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Russell stepped back through the shadow portal into his living room, his mind still buzzing from the conversation with Blake. The irony of the situation was almost funny—almost. His teacher warning him about the Spirit Begging Society while Russell had just been promoted to second-in-command.
The universe had a twisted sense of humor.
He collapsed onto his bed, staring at the ceiling. The envelope Misty had given him sat on his nightstand, the three familiar materials practically glowing in his peripheral vision. He'd been planning to make a weapon for Artoria, but these materials opened up a different possibility. A better one.
Time to upgrade Kiss-Shot.
He'd been planning this for a while—creating a "sister" card to strengthen her bloodline abilities. Alucard was out for obvious reasons. Arcueid's initial power level was ridiculously high, and trying to create a massively nerfed version would be a headache he didn't need.
Which left one clear choice.
It's just missing one thing, he thought, already pulling out his phone to browse the trading website.
His current balance: 1.8 million. Enough for one gold-quality bronze-level material if he was careful. His thumb scrolled through listings, prices making him wince, until—
There.
Bronze-level [Succubus] (Gold). Price: 1.68 million.
Russell stared at the number for a long moment, his finger hovering over the purchase button. That was almost everything he had. One click and he'd be nearly broke again.
He clicked.
Worth it, he told himself as the confirmation screen appeared. Definitely worth it.
A Metro Express drone delivered the material within the hour—a small crystalline vial that pulsed with golden light. Russell held it up, watching the way it seemed to breathe in his hand, alive somehow despite being just raw magical essence.
He pulled out a blank card and began to draw. His pen moved with practiced confidence, sketching the image of a woman with skin like cream and hair of pure gold. Beautiful didn't do her justice—she was devastating, the kind of beauty that made people forget how to breathe.
Materials gathered, card prepared, Russell closed his eyes and felt himself slip into that strange, liminal space where creation happened.
[Please start compiling your story.]
The familiar prompt appeared, and Russell took a breath before beginning.
[Once upon a time, there was a small country, and Acerola was the princess of this country, known only as the "Beautiful Princess." But she felt that the people only cared for her appearance. So, she found a witch and made a wish. The witch fulfilled it; the people could no longer see her physical appearance. Instead, they saw her inner heart, which was even more beautiful. Everyone who saw it was willing to give their life for her. The small country perished because of this.]
He was changing the story deliberately. In the original, her best friend had been transformed into a vampire—a fate she, a lifelong monster hunter, couldn't accept. She'd forged the demon sword Heart-Crossing and, after failing to kill Kiss-Shot, had taken her own life. That grief had haunted Kiss-Shot for four hundred years.
Russell wasn't recreating that pain. Not if he could help it.
[Acerola found the witch, wanting to remove the curse, but the witch, after seeing her heart, had already offered up her own head. Just as the princess was about to take her own life, the witch's head miraculously revived for a moment and told her that those who had died for her might one day be saved, and that she hoped Acerola would travel the world.]
[Picking up the relic Heart-Crossing left by her best friend, Kiss-Shot chose to inherit her name. Since then, the Oddity Killer, Kiss-Shot Acerola-Orion Heart-Under-Blade, who frightened all other oddities, appeared in this world.]
The story settled into the card like water finding its level. Russell opened his eyes and found himself back in his room, a new card floating before him, glowing with power that made his skin prickle.
[Oddity Killer · Kiss-Shot Heart-Under-Blade]
Level: Silver
Quality: Red
Category: Creature
Skills:
[Shadow-Step]: Can hide in shadows and become invisible.
[Energy Drain]: Gaze has strong physical destructive power.
[Instant Regeneration]: If her entire body and heart are not destroyed in one blow, her terrifying regeneration ability can instantly recover from any injury. (Note: Consumes mental energy.)
[Super Strength]: As a vampire that has gradually matured, her power is growing stronger.
[Absorb]: A rare ability awakened by a vampire, which can absorb an opponent's energy to replenish herself.
[Follower]: As the highest-ranking vampire, she possesses the ability to transform other creatures into members of her clan. Maximum conversion limit: 0/1.
Characteristics:
[Vampire Lord]: The blood bestowed by her sire makes her the pinnacle of vampires. When facing vampires of a lower level, her abilities will be enhanced.
[Demonic Charm]: Beings below the Bronze level cannot resist her charm and will voluntarily sacrifice their lives for her.
[Oddity Killer]: Inheriting the name of her friend, as an existence that scares other monsters, she has a deterrent effect and greatly increased attack power when facing monster-type enemies.
