***
To all my readers who keep saying the system is unfair and isn't giving enough EXP for the vampires and other creatures—please remember this: the combat power of the Underworld vampires and Lycans isn't as overwhelming as some might think.
Their immortality boosts their strength, yes, but only by about 10 to 20 times that of a normal human, and that's only true for the most powerful vampires and elders.
The system takes a wider view, categorizing and balancing things across the entire omniverse. So it's perfectly understandable that the EXP rewards are relatively low, since it accounts for every vampire and creature in all the universes combined.
Also, the protagonist's growth is designed to keep pace with the worlds he travels through. What would be the point if he became too strong at low levels? That would just turn this story into another typical overpowered main character fan fiction, and that's not what I want here.
The balance keeps the story interesting and grounded, and makes his journey and growth meaningful.
***
Selene, who heard this, felt her whole world tilt. Her eyes turned cold, yet there was a storm inside them—a mix of sadness and anger that made her chest feel heavy. Tears welled up despite her will to hold them back.
Sadness—for Viktor, the man she had respected, obeyed, and trusted for centuries, was the very one who had ordered her family's death. All these years, she had lived a life built on lies, her loyalty given to the one who had deceived her from the start.
Anger—for the same man who had robbed her of her family, stolen her truth, and let her live in the shadow of a false history. The betrayal cut deeper than any blade.
In that moment, she didn't care about rules, traditions, or the centuries of coven politics anymore. Her only focus was simple and sharp—Viktor would die for what he had done to her.
Her voice came out steady, but there was a quiet, lethal edge to it.
"Luke… you can do the thing you wanted."
Now she didn't care who's blood was used to wake Viktor, or what consequences it would bring.
"On it," Luke said with a casual nod. During the last ten minutes—he had already slipped away, grabbed the blood of a dog from the supply, and returned without anyone noticing.
Selene bent down and rotated the stone circle mechanism on the floor. The sound of ancient gears echoed in the chamber as it shifted and unlocked. Slowly, a large coffin-like structure began to rise from the ground, dust drifting from its edges.
At first, it came up vertically, stone grinding against stone, before it rotated horizontally into place with a heavy, deliberate turn.
From the top, through an exposed opening, they could see the mummified body within—the pale, withered form of Viktor, locked in deep, ancient sleep.
His skin clung to his bones, his features sunken, but even in this state, there was an unsettling presence radiating from him.
Luke gave a small grin. "Rise and shine, old man."
Without hesitation, he tilted the container and poured the dog's blood into Viktor's mouth.
Now, the process would begin—the slow, eerie awakening of the mummified Vampire Elder.
Kraven, tied up like a helpless caterpillar from shoulders to ankles, was both confused and furious. He had no idea what was happening, but he knew it wasn't good for him. Panic clawed at his chest as his mind raced. If he didn't escape and warn Lucian soon, things would spiral out of control.
The Coven would start wondering why Amelia hadn't shown up yet. And when the truth finally came out—that he'd betrayed them—it would be death sentence, plain and simple. Kraven knew this all too well. He had to get out of here, and fast.
Meanwhile, Viktor was slowly stirring. But if Viktor ever learned the truth—that Kraven had been lying—he would make sure Kraven paid with his life.
Viktor was ruthless, a man who didn't hesitate even to kill his own daughter for vampire laws. So the moment the truth was revealed, Kraven would be done for.
What Kraven didn't realize was that Luke had used dog blood in the ritual. Viktor wouldn't live long enough after his awakening.
Kraven began to crawl, slow and cautious, inching toward the exit while Luke and Selene's attention remained fixed on Viktor.
From the corner of his eye, Luke caught sight of Kraven's desperate escape attempt. A faint smirk played on Luke's lips. He didn't stop him—in fact, he wanted him to go.
Let Kraven run to Lucian. Let him spread the word that Viktor was waking. Let Lucian panic, make a reckless move. When that happened, Luke would be ready—waiting in the shadows to clean up the mess and reap all the rewards.
---
Thirty minutes later,
Viktor's eyes finally fluttered open. Even awake, he looked like a dried-up corpse—his skin shriveled tight against brittle bones, every movement stiff and slow. He crawled out of the coffin and landed heavily on the cold stone floor, swaying like a frail old man who might topple over with the slightest breeze.
