Chapter 40: A Lilim, a Dhampir, and a Suit of Armor Walk Into a Dungeon

Chapter 40: A Lilim, a Dhampir, and a Suit of Armor Walk Into a Dungeon "Losing a top-tier team like the Liberators, and having their leader defect... it’s unprecedented. They’ll likely classify this Domain as Hazard Rank S, possibly even S+." "And what does that mean in practical terms, aside from more paperwork for them?" Ragnar asked, idly flipping through his system notifications. Five new Bonus Points. A nice little reward for surviving another Tuesday. "It means official hero incursions will be prohibited for a time," Isabelle explained. "Only specialized, high-clearance teams would be authorized to even attempt reconnaissance. Unofficially... well, glory hounds and fools will still try their luck, but the organized threat should diminish significantly. It buys you time." Pixia nodded in agreement, her tiny wings a blur. "Indeed, my Lord. A Hazard Rank S designation typically triggers a systemic ’quarantine’ protocol from the human faction’s administrative AI. It effectively removes you from the standard ’target list’ for a period of 30 to 90 days, depending on perceived ongoing threat levels." "So, a vacation?" Ragnar raised an eyebrow. "I could use one. Maybe a nice trip to a volcanic Demon King’s lair for a spa day. Do you think they have sulfur baths?" "More importantly, my Lord," Pixia continued, ignoring his sarcasm, "it seems the human faction is largely unaware of our ability to access and utilize their information networks." Ragnar grinned. "You mean they don’t know I’ve been reading their super-secret hero forums and using burner accounts to spread misinformation about monster respawn timers? Shocking." This was an advantage he had exploited ruthlessly, and it was good to know it was still secure. The brief respite offered by the Hazard Rank was welcome, but Ragnar knew it wouldn’t last. He needed to use this time wisely. He was Level 5 now. His Creation skill was still C-Rank, but his new level, combined with his Vampire King status, should have unlocked new possibilities. And then there were those 5 BP. "Right," he said, pulling up his status screen. "Bonus Points. What to do, what to do?" He looked at his stats. Body and Mana were D, boosted to C in darkness. Alchemy B, Creation C, Knowledge E. "Knowledge is still looking pretty pathetic, but Pixia’s got that covered. My personal combat is... improving. But an army is still my best bet." He tapped the ’+’ next to Creation. Raising it from C to B would cost 10 BP. He only had 5. "Well, that’s annoying. Can’t afford the next big jump yet." He decided to save the BP for now. But he still had the matter of CP. Defeating Masakado had given him a hefty chunk of EXP, which had made a dent in his first 10000 CP debt to Chloe, but he was still far from clearing it. Natural CP regeneration for that debt was still glacial. And then there was the 150 CP debt for Isabelle, with its 90-day regeneration halt, looming after he cleared Chloe’s. His CP income was, to put it mildly, a train wreck. "Pixia, what’s the current status of my Chloe-related debt repayment via passive EXP gain from the Farm?" Pixia consulted her internal calculations. "At current rates from the... ’student farming initiative’... you are projected to clear the remaining 8500 CP debt for Bloodkin Chloe in approximately 47 standard Terran days, my Lord. Assuming no further high-EXP acquisitions like Hero Masakado." "Forty-seven days until I can even start thinking about paying off Isabelle’s debt, which then has its own 90-day freeze. Grand." Ragnar sighed. "So, creating a massive new army is off the table for now." Or was it? He remembered the discounts his Vampire evolution provided for thematically appropriate minions. Perhaps he could afford a few... specialists. He opened the Creation tab. As he suspected, his new level and racial alignment had indeed populated the list with some new, very interesting options, even at C-Rank Creation. "Let’s see what horrors we can unleash on a budget," he muttered. The first option that caught his eye was [Lilim]. Cost: 30 CP (Vampire Discount: 15 CP). Description: A seductive and manipulative lesser demoness, skilled in illusion and charm. "Hmm. Could be useful for... morale. Or just making the place look a bit more upscale than a glorified cave." He spent the 15 CP. A puff of sweet-smelling pink smoke appeared, coalescing into a stunning woman with crimson eyes, long black hair, and a pair of delicate, bat-like wings. She wore a dress that seemed to defy gravity and good taste simultaneously. She gave Ragnar a slow, predatory smile. "At your service, Master" she purred, her voice like velvet and cyanide. Ragnar made a mental note to keep her away from Gary. Next was [Living Mail]. Cost: 25 CP. No discount. Description: An empty suit of enchanted armor, animated by a bound spirit. Tireless, fearless, and utterly loyal. "A bit boring, but practical. We need more frontline grunts that don’t try to eat each other." A clanking suit of black plate armor materialized, its visor empty but somehow radiating a silent menace. It saluted crisply. Then, [Werewolf]. Cost: 40 CP. Discount: 20 CP (as a beast of the night). "Okay, Lycanthrope 1.0 was a sad, furry disappointment. Let’s see if Werewolf 2.0, under new vampiric management, is any better." A larger, more ferocious-looking wolf-man appeared this time. Its fur was a glossy black, its eyes burned with a yellow light, and its claws looked like they could shred steel. It let out a guttural snarl that was significantly more intimidating than the Lycanthrope’s pathetic whimpers. "Progress!" Ragnar declared. Finally, the one he was most interested in: [Dhampir]. Cost: 50 CP (Vampire Discount: 25 CP). Description: The offspring of a vampire and a human. Possesses many vampiric strengths with fewer weaknesses. A natural hunter of the night. "A half-breed. My kind of monster." A figure shimmered into existence. A young woman, pale-skinned looks just like Ragnar, but with vibrant crimson hair and eyes that glowed with an inner fire. She carried an aura of quiet deadliness and barely contained power. She looked at Ragnar, gave a curt nod, and said, in perfect, unaccented English, "Reporting for duty, Lord." Ragnar blinked. "You speak English?" The Dhampir raised an eyebrow. "Is that unusual, Lord? My human mother was a linguist." The Lilim giggled. "Oh, darling, some of us are just naturally gifted communicators. Unlike certain pointy-eared statues." She winked at Chloe, who ignored her completely. Ragnar suddenly realized his new problem. He had just spent 75 of his precious, hard-earned CP. His debt was still massive. He had four new, powerful-looking subordinates, but he had no idea if they were actually any good, or if they’d just try to redecorate his throne room with each other’s entrails. "Pixia," he said, a tired sigh escaping his lips. "Add ’Monster Aptitude Testing and Inter-Species Conflict Resolution Seminar’ to my schedule for tomorrow." This Demon King gig was more middle management than he’d ever anticipated. But, he admitted, at least it wasn’t boring. His new recruits looked promising, and the thought of their potential, once properly tested and integrated, was a pleasant distraction from his crippling debt. Read latest chapters at (f)reewe(b)novel.com Only