Chapter 504: Chain of Blood

Selena’s gaze lingered on Isolde, who was still savoring her tea with calm, deliberate poise. The servant stepped forward and refilled her cup. Isolde gave a small nod of thanks, the gesture elegant and composed.

Selena watched her in silence.

’Isolde Draven should have released all her familiars when she left the Demon Kingdom. Yet now she’s started collecting them again?’

She lifted her own cup, but didn’t drink.

’This is a surprise. It means she’s seriously preparing to defy them once they reach Demon Territory.’

Lilith leaned forward in her chair, her crimson eyes gleaming with amusement. She rested her chin on her palm and glanced at Isolde.

"Go on, Isolde. Bring her out. I want to see that pathetic face again."

Isolde didn’t look at her. She set her cup down with a soft click.

"She’s not your toy, Lilith."

"I know," Lilith said, her smile widening. "That’s why I’m asking you."

Isolde let out a slow breath. Then she raised her hand, palm open, fingers spread. Her crimson eyes began to glow, a deep, blood-red light that pulsed faintly in the dim room.

"Come forth, my familiar."

Her voice dropped, cold and commanding.

"Your master calls. Obey."

The air shifted. The temperature in the room dropped.

Blood began to seep from the floorboards—thin lines at first, then thick streams that pooled and rose, defying gravity. The crimson liquid climbed upward in a slow, deliberate spiral, taking shape, forming limbs, a torso, a face.

Celine materialized in the center of the room.

Her war uniform was still torn and scorched from the battle. Her severed wrist still dripped dark red onto the floor. And on her neck, freshly healed but unmistakable, was the mark of a vampire’s bite.

Celine’s eyes snapped open. They locked onto Isolde with pure, burning hatred.

"YOU DAMN VAMPIRE!!!"

She lunged forward, but her body stopped mid-step. Invisible chains held her in place, wrapped around her limbs, her throat, her very will. She trembled with rage, her fists clenched so tight her nails drew blood from her own palms.

"RELEASE ME!!!"

Isolde didn’t flinch. She picked up her tea and took a slow, elegant sip.

"No."

Celine’s eyes burned with fury as she stared at Isolde, who sat there with perfect calm, sipping her tea as if nothing in the world could disturb her. That composure only made the rage inside Celine boil hotter.

She attacked, desperate to break free from this humiliation.

But her body jerked to a stop mid-motion. Her arm froze in the air, trembling, straining against the invisible chains that bound her.

"Damn it! Damn it! DAMN IT!!!"

Lilith burst out laughing. She leaned back in her chair, one hand pressed against her stomach, her crimson eyes shining with pure, unfiltered amusement.

"Ahahaha! Look at you! Look at that face!"

Celine’s head snapped toward her. Her vision blurred with rage as she recognized the woman, the one who had taken her hand.

"What’s funny, you bitch?! WHAT’S SO FUNNY?!"

She thrashed against the invisible chains, her body convulsing with fury. Her voice cracked, raw and desperate.

"I’LL KILL YOU! I’LL KILL ALL OF YOU! EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU!!"

Lilith’s laughter only grew louder. She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, her smile wide and cruel.

"Ahaha! She’s even better than I expected!"

Isolde set her cup down with a soft click and glanced at Lilith.

"You’re enjoying this too much."

Lilith shrugged, still grinning.

"Of course I am. Of course I am. She was so arrogant and prideful when she faced us, like she was untouchable." She tilted her head, eyes gleaming. "Now look at her. On her knees, screaming, helpless. Isn’t this exactly what she deserves?"

Celine’s body trembled. Her voice came out low, ragged, each word dragging through clenched teeth.

"One day... I swear... I’ll make you pay for this..."

Selena watched the scene unfold before her, her expression calm but her eyes sharp. She lifted the cup to her lips, took a measured sip, then lowered it again.

"So this is the Chain of Blood," she said quietly. "The binding that turns someone into a familiar, loyal only to their master."

She tilted her head slightly, watching the invisible chains that held Celine in place.

"I’m a little jealous, honestly."

The servant standing behind her stiffened. His eyes widened, and he glanced at Selena with visible alarm.

Selena noticed. She turned her head slightly and gave him a faint, amused smile.

"I’m only joking."

The servant exhaled quietly, relief washing over his face.

Across the table, Isolde raised her hand. The air around her fingers shimmered, and a thin, crimson chain materialized in her palm. It coiled like a living thing, pulsing with a faint heartbeat rhythm.

"I never wanted to use this again," she said quietly. "It binds the will of another to your own. It takes away their choice."

She closed her hand around the chain. It shattered like glass, dissolving into wisps of red light.

"But I can’t afford to be selfish anymore. Not when we might end up facing the entire Demon Kingdom on our own."

Lilith, still lounging in her chair, watched Celine’s trembling form with undisguised amusement. She rested her chin on her palm, her crimson eyes gleaming with lazy satisfaction.

"Speaking of that binding," she said, not looking away from Celine. "You could have used it on Adam when you first met him. Why didn’t you?"

Isolde didn’t answer right away. She crossed one leg over the other, posture perfectly still.

"I did try," she said at last.

Lilith turned her head, one eyebrow lifting.

Isolde set the cup down.

"But his body is... strange. The Chain of Blood couldn’t take hold. It slid off him like water." She paused, her brow furrowing slightly. "I don’t know if it’s because of the Crown of Gluttony, or because his body is simply different from anything I’ve ever encountered."

She looked at Lilith.

"Either way, it didn’t work. He’s not something I can bind."