Chapter 207: Adam’s Dominance

Ignis’s eyes widened as Isolde’s threads snapped and her crown blazed. She pointed an accusing finger at the vampire, her voice triumphant.

“See?! I told you! She was planning something!”

Lilith’s lips curved into a slow, approving smile. Her threads, which had been coiled around her fingers, relaxed slightly. “You’re getting smarter, Ignis. Perhaps that teleportation knocked some intelligence into your head.”

Ignis’s flames flickered with indignation. “What’s that supposed to mean?! I’ve always been smart!”

Isolde stared at them, her crimson eyes narrowing with confusion. She had just broken free, had just regained her power, had just tasted victory—and they were… bickering?

’What is wrong with these creatures?’ Her mind raced, trying to make sense of their casual demeanor. ’They seem so confident in this idiot. He gave me his blood so easily—such a foolish decision. Blame your leader for his stupidity.’

She raised her hand, blood already gathering at her fingertips, ready to strike while Adam was still weakened from blood loss.

Adam straightened slowly, his hand going to his neck where her fangs had pierced. The wound was already closing, but his face was paler than before. He looked at Isolde—at her blazing crown, at the blood swirling around her hand—and his expression didn’t change.

Then his own crown materialized above his brow.

The Crown of the Hollow Glutton pulsed with dark light, its hunger stirring, reaching toward the vampire’s artifact. For a moment, the two crowns seemed to resonate—a faint hum vibrating through the air between them.

But nothing happened.

No connection. No recognition. Just… silence.

Isolde’s eyes went wide. Her hand, raised to strike, faltered.

“Crown of Gluttony…?” Her voice was barely a whisper. “So that artifact truly exists…”

Adam’s eyebrows rose. He tilted his head, studying her reaction with renewed interest.

“Hmm. From your reaction, it seems you know what this is.”

Isolde’s heart hammered against her ribs. Her mind screamed at her to move, to attack, to finish this before something went wrong.

’Don’t be distracted. I need to kill him. Now. While he’s still weak.’

She gathered her power, blood condensing into a blade aimed at Adam’s throat. Her arm drew back—

And stopped.

Her body wouldn’t move. Her limbs felt heavy, sluggish, as if she were moving through deep water. Heat spread through her veins—not the burning hunger of thirst, but something else. Something wrong.

’What… what is this?’ Panic clawed at her thoughts. ’My body… I can’t move…’

Her vision blurred. The clearing spun around her, the firelight smearing into golden streaks. Her crown flickered, its light dimming.

Adam watched her struggle, his expression calm. A slow smile spread across his face.

“Seems the poison’s working.”

Isolde’s eyes widened. “Poison…?” Her voice cracked. “When… how…?”

Adam touched his neck, where her fangs had pierced. “You didn’t think I’d let a starving vampire drink from me without precautions, did you?”

He shrugged, the motion casual.

“My blood is toxic to most things. Venom glands. Part of my… biology.” His smile sharpened. “You’re not dying. Probably. But you won’t be moving for a while.”

Isolde’s legs buckled. She caught herself against the tree, her fingers scraping bark, her body trembling with the effort of staying upright.

’This… this can’t be happening…’ Her thoughts were sluggish, each one an effort. ’I was so close… I almost…’

Her crown flickered once more, then went dark.

Adam stepped closer, looking down at her with crimson eyes that held no mercy.

“Now,” he said quietly, “are you ready to talk?”

Lilith’s crimson eyes studied the trembling vampire, her expression caught between amusement and mild disappointment. Her voice, when it came, was soft—almost lazy.

“It seems she can’t speak, Adam. Your poison is quite… effective.”

Adam glanced at Isolde—at her pale, sweating face, at the way her lips moved without sound, at the fear flickering behind her crimson eyes. He sighed, then bit down on his own finger.

Blood welled from the small wound, dark and glistening. He knelt before her, holding out his hand.

“This is an antidote. A small one. Enough to let you speak.” His voice was calm, matter-of-fact. “Drink.”

Isolde’s eyes widened. Her throat worked, but no words came. She stared at the offered blood—at the man who had poisoned her, who had tricked her, who now offered her a way to speak.

’He’s playing with me,’ she thought, fury and humiliation warring in her chest. ’He’s enjoying this.’

But her body was too weak to refuse. Her mouth opened. Her tongue touched his finger, lapping at the blood that welled from the small wound.

The effect was immediate.

Warmth spread through her throat, her chest, her limbs. The numbness that had held her frozen receded—not entirely, but enough. Enough to move. Enough to speak.

