[Ats of Gacha Haven, Seeker Div 2, has accepted the defensive challenge from Orlen of The Shard of Soce, Seeker Div 2.]

  Another defense challenge approached, and this time, Ats iionally chose an oppo with a strong potential for attack. Manna had mentioned she was feeling "a bit bored" and wao fight against humans.

  Ats frow her request, unsure how to take it, but he agreed heless.

  As usual, he activated the Rank-A Item: Veilstone Cloak, cloaking himself, his troops, and several critical structures from the enemy's view.

  In the distance, an isnd drifted closer, and a figure appeared at its edge, staring in their dire.

  It was a tall man—a gaunt swordsman tattered yet ire. His darkened silver armor shimmered faintly with a weird ominous energy. He held a glowing, cursed rapier, and his cold gaze ierg.

  This had to be the Lord, Orlen.

  He raised his rapier and poi at Manna, who sat atop a floating throne, legs crossed and her head propped on one hand.

  “So, you’re my oppohis time?” the man called out. “Don’t mock me! My rival would be someone s! Where is Ats?”

  Receiving no response, Orlen pressed on. “I challes to a one-on-one duel! The loser hands over all their resources to the winner!”

  What was this Lord thinking? A one-on-one duel? Did he think this arring? This ar meant everyone fought, not just a single batant.

  Manna finally stood. “No need for Ats. I’ll sughter all of you myself.”

  Ats, still hidden, turo Edrik. “Looks like we won’t be getting any prisohis time if Manna kills them all.”

  “This woman… Are you sure you didn’t do something to upset her, Ats?” Edrik asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “Upset her?” Ats murmured, his mind spinning. What could have made her angry?

  Then it hit him. Over the past few nights, Manna had been ing to his room at midnight, always with a stormy expression. And why? Simply because he… wanted her?

  Damn. Was she really ing only because he desired her presenot because she wa too?

  Could this be why the Vampire Queen seemed so upset?

  Ats sighed inwardly. Perhaps he o rein himself in. It wasn’t as though he couldn’t trol himself—it was just that the desire seemed to arise naturally. Not because he sciously wanted her, but because… wasn’t that normal for anyone?!

  He swallowed hard and focused on the moment, waiting for the battle to begin.

  [The battle begins now.]

  Several portals opened from different dires, and eroops began p out from eae. It was clear Manna was steering the floating throoward the rgest group, where the numbers were overwhelming.

  This time, the enemy’s forces were signifit—around 30 soldiers emerged from each portal. Was this normal for someone in Seeker Division 2 to and over 100 troops like this?

  It seemed unlikely Manna could handle all of them ing from multiple dires at oo ter, Ats’s troops appeared from the remaining three dires to intercept the roups. They held their positions, however, staying within the prote of the Fme Beas.

  The battle began!

  Manna shot forward at an incredible speed, her body cloaked in shadow and blood energy. A si-like wing unfurled from her right side as she unched herself into the fray. With her scythe in hand, she sshed, tore, and darted through the enemy ranks relentlessly.

  Ssh, ssh!

  Manna struck with brutal efficy, her bde severing limbs and heads without pause. Blood spttered her armor as she cut down soldier after soldier.

  Watg from a distance, Orlen, the enemy Lord, smirked as he raised his rapier.

  “It seems I’ve found a worthy oppohis time,” he said. “er that woman! I’ll deliver a punishment she’ll never fet!”

  “A warrior never retreats! We fight to the end!” Orlen bellowed, rallying his troops.

  Manna moved with astonishing speed. It wasn’t that she avoided every attack—sshes from swords and the sting of arrows nded on her. But it was as if she felt no pain.

  With every life she took, she instantly recovered, her wounds knitting themselves back together. That was one of the frightening aspects of this woman.

  Manna could fight endlessly as long as she had the blood of her eo fuel her.

  Her fighting style was unique, unlike anyone else’s. While Raze preferred to smash aroy with raw power, Kurogasa struck with deadly precision, targeting oints with efficy. Karian, wielding his massive greatsword, fought with overwhelming brutality.

  But Manna? She didn’t just kill. She sliced and tore her enemies apart, leaving trails of blood and age before finishing them off pletely.

  This woman was utterly insane.

  Edrik leaoward Ats, whispering, “Good thing she’s on our side.”

  “Yes,” Ats replied, focused otle he articipating in.

  “Usually, when a woman’s that angry, it’s because her needs aren’t bei,” Edrik added casually.

  “Her needs aren’t bei? What’s that supposed to mean?”

  Did Manna need more blood to keep her from getting angry so easily? The thought sent a shiver down his spine.

  “Yes,” Edrik nodded.

  “What do you mean, yes?”

  “Maybe she needs more blood.”

  “Are you kidding me?! I’ll run out of blood if this keeps up!”

  “You could ask Lyrassa to share her vitality with you,” Edrik suggested with a smirk. “You’d regee everything a lot faster.”

  “Share vitality? You mean healing?”

  “Healing… in a unique way,” Edrik replied. “Just tell her you wao share her vitality.”

  “All right, I’ll try,” Ats said, though he sounded unsure.

  Os was a bit farther from Edrik, Karian, who had been nearby, spoke up.

  “I know what you’re thinking, Edrik.”

  Edrik muttered. “I’m doing this to make our Lord stronger, faster.”

  “But you’re deceiving him. You traitor!”

  “I’m not a traitor. I suggested this to help him grow stronger quickly... and instantly.”

  “There’s no good in something instant,” Karian tered.

  Edrik snapped. “You think it’s not instant for a new Lord to already have so mae subordinates in the early stages? We just o support him to keep this momentum going.”

  Edrik smirked as he added, “Besides, there’s nothing wrong with a Lord having more than one partner, huh?!”

  Manna approached Orlen, who was already prepared with his rapier. Without hesitation, the woman unched a brutal assault. To his credit, Orlen proved to be a capable fighter, managing to parry many of Manna’s strikes.

  However, in terms of speed and raw power, they were worlds apart. It didn’t take long before Orlen’s body was torn apart by Manna’s scythe. As if that wasn’t enough, she went the extra mile, decapitating him with a single, merciless stroke.

  Turning around, Manna wore a strange smile on her face, as though she had thhly enjoyed every moment of the fight.

  The battle was over.

  The good news? Ats’s side didn’t suffer a single casualty.

  The bad news? Almost all of the enemy batants had been wiped out—most by Manna, who had beeless, and the rest by Raze, who had done what he did best: throwing people violently off the isnd with his usual brute force.

  [You successfully defeated the opposing Lord during the defense.]

  [You have earned 15 rank points.]

  [Bonus: An additional 10 rank points awarded.]

  [You are entitled to cim the oppo’s resources.]

  [gratutions on your victory!]

  [Your isnd size will be upgraded.]