"My Lord!" Edrik and Karian shouted in shock.
They rushed forward, ready to intervene, but then skidded to a stop as Ats lifted his left hand slightly, signaling them to halt. It was a clear gesture—I’m okay.
Ats had been stunned when the restraints on the Vampire Queen broke, but nothing prepared him for what happened . In a fsh, she lu him, grabbing him tightly and sinking her fangs into his neck.
For a moment, panic surged through him. This was the first time a vampire had ever bitten him directly—was he going to turn into a vampire now? But then he remembered that vampires had greater endurand several bes that humans didn’t possess.
No, I shouldn’t worry about that, he thought.
But then there was the sensation. It was weird... but ly unpleasant. How was he supposed to describe this?
f? Enjoyable? Damhought, trying to suppress the wave of emotions. I ’t let this get weird, but... what the hell is this feeling?
He stood there, rigid and still—not in pain, but overwhelmed by a bizarre mix of sensations. As her fangs drew blood from his neck, he felt his own body responding. It was as if every cell in his body had woken up, buzzing with energy. His heart pounded wildly, and any fatigue he’d been feelied away, repced by a surge of vitality, like he’d just dowhe most potent energy drink imaginable.
He could feel the steady flow of blood entering the Vampire Queen's mouth, aouch... It was intoxig. Her st was sweet and fragrant, her skin soft and warm against his, and the way she held him—firm, unyielding—made it clear she wasn’t letting her prey escape.
But strangely, it didn’t hurt. In fact, it felt weirdly… good. Damn, his thoughts were spiraling out of trol!
Is this what being bitten by a vampire actually feels like?
If this was harming him, the Vampire Queen would have been forced to stop by the system. Instead, it felt almost as if she ulling him deeper into a trance, like a f embrace he didn’t quite uand but couldn’t resist.
Siletled over them for a moment, until a soft sigh escaped from the Vampire Queen. The sound of her drinking, followed by quiet, almost sensual sighs, filled his ears.
Slowly, she released her grip and stepped back, wiping the remnants of blood from her lips. This time, when she looked at Ats, her gaze was different—no longer burning with the rage that had ed her before.
Ats touched the bite marks on his neck, feeling the two small punctures that were already beginning to heal and close up.
"ime, give me a heads-up so I’m not caught off guard.”
"I want to eat!" she said.
Ats gnced down at the pieeat and drinks scattered on the grouh them.
"Join us by the campfire," he said, gesturing toward the fmes. "There’s plenty of food over there."
Manna didn’t reply, but she followed him as he walked back to where Edrik and Karian were waiting.
Edrik bowed, respectfully gesturing for her to sit by the fire. Karian stood off to the side, no longer sitting but still keeping a close watch.
"Prepare food for me." Manna said.
Edrik bowed again. "As someone who holds the sed-highest rank after My Lord, I will gdly assist in preparing the fi meal for you, Ms. Manna."
Ats watched, a bit surprised by how smoothly Edrik unicated with the Vampire Queen. It seemed that his knack for diplomacy was truly ing in handy. Manna’s harsh tone didn’t faze him, and she appeared tent enough not to sh out again.
Manna begaing, and from the way she chewed and the subtle shift in her expression, it was clear she was enjoying the food.
A few of the meal packages even had familiar brands—brands known on h.
Does the system simply replicate whatever exists in this world, or do they take these items from the lower nds?
Manna ate with a rexed air, crossing her legs as she sat, her aura of dark and blood energy seeming to pulse with renewed vitality. She looked stronger, more posed—almost as if the energy she had lost was gradually returning.
He would definitely o find a better way to unicate with her. He needed her to defend the Floating Isnd, and he’d need her strength for future hunts as well.
Then, a sudden thought struck him. In his rush to eat and quench his thirst, he had fotten about ohing—there was still a Rank-S ticket left unopened. Realizing this, he quickly turned and headed toward the floating, red-glowing ticket.
The floating ntern tio drift around the area, casting spinning shadows that created a umosphere.
As Ats approached the red card, Edrik and Karian moved closer. Manna, however, seemed ued, tinuing to eat without sparing a gn his dire.
"My Lord, we’re curious about what lies behind this red card," Edrik said. "We believe you’re destined for something great, especially since you’ve mao pull these red cards back to back."
"Could it be anh-ranking Lord?" Karian mused.
Ats smiled and expined, "So, from the system I have, there are three gacha options I choose from. First, the Exclusive Character banner, which is how I summoned Manna, as well as you two. Sed, the Exclusive on banner, which features Manna’s signature scythe."
He tinued, "And then there's something like a standard banner, which has five featured characters, but I haven't tried pulling from it yet."
Edrik nodded, smiling. "So, does that meaential oute of this item could be Ms. Manna's signature scythe, My Lord?"
"50% ce," Ats firmed.
At that moment, Man down her food and gnced over at Ats. She didn’t even try to hide her i; her crimson red eyes glowed brightly, visible even from a distance.
Ats sighed and picked up the ticket. If this is the Signature Scythe, it’ll make Manna even stronger, he thought.
The ticket ignited, ed by bd blood-red fmes. From the burning remnants, dark and crimson energy streaked through the air. Then, as if materializing from nothingness, a long, sharp, curved object took shape.
[You have received a Rank-S on: (Legendary-grade) Bloodkissed Scythe]
Damn! Ats’s heart skipped a beat. He had actually pulled the featured on, Manna’s signature scythe, with just 20 pulls. A wide grin spread across his face, a rush of euphoria washing over him. This was a huge win.
But his moment of triumph didn’t st long. Before they could fully process what had happened, Manna was suddenly there, standing right between them. Bd red energy coiled around her, ing her form like a cloak. Her eyes were sharp, and she reached out toward the scythe that floated in mid-air.
"This is my baby!" she decred.
***
(Author’s Note:)
Ats is out here making deals, but it looks like Manna’s got her priorities straight: blood, food, and her beloved on.
’t argue with that! ??♀?? Now, the real question is, how is this going to ge the power dynamic?
Leave some ents if you want to see where this is going—there’s plenty more blood and bde a to e!