CHAPTER 312: I REJECT YOU AS MY FOLLOWER

Damon stared at the system interface for a moment longer before selecting ’Yes’ without hesitation and decisively ended the binding follower contract. "I’m rejecting you as a follower," he said flatly.

The words hit harder than any blow. Kaelthorn paled as he looked up in confusion and despair. "My... Lord?"

"I said you’re not my follower," Damon repeated.

"I’m not giving you a system-bound contract. You will not receive any official follower benefits. You won’t get a title, a share of my loot, or access to faction resources. You’ll have no privileges, no immunity, and no name under my banner. In the eyes of the Blood Hall, you’ll just be a rogue vampire loitering near a rising lord without permission. You will still be a prisoner, and you might even be hunted down."

Kaelthorn opened his mouth, but Damon didn’t stop.

"Your life will get worse from here, not better. I’m heading to a place where even I might die, much less a traitor without a fraction of his former strength. You won’t have system teleport privileges. And no guarantee I’ll lift a finger if things go sideways."

Damon looked at him and spelled it out. "Let me ask you again. Do you still wish to follow me?"

Kaelthorn didn’t answer immediately. He looked down at his hands, scarred, trembling, empty. Then he forced himself up to his knees.

"If that’s the path I must take... then so be it. I was already dead the day she died. Everything since has just been borrowed time. If I have to walk through fire without armor to prove I’m worthy, I will. I’ll serve without a title, without a bond. I’ll serve until I burn out or until you see something in me."

Damon watched him silently. "Then swear it. Let me see that Blood Oath."

Kaelthorn bit his thumb without hesitation, letting the blood drip onto the stone. He slammed his fist over his chest. "By my blood and soul, I swear to serve Lord Blood God until death claims me or he no longer finds use in me. If I betray him again... may my blood rot and my soul be damned."

[Ding! You have a new follower request. Do you wish to accept it?]

Damon gave a small nod and quickly accepted it this time. "Get up. You’re not my follower... but you’ll walk behind me for now."

Kaelthorn rose slowly, a strange calm settling over him. "Yes, my Lord."

Damon didn’t respond. He simply turned and walked away. "Let’s see if you’re still standing when we reach the other side." Damon prepared to head out when Kaelthorn stopped him for a second time.

"My Lord, please wait. Before we leave, might I suggest that we stop by the Blood Hall Treasury?" Kaelthorn suggested.

"Hmmm? Blood Hall has a treasury?" Damon was surprised. Its second-level upgrade was still not complete, so he did not think it would have one.

Kaelthorn gave a faint smile. "Of course, it has one, my Lord. Every Hall, no matter how small or big, has one. Lord Varnyx is usually stingy when it comes to things like this. Unless you pry things from the man’s claws, he would not willingly hand over anything to you."

Damon nodded. "Fine. Let’s go and take a look." He did not expect the guy to become useful so soon and was pretty curious to see what this treasury actually offered.

Kaelthorn bowed deeply and turned without hesitation, guiding Damon down into the winding corridors of the Blood Hall. He finally stopped before a sealed obsidian door adorned with blood-red glyphs. "This is the first treasury vault." He bowed and stepped back.

Damon stepped forward and placed his palm on the door. Almost immediately, the door shuddered. A deep, growling hum echoed through the hallway, and the glyphs flared one by one, pulsing like a heartbeat. With a grating groan, the vault slowly opened, releasing a cold rush of air.

Before Damon could see what was inside, Varnyx quickly appeared in front of him. "My Lord, if you had asked me, I would have personally escorted you here." He turned to glare slightly at Kaelthorn before shifting his gaze back to Damon again.

Damon smiled. "Are you telling me that I should inform you of every little thing before I move a muscle, Varnyx?"

The ancient vampire’s expression tightened, though his bow remained impeccable. "Of course not, my Lord. You are free to do as you please. I merely meant... There are certain protocols in place to ensure your safety. The treasury is not just a room of loot, it’s a chamber of blood-bound relics, some of which remember their last wielders. And not all of them are fond of new hands."

Damon’s eyes gleamed. Every little bit could help him with his next destination. So he needed to be as prepared as possible.

When he saw that Damon did not respond, Varnyx bowed again and offered. "Then at least allow me to serve as your guide."

Damon nodded, and Varnyx stepped inside the huge chamber. The vault stretched wide, carved from black stone that glistened faintly with crimson veins. Rows of sealed cases lined the walls, but most of them were just potions from the looks of it.

"My Lord, let me remind you that you are now allowed to withdraw one treasure from the vault due to your current title." Varnyx paused just long enough to emphasize the words "one treasure." "Any more would trigger the Blood Vault’s protective curse. And even you are not yet immune to that."

Kaelthorn immediately added. "I think the Lord can also withdraw some consumables and three skill books? Or am I wrong?"

"You are... not wrong," Varnyx admitted through clenched teeth, clearly displeased that Kaelthorn had known something he hadn’t intended to share just yet. "I was coming to that. You merely stated it before I could explain things to the Lord."

"Sure, you were." Kaelthorn smiled.

Varnyx ignored him and continued to explain.

***

Please thank Syphatrol for the mass release