novelraw Chapter 100: Even After Being Dead for So Long, He Is Still Protecting His Country!
Chapter 100: Even After Being Dead for So Long, He Is Still Protecting His Country!
Vlad III truly exuded a terrifyingly oppressive aura. This invulnerable monster could take a person's life with a mere wave of his hand.
And now, he was inviting them to join his ranks, to become a member of these powerful beings. What kind of immense temptation was that?
Many people stood frozen in place, actually beginning to weigh the pros and cons of the offer.
'Following a Vampire doesn't seem completely out of the question...' After all, this was the lure of eternal life. Once they became one of his kind, he certainly wouldn't kill them, right?
Many people harbored the exact same thought, and so they slowly began to walk toward him.
"Slap!" Right at that moment, Baron felt a sharp sting across his cheek, catching him completely off guard. "Mr. Chris, why did you..."
It had been Chris who struck him.
Chris delivered a backhand slap to Gao, who stood beside him. "Mr. Baron, did you not realize that you've already walked dozens of meters forward from where we were standing?"
Hearing this, Baron finally snapped out of his daze. They were no longer at their initial observation post; instead, just like the surrounding crowd, they had been marching toward that Vampire.
"What happened to me?" Gao also came to his senses, asking Chris in bewilderment.Chris dragged them backward. "You were both mesmerized by this monster. Look at them, they are lining up in front of the Vampire!"
Only then did the two realize the dire situation. All around them, a throng of people trundled forward in a stupor toward Vlad III.
These people had clearly been shooting at him just moments ago, yet now they had been reduced to nothing more than his playthings.
And those closest to him, such as the new leader of the Johnson family, had already been drained into desiccated corpses, collapsing right at his feet!
The talk of joining him or attaining eternal life was nothing but a lie. This monster was merely turning these people into his bloody feast, sucking them completely dry.
Thinking back to their own actions just seconds ago, if it had not been for Chris, they would have lined up with the rest of these poor souls to become part of an all-you-can-eat buffet.
"Do not alert him, I have an idea!" Seeing the two of them still trying to look back, Chris hurriedly pulled them away. "Do you remember where Tim Dutton's car is?"
Hearing this, Gao caught on immediately. "You want to retrieve Lincoln's relics?"
"Yes!" Chris nodded firmly. "Since President Lincoln left these items behind, they must hold profound significance. There is no way we can outrun him now, so we might as well go over there, find those relics, and give it everything we have!"
If they were to break away from the crowd or attempt to drive off, they would stick out like sore thumbs against the backdrop of these mesmerized people.
Given the Combat Power that Vlad III had just displayed, they would likely be obliterated in a single second.
Thus, Chris's idea was actually quite sound. The relics left by Lincoln definitely had a deeper purpose; otherwise, they would not have been able to suppress this Vampire for so many years. They had to try!
The three men quietly advanced along with the crowd. Watching that Vampire drain people dry bite by bite, as if feasting at a buffet, filled them with an unspeakable terror.
They could see that the patriarchs and elders of the various families were the first in line. Just as the creature had claimed, darkness and malice were his favorite meals.
He was devouring the elder generation of these families, draining those with the darkest hearts first!
But at this rate of consumption, it would eventually be their turn, so they had to hurry!
The three men soon reached the vicinity of the vehicle. Under Vlad III's manipulation, the original guards stationed here had vanished, leaving only a lone, isolated car.
Baron opened the car door, Gao grabbed the safe, and Chris seized the silver axe resting on the backseat. The three coordinated flawlessly to secure Lincoln's relics.
The Parchment Scroll and the compass had already been taken by others. What remained in their hands were the silver mask, the silver-plated Staff, and that unwieldy silver battleaxe.
At the exact moment the trio picked up the items, Vlad III, who had still been enjoying his buffet, violently jerked his head up!
"Ah, three little mice managed to slip past my notice!"
He completely ignored the throngs of mesmerized victims and stood abruptly. With a single flap of the wings upon his back, he soared right in front of the trio.
Gripping Lincoln's relics, the three men stared at the monstrous figure in extreme panic, their hearts practically stopping in their chests!
They exchanged nervous glances, as if asking their comrades: what do we do now?
There was no answer, only Vlad III's sinister voice. "Hmm... To be able to resist my Thaumaturgy of the Blood, it seems there is someone among you truly suited to become my descendant!"
