As the vampiric being closed in, Niles’s mind raced.

  Why doesn’t the barrier recognize Pridecula like before? What changed?

  If he could figure that out, he might have a chance.

  The creature’s voice was low, commanding. “Tell me how you know my name.”

  Niles took a slow breath, then bowed.

  “Of course,” he began, his tone calm. “But first—welcome to Niceland. You are invited in.”

  A formal invitation. A test.

  Pridecula paused.

  Nothing happened. No reaction from the barrier.

  Still nothing in the guest protocol.

  Damn. That wasn’t it.

  “Speak.” The demand was sharper this time.

  Niles exhaled and mustered his courage. “It’s the barrier. My skill.”

  Pridecula’s eyes flickered.

  Niles pressed on. “Whenever something touches it, I see a name—and get the option to let them in. Though…it doesn’t seem to work on casual monsters. Goblins, for example.”

  The being lifted a hand, reaching past the barrier and pulling back effortlessly.

  Like the barrier was no more than a whisper of mist.

  “What else?”

  Niles hesitated—then continued. “Every time I level up, I get an option to upgrade the barrier.”

  Pridecula frowned.

  “Impossible.” His voice was thick with disbelief. “Skills are fixed. You are born with them. You die with them.”

  Niles nodded. “That’s what everyone says.”

  Then, without hesitation, he picked up a discarded blade.

  With his good hand, he slashed across one of his broken fingers.

  Blood seeped out.

  Pridecula’s gaze widened as the crimson dripped down Niles’s skin.

  Then—

  A green light flickered to life.

  The wound begun to mend.

  Niles flexed his hand, watching the healing take effect. “One upgrade lets me recover 1% of my health every day inside the barrier.”

  The being remained silent, listening.

  Niles continued. “Another upgrade was translation—allowing me to understand most languages. I guess that’s why you and I can understand eachother.”

  Niles took a step beyond the barrier.

  Pridecula followed.

  Then—the languages shift.

  Niles kept speaking, but Pridecula’s expression changed.

  His eyes widened not in curiosity—but in realization.

  He spoke, but this time—the words were foreign.

  Ancient.

  Niles didn’t understand a single word.

  His mind snapped into focus.

  He’s outside the barrier.

  Now, he just had to act.

  Niles opened the newly updated guest protocol from the option host, but before he could process anything, the being snatched him up with inhuman speed. In the next instant, Niles was hurled back into the barrier, landing hard. The being phased through effortlessly, eyes narrowing.

  "What did you just try to do?" it demanded.

  Niles forced himself upright, swallowing down the pain. "I just wanted to check our upgrades," he said, trying to sound casual. Then he tilted his head. "Is there any particular upgrade that would benefit you?"

  The being crossed its arms, considering. There was a hesitation—brief but telling.

  Niles pressed on. "I understand that everything in this world belongs to you… but what could enhance it even more?" A double-edged question. If the being answered honestly, maybe it would unintentionally reveal a weakness.

  Finally, the being spoke. "What I need… is not something you can give me. Only I can take it for myself." It lifted a finger, its tone turning almost condescending. "Humans work together to achieve goals. But do you know why your kind has never conquered this island?"

  Niles barely had time to shake his head before—

  BANG.

  A force, like a gunshot, slammed into his ribs, crushing the air from his lungs. He crumpled, gasping, vision darkening at the edges.

  "Power." The being’s voice was unshaken, absolute. "For thousands of years, mortals have tried to settle here. And for thousands of years, we have fed on them." It stepped closer. "Do you think my strength comes from hunting mere monsters?" A slow grin spread across its face. "Their blood is foul. But yours…" The being exhaled, almost savoring the scent. "...is different."

  Before Niles could react, the monster seized him. A flash of fangs—then white-hot agony as they sank into his arm.

  The being drank deeply.

  Niles screamed. His body shook violently, his vision flickering. He could feel his own life slipping away, drained, consumed. Paler. Weaker.

  His party shouted his name, Felix already lunging forward, sword raised—

  The being snapped its gaze toward them.

  Everything froze.

  It held Niles like a half-finished meal, eyes locking onto the group with an almost lazy amusement. "I have yet to decide…" It tapped a sharp nail against Niles’s skin, as if debating. "Should I keep you alive for years, feeding at my leisure? Like cattle?" A pause. Then, a cruel grin. "Or should I simply… indulge?"

  Niles felt himself slipping—consciousness unraveling, the world blurring at the edges. Think. There had to be something. Some skill, some upgrade. Something.

  "Please," he gasped, barely forming words. "Let me… be useful to you."

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  The being’s eyes flickered with amusement. "Surprise me."

  It dropped Niles like discarded scraps, its tongue lazily licking the blood from its lips. Then, as if at a banquet, it scanned the room, deciding which dish to devour next.

  Pridecula sniffed the air. “Something sweet.” His gaze drifted, searching—then settled on Lina.

  He approached her with an air of formality, bowing slightly. “My dear lady,” he began smoothly. “May I ask your name?”

  Lina swallowed hard, trembling. “Lina.” Her voice barely made it past her lips.

