The scene shifted to the top floor of the eastern building of Misawa Cram School.
Here was an extraordinarily spacious lecture hall. The hall resembled a ballroom; aside from a venue as wide as a gymnasium, there was even a stage.
At this moment, Aureolus and Himegami Aisa stood upon that stage, quietly waiting, as if anticipating something.
Tap…
Footsteps suddenly echoed. Both Aureolus and Himegami Aisa lifted their eyes at the same time, gazing forward.
Shortly afterward, they saw it. Beyond the great doors ahead, a figure was slowly approaching.
Crack… jii…
The next second, that sound reached their ears.
The sound of cracking.
But what kind of cracking sound?
The cracking of the floor being crushed underfoot?
The cracking of air being forcibly displaced?
Or was it the sound resonating within Aureolus and Himegami Aisa's very souls, confronted by that legendary figure?
It was none of these.
Aureolus understood at once.
"Space itself is wailing…"
From the eruption of overwhelming power, the very fabric of space in this world was groaning aloud. And at the center of that wave of power was, of course, the slowly approaching figure.
A terrifying pressure coursed through the air.
That astonishing aura rippled out endlessly.
Aureolus and Himegami Aisa could even see the world itself warping around that approaching figure, like a mirage trembling in the heat.
"So this… is a Vampire?"
Aureolus's lips curved into a smile, but cold sweat trickled down his forehead. Vampires, creatures long regarded by magicians as symbols of terror. Though Aureolus himself lacked talent in sorcery, as an alchemist he understood well enough what that meant.
Thus, even facing that figure directly, and despite his own confidence, he could not conceal the stirrings of fear in his heart.
Of course, Aureolus still held his trump card.
So he did not flee.
As for Himegami Aisa, who had once encountered a Vampire before, her feelings were different.
"…This one… is far stronger than the last…"
This was something only she could sense. In such a situation, all Himegami Aisa could do was stare fixedly at the figure ahead, biting her lip tightly.
It wasn't long before the King of the Night finally revealed its form.
"--!"
When that pair of beast-like eyes, suffused with blood, their pupils glowing pure gold, fixed upon them, the hearts of both Aureolus and Himegami Aisa quivered once more.
In that instant, neither Aureolus nor Himegami Aisa could move.
Not because of mental weakness, but because of those eyes. Those eyes bound the freedom of all who met them.
"Mystic Eyes…?!"
Alchemists were scholars. Thus, Aureolus, armed with extraordinary knowledge, recognized it almost immediately.
"Mystic… Eyes?"
In contrast, Himegami Aisa had no understanding at all. In this tense moment, Aureolus, as though to steady his wavering heart, spoke with a seemingly calm smile.
"The so-called Mystic Eyes refer to eyes that manifest magical power. Magic cast through the medium of the 'Eye', that is, the oldest and most primal magic of all. After all, of the five human senses, vision processes the most information. Even in mythology, the majority of the strongest Mysteries are expressed through the eyes."
"For example, in Egyptian mythology, the guardian god of the pharaohs, Horus. It's said that the war god's right eye represents the sun, while his left eye represents the moon. The people of Egypt believed that the eyes of the war god watched them unceasingly, and would deliver divine punishment to wrongdoers."
"Also, in Christianity, the Omnipotent God is said to observe the world through the Eye of God. In many myths, numerous powerful deities are one-eyed. For instance, in Celtic mythology, the king of the Fomorians, the Magic God Balor, was famed for his Mystic Eyes that could kill even a god of death. Likewise, in Norse mythology, Odin gave up one of his eyes in exchange for omniscient wisdom. Even in Greek mythology, the Gorgon sisters possessed petrifying Mystic Eyes. Thus, magic that uses the 'Eye' as its medium is among the oldest and most powerful forms of sorcery. In today's world, however, such magic has become almost entirely lost, so much so that even in the original 103,000 grimoires of the magical paths, references to it are exceedingly rare."
Saying this, Aureolus cast a sidelong glance at Himegami Aisa.
"Unless someone is like you, born with such an ability, at the present level of magic, it's nearly impossible to reproduce the Mystic Eyes of myth. No… it's not nearly impossible, it is impossible. Even if someone did manage to recreate them, they could never compare to the terrifying powers mentioned above."
Back when Olet first saw Fang Li's Mystic Eyes, his overreaction, immediately unleashing spells without a word, was likely for this very reason.
Indeed, the magical world had even turned its attention to mythological records, discovering descriptions of the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception. That was precisely because of how lofty and significant Mystic Eyes stood within mythology. People could not help but treat them with the utmost seriousness.
"To think… in this age, to see Mystic Eyes once again. As expected of an immortal creature."
Through his words, Aureolus seemed to calm his nerves. His gaze, fixed upon the Vampire before him, burned with intensity.
This Vampire could definitely grant his long-cherished wish.
At least, that was what Aureolus believed.
Only, Aureolus did not know the truth.
Fang Li indeed possessed Mystic Eyes. However, the Mystic Eyes he displayed at this moment were not his own.
They were Arcueid's power. That power, which had lain dormant within his body all this time, was finally drawn out under the influence of the bloodsucking assassin's ability.
Unconsciously, Fang Li had used Arcueid's Mystic Eyes.
Of course, there was a price.
Chaotic energy surged wildly within him, his body swelling as though about to burst, his head burning like it was aflame, blurring his very consciousness.
And Fang Li's eyes fixed upon a single body.
Himegami Aisa.
"…So that's how it is…"
Suppressing the riotous power raging within him, Fang Li muttered in a low, calm voice.
"To think you can forcibly draw out the Vampiric Impulses of the Vampire species… No wonder this power suddenly went out of control."
The power inside Fang Li's body originated from a True Ancestor.
And the True Ancestors were beings fated to be ruled by their Vampiric Impulses.
Fang Li himself was not a True Ancestor.
But the True Ancestor's power within him was now being influenced by the bloodsucking assassin's ability. Not only did it rampage out of control, it even awakened genuine Vampiric Impulses.
Thus, Fang Li's entire mind was consumed by one desire.
His gaze locked firmly on Himegami Aisa's neck.
"-- …!"
As if sensing this, Himegami Aisa's normally emotionless face flickered with fear.
Fang Li stepped forward.
And in that split second,
"----'Stop, Vampire.'---"
Words like a magical incantation suddenly rang out, halting Fang Li's steps in place.
(End Of This Chapter)
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