Vampire's Slice Of Life Chapter 1188: Butterflies and Chessboard

The heavens were consumed by fire while the night remained pitch black. At the foot of an erupting volcano, ranks of EGC troops slammed into the Asuras. Heavy armaments clashed, sending blood spraying through the air like a crimson mist.

Positioned behind the EGC front lines were two men clad in obsidian military uniforms, their eyes glowing with a distinct red hue. Without glancing toward the commanding Sixth Pillar standing next to him, Roy folded his arms behind his back. "The situation looks bleak," he remarked.

From his vantage point, the vampire infantry were being slaughtered without mercy. Although their wounds closed rapidly through regeneration, the Asuras hacked them down again before their bodies could fully knit back together. It was a brutal spectacle, and the sheer scale of the conflict forced Roy to acknowledge the Asuras' reputation as ultimate battle maniacs.

"Do not worry. Backup is on the way. Now that we have secured two gates, our full strength can be directed here," the Sixth Pillar responded, his gaze remaining stoic as he surveyed the carnage.

"True. We also have yet to intervene personally," Roy added.

This prompted the Sixth Pillar to look at him. "That makes me curious—why are we holding back? Our presence on the field could shift the momentum in an instant."

"Not quite yet," Roy said, shaking his head. "Both factions are currently testing the waters. Furthermore, I am waiting..."

"Waiting for what?" the Sixth Pillar questioned.

Roy narrowed his eyes. "For the high-ranking Asura nobles to show themselves."

.....

On a distant precipice overlooking the war zone, two individuals were seated at a circular table. Near the edge of the cliff stood a tall, curvaceous woman wearing a pointed hat, her eyes fixed on the unfolding struggle.

Upon the table in front of Lith sat an intricate black-and-purple magic circle, a creation of Sylvia and Fei. Fei was busy weaving hand seals while Sylvia watched the battlefield with unwavering focus.

Moments later, the magic circle radiated light, projecting a 3D manifestation of the combat zone. It was a vivid, real-time miniature that perfectly mirrored the actual landscape. Following the appearance of the model, Sylvia performed a series of hand signs, causing subtle black butterflies to emerge from the void before her.

With a flap of their elegant wings, these insects vanished into the darkness of the night. Sylvia then turned away from the ledge and took her seat at the table.

Suddenly, Lith sensed a peculiar bond with the miniature model. Using his fingers, he pinched a specific coordinate and expanded the view, much like zooming in on a digital display. The perspective magnified, bringing Roy’s form into sharp focus.

Miles away, Roy’s hair stood on end as he shifted into a state of high alert. A sensation of being watched washed over him, though he remained oblivious to the black butterfly fluttering just a few meters away. This was the spatial mastery of a Legendary Witch—a display of peak expertise.

Lith observed Roy’s visible tension. The confusion etched on the man's face confirmed that his maid’s prowess far outstripped Roy’s, as he couldn't even detect her lingering aura. "Excellent work, Sylvia," Lith remarked.

"It is of no consequence," Sylvia replied. Her voice was flat and her expression remained stoic, treating the feat as if it were a minor task. Nevertheless, Lith noticed small beads of perspiration on her neck.

He offered a small smile and shook his head, gently patting Sylvia’s head. "Make sure you don't push yourself too hard."

"Mhm..." Sylvia fell silent, closing her eyes to maintain her connection with the butterflies.

Nearby, Fei’s eyes ignited with a primordial amber glow. She focused on the space adjacent to the miniature battlefield, tapping the table at seemingly random intervals. Soon, a spectral chessboard materialized, and the pieces began to move of their own accord.

As Lith examined the board, he spotted an anomaly immediately. The match had progressed into the mid-game. The white side had already castled their king with a rook, yet the opposing king remained stationary despite the looming threat of a check.

"Master, this is peculiar..." Fei’s voice drew the attention of both Lith and Sylvia. "Neither side is committing their core assets. If they continue like this, they will simply end up throwing away all their pawns."

Her observation was reflected on the board; half the pawns were gone while the major pieces stayed rooted. On the white side, only a knight and a bishop had ventured out—representing the movements of Roy and the Sixth Pillar. Everything else was stagnant.

As for the black pieces, not one primary force had engaged, despite the imminent danger to their king. Strangely, a rook was missing from their side entirely, as if it had never been placed on the board to begin with. Lith realized this missing piece represented the guardian of the Hollow Glacier, whom he had personally eliminated.

Lith felt as though he were bypassing the rules of the game. However, he didn't care; in the theater of war, everything was permitted. Only an idiot would fail to exploit every advantage available. "Your talents as a seer are quite impressive, Fei," Lith complimented her.

"I am honored, Master," Fei answered with humility. "But the vision is not yet complete."

"Oh?" Lith raised an eyebrow. Suddenly, the chess pieces began to shift again.

The white bishop lunged to strike the king, but the attack was neutralized by the sudden intervention of the queen. Almost immediately, the pieces reset to their previous spots as if time had been turned back.

"What was that?" Lith had his theories, but he looked to Fei for confirmation.

"That was a potential future. It has not transpired yet," Fei explained. "If we order the Sixth Pillar—the bishop—to go for a check, the enemy queen will block us. The identity of this queen remains a mystery."

The battlefield was full of unknowns. Lith’s knowledge of the Asuras was limited, having only learned of the Evures through the interrogation of Roy and Jacqueline. "Intriguing. Very intriguing indeed..."