CHAPTER 173: THE RULER OF BEASTS

The throne room fell into silence.

The Vampire King’s gaze sharpened, his piercing crimson eyes studying Aamir with an intensity that could crush ordinary men. The royal guards around the hall tightened their grips on their weapons, unsure whether to see this newcomer as an ally or a threat.

Aamir stood in the center of the room, completely unfazed, his hands still casually in his pockets.

Luman’s calm, calculating voice echoed in his mind.

"Host, introduce yourself properly. Call yourself what you are—the King of Beasts."

Aamir raised an eyebrow slightly. King of Beasts?

"Why?"

"Because," Luman replied, his tone carrying a rare note of amusement, "these vampires respect strength above all else. Give them a name that shakes their pride... and they will remember you as someone untouchable."

A slow grin spread across Aamir’s face. "Well... that does sound fun."

He took a step forward, his boots clicking against the black marble floor. His aura flared—not in a crushing wave this time, but in a quiet, controlled dominance that demanded attention.

And then, he spoke.

"I am Aamir... The Ruler of Beasts."

The words rang through the throne room like a thunderclap.

The vampire guards exchanged glances, their expressions shifting from hostility to unease. Even the Vampire King tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable, though his gaze sharpened further as if weighing every word.

"Ruler... of Beasts?" the king repeated slowly, his deep voice carrying a hint of curiosity. "An interesting title... and a dangerous one to claim in my court."

Aamir smirked, completely unfazed. "I don’t make claims. I state facts."

For a moment, silence reigned. The flames in the black crystal chandeliers seemed to sway, casting long shadows across the hall.

One of the royal guards finally broke the tension, stepping forward. "Your Majesty, should we—"

"Quiet," the king said sharply, raising his hand. His gaze never left Aamir.

A slow chuckle escaped his lips, low and dangerous. "Ruler of Beasts... I have heard many titles in my centuries of reign, but never that one. Tell me, Aamir—what brings the ruler of another world into mine?"

Aamir stepped closer, stopping just before the base of the throne’s steps. His crimson eyes locked with the king’s without a shred of fear.

"I came because you need me," Aamir said bluntly. "Whether you admit it or not, your world has problems. I solve problems."

The king’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of intrigue passing through them. "And why... would a man who calls himself a king serve another?"

Aamir’s smirk widened. "Oh, I don’t serve anyone. I help if I want to. And right now..." He leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping into a cold whisper that carried across the throne room. "I want to."

The room trembled faintly—not from power, but from sheer tension.

The Vampire King sat back on his throne, his expression unreadable, but the faintest trace of a smile ghosted across his lips.

"Very well," he said at last. "If what you say is true... then perhaps this will be interesting."

Luman’s voice echoed in Aamir’s mind, sounding almost smug. "See, host? Impact achieved."

Aamir smirked silently. Yeah... this might actually be fun.

The king raised one hand, his deep voice resonating through the chamber.

"Very well, Aamir, Ruler of Beasts. You will dine with me tonight... and tomorrow, we shall speak of the war that plagues this planet. If you truly are what you claim... then prove it."

Aamir grinned. "Sounds good. Just don’t bore me, King."

For the first time in centuries, the Vampire King laughed. A sharp, low sound that carried an edge of danger—like steel scraping against stone.

"Amusing... Very well. Guards, prepare the guest chambers for our... unusual visitor."

As the guards bowed and hurried away, Aamir stood there, smirking. His presence had shifted the balance of the entire hall.

And in the mind of every vampire present, one thought took root:

Who exactly... is this man?

Aamir walked through the long corridor, escorted by two vampire royal guards, until they reached a pair of towering doors carved with bat-wing patterns and blood-red runes. The doors swung open, revealing a grand dining hall unlike anything he had seen before.

The room was vast, its high ceilings decorated with chandeliers of black crystal burning with crimson flames. The long dining table stretched nearly the entire length of the hall, polished to a mirror sheen and set with plates of silver edged with dark runes.

At the head of the table sat the Vampire King, his imposing figure calm yet commanding. To his right sat a regal lady with sharp, elegant features—her beauty cold and dignified, like a queen carved from shadow.

Next to her were two younger vampires—a boy and a girl, both appearing to be in their twenties. Their crimson eyes glimmered with curiosity as they observed Aamir. The boy carried an air of discipline and formality, while the girl looked sharper, almost mischievous, as if nothing escaped her notice.

The Vampire King gestured with an open hand.

"Please... sit, King Aamir."

