"Running away?" Draven's smirk widened, a hint of amusement in his voice. He turned to Alexandra. "Stay here and wait for me."
"Bring me his head," Alexandra said, her voice low and devoid of emotion, her gaze as cold as glacial ice.
Draven nodded, leaned down, and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "I will."
'Huh? She didn't resist? Perhaps I am finally making progress... Such a fascinating woman. I wonder what rewards the system will bestow upon me once I fully conquer her.' His gaze lingered on Alexandra's intense eyes for a moment longer.
With a curt nod, he dissolved into wisps of dark smoke and vanished.
"Draven..." Alexandra whispered his name, a hint of longing in her voice. "What is the true extent of your powers?"
"Alexandra, where are the others?" The head guard, Mike, approached her, his sturdy frame slick with the viscous black blood of the Krakens.
Alexandra lowered her head, a wave of sorrow washing over her, rendering her momentarily speechless. Mike saw her pained expression and sighed softly.
"Don't worry... I know that wherever they are now, they have found peace. As you can see," he gestured to the carnage surrounding them, "we have already won this battle. It almost felt too easy, as if the invaders were already weakened before our attack." He shook his head, his gaze sweeping over the scores of lifeless Kraken bodies.
"Head guard, Mike... when did you achieve the lower master class?" Alexandra asked, abruptly changing the subject.
"Oh! All thanks to Lord Draven," Mike replied, a grateful smile gracing his lips. "He provided us with a potion that significantly amplified our strength. From this day forward, our village shall be known as Draven's Village." He paused, his smile fading slightly. "We found the girls... and I'm sorry about your mother. Her end was swift, but two others were already dead when we discovered them." His fists clenched.
"How many survived?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
"Eight. We lost three, including your mother."
Alexandra exhaled slowly, the weight of her loss pressing down on her. "What about the soldiers who accompanied me?"
"We have been unable to locate their bodies," Mike said, his gaze shifting to the villagers, who were now systematically dispatching any remaining, twitching Krakens.
"Understood... Please, let's bring them back to the village and give our dead a proper burial. They deserve peace..." She turned to Mike. "Thank you again, Chief Mike."
"It was nothing," Mike said, then addressed the other guards. "Everyone, prepare yourselves! We will await Lord Draven's return before heading back to the village."
The villagers nodded in solemn understanding.
"Head guard, Mike... that potion, is there any left?" Alexandra asked suddenly, her eyes fixed on him.
"I believe so." Mike reached into his pocket and produced a small vial, handing it to her.
Alexandra carefully examined the vial, her fingers tracing its smooth surface. Slowly, she uncorked it. "Would you mind—"
"—No worries, you can have it," Mike interjected kindly, before turning to assist his fellow villagers.
Alexandra dipped a finger into the vial, coating it with the remaining viscous liquid. Hesitantly, she brought it to her lips.
'If this made the guards stronger, perhaps it can also make me stronger.'
The moment the liquid touched her tongue, her eyes widened in astonishment. 'Why does this taste... like Draven's semen? I will never forget such a distinct sweetness, never... Wait.'
Her eyes nearly bulged from their sockets, a shocking realization dawning within her. 'Can his semen actually increase an Awakener's class?!'
She paused, her mind racing. 'No... if that were possible, Alice and I would have experienced a significant breakthrough already... I'm certain Alice would have already tested it, perhaps even... swallowed it. Maybe it doesn't work for women simply by ingesting it. Perhaps he would have to...'
She shook her head, a blush creeping up her face. 'That is the only logical explanation.'
A sigh escaped her lips as she looked down at her coated finger. Slowly, deliberately, she raised her hand and licked it clean.
_____
[One thousand miles from the ravaged castle.]
The general materialized on the forest floor, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Relief washed over him, but it was quickly replaced by a burning fury.
"That human! He possesses no life essence, yet he wields such a terrifying weapon. Who in the blazes is he?!"
"If you truly desire to know, why are you fleeing?"
The general spun around, his eyes widening in disbelief as he saw Draven standing calmly amidst the trees, his expression serene and unsettling.
"You?! How did you possibly track me?!" he demanded, his voice laced with panic.
Draven's gaze drifted to the surrounding foliage, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"You chose to seek refuge in a forest... You might have eluded someone else... but in all my existence, none who have incurred my wrath have ever escaped my sight."
The general flicked his wrist, and a crimson sword materialized in his grasp. "I will kill you!"
With a furious downward slash, he unleashed a blade of pure energy towards Draven.
"You know..." Draven said, his voice dangerously soft, "even an upper hero class would show a high level of respect in my presence, let alone someone of your... merely master class."
With a casual flick of his finger, the energy blade shattered into a shower of harmless particles.
"This?!"
The general was utterly dumbfounded.
"Tell me," Draven continued, folding his arms behind his back, his gaze piercing, "you are a kraken, yet you possess the form of a human. Or are you one of their... experiments?"
"How do you know that?!" The general's shock was evident.
"Ah... so I am correct. You are indeed one of their experiments," Draven mused aloud. "As I understand it, krakens are typically only capable of impregnating demons. But this world lacks demons... therefore, you must have adapted, your reproductive capabilities extending to the women of this world – elves, humans, beastfolk alike. You have been experimenting, and you," he gestured towards the general, "are a successful result." He turned his head slightly, his gaze fixed on the distant sun.
"I do not know precisely how long you have been here, as the flow of time seems to differ between realms... but I know this: you are not the only one. I eradicated all of your kind from the demon realm, and I can certainly accomplish the same here. But first, I require knowledge of your new ruler." He turned back to the general, his eyes unwavering. "Will you enlighten me?"
"I know nothing of any ruler! I am merely a general! Not one of the five Kings!" the general sputtered, his voice filled with desperation.
'Five kings? Are those fools reborn? What in the nine hells are these Krakens plotting?' Draven thought, a flicker of genuine surprise registering within him.