, on commission. Tyrkanzyaka took an interest in her, and she became an Elder.

Assassins received training that bordered on brainwashing from childhood. For Meurie, who had been a doll following orders without purpose or will, life as an Elder was the better choice. There were still many people Meurie had to kill and many who wanted to kill her, but at least she no longer had to live under the constant tension of wondering whether she would die.

That was why Meurie resented Tyrkanzyaka for setting her free. Her current attack was little more than a tantrum.

Meurie flowed through a tiny crack in the broken wall, a hole barely large enough for a head to fit through. Slipping through the narrow, dark gap, she got behind Tyrkanzyaka and silently extended her dagger without the slightest trace of killing intent.

Meurie's dagger, Moon Fang, targeted Tyrkanzyaka.

[Your dance is yours, but that blood is mine.]

After that quiet murmur, a massive fist swept through Meurie.

Vampires did not usually care much about defense. If it was only a shadow formed from gathered darkness, it was better to ignore it and push through.

Meurie could not disregard the dreadful force she felt from the giant. The blow would not kill her, but an ominous feeling made her abandon the attack and evade its fist.

Whoosh.

The fist passed right before her face, wrapped in a storm. Beyond its hard texture and heavy presence, she could sense blood energy through the pitch-black darkness.

"It is full of blood energy, isn't it? Even without her authority, that power is enough to fill a giant and still overflow, isn't it?"

"Blood energy!"

Bakuta, having caught the scent of prey, lunged at the giant. Opening his mouth like a monster, he took a huge bite out of its right hand. After tasting the blood energy cut from the darkness, Bakuta frowned and muttered.

"This is... not very tasty..."

As Bakuta chewed on the darkness and voiced his mild disappointment, the giant grabbed him with one hand. As if seeking revenge, it brought Bakuta to its mouth without a moment's hesitation.

Crunch.

The giant's teeth crushed Bakuta's lower body. Bakuta, who had spent a lifetime eating others, found himself being eaten.

Crunch, crunch.

After thoroughly chewing and swallowing one of Bakuta's legs, the shadow let blood energy drip from its mouth and muttered.

[You are no better.]

"Oh? Are you hungry too, Mother?"

Even while being eaten, Bakuta asked happily, but Tyrkanzyaka's shadow snorted.

[Not particularly. Anything was acceptable if it could make you all shut your mouths.]

"...What a shame. I thought Mother had realized hunger too."

[I already know that. I still yearn, after all.]

A vampire's power was bloodcraft, the manipulation of blood. Tyrkanzyaka could still use bloodcraft. She had simply been unable to handle her overflowing power because the blood energy insisted on staying where blood belonged.

So Tyrkanzyaka deceived her blood.

The giant's upper body rose behind Tyrkanzyaka. Blood energy flowed from Tyrkanzyaka's body into the giant. The giant surrounding her was another body she had shaped in her own likeness.

Even though it had been made with her authority, every element of it was identical to Tyrkanzyaka. Blood energy, intent on staying in its rightful place, flowed into it without recognizing that it was an artificial body. That was fine. Tyrkanzyaka had enough blood energy to fill a lake.

"...The Clan Chief has learned how to use her power."

The Watcher, Rahu Khan, muttered.

Rahu Khan, conqueror of the wilderness, could concentrate blood energy to enhance the functions of their body. That ability could strengthen their entire body, but they used it mainly on their eyes, which was why they were called the Watcher. True to that name, Rahu Khan stared through Tyrkanzyaka's shadow with eyes flickering with red ghostfire. They saw what trick she had used, how she wielded her power, and how it could be countered.

"Powerful. That is all. The same method as Valdamir's. The blood energy is stronger... but crude."

Rahu Khan drew the spear slung over their back.

That giant was literally an enlarged Tyrkanzyaka. It was a method devised to properly wield her excess power. It was undoubtedly powerful and useful, but the frame of a body still bound that power.

...Still, perhaps because she was the master of bloodcraft, the speed at which she accepted power was extraordinary. It was as if she were reclaiming what had always belonged to her.