Introduction: The treasure was already there.
Advancement: Silver [Oddity Killer · Kiss-Shot] → ??? [???]
Bond: When appearing with the [Suicide-Master] series, activates [Vampire Lord].
Russell stared at the card, his eyebrows rising higher with each line he read. "More skills and characteristics?" A smile tugged at his lips. He'd expected some strengthening of existing abilities, maybe one new skill. Not this comprehensive upgrade.
But one ability made him pause, his stomach doing an uncomfortable flip.
[Follower]: Maximum conversion limit: 0/1.
"That's practically screaming my identity," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. Thank god he'd had the foresight to delete the sun weakness when he'd first created her. Small mercies.
And the advancement route had changed—previously a clear path to Diamond, now just question marks. Must be because of the story changes, he reasoned. Which meant he could probably incorporate abilities from other vampire myths later. More flexibility. More options.
Worth the identity risk.
He channeled his power and summoned her.
Kiss-Shot materialized in front of him, and Russell's breath caught. She was taller now—182cm, matching his own height exactly. Her golden hair caught the light like spun sunshine, cascading down her back in waves. And her figure... well. Everything had grown proportionally with the upgrade.
She looked at him with those ancient, knowing eyes, and Russell felt something twist in his chest.
He stepped forward, closing the distance between them, and took her hand. Her skin was cool against his, smooth as silk. His throat felt tight, his heart hammering against his ribs.
"Come on," he said softly, the words barely above a whisper. "I'm ready. I will stay with you until the end of my life."
Her lips curved into a small smile—sad and beautiful and somehow grateful. Then she leaned in, her breath cool against his neck, and her fangs pierced his skin.
The sensation was... indescribable. Not pain, exactly. More like electricity racing through his veins, setting every nerve ending on fire. His vision blurred. The room spun. And underneath it all, he felt her—her presence flooding into him, intertwining with his own essence until he couldn't tell where he ended and she began.
The transformation process was intimate in a way he hadn't expected. Not just physical, but emotional. Mental. He could feel her loneliness, her centuries of isolation, her desperate hunger for connection that had nothing to do with blood.
And she could feel him—his determination, his fear, his fierce desire to protect the people he cared about.
When she finally pulled back, her eyes glowing gold in the dim light, something fundamental had changed between them.
What followed was inevitable. They crashed together like waves against rocks, all restraint abandoned. The "Pokémon battle" that ensued was thrilling and exhausting in equal measure—vampires really did have incredible stamina. They fought until dawn, until the "avenue was completely obliterated," and still there was no clear victor.
Russell opened his eyes to early morning light filtering through his curtains. His body ached in ways he'd never experienced before—pleasantly, but thoroughly. Golden hair was scattered across his bed like spilled treasure, and he felt a moment of profound helplessness.
What have I done?
He sighed, running a hand over his face. The bond was complete now. Permanent. He recalled Kiss-Shot back into his mind, feeling her presence settle there like a warm weight.
Time to check the damage.
He stood, walking to the mirror on slightly unsteady legs. His reflection looked... mostly the same. Except his skin had gone paler, almost porcelain white. And his eyes seemed brighter somehow, more intense.
"I never thought I'd have the chance to be a vampire in this life," he muttered, studying himself from different angles. No fangs visible, at least. Small mercies.
But the physical changes were undeniable. He clenched his fist, and the sharp whistle of displaced air made him grin. "Feels like silver-level strength." His entire body had been enhanced—speed, power, durability, all of it upgraded through the follower bond.
It wasn't true vampirism, he realized. More like his mental power strengthening his body through Kiss-Shot's card. He didn't have the ability to convert others into followers himself—that was purely her domain. But the physical benefits were incredible.
"Not bad," he said to his reflection. "With this and Arrogance, my survival rate just went way up."
His phone buzzed on the nightstand, breaking his self-assessment.
[Misty]: My lord, there is something important that needs you to come over.
Russell's good mood evaporated instantly. Is the Spirit Begging Society here to give me more benefits? A flicker of hope sparked in his chest. He really did love taking advantage of them.
"What's wrong?" Russell asked, stepping through shadows directly into Misty's office.
She sat behind her desk, her expression unreadable. The silence stretched for a long moment before she finally spoke, her voice carefully neutral.
"My lord, I don't know how to explain this matter." She paused, seeming to gather herself. "The Wu family... they contacted us. They're hoping we'll assassinate you."
The words hung in the air like a bomb waiting to detonate.
Russell blinked. Then blinked again. His brain struggled to process what he'd just heard, the sheer absurdity of it threatening to make him laugh.
