Arcane Academy: The Divine Extraction Legacy

Chapter 1317: Elimination

Rene was stunned as he realized the situation!

He had been wounded before, and he understood the capabilities of Vampire regeneration. Even severe injuries could be repaired as long as sufficient Blood Energy remained in the body. Yet Deric’s wounds were not healing. The flames had left behind blackened flesh that continued to smolder, while his Blood Energy flickered weakly beneath his skin.

Rene suddenly understood.

“Fire Element!”

Batsaikhan rose to his feet with the metallic cylinder still glowing in his hand.

“Correct. This little artifact was designed for dealing with creatures like you…”

Rene stared at him in disbelief.

Fire Element attacks were dangerous to Vampires, but this was no ordinary flame. The artifact had been specifically crafted to disrupt the energy sustaining their bodies. Even a Vampire with powerful regeneration would struggle to recover from injuries inflicted by such a weapon.

And the man standing before him had activated it without hesitation.

‘This is bad. I need to escape! I need to let everyone know about this!’

Rene had originally intended to turn Batsaikhan into his second Vampire. Now, he was beginning to suspect that he had made a catastrophic mistake by choosing this target. He had mistaken the man’s unremarkable appearance for weakness, never considering that an experienced warrior might deliberately conceal his strength.

Still, it was a good thing that they knew about his existence now!

He turned to Deric.

“Get away from the flames! We need to leave!”

Deric struggled to stand, but his injured arm hung uselessly at his side. His crimson eyes darted between Rene and Batsaikhan, fear gradually replacing the excitement he had felt after his transformation.

He had only been a Vampire for a short time. He had barely begun to understand his new abilities, much less learned how to fight with them. Until this moment, he had believed his enhanced body would make him superior to ordinary humans.

Now, he was discovering that his newfound power had not made him invincible.

Batsaikhan did not give them time to recover.

He slipped the cylinder back into his coat and drew a short blade from a concealed sheath. The weapon was dark, with a narrow groove running along its length. Red runes glimmered faintly along the blade, and a thin layer of fire gathered around its edge.

Rene recognized the danger immediately.

He charged forward, hoping to kill Batsaikhan before the scout could use the weapon. His fist swept toward the man’s head with enough force to shatter stone, but Batsaikhan shifted his stance and parried the attack with the flat of his blade.

The impact sent sparks flying.

Rene followed with a second strike, then a third, forcing Batsaikhan to retreat across the courtyard. His movements were faster than those of an ordinary Knight, and his attacks carried enough strength to threaten even a seasoned combatant. He had spent the past several days growing accustomed to his enhanced body, and for a moment, the pressure seemed to work in his favor.

Batsaikhan’s expression remained calm, but his eyes followed every movement.

He had faced opponents with superior physical strength before. Strength alone was never enough to decide a battle, especially when the stronger opponent was unfamiliar with the weapon being used against him.

Rene swung a powerful punch toward his chest.

Batsaikhan stepped inside the attack instead of retreating. His shoulder brushed against Rene’s arm as he slipped past the strike, and his flaming blade cut across the Vampire’s side.

The wound was shallow, but the reaction was immediate.

Rene moved away with a strangled cry. Smoke rose from the cut, and the damaged flesh refused to close.

“This… How is this possible?!”

The fire clinging to the blade had left behind a burning sensation that spread beneath his skin, interfering with the Blood Energy he needed to heal.

He pressed one hand against his side while staring at the blackened wound.

Ever since becoming a Vampire, this was the first time Rene felt genuine fear.

The strength he had gained from Lisa had seemed extraordinary. He had believed that, with enough time, he could challenge even a Grand Knight and perhaps survive a confrontation that would have been impossible before his transformation.

But none of that mattered if his opponent possessed the means to suppress his regeneration.

Batsaikhan advanced, keeping his weapon between them.

“You’re stronger than an ordinary human, and your movements suggest that you’ve received proper combat training. However, you seem to have very little experience fighting against someone who knows how to deal with Vampires.”

Rene bared his fangs.

“Who are you?”

“Someone who was fortunate enough to prepare for this encounter.”

Batsaikhan’s answer only deepened Rene’s unease.

The man had not been surprised by their pursuit. He had chosen this courtyard, waited for them to approach, and revealed his weapon only after confirming that they were Vampires. Everything about the encounter suggested that Batsaikhan had been assessing them from the moment they began following him.

Rene finally understood that he had never been the one controlling the situation.

He had been the target all along.

“Deric!” Rene shouted. “Attack him from behind! Don’t let him use that blade!”

Deric gritted his teeth and forced himself forward. His wounds continued to burn, but fear of what would happen if he remained helpless overcame his hesitation. He charged toward Batsaikhan’s back, hoping that their combined strength would be enough to overwhelm the scout.

Batsaikhan had already anticipated the maneuver.

As Deric closed in, Batsaikhan turned his wrist and drove the tip of his blade into the ground.

The runes along the weapon flashed.

A circle of red light spread across the stone beneath his feet, and a wave of fire erupted around him. The flames formed a narrow ring, separating Rene from Deric while forcing both Vampires to change their approach.

Deric attempted to leap over the burning barrier, but Batsaikhan moved before he could land.

The scout stepped through a gap in the flames and struck Deric across the chest.

His blade passed through the Vampire’s body, leaving a bright line of fire in its wake.

Deric was stunned…

For a brief moment, he looked down at the weapon protruding from his chest, unable to comprehend why his body had suddenly become so heavy. Then the pain arrived, overwhelming every thought.

“Aackk…”

He tried to summon his Blood Energy, but the energy that answered was weak and chaotic. The fire had penetrated far deeper than his physical wounds, disrupting the essence that sustained his transformed body.

“No… Wait…”

Batsaikhan withdrew his blade and stepped away.

Deric dropped to his knees with his hands trembling… Still, he pressed hard against the wound, but there was nothing he could do to stop the flames spreading through his body.

Soon, his crimson eyes dimmed, and the unnatural strength that had filled his limbs began to fade.

He looked toward Rene, desperation written across his face.

“Help me…”