Chapter 56:Beautiful and Brutal

Slowly, my eyes opened. I had woken up, still with slightly blurred vision. I could make out the impression of a person in front of me — no, it looked like two identical people calmly discussing something.

My vision cleared within a few seconds. Looking more closely, I saw that two people were talking beside me.

It was Serapynhe and Flávia.

"If he's already healed, then naturally he should go back to training with me. That's obvious," said Flávia.

"But Mom, you said we'd have three days to say goodbye. Why are you taking him now?" asked her daughter.

Serapynhe stared at Flávia with a raised eyebrow, as if everything she said was clearly the right thing to do.

She paused to think for a few seconds. Her cold-violet eyes gazed at Flávia with a mix of tenderness and mild irritation — almost like a mother lioness.

She seemed to relent, even while maintaining her authoritative posture. Thinking calmly, she began to speak:

"Fine. I'll go to the human world, as there's something I need to take care of. But in three days, I'll be back to get him. Understood?"

Flávia, seeing her mother relent, lit up and thanked her, hugging her like a small victor.

While hugging Flávia, she threw me a brief glance and sighed.

"Huff."

And vanished into the air again.

"That's a lot of stimulation for someone who's still recovering. If this keeps up, I'm going to have a heart attack," I commented to Flávia, laughing.

"Is that so? Who knows, maybe I could take care of this little patient?" she said, chuckling softly and moving closer.

"Then I guess I'll stay sick forever, just to get the special care of my little bat," I continued the flirt.

However, as Flávia approached, a small stone flew and struck my forehead at high speed.

It left a shallow cut and hit my head hard. My body, which had been slightly leaning forward, was knocked right back to square one.

"Tsk," I made a small clicking sound with my tongue.

"Looks like my mom is still nearby," said Flávia, smiling as she cleaned the blood on my forehead using water magic.

"So, how are you feeling?" she asked, running her fingers through what was left of my hair. "While you were asleep, Doctor Many came personally and applied some potions. He said you'll be completely healed by the end of today."

As soon as she finished speaking, I turned my attention back to my body. It didn't hurt anymore. My arm had regrown — it still felt strange, but it was back in place.

The scars still decorated my skin, but I felt much better. If before I had merely survived, now I was truly alive.

A little hesitant, I tried to stand. It felt like a wave of pain would hit me at any moment, but thankfully it didn't.

Feeling much better, I managed to get up.

"Little bat, this time I really thought I was going to die," I said, hugging her.

She returned the hug with a quiet comfort.

"Uhum."

A dry cough came from outside, reminding us that she was still there, watching us.

"Damn witch," I muttered in my mind, fearing she might hear my silent curse.

Releasing the hug, Flávia suddenly pulled my arm and began leading me out of the improvised medical area.

She was pulling me excitedly, as if she wanted to show me something. As we walked briskly, I followed her through the makeshift entrance. When we stepped outside, my eyes landed on something that made my still-heavy heart finally breathe.

Outside the tents, the soldiers were singing and dancing, joyful in their victory. They drank goblets of blood as if it were wine.

—hahaha

From afar, I heard a laugh that irritated me, but at the same time made me breathe a sigh of relief: it was Tyler. After I became brigade leader, I had chosen him as captain of the 17th division and vice-commander of the brigade.

He was excited, laughing loudly.

"Look who's here—my captain!" he said, laughing boisterously.

As soon as he stopped laughing, countless eyes turned toward me: my brigade, my soldiers, soldiers I didn't even know, captains, brigade leaders.

"THANK YOU, COMMANDER OF THE 5TH BRIGADE, 4TH DIVISION!"

A barrage of shouts suddenly pierced my ears.

For a moment, I was completely confused. I didn't think I'd done anything worthy of such a grand thank-you.

Flávia, standing beside me, noticed my confusion and whispered:

"While you were fighting, you killed countless second-level beasts and helped many warriors and soldiers in desperate situations. That's why they want to thank you. Don't take it too seriously—just wave and enjoy the moment."

Following Flávia's lead, I waved as I exchanged quick greetings with the soldiers.

She giggled softly beside me and pulled me to a corner where there was a makeshift table, where Selena and Sitha were sitting.

"How are you, Bruno?" asked Selena, concerned as she saw me approaching.

As I came closer and hugged her, I replied gently.

Sitha, as usual, with her teasing tone, said:

"Bruno, you look great! When I saw you a few hours ago, you were wrecked."

"Don't even remind me," I replied, greeting her calmly.

I sat down and started chatting with them about various topics—some about the war we had just fought, and others more lighthearted, like going shopping with Selena and Flávia, pets, and so on.

The atmosphere was light and cheerful — thank goodness. It was good to have something like that to wash away the heaviness of war.

"So, Captain, want a drink?" asked Sitha, laughing as she pushed a goblet into my hands.

When I took it, the goblet contained a thick, red liquid. It looked strange, and I had no idea what kind of blood it was.

Upon drinking it, the taste was curious—if not interesting. It was sweet and slightly tangy, with an incredible contrast.

"What kind of blood is this?" I asked, curious.

