Chapter 89 : Choose

The vampires could not believe the sight before their eyes.

A human.

In their sacred arena.

Had just butchered one of their top knights—

And then pissed on his corpse.

Mouths hung open.

Hands tightened on railings.

Even the children, who had been cheering with innocent cruelty a moment before, stared wide-eyed.

The vampires were one of the strongest species in the Null Realm.

Respected.

Feared.

Whispered about in countless worlds.

And yet—

What had just happened felt like a slap to their entire race.

A humiliation burned into the very stone of their colosseum.

Elizabeth’s jaw clenched.

Her fingers dug into the armrest of her throne so hard that cracks formed in the dark material.

She gritted her teeth as she watched Arthur stand there, casual and unbothered.

Her voice cut through the arena like a blade.

"Kill him this instant."

Her roar shook the air.

The remaining two fighters—Anna and Mario—snapped their attention to Arthur at once.

Mario moved first.

He raised his hand.

Dark red energy surged from his fingertips.

"Blood Bind," he muttered.

Arthur felt it instantly.

His body.

Sluggish.

Heavy.

As if his blood had turned thick, syrup-like, resisting every attempt to move.

His limbs felt like they were being dragged down by invisible chains.

He tried to step—

But his body barely shifted.

"Tch..."

The vampires in the stands saw it.

Their anger turned back into savage excitement.

Cheers erupted again.

"That’s it!"

"Break him!"

"Show the human his place!"

Anna drew her weapon.

She reached behind her and pulled out a massive broadsword.

The blade was wide, thick, and looked heavy enough that an ordinary person couldn’t even lift it, yet in her hands, it moved as if it weighed nothing.

She rested it on her shoulder and began walking toward Arthur with slow, deliberate steps.

"Your time’s up, pretty boy," Anna said, smirking. "We’re not going to underestimate you like that idiot did."

The crowd roared even louder at her words.

Vampires screamed her name.

"Anna! Anna! Anna!"

Arthur watched her.

Despite the Blood Bind slowing him down, his eyes were still sharp.

He couldn’t help but notice the way her chest armor shifted with each step—how her ample breasts bounced slightly as she walked, constrained only by the straps of her revealing bikini armor.

"Such a shame," he thought. "I wish I could enjoy this sight a little longer."

He exhaled slowly.

"But it’s do or die now."

Anna bent her knees slightly.

Then she leapt.

She soared into the air, broadsword raised high above her head.

"Now your head is mine!" she shouted.

From the side, Mario yelled, "Take the bastard’s head off!"

Inside Arthur’s mind, a familiar voice spoke.

[Host, you do know you’re going to die at this rate.]

Arthur’s eyes stayed calm.

"I know," he answered internally. "And you also know the only thing we can do right now to get out of this situation."

He smirked faintly.

"Just do it at the last second."

The system began calculating.

[Estimating impact time...]

[4.8 seconds until blade reaches neck]

[3.9 seconds...]

Arthur stood there, waiting for the attack. "Why the hell did she have to jump that high? Not that I’m complaining."

He stood there completely still.

Completely calm.

Blood Bind still clinging to him.

From above, Elizabeth watched intently.

She had been waiting—

To see it.

The fear.

The despair.

The crack in Arthur’s eyes when he realized death was inevitable.

But as she stared—

Her expression slowly shifted.

"I still don’t see it..." she whispered. "The fear in his eyes... where is it?"

A cold sensation crawled up her spine.

Something clicked.

Her eyes widened.

"It’s a trap!" she shouted, rising from her throne. "Stop! It’s a tra—"

But it was already too late.

Anna’s broadsword descended.

The blade was just about to touch Arthur’s neck—

When his lips curved into a devilish smile.

The sight of that smile—

Sent a jolt of unease through Anna’s chest.

For the first time—

She felt afraid.

[0.6 seconds...]

[0.4 seconds...]

"Blink," Arthur said.

His eyes shifted, locking onto his true target.

Mario.

The vampire who had locked his body in place with blood magic.

The world twisted.

Positions swapped in an instant.

SCHLK.

A head flew into the air.

Spinning slowly.

Then it fell.

And hit the ground with a dull thud.

For a heartbeat—

The arena exploded with cheers.

Because from a distance—

All they saw was a head separated from a body.

Someone had been beheaded.

The vampires roared, believing that Anna had successfully taken Arthur’s head.

But the cheering—

Died almost as soon as it began.

Silence spread like a plague.

Because their eyes adjusted.

Because they saw Anna’s face.

She was standing there, frozen.

Her eyes wide.

Her entire body trembling.

It wasn’t Arthur’s head on the ground.

It was Mario’s head.

