Sometime ago.

Blood pooled across the cold stone floor, reflecting the dim light that filtered through the window.

The air in the room was thick with tension and terror, and the scent of death mingled with the faint, lingering screams that had now faded into silence.

The chamber, already old and broken, now looked completely ruined, its walls painted in deep red as lifeless vampire bodies lay scattered, torn apart in a gruesome display.

Honestly, they didn’t even look like bodies anymore. They looked like pieces of meat scattered around the room.

The vampires were known to have an outstanding healing factor, but that didn’t mean they would heal back up after their heads were severed—only the strongest of the vampires might be capable of doing that.

They were all killed the moment Alex discovered that things had gotten way off track.

He only needed one guy alive, so he kept one.

The guy kept trembling amid the carnage—the imperial vampire, his once-pristine robes now soaked in blood, his body marred by deep wounds. His breathing was ragged, his face twisted in horror as he looked at Alex standing before him.

Alex loomed over him, his expression cold, his black sword glistening with fresh blood. At his side, a small device pulsed ominously—a lie detection artifact, its glow waiting to judge the trembling vampire’s words.

“So, you vampires really don’t serve Lilia?” Alex’s voice was steady, devoid of emotion.

The imperial vampire swallowed hard, his entire frame shaking. “N-No. W-We were Lord Lucian’s subordinates from the start. We were always supposed to keep an eye on Lady Lilia.”

Alex’s eyes turned toward the lie detector, and seeing it blink with green light, he nodded. With a slow, deliberate movement, Alex’s blade sliced through the air, removing one of the vampire’s fingers.

“GAAAAHHHHH!!!” A scream tore through the chamber, the vampire writhing in agony as the wound burned with soul-shredding poison.

Alex had Verathian covered with a poison that was said to make one feel the worst pain possible once inflicted by it.

Alex’s gaze, however, remained impassive. Tapping the sword on the ground, he asked, “Lucian knew about Lilia’s plans?”

“Y-Yes,” the vampire stammered, whimpering in pain. “W-We were always stealing information from Lady Lilia’s side and sending it to Lord Lucian. So, he knew everything.”

The guy knew that he was going to suffer no matter what. But if he spoke the truth, he would suffer less.

He already knew who the guy in front of him was after all. He knew it was Alex since Alex had removed the mask he was wearing. That, however, just made the vampire feel more terrified.

‘How did Alex come here? How did he know what was happening? How come no one knew about Alex leaving the academy?’

Many such questions were going through the vampire’s head, but he didn’t have time to think about it deeply.

Another slice was already on its way.

“AHHHHHH!!” Another scream echoed. Blood dripped onto the cold stone, pooling at the vampire’s knees.

Alex’s voice remained eerily calm. “Why do you keep calling Lilia ‘Lady Lilia’ when you don’t even serve her?”

The vampire hesitated, but looking at Alex’s cold eyes, he quickly replied. “L-Lord Lucian said that he would make Lady Lilia his one of these days, so we should call her Lady Lilia—”

Before he could finish, the blade carved through his ear, severing it in an instant.

“ARGHHHH!!!” The vampire howled in pain, his hands clutching at the fresh wound.

“You think Lilia would just agree?” Alex’s eyes were like shards of ice, his grip on his sword unwavering.

The vampire hesitated again. He knew the answer would enrage Alex more, and the one who would suffer because of it would be him. So, he tried to remain silent, but three more fingers fell before he finally choked out an answer. “L-Lord Lucian said he would do it forcefully if he had to.”

Silence hung in the air, thick with unspoken fury. Alex didn’t need to ask what the ‘doing forcefully’ meant.

However, contrary to the vampire’s expectation, Alex took a deep breath, slowly tilting his head. “You guys—oh, sorry. There’s no ‘you guys’ anymore.” His cold grin sent shivers down the vampire’s spine, reminding him of the fate of his underlings. “Let me rephrase my question. You are a traitor, right?”

The vampire, his breath coming in rapid gasps as he knew where this was going, nodded shakily. “… y-yes.”

Another slice. More agony. More blood painting the already ruined chamber.

“And what punishment is one supposed to give a traitor?” Alex asked, his voice almost casual.

“P-Please forgive me!” The vampire, however, begged, his face contorted in terror. “I-I was just following orders!”

‘Ah, shit!’ But the vampire realized his mistake as the sound of the sword slicing through the air reached his ears.

Alex didn’t even blink as his sword cut through the guy’s wrist. Another scream and severed limb. “I asked you a question.”

“I-I don’t know!” The vampire sobbed, his body convulsing in agony.

Alex tilted his head slightly, considering. “What would you have done if you were in my place?”

The vampire’s eyes widened, clinging desperately to his last shred of hope, he quickly exclaimed. “I-I would’ve given myself a chance—!”

Alex, who saw the lie detector blinking green, raised a brow. “Damn, you didn’t lie.”

But the next instant, another slash was heard, clean and brutal. Under the vampire’s terrified eyes, his arm fell to the floor with a sickening thud.

“Well, too bad,” Alex murmured, watching the vampire writhe. “I’m not as gentle as you.” He leaned down slightly, observing the vampire’s mangled body healing slowly. A cruel smirk played on his lips. “Let’s see how long your regeneration can keep up.”

The chamber echoed with the vampire’s screams. Almost half an hour was nothing but endless agony for the poor vampire.

Alex would let the guy heal, and if his regeneration slowed down, then Alex would help by providing him with healing potions.

By the end of it, the vampire wanted nothing but death…

……….

Present.

Alex stood at the threshold of the Jail of Crimson Chains, his eyes scanning the chamber ahead.

The massive underground prison stretched before him, lined with cells sealed by glowing crimson bars. The air was thick, oppressive, and filled with the scent of ancient blood.

And at the center of it all, waiting for him, were the vampires.

Dozens of them.

Each exuded an aura of overwhelming power, their crimson eyes gleaming in the dim torchlight.

At the forefront stood Lucian, his dark robes flowing as he tilted his head slightly, an amused smirk playing on his lips.

Even though Alex remained hidden beneath his Darkness Veil, Lucian’s gaze locked onto him with uncanny certainty.

The smirk widened. “Do you plan to keep hiding?” Lucian’s voice was dripping with amusement.

Alex remained silent, his grip tightening on Verathian.

This guy, who was supposed to be back in the vampire realm, was in the desolate zone. Lucian wasn’t supposed to be part of the plot, yet he was here.

Lucian, on the other hand, oblivious to Alex’s thoughts, chuckled, the sound reverberating through the chamber. “You have come to the end of your path, intruder.”

The guy didn’t yet know the intruder was Alex.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep