The spikes, like thorns, stood between Li Ye and Vlad the Third.
But Li Ye, already lowered into a stance, moved even faster!
Thunderclap Flash
Crimson Lightning suddenly flared, heating the air.
Li Ye, moving like crimson lightning, pressed a palm against Vlad the Third's excited face. Around them, every spike snapped apart.
The air seemed compressed to its limit, letting out a piercing boom.
Visible crimson currents danced madly, spreading like genuine lightning and even forcibly evaporating the Sea of Blood and Fire!
Boom!!
Li Ye and Vlad the Third vanished from where they stood, leaving behind a massive ravine that continued forward!
Even the Sea of Blood and Fire surrounding Vlad the Third drew a brilliant trail through the air!
Vlad the Third, his face held down by Li Ye, breathed like a broken bellows. "Hahh, hahh!"
Iron stakes abruptly extended from the air, while countless more appeared in Li Ye's path.
Smack!
Vlad the Third suddenly seized Li Ye's wrist. His grip was so powerful that Li Ye could not break free!
His Strength is still rising?
Li Ye immediately realized that Vlad the Third's power was far greater than before.
Is this the power boost from Madness Enhancement?!
Li Ye knew that the Madness Enhancement possessed by the Berserker class could supplement combat ability. Although he did not know what class Vlad the Third had manifested as, it seemed the Madness Enhancement imposed by the Crusaders also enhanced combat ability.
Even if the effect was weak, it could still grant an advantage in a contest between equal Strength!
*!*
Li Ye reacted before the iron stakes could pierce him. He spun, intending to hurl Vlad the Third away like a cannonball!
But how could Vlad the Third let Li Ye have his way? Even consumed by Madness Enhancement, the battle-honed martial skill engraved into his body was no trivial matter!
A glint of cold light quietly bloomed.
It was a spear, now held in Vlad the Third's hand.
*!*
Li Ye's pupils contracted as he sensed the danger, but it was already far too late to evade.
With his wrist firmly gripped by Vlad the Third, Li Ye could not pull away to a safe distance and could only watch as the spear tip rapidly approached!
Splat—
A spray of blood burst forth.
The upward sweep tore through Li Ye's defense and flesh without resistance. The horrifying wound cut so deeply that bone was visible, as though it might split Li Ye in two!
Immediately afterward, blood emerging from Vlad the Third's palm transformed into spikes and pierced through Li Ye's wrist like iron stakes!
Ignoring the piercing pain, Li Ye decisively drew upon the Holy Grail's mana. Crimson mana, like raging waves, instantly evaporated every spike!
Crack!
Li Ye and Vlad the Third, moving at high speed, crashed straight through the iron stakes, leaving only wreckage behind.
But the true danger had only just arrived!
When Li Ye's blood fell into the surrounding Sea of Blood and Fire, it was like oil thrown onto blazing flames. The fire suddenly surged!
The curse power permeating the Sea of Blood and Fire grew even stronger.
Li Ye released Vlad the Third, then grabbed the wrist Vlad had used to restrain him, forcing him to let go.
The excess mana gathered in his arm seemed to become fuel, allowing Li Ye to unleash overwhelming strength powerful enough to suppress Vlad the Third.
He forcibly twisted Vlad the Third around and slammed him heavily into the ground!
Rumble!!
Li Ye slid more than ten meters before barely coming to a stop.
"As expected of The Impaler!"
Li Ye clutched his chest, trying to use the vitality generated by mana to heal his injuries. Yet the curse within the wound prevented him from succeeding, and he could only let blood spill freely.
The curse and his injuries made the Dragon Blood within Li Ye restless, even beginning to awaken on its own.
Threads of Dragon's Might spread outward, only making Vlad the Third even more excited.
Li Ye, meanwhile, curled his lips into a smile, as though such injuries meant nothing to him.
Looking at the scarlet blood staining the gaps between his fingers, Li Ye's pale golden vertical pupils had somehow filled with an emotion similar to Vlad the Third's.
Desire—
After Sanzang's guidance, Li Ye, whose state of mind had become whole, faced all his desires head-on.
The desire to live, the desire to witness everything, the desire to save others, the desire to keep moving forward...
Desire was justice.
Absolute selfhood, and the desires born from it. What now filled Li Ye's heart was—
The desire to cross blades with countless heroes!
Whether it was the thirst for battle brought by Dragon Blood or Li Ye's own desire, they converged at this moment, inseparable from one another.
Even though Li Ye was currently at an overwhelming disadvantage, leaving aside how he could fight spear-wielding Vlad the Third barehanded.
