Selene overheard the conversation between Reuel and Alexander Corvinus. She realized just how high the price Reuel had paid—entire arsenals and military equipment, all surrendered without hesitation for her sake. Even though Reuel's expression remained as cynical and arrogant as ever, something stirred quietly in Selene's heart—gratitude... and a heartbeat that suddenly skipped its rhythm.
For the first time, the cold and commanding aura that had always clung to Reuel now felt... different. There was something deeper hidden behind those sharp eyes—something she never imagined could emerge from someone as unyielding as him.
Without a word, Alexander Corvinus raised his left hand. With the calm of an immortal being, he drew a short dagger and slit his wrist. Thick, dark red blood flowed warmly as he extended his arm toward Selene.
"Drink... and you will heal, Miss Selene," Alexander said gently.
Selene stared at the blood—hesitant, almost dazed. Her mind was foggy, her body weak, her thoughts a mess. But before she could say a word, Reuel's voice cut in. Calm, yet with an unshakable command.
"He is Lord Alexander Corvinus... his blood is perfect. Drink it, and you'll recover. Even sunlight won't be able to hurt you anymore. Now, Selene—drink."
Her eyes widened at the name—Alexander Corvinus. The progenitor of all vampires and lycans. The source of the immortal blood itself.
Without a word, Selene slowly lifted Alexander's arm and began to sip the blood. It tasted strange—warm, thick, overwhelming. But also... unbelievably powerful. As if ancient strength, hidden for millennia, was now merging with her own body. Sinking into her bones. Flowing through her veins.
Seconds passed. Her wounds began to close at an unnatural speed. Her muscles knit back together, and the pain in her chest vanished completely. She rose slowly, her steps steady, her eyes now clear and fully conscious.
This recovery went far beyond any vampire ability she had ever known.
But beneath the growing power inside her, a single uninvited thought surfaced—a wild, unwelcome image that smacked her across the mind: Could a vampire this strong... bear a child with a human?
Damn it. Selene cursed internally. God, get that thought out of my head!
But her mind had already betrayed her. She pictured herself holding a tiny infant, while a young child ran circles around the house. Reuel sat on the porch in plain clothes, welcoming them home. A small house on the outskirts of town, quiet, far from war... a family that, disturbingly, felt too real.
She took a long breath, shoved the vision far away, and looked at Alexander.
"Thank you, Lord Corvinus," she said at last.
"No need to thank me," Alexander replied softly, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I'm just fulfilling my end of the deal... with your husband."
Selene scoffed quietly, her cheeks flushed again.
Reuel stepped closer and handed over a small communication device.
"Lord Corvinus, this is my comm unit. It contains all my authentication protocols. You can reach me anytime... anywhere you need me."
Alexander took the device with a respectful nod. As Reuel turned to leave, a member of the Cleaners—dressed head-to-toe in black and carrying a data tablet—hurried over to Alexander. His face was serious, and the look in his eyes made it clear: this report was no trivial matter.
"Sir, the weapons and helicopters will be delivered on schedule. You're free to use the Apache assault choppers whenever you see fit. They won't be detected by any satellite or global surveillance network. We just reconfirmed everything," reported the Cleaners commander while handing over a data tablet.
"Very well. Thank you, Pierto," Alexander Corvinus replied curtly.
Reuel, overhearing the exchange, simply glanced at Corvinus for a moment, then gave a slight bow—a traditional Anatolian gesture of respect, rarely used anymore, even among ancient nobility.
"Safe travels, Lord Corvinus," Reuel said with solemn respect.
Corvinus returned the gesture with a slow nod, his presence calm but still radiating the authority of an old Eastern European patriarch.
"Safe journey, Lord Reuel," Corvinus replied.
Reuel then turned, leading Selene toward the prepared medivac. Alexander Corvinus remained standing where he was, watching them leave. But his mind wasn't at peace. Reuel's earlier words echoed in his thoughts—about his power, his reach, and his global influence. And now, Corvinus realized... what Reuel had shown so far was only the surface.
---
Inside the medivac, Selene noticed something was off. The aircraft wasn't heading toward the city like she'd expected. Instead, it kept climbing—piercing the atmosphere at a steady, unnatural pace. She turned toward the window, and the shock on her face was immediate.
"Where are we going? Why are we still climbing? Won't this trigger global military detection systems?" she asked suspiciously.
"We're heading back to HQ," Reuel answered flatly.
"HQ? You mean... your headquarters is in the sky?" She stared at Reuel with a mix of confusion and disbelief. "Are you kidding?"
Reuel raised an eyebrow. "Oh come on... don't look at me like that. I'm not delirious."
"So you think I'm stupid?" Selene narrowed her eyes, thinking he was messing with her.
"Seems like it. Aren't women with large breasts usually a bit lacking in intelligence?" Reuel replied with a deadpan tone, as if he were reading a scientific journal.
"You...! Bastard!" Selene snapped, her face turning red.
She turned away in irritation, refusing to continue the argument. But when she glanced back out the window... all her anger vanished, replaced by pure, stunned awe.
