...
Days passed, though it was impossible to tell how many, as time was indiscernible in the underground labyrinth.
Hiyama had no idea how many strange and exotic monsters he had consumed, but he finally reached a floor with a peculiar spatial anomaly.
It was an open area at the end of a small path, featuring a three-meter-tall, solemnly decorated gate.
Beside the gate sat two one-eyed giant statues, half-buried within the wall.
"Hmph? Trying to ambush me?"
Hiyama knew that once he approached, these two statues would transform into monsters and attack him.
Since that was the case, why not strike first?
Clad in the Robe of the Distant Past and wielding his guandao, Hiyama struck forward!
Crack!
A terrifying Vibration Magic instantly enveloped the area in front of Hiyama; the air trembled, and the earth shook.
The Vibration Magic obliterated the two stone statues in front of the gate with destructive force, even sending the massive steel gate itself flying!
The colossal sound echoed through every corner of this floor!
All the monsters on this floor huddled in corners, trembling in fear.
At this moment, they recalled the terror of being dominated by that man!*
Chapter 17: Vampire Princess?
The power of Vibration Magic was directly linked to Hiyama's physical capabilities; the stronger Hiyama's body, the more potent the Vibration Magic!
After all the predation and evolution on his journey, Hiyama's physical strength was now incomparable to when he first entered the labyrinth!
This punch, he thought, should have about five or six tenths of Whitebeard's power.
Hiyama remained calm; with the gate now wide open, he stepped inside, treading on shattered fragments and debris.
Beyond the gate was a dark, pitch-black expanse, seemingly a very wide space.
Relying on the "Night Vision" skill he obtained from a bat-type monster on an upper floor, Hiyama could clearly see the interior.
The interior was constructed from glossy stone materials, much like the marble he had seen in the Holy Church's cathedral.
Several thick pillars were neatly arranged in two rows, extending to the back of the room, and near the center of the room, a massive cuboid stone stood, reflecting the light that entered the room, emitting a smooth sheen.
In the middle... a person was chained.
More precisely, it was a girl.
Her neck down to her hands was embedded in the cuboid, with only her face exposed; her long golden hair cascaded like a waterfall, obscuring her features.
Only a pair of ruby-like eyes could be vaguely seen, glittering brightly.
Her age... she looked about twelve or thirteen.
"Please... save me...." The girl's voice was hoarse, as if she hadn't spoken for a long time.
[Ding, please choose]
"1. Close the door and leave, obtain one Mantis Shrimp, and receive the title 'Indifferent Bystander.'"
"2. Rescue the girl, obtain one Platinum Treasure Chest."
"3. Kill the girl and consume her, obtain the ability 'Immortality.'"
Hiyama was startled; it had been some time since the system had appeared.
"Platinum Treasure Chest, what's inside?"
Hiyama noticed a reward the system had never offered before.
[The Platinum Treasure Chest can yield all abilities, weapons, skills, and talents from all heavens and myriad worlds, and can even summon characters from all heavens and myriad worlds!]
"That amazing?"
Hiyama exclaimed with delight.
Although he was somewhat interested in the third reward, Immortality, the requirement for that option was too inhumane; Hiyama was not so perverted as to choose it.
"I choose two."
Hiyama decisively selected the second option.
"...Can you save me?"
"As long as you can get me out of here, I'm willing to do anything for you, so... please!"
The bound girl, unaware of the system, only saw Hiyama standing still, and feared that her only savior in centuries would leave.
She pleaded desperately.
To think that she, the Vampire Princess, who had shaken the continent centuries ago, was now reduced to such a humble state, begging a human for salvation—it was truly lamentable.
But even so, she couldn't let this opportunity pass.
Even becoming a slave to that man was infinitely better than being confined in this lightless underground abyss.
Such were her thoughts.
Hiyama had already intended to save her, but seeing her humble attitude at this moment, he couldn't help but entertain other ideas.
"I can save you, but since you're imprisoned here, it means you're a dangerous individual, doesn't it?"
"Then how can I guarantee that you won't attack me once I release you?"
"Right, Vampire?"
Hiyama sneered.
