Zombie Collar

Aurora and Amia had been devouring the dark energy and growing stronger for close to a week now, while ensuring their mistress didn't notice the zombies' disappearance. However, there were times where she almost caught on. Their auras weren't something they could easily hide, especially at their level, and increasing their aura didn't help.

Now that their strengths were rising, killing and devouring zombies became easier, but the more they devoured, the greater the dark energy they gained from each zombie would decrease.

However, with the large abundance of zombies and since they haven't evolved, there wasn't a need to worry, nor was there a need to decrease their speed. Once they evolved, there was a chance that the zombies wouldn't be enough, but that's only after they evolve. There was no need to worry about something that would happen in the future.

As they walked through the mines, carrying a sack of dark ore, they observed the changes in their status screen.

[Name: Aurora (Heavily Weakened)]

[Race: Demi Goddess, Succubus Empress (Locked), Snow Demi-Goddess (Locked), Fire Demi-Goddess (Locked), Lesser Zombie]

[Sex: Female]

[Titles: First Universe Tier, Daughter of Chaos and Order, Empress of Lust, Submissive, Sex Demon Slayer, Creator of Neko Succubus, Incubus Genocider, Incester, Brutal Slayer, Monster Genocider, Diligent Worker, Lazy Ass, Empress of Sloth, Empress of Diligence, Gorgan Servant Slayer, Ant Genocider, Guild Master Of The Moonlight Guild, Last Snow Woman, Ascended Monster (995,574,946/1 Billion Humans Killed), Merciful, Hybrid Nymph Slayer, Ice Princess, Naga Slayer, Ogre Killer, Empress of Wrath, Undead Slave]

[Level: 6 (Divinity Rank 1 (Locked)]

[HP: 110/110 (Locked) (True Value 1 Billion)]

[DP: 50/50 (MP Locked) (True Value 10 Billion)]

[SE: 0/3,392,050 (Locked)]

[STR: 12 (Locked)]

[VIT: 14 (Locked)]

[INT: 64 (Locked)]

[AGI: 7 (Locked)]

[DEX: 5 (Locked)]

[DEF: 11 (Locked)]

[CHA: 3,402,088]

[Unassigned Stat Points: 6 -> 0]

[Balance: 100.52 Million USD]

'4 more levels... It shouldn't be difficult to reach if we continue devouring, but evolving will be the problem since she'll sense the strength of our dark energy rising. For that, she will need to be distracted or, even better, far away from the dark mines. But, how are we going to do that?'

She knew Lethia left every five or six days, but she wasn't sure if her evolution would start as soon as she reached a certain level or that she could decide the time and day to evolve like the other times before.

It was an entirely different world that was different from her world, and she knew the other worlds adjusted her system to fit their own. She couldn't leave her world, as it could lead to danger and the failure of her plan!

'For now, I'll leave that decision for the future. Until then, I'll continue devouring and raising my level while mining as a cover.'

Before long, they reached the surface, only to find a surprise waiting for them! Unlike before, where Lethia was alone, observing the zombies, there was a black-haired man.

'With another vampire appearing out of thin air, the possibility of successfully evolving without them noticing decreases drastically. Until one or both of them leave, we'll need to stop devouring zombies.'

As she unloaded her dark ore, she observed and eavesdropped on them through a skill she created: Shared Senses.

****

"Malik… Are you here under my father's orders? Or did you, someone who would spend their life playing with our food to satiate your sadistic desires, come here out of sheer curiosity? This is a surprise, isn't it? The playboy, Leon, seems to be interested in something other than female humans." Lethia scoffed at Malik with a cold and indifferent voice.

"You!" Malik was so furious that it looked as if he was about to cough out blood. But he wasn't here to start a fight, and if he did! He would be in a position more humiliating than Lethia calling him for what he was: a playboy.

After all, he wasn't here of his own accord but was sent under the king's orders. If he were to attack, he wouldn't only be humiliated, but he could be killed! First, he defied his king's orders and attacked his daughter.

He wouldn't die an easy and painless death, but he would be tortured and healed relentlessly until his mind was broken. It would be a death no one, whether a human, a vampire, or any other race, would want to suffer.