"Why not step forward voluntarily? I will grant you the dark embrace, bestow upon you the title of Marquis, and make you my Offspring and blood kin!" He was genuinely intrigued by this human he could not influence, as it indicated extraordinary Transcendence talent.
Darkness and evil could only serve as fuel, but true talent held the promise of the future.
Hearing this, Baron and Gao cast worried glances at Chris. This was a promise from a Vampire progenitor, the title of a Marquis, and a chance at eternal life. They were terrified he might actually accept.
However, Chris was clearly not that kind of person. His ancestor was Lincoln, a man who fought Dark Creatures to the bitter end. How could he possibly embrace the darkness?
Chris gripped the axe tightly and bellowed, "I will never join forces with a monster like you! My bloodline forbids it! For the glory of Abraham!"
Unsurprisingly, this declaration drew a look of disdain from Vlad III. He gazed at the man with a mocking sneer. "Do you think this is still the age when Gods manifested in the world? Those days are long gone. This Abraham you speak of cannot save your life!"
He waved his hand, gathering a cluster of blood-red energy before him, intending to squeeze the three of them into a bloody beverage.
But right at that moment, having heard the words "glory of Abraham," Gao suddenly recalled something and shouted at the top of his lungs:
"Despicable thief of eternal life!"
"Tainted bloodline recorded upon the Sumerian clay tablets,"
"When the rain of brimstone and fire pours into Tecumseh's curse—"
"The hinges of Hell before the feet of the Son of Man"
"Have already crushed your coffin of false immortality!"
These verses came from Professor Thomas's Exorcising the Abyss prayers, specifically the passage concerning Vampires!
Upon hearing this incantation, Vlad III's expression shifted drastically. He violently dispelled the gathered crimson energy and glared at Gao with absolute fury. "You intend to banish me with such a prayer? How dare you? Where do you get such courage?"
"From The Lord, of course!" A calm yet powerful voice echoed by their ears. "You are just as cowardly beneath your fierce facade as ever, Vlad!"
A firm hand suddenly grasped the axe in Chris's grip, while another hand took the mask from Baron.
"Holding onto my belongings allowed you to receive my protection. You all did well on that front!" the man said with a warm smile. When his face appeared before the trio, their pupils dilated in sheer shock!
That face, that stature, that sharp suit... This...
They had been dealing with this very figure for the past two days; how could they not recognize him?
"Mr. Lincoln?" the three exclaimed in unison, releasing their hold on the relics.
Lincoln offered a slight nod. "Time is short, so I will spare you the pleasantries. Let us deal with this troublesome fellow first!"
As he spoke, he swung the axe in his hand, carving a flawless arc through the air before him. He caressed the weapon and smiled. "Long time no see, old friend! Once again, we fight side by side!"
The axe emanated a faint glow, as if responding to his words.
After uttering those words, Lincoln donned the silver mask. Gripping the axe with both hands, he turned to face Vlad III. "Wallachia... or rather, Vlad. You have awakened after all!"
"Abraham Lincoln!" Vlad III ground his fangs and spat viciously. "You are already dead! A hundred and sixty years have passed! Why did you return? Did you descend from your seat in Heaven?"
Hearing this, Lincoln cast a wistful gaze at his surroundings. He looked at the mesmerized victims and observed a world completely different from the one he knew in life. He replied softly, "Because this is the land of my birth! This is my country, the place I deeply love!"
An overwhelming surge of power erupted from his body, propelling him high into the air as he brought his axe crashing down toward Vlad III!
"I will not allow a monster like you to defile this beautiful nation!"
"Boom!" A terrifying shockwave exploded from their clash. The fierce gale sent the three men flying backward and simultaneously shocked several entranced victims back to reality!
They looked around in confusion, feeling as though they had just awakened from a brief dream—a nightmare where they had witnessed the deaths of countless people.
Then, they saw those exact deaths laid bare in reality. The shock and utter terror in their eyes were beyond words.
Soon, they noticed the fierce mid-air battle and recognized the man wielding the battleaxe. Someone murmured in disbelief, "Am I still dreaming? Why am I seeing President Lincoln fighting a Vampire?"
"You are not dreaming. This is reality!" Baron whispered, his eyes filled with unparalleled reverence. "Even after being dead for so long, he is still protecting his country!"