The golden-haired loli Vampire Princess's eyes narrowed, a hint of struggle appeared on her face, and finally, she painstakingly moved her chained hand to her mouth and bit it.
A drop of golden blood seeped out from her slender, white finger.
"This is my Vital Essence Blood; as long as you drink it, you will be my master from now on."
The Vampire Princess's already pale face became even paler, making one worry she might pass away at any moment.
Vampires are creatures that survive by consuming human blood; for such creatures to offer their own blood is, in a sense, no different from suicide.
In fact, Hiyama felt a surge of powerful magic contained within that drop of blood, holding a great attraction for him.
"Contract established."
Hiyama unhesitatingly held the loli Vampire Princess's finger in his mouth and sucked away the drop of blood.
A surge of immense power erupted from his bloodstream, every cell in his body rejoiced, and abundant magic filled Hiyama's body.
At the same time, Hiyama felt a faint, ethereal connection form between himself and the Vampire Princess before him—a very mysterious sensation.
Hiyama quickly pulled out his status screen to check.
Hiyama Daisuke, 17 years old
Male
Level: 23
Occupation: Mage
Strength: 1200
Stamina: 920
Resistance: 800
Agility: 1020
Magic Power: 3830
Magic Resistance: 1500
Skills: Legendary Fire Magic Adaptation, Magic Manipulation, Gastric Acid Enhancement, Lightning Wrap, Heavenly Stride (+Sky Power) (+Shrinking Ground), Wind Claw, Presence Detection, Language Comprehension, Night Vision, Immortality
Special Magic: Vibration Magic, Equip Magic, Knight
[Immortality: Self-recovery ability increased by 500%, consumes magic power to heal all fatal injuries, gains limb regeneration ability.]
To his delight, "Immortality" was obtained simply by consuming a drop of blood!
It was important to note that obtaining skills by eating monsters was a matter of chance.
Hiyama once ate more than twenty monster bats in a row just for the Night Vision skill.
Those twenty-odd bats almost made him vomit, and he only managed to get the skill with great difficulty.
"Hmm, very delicious." Hiyama released the girl's finger.
"....."
The golden-haired loli Vampire Princess stared blankly at Hiyama; for a moment, she didn't know who the real Vampire was.
Hiyama placed his hand on the cuboid that confined the girl and activated Vibration Magic.
"Hmm?"
This cuboid, made of unknown material, remained completely still under the effect of Vibration Magic.
"Looks like I'll have to put in a bit more effort."
Hiyama had been using Vibration Magic with minimal force because he was worried about harming the girl, but now it seemed it wasn't that simple.
"Be careful, I'm going to use more force."
"Okay."
The golden-haired Vampire Princess was a little nervous; she could feel a terrifying power in Hiyama's hand, and if she accidentally touched that power...
Even with Immortality, she couldn't guarantee she would survive!*
Chapter 18: Vampire?
The white halo in Hiyama's hand grew brighter and brighter, and as the Vibration Magic continuously surged, the cuboid began to shake violently.
"Hmph..."
Hiyama was fully focused, a bead of cold sweat forming on his forehead.
This time, he not only had to shatter the cuboid stone but also ensure the girl remained unharmed, which required Hiyama to control the intensity of Vibration Magic to an extremely precise degree.
It was no small challenge for him.
Crack!
As the Vibration Magic continuously poured in, the cuboid finally couldn't withstand it and a crack appeared.
Then!
The crack expanded, eventually spreading across the entire cuboid!
Crash!
Collapse occurred.
Even this stone, specially crafted centuries ago for sealing, could not withstand the destruction of Vibration Magic, and instantly shattered into fine powder!
The restraints on the girl were also released.
[Ding, Option Two completed, obtained one Platinum Treasure Chest.]
Hiyama hadn't even had time to confirm the system's reward.
The powerless girl naturally collapsed, and Hiyama quickly moved to catch her in his arms.
The girl's ruby-like eyes stared at Hiyama; her completely naked body, though thin and weak, still exuded a mysterious beauty.
Hiyama reached into his bag to retrieve some divine water, but his hand was tightly grasped by the girl.
It was a weak, powerless hand, and her small hand trembled continuously.