Above the clouds, a massive warship emerged—an enormous battlecruiser over 800 meters long, appearing out of stealth mode as the medivac approached.
It was a Behemoth-class Battlecruiser, modified by the Tech-Priests of Mars. Fusing advanced technology with sacred rituals of the Machine God, the ship was equipped with a banshee field stealth system—allowing it to completely disappear from radar and satellite surveillance anywhere on Earth... even from Underworld systems.
Selene held her breath as the medivac entered a vast hangar hidden beneath a camouflage dome of advanced tech. When the landing gear touched the hangar's metal floor, a soft hiss echoed—an absolutely smooth touchdown.
She still couldn't speak. What had always sounded like delusional fantasy... now stood real before her.
Without ceremony, Reuel unbuckled his harness and stepped out of the medivac. Several fully armed Terran Marines followed, marching in perfect formation.
Selene followed in silence. They walked through a long corridor lined with reinforced metal and integrated Aetherion dampening layers.
Along the hallway, uniformed green-clad Astra Militarum soldiers stood at attention, saluting with high military precision.
Terran Marines, Firebats, and Marauders moved briskly in their own tasks—loading weapons, painting missiles with squadron insignias and crude graffiti, or modifying strange fighter jets Selene had never seen before. Everything looked like it came from the future—or another dimension entirely.
Most striking of all, every creature and machine here... obeyed Reuel without hesitation.
He wasn't just a commander.
He was the absolute sovereign of this place.
Selene started to realize something she didn't want to admit: The world she knew... was crumbling.
And Reuel—the cynical man with the sardonic smile and icy gaze—wasn't just a savior... But an entity far greater than any legend she'd ever heard.
'Who the hell are you, Reuel...?' Selene thought silently.
As they arrived at the command center, Selene's eyes widened in disbelief. Interactive glass walls, real-time tactical displays, holographic battlefields—it all came together in a control room so alien, so far beyond her understanding, it might as well have been from another galaxy.
Several officers in deep navy-blue uniforms, bearing the twin-headed eagle of the Imperium of Man on their shoulders, moved efficiently across high-tech command consoles. The room radiated an air of ruthless efficiency, discipline, and zero tolerance for error. Selene felt like she had just stepped into the heart of a galactic holy war.
Reuel glanced at her, still frozen in place, her eyes unable to break away from the overwhelming sights around her.
"Take a seat. I'm going to show you something interesting," Reuel said casually—but his voice still carried the weight of command.
With little choice, Selene stepped toward the primary monitoring chair and sat down, her gaze still wary. Reuel stood at the command table and spoke in a calm, measured tone—firm, precise.
"Red Queen, display satellite visuals and override the local feed where Kraven is right now."
A young woman's voice came through the main speakers, teasing and bubbly—like a bratty little sister trying to annoy her older sibling.
"Alright, pervy big bro~. And congrats, by the way! Another immortal lady? She's six hundred years old, isn't she? Hehe~"
Reuel merely sighed quietly. Red Queen's snarky comments were too routine to bother him anymore. He knew Selene was far too overwhelmed to care about the joke.
The main screen lit up, showing high-resolution satellite imagery from orbit. In the center of the image, two men stood talking in a secluded setting. One of them made Selene tense instantly.
"...That's... Lucian?" she whispered, barely audible.
"Yes. That's Lucian," Reuel answered without turning.
Selene stared hard at the screen. "And Kraven? Why are they together?"
"Kraven and Lucian have had a secret pact for quite some time," Reuel explained, his tone flat. "Their alliance was built for a single purpose: to eliminate the vampire Elders."
Selene turned sharply toward him, confusion written all over her face.
"What is Lucian doing there?"
Reuel kept his eyes on the screen. "Lucian once loved Viktor's daughter, Sonja. They had a forbidden relationship… and Sonja became pregnant. They planned to escape together. But Viktor saw it as unforgivable betrayal. He executed his own daughter... right in front of Lucian."
Selene held her breath. She'd heard the rumors before, but hearing it directly from Reuel made it feel painfully real.
"Lucian seeks vengeance against Viktor. Kraven only craves power. In that mix of hatred and ambition, they found a reason to work together. That's where... this entire conspiracy began."
Selene looked back at the screen, disbelief in her eyes as she tried to process the truth she had just been handed.
"So that's how it is... I think I'm starting to understand."
---
Author's Note:
This section incorporates a fairly popular fan theory within the Underworld community. Some speculate that Kraven may have been the result of a blood-mixing experiment or a foundling saved by Viktor as a child—one possible explanation for why he was protected despite being just a common vampire. His rise to power, many believe, was driven more by cunning and betrayal than strength or merit. This theory, however, has never been officially confirmed in the films.
---
"It seems there's so much we didn't know for centuries… it's honestly sad," Selene said in a somber tone.
"Selene, you could actually work with Lucian. The two of you share a common enemy—Viktor," Reuel said, offering the suggestion with a serious note in his voice.
"I... I'll consider it," Selene replied softly.
