Dracula, now fully restored to his human form, turned his face towards the Servants. Though his appearance remained cold and stern, the intelligent gaze he once possessed was gone. His formerly elegant black noble attire was torn to shreds, revealing not flesh and blood from within, but continuously flowing, tangible shadows.
Vlad III's spear, which he had held, vanished into dust the moment his heroic aspect was completely extinguished.
"Alright, return my Holy Grail to me quickly. I must use that Greater Holy Grail to fulfill our family's long-cherished wish."
"Yes, to fulfill my wish, I must live eternally, without end. I must continuously increase my bloodline. I must leave behind my children, and I must further increase my dependents."
"Talent, effort, and nurturing environment I must prepare all of this, to cultivate those who will carry on my legacy. So, quickly, return the Greater Holy Grail to me, return it to me, return it to me!" Mixed in with these shouts were Darnic's own dreams and the vampire's instincts. And this was Darnic's long-standing wish: the continuation of his family.
Vlad III had transformed into Dracula, a monster with blood-red eyes and exposed fangs. He slowly scanned his surroundings as if carefully observing them, then locked onto a specific point. This "nameless monster" had sniffed out the location of the Greater Holy Grail, now housed within the garden.
"Ha, no matter what, he's still a monster far removed from the gods. That much won't change, right?" Achilles swiftly took a step forward. Gripping his Hero-Slaying Spear, he instantly closed the distance to Dracula with his agility. The spear, thrown mid-jump, pierced towards Dracula at bullet-like speed!
"No!" The voice of prohibition came from Chiron. But Chiron's warning was too late; Achilles's spear had already been caught by the opponent's hand.
"What?!" A lethal strike, launched at a speed that transcended sound. Facing this seemingly unavoidable attack, Dracula, incredibly, caught the spear firmly with just one hand. It was as unbelievable as catching a flying missile bare-handed. Of course, as Dracula gripped the thrown spear, his flesh was torn, nerves snapped, and bones shattered with a cracking sound. However, the vampire's regenerative abilities were far quicker than the injury. The sight of those wounds regenerating the instant they were torn was frankly chilling.
Dracula laughed at this, then lunged at Achilles. Achilles, mid-jump, was instantly tackled to the ground. However, even so, Achilles still had reserves.
This was because as long as the opponent was not an existence inheriting the blood of a god, all attacks would have no effect on this body. The moment the vampire exposed its fangs, Achilles's instinctive offering of his arm was likely due to the warning issued by his vast accumulated battle experience and survival instinct. But the moment he was bitten, he felt a strange itching sensation. Poisoned?!
The next moment, Achilles was immediately kicked away by Chiron with a powerful blow. After Achilles's arm separated from Dracula's teeth, the itching sensation immediately disappeared.
Kicked away, Achilles groaned as he stood up and protested to his teacher, "What are you doing suddenly, Teacher?!"
"Indeed, your attacks require abilities possessing 'Divinity' to be effective. And due to your heroic characteristic, even mental interference magecraft like illusions are completely ineffective. However, even without inheriting the blood of a god, there is a way to 'turn you into an ally'." Having said that, he notched an arrow and unhesitatingly shot it at Dracula, who had been an ally just moments ago. However, Dracula nonchalantly pulled out the arrow embedded in his body. At his wound, not even a drop of blood flowed; the wound healed and vanished instantly.
"His previous action was not an attack, but an act of vampirism. It wasn't meant to kill you, but to turn you
into an ally."
"Your body is indeed invincible against malice and murderous intent, but when asked, your resistance is very weak.
Yes, that is to say" Achilles's mother, the goddess Thetis, had baked him as an infant with divine fire, trying to evaporate all his human blood and turn him into a complete god. Although this act was interrupted by his father Peleus, his body gained immortality everywhere except his heel. This meant that no matter what kind of attack, it would have no effect on Achilles. But this characteristic also had two flaws.
First, as long as someone who also inherited the blood of a god attacked him, he would be injured. Second, if it wasn't an attack"...it doesn't apply to acts of friendship."
Achilles continued the sentence, his face displeased.
Chiron did not smile at this, merely nodded silently.
After his attack on Achilles failed, Dracula discovered new enemies. On the other side of the path, two figures, a man and a woman, were gradually approaching! Noticing them, Dracula swiftly attacked. But facing his attack, the man who was originally following the girl suddenly
stepped forward and blocked his attack with a sword.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, what did I miss?!"
________________________________________
Blocking Dracula's claw strike with his sword, Shirou immediately kicked him back. "Although I arrived a bit late, the changes here are simply too drastic!" Sensing Shirou's gaze, Chiron reluctantly recounted what had just happened! This made Jeanne frown.
Jeanne had already identified this vampire as the biggest cause of the Holy Grail War's destruction. He was not a Heroic Spirit with high dignity; he wasn't even a Servant. He was a "nameless monster" who had gained the power of a vampire and lost all ethics. And the most troublesome thing about him was his concept.
In Romania, Vlad III and his legend as the Impaler were intertwined with the vampire legend, so Vlad III's glory and renown would likely directly apply to him. If he reached the Greater Holy Grail and was released from the Hanging Gardens, Romania would probably turn into hell overnight. At that time, history and legend might repeat themselves in this land. Vlad III, transformed into a vampire, would cause horrifying atrocities here.
But at the same time, Jeanne's unease grew stronger.
From Shirou beside her, she saw no surprise; Jeanne always felt as if he knew everything! But now was not the time to pursue these matters; there were more important things to do.
"In the name of Ruler Jeanne, by Command Spell, I command all Servants gathered here! Immediately defeat the vampire who was once Vlad III!"
________________________________________