No, when it came down to it, it had always been hers. Before long, Tyrkanzyaka would digest the strength of every Elder.

"If she completes that power, no one will be able to return the Clan Chief to her old self."

The Watcher sensed that this was the turning point.

Lungken was the last remaining boar beastkin. Rahu Khan and the centaurs under them were also on the verge of disappearing. Vampires were living taxidermy. They existed forever in time that had stopped while they were fading away. Rahu Khan, who bore the duty of preserving their species, could not tolerate the Progenitor's whims.

The Progenitor had to remain eternal. Only then would the centaurs remain eternal as well. Even if Rahu Khan incurred the Progenitor's hatred and died, the centaurs they had deliberately not brought along would remain and carry on their bloodline.

"Hup!"

Rahu Khan, who had been watching for an opportunity, spotted an opening and kicked off the ground. Their hooves left deep marks in the corridor as the four-legged beast charged at a speed no biped could follow. With their spear, they pierced the straight line running from the giant's elbow to its hand, an opening created because it had been made from Tyrkanzyaka's body.

The spinning spear scattered the darkness. Blood energy flowed from the shattered body. The giant thrashed convulsively, but Rahu Khan evaded with agile movements and tore it apart. What remained of the giant screamed.

Yet even as it was wounded, the giant's eyes moved. Bright red eyes, as if filled to the brim with blood, followed Rahu Khan's movements.

"My eyes... copied so easily!"

The giant watched Rahu Khan with the Watcher's own eyes. A technique created by an Elder had been reproduced with the Progenitor's blood energy. Seeing that gaze accurately track them, Rahu Khan realized it.

Only now could they stop the Progenitor. Valdamir, who had surpassed the Progenitor in strength, and Du Lahan, who had defeated Valdamir. Before long, the Progenitor would surpass them both.

They had to arrive before that happened.

Du Lahan and Valdamir, forces with the power to defeat the Progenitor.

* * *

This was the most desperate situation since arriving in the Duchy.

Five ain. One Elder. There were six in total, but considering their quality, they were practically an army corps in the Duchy.

I was an ordinary human, while Hilde was only one of the Six Generals. A member of the Six Generals was not someone to scoff at, but if you ordered one to enter the Duchy and act boldly, they would balk. Setting combat strength aside, killing even one ain was difficult because they were immortal. And they had an Elder backing them? Running was the best option.

That was only true if escape was possible.

"If I offered to become a hostage, would you be willing to consider it?"

"Dispose of them."

"She won't even hear me out."

They approached while practically creating a wall out of blood, afraid we might escape. If there had only been one Elder, I could have looked for an opening and tricked her somehow. With five ain surrounding us from every direction, though, there was not even room to breathe.

Damn it. Did I have no choice but to leave this to Hilde's judgment? Just as I was half giving up.

"Wait."

The wave of blood parted, and another ain appeared. It was Count Erte, the ain I had encountered most often since coming to the Fog Duchy.

Seeing her appear in this desperate situation, I shouted in delight.

"Count Erte! You came to save us!"

"It appears so."

Count Erte readily admitted it.

My reinforcements! You made it in time! You almost arrived too late, but I could forgive that much. A protagonist's entrance was more cathartic when it came near the end!

"Erte. You are Valdamir's thrall. Why are you stopping me?"

Erjebeut showed her displeasure.

No matter how much of an Elder she was, she could not treat another Elder's ain however she pleased. Even if their rank was lower, they were another Elder's thrall and limbs. She could not kill or harm another Elder's limbs simply because she disliked them.

More than that, Count Erte was an ain trusted by Valdamir himself. Her actions reflected Valdamir's will. Erjebeut asked what that will was.

That did not erase the difference between an Elder and an ain. Count Erte knelt before Erjebeut and answered respectfully.

"It is the Duke of Crimson Blood's will. The Duke wishes for the situation to remain largely unchanged until he arrives."

"Valdamir's will?"

An ain would not impersonate an Elder's will. That was even more true if the Elder was Valdamir. Erjebeut asked just in case.

