True Incubus: The Demon with No Limits

”Then you must be... Lucian.”

He spoke, looking right at Lucian and Lucian narrowed his eyes.

He did not sense the man’s presence at all.

He didn’t hear the footsteps, there was no movement in the air, no scent, and most importantly, Lucian did not hear a heartbeat, which was his usual tell in such cases.

That made him narrow his eyes.

He focused on his hearing even more, thinking the man was using some sort of Artifact to suppress the sound of his heartbeat, but the next second, he realised the truth.

He did not hear the heartbeat because there was none.

Lucian stared at the man again.

He had pitch-black hair and a handsome but unnaturally pale face. He was wearing elegant clothes made from dark fabric with faint silver designs around the collar and sleeves.

And his eyes—

He had blood-crimson eyes.

Lucian understood immediately.

’A Vampire.’

That made him facepalm.

A Vampire was the last thing he wanted to see right now.

Why?

Well...

With a hopeless look on his face, Lucian turned towards Naomi and just as he expected, the girl was staring at the Vampire with stars in her eyes.

She stared at his pale skin, red eyes, clothing, posture, and the geek inside her awakened within a second.

”A real Vampire...”

She whispered.

Lucian stared at her with a flat look on his face.

”You have met Demons, Werewolves, Witches, and you are inside an Ancient Spirit’s Trial. Is a Vampire really that different?”

”Of course.”

Naomi replied, the stars in her eyes shining brightly.

”How?”

”Vampires are interesting.”

”I am interesting.”

”You’re Lucian.”

Lucian had no idea how he was supposed to react to that.

The Vampire smiled at that interaction, clearly amused.

”Silvian Veyr, from House Veyr.”

He introduced himself with a small, elegant nod, specifically looking at Naomi.

And Naomi...

She very quickly closed her eyes and hid behind Lucian.

”What?”

”That pervert was trying to charm me.”

Silvian actually blinked at those words.

”...what?”

”His red eyes shone.”

Naomi explained, still remaining behind Lucian.

”I’ve seen it. They hypnotise innocent women, then do perverted things to them. I just did not think the first one I’d see would turn out like this.”

Silvian could not believe it.

Lucian only laughed.

He had obviously seen Silvian nod at Naomi. He was probably trying to be polite, or trying to actively seduce her, mistaking her interest for... another kind of interest.

It was a mistake, of course.

Most did not know about it, but Naomi was a complete geek. To someone like her, being able to see an actual Vampire was like a dream come true.

But this did not mean she was interested in that Vampire. She was still Lucian’s and Lucian knew that well.

So he stared at the man in front of him.

Silvian Veyr.

It was one of the bigger names Sabine had told him about, just like Rhydan. It wouldn’t be surprising if he was actually stronger than Rhydan, considering he was about one hundred and thirty years old, while Rhydan was only in his forties.

House Veyr, too, was one of the strongest active Vampire Houses in the world and even though these days, they were said to be in decline, the amount of influence they held was still quite vast.

”How do you—”

Lucian was about to ask how the Vampire knew his name, however, before he could complete his question—

”Lord Veyr!”

A shout echoed from a side corridor.

One of Silvian’s subordinates appeared near the entrance, his expression filled with excitement.

”It’s here!”

The subordinate’s excitement instantly died when he saw Lucian and his group. Clearly, he did not wish to share whatever he had found.

But it was too late.

The mess had already been made.

His words shifted everyone’s attention to the side corridor. Clearly, there was a Waymark there.

That made Lucian’s eyes glimmer brightly.

It had been two hours since Sabine received her final Waymark. Since then, Lucian and his group could not find any Waymarks, not even a single one.

It was almost as if Aevrienne herself was keeping him away from the Waymarks.

But now...

After two hours of aimless walking, they had finally found one.

The final Waymark they needed.

That made Lucian’s eyes glow.

The only problem was...

It wasn’t just his eyes that were glowing.

Silvian was no different. His crimson eyes glowed brightly as he stared at the side corridor as well.

Then, as if both of them understood what was happening—

Both men looked at each other and the air in the corridor changed.

