NOVEL NEXT Chapter 18: Chapter Eighteen: Claws of the Vampire
The forest was eerily silent as the group of four walked toward the outskirts of the Urther village. Myia, staying close to Terry's side, glanced nervously at the darkened trees. She had offered to come along as a support but had no intentions of fighting. Her role was clear—to heal when needed and avoid the chaos of battle.
Terry's grip on his weapon tightened as his system buzzed faintly in his mind. The notification that had been lurking since they heard about the werewolf slaves' deaths now seemed more ominous than ever.
Curl glanced back, her sharp eyes narrowing. "Stay alert. If vampires were bold enough to kill slaves in Urther, they won't hesitate to ambush us here." Their eyes were focused on the vampire .
Soden smirked, flames flickering in his palms. "Cime on ,I've been itching for a fight."
Terry remained quiet, his focus inward. His mind replayed the details Myia had shared about the murders—gruesome and merciless, the vampire had left no survivors. This wasn't a random act of violence; it was a statement.
---
[System Notification:]
**Enemy Detected: Ralathor, A-Class Vampire**
**Threat Level: Middle**
***Warning: Combat Imminent. Prepare for Engagement.***
---
"Ralathor," Terry muttered under his breath.
Curl's ears perked up. "Who's that?"
Before Terry could respond, a cold, mocking laugh echoed through the clearing.
"Ah, you've heard of me," a voice said, smooth and dripping with malice. The vampire said with ego.
Ralathor emerged , his crimson cloak billowing in an unseen breeze. His red eyes gleamed with amusement as he surveyed the group.
"Well, well, what do we have here? A healer, a pyromaniac, and two pups playing hero. How quaint."
Curl growled, stepping forward with her blade drawn. "You've got a lot of nerve showing your face here, vampire."
Ralathor's smile widened, revealing sharp fangs. "And you've got a lot of nerve standing against me. Shall we see who's stronger?"
" The strongest doesn't always win Ralathor. " Terry said in disgust.
" Such a line should be said after you have defeated me." Ralathor said with a smirk on his face .
Terry grinned . "And we will. " he said under his breath.
---
Without warning, Ralathor moved. His speed was inhuman, a blur of red that closed the distance between them in an instant. Curl barely had time to react, raising her blade to block his strike. The force of the blow sent her skidding backward, her boots digging furrows into the ground.
Soden wasted no time, unleashing a torrent of flames toward the vampire. Ralathor dodged effortlessly, his movements fluid and precise.
"Is that all you've got?" he taunted, his voice calm despite the chaos.
Terry joined the fray, activating Wind Slash to send a cutting gust toward Ralathor. The vampire deflected it with a flick of his wrist, the wind dissipating harmlessly against his aura.
"You'll have to try harder than that," Ralathor said, his grin never faltering.
---
The group regrouped, realizing they couldn't afford to underestimate their opponent. Curl and Soden coordinated their attacks, forcing Ralathor to split his attention. Terry hung back, analyzing the vampire's movements.
His system buzzed again:
---
System Suggestion:
Weakness Identified: Heart Protection Spell Active
Solution: Dispel Magic Barrier with Coordinated Strike.
---
"Terry, what's the plan?" Curl shouted as she narrowly dodged Ralathor's claws.
"He's got a barrier protecting his heart," Terry called back. "We need to break it first!"
Soden nodded, his flames intensifying. "Leave it to me!"
He unleashed a focused inferno toward Ralathor, the heat searing the air. Curl followed up with a precise strike, her blade glowing with moonlight energy. The combined attack hit the vampire squarely, forcing him to stumble.
Ralathor's smirk faded as cracks appeared in his aura. "You're more troublesome than I expected," he admitted, his tone now laced with irritation.
---
The battle raged on, each side pushing their limits. Ralathor's attacks became more feral, his movements a blur of claws and fangs. Curl and Soden were forced to fall back, their stamina waning under the relentless assault.
Terry's system buzzed urgently:
---
System Notification:
Critical Moment Detected: Activate Soul Cleave for Maximum Damage.
---
Terry took a deep breath, channeling the energy into his blade. The weapon glowed with an intense light, pulsating with raw power.
"This ends now," he said, his voice steady.
He charged at Ralathor, the energy from Soul Cleave leaving a trail of light in its wake. The vampire turned to face him, his eyes widening as he realized the attack was too fast to dodge.
The blade struck true, piercing through the cracks in Ralathor's barrier and driving into his heart. The vampire let out a scream of pure agony, his body disintegrating into ash.
---
The clearing fell silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of the survivors.
Curl sheathed her blade, her expression grim. "That was... intense."
Soden collapsed onto the ground, his flames flickering out. "Tell me we're done with vampires for a while."
Terry didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the spot where Ralathor had stood. His system buzzed one final time:
---
System Notification:
Enemy Defeated: Ralathor
Experience Gained: 150,000
Level Up: 18 (Slave System), 4 (Elf Lord System)
Stats Increased :
Strength: 497
Speed : 608
Luck: 487
Agility :576
---
A small smile tugged at Terry's lips. "We're done," he said, though his tone carried a hint of uncertainty. A tense of fulfillment and happiness but he was still worried.
Myia stepped forward cautiously, her hands glowing with healing energy. "You're all injured. Let me help."
As she began tending to their wounds, Terry couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The vampires wouldn't take Ralathor's death lightly, and the blood spilled tonight would surely spark a greater conflict.
But for now, they had won. They had revenge the death of their like, that was an achievement on its own. Whatever that will come after would wait . They were now in a full raged mood.