"Did that 'situation' include whether the concubine lived or died?"

"He did not mention it specifically, but I believe it likely did."

"Why?"

"How could I presume to know the will of a great Elder? I only followed it."

"...Tch."

‘Valdamir is an indispensable force. He must have his own reasons, so I would like to cooperate if possible...’

There was one thing she had overlooked. The Elders were madmen who had cast off even their shackles. Erjebeut moved impatiently.

"He did not tell me to spare the concubine. Dispose of him quickly, and we can settle the rest later."

"Madam Erjebeut, wait..."

"Do not concern yourself with this. Continue what you were doing."

Erjebeut's thralls were her limbs. Another Elder's will did not concern them. Despite Count Erte's attempts to stop them, the ain raised a wave of bloody water and swept it over Hilde and me. Hilde split the first wave with her holy sword, but the waves that followed gradually pushed her back.

Of course. An Elder who had betrayed the Progenitor would not listen just because someone invoked the Duke of Crimson Blood. What we needed now was not words, but strength.

"Madam Erjebeut, please stop!"

"We will be too late."

"No. The Duke of Crimson Blood has arrived!"

With Count Erte's cry, the sound of someone running came from far away.

Tap tap tap tap tap tap.

The hurried footsteps made me want to know what emergency could have driven someone to run like that. They drew closer and closer, approaching the corner. Count Erte knelt toward it in advance.

Then the reinforcements I had been waiting for arrived.

"Whew. I almost didn't make it in time."

The one who had run here without a shred of dignity was none other than Crimson Duke Valdamir. Stopping precisely before Count Erte, he handed her the bundle in one hand and looked around.

Erjebeut. Her thralls. Hilde and I, surrounded. Having grasped the situation at a glance, Valdamir immediately headed toward Erjebeut.

Erjebeut received him without particular wariness.

"You say you almost didn't make it? You're already late, Valdamir. Where did you go before coming here on such an important day?"

"I went to wake Du Lahan."

"I know. I'm asking why you were late even accounting for that. Seeing you run here on your own two feet, it doesn't seem you were loafing about... More importantly, didn't you ride Rallion?"

"Rallion left me behind and ran to the Progenitor first."

Blood Steed Rallion was the Progenitor's beloved mount. No, it was the first thrall the Progenitor had created and her final remnant from when she had been human. Though Tyr had made Rallion clumsily, she had poured her care and strength into it. Rallion would never betray Tyr.

Erjebeut reminded him of that fact.

"Keeping Rallion away from the Progenitor. That was your plan, was it not?"

"No. I traveled with Rallion for a reason other than separating it from the Progenitor."

"Then why?"

Valdamir answered Erjebeut's question as though it were obvious.

"Because Rallion is fast. I thought we would lack time, so I borrowed its strength. I felt sorry to borrow the Progenitor's beloved mount for personal reasons, but an unavoidable matter came up, so it could not be helped."

It was the simplest and most straightforward reason for riding a horse. Erjebeut stared at Valdamir as if she could not believe him, then pressed him.

"How long could it possibly take to wake Du Lahan...? More importantly, where are they? Did they also follow Rallion and run to the Progenitor?"

"They are here."

"Here?"

His tone made it sound as though Du Lahan had accompanied him. Yet Valdamir was alone no matter where she looked. He had only brought one bundle. Only then did Erjebeut look at the bundle Valdamir had brought.

Right. There was a large gift inside that heavy bundle.

Thank goodness. I'm saved. I approached Count Erte and gestured for her to unwrap it. Count Erte looked to Valdamir as though waiting for an order, then, the moment he gave permission, untied the bundle bound with blood threads.

The heavy bundle slipped open, revealing...

Someone's head. A human head, filled with rage and resentment, glaring at Valdamir with bloodshot eyes.

The head, which appeared to still be alive, shouted in a blood-tinged voice.

"...Val...damir...!"

The head of the Dark Knight, Du Lahan, had appeared in a most unexpected place.

Footnotes:

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