Chapter 35 - Confrontation Between Kings

Coming out of my shadow a total of 100 shadow infantry soldiers appeared in the world. They were covered in black armor and at the gaps in their armor was a light blue glow. Each of them had the strength of high ranking fighters and would get stronger the more they fight.

What's more, they couldn't really die my mana reserves revived them. In a way, they were like the shadows from the novel 'Solo Leveling', except for the fact I couldn't turn fallen enemies into my servant sadly.

Aside from this unit of infantry soldiers I also have a heavy infantry unit, a cavalry unit, an archery unit, a unit of mages, and a group of ȧssassins. If I were to list all of my shadows it would be

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500 - Infantry

400 - Heavy Infantry

300 - Cavalry

150 - Archers

150 - Mages

50 - Assassins

Total Shadows - 1550

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Even though I had the ability to summon all of them, even I felt like it was a little overkill to have 1650 soldiers attack a building that doesn't even look like it had 300 people in it. This also let me test the combat power of my shadows.

When my words left my mouth all 100 of my soldiers charged at the vampires. Some were 'killed' by magic attacks but were instantly revived and exited my shadow again before resuming their charge.

Yu - [Hm they don't seem to have much in the brains department.]

They may have numbers but they are more like robots and don't show any intelligence making their movements predictable

Yu - [That could be seen as a big disadvantage in the future but... can they develop their own conscience?]

*Ding*[Shadow soldiers will develop the more they fight, with time they may even become real living beings rather than just shadows. When this happens Host's shadow soldiers will evolve into Shadow Clansmen a type of race that lives in the dark killing any who intrude on their territory.]

Yu - [Isn't that a bad thing?]

*Ding*[Negative Host's shadows are connected to Host so they can always be summoned when needed. However, when the soldiers evolve to clansmen they can die and won't be able to be revived by Host's mana.]

Yu - [Well that's a given.]

Since they'll become real living beings it's normal that they'd die when killed.

As this entire exchange of information went on Seriyu and I continued our walk to the main castle building. Escorting us were my shadows, and anyone who tried to attack us was either cut down or captured.

Most vampires had a brain in their heads and chose to escape rather than fight me and my soldiers. Looking at their retreating figures I chose not to go after them since I was already so close to my destination. It must also be known that I had around 30-40 vampires being dragged by Seriyu behind me.

*Stomp*

*Stomp*

*Stomp*

Walking into the throne room with heavy steps I was greeted by a room full of old vampires. All of them were vigilant of me and on the back of the room staring down at me from the top of a throne was the leader of the Tepes Faction.

I didn't really know his name all I knew was that he was the fourth king of the Tepes Faction and father of Marius, Valerie Tepes as well as some other children. He had long blonde hair, a well-maintained beard and, he wore an extravagant mantle. To his side, I saw multiple magic projection showing many different scenes.

There was the battle on the hillside, the outer walls of the castle, and the view of the corridor leading to the throne room. Even while seeing all this he still looked at me with a calm yet also serious face.

King Tepes - And who are you, young man?

His sentence seemed normal but his tone made it sound like he was demanding to know who I was. He even released an intimidating aura.

Yu - Are you the father of Marius Tepes?

Releasing a similar aura to his, I asked my own question ignoring his. He was surprised when I didn't reply, he was probably so used to being a king that he didn't think there would still be people to talk back to him. The other vampires in the room sneered at me for 'disrespecting' their king. If not for them being uncertain of what I was capable of they might have already started attacking me.

King Tepes - What does Marius have to do with you invading my territory?

He seemed mad obviously he valued his citizens but I could care less right now.

Yu - Based on your words he is your son so I'll make this short. Your son made a request to my people to kill a band of rogue vampires. What happened after was not what the request stated, from our reports your people attacked mine breaking the contract set in place. Your son wanted to capture my people, and this isn't something I can stand for. I'm here today to make an example of you to show everyone who plans to have any misgivings against Haven!

King Tepes - Impossible!! My son would never make a request like that!!

Yu - The evidence says otherwise.

Pulling out an envelope from my inventory I threw it to the King of Tepes who caught the letter and read its content. The letter had both Marius's signature and seal so the evidence was there in the open. The king's expression changed slightly when reading the letter, and I could tell that right now he hasn't been manipulated by Marius yet.

Yu - [So Marius was working by himself huh.]

Now, this was a problem, I didn't mind spilling blood, but I only spilled the blood of my enemies not that of innocent people. I don't plan to be a tyrant, but I don't plan to be a weak hearted person either. Well, what's done is done at most I'll as for compensation for the damages my people endured.

After a few moments of skimming through the letter, the king looked at me once more.

Yu - This wouldn't have happened if you had taken better care of your children. Also hasn't the Tepes Faction recently gained a lot of strength these past few years? Where did this strength come from?

The king was going to yell back at me when he heard my first sentence but when he heard the second and third he was confused before speaking with the utmost confidence.

King Tepes - Our strength rose through our unity and natural talent as vampires it isn't something a human like you would know.

Not only does he not know how to raise his children but he also has some false ideology that vampires are supreme beings.

Yu - I don't care about your 'vampire talent' bring Marius here now and I'll make sure things don't get too bloody.

Everyone in this room went silent when I said this because I unleashed my killing intent, and with the ȧssistance of [Seriyu's Wrath]. Everyone was quiet and sweat ran down their backs.

Besides the king, no one else here had reached the ultimate rank so my killing intent was enough to intimidate them. The only one who seemed to not have been intimidated was the king.

King Tepes - YOU DARE!!!!!

Shouting this he rose from his throne and charged at me with a raised fist.

Being who I was I recieved his punch with my own palm it didn't do much damage but as expected of an ultimate rank fighter. I had only just taken my first step on the peak of high rank a couple of days ago, and our strengths weren't that far apart but still, a rank difference is still a rank difference.

His punch numbed my palm, but this action shocked him since he didn't expect me to be able to take his punch head on. In a split second, I had a blueish white flame engulf both my hand and the king's fist.

This flame did nothing to me because I was its creator but, it caused the king's hand to have both frostbite and severe burns. This sudden development caused him to retreat a few steps while looking at me with vigilance or more accurately the flame in my hand.

This was one of my newest tricks it was made up of the skills [fire magic], [ice magic], [Spirit Flames], as well as the knowledge of synergy I got from being a medicine refiner that was a sub-job from the alchemist job branch.

[Spirit Flames] Innate Bloodline Skill

Details - A fire type ability derived by the Azure Dragon, and Vermillion Pheonix's natural flames. Spirit Flames will always revert to their base form once their task is done.

Passive Effect 1 - Flames have a light purification effect

Active Effect 1 - Uses the caster's will to manifest a pure flame empty of all elements

Active Effect 2 - Can be used to better refine forging materials, and concoct medicines

Yu - [He's cautious of the purification effect.]

Remembering the details of this skill I smirked. Going into my Void Demon Form I also pulled out a sword from my inventory while multiple weapons hovered around me.

Yu - I'll take this as your answer then, now I can fight without holding back.