"So fast!"

Not even five minutes had passed since the ritual started but there was already a vampire servant heading for Date's position. If it continued, then at this rate, they'd have to fight hundreds or maybe even thousands before dawn comes. Not only that, they had to defeat all of them and if somehow, a vampire with extreme strength that matched Kai arrived before then, it would be all over.

Although Kai told them that the ritual can be restarted on another day, the vampires would definitely be alerted by then and the difficulty won't just double, it will multiply several times. Date understood this fact well.

Accompanied by a shriek, the vampire servant rushed towards Date with zeal. It was a woman who had the clothes of an adventurer, Date felt his mood growing worse because of it. These were adventurers trying to make a living yet encountered one of the most fearsome races on the planet.

In the first place, there weren't that many vampires but vampire servants, the half-breeds were numerous. Though normally, they'd all be weaker than the one who turned them and never get stronger but these ones grew. If it continued at this rate, then the numerous half-breeds would hold more strength than the purebloods and rampage around the world.

The servant thrust her claws forward and Date countered it with the body of his sword.

"B-class."

Just with one exchange, Date roughly managed to sense his opponent's level. He was B-class himself but what made him different from other B-class was that he was taught by both Kai and the knights, not only that, his magic power was a little away from Yoko who was just about to enter A-class.

"[Liquid Burst]."

A bubble formed on where the servant's claw and Date's sword clashed which immediately burst and sent the servant flying. That was pressured water crunched into a ball and inflicted severe damage on the servant but accompanied by white smoke, it healed in a flash.

Of all the elements to fight against a vampire, water is the worst weapon, followed by earth. Fire can incinerate a vampire, light and darkness can disintegrate them, wind can cut them apart and separate them, but earth can only crush a vampire, they'd heal immediately. Water has no properties to destroy flesh like fire.

"[Water Bullet]."

Seeing the servant getting up without a problem, Date charged forward with narrowed eyes and shot a water bullet through its head. It was a technique inspired by Kai's weapon and names but was vastly inferior. It created a small pressurized bullet of water about half an inch long. It's used to disable opponents in battle and as a surprise attack, it's a deadly weapon. A quick silent bullet aimed at the head, who would be able to stop it?

The servant's forehead had a hole in it but that only stopped it momentarily as it began to regenerate immediately.

Still, even with all the damage he inflicted, he still won't be able to defeat the servant in short-term, would Kai really throw him into a battle like this? The servant quickly channeled blood to attack Date but he was a step faster.

"[Water Chains]!"

As Date closed in, several chains of water formed in the surroundings that locked the servant in place. He then took out a small dagger and stabbed it through her heart.

"GAHHH!"

The servant yelled in pain as the dagger created a magic circle on its chest and disintegrated its body into nothing in a matter of seconds.

"Rest in peace."

Although Date felt that it was cruel, he knew there was no saving the woman. A vampire servant is only a husk, the soul had long since been dispersed. But he didn't have time to rest, soon, more presences appeared and it wasn't just a few, there were tens of them.

"...Kai, I hate you..."

Date didn't know whether to laugh or cry, he was going to fight tens of vampire servants at his level all by himself. Sure, it was easier than fighting Kai but it was still immensely difficult. Although he had readily agreed to it, it was still quite the chore.

"Well, what's done is done."

With a wry smile, Date channeled his mana.

The vampire servants were simply husks of their former selves but they still held instinct. There were less of them heading through Erina's position and more on Date's position who was near the right, Kei who was in the front, near the entrance, and Arata who was behind.

Erina and Date were a few streets away from the inn and it was their job to intercept an entire side while Kei dealt with those that got past them. Some of the vampire servants somehow knew this and went for the back of the inn but Arata was already there and he was used to defending and stopping people from passing through his spot, it was harder for them to pierce through his place than Date's.

This place is inhabited by people, that's why Erina can't use the skill she used in the Mock Tournament Arena, the giant glacier. She could use it to block the path but because of the buildings and potential casualties in the way, she couldn't. At most, she sealed the alleyways with walls of ice and froze the floor to limit the vampire servants' movements.

"Nine A-class."

Despite the staggering amount, Erina didn't falter. Yoko was near A-class and if she really wanted to, she could be considered one already but Erina didn't fall behind her progress, she could practically be considered an S-class already. Kai suppressed his magic power but is already in mid S-class after all this time, Erina had done the same. She limited her own magic power so that the council wouldn't sense another S-class appearing.

The moment she unleashes her magic power, she wouldn't be able to seal it back, that's why she limited her growth. Kai's position was still delicate and if she adds to that, then the power balance in the continent will completely change. But in addition to the trial, her magic power increased significantly and it wouldn't be long before she could limit it anymore.

