Leah spent a couple of days within the dungeon, turning it into a second base of operations. She had made the blood fairy mother, Elise, into one of her generals, leading the blood fairies.

  During her time in the dungeon, Leah had made another important discovery. The dungeon crystal had the ability to create blood fairies, but with her direct connection to it, she realized she could manipulate this process. Instead of allowing the crystal to spawn new fairies, she could take the energy meant for their creation and absorb it as evolution points. This was a breakthrough—Leah had found a way to gain evolution points passively.

  Leah now stood at the entrance of the dungeon, the air swirling around her as she turned to face Elise. The fairy now carried more intelligence behind her eyes.

  "Take care of the place while I’m gone." Leah said.

  Elise gave a slight bow, her red robes flowing with the motion. "Of course, my lord."

  Leah then turned to Ibbi, who was standing by her side. She extended a blood tendril to wrap around Ibbi’s waist and lifted her off the ground. With a final glance at Elise, Leah nodded, then spread her wings wide. Without another word, they took off, soaring into the sky and leaving the dungeon behind.

  ***

  Leah soared through the sky, the familiar sight of her camp coming into view below. The walls of the stronghold seemed to stretch even higher now. She descended steadily with Ibbi, her wings folding as she approached the ground.

  With a soft thud, Leah landed in the centre of the camp, the earth beneath her feet crunching under the impact. The noise of the camp seemed to hush for a moment as the soldiers looked at her.

  From the bustling activity, Zytherin emerged. His boots left prints in the snow as he approached her with a respectful bow. "Welcome back, my lord," he greeted her, his voice steady and warm. "I trust you were successful in your quest?"

  Leah gave a nod. "I was. Did you capture the other grey elf tribes?"

  Zytherin nodded, a small grin forming beneath his long beard. "Yes, we have. Not only have we captured them, but we’ve converted them all as well."

  Leah gave an approving nod but noticed the way Zytherin’s expression shifted slightly, as if there was something else on his mind. Raising an eyebrow, she asked, "What is it?"

  Zytherin stroked his beard thoughtfully. "We found something while raiding the tribes. I think you should see it for yourself."

  Without another word, he turned and began walking through the camp. Leah followed, moving past the wooden huts and blood legion soldiers who watched them curiously. They walked until they reached the back of the camp, where the cave entrance loomed. Beside it stood a large metal cage.

  As Leah drew closer, her sharp eyes took in the figure inside. A humanoid male with white furred ears, a tail, and feline-like features sat against the bars, his body tense. The moment he saw her, his eyes widened with fear.

  Leah glanced at the glowing text above his head—Beastman.

  She tilted her head slightly, then turned to Zytherin. "Where did you find him?"

  "One of the grey elf tribes had him captured in their camp," Zytherin explained. "We’re not sure how they managed and got their hands on a beastman, but…” He hesitated. "That’s not really why I brought you here."

  Before Leah could ask what he meant, the beastman suddenly lurched forward, gripping the bars of the cage tightly. His voice trembled as he stammered out, "I-I’m not a beastman! You have to believe me, please! I’m human!"

  Leah’s eyes widened at his words, while Zytherin merely shook his head, letting out a sigh. "He’s been saying strange things since we brought him in."

  ***

  Leah had given the order without hesitation. The beastman was to be brought inside the cave, where she would personally question him.

  Now, deep within the cavern, the flickering glow of a nearby torch cast shifting shadows across the stone walls.

  Leah stepped forward, her boots barely making a sound on the stone floor. As she stopped in front of the cage, Gabriel looked up at her, his eyes filled with unease and lingering fear.

  She studied him for a moment before speaking. "What’s your name?"

  The beastman hesitated before answering. "It’s Gabriel."

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  Leah crouched, her crimson eyes locking onto his. "What did you mean when you said you were human?"

  Gabriel exhaled shakily. "I… I don’t know how, but I was brought to this world a couple weeks ago. I woke up here, in this body." He raised his hands, looking at them as if they didn’t belong to him.

  Leah remained silent for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then, finally, she asked, "Do you come from Earth?"

  Gabriel’s eyes widened, hope flickering in them. "You—how do you know that?"

  Leah didn’t answer immediately. Her quiet stare was enough.

  Gabriel swallowed, his breathing unsteady. Then, with a nervous stutter, he asked, "Are you… just like me?"

  Leah’s continued silence was all the confirmation he needed.

  Gabriel’s expression shifted from uncertainty to hope. He gripped the bars of his cage, leaning forward slightly.

  "I… I’m glad," he said, exhaling as if a weight had lifted from him. "I thought I was alone. But if you’re here too, that means—" He hesitated, then continued, "That means there has to be others, right?"

  Leah said nothing, watching him carefully.

  Gabriel swallowed, then nodded to himself. "I’m from France. What about you?"

  Leah’s gaze flickered away for a moment before she answered, her voice measured. "The UK."

  Gabriel nodded. "Alright, so we’re both from Earth." His hands clenched around the bars. "Then we have to figure out a way back. There has to be something, some way to return."

