Reincarnated as a Vampire Who Acquires Skills Through Blood

Chapter 52: 52 - 9th Floor

After letting Onyx rest for a bit longer and making sure he was fed, we picked ourselves up and continued our search for the stairs that lead down to the 9th floor.

Even with my [Echolocation] active, which usually helped me map out the areas around me with sound, I still managed to get lost a few times. It was really annoying and frustrated me to no end.

The layout of the 8th floor was a complete mess of loops and turns that all looked exactly the same.

I wandered all over the floor for hours, my boots clicking against the cold, hard stone as I navigated through the silence. Then finally, after what felt like an eternity of walking in circles... I found the narrow way down to the 9th floor.

I immediately descended the dark stairs, holding Onyx in my arms. And after arriving at the very end of the staircase—

”Huh...?”

I couldn’t help but be surprised by what I saw in front of me.

’It’s gone.’

The maze-like paths and confusing intersections that had been a staple of this dungeon were completely gone.

All that was left in their place was a massive, spacious, and perfectly straight corridor. It was a complete departure from the cramped tunnels I had grown used to over the past few days.

The stone walls here were different too; they had fired-up torches placed in iron brackets all over them. The orange flames flickered and danced, illuminating the area along with various ragged banners that hung from the ceiling.

The whole floor was incredibly well-lit, casting a warm but eerie glow down the length of the hall.

I couldn’t see the end of the long corridor from where I stood, but I can only assume that the stairs leading to the 10th floor must be at the very end of this path.

But even though the maze that had been annoying me for so long was finally gone... I couldn’t really bring myself to be happy about it.

After all, every after a few meters— two statues that looked like knights were stationed facing each other on either side of the corridor.

They stood perfectly still, their hands resting on the hilts of their stone-cold weapons. Now, being a man from the modern world and having read a lot of fantasy stories back in my past life—

’I just know those fuckers will start moving as soon as I get near them.’

I narrowed my eyes, looking at the long row of silent armors.

To confirm my suspicion and make sure I wasn’t walking into a simple ambush, I used three skills: [Echolocation], [Thermal Sense], and [Vital Mapping].

With [Echolocation], I sent out a subtle pulse of sound. I was able to confirm that the armors standing there weren’t hollow at all; there was definitely something solid and structured inside each of them.

[Thermal Sense] didn’t really give me much information since the steel armors were naturally cold to the touch, but once I activated [Vital Mapping], I became absolutely sure of what I was facing.

After all, the skill was highlighting specific points for me, telling me that the chest part and the head part were their primary weaknesses.

Meaning, they were definitely alive in some twisted, mysterious way.

It looked like the monsters I had fought from floor 1 to floor 4 were just the common foot soldiers of this place. Then, the one I had encountered on the 5th floor was the knight captain... and these guys standing here now?

They’re clearly the elite knights under that Golden Guy’s command.

”...”

I went silent for a moment as I concluded that logic in my head. Then, as a slow smile started to appear on my face—

’Just the right timing. I want to test out the new level of swordsmanship that I achieved.’

I thought of that, feeling a bit excited.

Just thinking about how much stronger I would be after defeating every single knight on this floor and drinking their blood dry was enough to make me feel relentless. And so, without any further ado—

TAP!

I took a firm step forward into the corridor.

*****

TING—CLANG—TUNK!!!

The reaction was instantaneous. As soon as I got about 5 meters close to the first pair of statues, the both of them started moving with a violent jerk. They didn’t even give a warning before they immediately attacked me.

With precise, practiced coordination, they began a barrage of strikes that forced me to defend. They moved in sync, trying to push me back toward the stairs with a series of heavy swings and stabs.

The swordsmanship they were using was very similar to the style I had just learned from the Golden Knight back on the 5th floor. They were fast, disciplined, and strong as well.

’But they’re still several levels below that Golden Knight captain.’

I thought to myself as I read their movements.

TAAANG—!

I raised my blade and blocked both of their overhead attacks at the same time. The force of their combined strength vibrated through my arms, but thanks to my improved strength and [Knight’s Discipline], I didn’t even flinch.

THACK!

I saw an opening and launched a heavy kick, striking one of them in the chest and sending it stumbling back a few feet.

Then, swiftly twisting the tip of my blade to aim it at the remaining knight who was still locked with my sword— PHUCK!

I thrust my weapon forward with a burst of speed and stabbed my sword straight into its chest, piercing right through the armor and into its heart.

Just then, as if knowing it was already done for and wanting to take me down with it— FWIP!

The monster I had just stabbed in the heart reached out with its gauntleted hands and grabbed my blade, squeezing tight to stop me from pulling it back out.

I frowned, realizing it was trying to trap me. And not missing that golden chance— SWOOSH!

The knight I had kicked away earlier jumped back into the fray and swung its sword horizontally in a single beat, aiming the sharp edge directly at my neck!

’They’re something else, huh.’

I thought. Then, with pure force—

S L A S H—!

I didn’t try to pull my sword back. Instead, I gripped the hilt with both hands and violently swung my sword horizontally, using the monster still impaled on my blade as a weight.

The force of my swing was so great that it cut through the one who had grabbed my sword and continued through to the one trying to ambush me in one go. I felt the resistance of their armor and flesh give way as I cut the last one straight through the neck.

THUD!

And with that, both of the armored monsters fell heavily onto the stone ground.

”Their armors are absolute trash... I guess only the captain got to have the best gear in this place.”

I mumbled to myself as I looked down at the two corpses of the monsters lying in a heap of broken steel and dark blood.

I didn’t want to waste the opportunity to recover my strength and grow. I immediately kneeled down on the floor and grabbed their dead bodies.

Inside their armors were the same zombie-like husks I had seen before; it was a disgusting sight to look at, but I don’t really care about it anymore.

’I just want to get stronger, and I want to do it fast.’

I thought, my hunger for growth peaking as I looked at the dark liquid pooling on the floor. And so with that— CHOMP.

I leaned down, bit into the necks of the fallen knights, and started drinking the blood of the dead monsters.