Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 1647: Chapter 1645: Battle in the Night (Pumpkin Pie... Average Taste)

One day ended.

When night fell, the caravan didn’t stop to set up camp like before; instead, they continued forward. Rumors from other caravans about vampires had everyone worried, except for Megumin, who remained smugly indifferent, stating, ”If a vampire dares to show up, I’ll blow her sky-high.” Everyone else was on high alert, keeping a watchful eye on the surrounding forest.

The original plan for the caravan was to rest for the night and reach their destination by noon the next day. However, they decided to set off overnight; with good luck, they could reach their goal by dawn. After all, lingering any longer in an area potentially prowled by vampires carried increased risk.

It was well known that the most terrifying aspect of vampires wasn’t just their immense power, but also that those bitten by vampires would turn into vampires themselves, which was truly frightening. According to the information the caravan had, seven Bronze Rank adventurers encountered the vampire in the forest, resulting in five of them being killed, with only two managing to escape.

This meant there could be at least six vampires lurking around.

Bronze Rank adventurers weren’t weak by any means, yet five out of seven were killed, indicating the vampire’s formidable strength. Meanwhile, the Priestess of the Goddess and her party consisted of three White Porcelains—while their actual strength was more than that of typical White Porcelains, it was unverified, and even staying put wouldn’t guarantee they could protect everyone.

In such a situation, setting off early was the best course of action.

If they were lucky enough to avoid any vampires and reach their destination safely, that would be ideal.

If they weren’t so fortunate...

”It’s quiet tonight,” Fang Zheng remarked casually while leaning against the carriage, then closed his eyes. Hearing Fang Zheng’s comment, the Priestess of the Goddess immediately tensed, scanning the surroundings warily. Although Ais didn’t speak, her hand went to the hilt of her sword.

Only Megumin...

”Hee hee hee, just mere slaves of the night; nothing worth mentioning before my Dark Power!”

While speaking, Megumin suddenly stood up from the carriage, raised her magic wand, and pointed at the nearby bushes.

”Stop hiding; come out and face death! In front of me, Megumin, the Great Mage of the Red Demon Clan, your pitiful tricks are meaningless!”

”Huh?”

Hearing Megumin’s words, the merchants hurriedly stopped the carriage, nervously watching the bushes. And then...

”Swish!!”

From the other side of the road behind Megumin, a figure suddenly leapt out, its eyes flashing bright red with a beast-like greed, lunging towards Megumin standing atop the carriage.

”Great Earth Mother Goddess, please protect us—Holy Shield!”

As the shadow charged, the Priestess of the Goddess, already prepared, raised her staff and began chanting loudly. Quickly, a Holy Shield shimmering with sacred radiance appeared, blocking the shadow’s path. The shadow’s hands struck the Holy Shield hard, and then it rolled back and retreated.

”Wind Spirit Dash!”

At the same time, the Blond Female Swordsman was enveloped in an azure-green Magic of Wind, then instantly flashed forward, swinging her longsword at the shadow. Unable to dodge, the shadow instinctively raised its arm to block, but with a scream, after the sword light flashed, its hands were chopped off, leaving a deep gash on its shoulder.

It was then that everyone saw the shadow’s true identity.

It was an adventurer, but now a large chunk of flesh had been torn from his neck, his head loosely connected to his body by his spine and some remaining skin, dangling like a ball in front of him. Blood covered his entire body, and his hands looked more terrifying than a werewolf’s.

It was indeed a victim of the vampires.

”I knew it, you mice only know how to hide, but your luck ends here!”

Looking at the vampire, Megumin showed no embarrassment for her earlier directionally challenged outburst. Instead, she confidently turned her magic wand towards the target.

”Now, taste my true power as the Great Mage of the Red Demon Clan, Megumin! I swear, calling forth the power of destruction, lifting the ancient seal, making the gods tremble! Destroy, destroy, destroy! In the name of the Supreme One, obliterate everything—Explosion!”

The magic circle radiating with a crimson glow suddenly descended from the sky. Witnessing this, the merchants ducked behind the carriage in terror.

Following this crazy explosion girl, if nothing else, their self-protection instincts were certainly honed.

In the next moment, the explosion sounded.

The flames that erupted illuminated the pitch-black night sky, and the blazing inferno instantly razed the once densely wooded area to the ground, leaving only charred earth, embers glowing on the shapes of what remained of tree stumps. At the center of the explosion, remnants of unrecognizable blackened forms were visible.

”Huff... that felt great,”

After releasing the Burst Spell, Megumin fell back onto the carriage, completely satisfied. No one had anything to say about it—though she could only cast it once a day, the power of her Burst Magic was indisputable. Judging from the charred bodies on the ground, there were about four or five vampires hidden here. Even if Ais and the Priestess of the Goddess worked together, killing them would take time, risking unforeseen complications.

And now, Megumin had resolved it all with a single Burst Magic... Of course, the wide range and sheer power of her Burst Magic were part of the reason.

”Is it over?”