  Leah’s expression remained impassive, but her next words made Gabriel freeze.

  "I don’t think there’s an Earth to go back to."

  Gabriel stared at her, confusion and alarm crossing his face. "What? What do you mean?"

  Leah exhaled slowly. "My last moments there… I think Earth was destroyed."

  Silence hung between them. Gabriel’s golden eyes searched her face for any sign of doubt, of hesitation. But Leah’s tone had been firm, unwavering.

  "No," he muttered, shaking his head. "That—That can’t be true."

  Another heavy silence settled between them, the flickering torch casting shifting shadows over them.

  Leah tilted her head slightly, studying Gabriel before finally speaking. "Do you have a system?"

  Gabriel hesitated, then gave a slow nod. "Yeah… I do."

  Leah’s eyes narrowed. "What level are you?"

  Gabriel exhaled, rubbing the back of his head. "I… I’m level one."

  Leah’s expression immediately twisted into something between disgust and disappointment. "Level one?" she repeated.

  Gabriel shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. "Yeah?"

  "Why are you still level one?" Leah demanded.

  Gabriel frowned. "I don’t know how to level up."

  Leah let out a sharp scoff. "Are you serious?" She gestured vaguely, as if the answer was obvious. "You kill something."

  Gabriel’s eyes widened, horror creeping into his features. "Kill?" he echoed, shaking his head. "I… I can’t do that. I can’t just kill another living thing."

  Leah’s gaze turned cold. "Then you’ll stay weak."

  Gabriel looked up at her, something pleading in his expression. "Have you…?" His voice trailed off before he swallowed and continued, "Have you killed before?"

  Leah’s lips curled into a faint smirk. "Many."

  Gabriel recoiled slightly. "How could you do that?" he asked, his voice laced with disbelief. "Aren’t you human?"

  Leah’s expression darkened. Her jaw clenched as she locked eyes with him. Then, after a tense pause, she spoke—low and firm.

  "Look at yourself." Her words carried a quiet intensity. "You’re weak. You’re in a cage. While I am leading an army." She stepped closer, looming over him. "Your human morals are keeping you weak."

  Gabriel dropped his gaze to the floor, his hands tightening into fists. "It’s just wrong," he muttered under his breath.

  Another long silence stretched between them.

  Gabriel finally lifted his head. "I saw what happened to the grey elves." His voice was quiet but steady. "You turned them into something else…" His eyes searched hers. "Are they your slaves now?"

  Leah’s expression didn’t change. "They follow my orders."

  Gabriel inhaled sharply, his breath uneven. "Then what about me?" he asked. "What’s going to happen to me?"

  Leah’s crimson gaze bore into him, her voice unwavering. "I’ll convert you into a soldier."

  Gabriel flinched. Fear settled into his expression as he gripped the bars of his cage. "How could you do that?" he asked, his voice almost desperate. "To a fellow human?"

  Leah slowly straightened. Then, without a word, she raised her arms to her sides, her wings stretching along with them.

  "Look at me," she said. "Do I look human to you?"

  Gabriel’s breath hitched as he stared up at her.

  "Why would I care what we once were?" she continued, her voice colder than before.

  Gabriel’s lips parted, but no words came. His eyes were wide with something between realization and horror.

  "You’re evil." he finally whispered.

  Leah’s lips curled into a slow, amused smile.

  "If being evil lets me gain more power," she said, tilting her head slightly, "then I will gladly be evil."

  A blood tendril slowly slithered out from Leah’s back, its dark crimson surface pulsing with life. It moved like a serpent, twisting in the air behind her.

  Gabriel became still. His hands clenched tightly around the cold metal bars of his cage as his wide, terrified eyes followed the tendril’s every movement.

  The torch beside them flickered, and then suddenly went out, drenching the area in darkness. The only light now came from Leah's glowing crimson eyes, their eerie luminescence cutting through the shadows like a predator’s gaze.

  Gabriel barely had time to part his lips in a choked gasp before the tendril lunged forward.

  His scream echoed through the cave.

  ***

  Ibbi sat on the cold ground outside the cave, lazily leaning back on her hands. Zytherin stood nearby, his hands clasped behind his back as he stared off into the distance.

  Then, Ibbi’s ears twitched. A slow smirk spread across her face as she tilted her head toward the cave entrance.

  "They’re coming." she murmured.

  Zytherin turned just as footsteps echoed from within the cave.

  From the darkness, Leah emerged first, her stride calm and assured. Behind her, another figure followed closely.

  As they stepped into the light, the figure came into full view—Gabriel. But he was no longer the same. His once pale skin had darkened to a deep, crimson red.

  When they reached the others, Leah stopped and turned slightly toward him. "Introduce yourself." she commanded coolly.

  Gabriel smirked, his lips curling into something both elegant and unhinged. With a sweeping motion, he bowed low, one hand resting against his chest.

  "My name is Gabriel," he announced smoothly, his voice rich with a newfound confidence. His crimson eyes flickered up to meet theirs. "And I am ready to serve the lord."