Following the direction of the sound, they were met with the sight of several crimson bats flying towards them, perching ominously on tree branches.
These bats had eyes that gleamed with a sinister red glow, fixed intently on Howard and his four companions.
This scene immediately sent shivers down Caitlin and the others’ spines.
“Why do these bats have blood-red eyes? They look so eerie!” Caitlin exclaimed.
Glyn quickly tried to assess the attributes of the Crimson Bats and shared his findings with the group.
Yet, the attribute panel was filled with question marks, revealing nothing at all.
Even Howard furrowed his brow in concern.
Question marks usually indicated a vast level difference or that the target was not a living entity.
If it was the former, it seemed their expedition to the Ruins might entirely rely on Daniel’s abilities.
“Let’s test them out,” Glyn suggested with narrowed eyes. “Howard, I’m going to use my skill and likely alert those Crimson Bats. If they turn out to be formidable, summon your fire dragon to hold them off. If they are not that strong, we’ll charge straight through!”
Howard was about to inform Glyn that he currently couldn’t use his Dragonfire Spell, but Glyn was already on the move.
With a swift wave of his right hand, a silver lightning bolt burst forth, striking one of the Crimson Bats.
A thunderous explosion resonated, and the targeted Crimson Bat was shattered by the bolt. .
Its fellow bats were blown away by the explosive shockwave.
However, to Howard and his team’s astonishment, as the Crimson Bats were sent flying, their bodies dissipated like dust in the wind.
“What… What just happened?!”
The group exchanged bewildered glances, faces filled with confusion.
“I get it now; they aren’t corporeal entities!”
Recalling the scene in the Bat Cave dungeon where Vampire Baron Huesman continually summoned the Crimson Bats, Howard finally pieced it together, stating gravely, “Those Crimson Bats are monsters conjured by the vampires using their skills. As such, they don’t have any attributes, and they’ll disperse as soon as they’re attacked!”
“It seems the vampires already know of our arrival,” he added.
Abby, Caitlin, Glyn, and Aisha, all quick-witted, immediately grasped the situation.
“The path is the right one. We move forward!” Howard said with a grin. “We needn’t kill the Crimson Bats. Ideally, they will draw out the vampires for us.”
It seemed the universe was heeding Howard’s wishes.
Before long, the Crimson Bats reappeared, but this time, they were carrying a coffin.
Upon seeing the coffin, both Howard and Abby immediately warned, “Be careful, there’s a vampire inside that coffin!”
“Oh? So, the legends are true? Vampires truly reside within coffins?”
Heeding the warning, Caitlin, Aisha, and Glyn looked on in astonishment. Caitlin, especially, remarked, “I have heard that vampires are exceptionally handsome.”
Abby shook her head, replying, “Hardly. To my eyes, they aren’t even a fraction as attractive as Howard!”
Seemingly agitated by Abby’s remark, a sharp voice broke the silence.
The lid of the coffin flew open, revealing a cloaked figure who soared out.
It had a human appearance but with an eerily pale face devoid of any color, eyes emitting a green glow, and two fangs protruding from its mouth.
Upon this abrupt encounter with the vampire, Caitlin, Aisha, and Glyn couldn’t help but size him up.
Even the relaxed Daniel, standing some distance away, cast a curious glance in their direction.
“Such a ghostly pallor, how terrifying,” Caitlin remarked with a hint of sarcasm, “Turns out books are so misleading.”
The vampire’s lips twitched in annoyance, replying with a sinister sneer, “Pathetic humans. Even on the brink of death, you dare to mock and insult me? Prepare to meet your end!”
“Blood Bat Strike!”
With a swift flick of his cloak, the vampire transformed the earlier Crimson Bats into a surging wave, rushing menacingly towards Howard and the group.
Stepping forward, Howard swung his Soul Nurturer.
In an instant, blazing flames ignited, forming into a massive fireball that hurtled directly into the oncoming torrent of Crimson Bats.
The moment the fireball collided with the bats, a fierce power erupted, producing flames that soared to the heavens, swallowing every single Crimson Bat in its fiery embrace.
Despite Howard’s seemingly lower rank, the enhancements from several pieces of Epic equipment, coupled with the moonlight activating the Kiss of the Moon Goddess effect, boosted his attributes by 30%.
Even a casual F-level skill like the fireball could unleash astonishing power under these conditions.
Moreover, the Soul Nurturer’s equipment effect came into play, materializing a faint blue protective shield that enveloped Howard.
