Once Charlotte’s tears finally subsided, we sat beside each other on the grass.
We stared at our surroundings with furrowed brows, our minds still completely overwhelmed by everything that had happened.
“Ryuu… we really did reincarnate, didn’t we? Like in those novels everyone used to talk about back in high school?”
Charlotte stared at an enormous tree that looked almost impossible in size.
“Looks like it.”
I scratched the back of my neck.
“I have no idea what continent we’re on either. But since there aren’t any car horns or pollution around here, let’s just walk around for now. Consider it free healing.”
Charlotte nodded in agreement.
We stood up and began walking together, hand in hand, deeper into the ancient forest.
The first few minutes of our adventure were filled with equal parts wonder and awkwardness as our new bodies proved far more sensitive to the world around us than our old ones had ever been.
Not far from where we had awakened, our peaceful exploration suddenly became more interesting when Charlotte stopped walking.
Her eyes lit up as she stared at a small tree covered in round, golden-red fruits hanging from its branches.
“Ryuu, look! The fruit is so cute! I think we can eat it.”
She pointed toward the tree.
A small growl suddenly came from her stomach, causing her cheeks to flush with embarrassment.
Apparently, our new bodies still needed nourishment after the long process of reincarnation.
I walked closer and picked the ripest fruit.
Its skin felt warm.
Out of curiosity, I took a small bite.
The taste was incredible.
It was sweet, refreshing, and immediately sent a warm sensation throughout my body, restoring my stamina.
“It’s safe. And it’s really sweet. Here, open your mouth.”
I held the fruit toward Charlotte’s lips.
She took a small bite, and her eyes immediately lit up with delight.
We ended up eating several of the fruits there, laughing softly like a pair of teenagers enjoying a casual picnic in some unknown world. Get faster updates on novelping.com.
Once our stomachs were full, we continued deeper into the forest.
Partway through our journey, the trees suddenly became less dense, revealing an area that left both of us standing still in awe.
Before us stretched an ancient wild garden of breathtaking beauty.
Magical flowers of countless colors, flowers that had never existed on Earth, bloomed in abundance, each emitting a faint and beautiful glow.
At the center of the garden stood the ruins of magnificent ancient stone pillars, most of them covered in green moss and creeping vines.
The atmosphere was magical, quiet, and strangely peaceful.
“It’s so beautiful, Ryuu…”
Charlotte whispered as she slowly approached one of the ancient stone pillars, her fingers gently brushing against the petals blooming nearby.
For the first time, I saw a truly carefree smile on her face.
A smile untouched by the burdens of her old life.
Unfortunately, that peace didn’t last long.
GRRRRRRR…
A low, sharp growl suddenly shattered the silence of the garden, destroying our beautiful moment.
My vampire ears twitched instinctively.
From behind the bushes surrounding the ruined pillars emerged four enormous wild wolves.
Their fur was pitch black, and their red eyes glowed with hunger as they stared at us as though we were nothing more than an easy dinner.
“Ryuu!”
Charlotte flinched and instinctively stepped behind me.
“Stay behind me, Charlotte.”
My voice was firm.
My heart was pounding rapidly, not because I was afraid, but because the predator instinct within my vampire body had suddenly erupted.
The largest wolf suddenly lunged toward us, its fangs aimed directly at my neck. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
At that critical moment, my vision sharpened.
The absolute predator instinct of a Vampire King completely took control of my consciousness.
Time around me seemed to slow dramatically.
I could see the wolf’s trajectory and the exact point where its jaws would strike with perfect clarity.
Without knowing how or why, I simply took one step forward and snapped my fingers in the air, releasing a faint wave of murderous intimidation.
BOOM!
An invisible gravitational pressure slammed into the atmosphere with overwhelming force.
The massive wolf that had been charging through the air suddenly crashed into the ground.
The other three wolves immediately stopped when they witnessed the horrifying sight.
Their bodies trembled violently.
They dropped to their knees in terror as they stared into my glowing red star-shaped eyes, radiating the absolute bloodlust of a Progenitor.
The next moment, the pack turned around and fled into the darkness of the forest.
Silence returned.
I lowered my hand as the slowed perception in my eyes gradually returned to normal.
Charlotte stared at me from behind my back, her round eyes wide with disbelief.
“Ryuu… did you just… use magic?!”
I stared at my own palm, which still seemed to be filled with that dense, mysterious energy.
“I guess so. I just followed my instincts. Looks like we really can use strange powers in this world.”
We looked at each other.
Then we both laughed softly.
We had no idea how vast or complicated the powers within our new bodies were.
But knowing that we had enough power to survive in this forest made us feel much more at ease.
Our peaceful adventure continued with a newfound sense of confidence.