—"Vampires."
That word was not unfamiliar to Fang Li in the slightest.
In the world of Tsukihime, Fang Li had personally defeated the two Dead Apostles, Roa and Nero, and had even exterminated countless undead. They had all been vampires.
In the world of Aria of the Scarlet Ammo, Fang Li had personally captured Vlad, Count Dracula. Even his daughter, Hilda, had been defeated by Fang Li and ultimately chosen to follow him.
On top of that, Fang Li carried within him the power of Arcueid, a True Ancestor vampire and princess of the royal bloodline. Vampires truly were nothing unfamiliar to him.
Therefore, when he suddenly heard that word, Fang Li was not surprised at all. His expression remained unchanged.
Yet Fang Li's reaction was something Stiyl could not understand.
"...Aren't you surprised at all?" Stiyl fell silent for a while. Then, as though he intended to exhale all the emotions in his heart, he let out a long breath and said, "Those are vampires."
At that moment, Stiyl's voice even carried a faint tremble.
Though that tremble was exceedingly difficult to notice, it was definitely there.
What did that mean?
It meant Stiyl was afraid.
Some might think it laughable for a priest of the Church to fear vampires.
However, anyone who truly understood the details knew that vampires were nothing like the legends claimed. They could not be defeated with crosses and silver weapons alone.
From the perspective of the magic world, the existence of vampires was extraordinarily terrifying.
"Though magicians can perform miracles through all kinds of spells, those miracles are limited." Stiyl spoke in a low voice, as if explaining it to himself. "The magic power needed to perform miracles is converted from life force, and life force itself is limited."
If magic power were