Chapter 116: [Undying · Wolf–Vampire Hybrid Variant]
Lightning split the sky once more as Amelia strode into the hall, radiating overwhelming authority.
Her subordinates followed close behind.
At that moment, she looked like a returning monarch, her cold gaze sweeping across every vampire present.
Almost instantly, the entire hall sank to its knees—
a silent, instinctive act of reverence, as though welcoming the return of a true queen.
Only Kraven stood frozen.
When he saw Amelia alive and standing before him, his face drained of all color—
as if he had seen a ghost.
Granted, Amelia was technically undead.
But that wasn't the point.
By all logic, by all arrangements between Kraven and Lucian, Amelia should have been dead.
So why was she still standing here?
That question thundered through Kraven's mind.
Noticing the shock written plainly across his face, Amelia stopped in front of him, her expression icy.
"Are you surprised… that I'm still alive?"
"I—"
Kraven hadn't even begun to form an answer when Amelia spoke again, her voice ringing through the chamber.
"Seize him.
Kraven conspired with the Lycans to murder an Elder. Such a crime is unforgivable.
Your fate will be decided by the Council.
Kraven—
await judgment."
William had never told Amelia that Lucian was Kraven's true collaborator.
As far as she could tell, Kraven had merely colluded with the Lycans.
What his ultimate goal had been—
power, eternal regency, the permanent slumber of the other Elders—
that much no longer mattered.
Any of it was enough to damn him.
Were it not for vampire law and tradition, Amelia would have crushed Kraven's skull herself.
But procedure demanded judgment by the Council.
And so judgment it would be.
---
Elsewhere — Beneath the City
Deep within the sewer system, William activated [Disease Transfer], drawing the [Undying · Wolf Variant] virus into his own body.
The effect was immediate.
His physical attributes rose slightly—but far more significant was the transformation of his senses.
His sense of smell exploded, enhanced thousands of times over.
Within the nauseating chaos of rot, sewage, and decay, a single presence stood out with terrifying clarity—
the scent of Lycans.
William smiled faintly.
"Found you."
It seemed that during Disease Transfer, no actual infection occurred.
The viruses transferred directly into William's body did not fuse with the X-gene.
However, if the infection happened naturally—
for example, being bitten by Selene, or ingesting his blood—
then fusion would occur.
Viruses and bacteria really were fascinating things.
With scent as his guide, William quickly pinpointed the Lycans' base in Budapest.
An underground air-raid shelter.
---
The Lycans' Hideout
Inside a room resembling a makeshift laboratory, Raze held a canvas bag containing three syringes.
Each was filled with freshly extracted blood—
Amelia's blood.
He entered the lab.
Lucian and the Lycans' chief scientist, Singe, were discussing Michael.
"Your werewolf," Singe said, tilting his head,
"doesn't appear to have transformed."
Michael was strapped upright to a medical bed, leather restraints binding his limbs, a gag strapped across his mouth. He could only let out muffled sounds.
"That's impossible!" Lucian snapped.
"I bit him myself—his wound is still there!"
He yanked open Michael's collar, exposing the bite mark between his shoulder and neck.
"Hm. Interesting," Singe murmured, eyes gleaming as he examined the wound.
"Lucian," Raze interrupted,
"Amelia's blood has been secured."
"Good."
Lucian accepted the bag, a smile forming.
"So what now?" Singe asked.
"Bite him again?"
"That won't be necessary."
A calm, unfamiliar voice cut through the room.
William appeared in front of Michael like a ghost.
At the same time, he activated Disease Transfer, drawing [Undying · Bat Variant] into his own body.
In this vampire state, his agility surged dramatically.
Combined with his already enhanced physique, none of the three Lycans present could keep up with him.
At this point, only vampires of Elder-tier could rival his speed.
"Whatever you intend to do—stop!" Lucian barked, reacting instantly as his wrist blades snapped out.
Singe dove backward, scrambling for cover.
Raze bared his teeth, muscles tensing—ready to transform at the slightest provocation.
William ignored them.
He calmly began unfastening Michael's restraints.
"I said—stop!"
Clang.
The blade pressed against William's neck.
William paused, slowly turning his head to look at Lucian.
Then—
Before Lucian could speak—
William grabbed the wrist blade with one hand, seized Lucian's arm with the other, ignoring the cut.
Disease Transfer activated.
In an instant, Lucian's [Undying · Wolf Variant] virus was stripped away—
and replaced with late-stage cancer.
A virus William had personally harvested from a terminal care ward earlier that day.
In this world, he had no reason to fear exposure.
Lucian had known only surface-level pain his entire life.
He had never experienced internal suffering.
"AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!"
The agony crushed him to his knees, his body convulsing uncontrollably.
"What did you do to him!?" Raze roared.
"Shhh," William said mildly.
"You're being very loud."
As he spoke, the wound on his neck healed completely.
If his Metal Manipulation were stronger, he wouldn't have been injured at all.
Wiping the blood from his hand, William stepped forward and planted his foot on Lucian's head.
Raze froze mid-movement.
"You wouldn't want me to crush his skull, would you?"
Raze stayed silent, eyes locked on William.
"Good. Then stay still," William continued calmly.
"And you in the back—don't even think about calling for help.
As long as you behave, Lucian survives."
Raze and Singe immediately stopped moving.
Their leader's life was literally under William's foot.
"You… what did you do to me?" Lucian whispered in terror.
He tried to transform.
Nothing happened.
It was as if his power had been stripped away.
Born a Lycan, Lucian had never lived as a human.
He had never known sickness, aging, or decay.
Compared to Selene losing her power, Lucian's fear was far more primal.
He had never felt so weak.
"Relax, Lucian," William said with a smile.
"Give me a moment. I'll deal with Michael first."
He turned back and grasped Michael's arm.
At the same time, William injected both
[Undying · Wolf Variant]
and
[Undying · Bat Variant]
into Michael's body.
The two viruses fused instantly.
[Undying · Wolf–Vampire Hybrid Variant].
The hybrid strain spread rapidly.
Michael screamed as his body began undergoing violent, unnatural changes.
On the floor, Lucian trembled.
He had never felt this kind of pain—
but hatred for Viktor alone kept him conscious.