The Martial God: Demonic Cultivator in a World of Magic [Isekai LitRPG]

I couldn't take chances, so I rushed forward first. I had to use surprise to my advantage, and I had to do that discreetly.

I couldn't try my luck with the strongest yet, in case she dodged or blocked. So, I blitzed in front of the weakest one.

He was startled, having turned his head at the other vampire to give him a disgusted look, and that cost him his life.

[True Demon Sword Art, First Form— Absolute Cataclysm of the Demonic Butterfly]

My sword exploded with my Qi as I waved it towards his neck. The vampire’s eyes grew wide, but it was too late. He was already caught in my technique. My Qi exploded right against his neck, a total of ten thousand sharp butterfly wings flapping wings at once. Each wing was symbolic of a sword slash.

He let out a gurgling yell as blood splattered out of his throat. The vampire bled from my attack, the moonlight vaporizing his blood. His vampire's daggers fell to the ground, his body fell next. He died.

[You've defeated an enemy far above your level. You've earned experience points.]

[You've leveled up!] 

[You've reached Level 19!]

I only received one level, but I had expected that. I faced the other two vampires, both of whom were looking at the scene in shock.

“No…Dorian…” the strongest among them, the girl, mumbled in shock. Then she glared at me. She kicked the ground and rushed toward me, and the other did the same.

Two of them rushed toward me at the same time.

I threw my sword at the girl.

There was no way I could fight two opponents with one sword, but I did have two fists. And two legs. The girl stopped to block my sword, while the boy continued running. As he came close, I coated my fist in Qi, this time in a big show. 

“An opening!” He shouted and gladly went for the trap I set, his claws meters away from my chest. Instead of punching him, however, I surged forward and kneed him in the face.

I heard the sound of bones cracking, his skull caving in, while the girl had already positioned herself to attack me. I grabbed the male by the hair and threw him in the girl’s way, making her growl in frustration as her relative’s body flew toward her.

She jumped above him and towards me. “Die!” Her fingers had sharpened into majestic claws, and she slashed at me. 

She was not within striking distance of my fists, and the other vampire had already risen up. If I dodged they’ll be able to attack me at once. I had to do something to deal with both of them.

I stayed grounded and got into my stance. Her claws glowed blood red in the moonlight but that didn’t intimidate me. No, I was more scared of the possibility of failing to execute a Question Mark Kick since it left quite the opening.

I launched a Question Mark Kick when she came into kicking distance, whipping my leg through the air, moving like a snake.

She got close to me, and I whirled my right leg straight towards her face. Her claws came at my leg, aiming to sever it, and jolted my leg. 

In the millisecond before impact, I shifted the weight on my left leg, changing the direction. It was an incredibly hard move to pull off even in my prime, but the Qi in my body helped me do it much easier. 

While it was about to slam right into her nose earlier, now it rushed towards her ear. She had miscalculated and could do nothing to block it. My whole body turned, my entire weight falling into the attack, as the kick landed.

– Bang!! 

It smashed against the side of her face, letting out a sound as if a shotgun had been fired, throwing her away and slamming her into a wall. 

I didn't get the chance to see the result, I had to move quickly toward the male vampire because he had closed up too fast, rushing toward me.

“[Bloody Impact]!” he shouted, finally using a Skill. He swung his rapier, and a long arc of blood mana shot toward me. It was fast, and it was wide.

I couldn't dodge it.

So, I clashed against it.

[True Demon Fist Art, First Form— The Burning Barrage of the Bull of Heaven!]

My fist slammed and exploded with the power of a super bull, an aura of a bull shooting forward. 

Bloodred horns clashed against the blood slash, and surprisingly, both techniques matched off too well. Demonic Qi and Blood Mana seemed to excite each other, so much so that they exploded. Red smoke bloomed, filling the area a bit too thick.

I moved through the smoke of the explosion, closing my eyes and allowing my Demonic Sphere to guide me. My fists glowed with the same technique once again, and I caught the temporarily blind vampire off guard.

[True Demon Fist Art, First Form— The Burning Barrage of the Bull of Heaven!]

Once again, my fist slammed and exploded with the power of a super bull, an aura of a bull shooting forward. This time, it slammed against his nose, causing him to fall on his back. 