Li Ye also had a deep impression of the Noble Phantasms possessed by Vlad the Third as a Servant.
A Rank C Anti-Army Noble Phantasm: "Impaling Fortress."
It caused countless spears to emerge from the surrounding ground to execute enemies—the curse unleashed by Magic Spears and the torture fortress of iron hammers, Draculea!
This Noble Phantasm possessed the characteristic of increasing in power according to the sins of injustice and depravity committed by its target, with the pain inflicted rising accordingly. The more the target had committed the sins of "fleeing," "immorality," and "violence," the greater its destructive power.
Besides Impaling Fortress, Li Ye was extremely wary of another Noble Phantasm held by Vlad the Third: Legend of Dracula.
It manifested the image of Dracula passed down through later generations, transforming him into a true vampire!
After becoming Count Dracula, Vlad the Third would have a portion of his skills and Noble Phantasms sealed away. In exchange, he would gain vastly enhanced physical abilities, the ability to transform into animals or mist, healing abilities, bewitching Mystic Eyes, and other special powers.
Most formidable of all was Vlad the Third's innate skill, Demon King of the Nation's Protection.
By first obtaining a Ley Line, he could designate a specific area as "his territory" and fight within it.
As its king, Vlad the Third could gain combat support equivalent to the Rank A Madness Enhancement of a Berserker. Furthermore, within the territory formed by Demon King of the Nation's Protection, Vlad the Third could use the exceedingly powerful location-specific Noble Phantasm, Kazikli Bey.
It could make a vast number of stakes appear from space and impale enemies.
Its attack range extended one kilometer in radius, and the number of stakes could reach a maximum of twenty thousand!
Furthermore, every strike dealt to an enemy by the spear in his hand would create the concept of "already impaled," after which stakes would emerge outward from the heart.
It was a guaranteed-hit death attack!
Fortunately, Vlad the Third had only just manifested. It was impossible for him to have acquired a Ley Line in advance and fulfilled the conditions for Demon King of the Nation's Protection, so Li Ye did not need to worry about Kazikli Bey.
Facing Vlad the Third, who possessed so many abilities, Li Ye could only name Mana Burst and the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception on his own side.
"Fighting with my fists isn't impossible—"
Li Ye assumed a boxing stance, arcs of electricity wrapping around both fists. "You must be The Impaler, sir? As such a renowned hero, are you really content to be manipulated by the Crusaders like this?!"
"Hand over the Holy Grail—"
Holding his spear in one hand, Vlad the Third stared fixedly at Li Ye with bloodshot eyes, as though he wanted to devour him alive.
He still retains some reason. Looks like he isn't a Berserker—
Only then did Li Ye determine that Vlad the Third had most likely manifested as a Lancer. There had been no one else at the summoning site, so Li Ye first ruled out the possibility of an added Madness Enhancement incantation. Although the Crusaders' Madness Enhancement had affected Vlad the Third, it had failed to distort his class.
Vlad the Third did not wish to become a vampire. Even with the Crusaders' Madness Enhancement inflicted upon him, it had merely given him a craving for blood and a desire for destruction.
As well as a desire for the Holy Grail.
For Vlad the Third to have been summoned into manifestation by the Crusaders, he had to share some similarity with his summoner in either affinity or wish.
But Li Ye did not know why Vlad the Third knew the Holy Grail was in his possession. The Holy Grail had now been absorbed into Li Ye, unlike when it had previously hung visibly at his waist.
Unless Li Ye himself mentioned it, others could only notice it when he used the Holy Grail's infinite mana.
Why had Vlad the Third been able to determine from the very beginning that the Holy Grail was on him?
By now, Li Ye also understood why Vlad the Third had attacked him. Even if Vlad the Third, who refused to become a vampire, had developed a craving for blood, he would not have directly lost his reason.
Unless something more enticing to Vlad the Third existed.
That was, 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 Vlad had not come into contact with anyone after manifesting, so where was the mana sustaining his actions coming from?
Manifested as a Lancer, Vlad the Third did not possess the Independent Action class skill. Nor could he have communicated with a Ley Line and acquired mana the instant he manifested. That meant the Master who had yet to reveal himself had to be supplying it.
Could that kind of summoning circle successfully establish a Magic Connection?
Li Ye only had a partial understanding of the Heroic Spirit Summoning Circle, but by his understanding, something was clearly wrong with Vlad the Third's manifestation.
A summoning that could succeed even when the person was not present was abnormal in every way.
