Chapter 127: Controlling Dracula

Michael, however, was nauseated by Dracula. It was not Dracula’s glib tongue, but his hideous character that sickened him.

"Dracula, it really is true that no one can kill you, isn't it?"

"Indeed, no one." Dracula nodded elegantly.

"By the way, do you know someone named Loxias?"

Dracula nodded, then continued, "I have a poor descendant who is also named Loxias. He is a one-in-a-million miracle; unfortunately, he suffers from a rare blood disease. It was through him that I learned of you."

As expected. Dracula’s display of knowing everything about Michael, even anticipating his arrival here, had to be because of this.

"And did you two have some sort of deal?"

Dracula looked at Michael and replied, "We did, but I have changed my mind."

"Michael, you are perfect."

A chill ran down Michael’s spine, and he lunged at Dracula once again with his weapon. Dracula smiled confidently and waved a hand; the two maids, as if losing their minds, stood up and charged at Michael. To avoid harming them, Michael was forced to dodge. He stared at the two maids, bewildered and wary.

"Mind control?"

Dracula said smugly, "Just an amusing little trick."

Michael smiled coldly. "I was so furious I forgot—I have this."

"Let the game continue."

The maid named Annie ran toward Dracula again. Under Michael’s puzzled gaze, Dracula swung his rapier at her. Michael had no choice but to teleport, pushing the maid aside and taking the blow with his own body.

"A pity, you still have weaknesses. But I shall groom you into perfection." Having said this, Dracula smiled confidently once more.

Michael also chuckled. "Actually, you have weaknesses, too."

Dracula was instantly intrigued. "What weaknesses? Do tell."

"You aren't strong enough."

Michael grabbed Dracula’s arm and dragged him into a shattered mirror.

Dracula did not know what had happened, only that his surroundings had shifted. After a brief moment of surprise, he bared his fangs and lunged for Michael’s neck. Michael, entirely unafraid, pinned Dracula’s head down and punched him in the face, breaking his fangs. He then kept Dracula pinned, pummeling his face relentlessly. Unable to endure such humiliation, Dracula roared and transformed into a werewolf, brawling with Michael.

Michael, his own wild instincts ignited, abandoned all reason. He seized Dracula by the throat, summoned his Mind Staff, and hammered it against the werewolf's maw until Dracula’s teeth went flying. Like two beasts, they tore at each other, covering one another in wounds. Finally, unable to bear it, Dracula turned into a bat and fled.

Dracula returned to human form, staring intensely at Michael. Even as a human, his mouth was filled with blood, a testament to the brutal damage he had sustained. Seeing the situation turn dire, Dracula spread his black bat wings, preparing to escape.

How could Michael allow that? He unfurled his own wings and gave chase. With a casual swipe of his hand, the wall in front of Dracula folded like cardboard. The world, indeed, was different now.

"What is happening?" Dracula asked, looking at Michael in confusion.

Michael smiled. "We are in another dimension now. This is my space, and I can manipulate it as I please."

Michael waved his hand again. The area beneath Dracula’s feet began to kaleidoscope, spreading outward; no matter which direction Dracula flew, he always ended up back where he started. He scattered into a swarm of bats, but somehow, they all flew back to the same spot and converged. His tried-and-true escape magic was no longer working.

Dracula dissolved into a mist, finally moving away from his previous position. But before he could rejoice, the ground beneath him shifted back to the way it was. Dracula’s face turned as ugly as if he had eaten excrement.

Watching this, Michael realized that Dracula’s smoke-based movement was similar to his own teleportation—both involved molecularizing the body to shift instantly to another space. Both were forms of basic spatial magic that left traces in the external world, yet they were highly practical.

After several failed attempts, Dracula finally realized that the surrounding space had been folded into a cube, and there was no way out. He gave up the struggle and said, "You and I are not enemies."

"Then what are we?"

"We are of the same kind. In this world, we are both noble and lonely, like travelers in the night. Only by finding an inn with the lights still on can we find our true home."

Michael smiled. "It’s a pity you didn't become a poet."

"Is it? I think so, too." Dracula looked at Michael. "Actually, I didn't expect you to react so strongly to the blood, but that only proves how much you crave it."

Dracula had tricked Michael into consuming human blood to prove they were of the same kind, but it backfired, instead fueling the bloodlust within Michael.

"Michael, I know you cannot accept this change in identity for now. I couldn't at first, either. But as time passes, the desire for blood will only grow stronger. When that happens, hurting those around you will be the true catastrophe."

"Managing desire is like controlling a river; diversion is better than obstruction. A reservoir will eventually burst its dam."

"Accept yourself. Accept your nature, and you will become truly free."

Dracula watched as Michael’s expression grew calm, believing his persuasion had worked, and let out a long sigh of relief.

"What you say is true, unfortunately..."

Michael looked at Dracula. As a friend, Dracula’s candor and elegance could leave a good impression, but as an enemy, his thousand years of wisdom were terrifying.

"I am a hero. Or rather, I want to be a hero."

Michael teleported behind Dracula and drove his Mind Staff directly into Dracula’s heart. Dracula did not resist; he even felt it was of no consequence, for he would simply be resurrected. But this time was different. Michael was not trying to kill him.

Dracula’s eyes turned black in an instant, then slowly faded into a brilliant azure—a blue so bright it was unsettling.

"Now, you can tell me everything."

Michael slowly withdrew the Mind Staff.

It turned out that Loxias was the offspring of a vampire and a human. He possessed the powerful constitution of a vampire but also suffered from a rare blood disease. Even his vampiric nature could not restore his health, so he had set his sights on Michael, who suffered from a similar ailment. Later, he realized he had overplayed his hand—Michael was far more powerful than he had anticipated—so he wanted Dracula to subdue Michael for him.

As for today's events, they were part of their plan all along: lure Michael to the bar, have Kresis lead him to the castle, and then have Dracula use the castle’s advantages to completely subdue him.

Unfortunately, Dracula was too arrogant; he had failed to make use of the castle at all.