Chapter 15

  Lena's smirk widened as she crouched slightly, her fingers digging into the earth beneath her. The air around her warped with sheer energy, the ground trembling under her power. Alexia, standing with a confident posture, drew her sword from her back—a sleek, violet-edged blade, engraved with many runes, that hummed with arcane energy.

  Then, in an instant, they moved.

  Faster than Light.

  The world blurred as Lena shot forward like a crimson streak, her fist aimed at Alexia’s face. The dark-haired swordswoman dodged gracefully, no signs of difficulty as her body tilting just enough to let the punch graze past her cheek, cutting through the air like a meteor, the air pressure creating a crater in the hill located several meters behind them. Alexia countered, her sword flashing, slicing through the space where Lena had been a millisecond earlier.

  Lena reappeared behind Alexia, her knee already driving toward her back, but Alexia vanished. The impact of Lena’s missed attack sent out a shockwave, carving a trench into the hill behind them, rock and debris collapsing down.

  Alexia materialized mid-air, her blade covered in violet flames. She slashed downward, sending a wave of dark energy screaming toward Lena. Lena brought up her arms, the attack crashing into her like an unstoppable force, splitting the ground apart beneath her and sending shockwaves across the nearby forest. Alexia’s allies seemed to be inside some form of magic cube, probably a defensive spell to prevent them from dying from their clash.

  Lena gritted her teeth and shot upward, reaching Alexia in a fraction of a second. A flurry of kicks and punches followed, each impact ringing through the air like thunder. Each clash sent out ripples of force that shattered the ground. Alexia parried Lena’s attacks with inhuman precision, twisting her blade in swift, fluid arcs, meeting every strike before it could reach her body.

  Lena flipped backward, gathering red-hot energy in her palm. She thrust her hand forward, sending a wave of destruction toward Alexia. The attack illuminated the sky around that area like a second sun, cutting across the landscape with devastating speed.

  Alexia merely sighed. She swung her sword once—a single, thin arc of violet energy sliced through Lena’s attack, splitting it apart like paper before it crashed into the lake.

  The water didn’t just explode—it evaporated instantly. The entire lake vanished into steam, the ground beneath it cracking as the pressure unleashed a localized earthquake.

  Lena didn’t have time to react. Alexia was already in front of her. A knee slammed into Lena’s gut, sending her flying into the shattered mountainside, breaking through layers of stone. Before Lena could recover, Alexia followed through with a rapid flurry of slashes, each cut deeper than the last, shredding Lena’s tough skin and drawing rivers of blood.

  Lena spat out red, her breathing ragged. Her weakened state was catching up with her. Alexia stood over her, still composed, barely tired.

  “You’re strong,” Alexia admitted, tapping her blade against her shoulder. “But not today.”

  Lena narrowed her eyes, then suddenly smirked, coughing blood in the process. “Next time,” she muttered.

  Alexia’s brows furrowed for half a second before Lena’s form dissipated into dark mist.

  A teleportation spell.

  Before Alexia could react, Lena vanished in a burst of dark energy, leaving only the mist behind.

  Alexia sheathed her sword, exhaling through her nose. “Hmph. Interesting.” She turned away, glancing over the destruction they had left behind. The shattered hill, the dried-up lake, the sheer devastation.

  She smiled. It had been a while since she had encountered someone this strong. Still, the demon wasn’t really a match for her, and she had the upper hand quite comfortably throughout the fight.

  “Perhaps if next time I give her some ancient artifacts from the Theocracy and maybe some potions…” Alexia hummed, more to herself than anyone else. “Then it could be more fun!”

  ***

  Lena's vision blurred as she reappeared in the hideout, barely managing to remain standing. Her body screamed in protest, the wounds she had sustained burning with an unnatural resistance to healing. Blood dripped from the corners of her mouth as she stumbled forward, gripping Valyria's lifeless body by the collar of her tattered clothes. She could barely maintain her balance, but there was no time to waste.

