Draven didn't wait for a response.
He turned—
And started walking.
Chains dragging behind him.
**Clink… clink…**
"…Let's go."
The boy froze for half a second.
Then his eyes sharpened.
He understood.
And quickly moved.
The fox girl watched them both—
Paused briefly—
Then followed.
Silent.
—
Ahead—
One of the formed teams stood together.
Five of them.
Close.
Confident.
Certain they were already safe.
They noticed the approach—
Too late.
—
Draven didn't slow.
Didn't hesitate.
"…Five of them."
His voice was calm.
Measured.
"Three of us."
A faint pause.
"…Good enough."
The boy's heartbeat spiked—
But he didn't stop moving.
The fox girl's ears lowered slightly—
Her stance shifting.
Ready.
—
Draven spoke again—
Like he was assigning something trivial.
"…Pull your weight."
Another step.
Closer now.
Their presence fully noticed.
"…Take one each."
The words landed cold.
Clear.
Absolute.
No room for doubt.
—
The team ahead tensed instantly.
One of them stepped forward.
"What the hell do you think you're—"
He didn't finish.
Because Draven moved.
—
**Clink—BOOM**
The chains snapped tight as Draven surged forward.
The ground cracked beneath his step.
He closed the distance in an instant—
His target didn't even have time to react properly.
A hand shot out—
Grabbing his face—
And slamming him into the ground.
**CRASH**
The impact shook the stone.
The man's body flattened against it—
Air ripped from his lungs instantly.
No mana.
No reinforcement.
Just flesh—
Meeting force it couldn't withstand.
He didn't scream.
He couldn't.
—
And without mana—
The difference became undeniable.
Beastkin still had their bodies.
Their strength.
Their instincts.
But humans—
Were just human.
No enhancement.
No protection.
No second chances.
—
The remaining four reacted instantly—
But still too slow.
Not because they were weak—
But because they were no longer enhanced.
"Shit—!"
One rushed forward—
Swinging wildly.
Draven didn't even look at him.
His body shifted slightly—
The strike missed.
His chain snapped upward—
Wrapping around the man's arm—
Then pulling—
Hard.
**CRACK**
The arm twisted unnaturally as the man was yanked off balance—
Dragged forward—
Straight into Draven's knee.
**THUD**
The impact folded him.
He dropped instantly.
—
"MOVE!"
Another shouted—
But panic had already taken hold.
Because now they felt it—
They were normal.
And the ones in front of them—
Were not.
—
The boy moved.
Fast.
Low.
On all fours—
Closing the gap between him and his target.
The man barely had time to turn—
Before claws tore across his side.
A sharp cry escaped him—
As he stumbled back—
Trying to retaliate—
But too slow.
The boy pressed in—
Relentless.
Driven.
—
On the other side—
The fox girl moved with precision.
No wasted motion.
Her body slipped past a wild swing—
Her tail shifting to maintain balance—
Then—
A clean strike to the throat.
Not flashy.
Not loud.
Just enough.
The man choked—
Collapsed—
Out.
—
Back at the center—
Draven stood.
One still struggling in his grip.
The first one.
The one he slammed down.
Barely conscious.
Trying to move.
Trying to breathe.
Draven looked down at him.
Blank.
Then—
Without hesitation—
He raised his foot—
And brought it down.
**CRUNCH**
Silence followed.
—
The last man stumbled back a step.
His eyes darted—
Left.
Right.
At the bodies.
At the three of them.
Breathing uneven.
"…Y-you—"
His voice trembled—
But the words wouldn't come.
They died in his throat.
Because Draven was already walking toward him.
**Clink… clink…**
Slow.
Unrushed.
Inevitable.
—
The man's legs nearly gave out.
"…Stay back—!"
He raised his hands—
Pointless.
Empty.
No mana.
No strength left.
—
Draven stopped just in front of him.
Close enough—
That the man could see it clearly now.
Those eyes.
Empty.
Cold.
Finished.
—
Draven didn't lift a hand.
Didn't attack.
He just spoke.
"…With this one…"
A slight glance to the side—
At the barely conscious man on the ground.
"…and him…"
Then back to the one in front of him.
"…we're complete."
Flat.
Final.
—
The man froze.
His mind struggled to catch up.
"…W-what—?"
Draven tilted his head slightly.
"…Five."
A faint pause.
"Three."
His gaze didn't waver.
"…Two."
—
The meaning hit.
Slow—
Then all at once.
The man's face drained of color.
"…No—wait—!"
He stumbled forward—
Desperate now.
"I'll join—! I'll do anything—!"
—
The boy's eyes flicked toward him.
Briefly.
Then away.
No hesitation.
—
The fox girl didn't move either.
Her expression unreadable.
—
Draven stared at him for a second longer.
Then—
"…Too late."
A faint pause.
"…And you don't have a choice."
Simple.
Cold.
—
His hand moved.
Fast.
Grabbing the man by the throat—
Lifting him slightly off the ground.
The man clawed at his arm—
Desperate—
Useless.
—
Draven's grip tightened—
Just enough.
Not to kill.
Not yet.
—
Then—
He let go.
—
The man dropped—
Coughing—
Gasping—
Alive.
Barely.
—
Draven turned away.
Chains dragging again.
**Clink…**
"…You two."
He spoke without looking back.
"To your feet."
—
The unconscious one groaned faintly.
The other—
Scrambled.
—
Because now—
They understood.
They weren't teammates.
They were—
Survivors.
By permission.
—
And that—
Was far worse.
The orb drifted closer.
Silent.
Watching.
Hovering just above Draven's line of sight.
He stopped.
Chains settling with a soft **clink**.
And for the first time—
He looked directly at it.
—
Far above—
In the grand underground arena—
The image shifted.
Zoomed.
Focused.
And the moment his face filled the projection—
The entire place went quiet.
No chatter.
No laughter.
No movement.
Just—
Recognition.
Eyes widened.
Some leaned forward.
Others froze mid-motion.
Because they knew that face.
That name.
That presence.
—
Back below—
The voice returned.
Louder this time.
Clearer.
Almost… delighted.
"…Well now."
A soft chuckle echoed through the chamber.
"To think we'd have such an honored guest among our participants."
A pause.
Lingering.
"An unexpected one at that."
The orb hovered closer.
As if inspecting him.
As if savoring the moment.
"The one who has been blacklisted by the Holy Empire…"
The tone shifted—
Amusement layered with intrigue.
"The one whose name has spread across every land…"
Another pause.
"And the one every bounty hunter and adventurer is currently chasing…"
The room grew heavier.
Eyes turned—
All of them.
Every participant now looking at him.
Some with fear.
Some with greed.
Some—
With something far more dangerous.
"…The son of the King of Vampires."
Silence followed.
Thick.
Suffocating.