I took a glance at the female from earlier, and seeing that she was still recovering I jumped on top of the male vampire's hips. She’s the dangerous one.

Turning back to the male, I shaped my Qi and conjured another Demon fist art. It hit, it slammed against his nose, and it exploded upon contact. His head snapped back and hit the concrete, I didn’t let up on the assault and kept punching him again and again, and again. 

At one point I felt soft flesh against my fists, as the bones of his face became too much against my punches.

“You human bastard!” I only stopped when the female vampire returned when the red smoke cleared, dodging an attack from her. I jumped off, noticing the notifications that filled my vision.

[You've defeated an enemy far above your level. You've earned experience points.]

[You've earned a considerable amount of experience.]

Yet, I didn't level up. Unfortunate. I was also feeling a strain on my Energy Core. A quick check told me I had less than half remaining. 

“You… you killed Viktor too!”

“Oh please.” What else was I supposed to do when he was laughing seeing humans scream and die from pain? Plus he was trying to kill me. Pathetic little bat bastards.

I didn't bother defending myself to her. What's the point of doing that to a dead body? 

I faced the vampire female, as she growled, before rushing toward me with the intent to kill. Her speed was remarkable compared to the other two.

The vampire appeared behind me, eyes sharp, and swiped her claws at me. She seemed like a hand-to-hand fighter. “[Bloody Claw]!”

Shouting the Skills likely helped perform them faster or better, because otherwise, that was highly impractical. Well, impractical or not, the Skill was powerful. I couldn't dodge this, it was too wide for that, massive claws that rushed toward me.

I crossed my arms, taking serious damage as I was flung backward.

“[Blood Spear]!” I didn't get the chance to regain my composure as she shouted again. This time a massive spear of blood bubbled above her head. With a wave of her hand, she tossed it towards me.

I jumped to the side, dodging the Skill by a hair's gap. She was keeping her distance, mostly using skills, I noticed. Could it be that her physique is not that powerful? 

With a grumble, I looked toward her and then rushed right ahead.

“Fool! [Bloody Impact]!” She shouted, and the same technique the male vampire used earlier rushed toward me.

Why would she use an attack I already countered before? 

[True Demon Fist Art, First Form— The Burning Barrage of the Bull of Heaven!]

My fist slammed and exploded with the power of a super bull, an aura of a bull shooting forward. 

Bloodred horns clashed against the blood slash, and as expected they exploded and red mist filled the area. That’s such a terrible mistake from her side. Did she think I'd lose just because I took some damage from her earlier attack?

My Demonic Sphere caught her location within the red mist. I moved fast and silently, coming up to her side and my hand gleamed in preparation for my technique.

[True Demon Fist Art, First Form— The Burning Barrage of the Bull of Heaven!]

My fist slammed and exploded with the power of a super bull, an aura of a bull shooting forward. It slammed against her head. 

Or at least it tried to.

She dodged, despite the red mist blocking sight. She dodged skillfully. And countered with a slash of her blood-soaked claw.

Ah, she must have a perception-based Skill. No wonder. She used the same Skill that got her companion killed because she hoped to catch me off guard by doing something that her companion couldn't do.

Unfortunately, whatever perception skill she had, paled in comparison to Demonic Sphere. What she predicted in a second, I did so in half of that. I dodged her claws effortlessly by ducking below them. I grew weary when my Sphere felt that the wave of mana from her claws cut the wall behind me. One hit would guarantee my death, but she was never getting that hit in.

My fist glowed with Qi and I screamed the name of my attack aloud, “True Demon Fist Art, First Form!” She raised her claws in an X-shape towards me. She braced herself for an attack that never came. It was a feint.

“Got you,” I taunted her, a small smile playing on my lips, as I appeared behind. She took a step forward, trying to run, but it was already too late. My Qi was ready and she was within striking distance. I slammed my technique against the back of her head.

[True Demon Fist Art, First Form— The Burning Barrage of the Bull of Heaven!]

It hit and exploded on the back of her head. She fell down unconscious immediately, the accumulated damage so far had weakened her. Looking down at her, I readied my fist again. 

My body was on top of hers, my hands shone with Demonic Qi. I looked down at her with both of my fists extended, slamming them in the back of her head again. 

