Chapter 361: …run?

"LUCIAN!!!"

Lucian, who was hovering high in the Arcelis Estate, stared at the figure floating in the distance.

Varek.

Well, at least Varek in body, his consciousness was gone.

All four of his limbs had regenerated. The Vampire who was lying helplessly on that platform less than an hour ago was now floating several dozen meters above the ruined estate, completely unhindered.

His body had changed, a lot.

And the effects weren’t those of a normal Third Crimson Ascension.

His skin was paler, his physique looked denser than before, but what stood out the most were the black-red veins spreading across his neck and arms, pulsing under his skin like they were alive.

His bright crimson eyes were gone, replaced by a much, much darker shade of red, it was almost black at the edges.

Then, there was his energy.

The absurd amount of energy surrounding him. An energy that did not look like that of a Vampire at all.

Lucian recognised that dark energy.

The Energy of Suffering.

His face turned grim.

The Energy of Suffering was spread all around him like smoke, twisting, rolling, expanding and contracting again. The sheer quantity of it was far more than something with the strength of Varek’s body should be able to handle.

The source wasn’t Varek—

It was something else.

He looked around and very soon, the answer became apparent.

Neroth, he...

He was harvesting Energy of Suffering right here, everyone trapped inside the estate was his source. Lucian looked around, he could see tens of thousands of Vampires being crushed by the Crimson Hearth, some were buried under fallen buildings, some had lost their limbs and their regeneration wasn’t working, a lot of them were burned.

It was... a revolting sight.

But for Neroth, that was all he needed.

Fear, pain, frustration, despair, rage, all of it was feeding Neroth and the Archdemon was using it well.

How could he not?

He was, after all, the Archdemon of Suffering.

Lucian’s face turned even grimmer.

He looked around a little more, from this height, he could see it more clearly.

The barrier Aurelia was talking about.

It was stretched across the horizon in every direction, a gigantic crimson dome covering the entirety of the enormous Arcelis Estate and everything surrounding it.

Forests, roads, residential districts, old ancestral structures, training grounds, research facilities, entire stretches of land, all covered under the crimson dome.

"Is that..."

"The barrier."

Aurelia nodded, noticing his gaze.

"I can now see how it would take more than a few days to break this thing."

Lucian spoke.

He could feel the absurd amount of energy it held, it was something he had never seen in his life and he once stood in front of an Archdemon’s Soul trying to take over his consciousness.

Aurelia looked at him for a moment, she didn’t even use the moment to gloat about how he finally understood, her face remained solemn.

"The barrier stops anyone from entering or exiting the estate.

All of us are trapped in here with him."

She spoke as she glanced at the ’thing’ moving below them.

Lucian looked down as well.

The battle was... much more problematic than he thought. Considering their surroundings, Neroth, using his Authority, would have an almost endless amount of energy inside him. Even if Varek’s body wasn’t strong enough to use the energy optimally, the Archdemon wouldn’t be particularly worried about Varek’s physical body.

He would use it till it was ruined and then use it even further.

Until he got him.

"That’s... annoying."

Aurelia glanced at him.

"That is your assessment?"

"Well—"

Before Lucian could answer.

"LUCIAN CROSS!!! COME OUT!!"

Neroth screamed again.

The energy around him erupted outwards, releasing a massive shockwave throughout the estate.

BOOOOOM

RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE

Several already damaged structures collapsed completely.

Lucian stared at that sight, then he glanced at Aurelia who was still in his arms. Her condition was bad, he could feel how weak her body currently was now that he was holding her more closely.

"I need to put you somewhere."

He spoke.

Aurelia wasn’t offended either. The Ancient Vampire knew the situation and understood she was deadweight right now.

"Take me to Western Archive Annex. It’s about three kilometres northwest."

She answered as she pointed in the direction with her eyes. She didn’t have enough power to raise her hand.

"Why there?"

Lucian couldn’t help but ask when he noticed how specific her answer was.

After all, the entire place was in ruins, with the Crimson Hearth in Neroth’s control, nowhere was actually safe for Aurelia.

Then why specifically there?

He was curious.

Aurelia, however, just stared at him in silence. Lucian stared at the flat look on her face and he realised it.

"Ah."

He placed a finger on his lips.

"Secret Vampire spy stuff, right.

I won’t ask."

He nodded.

Aurelia kept staring at him, he grinned.

"See? I understand boundaries."

Aurelia looked very unconvinced. She wanted to say something, but before she could—

"YOU!!"

Another scream was heard.

Both Lucian and Aurelia looked down.

Neroth was now looking directly at them.

"...guess he finally noticed us."

Lucian commented.

The moment the Archdemon’s gaze locked onto Lucian, his expression twisted into pure, utter rage.

In an instant, he lost all reason. Neroth didn’t care whether Lucian was dangerous or whether chasing him was an intelligent decision.

Lucian ate his Heart and devoured his existence, ruining a plan it took him nearly a thousand years to concoct, reducing him to a dying remnant trapped inside a failing body.

Whatever time Neroth had left, he was going to use it to kill this bastard!

BOOOOOOOOOM

The black energy around him exploded as his body shot through the sky, rushing directly towards Lucian.

Lucian looked at him, then, he looked at Aurelia. The Vampire looked back. For a short second, neither of them said anything, then—

"...run?"

Lucian proposed.

"Run."

Aurelia nodded.

And the instant she did, Lucian’s Demonic Energy moved around them and—

FWOOOOOOOOOOOSH!

They vanished.