Journey to the East Part Five: Fierce Battle

Spikes like thorns blocked the path between Li Ye and Vlad the Third.

But Li Ye, who had already lowered his stance, moved even faster!

[Thunderclap Flash]

Crimson lightning suddenly bloomed, heating the air.

Li Ye, moving like crimson lightning, pressed a palm against Vlad the Third's excited face. Around them, the countless spikes snapped in unison.

The air seemed compressed to its limit, emitting a sharp, explosive sound.

Visible crimson currents danced wildly, spreading like real lightning, even evaporating the Sea of Blood and Fire!

BOOM!!

The figures of Li Ye and Vlad the Third vanished from their positions, leaving behind a massive, advancing chasm!

Even the Sea of Blood and Fire surrounding Vlad the Third traced a brilliant trajectory through the air!

Vlad the Third, his face pinned by Li Ye, gasped like a bellows: "Hoh hoh!"

Iron stakes suddenly emerged from the air, and a large number of them appeared in Li Ye's path.

Crack!

Vlad the Third suddenly grabbed Li Ye's wrist with such force that Li Ye couldn't break free!

'Strength is still increasing?'

Li Ye immediately realized that Vlad the Third's strength was significantly higher than before.

'Is this the strength bonus from Madness Enhancement!'

Li Ye knew that the Madness Enhancement possessed by the Berserker class provided combat power bonuses. Although he wasn't sure of Vlad the Third's current class, it seemed that the Madness Enhancement imposed by the Crusaders also had this effect.

Even if the effect was weak, it could still provide an advantage in a contest of equal strength!

'!'

Reacting before the iron stakes could pierce him, Li Ye twisted his body, intending to fling Vlad the Third away like a cannonball!

But how could Vlad the Third allow Li Ye to have his way? Even in a state of madness, the battle experience ingrained in his body was no small matter!

A cold glint quietly appeared.

It was a spear that Vlad the Third now held in his hand.

'!'

Sensing danger, Li Ye's pupils contracted, but it was already too late to evade.

With his wrist firmly gripped by Vlad the Third, Li Ye couldn't create a safe distance and could only watch as the spear tip rapidly approached!

Splat—

A spray of blood mist bloomed.

The upward swing tore through Li Ye's defenses and flesh without resistance, leaving a horrifying, bone-deep gash that seemed poised to cleave him in two!

Immediately following this, blood from Vlad the Third's palm transformed into spikes, piercing Li Ye's wrist like iron stakes!

Ignoring the searing pain, Li Ye decisively channeled the Holy Grail's magic power. A torrent of crimson mana instantly evaporated the spikes!

Crack!

Li Ye and Vlad the Third, moving at high speed, smashed through the iron stakes, leaving only wreckage behind.

But the real danger had only just begun!

When Li Ye's blood fell into the surrounding Sea of Blood and Fire, it was like adding fuel to a raging inferno, and the flames erupted with renewed intensity!

The curse power permeating the Sea of Blood and Fire grew even stronger.

Li Ye released Vlad the Third and, with a reverse grip, seized Vlad the Third's wrist that had been used to restrain him, forcing Vlad the Third to let go.

The excess mana gathered in his arm seemed to become fuel, granting Li Ye a surge of power sufficient to suppress Vlad the Third.

He actually twisted Vlad the Third and slammed him heavily into the ground!

BOOM!!

Li Ye slid for over a dozen meters before finally stopping.

"As expected of the Impaler!"

Li Ye clutched his chest, trying to use the mana-generated life force to heal his wounds, but the curse within the gash prevented him from succeeding, leaving him to bleed.

The presence of the curse and the wound agitated the Dragon Blood within Li Ye, causing it to begin its autonomous revival.

Wisps of Dragon's Might emanated, making Vlad the Third even more excited.

Li Ye, however, curled his lips upward, as if such injuries were a minor matter to him.

Gazing at the crimson staining his fingers, Li Ye's pale gold vertical pupils were, at some point, filled with an emotion similar to Vlad the Third's.

Desire—

Having had his mindset perfected through Sanzang's guidance, Li Ye now faced all his desires squarely.

The desire to live, the desire to witness everything, the desire to save others, the desire to keep moving forward…

Desire is justice.

Absolute self, and the desires born from it. What filled Li Ye's heart at this moment was—

The desire to clash with countless heroes!

Whether it was the battle lust brought by the Dragon Blood or Li Ye's own desires, they converged at this moment, indistinguishable from each other.

Even though Li Ye was at a disadvantage right now, not to mention fighting Vlad the Third, who was armed with a spear, with bare hands.

