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The creatures were more than a size larger than the ones before, and their bodies gleamed with a black luster, as though carved from polished obsidian.

“Conrad! These are clearly different from the ones we destroyed this evening! Stay sharp!”

Howard called out, warning his companion.

“They were a gift from our master… specially for us.

They’re adorable, aren’t they?” Electra, the woman in black, had somehow appeared seated sideways atop one of the massive skulls. As she affectionately stroked its head, she smiled down at Howard and the others.

“I’d rather stay and play a little longer myself…”

Joel, the bronze-skinned woman, sat astride another skull, brushing her bangs back with a disappointed sigh.

“But delivering tonight’s meal comes first. After that… we’ll have all the time we want.”

Marina, perched atop the third skull with her chained captives suspended behind her, smiled serenely.

“Like hell I’m letting you leave!”

Conrad kicked off the ground once more. At that instant, all three ancient skeletal beasts lowered their massive bodies in unison. Their jaws spread wide. Then they roared. The bellow was deeper than the lowest note any instrument could produce. Its crushing bass shook the earth itself. The air trembled. A violent gale erupted in every direction.

Conrad was caught midair by the shockwave and hurled backward.

“…You b̲a̲s̲t̲a̲r̲d̲s̲!”

Sliding to a stop, Conrad bared a savage grin. He had just been struck by one of his own specialties, a howl-type attack. Realizing he’d been caught off guard only made him clench his teeth harder.

“We shall pay another visit shortly after midnight.”

Electra raised one hand from atop the black skull. Mana gathered into her palm. It ignited into swirling fire, spinning above her hand like a miniature sun. Its density continued increasing until it shone too brilliantly to look at directly.

“This is bad! Conrad, fall back! Sir Cedric! Hold the line!”

Howard shouted. The blazing sphere burst apart with successive explosions.

Countless fireballs rained indiscriminately across the battlefield. Those striking the ground exploded violently, gouging enormous craters. Those hitting trees blasted holes straight through the trunks before igniting them. Those impacting the knights’ defensive wall tore chunks from its surface as though struck by artillery, leaving craters large and small. Anyone caught by even a glancing hit lost limbs. Even heavily armored knights could not survive a direct impact unscathed. Within moments… The entire area resembled a battlefield that had endured relentless bombardment.

“Then, ladies and gentlemen…” Electra gave an elegant curtsy. “Farewell for now. Please have the party prepared by the time we return. We’re very much looking forward to it.”

When the fiery bombardment finally ceased… The three vampires were gone. So were the three colossal black skeletal dragons. Only the echoes of the women’s laughter lingered as they faded into the depths of the forest.

Cedric Meyer slowly lowered the kite shield from which smoke still rose. Supporting himself with his sword, he remained kneeling on one knee as he surveyed the battlefield. The cratered earth still smoked. The burning trees cast flickering light across the devastation. Nearly a third of the barricades and walls painstakingly constructed by the logistics corps had been reduced to rubble. Smoke rose from them as well. Almost every knight had been injured. Groans filled the air. Some bore grievous wounds, lying motionless in spreading pools of blood.

“…A single attack is all it took for them to cripple half the knight order…”

Cedric stared blankly toward the forest where the vampires had vanished.

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A desolate plain teeming with countless undead stretched beneath the night. Encircling it stood towering walls of black stone. High upon one section of that wall yawned a cavern overlooking the restless dead below.

Beyond its entrance lay a surprisingly spacious chamber. Stone pillars, shaped by countless ages, supported the ceiling like the columns of an ancient temple. Layer upon layer of black rock surrounded the hall, creating walls that seemed carved by eternity itself. The place possessed a solemn majesty unlike anything in the mortal world.

Just inside stood an enormous crimson pavilion. Its blood-red velvet drapes hung from the cavern ceiling in heavy folds, cascading in luxurious layers that dominated the dark chamber.

Against the black stone, the scarlet fabric resembled a vast pool of fresh blood swallowing the temple whole. The space felt completely detached from reality.

Within the pavilion stood a single enormous bed carved from black stone. Its sheets were crimson. Large and small scarlet cushions were piled upon it. The floor was covered by a thick black carpet whose long fibers resembled the darkness of night itself, making the red bed appear to float atop an endless abyss.

Three women reclined there together, their bodies entwined as they rested amid soft, contented sighs.

“Lord Halbert was so pleased…”

Marina, her silver hair now loose and flowing across the crimson bedding like a shining river, finished the red liquid in her glass and smiled happily.

“I’m so glad… I only hope he’ll remain entertained until morning…”

Electra murmured dreamily. Resting one hand against her cheek, she listened with blissful expression to the faint, intermittent screams drifting from somewhere deep within the cavern.

“As long as Lord Halbert is pleased …that’s all I care about.”

Joel lay on her back nearby. Tilting a glass above her face, she let the crimson liquid pour into her mouth before swallowing with obvious satisfaction. After which she lowered her empty glass, letting her black hair flow to the ground.

The three women had changed from their battle attire. Instead, they wore light white garments resembling loose loungewear. The clothing resembled ancient Greek chitons, a single length of thin fabric fastened at the shoulders and tied at the waist with a cord. The material was nearly transparent. The sides hung open, while the short hem left most of their thighs exposed.

Joel caught the final drop from her glass with her long crimson tongue before continuing.

“That’s right… I don’t care what that damn woman is planning. So long as Lord Halbert enjoys himself.”

She spat the words with open irritation. Throwing aside the empty goblet, she pulled a large cushion toward herself and leaned against it. Electra silently slid closer until she was beside her.

“You should watch your language, Joel.” She gently pressed a finger against Joel’s lips. “Whether you like it or not… She is still our superior.”

Her fingernail slowly traced downward across Joel’s chest as she spoke in a calm, soothing voice.

“…You say that…” Joel glared back. “But can you really accept her? Can you accept, Clarimonde?”
Electra smiled faintly. “What a foolish question, Joel.”

She cupped Joel’s face gently with both hands. Using her long crimson tongue, she slowly licked away the remaining traces of red liquid from the corner of Joel’s mouth.

“Do you honestly think… I could ever accept a woman like her?”

Electra drew Joel closer, her hands roaming over her companion as if reassuring herself of her presence.

“That woman has surrendered both body and soul to a lowly human. And now she says she’ll simply offer herself whenever she’s told. What a joke.”

Her voice sharpened. The nails of the hand around Joel’s back extended into sharp claws, digging into the bronze skin beneath.
Joel arched her back with a quiet cry.

“But…” A soft voice interrupted from near their intertwined legs.

“It was Lord Halbert’s wish…”

The speaker was Marina. The pale blue-skinned vampire rested beside them, one of her legs entwined with Joel’s as she absentmindedly stroked her thigh while quietly voicing her thoughts.