Yet the summoner had taken the opportunity to impose a Madness Enhancement curse the moment Vlad the Third manifested. Clearly, the summoner did not need Vlad the Third to remain rational—
"What wish does The Impaler need the Holy Grail to fulfill, even if it means sacrificing humanity?" Taking advantage of Vlad the Third's pause before attacking, Li Ye used the opportunity to recover from his injuries.
Surging mana continuously battered the curse on his chest, attempting to erase it completely.
"Give... the Holy Grail... to me!" Vlad the Third seemed unwilling to communicate with Li Ye. His bloodshot eyes grew increasingly savage.
Li Ye and Vlad the Third could not see eye to eye. As Vlad suddenly charged forward, Li Ye also drew upon the Holy Grail's mana to fill his body before shooting out!
Once Li Ye had decided to fight Vlad the Third barehanded, he knew he had to close the distance to the absolute minimum. That was where his advantage lay.
And compared to Vlad the Third, Li Ye's greatest advantage was his absolute Divine Speed!
Bang!
As Li Ye stomped down heavily, he accelerated a second time. In an instant, he closed in on Vlad the Third and threw a punch straight at him!
The fist, swung with enormous amounts of mana, contained overwhelming force Vlad the Third could not match. Yet Vlad the Third actually met Li Ye's attack with his own fist!
The instant the two collided, gales erupted!
Naturally, Vlad the Third was at a disadvantage in their clash of strength. With Li Ye pouring in mana without restraint, the current Vlad the Third could never match his Strength!
Their contest of power did not reach a stalemate. Within only a few breaths, Vlad the Third was forced back again and again.
How could Li Ye let such an opportunity pass? He was about to close in further and continue his attack.
Yet Vlad the Third unexpectedly gripped the spear shaft with both hands and swept it toward him!
At the same time, the surrounding Sea of Blood and Fire unleashed a torrential barrage of thrusts at Li Ye, all aimed at the wound on his chest that had yet to heal!
Iron spikes that seemed ready to pierce straight through Li Ye also burst violently from beneath him!
Three attacks from three directions, all with one purpose: to kill Li Ye!
*!*
Though attacked from all sides, Li Ye was not the least bit flustered. Instead, he raised his lips in excitement. "Is this the price you're willing to pay to obtain the Holy Grail, The Impaler?!"
Li Ye moved like a swimming dragon, rapidly pulling away and dodging Vlad the Third's spear. But the iron stakes and blood arrows pursued him relentlessly, as though they would not stop until they had pierced him!
Yet Vlad the Third unexpectedly chose not to pursue. Instead, he raised a hand and aimed it at Li Ye from afar.
Threads of blood seeped from his palm, weaving together into a shape.
What is that?
Li Ye naturally noticed Vlad the Third's actions. Before he could consider what magecraft Vlad was preparing to use, an icy chill surged straight into his skull.
Thump!
The sudden curse did not come from outside. It erupted from within Li Ye's body!
Although Li Ye had kept the curse confined near the wound on his chest, its eruption still made his heart shudder!
It was as though a massive hand had gripped his heart!
Then intense pain violently burst from his chest!
Vlad the Third's blood?
Only then did Li Ye realize that it was not merely a curse. Vlad the Third had actually smeared his own blood onto the spear tip, using it to enter Li Ye's body!
It transformed into spikes!
Splat!!
As blood sprayed outward, sharp spikes burst from Li Ye's chest!
"Guh!"
Even Li Ye failed to react to the sudden attack—or rather, he could not react.
His body, already constantly dodging iron stakes and blood arrows, stalled.
And in that split-second pause, the iron stakes and blood arrows reached Li Ye!
But Li Ye moved even faster!
Ignoring the spikes in his chest, Li Ye stomped down hard. The force was so great it shook mountains and seas!
Centered on Li Ye, the yellow sand within ten meters surged like turbulent waves. Every extending iron stake snapped under that overwhelming force!
Crack!
As for the blood arrows, Li Ye casually snapped off an iron stake and used it as a weapon, sweeping it across!
The iron stake, infused with Li Ye's mana, became like a divine weapon. Wherever it passed, the blood arrows dissolved!
Li Ye, seemingly worked into a frenzy, laughed loudly before opening his mouth and spitting out a mouthful of thick blood.
"Is that all you've got, The Impaler?!"
Before his words had even faded, Li Ye raised a hand and struck his chest, shattering every spike with a single punch!
Blood immediately poured forth!
"You are strong, but not strong enough to possess the Holy Grail." Vlad the Third's low voice came from ahead.
The spear tip cut through the air, as though it would pierce Li Ye through in a single strike!
Hearing that, Li Ye laughed even harder. "We're only getting started!"