And as a Servant, Li Ye was deeply impressed by the Noble Phantasms Vlad the Third possessed.

C-rank Anti-Army Noble Phantasm: 『Impaling Fortress』

Countless spears would emerge from the ground around, executing enemies, a demonic castle (Draculea) of curses and torture released by a magic spear!

This Noble Phantasm had the characteristic that the suffering inflicted would increase in proportion to the enemy's sins of injustice and corruption. The more the target committed sins of "fleeing," "immorality," or "violence," the greater its destructive power.

Besides 『Impaling Fortress』, there was another Noble Phantasm of Vlad the Third that Li Ye greatly feared: Legend of Dracula.

It materialized the image of Dracula passed down through generations, transforming into a true vampire!

Vlad the Third, who became Count Dracula, would have his skills and Noble Phantasms sealed, but in return, his physical abilities would be greatly enhanced, and he would gain special abilities such as transforming into animals or mist, healing capabilities, and Bewitching Mystic Eyes.

The most significant was Vlad the Third's innate skill [Demon King of the Nation's Protection].

By securing ley lines in advance, he would designate a specific area as "his territory." He would fight within this territory.

As a king, Vlad the Third could gain combat power support comparable to a Berserker's A-rank [Madness Enhancement]. Moreover, within the territory formed by the [Demon King of the Nation's Protection] skill, Vlad the Third could also use the extremely powerful Noble Phantasm 『Kazikli Bey』 of that specific location.

It could make a large number of stakes appear from space, impaling enemies.

The attack range was a radius of one kilometer, with a maximum of twenty thousand stakes!

Furthermore, with every strike of the spear against an enemy, the concept of "already impaled" would be generated, and the stakes would emerge outward from the heart.

It was an unavoidable death attack!

Fortunately, Vlad the Third had just appeared, so it was impossible for him to have secured the ley lines in advance to meet the prerequisite for [Demon King of the Nation's Protection], so Li Ye didn't need to worry about the existence of 『Kazikli Bey』.

Facing Vlad the Third, who possessed so many abilities, Li Ye could only mention Mana Burst and Mystic Eyes of Death Perception.

"Punching isn't out of the question either—"

Li Ye assumed a boxing stance, wisps of electric arcs enveloping his fists. "You must be the Impaler, aren't you? As a renowned hero, are you really going to be manipulated by the Crusaders like this!"

"Hand over the Holy Grail—"

Vlad the Third, holding his spear in one hand, his eyes blood-red, stared intently at Li Ye, as if he wanted to devour him.

He still has some reason left. It seems he's not a Berserker—

Only then did Li Ye confirm that Vlad the Third's class was most likely Lancer. There was no one else at the summoning site, so Li Ye ruled out the possibility of an added Madness Enhancement curse. Although the Crusaders' curse had affected Vlad the Third, it hadn't distorted his class.

Vlad the Third did not wish to become a vampire. Even though he was afflicted with the Crusaders' Madness Enhancement, it only generated a thirst for blood and a desire for destruction.

And a desire for the Holy Grail.

Being summoned by the Crusaders meant that Vlad the Third's fate or wishes would at least be similar to the summoner's.

But Li Ye didn't understand why Vlad the Third knew the Holy Grail was in his possession. The Holy Grail had already been absorbed by Li Ye and was no longer as conspicuous as when it hung from his waist.

Unless Li Ye himself spoke of it, or used the Holy Grail's infinite mana, it wouldn't be noticed.

Why could Vlad the Third be so certain the Holy Grail was on him from the start?

Now, Li Ye understood why Vlad the Third had attacked him. Vlad the Third, who refused to become a vampire, wouldn't have lost his reason so directly even if he developed a thirst for blood.

Unless there was something more attractive to Vlad the Third.

That is, the Holy Grail.

Is there still a connection between Vlad the Third and his Master?

Li Ye stared at Vlad the Third. He was certain that Vlad the Third had not made contact with anyone after his appearance. So, where did the mana to fuel his actions come from?

Vlad the Third, appearing as a Lancer, did not possess the class skill for independent action, nor could he have communicated with the ley lines to obtain mana upon appearing. Thus, it could only be provided by the Master who had yet to reveal herself.

Such a summoning circle can even establish a magical connection?

Li Ye only had a superficial understanding of Heroic Spirit Summoning Circles, but as far as he understood, Vlad the Third's summoning was clearly unusual.

Everything about the summoning, which should have been functional, revealed anomalies.