Lying in the dust.

Staring blankly up at the sky.

Suddenly Anna snapped out of her daze.

The horror in her eyes twisted—

Into rage.

Her face flushed red with anger as she spun around, voice cracking with fury.

"You bastard!"

She turned toward Arthur, broadsword lifting again—

SCHLK.

Arthur’s arm, fully covered in the black symbiote—the Voidmorph Carapace—shot forward.

His claws pierced straight through her chest.

The impact stopped her mid-step.

Her body jolted.

Arthur’s hand emerged from her back, fingers wrapped tightly around something beating.

Her heart.

He slowly pulled his arm back.

A gaping hole became visible in her chest, edges torn and sizzling where the Voidmorph had cut through.

Blood began to pour.

From her chest.

From her mouth.

From the corners of her eyes.

Her pupils trembled.

She tried to speak.

"Curse... you... you... mons... monster..."

Her words broke apart.

Her body sagged.

In the next second—

She fell to the ground with a heavy thud.

Lifeless.

The arena stared.

Arthur looked down at the heart in his hand.

It was still twitching faintly.

He grimaced.

"Ewww," he muttered.

He closed his fist.

Crushed it.

Blood splattered across the ground and up his forearm.

He shook his hand once in disgust.

A moment later—

Elizabeth herself landed inside the arena.

Her descent was smooth, controlled.

She touched down lightly on the sand between Arthur and the stands, cloak fluttering behind her.

Her face revealed nothing.

No anger at the deaths of Timothi, Mario, or Anna.

No sadness.

Just cold calculation.

"It seems I underestimated you," she said evenly. "That won’t happen again."

Arthur rolled his shoulders and stretched his arms a little, as if loosening up.

He smiled.

"Now you’re talking," he said.

Elizabeth’s crimson eyes sharpened.

"I have to say," she admitted, "you have really impressed me."

She took a few slow steps closer.

"I thought you would die like a dog," she continued. "Crushed by those three. But you surpassed expectations."

Her lips curved.

"I’ve been holding events like these for years for my entertainment," she said. "But this is the first time someone has surpassed my expectations and entertained me this much."

She clicked her tongue softly.

"It’s literally a shame that you’re too arrogant to submit," she added. "If you weren’t, I would have definitely offered you the chance to become my slave."

Her expression shifted.

Colder.

"But now," she said, "I’m just getting this urge to make you scream."

Her eyes glowed faintly.

"I want to hear your screams... and then kill you slowly," she whispered. "I will devour every single drop of blood from your body."

Arthur stared at her for a moment.

Then smirked.

"You know what," he said, "you bloodsuckers talk too much without showing me much action."

A vein popped on Elizabeth’s forehead.

"Is that so?" she asked, voice dropping a few degrees.

A dangerous black aura began to leak from her body.

It flowed around her like smoke and shadow, thickening the air, pressing down on the arena like a suffocating weight.

Inside Arthur’s mind, the system spoke.

[Host, why are you agitating her... when you already know that she is leagues above you in strength?]

Arthur’s smirk didn’t fade.

"Just a bad habit," he replied inwardly.

[ I suggest we should escape. We can still use Blink one more time. ]

Arthur’s gaze stayed locked on Elizabeth.

"It’s too late for that," he answered. "She won’t let us... and I don’t intend to."

He tightened his fists.

"Only two things will happen today. Either we defeat her and take her bloodline... or we become her food."

The moment that thought solidified—

Something inside him stirred.

A chill ran down his spine.

Then—

Panels of light appeared in front of his eyes.

[Absolute Choice System Quest Activated]

Quest Name: Blood Throne Confrontation

Current Opponent: Elizabeth Crimson – The Vampire Queen

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Option A – Beg for Mercy

Objective: Convince Elizabeth Crimson to make you her slave.

Difficulty: High

Reward:

- Ancient Blood Sword – Rank SS (weapon once wielded by the First Vampire King)

Penalty (on failure):

- The blood inside your body will solidify, turning your veins into rigid crimson crystal.

- Death will occur through total organ petrification, accompanied by unbearable pain until the heart collapses.

------------------------------------------------------------

Option B – Break the Queen’s Pride

Objective: Defeat Elizabeth and force her to kneel before you.

Difficulty: Impossible

Reward:

- Two Upgrade Cards (Unranked)

- Containment Ring (Artifact that seals and stores enemies’ blood, body or souls)

Penalty (on failure):

- All vampires present will devour you, tearing apart each limb and consuming you entirely during tonight’s royal feast.

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"Two paths diverge under the crimson moon.

Choose wisely, Arthur Celestian."

A – Submit and Survive

B – Defy and Dominate

Choose.