Chapter 385: Storm Steel Claws
Alexander descended slowly from above, hovering in midair wrapped in a dense aura of darkness. His bat wings flapped softly while his crimson eyes glowed with an ice-cold hunger in the dead of night.
Upon seeing him, the surviving spider warriors panicked and immediately fell into defensive stances, pointing their spears and crossbows at him. However, not one among them possessed a level of power anywhere near Alexander’s.
"Stop right there, vampire!" shouted one of the guards, her voice trembling as she tried to hold her ground. "You are interfering in kingdom matters! We are direct envoys of the Spider Queen herself!"
"The Spider Queen?" said Alexander, letting out a mocking laugh that chilled the blood of everyone present. "My, how terrifying... Am I supposed to tremble just because you drop the name of a giant insect?"
"Do not mock Her Majesty!" another spider woman chimed in, stepping forward in desperation to make him back off. "If you attack us, you will unleash all-out war against our entire species. Step aside and let us take the prisoner if you value your life!"
"You cockroaches always talk too much when you’re on the verge of dying," said Alexander with disdain.
Alexander stepped forward, closing the distance in a blink. Without giving them time to react, he extended his right hand and activated his skill: [Storm Steel Claws Level 1].
"[Storm Steel Claws Level 1]."
In a microsecond, gusts of invisible, silver slashes sliced through the air at sonic speed. A whirlwind of magical blades enveloped the group of guards; their shouts of warning turned into muffled shrieks as the steel shredded armor, flesh, and bone alike. In the span of a single heartbeat, all twelve warriors were turned into a minced pile of flesh and blood that crashed onto the grass.
Alexander walked past the shredded remains of the spider guards and knelt beside Liora. When he extended his arms to lift her, the princess’s body convulsed in absolute terror; with her vision clouded by blood and mud, she assumed her enemies had come to finish her off or bind her in chains once and for all, triggering her to fight back with weak, desperate swings.
Alexander wrapped his arms around her tightly, pressing the girl’s face against his chest to gently pin her in place.
"Calm down, it’s me," said Alexander in a serene whisper. "Nothing’s going to happen, everything is fine. It’s over now, take it easy... I came to rescue you."
Liora was near death and barely conscious; the trauma and assault kept her trapped in a catatonic agony, preventing her from registering his words as she continued to struggle breathlessly.
Seeing her condition deteriorate by the second, Alexander gently brushed the blood-matted hair away from Liora’s neck. He brought his fangs close and landed a precise bite onto her skin; however, instead of draining her vital essence, he sliced his own tongue with his incisors to let his own blood flow directly into the young woman’s wounds.
During his months of training and mastery within the vampire realm, Alexander had learned that the blood of a Sovereign infused with ancestral vitality served not only to kill or turn, but also to seal critical injuries and restore the life force of his allies within seconds.
Alexander’s blood began to take effect, but due to the extreme severity of Liora’s injuries and her completely drained magic reserves, the restoration took a moment. Her torn skin slowly began to seal, and the young woman’s agonized breathing gradually regained a steady, firm rhythm.
When her eyes finally snapped fully open and her mind cleared, Liora found herself staring directly into Alexander’s impassive face in his full vampiric form: glowing crimson eyes, sharp fangs, and dark wings unfurled behind his back. Instinctively, the princess leaped backward several meters, dropping into a defensive stance. The Night Lords, demons, and beastmen were hardly allies; she would have never expected a Vampire Emperor to aid her in such a merciful manner.
"Thank you very much, Your Highness... I am grateful for your compassionate hand," said Liora, bowing her head cautiously with a raspy voice. "May I know your name?"
"I see... Seems you don’t recognize your savior," said Alexander, crossing his arms with a smirking grin. "Even though that makes two times I’ve saved your little ass, brat."
"Who...?" she asked, narrowing her fox eyes in pure confusion.
Alexander deactivated his transformation, causing his wings and vampiric traits to vanish as he returned to his standard human appearance.
Liora’s jaw dropped, taking half a step back while pointing a trembling finger at him.
"It’s you...?!" Liora gasped in shock. "How is that even possible?! You are a human from that other world... It’s impossible for you to be here."
"Impossible? I don’t think so," said Alexander, taking a couple of steps toward her with an amused look. "Besides, is that how you treat your savior? You should be down on your knees begging me to take you as my woman, offering your entire body to pay for my help."
Liora felt her face instantly flush red. Forgetting the pain and trauma of the battle for a split second, she stepped forward and began playfully punching Alexander in the chest with indignance.
"You...!" Liora spat, her eyebrows furrowing while the tips of her ears turned bright red. "Who the hell would want to marry a damn vampire?!"
"I know plenty who would give anything," replied Alexander, smoothly catching her wrists and pulling her flush against his body without any effort. "Besides, look at yourself... Look at me. This body is an absolute delight, brat. Admit it."
Liora froze, feeling the heat of Alexander’s chest pressed against hers and the firm strength of his grip. The sudden closeness sparked an immediate tension that sent the princess’s heart rate soaring, caught between the urge to kick him and the undeniable attraction commanded by the hybrid’s presence.
"You are an shameless, brazen bastard..." Liora whispered, though this time she didn’t make the slightest attempt to pull away from his arms, locking her eyes onto his with a playful, defiant glint.