  The vampire observed her shaking, then shook his head lightly, as if to reassure her. “I am Pridecula.” He reached out for her hand to deliver a kiss.

  “DON’T TOUCH MY SISTER!”

  Finn’s voice pierced the air, spear in hand, rushing in a desperate fury.

  Pridecula sighed, almost bored. “Careful, little appetizer.” He lifted a hand—

  Niles noticed something off. The torchlight flickered, casting shifting shadows, and for the briefest moment, Pridecula’s arms inside his clothes looked… different. Hairier. Less like the smooth, elegant vampire he had appeared to be outside the barrier—more like an animal.

  Niles’s mind raced. “It can’t be that simple…” But then he thought of Squeaky and of Tesla’s summoned Goblin. Neither had been detected by the barrier.

  “What if… there are exceptions?”

  Perhaps Prideculas transformation had not passed the limit which the system would need to recognize him as a being or monster.

  His fingers twitched. He pulled up the barrier’s code of laws. The first rule flashed before him:

  [Law 1: No lethal violence within the barrier. Except for Niles.]

  His pulse quickened. Delete. Rewrite. Something that could help. His first result at a new written law resulted in a red ERROR. No luck, he tried again, rephrasing something new, testing the limits of the barriers upgrade, Code of Laws.

  Meanwhile, Finn’s charge ended in disaster.

  Pridecula caught the spear mid-lunge, wrenching it effortlessly from the boy’s grip. Finn stumbled, gasping, but before he could react—

  The spear came back.

  Pridecula thrust it forward—fast, merciless.

  “FINN!”

  Felix lunged between them, shield raised covering the boy—

  But there was no impact.

  Finn blinked, confused. He looked to his side.

  Blood dribbled from Felix’s lips.

  The spear had pierced straight into his abdomen.

  Felix’s breath hitched. “Are you alright?” he whispered, voice tight with panic.

  Finn’s wide, unblinking eyes told him everything.

  Felix turned, ready to face the threat, but—

  CLONK.

  His shield exploded from his grip, sent flying.

  Pridecula grabbed his wrist, twisted it the wrong way.

  Felix screamed. His sword fell from his hand.

  The vampire grinned. “I’ll begin with you, then.”

  A single, brutal kick to Felix’s legs, and he collapsed to the ground.

  Then Pridecula pounced. He twisted the spear out. Felix screamed again in pain.

  Fangs sank deep into Felix’s abdomen, his open wound flooding the vampire’s mouth with blood.

  Felix thrashed, but the thing’s grip was ironclad.

  Pridecula drank greedily, like a horse at a creek.

  Felix’s struggles weakened.

  “PLEASE STOP!” Lina’s voice broke as she cried out. “I’ll do whatever you want—just stop! Please, leave him alone!”

  But the vampire did not stop.

  Felix lay cold and still, his body nearly drained. Lina wiped her tears, her hands trembling. She wanted to do something—anything—but no words came.

  Then her gaze flicked toward Niles.

  Near him, his Code of Laws was open, but red error messages flashed across the screen.

  He’s trying to change something.

  Like a bolt of lightning through her chest, she understood—Niles was working on a solution. She just needed to stall.

  She took a shaky breath, forced her voice steady.

  “Sir Pridecula… please.” She softened her tone. “I’ll do anything you ask. No one here is a match for your strength.”

  The last words weren’t just meant as flattery.

  Her skill activated.

  A warm sensation spread through Pridecula’s body, foreign and strange. He stilled.

  His red-stained lips parted slightly. “What… is this?” His voice wavered, puzzled.

  Lina seized the moment. “You’re the strongest being in the world… please, tell me how I can serve you.”

  Another wave of warmth surged through him.

  Pridecula’s eyes narrowed. “Woman.” His tone sharpened. “What is your skill?”

  Lina met his gaze. “It’s called Gift of Joy. Anything I give—whether an object or a kind word—instills a small sense of happiness.”

  Pridecula’s expression flickered. He stepped closer.

  His cold fingers brushed her skin. “So warm.”

  Lina didn’t pull away. Instead, she placed her hand over his. “Sir Pridecula, your hands… they’re freezing.”

  His crimson eyes darkened. Then, with one sharp nail, he dragged a shallow scratch across her cheek.

  A thin line of blood welled up.

  She didn’t flinch.

  Pridecula leaned in, his tongue flicking over the wound. Tasting her.

  “So sweet,” he murmured. Then he turned, casting a brief glance toward Felix’s limp form. “Unlike that one. His blood… lacking something.”

  His gaze snapped back to Lina.

  “I rule over everything. Everyone.”

  His tone was expectant. Waiting.

  Lina held his stare. Then, slowly, she nodded. “Yes. I can see that you are all-powerful.”

  Another warm pulse of joy flowed through him.

  But it wasn’t enough.

  Pridecula sighed, almost playfully. “I’ll share the others.” His fingers twined through her hair, idly toying with the strands. “But you? I’ll savor you myself.”

  Lina’s heart pounded. She forced herself to stay calm.

  She lifted her chin, blue eyes locked onto the monster’s gaze.

  “I’ll go anywhere you say.” Her voice did not waver. “Just leave my friends alone.”

