Chapter 1174: The Vampire Lords

’Are they undetectable to some?’

Merlin’s Mana Sense pulsed outward, brushing against the shadows that were creeping along the Stronghold’s perimeter.

At first, he thought they were ordinary vampires... Maybe thralls or knights slipping through the chaos. But as he focused, he realized that their aura was different... It was heavy, suffocating, far stronger than anything he had felt since leaving the fog.

"These aren’t knights..." he muttered as he held his staff tightly... "Are they... Lords?"

He remembered the Super Soldiers speaking of Zombie Lords. They were creatures so powerful that they could destroy entire shelters unless confronted by dozens of Level 50 survivors. If these vampires carried the same title, then their presence here was catastrophic. And worse, no one had noticed them yet.

Merlin’s jaw tightened. ’

If I don’t act now, they’ll strike from within.’

He wasn’t sure if the Omega Stronghold had already noticed them or if they had a specific squad meant to deal with them.

However, he just couldn’t let them be...

After taking a deep breath, he moved swiftly, his robe trailing behind him as he slipped through the shadows.

The two Vampire Lords were already inside the barrier with their forms cloaked in mist...

One carried a blade with crimson energy while the other’s eyes glowed red like it was about to pounce on someone.

"Stop right there!"

Merlin raised his staff. "You won’t take this Stronghold."

The first Vampire Lord sneered. "An old man dares to challenge us? You should have stayed hidden, mage."

Merlin’s staff hummed as mana started gathering around him.

"Hoho... I’m old, perhaps. But I’m not powerless."

With a flick of his wrist, a barrage of Magic Missiles struck forward, slamming into the vampires!

The projectiles exploded against their armor, forcing them back a step.

The second Lord was shocked as he realized that the mage had a huge amount of Mana Reserves.

Still, the attack was too simple. "Party tricks. Do you think that kind of spell will work on us?"

Merlin’s eyes narrowed. "Let’s find out."

He thrust his staff downward, summoning a wave of flames that roared across the courtyard.

The fire engulfed the Lords and this time, their cloaks ignited!

Finally, it wasn’t just him who had noticed their presence.

The other Survivors, Soldiers, Warden Units, and all the defenders realized that they already had intruders!

If not for the old mage, they would’ve certainly caused a huge amount of damage in their defensive line!

Nonetheless, as the fire got closer, they just strode through the blaze, with their bodies resisting the heat.

One swung his blade, sending a shockwave that shattered stone nearby!

Bang!

Merlin leapt back, muttering an incantation. A Mana Shield appeared around him just as the shockwave struck!

The barrier started cracking but it was holding.

"Ha!"

Merlin then countered with a blast of ice shards, piercing the air like spears. The shards were everywhere and they embedded into the Lords’ flesh, but they only laughed!

"You’re strong, mage," one said, licking blood from his lips. "But you lack holy power. Without it, you cannot kill us."

Merlin gritted his teeth.

Indeed, he was lacking both Dark Arts and Holy Arts, but it didn’t matter...

"Then I’ll burn you until nothing remains."

He raised his staff high, and this time, he was channeling lightning.

The dark clouds even helped him make this spell a lot easier!

Soon, bolts crackled from the sky, striking the Lords with deafening force.

Bang! Bang!

The ground trembled, the walls shook, and soldiers nearby turned in shock as thunder and lightning came!

"Commander Tieria!" a guard shouted from the ramparts. "The mage... he’s fighting Vampire Lords!"

Tieria’s mechanical eye zoomed in, astonished.

"Lords? Inside the barrier? Impossible... yet he’s holding them off alone..."

The Super Soldiers rushed closer, but Tieria raised a hand. "Wait. Just send the Warden Units to support him. This is his battle. Focus more on the enemies outside. Make sure that the Vampire Lords do not get help!"

Tieria knew that Vampires could recover their strength if they drained someone’s blood! He had seen that move many times in the Cross Apocalypse Event, and he wouldn’t make the same mistake!

Just like that, Merlin’s robe whipped around him as he unleashed another spell...

This time, it was a cyclone of wind that lifted debris and hurled it at the Lords!

"Try this spell..."

The Lords were hit as they immediately got into a defensive...

One Lord vanished into mist, reappearing behind Merlin, with his long nails extended.

Merlin used a Dash Spell, and soon, his staff glowed...

In just the blink of an eye, he unleashed a burst of frost.

Crack!

The vampire froze as it was about to attack... Apparently, ice started crawling across his limbs!

Merlin followed with a fireball, detonating against the frozen body. The explosion shattered the ice, sending the Lord sprawling.

The second Lord roared, charging with his blade.

Merlin braced, his shield flickering, but the strike was too strong.

The barrier was shattered, and the blade grazed his arm.

Pain was there, but Merlin gritted his teeth. "You’ll have to do better than that."

He slammed his staff into the ground, summoning a pillar of flame that erupted beneath the vampire!

"Wall of Fire..."

The Lord screamed as fire consumed him, his armor started glowing red, and Merlin didn’t stop!

He pressed the attack, casting spells in rapid succession! Lightning, ice, wind, fire... each element was striking the Vampire Lord in rhythm!

Alex, who had been observing all this time, couldn’t help but feel excited!

"He’s... he’s chaining elements together! I’m going to learn this in the future!"

He was confident that there would be a time when he’d be casting spells like that someday!

Tieria’s mechanical eye also analyzed the situation...

"Incredible... he’s casting spells as effortlessly as breathing."

The Vampire Lords’ bodies were soon scorched and battered. One of them glanced around desperately, searching for a victim to drain.

But surrounding them were only Androids... They’re just lifeless machines with no blood to offer!

"You... you shouldn’t exist. No mage should wield such power..."