“How could Rhea have been driven into such a corner, and even…”
Ize’s muscles tightened instantly. He glared at the silver-haired young girl floating in the air, looking perfectly harmless.
He knew well that in this kind of fantasy world, the weaker someone appeared, the more terrifying their hidden strength often was. Vampires were the prime example; one could never judge them by their looks.
Furthermore, Rhea was an elite among fifth-rank mages. For the opponent to take her down without a single injury meant her strength was not to be underestimated.
However, the biggest question in his mind right now didn’t come from the powerful enemy before him, but rather—where was Leon?
According to the usual “plot” development, shouldn’t the male lead be guarding the female lead, facing the crisis together, and even saving the beauty at the critical moment to significantly boost her affection?
…Was she given the First Embrace?
If Rhea truly turned into a vampire, what would happen to the subsequent “romance routes”?
Wouldn’t the plot be completely broken?
As if responding to the stormy waves in his heart, the cold and familiar system notification rang out. It wasn’t a quest, but a rare [Plot Clarification]:
[Detected host’s core doubt. Providing relevant plot information:]
[In the original plot setting of “Era,” ‘Rhea Alsaid transforming into a vampire’ is an inevitable key node. This is a core prerequisite for her becoming an important villain in the future and is irreversible.]
[In the original plot, the male lead ‘Leon’ would face two key choices at this node:]
[Choice 1: Face the powerful enemy together with Rhea, help her hide the secret after her transformation, and provide support. This choice will significantly increase Rhea’s affection, laying a solid foundation for future romance and suppressing her tendency to turn evil.]
[Choice 2: For some reason, move separately from Rhea before encountering the final powerful enemy, choosing instead to obtain other opportunities to increase strength. This choice will enhance his own strength but will lead to a sharp increase in the difficulty of romancing Rhea and preventing her from turning evil later.]
Ize’s heart sank. So, Leon chose the second path?
But… this world was no longer a game. Why did such “branching choices” still exist?
Wasn’t the direction of the world singular?
[Answering: If the host has not significantly interfered with the main storyline, the direction of this world-line will present multiple possibilities, and Leon’s choices are also random.]
[Key Hint: Leon’s choice this time has been significantly influenced by the host’s prior actions.]
[The magic array the host set up at the West Gate of Casipe Village indirectly caused Leon to miss the key opportunity to ‘save the beauty’ and significantly increase Rhea’s affection. Therefore, the foundation of their relationship is weaker than the original plot’s average level. This factor significantly increased the probability of Leon choosing ‘Branch Two.’]
Ize: “…”
It was actually because of me?
He recalled the defensive formation that triggered automatically outside the West Gate of Casipe Village… It turned out his unintentional “play it safe” operation had not only intercepted Leon’s opportunity but had also indirectly pushed Rhea toward a more dangerous fate—a future destined for darkness, deprived of the male lead’s crucial support!
Thinking about everything that happened between him and Rhea—from the “Truth Serum” accident to that chaotic kiss, and now her being transformed in isolation because of his butterfly effect… Ize couldn’t help but swallow hard. A “darkened” Rhea with greatly increased strength and a “vivid impression” of him?
That picture was so beautiful he didn’t dare imagine it!
[Additional Hint: As a traverser, the host possesses the potential ability to interfere with and rewrite the fate of important characters.]
[The ‘Rhea Alsaid Real-time Affection Monitoring’ function has been unlocked, indicating that this character is currently one of the host’s romanceable targets.]
[The host may choose to attempt to reverse her fate, avoiding or mitigating her dark ending.]
Compete with the male lead for a girl?
In the past, Ize would have definitely thought this was seeking death, a foolish act that would trigger a “Plot Kill.”
But the system explicitly stated she was “romanceable.” Did this mean… that invisible “Plot Red Line” protecting the male lead didn’t exist for him?
[Correct. Romancing Rhea will not lead to the host’s ‘Certain Death’ plot ending.]
[However, please note that this choice will be accompanied by corresponding ‘Romance Risks.’ This risk is not a fixed value; its specific content and severity depend on the host’s specific actions and choices during the romance process.]
The risk was unknown, but the path was open.
Ize felt a bit of a headache; these system explanations always carried a sense of uncertainty.
However, looking at Rhea lying on the ground, pale and with her life signs shifting toward something non-human, a strange sense of responsibility welled up in his heart.
It was only right for him to take responsibility, wasn’t it?
Regardless of whether he could successfully romance her, he should at least prevent Rhea from undergoing a “painful” descent into darkness. But that was a matter for later. He had never played the game and didn’t know the reason for Rhea’s future darkening; he could only take it one step at a time.
“Forget about the long term for now,” Ize shook his head, suppressing his stray thoughts. “At the very least, I have to take her away now.”
***
Just then, Vivian’s lazy and playful voice rang out, breaking the silence. “Little one, art thou frightened witless? Why dost thou stand there frozen?”
Her red eyes blinked. Seeing no reaction from Ize, she seemed to find it a bit boring.
Ize snapped back to his senses, his face quickly switching to a harmless, even somewhat flattering smile:
“Noble Lady of the Blood, please forgive my lapse in etiquette. It is truly because your peerless beauty and noble aura left me dazed for a moment.”
A spark of genuine surprise flashed in Vivian’s eyes. “Oh? Thou actually knowest of the ‘Blood Clan’? Our race has not been active on this continent for over a hundred years.”