"Did you like it? It's the only type of beast blood most vampires drink—mixed and purified beast blood," she explained. "It's part of an ancient vampire tradition: to drink the blood of the enemy after a victory."

"That's cool! I really didn't know vampires had something like that. Actually, I don't know much about vampires at all," I thought to myself.

"Ahhh!"

"Parr!"

"Pweeeease!"

Broken, agonizing screams began to echo through the camp. They sounded like the cries of someone being tortured in hell.

Shattering the peaceful moment, everyone—without exception—turned in that direction, filled with fear and terror.

There stood Serapynhe, torturing a soldier in front of everyone without even stating a reason.

Frightened, Flávia rushed to the scene, stepping forward to find out what had happened.

"Mother, what happened? Why are you doing this?" she asked, shocked at what she was seeing.

"Hmph. This worm dared to look at me—and even worse, to touch me. So I'm showing him his proper place."

"Besides, since when do I owe you explanations? Who do you think you are?" Serapynhe said in a terrifying tone.

From a distance, I watched and could only think: shit… I'm completely screwed.

Flávia shrank back in fear at her mother's cruelty and coldness. Though she was a respected Baron-level leader, in front of Serapynhe she was nothing more than a frightened kitten.

Serapynhe seemed to ignore Flávia, turning her eyes back to the soldier writhing in pain on the ground, staring at him with a cruel and sadistic look.

Seeing that Flávia wouldn't be able to stop her, I stepped forward, still afraid and hesitant. My voice came out shaky, yet somewhat firm:

"Lady Serapynhe, the soldier may have made a mistake. Everyone is severely exhausted, mentally. Perhaps he didn't recognize you. After all, I don't think there's anyone who would dare to defy your authority or try to take advantage of you."

I finished, praying I hadn't just signed my death sentence.

Her violet eyes turned to me as her body moved slowly, calmly and menacingly.

"You think I was mistaken? Young Constantia, do you believe you can step forward and challenge my judgment? That you can defend someone I intend to kill?" she said with a murderous voice.

"How could I, Lady? I'm only trying to prevent more bloodshed at this moment. We've already won the war, and I believe everyone here longs for peace."

"Why don't you let the soldier apologize and come with me and Flávia for a drink?" I finished.

Her eyes looked at me in a strange way, then she released the soldier.

"Speak, worm!" — her voice fell like a storm of hatred.

"I'm sorry, ma'am. I was carrying some items and accidentally slipped. Against my will, I fell and bumped into your shoulder. And by accident, that bandage hit your body," the soldier finished hoarsely, pointing to a rolled-up bandage on the ground, clearly in pain.

Serapynhe looked at the soldier, then at me, and slowly raised her hand — shit! Everyone braced for an explosion that could kill half of us.

But instead, she placed her hand on Flávia's arm and asked her to lead the way toward us.

"Boy, bring me something to drink," she ordered, and walked off with Flávia.

Terrified, I ran to Tyler. He had a flask of special fermented blood, aged a hundred years, that he carried with him everywhere.

"Tyler, give me one or two cups of that blood-wine of yours—for her. Otherwise, I'll be the next to die," I said in a rush, already sweating.

He stared at me slowly, torn between fear and hesitation. But fear won out, and he handed me two full cups, then ran back to the table.

I poured the blood into a goblet sitting on the table, with a clear intention: to serve her elegantly, at the level I hoped she'd accept.

She drank it in one go.

"Weak… but it'll do for now," she said, lifting the goblet as if expecting me to serve her more.

After a few more rounds, she seemed satisfied, now staring at the soldiers around her with disdain.

"Flávia, your soldiers are extremely weak. Even with discipline, they lack true high-level strength."

"Dozens of warriors and five near-Barons?"

"It's just that my domain is still new, mother," Flávia replied quietly, almost in protest.

"Hmph," Serapynhe scoffed, her eyes wandering until they stopped on me, curious.

"And you? How did you reach the limit of Apprentice level so quickly?" she asked. It sounded like a simple question, but it carried an air of absolute authority.

"Hunting beasts and consuming first- and second-level crystals," I answered directly and briefly, so as not to provoke her by dragging it out.

"Bold. Most who consume crystals above their level die before reaching Elder level. Maybe one in a hundred—or a thousand—survives."

Placing the goblet on the table, she continued,

"Maybe you have a hint of talent… or you're just a lucky fool."

"Well, doesn't matter. I'll find out soon enough."

She stood up slowly, waved goodbye with a simple gesture, and leapt into the sky—where a rift opened above her power—and vanished into the horizon.

After she left, the atmosphere grew lively again.

Tyler approached me, his expression serious. He looked me in the eye before saying:

"It was a pleasure knowing you, Captain. May your death be calm and peaceful."

He finished and walked away.

"Shit…" I muttered under my breath, cursing everything.

That was the final part of the last two chapters of the war arc. I hope you enjoyed it!

If you did, please add it to your library and send Power Stones — it really helps me keep writing!

And tell me: what did you think of Serapynhe? A brutal, complex character… or something more?