[True Demon Fist Art, First Form— The Burning Barrage of the Bull of Heaven!]

[True Demon Fist Art, First Form— The Burning Barrage of the Bull of Heaven!]

[True Demon Fist Art, First Form— The Burning Barrage of the Bull of Heaven!]

[...]

At one point I felt softness against my fists, but this time I didn’t stop; that thought somehow didn’t even cross my mind. I felt her brain matter before her skull, and eventually her skull gave in. 

I only stopped once I saw the notification fill my eyes, realizing that I had begun punching through her shattered skull and into the brick pavement. 

The mist cleared, and I huffed for two seconds. The feeling of a Level Up coursed through my veins, rejuvenating my body.

[You've defeated an enemy far above your level. You've earned experience points.]

[You've leveled up.]

[You've reached Level 20!]

I've touched the 2nd Ascension.

[You're eligible to choose a ‘Class’ now. You have a bunch of options, would you like to view them?]

It was about damn time I got myself a [Class].

****

My previous status as a Player allowed me this great perk. 

Usually, to choose a [Class], a person would have to visit one of the Twelve God temples even to view the options, let alone select them. But I could access them from right here, in the middle of nowhere, just like Quests.

“Show me the options,” I decided it would be the best to choose it right now. It could end up saving my life, after all.

[Understood. Here are the options that you're qualified for, based on your lifestyle so far as well as your achievements.]

===============

[Warrior] - Basic

Requirement: None

Description: A foundational class for melee fighters. Grants fundamental proficiency with all types of melee weapons, including swords, spears, axes, and more. The Warrior serves as the bedrock for many advanced combat roles, offering a solid foundation in physical combat and tactics.

Possible Evolutions: As Warriors gain power through fighting, they can evolve into roles such as:

• [Berserker]: Embrace a wild and untamed fighting style, focusing on raw strength and relentless aggression.

• [Guardian]: Develop into a protector, emphasizing defense and the ability to shield allies from harm.

• [Commander]: Lead others into battle, combining strategic acumen with combat prowess.

• [Champion]: Become a hero of legend, mastering combat techniques that inspire and uplift allies.

===============

[Mage] - Basic

Requirement: None

Description: A class focused on the basic application of magical abilities. Mages wield elemental and arcane powers, serving as the starting point for those who wish to delve deeper into the mystical arts.

Possible Evolutions: As Mages gain knowledge and power, they can evolve into roles such as:

• [Elementalist]: Specialize in manipulating the forces of nature, commanding the elements of fire, water, earth, and air.

• [Necromancer]: Delve into the dark arts, raising the dead and wielding the powers of death and decay.

• [Enchanter]: Master the craft of imbuing objects and allies with magical properties, enhancing their abilities.

• [Sorcerer]: Channel raw, innate magical power, bending it to your will in unpredictable and potent ways.

===============

[Healer (Common)] - Basic

Requirement: Devotion to a Deity

Description: A divine caster blessed with healing magic, requiring unwavering faith in a chosen deity. Healers possess the ability to mend wounds, cure ailments, and enhance the attributes and resistances of their allies, making them invaluable in sustaining the morale and vitality of their comrades.

Possible Evolutions: Healers can advance into more powerful and specialized roles, such as:

• [Cleric]: Become a conduit of divine will, smiting enemies and healing allies with holy magic.

• [Druid]: Embrace the power of nature, healing and protecting through a deep connection with the natural world.

• [Mystic]: Focus on spiritual healing and mental fortitude, guiding allies through their inner struggles.

• [Battle Healer]: Combine healing with combat, fighting on the front lines while sustaining the health of your comrades.

===============

[Berserker] - Advanced

Role: Frenzied Combatant

Requirement: Prior experience as a [Warrior] or similar melee-focused class

Description: The Berserker is a combatant who thrives in the chaos of battle, unleashing raw fury and overwhelming strength to decimate their foes. Fueled by an intense rage, Berserkers can shrug off pain and push beyond the limits of ordinary warriors, trading finesse for sheer destructive power. Their frenzied attacks make them a terrifying force on the battlefield, capable of turning the tide of combat through sheer ferocity alone.