The very first thing he noticed was… wrong. A foul, disgusting taste lingered in his mouth, crawling through his whole body like poison. It was a sensation he hadn't felt since the moment he'd been turned into a vampire—like swallowing something rotten and bitter.
For a creature who had lived centuries, this was an unfamiliar, unwelcome shock.
Instantly, rage sparked inside him. Who was the fool who botched this awakening ritual? And why were his memories so… hazy, fragmented, and bitter?
His eyes snapped open, and he saw Selene standing there.
"Selene… what is happening?" His voice was weak but still carried the cold authority of an Elder. He was clearly confused. This wasn't how an Elder's awakening was supposed to feel or go.
Selene's gaze sharpened, unwavering.
"Viktor… are you the one who killed my family?" she asked, voice cold as ice.
Viktor's entire body froze—but his face betrayed nothing. Centuries of living as a ruthless, ancient monster had given him perfect control over his expressions. How did she know? Then realization hit him like a blade—Kraven must have slipped up and spilled the secret.
That idiot. He couldn't even keep one secret safe. Viktor vowed silently to punish him once this was over.
"Selene, my dear… now is not the time for accusations," Viktor said smoothly, his tone softening, as if speaking to a child. He was confident she would obey him—after all, he had raised her, trained her, molded her loyalty over centuries. She would never betray him, not truly.
As for the murder of her family, Viktor didn't see it as a big deal. To him, it was a necessary sacrifice. He had given her something far greater than family—immortality, a legacy that would outlast all mortal lives. Selene should be grateful. Countless others would kill to have that blessing.
"I said," Selene repeated, her voice cutting through the silence like a dagger, "are you the one who murdered my family?"
Viktor's expression darkened, muscles tightening beneath his dry skin. "Yes," he said bluntly, voice rising with cold pride. "And so what? I am also the one who granted you immortality and raised you as my own!"
Selene's gaze remained ice-cold, unflinching. No hesitation. No doubt.
Viktor, though burning with rage, still didn't get even the slightest idea that Selene would dare to kill him.
Assassinating a Vampire Elder was a sin so grave it would condemn anyone to be relentlessly hunted by the entire coven for eternity. He was certain Selene wasn't foolish enough to risk that. Or so he thought.
Luke silently gave Viktor a mental thumbs-up. The man wasn't showing even a flicker of fear. Was that confidence or sheer arrogance? Either way, it was suicidal.
Was Viktor truly that cocky, or did he believe Selene valued her vampire identity above her own blood? That she'd bury her past and loyalty to her family without a second thought?
Luke knew better. Viktor clearly didn't understand Selene's true drive. She'd spent years hunting Lycans, fueled by hatred—hatred she thought was rightfully directed at the werewolves who'd destroyed her family.
But the real puppeteer behind her pain was Viktor himself. The truth was heavier than any weapon, and now Viktor was about to pay for underestimating her.
Selene didn't pause. She didn't need to think twice. In a move swift and precise, she drew her gun, leveled it at Viktor's head, and fired.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The shots rang through the chamber like thunderclaps.
Each bullet found its mark dead center in Viktor's skull. The newly awakened Elder, still weak and vulnerable like a child taking its first steps, didn't even have the time to process what was happening.
The shock froze on his ancient, wrinkled face as the bullets tore through him. Viktor hadn't expected this betrayal—not from Selene.
He could only blame his own arrogance for failing to understand her resolve and pain.
Selene emptied the entire magazine. Viktor's head shattered into fragments, splattering across the cold stone floor like broken glass. His body crumpled lifelessly, the centuries-old monster finally silenced.
Lowering the gun, Selene turned toward Luke. Without a word, she stepped forward and suddenly hugged him.
Luke was caught off guard, but he could tell she was feeling a little… down. I mean, who wouldn't? Finding out you'd been manipulated for centuries, that the person you once respected—and maybe even trusted—was actually the one who killed your family, that kind of truth hits hard. It's not the kind of thing anyone can just brush off easily.
He hugged her back, though her grip was far stronger than his, squeezing him just a bit too tightly for comfort.
Although he could feel the softness of her body pressed against his, there was a subtle sharpness beneath it—a faint ache from her vampire-strength grip reminding him just how powerful she really was.