Supreme Magus

As soon as the physical contact was broken, Kamila snapped out of it and hid behind Lith so fast that she almost dropped her wine glass.

Count Xolverʼs surprise intensified when he sent more and more waves of his willpower only for them to crash against Lithʼs. The Mesmerize ability required to make eye and physical contact with the target.

It could nudge their will, making them more receptive to ”friendly advices”. It couldnʼt force anyone to do something they werenʼt willing to do, though. It could only manipulate someoneʼs feelings, not their nature.

In Lithʼs case, it would have been easier to tiltʼs Mogarʼs axis than convince him to part from something, or someone, he deemed as his own.

ʼThis guy must be mad jealous to resist that easily. Well, if the easy way doesnʼt work, the hard was will.ʼ Xolver thought while returning the grip.

”I donʼt think you recognized me, dear friend. Iʼm Count Xolver and Iʼm a very powerful man. You donʼt want to have me as your enemy.”

ʼWatch out.ʼ Solus warned Lith. ʼThe blood core expenditure is much bigger than before. His life force is now even stronger than yours.ʼ For once Solus was happy to not have a body.

Otherwise she would have kicked the Count to the curb and blown their cover. Her hate for creeps was only surpassed by that for super powered creeps.

”Really?” Lith remained unfazed by activating earth and fire fusion to even the field.

”I think you should reconsider your actions.” He let pure mana flow into his left hand, making the runes Kalla had gifted him resurface on his palm. Despite their white glow, only Lith and the Count seemed capable of seeing them.

ʼAccording to Kalla, they are an introduction letter. If Xolver is involved with the undead community, this should resolve the matter without him making a fuss.ʼ Lith thought.

ʼIf the one controlling the meat puppets is really a necromancer, I canʼt risk exposing our plan.ʼ

Sadly, the Count had no idea what they meant. His eyes flared red as a thin black fog formed a small dome around them which seemed to rob its surroundings of light and warmth. Those near to the scene unconsciously stepped away.

No one was able to see or hear what was happening inside the fog dome unless they focused really hard on its presence. Kamila had no idea what was happening but she was starting to get scared.

”Iʼll ask you one last time. Let the lady come with me and Iʼll make it worth her while.” At that point, the Count couldnʼt care less about Kamila. It had become a matter of power. He couldnʼt stand the idea of a lesser man disrespecting him.

Not now that he had finally obtained the invincible power he had always dreamt about. His killing intent filled the dome adding mental pressure to the physical one.

Lith was tired of playing nice. Instead of replying, he activated Invigoration, which allowed him to detect that there were two different kinds of blood flowing inside Xolverʼs veins. One was abundant, weak, and held less magical power than Lithʼs dirty laundry.

The other was thin and of unknown origin, but it carried enough mana to make a mouse as dangerous as a tiger. Lith released small pulses of darkness magic that destroyed the undead blood coursing through his opponentʼs veins.

Despite feeling weak, Xolver refused to budge and kept pumping more and more power until his blood core was on the verge of collapsing.

”Peace, brother. Please, forgive my Vassal. Heʼs still unaware of the protocols among our kin.” Another man stepped forward, so fast that Lith didnʼt even notice his appearance until it was too late.

He was around sixty years old, barely 1.72 meters (5ʼ8”) tall, with silver hair and goatee. His silver-rimmed monocle couldnʼt hide the red glow from his eyes as he grabbed Lithʼs wrist with enough strength to force him to let go of the Count.

He had a bright blood core empowered by centuries of experience and abundant feeding. The man had gentle features and a warm smile, but in his eyes Lith saw a beast ready to attack.

”You can call me Kaelarn, Iʼm…” The newcomer only needed a second to understand that Lith was one of the living. Kaelarnʼs pretense of kindness disappeared, replaced by a feral snarl as a second fog dome covered the scene.

”Whatʼs a dog of the Dawn Court doing here? Whoʼs your master?” He asked while his iron grip turned into a vice. Kaelan released enough killing intent that Kamila almost forgot how to breathe.

Lith was stuck into place, his wrist kept cracking and healing almost at the same time thanks to light fusion. He felt an immense pressure coming from the small man in front of him, with a force that closely reminded him of Scarlett the Scorpicore.

Yet he refused to yield. He was stronger than four years ago and had learned many new tricks. He countered the killing intent by releasing his own while at the same time releasing a strong pulse of darkness magic that forced the undead to release his grip.

The pain was so intense that Kaelan growled in pain, baring for a split second canine teeth too long to be human.

”I was enjoying my evening, like everybody else, until your Renfield here bothered me and my companion.” Lith had no idea what the Dawn Court was, nor what vampire protocols might require.

So he decided to bluff his way out by confusing his opponent as much as he was. Kaelarn was indeed confused. He had never heard the term ”Renfield” but he was certain it had to be an insult.

”My name is Scourge.” He used his code word for help while activating his communication earpiece with spirit magic. ”Kalla the Wight sent me here.”

As soon as she heard Lithʼs safe word, Jirni tried to locate him and Kamila. The ballroom was reduced to a blur like she was looking through a distorting glass. Only her focus and training allowed her to see through the fog.

”If I donʼt hear from you within a minute, Iʼll send the reinforcements.” She said.

Kaelarn snarled again. His enhanced senses allowed him to hear Jirniʼs voice, but once again he had no idea who she was or what she was talking about.

”I never heard of this ʼKallaʼ.” He refused to back down to a human in his own turf, but Kaelarn hadnʼt survived for so long by being stupid.

”Just like I never heard about you.” Lith had noticed that the vampire had lost part of his edge right after Jirniʼs message.

ʼThere are too many people around us, I doubt he wants to fight at all costs. Time to raise the ante.ʼ Lith thought while powering up Kallaʼs runes again.

”These are my references. If you want to offend the Dawn Court for that lustful idiot, be my guest!”

Kamila felt like she was spectating two strong currents clashing against each other, each wave stronger than the previous one. Kaelarn was amazed by the amount of killing intent Lith was releasing. Amazed and intrigued.

”Letʼs go, Xolver. Weʼre done here.” He said when the minute was almost over and the fog dome unable to hide the pressure they exerted.

”I donʼt care who you are.” He said to Lith as parting words.

”Mess with the Night Courtʼs plans and Iʼll make you pay.”

Then when he noticed Xolver idiotic grin, he added:

”Right after disposing of you for forcing my hand.” Xolver grin disappeared, and not even his make up could hide his pallor anymore.