16 Dire

"My, my, that expression of yours. It appears that you recognize me?" the possessed Alucard inquired, still wearing his enigmatic smile. Two voices spoke in unison—one belonging to the human Alucard, and the other… a woman's.

"Is that the humble nature of yours, demon?" Or is it merely arrogance?

"Ah, forgive my impudence, Crown," the possessed Alucard calmly replied, opening his hands to the sides, showcasing his unbound form. The sword he held slipped from his grasp but vanished into shadows before reaching the ground.

With graceful and elegant movements reminiscent of a mature noblewoman, Alucard lifted his cloak slightly as if it were a long dress and bowed lightly. "I am Obscura Veus, or so they call me."

After introducing himself, the possessed Alucard advanced boldly towards Anubis. Even when they were face-to-face, Anubis made no effort to move away.

"Oh, aren't you flinching?" the possessed Alucard teased as he tilted his head.

If Anubis had sensed any danger or sudden hostile movements, he would have quickly evaded. But because he sensed no such indications, he remained cautious.

Despite the circumstances, the power differentials between them spoke for themselves, Anubis acted with the most logical reasoning. "That doesn't mean I could escape either," he replied calmly.

"Say, Crown. I'm quite confident that even among our demon peers, only a select few know of me," the possessed Alucard stated. "I was sealed away before our war grew in intensity. And I'm quite certain that those who fought on the battlefield would have no information about me. So why do you...?"

"Is that so?" Anubis responded nonchalantly, "If only I could provide you with more details, but it appears that the knowledge is already present in my head."

Anyway, this is quite a stroke of luck. After learning that the demon possessing Alucard is a high-class noble, knowledge about Anubis - the Crown of Vampire Lord - should be more widespread too.

"You're such a peculiarity, Crown."

"You say that... so you've never heard of me either?"

"Never once!"

Anubis let out a long sigh of disappointment. Even a top-tier demon knew nothing? How could his existence as the Crown of the Vampire Lord not be recognized at all, as if he never existed?

"But," the possessed Alucard continued, "It's probably because I wasn't personally involved in the wars against the vampires, I suppose?"

Ah, that could be it. "If that's the case, I too don't recall participating in any battles. I have a vague understanding of the war, but that's about it."

"My my, so that's it."

Both seemed to have stumbled upon a bubble bursting in their heads, realizing a commonality.

Demons and vampires would never see eye to eye as alone, enmity always existed and would continue to exist, wherever they were. Even to this day, vampires had to flee when faced with demons in the underworld. Whenever the two met, a battle would ensue, and the only resolution was the death of one of them.

So it should be natural that the reason for their encounter was a miracle. Destiny, perhaps?

"Is that why you didn't kill me outright? Because you haven't been on the battlefield before?" Anubis asked in a calm tone.

"Half right, half wrong," the possessed Alucard said. "If I decided you were useless from the start, I wouldn't have revealed myself and let this human kill you. But you're very clever, aren't you? If it's you, you'd understand."

After saying that, they fell silent, observing each other. It was the possessed Alucard who continued with lip movements that produced a distinctive sound. It was a language that was not recognized in the underworld, except by a few chosen.

A language that has become extinct—"The language of predecessors?" Anubis guessed.

The possessed Alucard smiled wider, as if he had hit the jackpot. "Hihi~ My, my. Today is lucky for us, isn't it, Crown? You're not getting killed by humans, and I get an irreplaceable clue."

Like a droplet of water that bursts upon impact, that's how Anubis immediately understood what the demon meant. There were three main components that connected to one answer.

Demon. Sealed. The language of predecessors.

However, the answer could be impressive, or perhaps terrifying.

After all, Alucard wasn't just an ordinary person, and he was strong. Anyone who met this man would immediately understand. Then there was a being manipulating him without being detected, at all, and completely. And this being's ability was nothing but a fragment of power that managed to break free from a seal?

Obscura Veus, a demon feared by other demons themselves. Due to its incredibly potent ability, it was sealed and its existence was known only to a few demons. If it was still sealed but its power was still capable of completely overpowering Alucard, how powerful was Obscura Veus truly?