Isolde’s cards started floating in the air, Sabine grabbed her dagger, Naomi stepped back.

Silvian’s subordinates moved as well. There were two of them. They both rushed out of the side corridor and stepped in front of their Lord.

There was no point in discussing anything. Both sides knew what the other wanted.

The conclusion was obvious.

A battle.

The winner would take the Waymark and the loser would be eliminated.

Lucian also prepared himself. Even after hours had passed, Evelyn was still singing, so he still had a nearly endless supply of Energy.

Yes, he was at his strongest.

He felt the energy flow around him as he lowered his body a little, taking his battle stance. Silvian watched the horrifying amount of Violet Energy gathering in the corridor. His subordinates’ bodies tensed as well, but just then—

”I have no desire to fight you.”

Silvian spoke as he raised his hand.

”...what?”

Lucian blinked.

”You have the same expression Rhydan wears whenever he sees someone durable enough to survive him.”

”You met him?”

Lucian tilted his head at the familiar name.

”Not long ago.”

Silvian nodded.

The formal smile on his face changed and became a little warmer.

”Rhydan and I have known each other for several years. We have fought often enough that I can tell what sort of mood he is in by how he greets me.”

Lucian raised his eyebrows at that.

They seemed... close.

”He spoke about you.”

”He did?”

Lucian smiled.

”With considerable enthusiasm.”

Silvian nodded.

”Enthusiasm?”

Sabine blinked at those words. Silvian nodded at her.

”He described your techniques, your regeneration, your rate of growth, and several attacks that apparently offended his understanding of reasonable combat.”

The Vampire’s eyes returned to Lucian, then, as if he remembered something uncomfortable, his face became distasteful and—

”He was grinning the entire time.

Just like you are grinning right now.”

Lucian’s grin widened even further.

Silvian saw that and it made him sigh. He couldn’t help but be surprised by how similar the two were.

Two Rhydans...

Silvian actually pitied the world.

Two Rhydans were the last thing anyone should have to deal with, even the world itself.

”Rhydan does not speak that way about many people.”

He continued speaking.

”He certainly does not praise Demons.”

”I am a Human.”

Lucian explained himself.

Silvian only laughed at those words.

”I am a Vampire of House Veyr, boy.”

He spoke, his crimson eyes glowing brightly.

”I have a far clearer understanding of blood than most people you will encounter in your life.”

Lucian narrowed his eyes at those words. Silvian just stared at him meaningfully, almost as if he was saying he knew about his blood, that he wasn’t an ordinary Blood-Altered Human, but he would remain silent.

That made Lucian back down a little.

”What do you want?”

Lucian questioned directly.

”As I said, I do not wish to fight you.”

Silvian simply raised his hands, having no intention of fighting.

”From what Rhydan told me, you fought him to a standstill.”

”The maze interrupted us.”

Lucian shrugged.

”Right.”

Silvian nodded.

”Rhydan was extremely displeased by that.”

”So was I.”

”That is precisely why I would rather avoid this fight.”

Lucian raised an eyebrow.

Silvian continued—

”Rhydan praised you. He praised your ability, how persistent you were, how creative your techniques were, and how even he had a difficult time reaching you.

He rarely makes the face he made today when he talked about you and everything you did.

That excitement alone tells me that if we fought, the battle wouldn’t end anytime soon. Even if I won, I would waste time, energy, and perhaps all my subordinates.”

Lucian did not deny those words.

He had no plan on losing in the first place, but even if he did end up in a difficult position, he was sure he was going to take both subordinates with him.

And Silvian knew that because that was exactly what Rhydan would do.

”Other candidates would continue moving while we fought.”

The Vampire continued.

”By the time one of us won, someone else might find the final path and I cannot allow that.”

”So what do you suggest?”

Lucian asked curiously.

”A trade.”

Silvian answered.

”A trade...?”

”You give me the Waymark and in return, I give you one favour.

Formally recognised and backed by House Veyr.”

The instant those words were spoken—

Sabine’s, Isolde’s, and even Lucian’s expressions changed instantly.