Aamir raised an eyebrow at the title but smirked slightly. Guess the name stuck faster than I thought.

He pulled out a chair and sat down across from the royal family. The air carried the faint scent of iron and spice, an unusual mix that was oddly appetizing in its own way.

Before him, dozens of dishes were laid out—strange meats, fruits dark as midnight, and glasses of a deep crimson liquid that shimmered unnaturally under the light.

The Vampire King leaned forward slightly, his deep voice resonating across the hall.

"Go ahead, King Aamir. Taste one of our finest meals. You will find no feast greater than what is served in my hall."

Aamir smirked, glancing at the red drink. "Well... I’ll be the judge of that."

Luman’s voice echoed in his head.

"Host, analysis suggests that’s not ordinary wine."

Aamir chuckled internally. Yeah... I figured that much.

He picked up the glass, sniffed it lightly, then glanced at the king. "So... this isn’t poisoned, is it?"

The Vampire King chuckled darkly. "If I wanted you dead, Aamir, I wouldn’t waste good wine."

Aamir grinned. "Fair enough."

He brought the glass to his lips and drank. The taste was rich, thicker than wine, with a strange warmth that spread through his body like fire. Surprisingly... it wasn’t bad.

He set the glass down, his smirk widening.

"Well... I’ll admit. That’s actually good."

The king leaned back, watching him carefully. The young vampire boy’s eyes widened slightly, while the girl tilted her head with a sly grin.

"See?" the king said, his tone carrying a note of satisfaction. "Even an outsider can appreciate the taste of vampire craft."

Aamir chuckled. "Not bad. But let’s see what else you’ve got."

He reached for one of the dishes, his crimson eyes flickering with amusement.

Luman’s voice hummed in his mind.

"Careful, host. This is more than a dinner... this is a test."

Aamir smirked. Yeah... I know. Let’s see how much fun I can have with this.

But then—

Aamir’s instincts flared. His hand shot up without thought, fingers closing around empty air—only to catch the sharp impact of two simultaneous strikes.

BAM!

Two figures appeared out of nowhere: the vampire prince and princess, their crimson eyes burning with youthful arrogance. Their kicks met his palms, but Aamir didn’t even budge.

He raised an eyebrow, his smirk playful.

"Well... that was not a good move."

The two royal siblings pushed off, landing a few feet back, their expressions filled with surprise and determination. The boy clenched his fists; the girl cracked her knuckles, grinning mischievously.

Aamir slowly rose from his chair, rolling his shoulders casually.

"Well, well," he said with mock amusement, "so you two want to test me, huh? Guess dinner’s getting interesting."

The siblings darted forward again, this time faster. Their movements were sharp and disciplined—kicks and punches coming from every angle. But to Aamir, it was almost... slow.

He tilted his head, dodging their attacks effortlessly, his expression calm as if he were merely swatting away flies.

"Not bad," Aamir chuckled. "But—"

In an instant, he flicked his finger.

Tap.

The gentle motion landed squarely on the girl’s forehead.

BOOM!

The princess went flying backward like a cannonball, slamming into the wall with a loud crack before sliding down, dazed but unharmed.

"Ah, that had to sting," Aamir said casually, turning toward the prince, who froze mid-attack.

The Vampire King suddenly stood up, his voice sharp but controlled.

"Sir Aamir, please! Stop! My children are... a bit hyperactive. They cause trouble far too often. But I beg you—don’t kill them."

Aamir laughed lightly, waving his hand dismissively.

"Relax, old man. I’m just playing with the kids a little. If I wanted to hurt them, they wouldn’t be standing."

The prince’s face turned red with embarrassment, while the princess—still rubbing her forehead—glared at Aamir with a mix of frustration and reluctant respect.

Aamir smirked.

"Cute kids though. Strong... but not strong enough."

The room fell silent for a moment, the tension replaced with an odd air of amusement. Even the Vampire King allowed a faint smile to tug at the corner of his lips.

Luman’s voice echoed in Aamir’s mind.

"Host... you just humiliated vampire royalty in front of their father. Either they’ll hate you forever... or they’ll admire you."

Aamir chuckled inwardly. Guess I’ll find out soon enough.

The Vampire King sat back down slowly, his eyes gleaming with interest.

"Amazing... even my children couldn’t touch you. Perhaps... you really are what you claim to be."

Aamir pulled his chair back, sitting down again with a calm grin.

"Told you. I’m Aamir, the King of Beasts. And I don’t lose to anyone easily."

The prince clenched his jaw, but the princess smirked.

"This is going to be fun," she muttered.