There was no need for any extra thoughts running through my mind at the sight of the two Core Formation Vamps.

  I wouldn’t delude myself into thinking the people I had with me would be enough to win this battle. There wasn’t even hope of a victory at the cost of life.

  Maybe if there was only one. Then maybe we would’ve had a chance otherwise.

  I knew I could punch above my weight, but that was mainly in the same realm, this wasn’t a fairytale. The gaps between realms exist for a reason, and this was a situation that could end with all of our lives being lost.

  And the fact that we had noticed them, meant they had long since noticed us. The only reason we hadn’t been attacked yet was because they were wary.

  It was easy to tell they recognized me when their eyes narrowed dangerously at me, before frantically scanning the area.

  It was as if they didn’t believe for a second that I would be unguarded.

  There was no surprise felt inside of me at my recognition. I was quite literally dressed in one of the all black Infernal garments that Elder Zal had prepared for me, and even If they missed that clue, there were black flames continuously coating my body at the moment.

  The notion that I could be anyone else other than the Infernal Patriarch that lived on this planet was likely quickly thrown out of the window.

  Anyway, there was no more time to waste. If we’re to survive this encounter, then I needed to buy time. Even though it still irked me to think like that, I won’t ignore reality.

  Though if there was one thing I hadn’t considered, it would be the impact of the V word.

  I quite literally hadn’t said it since the Tutorial where I was forced to say it twice.

  This would be the first time since reaching Qi Refinement that I would once again utter the V word.

  “Vorrash”

  Darkness immediately descended upon the world around me.

  The streets, the people, the sky, the buildings, the two Core Formation Realm cultivators. Nothing could escape the influence of the darkness.

  Though that was only a bit of darkness…the real thing that couldn’t be escaped was the presence of the being which permeated the darkness.

  I could feel it again. That feeling of family. Of closeness. Of belonging.

  I still don’t quite understand it, and Elder Zal explained it wasn’t her place to speak on behalf of the Eternal Flame…that was my right as a Patriarch, and it was something I would understand more with time.

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  The presence that descended turned its gaze towards me and I could practically feel it smile as it gazed upon me.

  “Ah you have been growing well little one, even if a bit slow. Hm…what’s this I see?”

  Although there was no physical entity to direct my focus to, I could still hear it clear as day and even tell exactly what it was looking at.

  In this case it was looking at the boys behind me.

  Both Lirian and Frian shuddered under the gaze of the presence. I could quite literally see their knees go weak under the gaze and their eyes were filled with equal parts fear and reverence.

  “You have also begun growing your Clan. That is good little one. I await your visit to the Inferaqium.”

  I’m assuming that’s a place on the Infernal Planet? Elder Zal did mention I would have to visit. Anyway, after saying that the presence turned its gaze toward the Core Formation Realm cultivators.

  Both of whom had not moved a singular muscle since the descent of the presence, though I couldn’t tell if it was out of fear, caution, or even if the presence had rooted them there.

  No matter what the reason was, they hadn’t moved. In fact, I couldn’t sense movement anywhere.

  The gaze of the presence then slowly shifted…outward? This time I wasn’t quite sure exactly what it was looking at but it only took a moment before it spoke again.

  “…Your first War.”

  It paused for a moment before looking back towards me.

  “…Then this is nothing short of a momentous day. There will be more to come. Fill the void with the blood of our enemies.”

  After saying that the presence abruptly disappeared but the shade of black that covered everything remained.

  There was barely any time to process it was gone before the two beings in front of me moved.

  Fast!

  I just managed to raise my spear before a blood red palm struck it.

  My body was pushed backwards into the wall of a building that I rebounded off with a thud.

  The other one would’ve followed up right after but the boys had blocked him.

  Both of them were fast and the trike I just blocked was far heavier than what I could produce but…

  But they were not beyond my reach.

  I don’t know what’s happening exactly but this wasn’t the strength of the Core Formation Realm.

  It meant we had a chance.

  “Ash Guard help the boys!”

  I then immediately empowered my body and activated Flame Step.

  My reserves of Qi were dwindling fast. This had to end now, which means I needed to take a risk.

  “Gather.”

  Flames immediately began to gather at the tip of my spear as the Vamp bore down on me. I dodged and blocked with all my might, making sure I held firm control of the flames being gathered at the tip of my spear.

  This went for a few moments before I just barely managed to dodge a strike to the side of my head.

  “Compress.”

  The flames began compressing and the Vamp started moving recklessly almost as if it could sense the danger.

  It even tried to reach out and grab my spear but that couldn’t be allowed so I moved out of the way and instead allowed me chest to be struck.

  I slid backwards once more only this time I coughed up a good amount of blood in the process as literal holes were made in my chest from the hand of the Vamp.

  Fuck.

  As blood flowed down my chest and simultaneously dripped from chin onto the ground, I stood up in a heap just barely managing to evade the follow up strike.

  I grinned.

  My teeth were likely covered in blood, and with the grin that now painted my face, I watched the rapidly approaching figure of the Vamp.

  The Vamp reached me and stuck with another attack, but I shifted my body in a way to allow it to pierce the right of my abdomen.

  Ah that’s a lot of blood.

  But now the Vamp was right in front of me.

  I knew I had no chance of hitting him just due to how much faster he was, and the risk I had to take was allowing him to get close enough to genuinely harm me.

  Close enough that he wouldn’t so easily escape a point blank attack.

  “Black Lance.”

  The ball of compressed flames and the Black Lance that formed shot out at the same time and a loud whistle was heard for only a moment before the attack struck the Vamp causing a massive explosion at point black range for both of us.

  BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!