The Wu family had just hired the Spirit Begging Society—the organization where Russell was Lord Six, second in command—to kill him.
The irony was so thick he could choke on it.
"And?" Russell asked, proud of how steady his voice came out. "Are you going to reject them?"
Misty nodded quickly. "Yes. After all, although we have some connections with the court, it's just insignificant cooperation in the end. They're daydreaming if they think we'd actually—"
"Did the court contact you directly?" Russell interrupted, his tactical mind already spinning.
She shook her head. "No. The highest person they could contact was only a gold-level cardmaker in Northgate who's affiliated with us. My identity has never been exposed."
Russell thought for a moment, an idea forming. "Let that person take the task."
Misty froze, her eyes going wide. "My lord, are you planning to... take advantage of this?"
He nodded, a cold smile touching his lips. Rather than constantly worrying about the Wu family plotting against him, better to control the narrative. Set the trap himself. "After all," he said quietly, "as an ordinary member of the Spirit Begging Society, no one can hurt me."
Understanding dawned on Misty's face, followed by something like admiration. "Then I will order him to take up the task."
Kai was 48 years old, a watchmaker in Northgate. That was his public identity—the face he showed the world. Secretly, he was a vicious, gold-level cardmaker of the Spirit Begging Society, with blood on his hands and no particular moral qualms about adding more.
And now his unknown boss—someone he'd never met, never even heard of until recently—had given him an order: take the Wu family's contract. Assassinate Russell Whitmore.
"Tsk." Kai smacked his lips, already packing his belongings into his storage card. "Then this identity won't be usable anymore."
He never doubted he could kill Russell. The kid was only silver-level, while Kai was gold. The power gap was insurmountable. This would be easy money.
He appeared at the Wu family manor within the hour. Patriarch Wu and Wade came out to greet him, all false smiles and calculated courtesy.
"This way please, Mr. Kai."
In the study, Patriarch Wu got straight to business. "Mr. Kai is willing to come. I assume the Society has agreed to my family's request?"
Kai nodded. "The reward must be paid in advance. And as far as I know, Russell has recently moved to live near his senior sister, right?"
Patriarch Wu produced a suitcase from his storage card. "The rewards are all here. As for Hazel..." His smile was oily, confident. "Don't worry. She won't be back tomorrow night. You can do it then."
"Okay." Kai nodded, already mentally planning his approach. "I have no other questions. But I'll make it clear first: if I even get a whiff of that woman, I'll turn around and leave."
He wasn't stupid. Hazel was diamond-level. Fighting her was suicide, not assassination.
After Kai left, Wade turned to his father, doubt creeping into his voice. "Father, can Hazel really be moved?"
Patriarch Wu's face disappeared into shadow, lit only by the lamp on his desk. "Wade, do you know why Yves St. Clair has been stationed in the Highlands?"
"Isn't he suppressing the pocket dimension there?"
"Then have you ever thought about why a pocket dimension of that level appeared in the Highlands right as soon as he was promoted to Palace level?"
Wade's face went through several expressions—confusion, then slowly dawning horror as the implications sank in. "Father, are you saying they... created it? On purpose? To keep him—"
Wu slapped him across the face, the crack echoing in the quiet study. "What are you thinking? I wouldn't dare attempt something like that alone." His voice dropped to a hiss. "It's just to make some noise. Lure her away temporarily."
Wade rubbed his stinging cheek, his voice small. "But Father, aren't you afraid Blake Whitmore will come to our house?"
"Don't worry." Patriarch Wu's smile was thin and vicious. "We'll just hand responsibility over to the Spirit Begging Society when the time comes. Anyway, this 'technology' was originally given to us by them."
The next night, Kai stood outside Russell's brightly lit manor, staring at it with growing irritation. Every window blazed with light. Music drifted from inside—something upbeat and cheerful.
"What is the Wu family doing?" he muttered. "Are they playing tricks on me?"
He was just about to turn around and leave when a sudden, powerful wave of energy swept across the entire city. The pressure made his teeth ache, his bones vibrate. He recognized that signature immediately.
Hazel.
And she was moving—fast—in the opposite direction from Russell's house.
Kai sighed, some of his irritation fading into professional detachment. "Is it such a big deal?" The manipulation had been obvious, but effective. Whatever the Wu family had done, it had worked.
He walked toward Russell's home, his cards already manifesting around him. Shadows lengthened. The air grew cold.
"Oh, what a pity," Kai said softly, almost regretfully. "You won't be so ostentatious in your next life."