However, the fact that the curse of Madness Enhancement was applied the moment Vlad the Third appeared clearly indicated that the summoner did not need a rational Vlad the Third—

"What wish does the Impaler have that requires the Holy Grail to fulfill, even at the cost of Human Order?" While Vlad the Third hadn't attacked yet, Li Ye took the opportunity to recover from his injuries.

The surging mana continuously impacted the curse on his chest, attempting to purge it completely.

"Give… the Holy Grail… to me!" Vlad the Third seemed to refuse to communicate with Li Ye, his blood-red eyes growing more ferocious.

Li Ye and Vlad the Third couldn't agree on anything. As Vlad the Third suddenly charged forward, Li Ye also mobilized the Holy Grail's mana to fill his body, then shot out!

Having decided to fight Vlad the Third with bare hands, Li Ye knew he had to bring the fight extremely close. That was his area of advantage.

Compared to Vlad the Third, Li Ye's greatest advantage was his absolute speed!

Bang!

With a heavy stomp from Li Ye, his figure, accelerated twice, instantly closed in on Vlad the Third, meeting him with a punch!

The fist, imbued with a vast amount of magic power, carried an overwhelming force that Vlad the Third could not match. Yet, Vlad the Third met Li Ye's attack with a fist of his own!

The moment they connected, gusts of wind erupted!

Naturally, Vlad the Third was at a disadvantage in the clash of strength. With Li Ye's unreserved investment of magic power, Vlad the Third stood no chance against his raw might!

The clash of power did not stalemate; Vlad the Third was forced to retreat repeatedly within mere seconds.

Li Ye, unwilling to let such an opportunity pass, was about to close the distance and attack again.

Unexpectedly, Vlad the Third gripped his spear with both hands and swept it horizontally!

Simultaneously, the surrounding Sea of Blood and Fire launched a barrage of stabbing attacks at Li Ye like a storm, their target the unhealed wound on Li Ye's chest!

Iron spikes, as if intending to impale Li Ye, erupted from beneath him!

Three simultaneous attacks, all with the sole purpose of killing Li Ye!

'!'

Despite facing attacks from three directions, Li Ye remained unfazed. Instead, a smile of excitement spread across his lips. "Is this the price you're willing to pay to obtain the Holy Grail, Impaler?!'

Li Ye moved like a dragon, rapidly creating distance to evade Vlad the Third's spear. However, the iron stakes and blood arrows pursued relentlessly, showing no signs of stopping until Li Ye was impaled!

Vlad the Third, uncharacteristically, did not pursue. Instead, he raised his hand and pointed it at Li Ye from a distance.

Tendrils of blood seeped from his palm, weaving together into a shape.

'What is that?'

Li Ye naturally noticed Vlad the Third's actions. Before Li Ye could even ponder what magic Vlad the Third was preparing, a chill instantly surged through him.

Thump!

The curse that suddenly struck did not come from the outside but erupted from within Li Ye!

Even though Li Ye had been containing the curse near his chest wound, the sudden eruption made him feel a pang of dread!

It felt as if a giant hand had grasped his heart!

Then, an intense stinging pain erupted from his chest!

'Vlad the Third's blood?'

Only then did Li Ye realize that it wasn't just a curse. Vlad the Third had smeared his own blood onto the tip of his spear, using it to enter his body!

Transforming into sharp spikes!

Squelch!!

As blood splattered, sharp spikes burst forth from Li Ye's chest!

"Guh!"

The sudden attack caught even Li Ye off guard, or rather, he was unable to react.

His body, which had been continuously dodging the iron stakes and blood arrows, faltered for a moment.

It was only this momentary pause that allowed the iron stakes and blood arrows to reach Li Ye!

But Li Ye's next move was even faster!

Ignoring the spikes erupting from his chest, Li Ye stomped his foot down heavily, his power shaking the mountains and seas!

Centered on Li Ye, the yellow sand within a ten-meter radius churned like waves. Any iron stakes that extended were instantly shattered by this immense force!

Crack!

As for the blood arrows, Li Ye casually broke off an iron stake and used it as a weapon, sweeping them away!

The iron stake, imbued with Li Ye's own magic power, became like a divine weapon. Wherever it passed, the blood arrows dissolved!

Li Ye, seemingly exhilarated, let out a hearty laugh and spat out a mouthful of thick blood.

"Is that all you've got, Impaler?!"

Before his words even fell, Li Ye raised his hand and struck his chest, smashing the spikes into pieces with a single punch!

Blood gushed out instantly!

"You are strong, but not strong enough to possess the Holy Grail," Vlad the Third's low voice echoed.

The spear tip sliced through the air, as if intending to pierce Li Ye in one decisive blow!

Hearing this, Li Ye only laughed louder. "This is just the beginning!"