The Priestess of the Goddess cautiously scanned the surroundings, but she didn’t dismiss the Holy Shield just yet. Having advanced considerably through the deepest dungeons, they knew that any little oversight before confirming the battle’s end could be fatal.

Indeed, that turned out to be true.

”Found you!”

At that moment, a strange and piercing voice rang out. In the next instant, a shadow came flying from the forest, heading straight for the Priestess of the Goddess. The shadow rammed into the Holy Shield, and they watched the Holy Shield, sturdy enough to withstand flames, shatter like fragile glass. The Priestess of the Goddess screamed and fell backward.

”Look out!”

Before the words were fully spoken, Ais had transformed into a bolt of lightning, sword and all, rushing at the shadow. But in the face of Ais’s full-force strike, the shadow just waved its hand, and Ais was sent flying, landing heavily on the ground.

At this moment, Fang Zheng finally made his move.

”Bang!”

The Pitch Black Greatsword, ablaze with flames, blocked the shadow with an almost imperceptible speed. A dull collision sound followed, and the next moment, the shadow was sent tumbling backward like a ball, rolling several times on the ground. With the firelight’s aid, everyone could see the attacker’s true form.

It looks like a person, with long silver-white hair, but its limbs are shaped like those of a bat, presenting a beast-like appearance. Moreover, its mouth is not quite like that of a typical animal; it resembles more a fish, forming a thick circle on its face. When it opens its mouth, one can see sharp, cylindrical teeth arranged within.

”Ugh...!”

Seeing this terrifying creature, the Priestess of the Goddess immediately covered her mouth, while Fang Zheng whistled.

”Tsk, tsk, tsk, among vampires I’ve seen, this one’s the ugliest.”

As he spoke, Fang Zheng raised the Pitch Black Greatsword in his hand, and at that moment, flames surged, followed by the armor of the Farron Undead Legion appearing on Fang Zheng’s body.

”Prepare for death, creature.”

”Creature?”

Upon hearing Fang Zheng’s words, the vampire turned its head fiercely, glaring at him.

”Did you actually call me a creature?!”

”If you’re not a creature, then there’s no creature in this world. Look at that face, and that mouth of yours. Ah, vampires like you; how dare you come out to scare people...”

”Die!!! I’ll kill you, I’ll tear you to pieces!!”

The roaring vampire suddenly leapt up, rushing towards Fang Zheng, raising its claws to strike the man before it.

But......

”No, you’re the only one who will die.”

In that instant, time began to split.

Facing the creature before him, Fang Zheng gripped the Pitch Black Greatsword tightly, swinging it forward with force.

The two passed each other, landing back on the ground.

”Ahhhh!!!”

With a scream, the vampire that had just landed exploded with countless blood marks—neck, chest, arms, waist, legs, head. Time’s power solidified, overlapped, reappeared.

”Ahhhh!! I’ll kill you!!!”

In excruciating pain, the vampire screamed while raising its left hand, and then a purely azure Spear of Light suddenly appeared. Following the vampire’s movements, it hurled out, aiming directly at Fang Zheng’s body.

”One Sword!”

The Primordial Fire exploded suddenly, turning into a Greatsword forty meters long, crashing down and directly enveloping the Spear of Light and the vampire together. Amidst the roar of fiery torrent, the Long Spear of Light hurled by the vampire instantly collapsed and shattered, while the vampire itself also screamed as it disappeared in the flames.

”Whew...”

Fang Zheng stood up, sheathing the Greatsword. At that moment, the once dense forest before him had already turned into a scorched earth, meanwhile, the Priestess of the Goddess was leaning on Ais as they approached Fang Zheng.

”Sir Knight, how is it?”

”Should be pretty much taken care of... What’s Ais’ condition?”

”Sustained some injuries, but I’ve treated her with Little Healer, just need some rest.”

”Very well, then Megumin... okay, she doesn’t seem to have any issues either.”

After saying this, Fang Zheng once again looked towards the forest in front of him.

”Well then, let’s wait for me to completely clean up this creature.”

”Huh?”

Upon hearing Fang Zheng’s answer, both the Priestess of the Goddess and Ais were taken aback. Only then did they realize a figure gradually emerging in the forest that was originally penetrated.

”Heh heh heh, heh heh heh......”

Accompanied by a sharp laughter, a girl walked out, wearing blood-red armor, holding an odd weapon, and with a pair of white wings on her back. At a glance, she seemed more like an angel.

”Hahaha!! Hahahahaha!! Never expected there would be someone besides Lord Ainz, who could make me feel such pain! It hurts so much!”

”This is just the beginning.”

Looking at the vampire girl before him, Fang Zheng raised his Greatsword.

”Prepare for death, creature.”

However, hearing Fang Zheng’s words, the vampire girl’s expression suddenly darkened.

”You called me a creature, did you.”

”Indeed, a creature is a creature. Got anything to say?”

”Very well......”

Hearing this, a clear killing intent flashed in the girl’s eyes.

”I’m going to make you understand the consequence of your bluster!”

”Well, that depends on whether you have the capability!”