Even though she won't be able to beat Kai in terms of mana capacity she would be able to surpass Kai in magic power before long.

SHATTER

Several ice walls surrounding her shattered all at once and revealed the servants that had been nearing her.

"[Fragile Steps]."

Erina stepped forward once as the servants slashed down with their claws at her body.

SHATTER

Once more, the sound of ice could be heard shattering. Erina appeared several meters away while leaving behind a body made of ice which shattered upon impact. But it wasn't just that, the body made of ice exploded and enveloped the servants and trapped them in lines of ice.

"[Ice Thorns]."

The thin lines of ice that covered the servants sprouted thorns and pierced through the bodies of the servants. None of them shrieked in pain but they all struggled, none of them could feel the pain but their bodies were growing weaker by the second. The ice pierced through and spread cold air into their bodies which froze them from the inside, the wounds were frozen before they could hurt but they were already slowly dying.

Taking out a dagger held by a necklace hidden within the gap of her bosom, she stabbed it through each of the disabled servants. It only took her less than five minutes to wipe out nine vampire servants at A-class. Fragile Steps was a technique made by a fusion of water and ice, she would create a husk of ice and fill the inside with water, then when the ice is destroyed, the water spreads out and gets frozen which can then be manipulated into many things. It was a deadly move she had long since thought of in theory but never in practical use.

Seeing the effectiveness, a smile blossomed on Erina's face. Kai never really utilized fusion elements other than ice and lightning, wasn't he just wasting its power? Well, he must have his own reasons.

Erina thought to herself.

"Now then, come out."

Erina's eyes sharpened as she looked at one of the alleyways covered in ice shards.

"Impressive."

A pale man with black hair and red eyes stepped out of the shadows, upon catching sight of him, Erina channeled every bit of her power. If Erina had been there to see the vampire who chased Yoko, she'd know that this vampire in front of her levels ahead of him, he was a true S-class!

Behind the inn, Arata was currently engaged in combat. There several walls of earth formed around him and the inn. He held a shield that towered his own body and held a spear in his other hand.

Three servants slashed down on Arata's shield but Arata blew them away after giving a roar.

Seeing as how none of them could pass through, the servants stayed a few dozen meters away from Arata and tried to find openings. None of them had been injured, if they had, then they'd be aggressive but they weren't agitated yet.

"None shall pass!"

Arata's words resounded like thunder on the servants. Despite them all being on the same level, it was as if Arata's words were a decree that they really won't be able to pass. Still, it was only a feeling, they weren't truly pressured and still had the will to attack Arata.

After a moment's hesitation, the servants charged forward, some leapt the walls, some went from the sides, and some went straight towards Arata.

"[Earth Hands]!"

Arata slammed his shield down on the floor and giant hands of earth formed and crushed the servants within. Of course, that wouldn't be enough to defeat them. Soon, they already regenerated their damaged bodies and went straight for Arata again. Channeling blood, they shot hundreds of small pellets made of blood towards Arata.

"[Mountain's Base]!"

Responding to his chant, a giant uneven platform made of dirt, stone, and other materials was formed below him. It quickly towered over the entire inn and only stopped when it was about thrice as big. The pellets were blocked by the platform that looked like the base of a mountain.

Now, Arata was isolated on top of the platform with the servants. Normally, he wouldn't use this in fear of the other servants slipping through the attack but when they all charged forward, they all went within range.

Of course, compared to Date and Kei, his attack power was lacking but his defensive power was levels ahead. If he were to fight this many at once, although it was difficult for him to be defeated, he wouldn't be able to defeat them either. Trapping himself up here with them was akin to suicide.

Instead of waiting for the ten servants to attack him, he chose to charge forward first. Even if his defensive power was insanely high, why would he be willing to take all of their attacks?

He thrust his spear at one of them but was blocked by its claws. Seeing as how his attack was blocked, he used his shield and slammed it on the servant. Then, he raised his arm and pressed the servant down on the floor, he took out a dagger from his pocket but just as he was about to remove the shield to stab it in to the servant, another intercepted him from behind.

He was forced to block the attack coming from behind him and with one look around, he realized that all of the servants were already only a few steps away.

"[Grand Crevice]!"

Starting from the center of the mountain base, a giant crack spread out and split apart the entire platform. Everyone was near the center, and including Arata, all of them fell into the giant crack.

The servants that were suddenly caught off balance had savage looks on their faces as they did their best to attack Arata while falling.

Arata, with a grin, slammed his palms together.

"[Reformation]!"

BOOOOOOM

The split mountain's base slammed into each other and crushed everything inside.