"By the way, when's the train carrying Amilia supposed to arrive?" Reuel asked, leaning back in his seat.
His thoughts suddenly wandered to the beautiful figure of Amilia. It was hard for him to believe that someone like her could die so easily—like how it was portrayed in the Underworld film he'd watched in his previous life.
Reuel didn't just want to save her. Deep down, he wanted to conquer a noblewoman like Amilia. Letting her die just like that would be a waste, he thought silently.
"Tomorrow night. Why? Is something wrong?" Selene asked in return.
"Nothing. It's just that… they're both going to attack her, right? Kraven and Lucian," Reuel said, now staring at the blacked-out monitor. His expression grew serious. "Do you think... Amilia can survive?"
"Yeah. She's about to enter her long slumber. Right now she's very weak," Selene replied. "This is the most vulnerable state for an Elder."
That explanation left Reuel quiet. He recalled scene after scene he'd once seen in the movie. Now he started to understand how an Elder vampire could be killed so easily by a lycan.
"Alright. Let's get some rest tonight. Tomorrow, we'll go meet Lucian." Reuel then took Selene's hand and led her toward the quarters prepared for them.
Once they arrived at the room, Selene noticed Reuel wasn't making any move to leave. Her gaze instantly sharpened, but she quickly picked up on the hidden intent in the bastard's eyes. He actually planned to sleep together with her?
This damn bastard was imagining things too perfectly, as if everything would go exactly how he wanted. And yet, oddly enough, part of her... didn't want to say no.
Selene knew she should kick him out. They hadn't even known each other for more than two days. But this man was already acting like they were a married couple from a hundred years ago.
"Why are you still here?" Selene asked sharply.
"Still here? Where would I go, my dear wife? It's nighttime. Let's get some sleep," Reuel answered with a casually teasing tone.
"Get out right now, you shameless man!" Selene shouted, pushing him with clear annoyance.
Her cheeks turned red. But for some reason, the corner of her lips curled into a faint smile. After closing the door, she let out a deep sigh. What a damn bastard, she thought. Yet her heart was beating faster than usual.
Even if she was mad, her mind couldn't stop thinking about Reuel. Barely a day together, and yet it felt like he already knew her so well. Does he really have feelings for me? she wondered.
In her six centuries of life, Selene had only ever known war—training and hunting without rest. There was no space for love, or even attraction. But now... that warmth felt real. And it all started with one man named Reuel.
"Heeey, wifey... where am I sleeping tonight?" Reuel called from outside, knocking twice on the door in a cheerful, childlike tone.
In the end, he chose another room to sleep in. Even though he was still worried Selene might be shaken by all the truths he had revealed—her origins, Viktor's betrayal, and the threat looming over the Elders—Reuel was confident she possessed an inner strength beyond measure.
The night passed. And though Reuel didn't sleep by Selene's side that evening… at the very least, they had shared warmth—in their own strange way.
---
The next morning, Reuel woke up a bit late and immediately went looking for Selene. But after wandering through the corridors of the base, he still couldn't find her. He finally asked one of the guards, who informed him that Selene was at the training area with the medical team.
Wasting no time, Reuel headed straight there.
The moment the door opened, his steps halted. He froze in the doorway.
The training room was empty. Silent. Only one person was inside.
Selene.
It was eight in the morning, and Selene was doing sit-ups on a mat. Her body was clad in a tight black leather jacket—typical vampiric fashion—that hugged every curve. Sweat beaded at her temple, yet her expression remained calm and focused.
Reuel nearly had a nosebleed on the spot.
His eyes widened, and his breath caught. Selene looked like a blend of death goddess and haute couture supermodel—the kind who could kick your ass without smudging her eyeliner.
Selene turned her head, sensing his presence. She slowly stood up and began walking toward him. Her movements were steady and controlled. Her gaze pierced straight through him, locking directly onto Reuel's eyes.
A stare that could stop a normal man's heart for at least two full seconds.
I didn't do anything! I was just looking! Is this level of intimidation really necessary?! Reuel screamed internally, panicking both inside and out.
"Why are you looking at me like that? What's wrong with you? Why aren't you saying anything?" Selene asked, her voice cold but tinged with a hint of curiosity.
Reuel didn't respond. His eyes were still locked on her, and his brain was still buffering what it had just witnessed.
Selene kept staring, as if testing him—was this man bold enough to keep looking back?
"I… I've got stuff to do. I'm gonna go," Reuel stammered, quickly turning around before his face turned any redder.
But his steps stopped when Selene's voice rang out again.
"Did you forget what you're supposed to do today?"
The question made Reuel turn halfway, caught off guard. Selene's tone was neutral, but sharp. Truthfully, she just wanted to know—why had he woken up so late? And why, after finally showing up, was he staring at her like she was some exotic tourist attraction?
A few moments passed in silence.
Selene showed nothing on her face, but inside… there was a small sense of relief. And, for some reason, a tiny tinge of disappointment.
But as always, her expression stayed unreadable. No one would ever know what she truly felt.