Sai and the rest of the team ventured into the cursed ruins of the vampires. Some, overcome with fear, turned back, unwilling to take another step. The remaining members pressed forward, crossing the entrance. As soon as they stepped inside, a blinding light engulfed them. When Sai's vision cleared, he found himself alone. A small smirk formed on his lips—no longer needing to hide, he felt a sense of relief.

  Still, he couldn't ignore the others. Were they also separated? If so, where had they been sent? Sai took a deep breath, adjusting to the eerie silence around him. The ruin’s vast interior loomed over him, its towering stone walls covered in ancient carvings that pulsed faintly with crimson light. The air was thick with a strange energy—one that felt both suffocating and invigorating at the same time. His instincts told him this place was dangerous, but that only made him more excited. With no one around, he no longer needed to suppress himself. He stretched his fingers, feeling the newfound power within him flow naturally.

  First, I need to figure out where the others are. Closing his eyes, he extended his sharpened senses, scanning the surroundings. The other adventurers were scattered, their faint presences flickering in the distance. At least they were alive. That was enough for now.

  Just as he was about to move forward, a voice echoed through the chamber.

  “A lost soul wandering into my domain… how interesting.”

  Sai’s eyes snapped open. From the darkness ahead, a figure emerged—a woman clad in a flowing black robe, her piercing red eyes glowing like embers. The air around her twisted unnaturally, as if reality itself bent to her presence.

  A vampire. But not just any vampire… she’s strong.

  However, as she stepped closer, Sai noticed something strange—golden chains coiled around her wrists and ankles, binding her in place. The intricate runes engraved on them shimmered with divine energy, suppressing her movements. She studied him for a moment before a smirk crossed her lips.

  “You are… different. Not quite human, not quite monster.”

  Sai met her gaze without fear. “And you… can’t attack me, can you?”

  The vampire chuckled softly, lifting her bound wrists. “Perceptive.” She let out a sigh, her smile fading slightly. “These accursed seals prevent me from harming intruders. A cruel joke, don’t you think?”

  Sai observed the bindings carefully. “Who did this to you?

  Her eyes narrowed slightly, as if debating whether to answer. Finally, she spoke. “A so-called hero… long ago.”

  Sai’s fingers twitched. A hero? That means she’s been here for a long time.

  The vampire tilted her head. “But enough about me… You are intriguing. Why don’t we talk? After all, I have all the time in the world.”

  Sai remained silent for a moment before stepping forward. “Fine. Let’s talk.”

  Sai observed her carefully. “A hero sealed you here long ago… but that doesn’t explain why the villagers near this ruin were found drained of blood.” His eyes gleamed dangerously. “You claim to be bound, yet people are dying.”

  The vampire’s smirk didn’t waver, but a flicker of something—amusement or irritation—crossed her eyes. “And what makes you think it was my doing?”

  Sai took a slow step forward. “Because it’s too much of a coincidence.”

  She let out a soft, melodic laugh. “You’re sharp. But tell me, if I am truly bound, unable to lay a finger on trespassers, how do you propose I killed them?” She raised her shackled hands, letting the golden chains rattle. “These seals don’t just stop me from attacking—they strip me of my strength.”

  Sai frowned slightly, but he wasn’t fully convinced. “Then who—or what—is responsible?”

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  The vampire’s red eyes glowed faintly in the dim light. “That, little wanderer, is the right question.”

  Sai remained on guard, his sharp eyes locked onto the bound vampire. “What exactly attacked the village?” he demanded. “And why would a hero go through the trouble of sealing you instead of killing you?”

  The vampire let out a soft chuckle, her crimson eyes gleaming with amusement. “You ask many questions, mortal. But I suppose that is to be expected.” She lifted her bound wrists slightly, the golden chains clinking against each other. “As for the hero… let’s just say he lacked the strength to kill me. Instead, he chose to imprison me, using divine magic to bind my very existence.”

  Sai frowned, his instincts screaming that there was more to the story. “That still doesn’t explain why the villagers were drained of blood. If you’re bound, you shouldn’t be able to do anything.”

  The vampire’s smirk faded slightly. “That, I do not know,” she admitted. “I have been sealed here for centuries. Whatever lurks outside… it is not me.”

  Sai narrowed his eyes. He wasn’t sure if she was lying or not, but if something else was responsible for the massacre, then this ruin held dangers beyond just an ancient vampire in chains.

  The vampire’s smirk deepened as she studied Sai with an almost predatory curiosity. "Turning yourself into an unknown… using a ritual, mixing your essence with beast blood, and enduring so much pain at your level," she mused, her voice laced with amusement. "Why go that far?"

  Sai’s expression remained unreadable. "What do you mean?" he asked, though his instincts warned him that she wasn’t merely guessing—she knew.

  Suddenly, a guttural growl interrupted them. A creature emerged from the shadows—almost like a vampire, yet not quite. Its crimson eyes gleamed with hunger as it locked onto Sai and the mysterious lady. However, while fear flickered in its gaze when looking at her, it showed no such hesitation toward Sai.

  The lady, amused by this, chuckled. "That beast is responsible for the deaths of the villagers outside. If you kill it, I’ll reward you with something interesting."

  Sai knew she was toying with him, testing his strength for her own amusement. But he remained calm.

  Without warning, the vampiric beast lunged at him. Sai reacted instantly, his body moving with precision. The battle had begun.

  The beast lunged with terrifying speed, its claws gleaming under the dim light. Sai barely had time to shift his stance before its talons slashed across his chest, carving deep gashes into his flesh. Pain flared for a moment, but almost instantly, his body responded—flesh stitching itself back together, muscles reforming, skin sealing shut.

  The creature paused, confused. It had expected weakness, but instead, Sai stood there, unbothered.

  Sai cracked his neck. "That all?"

  With a furious snarl, the beast pounced again, its movements a blur. This time, Sai moved. Mana surged through his veins, heightening his reflexes. He twisted mid-air, dodging its attack, and a pulse of heat erupted around him—his magic flaring to life.

  With a flick of his wrist, fire coiled around his arm like a serpent. The beast charged again, but Sai extended his hand. "Ignite."

  A stream of flames burst forth, slamming into the monster. It screeched, rolling across the ground, trying to extinguish itself—but Sai wasn’t done.

  He clenched his fingers, and the fire didn’t just burn—it burrowed into the beast's flesh, devouring it from within. The creature's screeches turned into agonized howls as the fire tore through its insides, its regeneration failing against the relentless heat.

  Desperate, the beast lashed out one last time, throwing itself at Sai in a final frenzy. It bit down on his shoulder. Fangs sank deep, venom seeping in—but his body fought back. The wound tried to heal around the beast’s teeth, wamting to trap them in his flesh.

  Sai smirked. "Bad move."

  With a whisper, lightning crackled in his free hand. Energy surged, and in the next instant, a bolt of raw electricity exploded from his palm, surging into the beast. Its body convulsed violently as the shock ravaged its nerves, burning it from the inside out.

  With one final cry, the creature collapsed, charred and lifeless. Smoke rose from its still body, its dark essence fading into nothingness.

  Sai exhaled, rolling his shoulder. His wounds were already gone, his breathing steady. He glanced at the lady, who watched him with an amused smile.

  "Interesting," she murmured. "Very interesting."