After returning to the guild, Kurose Akira was just about to assign the day's tasks to the members when a friend request caught his eye.
[Piggy Who Loves Sweets wants to add you as a friend!]
Akira didn't hesitate for a second and immediately accepted.
A message followed almost instantly.
Piggy Who Loves Sweets: "Um… are you really willing to help me? If not… I can pay some additional compensation?"
Akira replied succinctly:
"No need. I only want the quest reward."
He understood clearly—given the other party's player evaluation rank, there was probably nothing in their possession that could truly tempt him.
Back when he was still rated F+, even an Elite-quality item had been a priceless treasure to him.
Piggy Who Loves Sweets: "Really? Thank you so much!"
Akira: "We'll meet tomorrow in the Elven Kingdom."
Piggy Who Loves Sweets: "Okay!"
Akira closed the chat window and began planning silently.
According to the White Elf Queen's hint, the Shadow Prison would enter a brief weakened state tomorrow. At that time, he could take the opportunity to infiltrate it and rescue the imprisoned Dark Elves.
As for now?
Akira immediately distributed tasks to the guild members, accelerating the progress of commission quests.
He had to reach C-rank guild status as soon as possible.
Time flew by, and evening arrived in the blink of an eye.
Akira was organizing the day's gains.
After a full day of effort, only two D-rank quests remained, and the experience pool had accumulated 170,000 EXP.
Akira knew very well—facing the two high-tier Demon Dens opening in three days, he had to quickly raise the strength of his guild members to expand his advantage.
"Let's level up Marei Rhein first."
He poured all the accumulated experience into Marei Rhein. As one of the only two Mythic-quality adventurers in the guild, she was unquestionably top-tier combat power.
Moreover, she was a pure combat-focused unit—investing levels in her was never a mistake.
Whoosh!
Marei Rhein's level shot up to 37!
EXP consumed: 165,900!
With a thought, Akira opened Marei Rhein's status panel.
[Marei Rhein (Mythic)]Level: 37 (0 / 14,800)Race: Red Dragon / ValkyrieStrength: 1140 | Agility: 1100 | Magic: 1190 | Constitution: 1330Growth: 15 + 5 (Gains 15 + 5 to all stats per level)Skills: (Expand)
"Those stats are insane…"
Akira couldn't help but exclaim.
Marei Rhein's attributes were downright outrageous—breaking the thousand mark at level 37 was something he had never seen before.
And just as he finished leveling her—
Boom!
A violent tremor shook the bedroom!
"Huh?"
Akira froze.
What was that?
With a puzzled frown, he walked toward the bedroom and pushed the door open.
The scene before him made him go completely blank.
Marei Rhein was standing atop his newly purchased super-sized bed, her entire body wreathed in blazing white steam.
In the span of a single breath, the brand-new mattress beneath her was reduced to ashes by the intense heat.
"?"
Akira's brow twitched violently.
That was a new mattress!
"Human~"
Marei Rhein beamed the moment she saw Akira, her smile radiant and fierce."I can feel power surging through my body!"
"…Sigh."
Akira let out a helpless sigh, opened the shop interface, and bought yet another mattress.
"What happened?"
Ivsha and the others, drawn by the noise, walked into Akira's bedroom as well.
"Nothing. The bed just got destroyed again," Akira shrugged casually.
"That aura…"
Loserine entered the room at that moment, her gaze locked tightly onto Marei Rhein, as if filled with some kind of expectation.
"What is it?" Akira asked curiously, wondering what that skull-headed knight was plotting this time.
Loserine turned to Marei Rhein and spoke calmly:
"May I spar with you?"
"?"
Marei Rhein's draconic pupils shifted toward Loserine. She didn't answer immediately.
Akira was momentarily stunned as well—but considering it was Loserine, this didn't feel strange at all.
"Are you serious, little undead?" Marei Rhein asked with interest.
"Yes."
Loserine replied simply.
At that moment, a prompt flashed before Akira's eyes:
[Sword Insight (Activating)]
Akira instantly understood.
The sword technique Loserine had previously comprehended hadn't fully taken shape yet. Marei Rhein's presence provided the perfect sparring partner for refining it.
