After cracking the surveillance system, Natasha gestured for Lynn and Steve to move in.
She pulled out a dagger, quietly pried open the window, and slipped into the living room.
Lynn and Steve followed close behind.
Once inside, Lynn motioned for them to follow and quickly led the way toward the code room.
Just as they rounded a corner, the manor's "master"—the elderly butler of the Vampire—appeared, walking straight toward them.
Lynn reacted instantly. Before the old man could utter a sound, he struck him sharply on the neck, knocking him unconscious.
He then opened a nearby door, dragged the butler inside, and signaled Natasha and Steve to continue.
Following what he had observed while controlling the undead earlier, Lynn walked up to the keypad and entered the code.
With a mechanical rumble, the floor split open, revealing a hidden elevator slowly rising into view.
Natasha glanced at him in mild surprise, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "You knew about the secret room—and even the password? Lynn, your investigation's a bit too thorough."
Catching the teasing note in her voice, Lynn only shrugged. "If I couldn't manage something that simple, how could I dare break into a vampire's den alone?"
Stepping onto the elevator, the three of them descended into the underground passage.
Every few meters, Lynn hung one of the ultraviolet lamps he had prepared in advance. He had no intention of letting a single vampire escape tonight.
When they reached the front of the Underground City, Steve tightened his grip on the Shield and said in surprise, "Didn't expect vampires to build such a lavish old castle down here."
"Looks like they've been rooted in New York for quite some time."
As he spoke, the shadow of a young girl drifted toward them.
When she saw Lynn, the shadow instinctively moved closer.
Activating his Phantom Spirit Power, Lynn heard the girl's faint, grief-stricken sobs.
Blood tears streamed from her hollow eyes, silently accusing the cruel fate that had ended her life.
Natasha pulled out a mithril shock bomb, ready to give the vampires in the castle a nasty surprise...
Oh?—but Lynn suddenly rose from his hiding spot. "Natasha, Steve, stop hiding. They've already found us."
That warning came from the girl's shadow; the vampires had caught their scent the moment they entered the underground passage.
At his words, Natasha gripped the mithril bomb in one hand and raised her pistol with the other. "Then let's not waste time. We'll deal with them head-on."
With that, the two followed Lynn straight toward the castle.
As they approached the entrance, the massive gate creaked and began to open on its own.
Accompanied by the grating sound of teeth grinding, dozens of vampires sat around a circular table in the castle's grand hall.
Each one held a goblet filled with fresh blood, their eyes gleaming with amusement as they watched the three intruders.
In the center of the table lay the body of a young girl. Two bite marks pierced her neck, and the terror frozen on her pale face made the scene even more chilling.
Seeing this, fury flashed in both Natasha's and Steve's eyes.
Meanwhile, the shadows of several young girls floated around the vampires. The moment they saw Lynn, they instinctively drifted toward him.
Their spectral forms radiated grief and rage; blood tears streamed down their faces, silently begging Lynn to avenge them.
Tsk, Lynn furrowed his brows. All of them possessed the deep violet hue of powerful obsession.
If that intensity were any stronger, they might even gain sentience—and perhaps, one day, take on human form to seek vengeance on their own.
Of course, that was only speculation. So far, Lynn had never encountered a shadow above the purple grade.
At the head of the table, Count Kolsais set down his goblet and smiled faintly. "Welcome to my castle, Captain Steve Rogers, Ms. Natasha Romanoff…"
"And you, Mr. Necromancer~"
As soon as he spoke, dozens of vampires turned their fervent gazes toward Lynn.
Only this morning, they had still believed the tales of a necromancer in New York were nothing more than rumors.
Since the Blood Pearl hadn't drawn the Necromancer's attention, they had thought they'd never again have the chance to walk under the sunlight.
But to their astonishment, the handsome young man standing among the Avengers was the very Necromancer they had long awaited.
"Necromancer?"
Hearing Count Kolsais's address, both Natasha and Steve turned to Lynn.
"I remember you saying you were just an ordinary alchemist," Natasha remarked.
Steve added with a grin, "Necromancer—now that's a cool title. If Tony found out, he'd be all over you for a demonstration. Probably start brainstorming ways to give his armor some flashy new necromancy features."
After joking, Steve stepped forward, pistol in one hand and his Shield in the other. "Vampires—you've preyed on innocent civilians in New York. Today, you're going to pay for it."
"Pay?"
Count Kolsais rose slowly, his eyes filled with aristocratic arrogance. "Captain Rogers, I'll admit, I admire what you've done."
"But I can't agree with your words. To you, these beautiful girls are your kind…"
"But to us, the Blood Clan, they're simply exquisite food."
"Just as you humans see animals as food."
Spreading his arms, Count Kolsais smiled coldly. "So tell me, Captain Rogers—how are we Blood Clan any different from you?"
Seeing Steve about to speak, Lynn flicked off the safety on a mithril bomb and hurled it toward the group of vampires.
He drew the mithril longsword from his back. "What's the point of talking to vampires? Just kill them. Declarations of justice? They don't deserve to hear them."
The moment Lynn attacked, Natasha and Steve reacted instantly, pulling their pistols and opening fire on the vampires.
As the mithril bomb flew across the hall, the vampires who had been seated moments ago leapt to their feet.
Their speed was astonishing—blurs of motion that left afterimages in Lynn's and the others' eyes.
Sensing one closing in fast, reaching for his heart, Lynn immediately summoned a Bone Shield to block in front of him and swung his blade in a swift backhand strike.
Crack! Swoosh!
As fractures spread across the Bone Shield, Lynn's blade severed the vampire's arm clean off.
The moment the mithril blade made contact, a hiss of white mist rose, and the vampire's body, once a blur, froze in agony.
Clutching his severed arm, he let out a shrill scream as the mithril's corrosion spread rapidly through his body.
Within seconds, the vampire's flesh withered and crumbled into ash.
_______
(づ￣ 3￣)づ
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