Possible Evolutions: As a Berserker hones their rage and combat instincts, they may evolve into even more fearsome roles: 

• [Blood Reaver]: Wield blood magic to empower your rage, using the life force of enemies to sustain your onslaught.

• [Juggernaut]: Embrace unstoppable momentum, becoming a nearly indestructible force that crushes anything in its path.

• [Rage Warden]: Harness your fury with a disciplined mind, balancing raw power with tactical awareness, allowing for controlled bursts of devastating strength.

• [Warbringer]: Lead others into battle with a primal roar, inspiring allies and terrifying enemies, becoming a living embodiment of war.

===============

[....]

A gigantic system page popped up in front of my eyes, filled with half a dozen options. I blinked, and all the details made me close it immediately.

Nah, never mind. This was not something I could decide in a minute or two. If I did, I’d certainly come to regret it in the future. So it was wiser to take my time with it.

Plus, I didn't have the luxury of staring at the empty air in such a situation.

Because a maddened vampire was rushing at me at this very moment.

“You little human bastard! How- how dare you hurt my cute niece and nephews?!” Jacob, the 9th child of the Vampiric Father, had not missed the incident I pulled here.

He was busy with Sir Carlos and Sir Lucas, but he wasn't occupied enough to miss that his precious niece and nephews were dead. They had received what they came to cause here; death.

As much as I wanted to grin on his face and mock him, he was still a powerhouse. I had to be careful.

“Young master!” My two knights yelled in unison. 

Sir Lucas looked like he was in a bad state, bloody and wounded as he was, but he still followed Sir Carlos and tried to stop the enraged vampire.

The 2nd generation Vampire of the Obsidian Family was rushing toward me with the full intent to kill. He had been saving strength so far with the knights, not because he was playing around, but because he had to be careful not to waste too much power here.

Right now? He didn't care.

He was flying toward me like a bullet.

There was no way I could dodge, so I chose to flee. If you're curious what's the difference, it's that I had a technique for fleeing.

[Demonic Art: Body Flicker]

I blitzed fast, although unable to change my initial direction. Thankfully the street was straight, so I managed to vanish from the trajectory of the vampire in a second. It was as if a jet's super speed had been bestowed upon my human body.

I was hundreds of meters away from him already, and if he had any idea where I had vanished to, my Knights didn't let him come. They engaged in another clash, and I hid behind the wall of a building.

“Hak—!” Then I covered my mouth and then puked blood on the floor, falling to my knees. 

This was not a martial art exclusive to the Heavenly Demon, but something that even elders of the Cult learned. The memories of the heavenly demon contained general information about all types of martial arts, even movement arts. Although it didn't specify any technique, the general knowledge made it possible for me to develop my own somewhat if I had a source to copy it from.

I did have a source, the game monitor. I had seen this technique behind a screen, and there was a whole plotline about learning this. So there was information about it that back then seemed meaningless. Now, they came in handy as they increased my understanding of it.

 Lastly, my experience as a kickboxer filled the gaps too, since it was footwork in the end. I managed to learn It during the few days we've been traveling. 

It was nowhere perfect, though – otherwise, I wouldn't be puking blood now. And lost this amount of Qi for a half-assed technique.

[You've used a large portion of your Qi. You're down to 30% of your Qi.]

It was a powerful movement technique, not something I could actively use in battle, due to my lack of mastery. However, I've practiced enough to perform it at least. 

That's how I fled that vampire from that dangerous situation.

Wiping my lips with my sleeves, I quickly peeked from behind the building. I frowned at the scene, “...Will they be alright?”

Unfortunately, I could do nothing to help there. It's a battle where I would only be a hindrance instead. Sir Carlos and Sir Lukas were having trouble on their own, and my trying to help them would only get them killed.

Fortunately, Sir Carlos was on the verge of ascending, from the looks of it. Sparks of golden aura were seen flaring around him, every now and then. He was [Level 49] and I had previously theorized that he was already in the middle of his Ascension Quest. So he must be very close to completing it right now.

If he touched the 5th Ascension, the battle would be easier. While a gap of 21 levels was not much different from a gap of 22 levels, the gap of an Ascension compared to being in the same Ascension rank was huge.

I myself felt much more powerful now, at Level 20. When I reached Level 19 from 18, the feeling of increase wasn't this much. 

