CHAPTER 429: THE FOREST AMBUSH

Lilith clapped once, slowly. "Better. You’re beginning to understand the essence of combat. But don’t let victory blind you. A stronger opponent will crush arrogance in a single strike."

Amber bowed her head, swallowing her pride. "I will remember."

---

The Mountain Beasts

Further along their journey, they climbed into rugged mountains. The air grew thinner, the terrain harsher, yet Amber’s resolve only deepened. It was there that monstrous beasts ambushed them—hulking creatures of stone and fur, their roars echoing like thunder.

Amber charged ahead, eager to test her growing strength. She darted between the beasts’ massive claws, slicing tendons, severing muscles, her blood arts enhancing her speed. But one of the creatures caught her mid-dodge, hurling her against a rock. Pain seared through her, bones nearly snapping.

Lilith’s voice cut through the chaos, calm yet commanding. "Amber, precision. Don’t just slash blindly. Read their movements—predict, then strike."

Gritting her teeth, Amber steadied herself. She slowed her breathing, recalling every lesson. When the beast lunged again, she sidestepped with grace, driving her dagger deep into its eye. With a twist, she ended its roar forever.

One by one, the monsters fell. Amber’s clothes were torn, her body bruised, but her eyes blazed with satisfaction. She was no longer fighting recklessly—she was learning, adapting, becoming something far more dangerous.

---

Night by the Campfire

At night, beneath the silver glow of the moon, the two vampires rested. Amber often stared into the fire, clutching her crimson dagger.

"Everything I’m doing... it’s for him," she whispered, more to herself than to Lilith. "For my master. I want to be at his side, not as a burden, but as his blade."

Lilith glanced at her, her expression unreadable, yet her eyes softened slightly. "Then you must be prepared to sacrifice everything. Power has no mercy—it demands blood, sweat, and even sanity. Are you ready to walk that path?"

Amber’s gaze never wavered. "Yes. If it’s for him, I’ll give everything."

---

The Bandit Fortress

On their final stretch before reaching the academy’s borders, they stumbled upon a fortress run by ruthless bandits. The place reeked of death, with cages of prisoners and piles of stolen goods.

Amber’s fangs bared in disgust. "Scum like them don’t deserve to live."

"Then prove it," Lilith said simply.

They stormed the fortress like a storm descending upon the earth. Amber tore through the bandits with feral grace, her dagger a crimson blur. She drained the blood of her enemies mid-battle, her strength multiplying with each kill.

The bandit leader, an Origin Level 6 brute with dual axes, roared as he faced her. Their battle was brutal—sparks flew with every clash, the ground shaking beneath their strikes. He fought like a beast, but Amber fought like a predator, her eyes glowing scarlet in the night.

At last, with a feint and a vicious counter, she plunged her dagger through his chest, crimson light bursting outward as his life drained away.

The fortress was silent, save for the crackle of flames as Amber and Lilith set it ablaze.

Amber stood amidst the carnage, breathing heavily, her expression cold yet proud. "For my master," she whispered again, her vow etched deeper than ever before.

---

Return to the Academy

When the spires of the academy finally came into view, Amber felt the weight of her journey pressing upon her shoulders—not as a burden, but as strength. She had fought mercenaries, monsters, and bandits. She had bled, endured, and grown.

She was no longer the same girl who had once hesitated in battle. She was a vampire sharpened by fire, a blade forged in blood. And all of it—every fight, every victory, every scar—belonged to her master.

Lilith glanced at her, lips curling faintly.

"You’ve grown. But remember, Amber—growth never ends. The moment you believe you are strong enough, you will fall."

Amber nodded, her crimson eyes glowing with unwavering determination. "Then I’ll never stop. For his sake, I’ll keep growing stronger, no matter what."

’’Great! Everything is for the master. Let’s hurry back, maybe we can stop by that city.’’ A sudden suggestion Amber couldn’t refuse.

Seeing the expectation inside her eyes, Lilith decided to stop by that city, it was a short vacation, they must enjoy it. Orpheus had ordered them to.

°°°

The cobblestone road wound downward from the hills, and soon the towering spires of a bustling city rose in the distance. Unlike the wilderness of monsters and bandits they had carved their way through, this place shimmered with life. Banners of crimson and gold fluttered from the gates, and even from afar Amber could hear laughter, music, and the endless chatter of crowds.

"Quite lively for somewhere so close to the academy," Amber remarked, her crimson eyes narrowing with curiosity.

Lilith gave a faint smile. "It’s a trade hub. Merchants from the north and south converge here. You’ll find all manner of delicacies... and distractions."

Amber’s lips curved into a small grin. "Then let’s see what this city has to offer."

At the gates, guards inspected travelers briefly before allowing them inside. The moment Amber and Lilith passed through, the atmosphere shifted. The streets were alive with a symphony of scents and colors. Stalls lined the avenues, selling skewered meats, sweet pastries dripping with honey, roasted chestnuts, exotic spices, and steaming bowls of broth that filled the air with savory fragrance.

Children ran past carrying candied fruits, merchants shouted over one another to advertise their goods, and traveling performers juggled knives while crowds applauded.

Amber inhaled deeply, her vampiric senses drinking in every detail—the rhythm of a lute in the distance, the metallic scent of coins changing hands, and above all, the intoxicating aroma of food.

Her stomach, long used to blood and battlefield meals, rumbled faintly.

Lilith noticed. "Go on. Try something. You’ve earned it."

Amber’s first stop was a skewer stall. A burly cook with a thick beard fanned flames beneath sizzling meats, fat dripping onto the coals with loud hisses. He handed her a stick of grilled boar, seasoned with coarse salt and wild herbs.