He imagined himself in that position, unable to die as he begged for death, but his cries never fell into their ears. He felt a cold chill run down his spine.

He sighed and regained his calm composure. "Princess… You shouldn't call other people things solely based on a rumor! Now, I'll get straight to the point. I'm here under the king's orders to see the progress you've made towards the invasion."

"It's been a week, and Father's already asking for my progress? He is a man who never seemed to learn what patience is after all!" Lethia flashed a cheeky smile. "Other than the group here, I've raised seven others who are mining dark ore all day without rest, and four other groups that aren't mining ore. Instead, I'm having them develop to produce stronger and more reliable zombies."

Malik nodded, "I see…"

"Is that all you need for your progress report? If so, I'd like for you to leave. Having you here will further delay my progress. You know how angry my father gets when something is delayed; now go back to where you came from and play with your food, little playboy!" She turned around and was about to leave when Malik's irritating voice fell into her ears.

"Wait… I wasn't done yet!"

Lethia turned around, quite irritated. "What is it? What did my father tell you? Shouldn't you have said it to begin with? Instead of wasting my time! But... it's expected of a man such as yourself to be unable to do so!"

"That's it!" Malik had enough. He wasn't in the mood to hear her mockery of him. He had held his anger in, but now she had crossed the line. He was so angry, he was about to lose his reason and attack her; yet, he couldn't!

He had just taken a step when he froze in place. No matter how hard he tried or what he did, he couldn't move another step. It was as if the space around him had frozen and held him in place.

Cold sweat trickled down his forehead as he felt Lethia's cold hand wrap tightly around his neck, about to crush his throat. Her speed was so fast that he didn't even realize she had him until her hands were already on his throat. He knew he should've never angered her.

What was he thinking? How could he defeat her in a battle? He would lose and later be tortured to death. She was the king's only daughter; why would she not be incredibly strong?

"Losing your reason and attacking, wouldn't that lead to your death? Why would you try to attack me when the difference between us is heaven and earth? Unfortunately, killing you wouldn't relieve my anger, but I don't mind killing you! Now, tell me! Give me a reason that I shouldn't end you!"

"I…"

"Come on! You're burning daylight here. If you can't provide a reason, you'll die here, and not in a painless way!"

"I-I'll be your s-slave." Malik responded with hesitation. He knew he could be killed with a snap of her finger, but his pride couldn't let him succumb to her. However, it wasn't as if he had a choice; he had to succumb to the powerful and couldn't retaliate.

"I'm sorry! You didn't say that clearly. Can you repeat what you've said? You do desire your life, although it's meaningless, don't you?"

"I'll b-be your slave!" He felt humiliated, and his face turned red in anger, but he didn't lose his reason. Instead, he would wait patiently for the right moment and attack. He would be the double-edged sword, pressing deep against her neck, waiting to cleave her head from her neck.

"Good!" She smirked, but she didn't release her hand from his neck. "Before I release you, do you think I don't know you will try to backstab me once you get the chance? Do you think I wouldn't have a countermeasure to stop you from trying?"

"No, m-mistress… I would never backstab you! My eyes were blinded by arrogance before, but now I can finally see! I would never backstab a woman as beautiful as yourself!"

"Your words don't amount to your intentions. I know you want to kill me, and I have a suitable countermeasure in place just for you."

With her other hand, she pulled a neck collar out of the void. The collar was black with a dark crystal in the middle. Malik felt an ominous feeling coming from the collar.

"From now on, you'll wear this collar. You'll be a loyal dog and will do anything without any hesitation, even if it's humiliating! This collar works similarly to how the crystals inside the zombies work, but at a greater level since your intelligence is higher than a zombie's—yet not by much! I'd rather use this on someone else, but you would do for now, although it's unfortunate that I have to test it on you!"

Malik couldn't go back now! He already agreed, and if he did, he would be killed. He reluctantly accepted the collar. Once it locked around his neck, the dark crystal glowed purple as he felt a connection form between him and Lethia.

By now, Aurora had finished unloading her dark ore and had heard everything! She couldn't help but smile upon hearing this! An idea popped into her head, one that could distract or possibly force Lethia to leave and allow them to evolve without the need to worry!