POTLS - Chapter 23: One Minute Before Dawn

Paul rolled forward, successfully evading the first attack.

He frantically sprinted sideways, his [Blood Barrier] shattering under Count Dracula's powerful strikes. The sword in his hand swung upward, triggering [Daybreak Executioner] explosions that only managed to blast apart a few tentacles.

Hidden among the bright red fleshy fragments, a tentacle smashed directly into him, sending him flying into the wall. The impact knocked the breath from his lungs, making him cough violently as he struggled to sit up.

Fighting this monster alongside others was impossible. That's why he hadn't attempted to negotiate or coordinate with them from the start. Being used or dying before his intended moment were outcomes he had to avoid.

His only chance to register participation in the boss fight with the system was now. He'd hoped the other nine would hold out until the final seconds, but events had unfolded completely contrary to his expectations.

He could flee and return later, but there was no guarantee Count Dracula would be defeated. If the monster died before he participated, all his plans to improve his final assessment would be ruined. And if he left now, Count Dracula might create a barrier, ending the opportunity to engage the map's final boss.

So he stayed, risking his life for the few dozen seconds before the final moment.

He knew he was being reckless. But David's warnings about risk and return echoed in his mind.

The image of Michael's fridge sticker flashed through his thoughts like a constantly replaying film clip, a daily reminder.

He needed to survive not just this moment, not just tomorrow, but all the days that followed.

He still had to take revenge, he couldn't leave Michael behind, and there were still things he wanted to discover in life.

Only with this determination could he drag his leg—pierced by three Blood Lances with bone exposed—to dodge the tentacle strikes descending from above. For the first time, he saw just how futile his power truly was.

The phantoms from [Crimson Echo] were destroyed without mercy, proving completely ineffective. He'd hoped they might block some tentacles, but the best they left were shallow, insignificant marks.

He rolled directly into the blood flowing from the corpse of the girl who possessed [Healing Aura]. This activated the effect of [Blood Resonance]. The buff gave him enough strength to evade the Blood Lance throws with his still-intact right leg.

The jump caused the three Blood Lance spikes embedded in his left leg to pierce deeper into his back and thigh. Fortunately, alongside the deep gashes, they had also broken. His left leg was completely paralyzed.

All this struggle, and only twenty seconds had passed. The world seemed excessively cruel to him.

The monster hovered, turning toward him, tilting its head before launching forward.

Without hesitation, Paul threw his sword while leaning against the dais wall where the monster's throne sat. The sword wouldn't help him anymore anyway.

A metallic clang followed by a series of rattling sounds.

His sword had cut through the chain holding the chandelier overhead, which had already been destabilized during the nine Survivors' battle.

His calculation was precise—it fell directly onto Count Dracula, forcing the creature to block it with its tentacles.

With an indescribable grunt of frustration, Count Dracula shattered the chandelier, sending black glass fragments flying in all directions. Paul raised his arms to shield himself. The result was a chest and forearms streaming blood where the shards penetrated his flesh.

The pain intensified as the monster didn't pause. A massive Blood Lance pierced through his stomach, making him cough blood. If not for his vigilance and high stats, he would have passed out from the shock coursing through his body.

Thirty seconds left.

Paul leaned back against the wall behind him, groaning, his mind a chaotic, hazy mess.

Count Dracula approached, not even bothering to smile with contempt, only displaying a stiff, cold expression. Its eyes revealed hatred as it sensed the approaching dawn and the human's anticipation of it.

The monster's cold, sinewy hand wrapped around Paul's neck, lifting him like a weightless stuffed animal. It snorted once.

Through his confusion, Paul only sensed a foul metallic odor mixed with something putrid yet somehow fragrant like incense. Then came the pain as Count Dracula's teeth sank deep into the artery in his neck.

Blood spurted, splashing his chin. The monster's hair and ear brushed against his cheek.

His eyes focused on the clock.

Twenty-five seconds.

Twenty-four seconds.

David, Kate, and Lina appeared in his vision. For once, they weren't each speaking differently—all were waving their arms, shouting encouragement. But what reached his ears was muffled as if underwater. His vision had narrowed to a thin strip of bone.

He started counting with his mouth, murmuring "Mississippi."

Blood poured from his body into Count Dracula's savoring mouth. His heart beat slower, the pulse in his neck and temples growing faint. His oxygen-deprived brain approached death's threshold.

