Mentioned Name

The mere mention of that name was enough to halt Valeria's imminent attack. Anubis, consumed by curiosity and something deeper, stepped forward, each movement exuding an intense heat that radiated from his figure. "Dravenic," he repeated, the name reverberating through the air. "Where did you learn that name?!"

In the recesses of Anubis's hazy memories, that name held profound significance. It was a name that triggered a surge of realization within him—a realization that he was the offspring of the Vampire Lord himself, Dravenic.

Meanwhile, Soran, still sprawled on the ground, struggled to catch his breath as the atmosphere surrounding him thickened with the presence of the vampire before him. Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead, carrying with them an unnatural warmth unlike ordinary perspiration.

Drawing from his extensive experience within the game, Soran could ascertain that the two vampires - whether they were an original and a half - belonged to the boss-level category. Despite their low levels, especially the male vampire who had just appeared, Soran made a conscious decision to abstain from attacking. Though his levels were only marginally less than the male vampire, it was evidently clear that his actual abilities were not reflected by the number of levels.

He had embarked on this journey in search of a vampire, and perhaps the figure standing before him was the very one he sought. Yet, physically, this being was something entirely different from what he had anticipated. "Y-you're not Dravenic?! Why do I sense such a striking resemblance to him within you?"

Caught off guard by the revelation, Soran momentarily forgot to seek answers through the visible icons that should have provided some context. It took him a while to regain his composure and finally mutter, "An-Anubis... Crown of the Vampire Lord?" His voice trembled with disbelief. "Crown... of the... Vampire Lord?!" To his knowledge, Dravenic was The Vampire Lord himself, and he had never been informed of an heir to the throne—or perhaps he had purposely been kept in the dark. "No, no... this can't be."

Anubis could sense the turmoil of emotions swirling within Soran. The desperate need for immediate answers was palpable, yet rushing the process would serve no purpose. Instead, he turned his attention to the unstable emotional state behind him—Valeria.

No longer in her vampire guise, Valeria bowed her head in remorse, her emotions a tumultuous mixture of regret. It was a simple regret stemming from her failure to obey her master's commands, even for the sake of caution. Her recklessness had almost cost her life once again. The weight of her inability to protect herself laid heavily upon her.

"I'm not disappointed in you, Valeria," Anubis reassured her with a subtle glance. "I was merely observing how your battle unfolded." It could be said that Anubis used this battle as a means to assess Valeria's progress, even the enemy as well.

Now, Soran began to regain his composure, setting aside the flood of questions in his mind. He also temporarily disregarded the physical disparities he had noticed. However, he couldn't deny the overwhelming resemblance in power between Anubis and Dravenic, the Vampire Lord.

Anubis's crimson eyes emitted a slightly brighter and more youthful hue compared to the deep red of Dravenic. His appearance, too, seemed youthful and refined, contrasting with the image Soran had of Dravenic, who he believed only wore a simple black suit. While it would be incorrect to assume that Anubis was merely a younger manifestation of Dravenic, the immense power they both emanated led Soran to consider the possibility.

"C-Crown of the Vampire Lord?! What does this mean?! How is this possible?!" Soran exclaimed, feeling the weight of confusion bearing down on him.

"What are you truly trying to say, human?" Anubis inquired, raising an eyebrow.

Struggling to stabilize himself as he rose from the ground, Soran's mind swirled with conflicting information that seemed disconnected. Seeing Anubis's title alone wasn't enough to convince Soran—or perhaps he needed another small push to fully grasp the situation. "Dravenic...what is your connection to him?" he questioned desperately, trying to make sense of it all.

"I am the heir to the throne. His progeny!" Anubis responded succinctly and with unwavering certainty.

Soran wanted to refute this claim immediately, as it contradicted everything he had known thus far. It felt as though the past and the future were two entirely disconnected circumstances. "That can't be possible. You were never there," Soran replied, attempting to sound nonchalant but failing to conceal his astonishment.

Instead of providing clarity, Soran's somewhat incoherent grumbling only heightened Anubis's impatience and desire for further understanding. "I was never there?" Anubis demanded confirmation. "Where and what are you attempting to convey?!"

Overwhelmed with desperation, Soran slumped back to the ground, cradling his head in his hands. "Aaa, aah. What is this? I was so certain when I heard the rumors of the vampire massacre being attributed to Dravenic. Now, what am I supposed to do?! Should I recount my nonsensical story to him? He won't believe a word of it."

"You..." Anubis felt compelled to voice his suspicion, although he was mostly guessing with a high degree of certainty. "Are you also not from this world?" he finally asked plainly, leaving Soran frozen upon hearing it. The man looked up, searching for meaning in Anubis's piercing gaze. There was no hint of hesitation, as if his very being had been laid bare, leaving no secrets for him to hide from the vampire's scrutiny.

"Tell me everything you know about Dravenic, human. If you do, I will spare your life after nearly ending the life of my subordinate! But be warned, if you lie or fabricate, I will know, and I will annihilate you without hesitation," Anubis warned.

Despite the gravity of the situation, there was a glimmer of hope in Anubis's offer for Soran to continue living—an opportunity he would not dismiss lightly. In fact, Soran would willingly become a demon's slave if it brought him closer to his ultimate goal, a fact he admittedly kept to himself.

"Are you certain you would believe in me?" Soran queried, wondering whether Anubis would believe his story, which seemed straight out of a cliché fantasy novel.

"I have risen in this world with all its peculiarities. Another one will not surprise me in the least," Anubis reassured him.