Dracula the Vampire / The Subjugation

Seeing Archer's expression, Rider nodded in satisfaction. For Rider, this was a thrilling battle. His opponent's abilities might be far inferior to his own, but his opponent's conviction was as firm as steel, which made the fighting spirit within him boil.

With his spear pointed at his opponent, Rider's fighting spirit was equally high.

"Very well, then let's continue our battle!"

If this battle hadn't been interrupted, these two Servant might have certainly fought to the death today. But fate always likes to play a little joke; just as the two were locked in fierce combat—

Suddenly, as if by unspoken agreement, a massive pause tore through the scroll of time, bringing the increasingly intense battle to an abrupt halt.

Time seemed to stand still.

The heroic Heroic Spirit in the midst of their fierce battle seemed to sense something at the same time and stopped fighting together.

The battlefield was silent; the earlier symphony of metal seemed like nothing more than an illusion.

"You sensed it too, didn't you, Archer?"

Rider broke the silence on the battlefield, speaking to his opponent with a serious expression.

"... That's right."

With a slight nod, Archer turned his gaze to another battlefield. Although the view was obstructed by the wall, the immense magical power, filled with "ominous" energy, still drew the attention of everyone in the fortress.

Orz

Let me just mention one more thing...

<Souji Tendou's Knight's Guide>

Chapter 240. Dracula the Vampire

"Darnic —you bastard—!!"

As Rider and Archer rushed to the scene, a roar filled with intense hatred and despair reached their ears.

Immediately afterwards, the magical vortex caused by the massive dissipation of magical energy blocked the two's vision. Even Archer, who possessed the [Eagle Eye] skill, could not see what was happening inside. He could only hear the Vlad III's painful roar and the gradually rising momentum.

"What happened?"

Rider immediately located the other person still on the battlefield, Atalanta), Lancer's opponent in this battle, and should know Lancer's situation perfectly well. Archer also found Avicebron had been assisting Lancer earlier, to inquire about the situation.

"Lancer's Master forced Lancer to activate his Noble Phantasm using Command Spell; it seems he has become the legendary vampire."

Archer briefly recounted what had happened.

--Vlad III, the legendary prototype of "Dracula". Therefore, his Spirit Origin also possesses the powerful vampire abilities due to the legends. Even though Lancer himself extremely hates this ability, if you use Command Spell to force Lancer to comply, he is helpless.

"This is troublesome."

The Karna, arriving from another direction, watched as the Vlad III gradually emerged from the dissipating vortex of magic...

"It seems that destroying his Spirit Core is pointless now."

Lancer's insight is undoubtedly correct.

Generally speaking, Servant's Spirit Core is located in the brain and heart; if either of these is damaged, they cannot maintain their presence and will disappear. However, for those who have transcended the Servant framework, Vlad III has become a monster completely opposite to Servant.

No, it should be called the vampire— Dracula.

Unlike the Dead Apostle, vampires are also known as Dracula, the most famous vampire. He is a monster that only exists in stories, feared for his strong body, immortality, and ability to reproduce by drinking blood.

"Make way for me... Heroes... I need the Holy Grail. I need to increase the number of my brethren."

For the sake of my clan, and for the sake of researching Magecraft, I need to obtain the Holy Grail and create my successors. So get out of my way. The Holy Grail is... the Holy Grail is mine!

The Vlad III never lost his charisma is no more; his elegant aristocratic attire has been reduced to rags, and he himself has degenerated into a monster with only a human form.

No longer Darnic, nor Vlad III, this vampire could not possibly possess the desires of Magecraft —the yearning for the Holy Grail, the obsession with his race. He prays for the revival and prosperity of his race in order to complete the Magecraft that leads to the Root.

If he obtains the Holy Grail, Romania may become a land of the dead overnight.

The other Servant present, possessing heroic pride, clearly could not possibly agree with the "monster's" wishes.

"Ha, it's just a mere monster, what are you talking about!"

The Achilles took a step forward, approaching the monster, and swung his spear.

The vampire, overestimating his abilities, blocked Rider's supersonic attack with his own arm, and the result was, of course—

Flesh and blood flew everywhere, and bones were exposed.

However, the vampire's powerful regenerative ability is much faster than the speed of injury, and judging from his movements, he doesn't seem to feel any pain.

"Tsk."

With his pierced arm, the vampire easily grabbed the neck of Achilles and overpowered him with his strength.

The moment the vampire bared its fangs, Rider reflexively extended his arm to block the attack.

To harm Rider's body, one would need a body connected to a god or something else capable of transcending the blessings of the gods. Rider's reflexive extension of his arm was likely a warning signal from his extensive combat experience and survival instincts. The moment he was bitten, he experienced a strange, itchy pain.

"--It's poison!?"

At that moment, two arrows flew in and struck the vampire in the eyes.

It was a sniper shot from Atalanta.

"Get out of there, Rider!"

"Thanks, boss!"

After kicking away the vampire whose eyes had been destroyed, Rider immediately jumped back to Archer's side.

"Don't be careless, Rider. While God's grace can block most attacks, his blood-draining behavior seems to be an exception."

"Ah, it seems so..."

Rider nodded. The situation he had just experienced was quite dangerous. The divine favor he possessed was ineffective against acts of friendship like vampire-drinking, meaning he had almost become an accomplice of the vampires.