  A crimson glow surrounded both Lena and Valyria as Lena cast another teleportation spell, locking onto Sarah's location with an innate sense that came from their connection. As Sarah’s summoning, Lena could always sense and determine where Sarah was, just as Sarah could always locate her. The sensation was very useful in moments like these.

  A flash of energy enveloped them, and within an instant, they reappeared.

  Lena barely had time to register her surroundings before her legs gave out. She collapsed forward, but before she could hit the ground, a pair of arms caught her. Arya, her expression filled with concern, held Lena upright while Sarah immediately crouched down beside them.

  They were in what seemed to be the meeting room of the organization’s main hideout. Several figures knelt on the ground, their heads bowed in submission, but Lena didn’t have the energy to pay attention to them. Her vision wavered as Sarah cupped her cheek, worry evident in her blue eyes.

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  “Sis! What happened to you?” Arya asked, her voice filled with alarm.

  Sarah’s gaze flickered over Lena’s injuries before meeting her eyes. “Who did this?” she asked, her tone sharp with a hint of concern.

  Lena coughed, tasting iron in her mouth before managing to talk weakly. “Had some obstacles at the end,” she rasped. “But the mission in the eastern hideout is completed.” She tilted her head towards Valyria’s motionless form on the ground. “Sorry, I had to kill her, but I’ll bring her back.”

  Sarah’s eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at Valyria before turning back to Lena. “And your injuries?”

  Lena exhaled slowly. “I encountered a powerful opponent,” she admitted. “I couldn’t determine much about her. She was fast, skilled, and had help. They used some kind of suppression spell on me.”

  Arya’s grip tightened around Lena. “A suppression spell?” she repeated, a flicker of worry in her usually composed expression.

  Sarah hummed, analyzing the situation. “To do this to you, suppressed or not, that must have been quite an opponent then.”

  Arya wasted no time, channeling a healing spell. Blue light surrounded Lena’s body, but after a few seconds, the glow weakened and dissipated without having much effect. Arya’s brow furrowed in concern. “Something’s wrong,” she murmured. “The wounds aren’t healing properly. It was caused by something that is negating regeneration and external healing.”

  Sarah’s expression darkened. After a brief moment of thought, she reached into her [Dimensional Storage], retrieving an intricately designed scroll. She handed it to Arya. “Use this,” she commanded.

  Arya nodded and unfurled the scroll. Ancient symbols glowed as she activated it, releasing an immense surge of restorative energy. The golden light enveloped Lena, far stronger than before, and this time, her wounds began to mend instantly. The cuts sealed, the bruises faded, and her body was restored—but the toll of the battle remained. Her muscles felt drained, her body weak. Though healed, she still couldn’t stand up properly on her own.

  Arya gently helped her up, steadying her. Lena took a slow breath before turning her gaze back to Valyria. “Time to bring her back,” she said, her voice regaining some of its usual confidence.

  She stepped forward, placing a hand over Valyria’s lifeless body. Dark crimson runes formed in a perfect circle around the vampire’s corpse as Lena invoked [Resurrection]. The air in the room made cracking sounds with energy, and the temperature briefly dropped as the spell took hold. The runes pulsed, growing brighter until a final flash of light erupted.

  Then, Valyria gasped as life returned to her body.

  She blinked rapidly, her mind foggy as she took in her surroundings. For a brief moment, confusion was the only thing across her face. But then, her gaze landed on Lena.

  A cold shiver ran down her spine, and her body instinctively reacted before her mind could process. A sense of absolute submission overwhelmed her, and without thinking, she dropped into a low crouch, bowing her head as her entire body trembled.

  Lena smirked, her crimson eyes gleaming. “Ah, so you remember me.”

  Valyria’s hands clenched against the ground, fear evident in her posture. She was tortured and she had died. She had felt herself die. Yet here she was again, alive. And the one who had ended her life was standing before her, entirely unbothered.

  Sarah observed the exchange with mild curiosity. “Interesting… a vampire.” she mused.

  Valyria’s lips parted, but she hesitated to speak. Lena stepped forward, tilting her head as she loomed over the vampire. “What’s wrong?” she asked mockingly. “No more insults? No more cursing me?”