He had finished counting three Mississippis. The system screen was no longer clear.

He had died nine times already. Each time he fell over that edge into death's dark embrace, he had been pulled back. This time, the system wouldn't pull him back. Once he fell, he would fall forever.

And he couldn't allow that. This time, he would deceive the reaper.

With his last thread of rationality, he activated [Immortal Defiance].

A strange surge of energy coursed through him. Though he'd experienced it once before, being enveloped by this skill again still surprised him with its effect.

His mind cleared in an instant. The haziness vanished, his vision immediately returning.

He looked at the system screen, seeing only 18 seconds remaining.

Blood generated frantically within his body.

Count Dracula detected the strange occurrence and tried to open its mouth to pull away and look. But it was prevented by the human before it. Paul threw his arms around the monster, embracing it tightly like a long-lost friend.

The creature struggled, its claws extending to pierce Paul's chest, straight through his heart. But he didn't care. His heart continued beating, even trying to close the hole.

Count Dracula withdrew its hand, using Blood Lances and tentacles to stab and pull at Paul. His arms bulged with blue veins as he used every ounce of strength to hold the monster tight. The damage buff from [Immortal Defiance] registered his attack, making him stronger.

Count Dracula couldn't escape this embrace. In its ear, it heard hoarse, manic laughter, gurgling as blood bubbles overflowed. The monster didn't give up, biting a hole in Paul's neck, continuing to attack in hopes of breaking free.

Paul had never laughed so freely, ignoring pain that would have knocked anyone else unconscious.

He didn't dare release the monster because despite [Immortal Defiance]'s "cannot die" effect, he wasn't willing to test what would happen if his head was severed. Perhaps he would still live, but what if his head was crushed to pulp? Would immortality still be immortality? He wouldn't bet on it. The current situation already placed too many risks in the equation.

Five seconds left.

Paul glanced toward the shattered glass window beside a dead survivor, whose corpse dangled from a Blood Lance. He could see a ray of light just flashing.

Four seconds.

Count Dracula's teeth seemed to elongate. It wanted to use its jaws to bite off the human's head.

Three seconds.

Paul released his grip.

The monster was surprised by the action.

Two seconds.

There seemed to be a few more rays of light.

The creature acted quickly, extending its claws, layering them over a Blood Lance to strike at the inferior human.

One second before dawn.

Sunbeams pierced through the night.

Paul raised his middle finger toward Count Dracula.

The blade edge swung toward his neck when...

The clock hit zero seconds.

The seven-day survival challenge had ended.

Paul had deliberately counted one Mississippi too many; [Immortal Defiance] still had one second left before everything ended.

Everything before Paul's eyes suddenly froze, as if someone had pressed Pause in a video game.

His eyes looked at the Blood Lance and nails reflecting the weak light streaming through the holes in the glass into the main hall.

Dawn had broken. Yet, Count Dracula wasn't burning as Paul had thought would happen as a counter to vampires. No wonder [Daybreak Executioner] hadn't been very effective against the monster.

Paul looked at Count Dracula frozen in mid-air, its tentacles suspended in their twisting motions. Red eyes filled with anger, mouth still stained with Paul's blood.

Paul wasn't sure if he was seeing things, but deep in those eyes, he saw something stirring.

A resistance.

He shuddered, fearing the monster would awaken, defy all natural laws and complete its attack, cleanly severing his head.

But nothing happened. The world dissolved in an instant without any elaborate disintegration or him being pulled through space.

Just like that, he was surrounded by pitch-black darkness, his body restored to wholeness, floating in a weightless state.

Before him was the system's assessment screen.

//

You survived seven days.

Requirement for a successful run: seven days.

You succeeded!

Based on your performance, your ranking among others is: 10/113. An Outstanding performance.

Prize pool has been calculated and divided for each Breach Survivor.

You received 500 Essence and 500 gold.

** Additional Notice **

Triggered talent [Steady Progression] due to a complete run.

You received 1 stat point to allocate.

ERROR!

'Rank Transcendence Token' expired!

Your Rank decreased to original F.

Your available stat points are put in reserve. Rank up to reclaim them.

** End of Additional Notice **

Assessment complete.

Opening Portal.

Transfering Breach Survivors.

See you next time!

//