Chapter 9 - This is my Baby!

"My Lord!" Edrik and Karian shouted in shock.

They rushed forward, ready to intervene, but then skidded to a stop as Atlas lifted his left hand slightly, signaling them to halt. It was a clear gesture—I'm okay.

Atlas had been stunned when the restraints on the Vampire Queen broke, but nothing prepared him for what happened next. In a flash, she lunged at him, grabbing him tightly and sinking her fangs into his neck.

For a moment, panic surged through him. This was the first time a vampire had ever bitten him directly—was he going to turn into a vampire now? But then he remembered that vampires had greater endurance and several benefits that humans didn't possess.

No, I shouldn't worry about that, he thought.

But then there was the sensation. It was weird... but not exactly unpleasant. How was he supposed to describe this?

Comforting? Enjoyable? Damn, he thought, trying to suppress the wave of emotions. I can't let this get weird, but... what the hell is this feeling?

He stood there, rigid and still—not in pain, but overwhelmed by a bizarre mix of sensations. As her fangs drew blood from his neck, he felt his own body responding. It was as if every cell in his body had woken up, buzzing with energy. His heart pounded wildly, and any fatigue he'd been feeling melted away, replaced by a surge of vitality, like he'd just downed the most potent energy drink imaginable.

He could feel the steady flow of blood entering the Vampire Queen's mouth, and her touch... It was intoxicating. Her scent was sweet and fragrant, her skin soft and warm against his, and the way she held him—firm, unyielding—made it clear she wasn't letting her prey escape. 

But strangely, it didn't hurt. In fact, it felt weirdly… good. Damn, his thoughts were spiraling out of control! 

Is this what being bitten by a vampire actually feels like?

If this was harming him, the Vampire Queen would have been forced to stop by the system. Instead, it felt almost as if she was pulling him deeper into a trance, like a comforting embrace he didn't quite understand but couldn't resist.

Silence settled over them for a moment, until a soft sigh escaped from the Vampire Queen. The sound of her drinking, followed by quiet, almost sensual sighs, filled his ears.

Slowly, she released her grip and stepped back, wiping the remnants of blood from her lips. This time, when she looked at Atlas, her gaze was different—no longer burning with the rage that had consumed her before.

Atlas touched the bite marks on his neck, feeling the two small punctures that were already beginning to heal and close up.

"Next time, give me a heads-up so I'm not caught off guard."

"I want to eat!" she said.

Atlas glanced down at the pieces of meat and drinks scattered on the ground beneath them.

"Join us by the campfire," he said, gesturing toward the flames. "There's plenty of food over there."

Morganna didn't reply, but she followed him as he walked back to where Edrik and Karian were waiting. 

Edrik bowed, respectfully gesturing for her to sit by the fire. Karian stood off to the side, no longer sitting but still keeping a close watch.

"Prepare food for me." Morganna said.

Edrik bowed again. "As someone who holds the second-highest rank after My Lord, I will gladly assist in preparing the finest meal for you, Ms. Morganna."

Atlas watched, a bit surprised by how smoothly Edrik communicated with the Vampire Queen. It seemed that his knack for diplomacy was truly coming in handy. Morganna's harsh tone didn't faze him, and she appeared content enough not to lash out again.

Morganna began eating, and from the way she chewed and the subtle shift in her expression, it was clear she was enjoying the food. 

A few of the meal packages even had familiar brands—brands known on New Earth.

Does the system simply replicate whatever exists in this world, or do they take these items from the lower lands?

Morganna ate with a relaxed air, crossing her legs as she sat, her aura of dark and blood energy seeming to pulse with renewed vitality. She looked stronger, more composed—almost as if the energy she had lost was gradually returning.

He would definitely need to find a better way to communicate with her. He needed her to defend the Floating Island, and he'd need her strength for future hunts as well.

Then, a sudden thought struck him. In his rush to eat and quench his thirst, he had forgotten about one thing—there was still a Rank-S ticket left unopened. Realizing this, he quickly turned and headed toward the floating, red-glowing ticket. 

The floating lantern continued to drift around the area, casting spinning shadows that created a unique atmosphere.

As Atlas approached the red card, Edrik and Karian moved closer. Morganna, however, seemed uninterested, continuing to eat without sparing a glance in his direction.

"My Lord, we're curious about what lies behind this red card," Edrik said. "We believe you're destined for something great, especially since you've managed to pull these red cards back to back."

"Could it be another high-ranking Lord?" Karian mused.

Atlas smiled and explained, "So, from the system I have, there are three gacha options I can choose from. First, the Exclusive Character banner, which is how I summoned Morganna, as well as you two. Second, the Exclusive Weapon banner, which features Morganna's signature scythe."

He continued, "And then there's something like a standard banner, which has five featured characters, but I haven't tried pulling from it yet."

Edrik nodded, smiling. "So, does that mean the potential outcome of this item could be Ms. Morganna's signature scythe, My Lord?"

"50% chance," Atlas confirmed.

At that moment, Morganna set down her food and glanced over at Atlas. She didn't even try to hide her interest; her crimson red eyes glowed brightly, visible even from a distance.

Atlas sighed and picked up the ticket. If this is the Signature Scythe, it'll make Morganna even stronger, he thought.

The ticket ignited, consumed by black and blood-red flames. From the burning remnants, dark and crimson energy streaked through the air. Then, as if materializing from nothingness, a long, sharp, curved object took shape.

[You have received a Rank-S Weapon: (Legendary-grade) Bloodkissed Scythe]

Damn! Atlas's heart skipped a beat. He had actually pulled the featured weapon, Morganna's signature scythe, with just 20 pulls. A wide grin spread across his face, a rush of euphoria washing over him. This was a huge win.

But his moment of triumph didn't last long. Before they could fully process what had happened, Morganna was suddenly there, standing right between them. Black and red energy coiled around her, wrapping her form like a cloak. Her eyes were sharp, and she reached out toward the scythe that floated in mid-air.

"This is my baby!" she declared.

***

(Author's Note:)

Atlas is out here making deals, but it looks like Morganna's got her priorities straight: blood, food, and her beloved weapon. 

Can't argue with that! 🧛‍♀️🪓 Now, the real question is, how is this going to change the power dynamic?

Leave some comments if you want to see where this is going—there's plenty more blood and blade action to come!