Chapter 961 The Taste of Ancient War
During Elder Tilrith's brief visit, the two of them sat down and had a little chat.
Rex learned that she came to him wanting to make a deal in exchange for him eradicating the Rastrikan Demons that were filled with outlaws, too stubborn to listen. She passed the task to him by saying that it wouldn't look good to her image as the new ruler.
Eventually, the two establish a deal as Rex also has a favor to ask from her.
Albeit doing it discreetly, Elder Tilrith would try to convince the high-rank Supernaturals races to help with one part of Rex's plan against the Executor. Realistically speaking, if some were not on board, she would make sure that they at least would steer clear from the way.
Calling it a favor, however, is not fitting.
Since what Rex wanted would also benefit the Supernaturals, it's more like a contribution.
But thinking back, he realized that the deal was not what it seemed.
If he's talking about the Demon race as a whole, why would Elder Tilrith eradicating the Rastrikan Demons herself be bad for her reputation as the new ruler? On the contrary, it would only bolster the Demons' respect as Demons respect power.
Although it was not a total loss, as it blends with Rex's issues, he now knows the real reason.
Of course... After the Executor is gone, they will be dealing with me.
Rex realized that the only reason Elder Tilrith was asking him to take care of the Rastrikan Demons was because she wanted to know more about his strength. Since the fight they had only given a small insight, she wanted to gain more information about his combat prowess.
Just like what Rex is trying to do to the Executor right now, she's doing the same to him.
Coming to this realization, Rex smirks, praising her deceit.
Obviously, he had already made it clear to the Supernatural Elders that he wanted the one to kill the Executor to be himself. Due to that, his entire focus was definitely on the Executor, and his alertness against the Supernaturals was lessened.
Elder Tilrith showcased her experience as she took advantage of this without Rex realizing it.
Initially, the plan was to give a fabricated resistance as the Executor's forces pushed towards the Symposium. However, instead of sticking to the plan, she alone or with the help of Elder Nolacula deliberately chooses a perfect battlefield for them and launches a full-scale attack on the human army when they know the Executor requested Rex's assistance with Gistella being at stake.
Knowing that Rex would be forced to fight, Elder Tilrith would be able to gain more insight.
Sweeping his gaze around, Rex's eyes gleamed red.
Despite there being nothing around him except a desert as far as the eyes could see, he could sense a pair of eyes were watching him, a couple of pairs to be exact. While he was forced to fight like this, Elder Tilrith and maybe Elder Nolacula are probably watching the show with a smile on their faces.
"Fine then, I'll also not refrain from using your forces too" Rex mused.
Looking back at the five Vampires blowing a big, crimson war trumpet, Rex thought of a plan.
He couldn't let Elder Tilrith be steering the wheel.
Ngooong!!
A powerful shockwave was created from the menacing sound of the war horns, covering a vast distance and turning the sand below their feet crimson. Obviously, these five Vampires were the Enchanters from the ancient era.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt<Warning!>
<The terrain around the user is being influenced by the Troubadour of Blood War!>
<All Vampires inside the range of effect would experience a substantial 50% boost in their physical attributes. Furthermore, the potency of blood spells and skills would be greatly amplified, while any non-vampiric entities caught within the area would suffer from Ichor Blindness>
Rex felt the full brunt of the Enchanters of the ancient Vampires, his vision got impaired.
In an instant, his vision was covered by a thick crimson haze.
Under the effect of the Ichor Blindness, he felt as if the entire world was submerged in a pool of blood, obscuring his vision heavily. He tried to shake it off to no avail, and he was forced to scan his surroundings with his impaired vision.
Soon he found that the blood vessels of the other humans were starting to be see-through.
It comes to a point where blood vessels are all he can see.
On top of that, coming from behind the Vampire Enchanter, emerging from the sand hillocks was the Vampire army that was now already clad in strong armor. All of them started to turn into their monstrous ancient Vampire forms, growling with blood-rotting thirst out of their mouths.
However, Rex was utterly shocked when these Vampires' form and presence started to fade.
All of them blend with the crimson haze and become invisible.
Just then he realized the full effect of the Ichor Blindness was not a joke, it was devastating.
Now, the full-scale blowing wind of ancient war struck him for real.
Even though the war against the Supernaturals during the current era also has events such as this, none of them reached this scale. It also concerned Rex when the effect was applied without the System giving him any notice.
In short, the effect of Ichor Blindness doesn't aim at the mind or soul.
An irresistible effect.
Meanwhile, watching the fight on an elevated cliff from the far distance were two figures.
Precisely as what Rex had anticipated through his extremely sensitive intuition, Elder Tilrith and Elder Nolacula were watching the fight unfold inside the Shifting Realm. Both had their eyes attracted to the desert when they saw the fight was about to start.
Under their calm gazes, the sand turned crimson, marking the Vampire's attack.
"Troubadour of Blood War, that area spell only bring back bad memories" Elder Tilrith mused.
Upon hearing this, Elder Nolacula laughed.
Since ancient times, they had been acquainted and shared their fair share of conflicts. Normally, Demons didn't engage in socializing with other races. However, due to Elder Nolacula's assistance during one of Elder Tilrith's dire moments, she became more tolerant of him.
Elder Nolacula nodded in return, "It's a gift from our God to the Origin"
"It was bestowed to us when the Undeads tried to frame us in order to be given mercy by the Ancient Humans. An area spell that would affect anyone who is not a Vampire, even the Ancient Humans. When affected, their vision will be indistinct and distorted. All will lose the ability to see us Vampires" Elder Nolacula explained, a hint of pride in his tone.