Witnessing the scene, Daniel’s eyes sparkled with intrigue as he murmured, “Impressive lad. With three Epic equipment pieces on him, and although his skill level may be modest, his spirit is terrifyingly potent. No wonder he can unleash such power!”
“Based on the intel, this boy is just an orphan, powerless and unprivileged. He must have acquired those Epic equipments himself, truly intriguing.”
Indeed, being a LV86 expert, Daniel astutely discerned that Howard was utilizing three pieces of Epic equipment.
However, unbeknownst to him, Howard had even more high-tier equipment, merely lying dormant and yet to be triggered.
“Engage!”
Caitlin and Glyn were no pushovers either.
Seeing Howard fend off the vampire’s onslaught, they immediately seized the opportunity to unleash their skills.
Amidst flickering lightning, Glyn leaped powerfully towards the airborne vampire.
Meanwhile, Caitlin, gripping her sword, exuded a blade aura that emanated from within her, wrapping around her form, making even her clothing flutter in its wake.
“Cackling fools,” the vampire sneered at the humans, “Life Drain!”
Confronted by Glyn’s assault, the vampire remained unperturbed, even revealing a sinister smirk. However, before he could even cast his skill, a deep blue feathered arrow unexpectedly struck him right in the face.
“-102!”
While the damage numbers might appear minuscule, that single arrow caused frost to spread across his entire body.
Though the frost shattered instantly, the vampire was noticeably affected. Before he could unleash his skill, Glyn collided with him in full force.
Crackling sounds resounded as lightning, akin to venomous serpents, slithered rapidly over the vampire, paralyzing him in its grasp.
Boom!
The paralyzed vampire plummeted from the sky, crashing heavily onto the ground.
“-6782!”
A staggering damage number appeared, causing nearly a tenth of the vampire’s health bar to plummet.
Before the vampire could recover from his paralyzed state, his attributes were promptly exposed to all.
[Vampire Baron Barton](BOSS)
Level: 40
Tier: Silver
Description: A lesser noble within the Castle of Vampires. As centuries have passed and the Castle of Vampires gradually deteriorates, some of the lower nobility are forced to depart from the castle, seeking new sanctuaries.
HP: 68000/68000
Attack Power: 3820 – 4522
Defense Value: 1700
Skills: Life Drain, Blood Bat Strike, Crimson Cloak, Blood Ninjutsu.
“BOSS!” Spotting the stats, excitement electrified Caitlin, Glyn, and Aisha. The rewards from defeating a BOSS far surpassed those from ordinary foes, not to mention this being a Silver-grade BOSS at Level 40!
Charging with intent, Caitlin wasted no more time.
Pushing off with her right foot, she lunged forward like an arrow released from its bow, piercing right through Vampire Baron Barton just as he was recovering from the paralytic state and regaining his footing.
A violent shudder coursed through Barton. Moments later, a crack began to spread across his chest.
The fissure widened, tearing him apart as dark crimson blood poured forth, making him stagger backward.
“Frost Arrow Spell!”
“Inferno Bow Spell!”
Simultaneously, Howard and Abby unleashed their skills.
With their heightened spirit, even the basic Frost Arrow Spell managed to encase Barton in a thick layer of ice.
Then, a blazing arrow, wreathed in flames, struck the frozen mass with a resounding crash.
The explosive clash of fire and ice inflicted immediate damage, marking two sets of numbers above Barton’s head.
“-1741!”
“-332!”
Abby, having awakened her S-level talent, was truly formidable. With just a single Gold weapon, she managed to deal over 300 points of damage!
While she might not match Howard’s output, compared to the others, her power was undeniably fearsome.
As the flames melted the icy prison, Vampire Baron Barton struggled to free himself.
Yet, before he could rise, Howard’s Gravity Spell descended upon him again.
Boom!
As the Gravity spell unleashed its power, Vampire Baron Barton felt as if an immense mountain had suddenly descended upon him, pressing him down and pinning his entire body to the ground.
“Perfect opening!”
“Strike as one!”
Caitlin and Glyn, seasoned warriors that they are, saw the moment Howard had Vampire Baron Barton in his grasp and unleashed their skills anew.
Not to be outshone, Abby nocked an arrow, its shaft soon gleaming with five brilliantly distinct hues.
Each shade embodied a unique element, contrasting yet harmoniously intertwined.
In that fleeting breath, lightning flared, blade auras screamed, and elemental forces surged wildly, all converging with deadly intent upon Vampire Baron Barton!
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