Chapter 470: Schrödinger’s Vampire
Chapter 470: Schrödinger’s Vampire
Fang Cheng checked his Remaining Life count. He used to have 134 lives, but now only 56 remained.
Using mother’s middle finger to take out Isis had cost him 78 lives.
From over 500 lives before the battle to just 56 left – nearly ninety percent gone.
All those years of effort vanished in an instant, leaving him back where he started.
Broke, Fang Cheng turned his bitter gaze toward Isis.
She lay motionless on the ground. Her red Gothic dress had turned white, crimson long hair shifted to gold, restoring her original goddess appearance.
Fang Cheng stayed wary, afraid she might suddenly spring back to life.
But Isis didn’t move. Her vacant eyes stared at the sky as if truly dead.
Tsukimi Narumi landed beside Fang Cheng, putting away her Giant Sword. The black flames around her cloak died out, leaving plain black fabric.
Her relaxed reaction suggested the danger had passed.
Pointing at Isis, Fang Cheng asked Tsukimi Narumi: “Is she dead?”
Only Tsukimi Narumi’s chin and thin lips showed under her hood. “Mostly.”
Fang Cheng moved to check the body – when Isis’ eyes suddenly snapped toward him.
Whoosh!
He teleported ten meters back, yanking Thunder Hammer and Child-Cutting Ankan from his shadow. “Crap! She’s still breathing!”
Tsukimi Narumi gave him a cold look that seemed faintly annoyed.
Fang Cheng didn’t care. With his few remaining lives, even a revived Isis could finish him.
This vampire remained the most terrifying enemy since his arrival – her despair-inducing terror outmatched even Iyaya.
They’d barely won with everyone’s help. He wouldn’t risk losing through carelessness.
Luckily, Isis stayed down. Her gaze fixed on Tsukimi Narumi: “You’re mother’s enemies, yet help collect mother’s body. Why?”
Without mother’s body, even combined efforts of Fang Cheng, Tsukimi Narumi and Iyaya couldn’t have defeated her.
These monsters’ true forms stayed trapped – whether through projections or arrival, their power stayed limited.
“Not your concern,” Tsukimi Narumi replied coldly.
Isis smiled. “Not afraid I’ll tell your kind about this message?”
Tsukimi Narumi stared back. “You won’t risk losing that opportunity.”
Isis dropped the smile, sighing. “So you knew. No wonder you slaughter under judgment’s guise. How ironic.”
Fang Cheng stood confused, lost in the riddles.
He caught one thing – Isis called Tsukimi Narumi and Iyaya mother’s enemies.
Was this no heartwarming family reunion, but some mother-killing tragedy?
Their following conversation made his head hurt worse.
He hated puzzles – never been good at solving them.
Luckily, Isis finally stopped speaking in riddles. She slowly turned her head to Fang Cheng and said, “I recognize your strength. The kingdom of the undead will soon open. You’re qualified to join the competition…”
Fang Cheng had already teleported over and crouched beside her. “What are you talking about? What kingdom of the undead?”
Isis whispered, “If you defeat all opponents, you’ll claim the undying throne. I look forward to your performance.”
Fang Cheng didn’t care about kingdoms or thrones – Isis’ legs were disappearing. He quickly pulled the severed arm from her chest and thrust his right hand inside, grabbing her shattered heart.
Warm currents flowed into his body through his fingertips. Messages flashed before his eyes:
[Energy absorption in progress…]
[Life +21]
[Life +28]
[Life +36]
[Life +32]
[Blood Source +1]
…
The continuous stream of double-digit Life gains shocked Fang Cheng. Normally, absorbing from corpses gave one quick surge, but Isis’ body kept producing energy like an endless spring.
More surprising was that he could absorb from her while she was still alive. Isis’ body kept vanishing until only her upper half remained.
“So you’re no longer a vampire, yet still absorb my power.” Isis watched Fang Cheng drain her life essence and actually smiled. “Keep the key I gave you. It opens the door to the kingdom of the undead. We’ll meet again… inside…”
Her voice faded as her body completely disappeared, leaving an ancient black key where she’d lain.
