The vampire wizard apprentice moved with terrifying speed, darting into the crowd in an instant, bypassing the enforcement team’s apprentices to target the greatest threat: a wizard apprentice casting light magic.
Before the apprentice could finish the trick spell [Sunlight Flicker], the vampire seized his head and crushed it with a sickening crunch.
As the apprentice died, a special magical substance on his body triggered, releasing a bolt of lightning that struck the vampire’s chest.
The vampire twisted its grotesque head, sneering, ignoring the wound, and lunged toward its next target.
This elite second-class wizard apprentice from the Blood Curse Court had vast combat experience. He knew that in a one-against-many fight, getting locked in a stalemate was fatal.
If he stalled against even one enforcement team apprentice, he’d be hit by a dozen trick spells, losing his ability to resist.
Using his speed advantage, he wove through Dwarf Street, exploiting the chaos to target apprentices specializing in light and fire magic, which countered his vampire immortality.
From the Universal Studies course, Locke knew vampires had powerful undead resilience, shrugging off most magical damage, but fire and light magic dealt amplified harm.
This black wizard apprentice’s combat prowess far surpassed that of Lilith’s Cottage apprentices.
Unlike white wizards, who spent most of their time researching and creating, black wizards thrived in combat and plunder, amassing battle experience. At the same rank, black wizards were undeniably stronger.
Captain Bruno Suarez shouted, “Can anyone restrict his movement with a spell?”
A female second-class wizard apprentice chanted a spell, attempting to use [Lesser Fatigue Breath] to hinder the vampire’s mobility.
This trick spell, from the curse school, infused negative energy into a target to sap their ability to act.
Lilith’s Cottage, a comprehensive academy, had second-class apprentices from various magical disciplines.
But the gray mist of [Lesser Fatigue Breath] hit the vampire, not only failing to slow it but healing its wounds and boosting its condition to peak performance.
The female apprentice screamed, “Oh no! I forgot that negative energy from [Lesser Fatigue Breath] weakens living beings but strengthens vampires!”
Locke glanced at her. She had timed her spell perfectly, predicting the vampire’s path.
But she overlooked a critical detail: for undead creatures, magical effects were reversed.
Healing spells like nature or light magic harmed undead, while damaging or restrictive negative energy spells healed them.
Even Lilith’s Cottage’s enforcement team paled in comparison to combat-savvy black wizards.
The vampire, seeing the female apprentice’s spell as beneficial, spared her and moved behind Captain Bruno Suarez and Locke.
Grinning wickedly at Bruno, it sneered, “Bruno Suarez, your teammates are pathetic.”
“Healing their enemy in the middle of a fight.”
Two vampire blood claws slashed toward Locke and Bruno’s backs.
The vampire’s modifications reached at least 0.5-circle, possibly nearing 0.6-circle.
It clearly intended to survive, dreaming of escaping Dwarf Street and Lilith’s Cottage, refusing to die as a Blood Curse Court pawn.
In that instant, Locke cast [Green Grasp], his Level 6 enhanced, invisible Mandrake Vine sprouting rapidly to form a small shield in front of him.
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A heavy force struck the plant shield, the vampire’s claws tearing it apart almost instantly.
Locke glanced at his shoulder, where his clothing was shredded, three bloody gashes marking his skin.
The impact sent him flying over five meters.
The vampire bypassed Locke, attacking Bruno, but glanced back in surprise, puzzled that its claw hadn’t torn the seemingly weak second-class apprentice in half.
In truth, the vampire’s mana was close to 200, possibly in the high 190s.
Locke’s spell models and mana were inferior, but the Level 6 Mandrake Vine’s superior magical strength allowed him to withstand the attack.
Yet, because Locke’s mana seemed insignificant, the experienced vampire apprentice focused entirely on Bruno, whom it deemed the greatest threat.
Using its vampire speed and physical prowess, the vampire relentlessly clawed at Bruno, aiming to kill the captain within ten seconds.
“Bruno Suarez, you die today at the hands of Tarun Curry, second-class wizard apprentice of the Blood Curse Court.”
Under its rapid assault, Bruno struggled. He wasn’t powerless but couldn’t counter due to the vampire’s overwhelming speed.
Bruno activated his Thorn Armor for protection, but the enchanted item was quickly shredded by the vampire’s claws.
Just as he faced a dire situation, the vampire’s attacks suddenly stopped.
Bruno looked up to see the vampire suspended in midair, restrained by something invisible.
Locke’s hidden Mandrake Vine, now visible, had taken effect.
The vampire apprentice, incredulous, exclaimed, “When? Vine Hand, such a low-level spell!”
Under the [Vine Hand] spell, the Mandrake Vine formed a plant hand, gripping the vampire.
No wonder the vampire was shocked and enraged. Vine Hand was a low-level trick spell.
With his combat experience and vampire speed, such a spell shouldn’t have touched him.
But Locke’s Mandrake Vine had invisibility, catching the vampire off guard.
Realizing it needed to break free quickly, the vampire understood its dominance came from exploiting combat experience and speed to create localized advantages.
Its undead resilience had also let it tank spells early on, as the white wizard apprentices failed to recognize its vampire nature and use appropriate counters.
But being stalled, even briefly, erased its advantage.
It hadn’t killed Bruno instantly, which was already a delay.
It hadn’t anticipated an unremarkable second-class apprentice with average mana using a low-level spell like Vine Hand to restrain it.
In the next moment, Bruno cast [Thorn Lance], his magical vine forming a spear that pierced the vampire’s heart.
Fire, sunlight, and wood through the heart could break a vampire’s immortality.
Bruno shouted to Locke, “Nice work, new guy.”
“Didn’t expect you to be this capable.”
“Thanks to you holding it for a moment, I could kill it.”
“Your vine must be specially bred by Lady Sophia. Impressive.”
The vampire’s face twisted with hatred and unwillingness. “No… no…”
Golden flames engulfed its body, reducing it to ash amid screams, leaving only a pierced, still-beating red heart on the ground.
Bruno sighed, surveying the grim scene. “We lost three wizard apprentices and two prospects this time.”
“The war’s getting fiercer.”
“Thanks to you, new guy. We killed this vampire together, so the spoils are ours to split.”
“But you saved me, or at least helped big time, so the vampire heart is yours.”
Bruno added, “Vampire hearts are great for potions and alchemical works.”
Locke looked at the heart on the ground and didn’t refuse, as it was quite valuable. “Alright.”
Bruno turned to his team. “Clean up the scene and file the report.”
“We need to inform the higher-ups.”
The female apprentice who had mistakenly healed the vampire spoke nervously, “Captain, patrols are getting more dangerous.”
“We’re critically understaffed.”
“Some team members used connections to leave the enforcement team, weakening us. New recruits lack combat experience…”
She glanced guiltily at Locke, who had shown more battle sense than her in the fight.
“Captain, can you talk to the higher-ups about our situation? Get us some local-born apprentices.”
“Locals have far better magical training than those from overseas.”
Bruno shot her a cold look. “Haylia, focus on your own job.”
“No local apprentices are willing to join the enforcement team now. And your performance was worse than the new guy’s… worse than Augustine’s.”