I Ascend to the Divine Throne through Arcane Means

In an alley on Gedo Street,

Lis walked slowly. This alley was quiet and secluded, with few people passing through.

Heading towards the direction of the adventure team's villa, Lis pondered the events that had just unfolded.

The vampire named Marion had given him a strange feeling—not his mental state but his aura.

Unlike those vampire monsters, it felt purer.

Just like Angela!

The recently witness to a battle between two Gold-level vampires, Angela was in high spirits, shedding her usual lethargy as she sharpened her claws on Lis's shoulder.

Lis glanced at her, always feeling that the vampire might have some connection with Angela, which is why he hadn't asked Angela to hide just now.

But what was strange was that the vampire should have seen Angela yet showed no reaction, even leaving quite decisively.

Did I guess wrong?

I thought he had some connection with Angela and knew the secret she carried!

After all, this was in Bright City, and there were two big shots behind Lis, so he had not feared the clearly Gold High Order vampire.

Lis also recalled if there was a vampire or a similar figure in his past life's game in Bright City, but no such character appeared in the game's storyline.

Did he leave Bright City before the players arrived, or…

Forget it, this isn't urgent.

Lis took out the unfinished chicken skewer from his storage ring and handed it to Angela on his shoulder. Little Bat cheered, grabbed it with her small claws, and began to nibble on it, all her grand aspirations forgotten.

In his past life, Angela was supposedly vanquished by the Golden Lion Knights. He still didn't know what secrets this little bat carried.

However, having secrets or not didn't matter. Having spent so much time together, Lis had come to regard Angela as a companion. He would naturally not sit by idly if something were to happen to her.

...

Not long after Lis left the small alley, a team of guards arrived at the scene of the recent battle.

The leading Guard Captain Todd's face looked terrible as he surveyed the chaotic street and the people lying all over who had been accidentally injured during the skirmish.

It appeared that most of them had been injured by flying bricks and stones. Their groans and cries of pain added a few shades of gloom to Todd's expression.

Why did such violent incidents always happen in the area under his responsibility? It looked like there were more than a dozen injuries this time.

If this keeps up, should he even continue as a captain?

Todd felt helpless and ordered his subordinates to hurry and treat the injured while arranging for someone to inform the medical hall's doctors and Church priests to come quickly.

"What are you looking at? Disperse!"

Todd impatiently dispersed the crowd of onlookers and started to examine the center of the battleground.

The more traces he found, the heavier Todd's face became.

Is this... the aura of a Gold-level vampire?

Was it the vampire from yesterday in Golden Lily Lane?

Todd was worried. The rich scent of blood was much stronger than the aroma left by the several Silver-Level vampire corpses from yesterday. If it wasn't Gold Level, what was it?

He was only a Silver Warrior!

Todd sighed. It was still better to report this and let those higher-ups deal with it, though a scolding was inevitable.

While Todd was investigating, the people from the Dawn Church arrived.

The leading paladin organized the accompanying low-level priests to start treating the injured pedestrians, while he himself approached Todd.

Todd hurried to meet him. The Dawn Church held a high status in the Feis Kingdom, and he certainly didn't want to cause any trouble.

"Greetings, Oriel, Sir. I didn't expect you to arrive so quickly!"

Although Oriel looked quite young, he was already a Silver High Rank paladin. Recently, he had been patrolling the Lower City District with the people from the Dawn Church, and Todd had met him the day before in Golden Lily Lane.

"Greetings, Captain Todd."

Oriel, dressed in the Church's formal equipment, radiated an imposing aura as he removed his helmet, revealing his handsome face and golden short hair, although his expression carried a hint of worry.

"I rushed here as soon as I received the notice. What is the situation now?"

Oriel asked Todd, having spent the past few days in the Lower City District.

"It should still be the same vampire that struck in Golden Lily Lane yesterday. The aura left at the scene is very similar, and as for these pedestrians, they are likely just collateral damage."

Todd said without reservation, seeing no need to conceal things, as the people from the Church despised these Dark Creatures even more than they did and sometimes could be of great help.

Oriel nodded and began surveying the surroundings.

Before long, Oriel stood before the pile of ashes that vampire Kutena had turned into, inspecting it closely.

Is there something you've found?

Todd stood beside Oriel without making a sound, not wanting to disturb him, as the Dawn Church were experts in investigating Dark Creatures.

"This is a Gold Level vampire that has been killed."

Oriel was silent for a moment before he spoke to Todd.

"What, a Gold Level vampire?"

Todd almost let out an exclamation and quickly lowered his voice to ask:

"Lord Oriel, are you sure?"

"Yes!"

Oriel confirmed with a nod, confident in what he said.

"It must have been drained of all its blood essence, causing it to turn into ashes instead of remaining like those vampire corpses yesterday."

"To be able to kill it in such a short time, the vampire that did this might possess the power of a Gold High Order."

"It's strange, this vampire has attacked twice, both times targeting its own kind. The people injured at the scene are all accidental, none of them dead."

"Are they killing each other as part of some ritual?"

And moreover...

Oriel looked at the conspicuous stones and Ice Cone nearby without further comment.

Not concerned with Oriel's other conjectures, Todd was feeling somewhat faint at the thought.

Gold High Order? That's the strength of Lord Morris of the Bright City Guard Corps!

Although this fellow has been targeting vampires thus far, who's to say he wouldn't fancy a bite out of one of us one day?

Determined, Todd resolved that next time he received notice, he would make sure to arrive at a more leisurely pace, just like today, hopefully when the fight was already over.

Oriel stood up straight and said to Todd:

"The presence of a Gold Level vampire wandering the Lower City District is not good news. Captain Todd, you better report this to the Kingdom as soon as possible."

Todd nodded repeatedly, which was indeed his intention.

"And on the side of the Dawn Church?"

Oriel placed his left hand on his chest and said with unwavering faith:

"In Bright City, my Lord is with me!"

Todd was somewhat speechless. I meant to ask if the Dawn Church will send a Gold Level expert here.

Although Oriel is a genius, he is still only of Silver Level strength. Surely he isn't so foolish as to go after that Gold Level vampire on his own?

Oriel glanced at Todd, offering no explanation.

Is this the trial Lord Morris spoke of?

Yet why do I have the feeling that something is not quite right? Is something amiss?

Exactly what is the turmoil Lord Morris mentioned?