Chapter 108: Weak Doctor (4)
Lucard walked from the shadows behind Lysa. He still looked like an old white-haired doctor, except his hands were red.
Merrick stepped back.
Lucard said, "You checked if I was weak."
Merrick’s throat moved. "Who are you?"
Lucard touched his face.
The blood-shape spell loosened slightly. The white beard remained, but the eyes beneath the old face became unmistakable for one second.
Merrick understood.
His face went dead white.
"Lucard."
Several mercenaries turned toward him.
Lysa heard the fear in Merrick’s voice and finally understood how badly he had misjudged everything.
Merrick shouted, "Kill him."
Only his closest men obeyed.
That made the last separation easy.
Lucard smiled faintly.
"Good."
The fight became fast and brutal.
Merrick’s loyal men were stronger than common guards. They were mercenaries used to killing on roads, in forests, and in bad weather. But they were not ready for Lucard. He never stood where they expected. He used tent ropes, wagon wheels, dropped blades, firelight, and frightened horses. He cut one man’s hamstring and used his falling body to block another’s spear. He threw blood into a torch flame and created a burst of red sparks that blinded two fighters long enough for his blood needles to finish them.
A Rank Two swordsman charged with a heavy blade.
Lucard did not block.
He stepped inside the swing, took a shallow cut on his shoulder, and used the blood from that wound as a thread around the man’s wrist. The swordsman pulled back too late. Lucard snapped the wrist, took the blade, and drove it through the man’s stomach.
[Blood Absorption Successful.]
[Level Increased.]
Level twenty seven.
Merrick tried to run.
Lysa saw it.
"Merrick."
He did not look at her.
He shoved one of his own men into Lucard’s path and ran toward the horses.
Lucard killed the pushed man without changing speed.
Then he lifted one hand.
A weak orange flame appeared and struck the rope tying several horses. The horses panicked and pulled away, blocking Merrick’s path. Merrick cursed, turned, and found Lucard already behind him.
Merrick swung his sword.
He was not untalented. His blade was quick, and fear made him faster. Lucard let the first strike pass, caught the second near the hilt, and drove his knee into Merrick’s stomach. Merrick bent forward. Lucard grabbed his hair and dragged him back into the open camp.
Lysa stood there, trembling.
Lucard threw Merrick at her feet.
Merrick coughed and looked up. "Lysa, listen to me."
She stared down at him.
His voice became desperate. "I did it for us. Your father was dying anyway. The company needed leadership. Jeff was dead. House Vardros caused all of this."
Lysa whispered, "You sent me to die."
"No. I knew you were strong."
"You sent me to die," she repeated.
Merrick reached toward her. "I love you."
Lucard stepped on his hand.
Bones cracked.
Merrick screamed.
Lucard looked at Lysa. "Do you need more truth?"
Lysa shook her head, tears falling again. "No."
Lucard lifted Merrick by the throat.
Merrick clawed at his hand. "Please. I can tell you who wanted Jake. I can tell you names."
Lucard paused.
That was useful.
Merrick saw the pause and quickly continued. "I know the messages. Jeff wrote to me. Karswell was not the only one. There was another buyer. I can tell you."
Lucard looked into his eyes. "You will."
Merrick nodded rapidly.
Lucard smiled. "After I take what I need."
Merrick’s eyes widened.
Blood Absorption activated.
Merrick’s body convulsed. His blood rushed into Lucard’s palm. Unlike Garran’s blood, Merrick’s blood was not strong, but it carried useful memories, fear, greed, and small traces of sword training. Lucard pulled until Merrick could no longer speak.
[Blood Absorption Successful.]
[Memory Fragments Detected.]
[Level Increased.]
Level twenty eight.
Lucard dropped Merrick’s body.
Lysa turned away.
The remaining traitors saw Merrick fall and lost their will. Some tried to surrender. Lucard accepted surrender only from those who had not raised weapons after Lysa spoke. The ones who had followed Merrick’s final order died quickly. Their blood became the final step.
[Blood Absorption Successful.
Hosts Level Increased.]
[Name: Lucard Vardros.
Level: 29.
Current Rank: Second Blood Circle, Crimson Vessel.
Fire Resistance Increased Slightly.
Basic Sword Memory Assimilated.
Minor Mercenary Combat Experience Assimilated.]
Lucard exhaled slowly.
One level away from the Blood Mage Vessel.
The camp became quiet except for fire crackling, wounded men groaning, and Lysa’s broken breathing.
An older mercenary with gray hair approached carefully and lowered his sword.
"Lady Lysa," he said. "What are your orders?"
Lysa looked lost.
Lucard answered for her. "Bring clean water, cloth, a basin, and rope. Seal the camp. No one leaves until Brant Ashwolf wakes."
The old mercenary looked at him.
Lysa wiped her tears and forced her voice to work. "Do it."
The man bowed. "Yes, Lady Lysa."
They returned to Brant’s tent.
Brant was still alive, but barely. The noise outside had made him restless. His breathing had worsened. Blood stained his mouth. Lysa rushed to him, but Lucard pulled her back.
"Do not touch him now."
She stopped.
Lucard removed his old cloak and rolled up his sleeves. The disguise remained on his face, but no one in the tent believed he was only a doctor anymore.
He placed a basin beside the bed and made a thin cut across Brant’s chest.
Lysa gasped.
Lucard said, "Quiet."
He pressed his palm over the cut and sent his blood power inside.
Brant’s body arched.
Dark blood began to pour from the wound. It did not fall normally. Lucard pulled it out in slow streams, guiding it into the basin. The blood was thick and almost black in some places. It carried tiny red threads that twitched like living hair.
The old camp healer whispered, "What is that?"
Lucard ignored him.
He followed the source deeper.
There.
Near Brant’s heart, something clung to the blood channel. It was small, hidden, and stubborn. It tried to move away when Lucard’s power approached. It tried to stir Brant’s blood, perhaps to make the host cough or die before being taken.
Lucard’s eyes became cold.
"Found you."