Chapter 89: A Calculated Awakening
Chapter 89: A Calculated Awakening
The distant sounds of battle echoed endlessly through the ancient forest.
Monster roars shook the towering trees.
The clash of steel rang out from every direction.
Somewhere nearby, brilliant spells erupted in flashes of light before the forest was swallowed by silence once more.
Then—
Professor Alaric’s familiar voice reverberated throughout the entire Simulation Realm.
"Attention, students."
"The number of remaining participants has fallen once again."
"A total of one hundred students have now been eliminated."
"Only two hundred remain."
The announcement faded into silence.
---
High above the forest floor...
Andras sat calmly upon the broad branch of an ancient tree.
Beside him, Lenore remained seated with her legs dangling over the edge. Her crimson eyes were still slightly unfocused, carrying the lingering haze of intoxication.
Every few moments...
Her gaze drifted toward the tiny puncture marks on his wrist.
Then back to his face.
Then back to his wrist again.
She looked almost hopeful.
Andras let out a quiet sigh.
"...Fine."
He slowly extended his left hand toward her once again.
"You may have a little more."
His violet eyes narrowed slightly.
"But only a little."
He held her gaze.
"Promise me."
Lenore nodded so quickly that her silver hair fluttered around her shoulders.
"I promise."
There wasn’t the slightest hesitation in her voice.
This time, she accepted his wrist with both hands.
Her movements were incredibly gentle.
Almost reverent.
She treated it as though she were holding something precious.
Then...
Her delicate fangs pierced his skin once more.
Warm blood flowed onto her tongue.
A soft, satisfied hum escaped her lips.
Her eyes slowly drifted shut.
The pleasant warmth spreading through her body pushed every other thought from her mind.
The examination...
The forest...
Even Andras himself...
Everything faded away.
There was only the intoxicating taste of warm blood infused with aged rum.
She drank quietly, completely absorbed.
---
Meanwhile...
Andras remained perfectly calm.
His free hand slowly rose.
Mana gathered soundlessly around two fingers.
No killing intent.
No hostility.
Only flawless precision.
His eyes calmly traced the flow of mana through Lenore’s body.
The rhythm of her breathing.
The subtle tension in her muscles.
Everything had slowed.
Then—
Tap.
His fingers struck a precise point along the side of her neck.
The impact was so light it almost resembled a gentle touch.
Yet it landed upon exactly the right nerve.
His understanding of anatomy, combined with the enhanced physical control granted by the Sovereign Predator Physique, made the strike frighteningly accurate.
Lenore’s crimson eyes widened for the briefest instant.
"...Eh...?"
Her voice barely escaped her lips.
The strength left her body immediately.
She slumped forward.
Andras caught her before she could fall from the branch.
"...Good."
He carefully leaned her against the massive trunk behind them.
"It seems alcohol truly dulls a vampire’s awareness."
He glanced at the tiny wounds on his wrist before sealing them with a small burst of mana.
The bleeding stopped almost instantly.
"If she had been sober..."
"...that wouldn’t have worked."
His gaze returned to Lenore.
Even while unconscious, she looked remarkably peaceful.
The breeze gently stirred her silver hair.
Her dark wings rested naturally against her back.
Her expression carried none of the pride expected of a noble vampire.
Instead...
She simply looked like a young woman enjoying a pleasant dream.
Andras quietly resumed his seat.
There was still no reason to move.
The examination had yet to reach its decisive stage.
So...
He waited.
Time flowed slowly.
Nearly an hour later...
Professor Alaric’s voice echoed throughout the Simulation Realm once again.
"Attention, students."
"Another fifty participants have been eliminated."
"Only one hundred and fifty remain."
Silence reclaimed the forest.
Andras slowly opened his eyes.
"So..."
"We’re finally halfway there."
Beside him...
Lenore stirred.
Her eyelashes fluttered.
A quiet groan escaped her lips before her crimson eyes gradually opened.
For several long seconds...
She simply stared blankly ahead.
