"Skeletal Dragons, attack!"
At Khajiit's command, the two Skeletal Dragons' eyes flared crimson. They raised their bony claws and lunged straight at Clementine.
Faced with the razor-sharp talons, Clementine simply smiled. Her body dissolved into a swarm of bats that scattered in all directions, effortlessly avoiding the Skeletal Dragons' strike.
[Blood Flame]
The bats gathered once more. Clementine lifted her hand, and a dark crimson magic circle formed beneath it. A surge of blood-red flames burst forth, rushing toward the Skeletal Dragons.
"Boom!"
An explosion rang out. Smoke billowed upward alongside two massive shadows, and the air carried a faint stench of something scorched.
"So it doesn't work."
Lowering her arm, Clementine let out a small sigh. The two Skeletal Dragons hovered in the sky completely unharmed. Though her spell had looked impressive, it hadn't left so much as a scratch.
"It's comparable to fifth-tier magic. Unfortunately, Clementine, my Skeletal Dragons are immune to all spells below sixth tier!"
The Skeletal Dragons slowly descended, and Khajiit's hoarse voice followed. He sounded calm enough, but the sour edge in his tone was obvious.
Even Naohara, watching from the sidelines, could hear the jealousy.
Khajiit was close to losing his composure. Just a few days ago, Clementine had still been a warrior. Then she disappeared, and when she returned, she had somehow achieved his ultimate dream—becoming an ageless, immortal Vampire. Worse, she had turned into a Magic Caster capable of freely using fifth-tier magic.
Even he could barely manage fifth-tier spells. In a matter of days, she had surpassed the results of his decades of effort.
"Not being human really does have its advantages!"
Khajiit's determination to abandon his humanity only deepened.
Not far away, Clementine watched his resentful expression, the corners of her lips curling upward. She liked that look—the look of someone who envied her.
"Khajiit-chan, still want to keep going?"
She idly played with the flames dancing in her palm, her voice light and teasing.
"Hmph."
"I already told you. Beat me first."
Khajiit's lips twitched as he glared at her smug display. His face darkened as he snorted coldly.
He raised the Orb of Death. A flicker of hesitation passed through his eyes, but after glancing at Naohara, who was observing the fight, he made up his mind.
Submission or not could wait. Right now, he would go all out. Even if he lost, he would prove his worth.
With his left hand, he sliced open his right wrist. Dark crimson blood spurted out and was immediately absorbed by the Orb of Death.
[Negative Energy Aggregation]
[Hardening]
[Lesser Strength Boost]
[Undead Flame]
As the blood flowed in, the Orb of Death began to glow. Spell after spell activated through it, strengthening the two Skeletal Dragons.
The Skeletal Dragons roared. Dark purple flames ignited across their bones, spreading rapidly until their entire bodies were engulfed.
"Go!"
Khajiit's voice sounded slightly weak as he gave the command. It was clear he had paid a price to empower them.
With a thunderous roar, the two Skeletal Dragons charged at Clementine once more.
"Fighting for your life now?"
"Then I guess I'll have to get serious too. Compared to magic, I still prefer close combat."
As the Skeletal Dragons roared, Clementine dismissed the flames in her hand and loosened her shoulders and wrists. Magic was fine, but she was far more at home in a melee fight.
Becoming a Vampire hadn't just given her access to magic. It had drastically enhanced her physical abilities as well.
[Ability Boost]
[Greater Ability Boost]
[Wind Stride]
[Blood Frenzy]
[Blood Mist Erosion]
Activating her Martial Arts and the enhancement spells she had only recently learned, Clementine let out a soft laugh as the Skeletal Dragon closed in. Her figure vanished in an instant.
When she reappeared, she was already in front of one Skeletal Dragon's skull. Her right hand clenched into a fist and shot forward.
Though she was most skilled with weapons, her equipment had been destroyed by Naohara. For now, her fists would have to do.
"Boom!"
"What… how is that possible?!"
Khajiit's eyes widened in disbelief at the sight before him.
With a single punch from Clementine, cracks spread across the Skeletal Dragon's sturdy skull like a spiderweb. Its massive body was blasted backward, staggering before crashing heavily to the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.
At that very moment, the other Skeletal Dragon's attack arrived. Clementine remained calm. Dark red blood mist enveloped her body, shielding her from the scorching Undead Flame.
As the bone claw swept toward her, she spread her wings. Her body lifted sharply upward, narrowly and effortlessly evading the strike.
In the next instant, she thrust out her hand. Her sharp nails lengthened as the dark red blood mist gathered around her, forming a protective armor. She shot forward and drove her fist straight into the dragon's skull.
"Boom!"
A deafening crash rang out, wind blasting outward in all directions. The Skeletal Dragon's enormous body was sent flying, its skull shattered into countless fragments that scattered through the air.
"Ha! That felt good!"
Clementine landed lightly and brushed off her black robe. Protected by the blood mist, the ordinary garment remained completely intact.
"I didn't think I'd be this strong. The old me probably would've died already."
She flexed her fingers, quietly marveling at her transformed body.
In the past, she might have been able to defeat a monster like a Skeletal Dragon, but never this easily. Two punches had ended it.
"Not bad, not bad. That was quite the show."
Applause rang out as Naohara walked over with a smile. Clementine had adapted to her Vampire powers remarkably well, finishing the fight cleanly and decisively.
Hamsuke cautiously hid behind Naohara, secretly peeking at Clementine. Watching her smash two Skeletal Dragons apart with her bare hands had genuinely frightened her.
Thinking back to their earlier quarrel, Hamsuke felt a little helpless. Why were all of them monsters? It made her, the Wise King of the Forest, feel rather inadequate.
"It's all thanks to you, Naohara-sama. I'm this strong mainly because of your blood."
Clementine licked her bright red lips, as if recalling the moment she drank it, her expression still wanting more.
The taste of Dragon Blood had completely captivated her.
"You'll get a reward later."
"For now, let's go take a look at your partner."
Naohara lightly tapped her forehead with a finger. Seeing the longing in her eyes, he gave a faint smile before shifting his gaze elsewhere.
He walked forward and looked down at Khajiit, who was half-kneeling on the ground. The man seemed utterly shaken. Understandably so. A lifetime of effort had been crushed with absurd ease. Anyone would struggle to accept that.
Recalling what Clementine had told him earlier, Naohara slowly began to speak.