Fang Cheng numbly picked up the key and asked Tsukimi Narumi, “Explain this.”
The woman answered coldly, “She invited you to an undead competition.”
Fang Cheng remembered monsters fighting to become Lord of All Monsters. “Can I refuse?”
“You could. But the winner would kill you first.”
Fang Cheng pocketed the key, planning to research the kingdom of undead later. He stared at the impact marks on the ground. “Did Isis die… or escape?”
If she escaped, why could he absorb her life and powers? If she died, why mention reuniting in the undead kingdom?
Tsukimi Narumi shrugged. “Unclear. Maybe she’s dead but can revive.”
Truly a Schrödinger’s vampire – simultaneously alive and dead.
Fang Cheng didn’t press further. He glanced at the spoils and nearly dropped his jaw.
Remaining Life: 347
He’d only had 56 lives left moments ago, yet he’d somehow harvested 291 lives directly from Isis in this brief span.
He’d also obtained an ability called Blood Source, which reminded him of that notoriously difficult nightmare of a game.
A quick read of the ability’s description nearly made his eyes fall out too.
Blood Source was Isis’s power to dominate blood, granting absolute priority control over it.
But that wasn’t all – Blood Source served as the origin of every vampire blood ability.
Steel Blood, Tide of Blood, Blood Explosion – all blood abilities branched from this root.
Through Blood Source, Fang Cheng could fuse these chaotic blood abilities together and even develop new branches.
This was essentially the ultimate vampire-exclusive superpower.
He’d stared at the word “blood” so long it started looking foreign.
While initially disappointed about missing out on Idealism, Blood Source’s sheer potency shocked him.
He wondered – if Isis still lived, would she have lost this ability now that he possessed it?
Crunching the numbers, he realized he’d profited massively from this life-and-death clash.
Though he’d burned through 500+ lives, most went toward ability upgrades – resources reinvested, not wasted.
Now back to 300+ lives with Blood Source added? Pure gain.
His companions remained unharmed too, except big brother… Well, society’s beatings build character. Survival’s enough.
Wait – Tsukimi Narumi was using Ye Yuqing’s body. What price would that demand?
His triumph evaporated. Rising abruptly, he demanded, “You took Yuqing’s body? What of her and Akihime?”
Tsukimi Narumi shook her head. “Temporary measures. Details later.”
He shifted tactics. “What was that exchange with Isis about earlier?”
Her voice turned arctic. “Beyond your concern.”
What’s with the cold shoulder? Did I owe you a fortune or something?
Still, she seemed easier to handle than that other deity – just aloof, not malicious.
Unlike Iyaya, that heart-manipulating wicked witch of a goddess.
“Slandering your patron goddess? How irreverent.”
Iyaya’s voice suddenly echoed in his skull. “But since you eliminated that nuisance, I’ll overlook it.”
Fury surged. “You dare show your face?”
He hadn’t forgotten her abandoning him mid-beatdown by Isis.
“Fled? Is that what you think?”
“Didn’t you?”
“Fool.”
Iyaya countered, “Without my summons, would Tsukimi Narumi have aided you?”
He didn’t bite. “If Akihime and Yuqing pay no price for this, maybe I’ll thank you.”
“There’s always a price,” she chuckled. “But trivial for your current power.”
He snorted. “We’ll see.”
Her words held little credibility. She’d claimed using Word Spirit Technique as her proxy carried no cost, yet every Paradise activation during the fight had corroded his body and soul.
Even her rare assistance came with strings attached. Worst. Deal. Ever.
Grumbling internally, he turned to Tsukimi Narumi. “Returning now?”
She gripped his shoulder. Flames engulfed them, vanishing when the blaze subsided.
Outside Mechanical City’s construction site, Kanzaki Rin and the nine-tailed fox kept vigil.
Eve’s incineration left only lingering ash. The raging black flames had dwindled to an egg-sized spark hanging motionless in the air.
“Yaaawn.” The nine-tailed fox’s Kujo Tails formed a fluffy bed.
She sprawled drowsily. “Kanzaki, I’m starving. Dinner time.”