The ascensions were called that for a reason, my stats have gone through a huge upgrade.

I stood up, looking around to find a poor city guard who had been caught in the initial attack on the city. I picked up his sword and made my way towards the Baron's mansion.

The enemies there were likely far more powerful than this batch. Especially if the Vampiric Father had indeed come here.

The Vampiric Father, lord of the knight, was one of the oldest beings alive and easily one of the top three strongest Vampires in existence. Meaning… on the 9th Ascension.

The ninth Ascension. Practically DemiGods; capable of erasing not empires, but continents when enraged. Such an entity, even if extremely weakened, might just be waiting for us there…

No, even among the 9th Ascension entities, that man was special. He was a late-game Boss Monster in [Arcane Crown]; unbeatable for many tries even for my veteran skills. Despite being close to his Level in the game, I had died dozens of times before I earned victory. 

Now I'm just a 2nd Ascension nobody. The result in case we came face to face was obvious. Death.

That was why I've been saying that this city was a goner. If the Vampiric Father as much as just released his bloodlust, all the living beings that weren't on the 5th Ascension in the nearest vicinity would drop dead. At least in his full power, anyway.

Going to the mansion when such a creature might be lurking there was certain death, but if he was indeed here, distance didn't matter. Plus, the mansion likely had young-generation vampires… people I could match off against.

If that was the case, I should go and keep them occupied instead of allowing them to bother the big fighters.

“Let's do this,” I decided and made a run for it. I dashed through the cobblestone road, moving towards the mansion. However, as I approached the area, my body froze instinctively.

The sky went bright for a short moment, and the sound of heat cutting through the air filled the city with an odd, loud hum. It was incredibly loud and bright.

A monumental pillar of purple energy erupted from the Baron's mansion, illuminating the night sky with an otherworldly glow. My head snapped towards the source, my eyes wide with shock and awe. The beam illuminated the night and made the clouds clear in the sky.

“That…” The energy cut through the sky like a divine spear, its brilliance overwhelming the darkness. It was daytime for a short moment.

That looked like a Dragon's Breath, and when my eyes traced down, I indeed saw a golden dragon’s head peeking out of the mansion rooftop, shooting the beam. There was a Dragon in this city.

Creatures who might as well be rarer than the vampires. Creatures, who by their blood, were closest to the realm of gods.

How many shocking things was I going to see in this goddamned city?

Such a prospect might have delighted me for a moment, as dragons wouldn't team up with any vampire, but the feeling didn't stick.

As the beam vanished, my eyes trembled. Where the beam had passed through, a figure stood in the air, unscathed. The light receded to reveal a man draped in a swirling, crimson aura, shimmering like a cloak made of blood and shadows. 

His skin was as dark as obsidian, contrasting starkly with his flowing, braided hair. 

His presence was like a void, absorbing the light and casting an oppressive darkness around him. It was as if the night itself had deepened, centering on this one figure, a nexus of malevolence, a pinpoint of evil.

The Vampiric Father.

[Level ???]

Holy shit.

An ancient being whose very existence exuded an aura of dread and power—that was what he was. I've met question mark levels before, but they didn't let out such an aura. They couldn't.

As he stood there, unperturbed by the devastating attack, he calmly brushed off his outfit, a smug smile curling on his lips. The casualness of the gesture sent chills down my spine. He wasn’t in the same league as me—far from it. I might die if he looked my way.

His appearance made me stare at him in awe. Seeing him on a game screen was one thing, but feeling his presence in my bones was another. I stared at him hard, and if he noticed me, he didn't care to shoot a bug of my Level a look. 

For a moment I had thought, ‘There’s a dragon on our side, not everything is lost’. But the attack did nothing. That magnificent attack had zero effect. Was this truly worth it? 

“....”

My Qi was really low, too.

Should I just flee instead?

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The Veiled Man Note: That’s the 12th chapter, I decided to post faster because it’s the 1st of the month. The next chapter will likely come out 72 hours later. 

I must again remind you about my patreon. It’s up to Chapter 22 right now, where many things have happened in the flow of progression. If you can’t wait anymore, click ahead and enjoy!

Link: https://www.patreon.com/theveiledman