The first thing she saw...
...was Andras sitting calmly beside her, quietly smoking his pipe as though nothing unusual had happened.
Then—
Fragments of memory returned.
Drinking his blood.
Feeling dizzy.
Begging for more.
Moving closer to him.
Promising "just one more sip."
Her face instantly turned scarlet.
"..."
Every trace of color drained from the rest of her body before rushing straight back into her cheeks.
She wished she could disappear.
No...
She wished the entire world would disappear with her.
How could I...
What did I...
Did I really say those things?
She couldn’t even bring herself to look him in the eyes.
Andras noticed her awakening and turned slightly.
"Lenore."
She lowered her head so quickly that her silver hair completely concealed her expression.
"...I’m..."
Her voice was barely louder than a whisper.
"...sorry."
The words carried genuine embarrassment.
She had never lost control like that before.
Never.
Before Andras could reply—
Whoosh!
Her wings spread open.
With a powerful beat, she launched herself from the branch.
Her figure became a silver blur racing through the treetops.
Within moments...
She had completely disappeared into the endless forest.
Only a few drifting leaves remained behind.
Andras watched her departure in silence.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"...How troublesome."
He doubted she would willingly show herself in front of him again anytime soon.
---
Another minute passed.
The pipe between his fingers had long since gone out.
The bottle of rum was empty.
The peaceful break was over.
"...I suppose it’s time."
His original plan hadn’t changed.
He still intended to let someone else gather the greatest number of points before taking them at the decisive moment.
However...
There was little harm in stretching his legs beforehand.
Perhaps...
He might even encounter someone interesting.
He stood.
Then stepped casually from the branch.
Instead of falling...
His body blurred.
"Echo Steps."
A faint ripple spread beneath his feet.
His figure vanished.
Only gently swaying leaves remained behind.
---
Several hundred meters away...
A fierce battle raged beneath the towering trees.
The monster resembled an enormous panther nearly three meters long.
Instead of fur, its body was covered in dark emerald scales that gleamed like polished crystal.
Jagged crystalline spikes protruded along its spine, catching the scattered sunlight filtering through the canopy.
Its glowing amber eyes remained fixed upon its prey.
Verdant Crystal Panther.
C-Rank Monster.
The beast lunged.
Its razor-sharp claws carved deep trenches through the earth.
Opposing it stood a young commoner clad in worn leather armor.
Unlike most warriors...
He carried no sword.
No spear.
No shield.
Only a pair of heavy steel gauntlets wrapped around his fists.
His breathing had become ragged.
Blood trickled from a cut above his eyebrow.
Bruises covered both arms.
Even so...
Determination continued to burn within his eyes.
The panther attacked again.
This time, the young warrior twisted aside at the last possible moment.
The monster’s claws narrowly missed his chest.
He planted his feet firmly.
His muscles tensed.
Then—
BOOM!
His fist slammed into the beast’s ribs with explosive force.
The impact sent the enormous panther sliding backward several meters.
Leaves and dirt erupted into the air.
But...
The emerald scales covering its body absorbed most of the blow.
The damage was minimal.
The monster retaliated immediately.
Its thick tail whipped around like a steel mace.
BANG!
The young man barely managed to cross his arms in front of his chest.
Even so...
The overwhelming force launched him through the air.
He crashed across the forest floor, rolling twice before digging his gauntlets into the earth to stop himself.
He slowly forced himself back to his feet.
"Damn..."
He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
"So much tougher than the last one..."
The Verdant Crystal Panther released a deep, rumbling growl.
Its muscles coiled once again.
Its amber eyes narrowed.
It was preparing to end the battle.
Then...
The young warrior noticed something.
Behind the monster...
The air suddenly distorted.
A blurred figure appeared and disappeared like an afterimage, moving so quickly that it seemed impossible to follow.
Before he could even process what he was seeing...
A calm voice echoed through the forest.
"Execution Line."
A single violet streak flashed past.
Everything became still.