“You… bastard…” Her voice was hoarse, cracked, barely above a whisper. “You tricked me…”

Adam’s lips curved into a faint smile. He withdrew his hand, watching her with crimson eyes that held no guilt.

“You were going to trick me too.” He shrugged. “So we’re even.”

Behind him, Ignis burst out laughing—loud, unguarded, genuinely delighted.

“Ha! Too bad you can’t escape now, vampire!” She crossed her arms, grinning. “You really thought you could fool Adam? He’s way sneakier than you!”

Isolde’s jaw tightened. Her hands, still bound by Lilith’s threads, clenched into fists.

Isolde’s crimson eyes blazed with humiliation, but she forced her voice to remain steady. “Fine. I’ll talk. Ask what you want to know.”

Adam’s expression didn’t change. He tilted his head, studying her with those cold crimson eyes.

“No. That’s not how this works.” He reached out, his fingers gripping her chin, tilting her face up to meet his gaze. “A prisoner doesn’t get to speak so arrogantly. Try again. Sweeter.”

Isolde’s breath caught. Her mind reeled, fury and shame warring in her chest.

’This bastard…. Enjoying every moment of my humiliation.’

But she had no strength left to fight. Her body still trembled from the poison. Her crown was dark. Her pride was all she had left, and even that was crumbling.

She swallowed. Forced the words past her lips.

“I’m… sorry.” Her voice was barely a whisper. “I’ll tell you what I know.”

Adam’s lips curved into a faint smile. He released her chin, leaning back slightly.

’Damn,’ he thought, his internal voice caught off guard. ’She looks… cute like that. This is dangerous. I could get addicted to this.’

Behind him, he felt it—a pair of eyes boring into his back. Lilith’s gaze, sharp and knowing. Ignis’s, curious and amused.

Adam straightened, clearing his throat.

“Good.” His voice was businesslike now. “First question. What is that thing on your head?” He gestured toward her brow, where the crown of thorns had faded to a dim outline. “That crown. What is it?”

Isolde’s lips pressed into a thin line, her pride visibly wounded. But she forced herself to answer.

“This crown… it’s a skill I created. I form it from my own blood.” Her voice was clipped, defensive. “It can intimidate weaker foes, and I can reshape it into a blade when needed.” She glanced at Adam, then away. “Any resemblance to your artifact is… coincidence. There’s no connection.”

Lilith’s eyebrows rose. She let out a soft, disappointed sigh. “Ehh? And here I thought it was something special. I was wrong, it seems.”

Isolde’s eye twitched. Her hands, still bound, clenched into fists.

’Shut up, you crazy spider,’ she thought, her internal voice seething. ’My skill is far superior to anything you could ever—’

Lilith’s crimson gaze shifted to her. Intense. The weight of that stare pressed against Isolde’s chest like a physical force, and the vampire’s thoughts scattered. Her breath caught. Her eyes dropped to the ground, unable to hold that terrible gaze.

’…Damn it.’

Adam watched the exchange, his expression thoughtful. “Hmm. So that’s why Gluttony didn’t react. When we encountered the Spirit Eater, it was practically salivating.” He shrugged. “Makes sense.”

He turned back to Isolde, his gaze sharpening.

“Next question. You said you’re from the demon territory. What were you doing there? Why did you leave?”

Isolde’s jaw tightened. For a moment, she seemed to struggle with herself—pride warring against the need to answer.

“I lived in a remote village,” she said finally, her voice quieter now. “Away from politics. Away from the war. I wanted no part of any of it.” Her fingers curled against the ground. “I taught students there. Young vampires who had nowhere else to go.”

She paused. Her throat worked.

“One day, I left to gather supplies. From the demon capital. I was gone for… a week.” Her voice cracked. “When I returned… the village was gone. Burned. My students…” She couldn’t finish.

Adam waited. The fire crackled.

“The humans,” Isolde continued, her voice hardening. “Solarian soldiers. They swept through the borderlands, killing anything that wasn’t human.” She lifted her head, her crimson eyes blazing with old grief. “I tracked them. Found their patrol routes. Killed a few. But it wasn’t enough. It would never be enough.”

She looked down at her bound hands.

“So I let myself be captured. I knew they wouldn’t kill me outright. Humans love to enslave beautiful creatures.” Her lips twisted into a bitter smile. “I was going to wait. Regain my strength. And then… destroy them from the inside.”

Adam stared at her. His internal voice was dry, almost amused.

’This girl… she really thinks she’s beautiful, doesn’t she? The confidence.’

He kept his expression neutral.

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