"This is my baby!"

  Manna shouted, suddenly appeariween Ats and the others, her hand reag for the scythe. But Ats was quick this time, snatg the on before she could. Instinctively, he jumped back, his heart rag as her fiery red eyes locked onto him with an unmistakable fury.

  't this Vampire Queen calm down for just a sed?!

  Manna, clearly not pnning oing it go, tio dart toward him, trying to grab the scythe. But Ats, desperate to keep it away from her, dodged and ran, leaping and evading her over and ain.

  Karian, watg this unfold, reached for the greatsword, ready to intervene. But just as he was about to charge, Edrik caught his arm.

  "We o help the Lord!" Karian urged.

  Edrik shook his head calmly. "No need... she's not the enemy."

  "But she's attag him!"

  Edrik sighed and rolled his eyes. "Are you brainless, Karian? Did you see how she froze earlier wheried to harm the Lord?"

  "And so?"

  "If she’s moving this freely, it means she’s n to hurt him."

  "But still, the Lord is struggling."

  Edrik leaned in close and whispered, "They're just... enjoying their little bond."

  "What?! What are you talking about? Where did you evehat idea?"

  Edrik sighed again, shaking his head in frustration. "I need a smarter partner, clearly."

  "The vampires in my world are different. I have no idea what you’re talking about."

  "Listen, when a Vampire Queen drinks from someone’s neck, especially someone of high status, it's more than just feeding. It's a tract—a sign that they've submitted their soul to that person."

  "And?"

  "Basically, we say they’re... married."

  "What? How?"

  "Not literally married, but bonded—something like that. For simplicity’s sake, let's just call it a marriage."

  "I don’t uand this ‘marriage’ cept you keep talking about, Edrik. In my world, every raly knows how to kill and survive."

  "That’s why you o mingle more with people from other worlds," Edrik muttered. "Look, I’ve expined enough. Now, we just watd see how the Lord deals with his new ‘wife.'"

  "You’re making this up, right? That’s hard to believe.”

  Edrik shrugged. "Believe what you want."

  Ats could clearly see that Manna's movements weren’t as quick ressive as before. Was she tired? She was still trying to take the scythe, but not with the same iy.

  “Give the scythe to me!”

  Ats quickly stored the scythe in his iory. In that moment, as Manna lunged for it, he caught her left hand and gripped it firmly.

  But Ats was faster, grabbiher wrist, now holding both of her hands in a firm but trolled grip.

  It was a strong hold, though not the kind that someone as powerful as her couldn’t break out of. Yet, she didn’t.

  “Give me the scythe! That’s my baby!” she growled.

  “I’ll give it to you,” Ats said calmly, “but only if you agree to sit down and talk about our alliance.”

  “I don’t need you. You’re weak, useless,” she hissed, gring at him.

  “I summoned you, and I summoned your on. And this is just the beginning—I do far more than this.”

  “You’re nothing. You’ll die the moment the first attaes.”

  “No, I won’t.”

  “And where does your fidene from? Have you lost your mind?”

  “I won’t die because I have you, Edrik, and Karian.”

  Manna gritted her teeth, yanking her hands out of his grip. She looked frustrated, and then, with a sharp motion, she extended her hand toward him.

  “Give me the scythe. That’s mine!”

  Ats nodded, reag into his iory and materializing the Bloodkissed Scythe in his hand.

  Manna wasted no time. She darted forward, snatg the scythe from his grip. Ats didn’t resist, allowio take it. Her expression ged the moment her fingers ed around the on.

  She leapt back, spinning the scythe with effortless precision, the bde whirling like a deadly propeller. In an instant, she rushed forward, her movements a blur, and before Ats could react, the sharp edge of the scythe ressed against his neck.

  “Don’t expect me to listen to your pathetic words! sider yourself lucky tonight—I’ll five you only because yht my scythe bae.”

  With that, the scythe disappeared, vanishing into thin air. Manna turned sharply, her ba as she prepared to walk away.

  “I upgrade your scythe, and upgrade you too. You just o listen to me, and we’ll work together to win every battle.”

  Manna paused for a moment, but after a brief hesitation, she tinued walking away, eventually disappearing into the darkness oher side of the isnd.

  Ats had no idea what she to.

  Edrik and Karian approached, their expressions... odd. Ats couldn’t quite pce it, but something seemed off.

  "My Lord," Karian suddenly spoke up. "I've been through something like this before. The early stages are always tough, especially at the beginning of marria—" His words were cut short as Edrik nudged his arm.

  "My Lord, it’s te," Edrik quickly interjected. "What do you say about getting some rest? Karian and I will keep wattil the fortress stru is plete."

  Ats exhaled. It had been exhausting—falling from that height, nding onto this isnd, going through the gacha pulls, and now this inteandoff with Manna. He really just o sleep.

  "Yeah, I think that’s a good idea," he agreed.

  He hadn’t realized just how tired he was until now. After all, he hadn’t slept in three days due to the previous expedition. His body was starting to feel like it was on the verge of colpsing from sheer exhaustion.

  "Please let me know if anything urgent happens.”

  "My Lord, we will make sure everything is safe outside while you rest," Edrik reassured him.

  Ats nodded, feeling the overwhelmi of exhaustion finally pulling him under as he headed into his tent. He didn’t remember much after that—sleep took him almost instantly.

  But then, something stirred him from the deep sleep. He felt a soft breath against his cheek. What is this? he thought, still half-asleep. Fresh air filled his lungs, but it was mingled with a delicate, sweet st.

  Ah, he could sehat a lot had happe night. Yet, for some reason, his head throbbed, and the memories felt clouded and disjointed.

  Wait—was it only a dream? No way… was it?

  He had the distinct impression that he’d done something, yet he couldn’t quite recall if it was real or dream. And all of it seemed to involve… Manna.

  His body felt heavy, uo move, as if something warm and soft was holding him in pce. Slowly, he became more aware of his surroundings. The warmth pressing against his skin wasn’t just a b was something...

  His eyes fluttered open, and he saw the soft light of m seeping through the gaps ient. But then, he realized—he was naked. And someone was ed around him.

  Turning his head cautiously to the right, he froze. Lyio him was a woman with long, bck hair.

  Manna!

  What the hell happe night?!

  ***

  (Author’s Note:)

  Ah, nothing like waking up to a Vampire Queen snuggled up o yht? Totally normal stuff. ?

  What do you guys think—i cuddles, or something way more plicated went down?

  Did Ats survive the night with all his blood still in his body? Drop your theories in the ents below! ??