Traveling through the game world, starting out as a third-rate villain

“Cough, cough—!”

That was Maya's first reaction upon regaining consciousness.

A suffocated sound squeezed from her throat, echoing in the all-consuming, oppressive darkness.

Pain surged from every inch of her body, the relentless assault leaving her breathless.

'I can't move.'

She was bound by an unseen force, her limbs immobile.

Every attempt to break free ended in failure.

'Disgusting.'

A heavy stench of decay permeated the air, enveloping her senses like a suffocating shroud.

The only sound she could hear was the eerie drip of water in the distance, echoing in her chaotic consciousness.

She blinked slowly, opening her eyes to a world shrouded in shadow.

Cold stone walls loomed around her, their rough surfaces a stark reminder of her desolate surroundings.

“Ugh!”

Pain, disorientation, and a profound sense of wrongness overwhelmed her.

The feeling was alien, a stark contrast to the life she knew.

Each breath filled her lungs with a dampness.

As her vision adjusted to the dim light, a truth gradually emerged: metal restraints, the faint glow of distant candles, and the shapes of cages containing other prisoners.

'Others?'

She realized that even in this darkness, she could discern her surroundings.

Had her thoughts been less muddled, she should have noticed sooner.

Her mind began to churn through the haze of pain and confusion, struggling to make sense of her predicament.

Where was she?

What had led her to this ominous place?

She gritted her teeth against the pain, desperately sorting through her memories, gradually piecing together the events that had led to her capture.

Thoughts gradually calmed down like a rough sea, and she tried to recall everything that had happened.

'That's right, I went there because I sensed demonic energy.'

As she recalled the scene, she remembered the chilling sight of a humanoid creature lapping up blood from the ground.

The scene was utterly repulsive, but what chilled her to the bone was the aura emanating from the creature.

As one of the most sensitive individuals to magical energy, she had immediately detected the intense power, followed by an instinctive urge to attack.

'Then, there was a battle.'

A chaotic fight flashed through her mind.

The creature's speed was astonishing, its attacks ferocious, completely overwhelming her.

'That creature was beyond reason; this is the first time I've met such a powerful opponent.'

She realized that the enemy she faced was far beyond her comprehension, its speed beyond her ability to perceive or react.

She had always prided herself on her vision; even though she wasn't a melee-type warrior, others always praised her insight in battle.

But this time, she couldn't even see the creature's movements, which meant it was far beyond her capabilities.

Without exaggeration, if that creature could so easily overwhelm someone like her, it posed a threat to the entire world.

As she looked around, the cold reality crashed down upon her.

Emerging from the shadows was no longer the grotesque creature from before, but a refined and highly humanoid being.

'What?'

It was a vampire, a creature she had never seen in her life.

As the vampire appeared, its form was exquisite, no longer the ugly visage, exuding an unsettling aura of elegance.

Crimson eyes, sharp as blades, locked onto her gaze.

Despite its refined appearance, she knew that beneath this beauty lurked a predatory nature.

After all, she had witnessed it kneeling and lapping up blood.

“My captive,” the vampire whispered, its voice carrying a chilling resonance.

“I hope you're enjoying my hospitality.”

A shiver ran down her spine, and she remembered her friends had fantasized about vampire-like creatures, but at this moment, the only thing she felt was fear.

The vampire continued, “It has been a long time since I have been fully awake.” His tone carried the weight of ages.

She stared at the vampire, and an unforgettable face suddenly popped up in her mind, the appearance of her junior, the pale face was very similar to the vampire in front of her, except for the color of the eyes.

Although it was strange to suddenly remember him, it strangely gave her strength.

“I have grown weary of the recent fare, I must thank our god for sending me such a delicacy as yourself.”

The vampire took a step closer, and as it mentioned 'fare,' she abruptly realized the source of the nauseating odor in the space.

“Ah… pardon me, I forgot,” the vampire whispered, “you do not yet understand what I speak of, do you?”

Snap!

He snapped his fingers.

Magical energy surged around her, rapidly forming a magical orb.

It was a spell she was familiar with, but she was surprised by how smoothly he controlled it.

The room suddenly erupted in an eerie light, revealing one of the most horrifying scenes she had ever witnessed.

Countless corpses hung from the ceiling, suspended by crimson ropes.

Their bodies were emaciated, their expressions frozen in eternal agony, as if silently screaming in terror.

Men, women, children, the elderly… countless human bodies hung there.

Fear widened her eyes as she finally understood the reason behind the nauseating stench that permeated the air.

It wasn't merely the odor of decay, but the sickening aura of death and despair.

The lives of those victims had been drained, silently suspended in the dim room, showcasing the horror of the vampire's endless hunger.

“Ugh—!”

Even someone as powerful as she was found it difficult to endure such a sight.

Her already weakened physical state finally gave way, and she vomited.

The vampire was unconcerned, watching her with a disdainful smile.

“Is it too much for you?” he sneered.

“Humans are always so fragile.”

Tap!

He took another step closer, relishing his control over her.

The dim light cast shadows across his face, highlighting the cruel nature beneath his refined features.

“Now…” He reached out a claw, gently tracing it across her cheek, as if savoring the weakness on her face.

“You must be curious as to why you are still alive,” he whispered, his voice as smooth as silk, yet sending shivers down her spine.

His touch was cold and sickening, causing Maya to tremble involuntarily.

“You still need to fulfill a purpose, one that I find… amusing.”

His smile widened, revealing sharp fangs, reveling in her fear.

“You possess something that makes you valuable, my dear,” the vampire continued, his voice laced with elegance and malice.

“Your magical energy, pure and abundant, is a rare delicacy.

It is also the reason I have chosen you to be my first companion in this world.”

This truth crashed down upon her like a suffocating shroud, making it almost impossible to breathe.

The thought of becoming a vampire, a creature closely associated with demons, with her enemies, sent a shiver down her spine.

The vampire licked its lips, its crimson eyes fixated on her with desire.

But soon, that desire turned to disgust in an instant.

“But you are now nothing more than a lowly human,” it sneered, its claw gently caressing her chin.

“It disgusts me.”

A wave of intense revulsion washed over her.

The vampire's contempt for humans was undisguised, and that contempt stirred a sense of pride within her.

“But do not worry,” the vampire continued with a wicked smile, “once the transformation is complete, you will be reborn as a being worthy to stand by my side, a being far superior to your current kind.”

The vampire's smile grew more sinister as he suddenly produced a small vial filled with black, viscous blood.

“Embrace your rebirth, my dear,” he whispered, his voice like a sinister melody, piercing her to the core.

She instinctively recoiled, clamping her mouth shut, desperately resisting the impending transformation.

“Useless.” The vampire was not deterred.

He swiftly and forcefully seized her chin, his claws digging into her skin, forcing her mouth open.

Dark satisfaction flickered in the vampire's eyes as its blood began to unleash a terrifying magical energy, initiating a bizarre transformation.

She could feel that magic intertwined with her own essence, gradually remaking her into a being beyond human.