"Don't get lost in your own mind, Crown," the possessed Alucard snapped Anubis out of his deep thought. "The effect of my ability is not permanent, once it fades, my control over this human will disappear, and you won't be alive when that happens."

Indeed, if they were to let the human Alucard regain consciousness, Anubis would surely be killed without a second thought.

"That's one," the possessed Alucard continued with a hint of seriousness. "You won't refuse my offer, and actually, you won't be able to refuse it."

That's because this demon has already planned Anubis' escape route from the beginning.

"It's a mutual trade, Crown."

Vampires and demons trading fairly? That was almost impossible, as both parties would have similar doubts.

"You will gain," the possessed Alucard started the bargain, "...Knowledge and information about this world." Then he smiled cunningly, displaying unwavering confidence.

However, that was just what Anubis was most craving for. But that was the only part of the exchange that Anubis was likely to get, as there was still another side to it that had not yet been revealed. That included, ofcourse, risks.

As Anubis was pondering it, they both interrupted by a sudden turn of events to the scene.

"Hihi~ You heard that?" the possessed Alucard continued to taunt without mercy. "Your presence in the first place was peculiar, Crown. Personally, I'm very interested in you. Oh well, we'll be meeting soon...I'm really looking forward to it, aah~"

If only the one who had just said that was, at least in the form of a woman, then the sight would be worthy of being called an excessive obsession between a man and a woman.

It's just that the demon didn't care at all that the body it was occupying was that of a male human.

Anubis could only guess from the noise of the arrival of a group of people from behind. They were probably still quite far away, but the fact that Anubis could hear them meant that they should have been detected by Bloodthirsty.

No, it's not. Anubis can't sense their presence at all. It was just like when he saw the previous guard—

"The Administrators," the possessed Alucard interrupted directly. "You made a grave mistake by killing one." Then he continued without any indication of lies whatsoever.

This world might call it magic, but the abilities possessed by The Administrators were in a different form. "The concept of level and attributes status for them is vague, if they were given power, just one Administrator could eradicate all the living things in a big city."

It wasn't by killing them or making them submit. That...was a method that was even beyond the concept of magic in general.

"Even if you can escape from this vampire hunter human, your chances of surviving their chase are… null."

Surprisingly, the demon exposed that its manipulative abilities couldn't work on these Administrators. "By still-unknown reason," the possessed Alucard nonchalantly stated, "Perhaps because my true power is still sealed or because they truly are untouchable... the latter is the most likely."

That's how it is.

An Administrator reported that they had found anomalies in the system. Not only that, they were able to be attacked while in incognito mode. Their death wasn't the most shocking point, but at the fact that the killed Administrator's account... can no longer be accessed.

So, what are the developers doing? They have raised the User-level of the Administrators assigned to the Lemuria region for a thorough investigation while waiting for a detailed report from the deceased Administrator.

Then now, what should Anubis do?

"I will only create a path that will lead you to an answer," the possessed Alucard said calmly, this time his tone seemed to have changed. The strange smile was no longer displayed, but instead, he appeared expressionless. "Along that path, you will find fragments of knowledge about this world. That is what I also discovered in my journey," he continued.

That one word… caused a slight jolt in Anubis. "My journey?" Did this demon experience a similar situation to what he was currently facing? Could there be someone else, beside himself, who awakens in this uncertain realm? Just contemplating it brings Anubis' consciousness far away from reality, it's so vast.

"I'll be waiting for you, Crown."

The voice sounded, throwing Anubis back into reality, where something constricting in his stomach was felt. "Ugh!" Although his health bar had been restored to green during the conversation, it straightly plummeted to yellow at once, inching closer to red.

The possessed Alucard, or perhaps his human consciousness had returned with vengeance, delivered a powerful blow to Anubis.

This in itself was already dire, as a repeat of the same attack would instantly lead to Anubis's demise.

Yet, the plot had not reached its conclusion, instead, it was just beginning.

At this very moment, a group of Administrators arrived on the scene.