Adam moved like lightning.
Before the naked dancer could react, he bit her throat in one swift motion.
Outside, chaos reigned. Bandits were still chasing the fleeing woman. No one inside the hall knew what was happening.
He dropped the drained corpse of the dancer and slammed the hall doors shut.
The feast began again—this time, the castle hall became a living hell.
Half an hour later, the escaping woman was captured. To the bandits, she posed no real threat beyond a bit of cleverness.
After scolding the dungeon guards who had abandoned their posts and ordering her locked back up, Guguka and his men triumphantly prepared to return to the hall for more drinking.
But when he opened the door, his smile froze.
Every bandit who had been sprawled drunk on the floor had turned into horrifying desiccated corpses. The hall reeked of blood.
A cold wind blew through the windows. Everyone shivered.
As they examined the bodies, it became clear: the only marks were teeth imprints on the major arteries. No other injuries. The purpose was clear—the blood had been drained completely. Not a drop left.
"A…a demon?" one bandit whispered, trembling.
What else could it be? Perhaps something far worse than a demon.
"Run! The demon's here!" some shouted, panic twisting their faces.
Guguka, unshaken, drew his curved blade. He approached a terrified bandit and ended him with a single strike.
Fresh blood at the right moment always served as deterrence. Silence fell over the hall.
Ignoring the shocked eyes around him, Guguka wiped his blade on his sleeve. Coldly, he said, "Don't panic. This is a Bloodborn—a vampire. I believe one has infiltrated our castle."
Guguka had once served in the king's army, fighting elves, dwarves, and many strange creatures. Among these bandits, he had considerable prestige, and his calm quickly regained control.
All bandits obeyed, gathering in the hall, gripping their blades, ready.
Outside, Adam hid along the wall, watching his prey. Darkness cloaked him perfectly.
Time ticked by. The bandits grew bored and started whispering.
"Captain…what exactly is a vampire?" one asked softly.
"A vampire is a Descendant," Guguka said. "It's said they sell their soul to a demon. They live among humans, gain strength through blood. Evil creatures. Most have been driven away by other Descendants."
Adam listened carefully. Dismissing exaggerations, he caught one key word—Descendant.
What did it mean? Could it refer to his own crew from the past? But then, where did these humans come from? Lilith's descendants?
By Adam's knowledge, Lilith came to Earth alone. Could she reproduce without a mate?
No answers.
He studied the bandits, blades glinting in torchlight. If he attacked now, death was unlikely—but losing limbs was certain. Too risky. He would wait in the shadows.
"What do we do now?" a bandit asked.
"Vampires have generations. The older, the stronger. We don't know which generation this one is, but daylight is our ally," Guguka said with a cold smile.
According to legend, vampires fear sunlight. Young ones burn instantly. Even ancient vampires lose strength, weaker than ordinary humans.
If the legend were true, waiting for dawn was the wisest choice.
Guguka had already planned countless ways to hunt the vampire at dawn, tearing it apart to avenge his men.
Time passed. The first rooster crowed.
Adam abandoned pointless confrontation. He left the hall along the outer wall.
If the bandits waited for daylight, Adam feared they might pack up and leave. Finding them again in the endless desert would be impossible.
Swiftly, he reached the camel pens. Using his claws, he slit every camel's throat.
Without skilled camels to guide them, the bandits would be trapped. Perfect. They were now part of his game.
With their escape cut off, he looked for a place to hide.
Never exposed to sunlight, Adam wasn't sure if daylight would weaken him as the bandits claimed. But God's curse had said: "cannot survive in sunlight."
For now, he chose a corner to rest, both for safety and because his body, satiated with blood, was changing.
He settled in a dark corner of an abandoned wine cellar.
Blood surged within. Skin and wounds itched horribly, though still bearable compared to his burning hunger.
Time passed. White fluid began seeping from his wounds, then from his skin. Thick, foul-smelling, covering his body, dripping onto walls and floor. Pain and itch grew intense.
Then voices outside.
"Search quickly! Every corner, walls, ceilings! The captain saw finger marks outside—he can climb!" a man shouted, followed by rapid footsteps.
These fools…had they misunderstood the curse? Sunlight or not, the cellar was safe.
Adam's muscles twitched into a smile.
The hunt was about to begin again.