The vampire, instantly restored, roared and charged towards Rider.

"Get out of my way!"

"What?!"

Rider and Archer, who were already on guard, were both surprised. The vampire didn't attack them; instead, it leaped over their heads and pounced backward.

"Is his goal the Holy Grail?!"

Realizing what was happening, Rider turned around and instinctively tried to chase after him, but the vampire's speed was now far beyond what he could have achieved when he was still Lancer, and he was about to disappear around the corner.

But the next second, he was blocked by a figure that suddenly appeared around the corner.

"That won't do."

Siegfried, who rushed to the battlefield and stood before the vampires.

"Please restore him to his original state, Your Majesty. Isn't your wish precisely to wash away the stain that the world has placed upon you? Have you already forgotten the pride that 'Little Dragon Prince' Vlad III possessed?"

Upon hearing Saber's admonitory words, the vampire stopped in his tracks. He then gritted his teeth, a conflicted expression on his face.

After noticing the conflicted look on the vampire's face, Saber took another step forward, seemingly to continue advising him.

"My king..."

"Shut up!"

The vampire roared, interrupting Saber abruptly. "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! The Holy Grail is mine! I won't give it to anyone! I will fulfill my wish and revive my race!"

The vampire's thoughts were fixed on obtaining the Holy Grail.

Therefore, in his eyes, Saber, who was blocking his way, was no longer a reliable ally, but an obstacle that needed to be overcome, so he threw a punch.

"?!"

Saber, who had taken the vampire's punch head-on, was taken a few steps back by his monstrous strength. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the vampire kicked Saber hard in the stomach.

"Hmm--"

Saber, who had been kicked away, adjusted her posture mid-air and landed steadily on the ground. She possessed extremely high "endurance" and also had a powerful defensive Noble Phantasm. Ordinary attacks could not harm her at all.

However, the vampire had already taken advantage of this moment to pounce backward, but the sniper shot from Chiron's Noble Phantasm directly stopped his attempt.

"Is everything alright, Saber?"

Archer approached Saber, inquiring about her condition while keeping a watchful eye on the vampire's movements.

"Ah, no problem."

After confirming that Saber was alright, Archer turned to Avicebron had been watching the battle from the sidelines and asked:

"Caster, do you think he can be restored to his original state?"

"Impossible. Not only has Lancer's existence been rewritten, but Darnic has also used a curse-like technique to parasitize Lancer's soul. In other words, this monster in front of us is neither Lancer nor Darnic. Furthermore, Darnic used three Command Spell in total, so he probably has no way to recover."

Caster succinctly revealed the truth. Even an A-rank "Magic Resistance" Servant couldn't withstand two Command Spell. Vlad III spent three Command Spell to become a vampire and received the order to obtain the Holy Grail, could never return to his original form.

So for the [Black] side, the next question is -- can this vampire stand on their side?

If he can eliminate the enemy himself and return with the Holy Grail, there's no need to fight him. But if he uses the Holy Grail only to fulfill his own desires, then the [Black] faction cannot ignore him either.

As for now... judging from his appearance, the idea of fighting together is clearly impossible.

Therefore, the two Servant the [Black] side consciously blocked the vampire's path.

The vampire's attention, however, was not on the two of them; he suddenly looked in another direction, his brows furrowing as if he were quite displeased.

There appeared a girl with long, shimmering golden hair, holding a fluttering holy flag.

"Ruler..."

Of the few people present, only Siegfried and Karna had seen Ruler before. Now that Saber had revealed their identities, the attention of the other Servant was all focused on the girl.

However, Ruler completely ignored the gazes of others, silently staring at the vampire that had just been born there.

"Lancer... no, you've become a vampire?"

Ruler is a class summoned when the Holy Grail senses that the Holy Grail War is about to deviate from its normal course.

So, was the Holy Grail summoned because Lancer possesses Noble Phantasm that transcends the limitations of Servant?

Although Ruler doesn't believe he was the reason he was summoned, there's no doubt that the world would perish if vampires were left unchecked.

Ruler immediately made a judgment--

"In order to maintain order in the Great Holy Grail War, please form a united front for the time being."

"Is the opponent this vampire?"

Ruler nodded in response to Archer's question.

"Yes, everyone, please take a temporary ceasefire until we defeat him. We absolutely cannot let this vampire reach the Greater Grail... absolutely!"

Ruler then rolled up his sleeves, revealing the Command Spell, and resolutely declared:

"By Command Spell, Servant issue this order to all Servants gathered here! Gentlemen, begin the slaying of the Vlad III — Vlad III, who has become a vampire!"

Book Title: I Like You, and Everyone Else

Introduction:

As a time traveler from the Celestial Empire, Komaeda Shuuichi is likely a failure.

Despite having busy parents and owning a car and a house, he doesn't have a cute younger sister, and his only childhood sweetheart has gone overseas.

The memories of the time traveler were delayed by seventeen years before returning.

What frustrated him most was why all the women around him had superpowers!

P. S. (The current cover of Baji Cat comes from a certain doujinshi.)

Chapter 241. Expedition

"In the name of the Command Spell, gentlemen, let us begin the crusade against the Vlad III — Vlad III, who has become a vampire!"

At Ruler's announcement, the Command Spell transformed into immense magical power, which then became chains that bound the various Servant, restricting their movements—these chains posed no obstacle to their fight against vampires.