  Valyria swallowed hard, her fangs lightly pressing against her lower lip. Her hands trembled as she kept them pressed against the cold ground. “I wish merely to… to serve… with the best of my efforts.” she finally managed to whisper.

  Lena’s smile widened. “Oh, that’s good.” She crouched down to meet Valyria’s gaze, but the vampire avoided direct eye contact. “This over here is my master, Sarah. She’s your master now.”

  Valyria closed her eyes for a brief moment, suppressing the instinctual fear that threatened to overwhelm her. She knew, deep down, that her life was no longer her own.

  These people had taken it.

  Valyria let out a slow, shaky breath. “I understand. I’m honored, Lady Sarah.”

  Valyria lifted her head slowly, her blue eyes locking onto Sarah’s. The weight of the room pressed down on her as she swallowed hard. Sarah studied her for a moment before asking, “What kind of vampire are you?”

  Valyria hesitated only briefly before responding, “I am what would be called a higher vampire. Among our kind, there are the lesser ones and the higher ones. Lesser vampires are more beast than man, consumed by their instincts. Higher vampires, like myself, retain our intelligence and reason.” She paused, contemplating how much more to reveal, but one glance at Lena sent a chill down her spine. “I am still relatively young for a higher vampire,” she added quickly.

  Sarah nodded, processing the information. “That’s interesting to know,” she mused. Then, with an edge of authority in her voice, she continued, “I expect you to work well and be loyal.”

  A shudder ran through Valyria’s body as she recalled the sheer helplessness she had felt under Lena’s grip. The pain, the humiliation of having her fangs shattered in Lena’s hands—it was still too fresh in her mind. She dared not imagine what would happen if she ever betrayed Sarah. Without hesitation, she rapidly nodded. “You will have my utmost loyalty,” she declared fervently. “I would never question you, nor would I ever think about betraying you.”

  Sarah observed her for a moment longer before offering a slight nod. “Good.” She then turned her attention to the others in the room. The trio of kneeling figures remained still, barely daring to breathe.

  Selene, Kallen, and Elias had no illusions about their current situation. At first, they had considered fighting back, but the moment Sarah and Arya had entered the meeting room, resistance had proven futile. Their subjugation had been instant. The fact that these two had reached the meeting room of their hideout meant that Orin and Dregan had been eliminated. The guards present in the room had been slaughtered with brutal efficiency as well, leaving the three of them with only one option—submit.

  Now, Valyria, a powerful vampire in her own right, knelt beside them, trembling in fear. It was a sight Selene never thought she would witness. If a higher vampire, one of the most feared supernatural beings, was cowed before these demons, then resisting was beyond foolish.

  Sarah’s voice cut through the silence. “This organization now serves under me.” Her words were calm yet absolute. “You will report directly to Lena, who is now your superior.”

  Selene tightened her fists on her lap but said nothing. Elias remained still, as did Kallen. They understood there was no choice but to comply.

  Sarah continued, “The organization will continue to operate within the kingdom, but with some adjustments to your activities. Lena will explain later.”

  As there was no mention that they would be disposed, Selene felt a brief flicker of hope. But just as quickly as hope surfaced, it was crushed.

  Sarah’s gaze darkened as she turned specifically to Selene and Kallen. “However,” she said coldly, “you both require a special punishment for taking Tuah while she was under my protection.”

  Fear ran through Selene. Her breath hitched, and without thinking, she pressed her forehead to the cold ground. “Please, have mercy!” she pleaded, her voice breaking.

  Before she could say another word, Arya moved. Gripping Selene and Kallen by their hair, she yanked them up effortlessly, dragging them toward the exit. Selene thrashed instinctively, while Kallen tried to free himself, but Arya’s grip was unyielding.

  “Don’t worry,” Arya said with a smirk, her voice both cruel and with a tone of mockery. “You won’t die.”

  Selene wasn’t sure if that was a promise or a threat, but as she was dragged away, she had a feeling that whatever awaited her would be worse than death.