Gazing at the center, where Rex was located, Elder Tilrith smiled mischievously.
Observing the only person she was here for, she then commented, "So what about your assessment of the Royal Black Prince? Are you confident that he wouldn't be able to break free from the binding of this spell?"
"The spell's only weakness is that the Enchanters had to maintain it" Elder Nolacula replied.
His eyes then darted to the side at the five Vampire Enchanters that were still channeling their energies, maintaining the Troubadour of Blood War spell. "He could break free if he takes down the Enchanters, other than that, it's impossible for him to get rid of the effect"
But as he finished saying that, Elder Tilrith pointed forward.
"Is that so...? Then can you explain to me how he's doing that?" She asked with a frown.
Returning his attention to Rex, Elder Nolacula was left speechless.
"Impossible..." He whispered.
Observing Rex as he battled the Vampires, he initially was overwhelmed as the Vampires managed to rag-dolled him around alongside the human army. However, that quickly changed as he began to evade their attacks and retaliate as if he could see them, despite being afflicted by the Ichor Blindness.
Nobody would be able to do something like this.
Elder Nolacula found this impossible because the area spell enclosed the Vampires with perfect invisibility, their entire presence including their scents and energies was hidden, so there was no anchor that Rex could use to dodge their attacks.
However, the impossible was shown to be possible right before his very eyes.
"If it's like this, he might really beat the Executor in due time..." Elder Tilrith whispers lightly.
Meanwhile, back to the battlefield.
Just as the Ichor Blindness effect was about to take hold, the Awakened swiftly dismantled the platform they had created before the army scrambled to form a defensive line and unleashed a barrage of attacks on the five Vampire Enchanters and the incoming Vampire army.
Numerous, differing blasting sounds rang, whistling through the air.
A wide array of advanced military weapons, including rockets, reinforced bullets that glistened with reddish light, armored shells, as well as the spells and skills wielded by the Awakened and the Black Hands, converged and streaked toward their intended targets.
In an instant, a big-scale fight breaks out.
Only the Cessation Knight remained composed at the front line, creating a barricade.
Boom!
Crash!
Boom!
Explosions resounded at the backline of the Vampire army, while the front line was drowned in bullets that were surprisingly able to hurt them bit by bit. Despite their very sturdy skin, the Vampires started to fall.
But the catastrophe didn't start instantly but gradually.
Slowly, the Vampires started to resort to flying to avoid the full brunt of the bullets.
Additionally, the Vampires who were adept in long-range spells retaliated by hurling bombs that erupted into deadly blood spikes or casting targeted spells that twisted the blood within their victims, leading to their implosion.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmIt was becoming more dire as the Ichor Blindness fully clouded their vision.
Meanwhile, at the most intense part of the battle was Rex followed by Edward and Mavenna.
Forming a fixed battle formation is not ideal for powerful entities such as themselves, it was best for them to cause as much havoc in the enemy's army as possible compared to lessen the burden endured by the others.
Like a ferocious tiger, Rex wrestled against dozens of ancient Vampires.
His sword started accumulating victims, infused with red force and black lightning elements were potent enough to pierce through the ancient Vampire's hard skin. Countless notifications from the System appeared in his vision.
But as he leaped away to create some distance, his back hit something.
Glancing over his shoulder, Rex found Edward who turns out to be covering his back.
In a split second, their eyes locked onto each other before an ancient Vampire lunged at them. Without even glancing at the attacker, both of them instinctively delivered powerful backhands, propelling the ancient Vampire far and creating a deep, vicious scar in the ground.
Rex's hit blasted a shockwave of red force and also electrocuted hundreds along the way.
On the other hand, Edward's shockwave melted hundreds.
"Just like old times, eh...? Different being that we are much stronger now" Edward teased.
Upon hearing this, Rex clicked his tongue in displeasure in annoyance.
After their lighthearted exchange, the Ichor Blindness took hold, and both of their vision were instantly impaired. In the second they were influenced, both of them were immediately pounced and savagely assailed by the ancient Vampires.
Big Vampires grabbed them by the ankles and relentlessly slammed them into the ground.
It kept going again, and again.
Seems like the Vampires didn't appreciate them taking this lightly and punished them.
Crash!
A particular Vampire of imposing stature with red short hair hurled Rex into a big rock formation heading their way, forming a crack that split the entire column into two. Gasping for breath, Rex struggled to recover, but the Vampire showed no mercy, pressing the attack fiercely.
Blasting blood energy to its back, the Vampire dashed and kneed Rex right on his sternum.
Boom!
It was so powerful that the entire rock formations collapsed.
Rex burst through the entire rock formation and rolled over, he could feel a couple of his bones crack from that attack, showing that the Vampire was by no means a weak one. He then quickly raised his gaze as the Vampire still wanted to press on.
Just then, a smirk appeared on Rex's face as he raised his arm to block the Vampire's swipe.
Bam!
Evidently, the Vampire was surprised by this.
Due to the Ichor Blindness, Rex shouldn't be able to sense him much less block his attack.
However, the Vampire doesn't know that Rex has the System.
Despite his vision and senses being impaired, unable to see the Vampire who was attacking him, Rex could still see the stats floating beside them and use that to pinpoint the location of the attacker.
"My turn now..."