Air! Air!

  Ats’s eyes flew open as he jolted upright, his body wracked with panic. He pounded on his chest with trembling hands, his wide eyes darting frantically.

  He couldn’t breathe!

  His face turned pale, he was fused and afraid. He didn’t know how to breathe, as if his body had fotten the most fual of instincts.

  Air. He needed air!

  His vision swam as he sed his surroundings—a tent, dimly lit, ay except for him. No recolle of how he got there, no memory of what happened.

  He o breathe!

  With what little strength he had, he tried to scream, "Ed…"

  The fp of the tent flew open, and someone burst in, rushing to his side. It was Edrik, who k down quickly, gripping Ats’s shoulders and shaking him.

  "Ats, calm down! Breathe, just breathe!" Edrik urged.

  Ats cwed at his throat, his chest vulsing as he desperately tried to draw in air.

  He couldn’t.

  His skin turned icy, his face pale as death. His hands clutched his mouth as he gasped, but no relief came.

  Edrik spped him on the back. Ats choked, sputtering violently as a cough tore through him. He gasped, his body jerking as air finally rushed into his lungs.

  The sensation was overwhelming—painful, but also euphoric.

  Ats gulped down air, his breaths sharp and ragged. His heart, whients ago felt like it had stopped, now pounded in his chest.

  The color slowly returo his face, and warmth began spreading through his body. He was still trembling, his breaths uneven, but his panicked gasps gradually softened as he fought to steady himself.

  Edrik handed him a bottle of water. "Here, drink this."

  Ats grabbed it with shaky hands, tipping it to his lips. The water was cool as it slid down his throat, filling his empty stomad calming his frayed nerves.

  He closed his eyes for a moment, sav the sensation.

  When he opehem again, his mi clearer, his thoughts less scattered. He wiped his mouth, exhaling deeply.

  Edrik sat in front of him, a faint smile on his face. "You okay now?"

  Ats turo him and managed a weak smile iurn.

  "I was terrified I’d never breathe again."

  Edrik chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You gave yourself quite a scare there, huh?"

  “What happeo me?” Ats asked, his voice still shaky.

  Edrik gave a small bow, a faint smile on his face as he replied, “You, Manna, and Baldriaged to defeat the Beastmaster Lord and his troops. It was a hard-fought victory, but after the battle, you colpsed. Baldric carried you back here.”

  Ats frowned, his brows furrowed. “I don’t remember any of that.”

  Edrik nodded slowly. “That’s likely due to the effects of the Bloodlink Manna applied to you during the fight.”

  Hearing that, Ats’s memory flickered. He recalled the moment Manna activated the Bloodlink—a temporary Vampire Mode that had allowed him to fight freely. The cold that should have slowed him down hadn’t affected him at all.

  He g his hands. Pale. But not because he had transformed into a vampire—no, the air around him was freezing. He could still feel his blood c through his veins, warm and human.

  Ats took a deep breath and looked back at Edrik.

  “What’s happeo me? With the Bloodlink, and… the vampire mode?”

  Edrik leaned back slightly. “The Bloodlink was a temporary skill that allowed Manna to share a fragment of her vampiric power with you. It’s why you could ighe cold, why you were so… relentless in battle. But ohe link was severed, your body likely couldn’t hahe abrupt loss of that borrowed strength. That’s why you colpsed.”

  He tinued, “It wasn’t just an exge of blood—it rofound e that altered you, even if temporarily.”

  Ats raised an eyebrow. “Altered me? How exactly?”

  Edrik nodded. “When Mana drank your blood and shared hers with you, it created a circuit of energy betweewo of you. Her blood is infused with vampiriergy, and for a brief moment, your body adapted to it. You weren’t transformed into a vampire, but the power c through you made it feel that way.”

  “So that’s why I felt... unstoppable.”

  “Exactly,” Edrik said. “You experieemporary vampiric traits—enharength, speed, heightened senses, and the ability to heal rapidly. But it wasn’t just physical. That energy also tapped into primal instincts—dominance, hunger, survival. You felt a rush because it’s iure of vampiric power to be intoxig.”

  Ats frowned, processing the expnation.

  “And now… what has ged?”

  Edrik g him thoughtfully. “While you’re not a vampire, remnants of her energy linger in your system. You might find that your healing is slightly faster than before or that you endure more punishment in battle. It could even grant you a resistao certain types of magic, like curses or dark energy.”

  “That sounds... useful.”

  Ats couldn’t deny the exhiration he’d felt while in Vampire Mode. It was as if he had bee a more feral, powerful version of himself.

  In his normal state, he would’ve been shivering and fatigued, especially in an enviro as unfiving as this. But uhe influence of the temporary vampire mode, those weaknesses had vanished pletely.

  Still, he remembered his versations with Edrik and Manna a day ago. They had expihat the effectiveness of the vampire transformation was tied to the individual’s natural state. If someone was already at their peak in terms of talents, skills, and css, the transformation would be far more potent. That thought lingered in his mind as he sidered what it might mean for him going forward.

  Deg he’d thought enough for noushed aside the tent fp and stepped outside. He saw the troops gathered arouing breakfast. The sun had begun its slow climb over the horizon.

  The raid from the previous night had yielded several valuable spoils, particurly the Frost Core. Baldric had already started using it to enhahe troops’ equipment, making them more resistant to the biting cold.

  They had also secured other useful items, like Thermal Stones, which geed a steady and enduri source, perfect for bat or camp use in frigid climates. There were also high-grade ons and armor among the loot, befitting their victory over a Rank 2 Lord.

  As for the beasts from the battle, Baldrid Manna had killed them all. That expined why breakfast this m included bear meat, grilled and seasoned over the campfire. It wasn’t a bad haul at all; the troops seemed to appreciate the variety, happily eating and chatting among themselves.

  Ats grabbed a pte of food and sat down among the soldiers, feeling the warmth of the fire.

  The group was better prepared now. The experience from the previous night had hardeheir resolve, and with better prote against the cold, both physically aally, they were more equipped to face the challenges ahead.

  A short while ter, Kurogasa arrived. The Ninja Rat moved with his usual calm demeanor, his expression unreadable despite spending the entire night scouting the isnd. It was as if exhaustion did for him.

  Not long after Kurogasa’s return, the eroop began preparing to move out. Their destination was a cave Kurogasa had located during his reaissa was a safe spot for them troup and hunt.

  It wasn’t necessarily "safe"—the cave was home to numerous mohey inteo hunt—but it seemed untouched by other Lords, at least for now.

  The pn was straightforward. They would hunt monsters in the area, using the battles to train and adapt to the hostile enviro. The troops o hoheir bat instincts and prepare for harsher es before targeting another Lord. With reinforts still on the atiend preparatioheir best strategy.

  “Let’s go,” Ats anded.

  It was only the sed day of the Dominion Skirmish, and already, Ats had achieved a signifit victory by taking down a Rank-2 Lord.

  How would the flifold as they delved deeper into the isnd’s chaos?

  For now, ohing was certain—Kurogasa’s scouting efforts would prove invaluable. The Ninja Rat was ready to provide detailed insights about the potential threats and oppos awaiting them in this strange and dangerous domain.