Selena’s Hunt

Selena moved through the darkness with deadly grace, her body drifting between dimensions like a bloodthirsty ghost. Her crimson eyes gleamed with the light of the souls she had consumed, allowing her to detect life signatures hidden from even the most advanced cloaking technology.

Target detected. Three vital signs. Distance 847 meters.

The enhanced systems coursing through her veins provided real-time data on the prey she was hunting. The Silver Banner scouts might consider themselves stealthy, but to Selena, they shone like fire in the darkness.

"Interesting," she whispered, the sound echoing across multiple dimensions at once. "Cosmic-grade cloaking technology. They're no amateurs."

Selena quickened her movements, her body beginning to transform. Her nails lengthened into claws capable of slicing through reality itself. Her fangs glinted with necrotic energy, amplified by Lucas's power. This transformation was more than a physical change—it was an evolution into the ultimate predator.

Distance 500 meters. Their stealth integrity began to waver.

The three Silver Banner scouts moved with practiced military precision. They were unaware that their every step was being monitored, their every breath being picked up by the hunters pursuing them.

"The energy readings are becoming increasingly unstable," the team leader reported via encrypted communication. "Something is approaching us."

"Could it be a local detection system?" asked the second member, his hand poised on a weapon gleaming with cosmic-tier enchantments.

"No," replied the third, his voice tense. "This... this is different. Like being hunted."

Selena smiled faintly as she listened to their conversation. Her enhanced abilities allowed her to hear the encrypted communication as if they were speaking directly into her ear. Silver Banner technology was advanced, but they had never encountered vampires who had evolved beyond normal limits.

200 meters away. Time to play.

With a barely perceptible movement, Selena began to emit the vampiric aura she had perfected. This wasn't mere intimidation—it was direct manipulation of the target's nervous system and vital energy. The air around the scout team began to shift, becoming colder and feeling... hungry.

"Something's not right," the team leader whispered. "The energy around us... is changing."

The second member checked the readings on his detection device. The numbers that appeared made him pale. "Vampiric energy reading. Level... cosmic-tier. How is this possible?"

"Retreat. Now!" the team leader ordered.

But it was too late.

Selena appeared before them like a nightmare come true. Her graceful body contrasted with the terrifying aura radiating from every pore of her skin. Her red eyes glinted with a power that rippled reality around her.

"Excuse me," she said in a sweet yet soul-piercing voice. "Are you lost?"

The scout team reacted with impressive speed. Their cosmic-tier weapons raised, enchantments glowed, and a coordinated attack was launched in a single breath.

Selena moved.

No, she didn't move—she flowed. Her body floated amidst the cosmic energy blast that should have destroyed mountains. Her claws flashed, cutting through space and time itself as she approached.

Clang!

Claws met the energy barrier erected by the third member. Sparks of dimensional light flashed, but the barrier cracked under the unnatural pressure.

"Impossible," the scout muttered. "A cosmic-tier barrier can't—"

His words were cut off when Selena smiled, and her claws pierced the barrier like cutting paper. Necrotic energy flowed from the wound, beginning to contaminate the scout's internal energy system.

The team leader launched an emergency teleportation attack, his body beginning to shimmer with dimensional energy. But before the teleportation could complete, Selena was at his side.

"Where to?" she asked, gently touching the scout's shoulder.

The touch halted the forced teleportation. More than that, Selena's vampiric energy began to flow into the scout's systems, not destroying, but transforming.

"What... are you doing?" the scout asked, his voice beginning to change, its original tone gone and replaced with something more... hollow.

"Making you useful," Selena replied, staring at the other two scouts already ensnared in the grip of her necrotic energy. "My king likes dolls that can move."

The transformation process was not lengthy. Selena didn't kill them—she did something far more horrific. Her vampiric energy flowed into their souls, not destroying their consciousness but restructuring their loyalties and cognitive functions.

Within minutes, the three elite Silver Banner scouts were transformed into perfect puppets. They retained their original abilities, knowledge, and even their personalities. The only difference was that their eyes now glowed with a faint red light—a sign that their souls had been branded by Selena's power.

"Excellent," Selena murmured, examining her work of art. "You will make an interesting prize."

She pulled out a communication crystal that shimmered with dimensional energy. Using her enhanced abilities, Selena modified the crystal, transforming it into a transmission medium capable of penetrating the Silver Banner's encryption.

"You," she said to the puppets that had once been the scout team, "will return and report. But before that..."

Selena took a small crystal from her inventory. This crystal was no ordinary weapon or communication device—it was a memory crystal containing a visual record of their transformation. She implanted it into the team leader puppet.

"Give this to Commander Aurelius," she ordered. "Tell him this is... greetings from our domain."

The puppet nodded mechanically, yet still maintaining the illusion of life. "Commands received, Master."

Selena smiled with deep satisfaction. This wasn't just an intimidation tactic—it was a demonstration of power that would shake the foundations of the Silver Banner's trust. How could they trust their security systems if an elite team could be turned into puppets without anyone noticing?

"Go," she said, almost affectionately. "Go home and deliver our message."

The three puppets disappeared in a flash of teleportation light. Selena stood alone in the deserted battlefield, her red eyes staring in the direction they had vanished.

Mission complete. Reward delivered.

She turned and began walking back to the domain center, but stopped when her internal system sent a startling alert.

Warning: Dimensional breach detected. Multiple high-tier signatures approaching. Distance: 12 hours.

Selena raised an eyebrow. "So soon? They're panicking."

But then, a more detailed energy reading appeared in her enhanced system. This wasn't just reinforcement—this was a full mobilization. Aurelius hadn't sent another team. He came alone, along with the Silver Banner elite core.

"Interesting," he whispered with a smile. "It seems our little gift has caught our attention."

Selena activated her communication with Lucas, her voice echoing with a mixture of excitement and anticipation. "My King, they're coming. All of them."

Lucas's voice responded with amusement. "How long?"

"Twelve hours. Maybe less."

"Perfect. Prepare a memorable welcome party."

Selena stared at the sky, which was beginning to change color, the dimensional fabric vibrating with approaching energy. The Silver Banner Alliance was sending their best.

She couldn't wait.