She seemed to enjoy Ize’s flattery, and her tone softened slightly. “However, thy tongue is indeed sweet. A pity thou art a step too late. My only ‘First Embrace’ has already been bestowed upon this newly-claimed daughter at my feet.”
Ize immediately feigned an expression of extreme regret. “Alas! That is truly a shame! I thought I might have the honor of joining such an eternal and perfect family as the Blood Clan!”
“It seems thou knowest quite a bit about my kin…”
Vivian tilted her head slightly, revealing a meaningful smile. “Though the First Embrace happens but once, I still have other ways to transform thee into a member of the Blood Clan. The power gained would merely be a bit inferior. What sayest thou? Wouldst thou care to consider it?”
Ize’s heart skipped a beat. He was just being polite; why was she taking it seriously? He quickly gave a couple of dry laughs, trying to brush it off. “This… how about… next time? You’ve just completed a First Embrace, which must have cost you a lot. You surely need quiet rest to recover. Your ‘daughter’ would be better off under my care for the time being.”
The smile on Vivian’s face instantly chilled. The surrounding air seemed to freeze. “It seems what thou saidst just now was all to mock me. Thou hast no intention of becoming my kin!”
Ize forced himself to defend his words. “How could I dare mock you! I truly yearn for it, it’s just… I still want to experience the joys of being human a bit longer. How about this? If there comes a day when I grow tired of being human, I will certainly come find you.”
Glib-tongued!
Vivian snorted coldly. She gracefully changed her sitting posture, her floating height lowering slightly. She slightly lifted a foot clad in an exquisite leather shoe, her tone carrying an unquestionable command and a hint of mockery.
“Since thou claimest to yearn for it, then show thy sincerity. Cast aside thy pointless dignity before me. Kneel and I shall permit thee to kiss the tip of my shoe.”
Ize’s mouth twitched slightly.
Damn, such a “good thing” actually exists?
For some people who were masochistic or had a thing for young girls, this would practically be a reward.
Unfortunately, he had no masochistic tendencies, nor did he have such a specific fetish.
“This… noble lady, you might not have heard an old saying from my hometown: ‘A man’s knees are worth their weight in gold’?”
“As I thought!” A red light flashed in Vivian’s eyes as she completely lost her patience. “Thou hast been making a fool of me!”
“Kneel!”
She said no more. With a casual hook of her slender finger, an invisible but mountain-heavy spiritual pressure mixed with a magical bind instantly enveloped Ize!
She wanted to make this arrogant human sink to his knees in fear and pain!
However, Ize merely blinked. He looked around in confusion, then at himself, and finally looked at Vivian blankly. “Should I… play along now and pretend to kneel in great pain?”
“?!” Vivian’s perfect expression management cracked for the first time. She looked at the motionless, even somewhat bewildered Ize in disbelief.
Although she had consumed her original essence blood to complete the First Embrace, leaving her with only about thirty percent of her peak strength, it was still not something a normal human could resist so easily!
“Since thou wilt not kneel, then… die.” Cold killing intent replaced her playfulness. Vivian’s figure vanished like a ghost, appearing before Ize in the next instant.
She didn’t even use any magic. She just seemingly casually raised her fair little hand and lightly tapped an index finger toward Ize’s forehead.
The movement was gentle, like the touch of a lover.
But the power contained within was enough to pierce through metal and stone!
*Bang—!!!*
A dull roar, like the beating of a giant drum, exploded!
Ize’s entire body was like a man hit by a battering ram. He turned into a blurred afterimage, flying backward at a terrifying speed!
He crashed through more than a dozen ruined house walls in succession. Amidst a series of booming crashes and soaring dust, he was buried deep within the ruins.
Vivian hovered in place, not even glancing at the rubble, as if she had merely swatted an annoying fly. She turned, preparing to pick up Rhea, who was still in the middle of the transformation process, and leave.
However, her movements froze.
Her sharp perception allowed her to catch an unusual movement coming from the ruins.
Amidst the drifting dust, a hand covered in grey soot suddenly lunged out, pushing aside a massive stone beam.
Then, looking a bit disheveled, Ize stood up from the pile of rubble, swaying slightly.
He shook his head vigorously, knocking the dust from his hair. Aside from his severely damaged and soot-covered clothes, there wasn’t even a trace of blood on him. The spot on his forehead where he had been directly hit was only slightly red!
Vivian’s ruby-like eyes widened for the first time, filled with unprecedented shock and… a hint of daze.
“Thou… just what kind of thing art thou?” Her voice trembled with disbelief. “How can a human possess such a physical body?!”
Ize brushed the dust off his clothes and pulled back the corners of his mouth into a somewhat helpless smile:
“Oh my, Lady Vampire, you’re being quite rude. I’m a human. If I’m not, could it be that you are?”
Before he finished speaking, Ize suddenly exerted force with his feet!
*Boom!*
The ground where he had been standing suddenly cracked and sank!
His figure exploded with a speed far exceeding the moment he was sent flying. It was as if he had broken the limits of space, vanishing from Vivian’s vision into thin air!
So fast!
Vivian’s pupils shrank. Her powerful combat instincts made her reflexively look up, while simultaneously gathering power to defend.
However, she was still a moment too slow.
A terrifying, tyrannical force that defied logic—and completely contradicted that physical frame—struck her small, delicate chin with pinpoint accuracy!
*Bam!!!*
Another dull thud rang out, but this time, the one flying out was the arrogant Vampire Queen, Vivian.
Her petite body turned into an uncontrollable parabola, shooting straight up into the dim night sky!