"I shall grant your wish, then—this is a good chance to test my newly acquired power!"
As she spoke, Marei Rhein raised her hand. Crimson flames ignited in her palm.
"Thank you."
Loserine gave a brief acknowledgment and turned toward the training room.
Marei Rhein followed, leaping down from the bed. As she passed Akira, she declared proudly:
"I'm hungry!"
"..."
Akira couldn't be bothered to respond, only reminding them,"Keep it controlled. Don't go too far."
"Got it."
Inside the training room, neither of them rushed to attack.
Loserine drew the Oathbound Sword first, softly chanting an incantation as magical power flowed into the blade.
Marei Rhein, meanwhile, crossed her arms over her chest, standing in a posture of absolute confidence.
It made sense.
Although Marei Rhein was only level 37, her total stats completely crushed Loserine, who was level 45.
The overwhelming suppression of Mythic quality, combined with the terrifying +5 growth from the [Red Dragon] trait, placed Marei Rhein at the apex of power.
Compared to a normal-quality adventurer, every level she gained would require the other party to gain four levels just to catch up.
Naturally, the sparring match drew the attention of the entire guild.
It was the perfect timing—no one had left yet. Members gathered in the training room to witness the clash.
Even Lucía was drawn over, taking a seat in the observation area.
"Go, go~!"
Alice, Furi, and Flora cheered enthusiastically like a group of cheerleaders.
Ivsha leaned against Akira, far more concerned about when dinner would be ready than the imminent battle.
Akira rubbed the bridge of his nose and shifted his gaze back to the two figures at the center.
He was looking forward to this fight as well.
Although Loserine's odds were slim, they weren't nonexistent.
The near-Mythic Oathbound Sword was her greatest chance.
Just as the battle was about to begin, a cold, seductive voice suddenly echoed in Akira's ears:
"Boring~ I want to see rivers of blood~"
"…Huh?"
Akira froze, his expression turning serious.
That voice just now—
It was coming from the Vampire True Ancestor's portrait again!
What exactly was that thing?
A soul bound to the painting?
That shouldn't be possible—he hadn't sensed any soul fluctuations at all.
Then why…?
As Akira fell into thought, Lucía's gaze landed on him.
She immediately noticed something off about him.
At the same time, she sensed something attached to Akira that made her uncomfortable.
Her fingertip twitched subtly.
A trace of golden light flickered and gently settled between Akira's brows—so softly that he didn't notice a thing.
"Mr. Akira, are you okay?"
Ivsha asked with concern from beside him.
"I'm fine."
Akira shook his head lightly and turned his attention back to the training room.
The fight was about to begin.
"Little undead, you go first."
Marei Rhein said confidently.
"Yes."
Loserine nodded—and in the next instant, charged forward with sword in hand.
Her speed was astonishing.
In the blink of an eye, she was in front of Marei Rhein. The Oathbound Sword carved out a dazzling arc of light and slashed down with tremendous force.
Yet Marei Rhein casually caught the blade with her dragon claw.
The fierce strike only left a faint white mark on her scales.
"…!"
Loserine's eyes narrowed sharply.
She immediately realized that Marei Rhein's defense far exceeded her expectations.
Marei Rhein merely glanced at the mark on her claw and smiled calmly.
The next moment—
Crimson flames erupted around her, roaring violently.
The fire carried annihilating power. Even Loserine, who possessed fire immunity, felt a trace of fear and retreated several steps, escaping the blaze's range.
At the same time, the Kite Moon Sword Art activated.
Sword light fell like moonbeams, slashing toward Marei Rhein once more.
In response, Marei Rhein's skin instantly became covered in a layer of crimson dragon-scale armor.
She didn't even move—yet easily blocked Loserine's proud high-tier sword technique.
Still, Loserine didn't retreat.
She raised her sword again, weaving between the destructive flames as she continued to attack, searching relentlessly for Marei Rhein's weak point…
Akira watched the fierce exchange with complete focus.
And then—
That wicked voice echoed in his mind once more:
"Ah~ ah~ their blood smells so delicious~But I still prefer yours~Offer me your blood, and I shall grant you eternity.How about it?"