Chapter 420: [418] Gacha
Smack!
Hearing Kojou's defiant words, August seized him by the throat with a single hand, lifting him effortlessly into the air.
Kojou struggled, thrashing in a futile attempt to break free. But it was pointless—August's strength was in an entirely different league.
"Kojou Akatsuki, weakness is ugly, but for a Primogenitor to be weak? That's downright disgraceful. You don't even deserve to call yourself the 'Fourth Primogenitor' as you are now."
"It's not like I wanted to be the Primogenitor! This was forced on me!" Kojou snapped, his voice strained.
"How pathetic," August remarked with a scoff before releasing his grip. Kojou fell to the ground with a thud, coughing and gasping for air.
Nearby, Natsuki Minamiya lowered her folding fan, her composure strained. She had been moments away from intervening—August's actions were pushing her patience to its limits. Kojou, as the new Fourth Primogenitor, couldn't be allowed to suffer harm.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations, Host! You've completed the mission: The Fall of the Fourth Primogenitor – Defeat Kojou Akatsuki, the Fourth Primogenitor of the vampires. Reward: Advanced Gacha Draw x9.]
A grin spread across August's face. He had succeeded, and even though Kojou hadn't fully awakened, the mission was complete. Nine advanced summon tickets—this victory was far more lucrative than he had anticipated.
Meanwhile, Kojou sat on the ground, grappling with a deep sense of inadequacy. For the first time since inheriting the title of the Fourth Primogenitor, he felt the crushing weight of his own weakness. A fleeting thought crossed his mind: perhaps he should find someone to drink blood from and unlock his full potential.
But the idea was dismissed as quickly as it arose. Despite being a vampire, Kojou's human soul couldn't reconcile with the notion of biting someone. It was something he just couldn't bring himself to do.
Swish.
At that moment, a figure appeared on a nearby rooftop—a girl wearing the high school uniform of Saikai Academy. With glasses perched on her nose and her hair braided into twin plaits, she exuded the demeanor of a studious and disciplined honor student.
"I must ask you to stop," she said, her voice calm but commanding.
Seeing the newcomer, Natsuki Minamiya clicked her tongue in annoyance. The two of them didn't exactly have the best relationship.
August, on the other hand, recognized her immediately. Outwardly, she was just another student at Saikai Academy. In truth, she was the current leader of the Lion King Organization's Three Saints, the inheritor of the title and power of "Silent Hymn," and one of Japan's strongest exorcists.
"Oh? Are you here to stop me?" August asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Yes," she replied, her tone steady. "This is Saikai Academy. A battle between you and the Fourth Primogenitor could easily result in the destruction of the entire campus."
"Battle? Fourth Primogenitor?" August let out a dry laugh. "Don't kid yourself. This is nothing more than a greeting. As for him, he's not even worthy of being called the 'Fourth Primogenitor' yet."
At these words, Kojou's face burned with anger. Though he hadn't fully come to terms with his new identity, having someone blatantly insult him like this was infuriating.
"You seem awfully confident in your strength," the girl said, adjusting her glasses.
"Do you have a problem with that?" August asked casually.
"In that case, allow me to test your confidence," she offered, stepping forward with unwavering resolve.
"Interesting," August said with a grin.
Her ability—Silent Breaker—activated in an instant. This power, which forced an anomaly into reality by overriding time itself, was her most potent technique and the hallmark of her skill. Against most opponents, the battle would have ended the moment she made her move.
Clang!
But in the next second, her eyes widened in disbelief.
Not just her—Natsuki, observing from a distance, was equally stunned.
Silent Breaker had been stopped. For the first time, it had failed.
"An interesting ability," August remarked, his tone unbothered. "But ultimately, it's meaningless."
A shadowy blade, formed from the draconic aura surrounding him, hovered near August. It had effortlessly intercepted her attack.
"Incredible... you're the first to block that technique," she admitted, her composure cracking.
"Well, I'll consider it an honor," August replied with a smirk. "But as courtesy demands, I'll return the favor. Let's see how you handle this."
Snap!
With a sharp snap of his fingers, golden rings appeared behind August. From within these radiant circles emerged a dazzling array of weapons—swords, spears, and other armaments.
Natsuki's eyes narrowed as she observed. "How extravagant. This attack method... it's almost like mine."
The rings resembled her own Laeding, an ability that had earned her the moniker The Witch of the Void. But the sheer scale and number of weapons summoned by August surpassed even her expectations.
"These aren't ordinary weapons," the girl muttered, adjusting her glasses. "They're magical artifacts..."
August said nothing in reply. Instead, the weapons launched toward her in rapid succession, forcing her to dodge with exceptional speed. Each impact left a golden shimmer before dissipating into light.
Kojou watched the relentless assault from the sidelines, shivering at the sheer scale of the attack. If it were him in her place, he would've been skewered a hundred times over by now.
"I see you're quite adept at dodging," August commented. "Let's make this more interesting."
Hum... hum... hum...
Dozens more golden portals materialized behind him, filling the air with a blinding radiance.
"Chains?" Natsuki whispered in shock as golden chains shot forth from the portals.
Her eyes darted to her own Laeding. They were still in her hands. That could only mean one thing: these chains weren't hers. They were August's.
The girl, too, was stunned. The Laeding were said to be forged by the gods themselves. They were supposed to be unique, possessed only by Natsuki.
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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