Ascendant Path of a Lustful Vampire

Chapter 447 447: Ascension

Like many Vampires, Meline Leopold had an affinity with the Dark Element and had long dedicated her spellcraft to stealth. It worked especially best at nighttime or in dark areas— Dark areas such as the underground hideout they all just so fortunately happened to be in. There were mana lamps to provide light but more than enough dark areas to exploit.

Still, she was not confident in a quick stealth spell. She needed preparation. She needed help which the others—Nadine, Hayden, and Hugo Leopold—provided by supplying Mana quietly and secretly to the spell she prepared.

As stated earlier, the fact that Caius and the Leopolds arrived here after Alexia was due to fairly detailed planning. Caius didn't have the strength to confront Brogan directly so his role was mostly to be there to protect them from Brogan's noble authority. As such, he was going to need to rely on the strengths of those he was bringing along.

There had been a short period where those who volunteered to come along had proclaimed what they did best that could provide an edge. There was no want for talent in the Leopold Council. They were all centuries old and had dedicated themselves to one aspect of magic or the other. Even though they didn't actually ever leave the Coven and might be lacking in combat experience, their magical and physical skills were clear all the same.

When speaking of what she dis best, Meline had spoken of her stealthy acumen. And once Caius remembered the darkness he had seen Brogan in, he knew it could be useful.

As he watched Brogan cry out all the more, Caius was glad to have been proven right.

Meline flicked her daggers as she turned around eyeing Brogan like she was only now really taking note of her handiwork. She looked quite proud. Caius had hammered it into her head during the meeting just how difficult it would be to achieve. It was why she had needed to layer Mana over Mana to ensure her shadow-step spell would cloak her long and well enough.

She could have gone for his neck but Caius had specifically asked that Brogan not be killed. Every attack that any of the Leopolds had thrown at the Vampire Baron so far was to incapacitate him and not kill.

"YOU BASTARDS!!!" Brogan yelled and a roaring fury exploded from his form. It smacked the faces of every Vampire in the Hall, striking their hearts and demanding subservience.

The only one unfazed by Brogan's outburst was Caius. But he knew what Brogan was doing and knew how much of an iron grip that Noble authority would have on every Non-Noble vampire here.

Still, Caius remained calm.

"Pointless," he said and shook his head. He was just about to counter Brogan's authority when the pressure suddenly lifted.

Brogan looked as surprised as anyone else. His sclera were bloodshot as he mumbled.

"No, no, no. What— what—?"

Shaking his head, Brogan tried to muster his Noble Authority but it didn't answer his call. There was a strange powerlessness inside of him now.

"My magic— It's- it's gone!" Brogan wailed.

It's a pitiful thing to see an armless creature flop around. It was so clear that Brogan was trying to throw his arms out to try and summon even a bit of magic and was failing because his arms were gone. It was clear that he was trying to form seals but his hand was a foot away and his fingers didn't react to any of his attempts.

"No magic," Caius mumbled in surprise. Losing limbs couldn't rob anyone of their magic. And it certainly wouldn't rob a Vampire Noble of their authority.

"We didn't do this," Caius said in matter-of-factly.

He looked over at the Dome where Alexia and Arlette had been trapped. Alexia was pressing an empty vial against the Dome with an amused grin on her face.

The Serum she and Arlette had made had used Brogan's blood as an ingredient. Everything that makes a Vampire strong physically and magically was in its blood but it's difficult—almost impossible to tamper with. Any foreign agent introduced to a Vampire's blood is rejected or rendered inactive before it can actually cause harm.

But this serum, synthesized from the Vampire's blood can get past those natural defenses and combine with the Vampire's circulatory system to suppress their magical and physical might. The effect eventually wears off but until it does, the Vampire is essentially useless.

It also turns out that the serum also worked against a Vampire's Noble authority as that was power housed in their blood just like everything else.

Alexia needed just one open wound to introduce the serum into Brogan's body. If he drank it, she might die before it ever got the chance to react. And so, when the earlier explosion separated them and she managed that cut on Brogan's chest, she also splashed the serum against the wound.

Only a few drops had touched the wound and it had taken so long to cause an effect but… what an effect it was.

Now that Brogan couldn't muster his Noble authority, he couldn't protect his Vampire minions from Caius's orders. The battle that ensued then was a complete slaughter that ended in minutes. Now, the only Vampires in the Hall were Caius, the Leopolds, and an in-pain Brogan Kraxia.

"No!" Brogan snapped, "You can't kill me!"

It didn't come out as a plea but rather in defiance. Like he was so sure that even with his magic and Noble authority inactive, he could somehow turn this around.

"I know you don't believe that," Caius said.

Brogan smiled a bloody smile.

"Do you know what's happening in the Capital right now?" He asked and didn't wait for Caius to guess before supplying an answer,

"Hundreds of Vampires have been let loose and are wreaking havoc. Whatever bit of serenity you hoped to keep in whatever hideaway you slip off to during the day will be lost! The entire Capital will be out for your necks!"

Caius nodded like he was actually giving that some thought.

"Duly noted," he said, and then stretched both his hands out.

He stretched one hand toward Brogan and the other, he stretched toward Kerwin.

"My Lord?" Kerwin started, looking surprised and confused.

Brogan, however, knew already what Caius was about to do.

"Don't you dare!" He yelled, "I WON'T ALLOW IT!"

"Like you have a choice," Caius laughed and then began to chant in the ancient tongue required for Vampiric Noble Ascension.

Not only did he remember from when Athenodora had performed his own ascension rite but as the words left his lips, they felt very right and tugged at his Noble authority to invoke the strange, ancient Magic Circles. One appeared on Brogan's chest and the other appeared on Kerwin's chest.

Through the eye-holes on his mask, one could see Kerwin's eyes roll up into the back of his head and Caius knew Kerwin was now in the mental space where he could seize Brogan's Nobility.

Caius actually found it interesting because when it had been him, he had no idea how it looked from the outside. He also had no idea how straining it was to be an intermediary and essentially be the bridge between these two people.

The Rite ended and Kerwin's eyes refocused. He blinked a few times and then exuded the aura and authority of a noble, his mouth open in awe at feeling… like more than he ever was.

He was a Vampire Baron. With his words, he could force Vampires to bow their heads and subjugate them to his will. For a second, Kerwin was lost in the high of his newly-gained power and then he had a realization and looked over at Caius who had a satisfied smile on his face.

Kerwin fell to one knee, his head bowed in a silent but ever fervent swearing of his newly acquired title to the service of Caius's goals.