  Pridecula chuckled.

  “Mortals are always so thoughtful.”

  Then, in a blur, he was gone.

  Before Lina could even react, he appeared behind her, moving with such unnatural speed that her eyes could barely follow.

  “As I devour you,” he whispered into her ear, his cold breath brushing her skin, “you’ll keep complimenting me… won’t you?”

  Lina stiffened.

  A sharp sting.

  His claw dragged across her leg, deeper this time. She sucked in a breath, biting back a cry.

  Pridecula watched as a thin trickle of blood rolled down his fingertip. Slowly—deliberately—he licked it clean.

  Savoring.

  “So sweet.”

  Lina’s hands trembled. But she forced herself to speak. “No one is a match for your speed.”

  Another pulse of warmth spread through Pridecula’s body. His lips curled.

  “Ahh,” he sighed in pleasure. “That’s the way.”

  He licked his fingers clean, as if indulging in the finest delicacy.

  Lina swallowed. “Everyone else is inferior to you…”

  Pridecula pressed closer.

  His nose brushed against her throat. Then, slowly, he dragged his tongue over the wound on her cheek, lapping up the blood directly.

  “More.” His voice was low. Commanding.

  Lina parted her lips to speak again—

  But then—

  A voice. Weak. Strained.

  “Stay away from her… demon.”

  The words were barely above a whisper, but they cut through the silence.

  Pridecula’s eyes snapped downward.

  Felix.

  The soldier was still alive but barely.

  He was trying to stand, his broken wrist pressed against his bleeding wound, the other, gripping his sword.

  The sight amused Pridecula. He tightened his grip on Lina, pulling her against him like a prize.

  “Dear me,” he said in mock surprise. “You fancy this girl?”

  Felix swayed, his stance unsteady—as if a single breeze could knock him down.

  But he didn’t falter. His gaze remained locked onto the monster before him.

  Lina’s tears slid down her cheeks, mixing with the blood on her skin. She shook her head, her voice breaking.

  “No… please. You don’t have to do this.”

  Felix’s breathing was shallow, his strength fading fast. He mustered what little he had left.

  “The last thing I’ll see…” he whispered, his voice a breath of air, “…will be the brightest star.”

  His eyes met Lina’s.

  “…The darkest sky could never compare.”

  A slow, soft smile flickered across his lips.

  Lina’s eyes widened.

  Pridecula’s smirk twisted into something disgusted. “Words from a dying mortal?” He scoffed, shaking his head.

  Then his smile vanished.

  “Pathetic.”

  Lina’s breath hitched.

  Something inside her snapped.

  Without thinking—without fear—

  She raised her hand.

  SLAP.

  The sound cracked through the air like thunder.

  Lina’s palm connected with Pridecula’s cheek.

  The force of it echoed, but—

  No mark. No damage.

  The monster didn’t even flinch.

  Pridecula’s gaze narrowed. His eyes darkened.

  “I allowed you that one.”

  His voice was smooth, almost amused. But his eyes glowed with something darker.

  “Now—praise my power.”

  Lina’s fists clenched. “You’re just a MONSTER!”

  She raised her hand again, preparing to strike.

  Pridecula took a step back. Then, slowly, his lips curled. “I’ve changed my mind.”

  His voice slithered through the air, full of malice.

  “I’ll feast on your friends first—one by one—while you watch.”

  He paused, savoring the moment.

  “And when I’m done, I’ll take my sweet, sweet time with you.”

  The others, barely able to move, screamed.

  “RUN, LINA! TRY TO ESCAPE!”

  But Lina didn’t run.

  Her heart pounded, her body trembled—but her resolve hardened.

  She lifted her arm higher.

  Then, with a sharp arc, she brought her hand down.

  Pridecula barely paid attention.

  To him, the slap was nothing.

  His mind had already wandered—who should he start with first? The little boy, perhaps?

  Then—

  SMACK-OF-DOOM.

  The moment Lina’s palm connected with his face,

  The world shattered.

  Pridecula slammed into the ground.

  The earth beneath him split open.

  A deafening shockwave rippled through the air.

  Pressure—unseen, inescapable—crushed his body, pinning him where he fell.

  Pridecula choked. His lungs heaved. Every bone in his body shattered instantly—but his monstrous regeneration fought to repair him.

  It wasn’t fast enough.

  Felix froze.

  Winston’s mouth fell open.

  Finn blinked in stunned silence.

  Vulcan’s hands shook.

  Tesla, still paralyzed, shouted from the ground.

  “WHAT?! WHAT’S HAPPENING?!”

  But no one was more shocked than Lina herself.

  She stood there, hand trembling, staring at what she’d just done.

  Then, from somewhere distant—

  A green light from a status screen flickered.

  [Code of Laws, Rule 1. Updated. Changes Accepted.]

  Lina barely had time to register the words before—

  “I THINK I’VE GOT IT!”

  Niles’s voice rang out, his tone a mix of excitement and triumph.

  The status screen flickered out.

  But the force did not.

  Pridecula remained pinned, helpless, crushed under an unseen weight—

  For the first time in his existence, overpowered.