Atlas walked with Morganna to the building's parking area, where rows of vehicles lined the lot, ranging from sleek cars to advanced bikes. A man in a black suit awaited him by one of the vehicles, offering a respectful bow as they approached.
"Mr. Atlas Blackthorn, I'm a representative from the Association, here to present this gift for you," the man said courteously.
"This is… well, really exciting for me. But seriously, you're giving it away for free?"
"It's a gesture of goodwill," the man explained, "to build a positive relationship with promising Lords. And I heard you just secured a solid team of Awakeners to work with you? I'm pleased to hear it."
The man then walked Atlas through the basics, demonstrating the vehicle's features.
"Connect your Device here, and it will sync automatically with your Awakener Device. I see you also hold a license for floating vehicles, good to know."
"Yeah, I registered for it ages ago, hoping I'd get my hands on one someday," Atlas admitted.
"This is the commercial version of the Dune Phantom. It doesn't come equipped with the offensive systems used by soldiers, but this is the latest model. I hope you enjoy it. And please, reach out if you need any further assistance."
He continued, "And here's the safety belt, which keeps you securely attached to the bike. It also has an emergency parachute installed, in case of a critical situation." He pointed to a compartment of the bike.
"Yes, thanks," Atlas replied, taking one and fastening it around himself.
With that, the man left, leaving Atlas alone with his new hover bike! He could barely contain his excitement at receiving such an incredible gift.
How much would this have cost if he'd bought it himself? Seriously, they just gave it away? This Empire must truly be swimming in wealth.
Atlas climbed onto his bike, activating the auto-drive feature with a light touch. He smiled as a soft hum resonated from the vehicle. It was a sound that came from the processed Monster Core powering it.
Monster cores, harvested from hunting creatures, were then refined and used as energy sources. Once fully charged, this bike could run for one to two months without needing a recharge.
Sure, he had his magic Floating Throne too, a far more advanced craft that could carry several people and respond to his mental commands alone. But still, this bike was part of a long-held dream of his, a gift he cherished deeply and had no intention of letting go.
He turned to Morganna, who stood with her arms crossed.
"Come on," he said, patting the back seat. The vehicle began to hover gently.
To his surprise, Morganna sat side-saddle without a word. Maybe this was his chance to talk to her more. Honestly, he needed to get to know everyone on a deeper level. They were going to share the same fate, face countless challenges together, hovering between life and death. It only made sense to understand their personalities, not just treat them like tools or subordinates.
The Dune Phantom glided forward with remarkable smoothness. Atlas could feel the rush of excitement welling up inside him, the thrill, the sheer exhilaration. It was like a jolt of energy he wanted to scream out, a laugh he could barely keep in.
"Woohoo, this is amazing! Hahaha!" he burst out, unable to hold it back any longer.
He glanced at Morganna. "Sorry, it's my first time," he said, chuckling. But she didn't respond.
The Dune Phantom sped along their path, then smoothly lifted to the elevated track set for hover vehicles. Soon, the city skyline that had been distant and below came into full view. Digital billboards cast a vivid glow across their faces, while the hum of other vehicles and the wind rushing past filled the air around them.
The bike cruised at a moderate pace. He wanted to savor this experience, hovering through such an advanced city. The excitement on his face was impossible to hide.
The bike veered onto a quieter path, perfect for a leisurely ride through the city. But as they continued, a noticeable silence lingered between them.
Now, he thought, how on earth should he start a conversation with this Overlord Rank Vampire Queen?
"Hi," he said.
Morganna sat sidesaddle, leaning her left shoulder lightly against his back. He glanced over his shoulder, trying to read her expression, but she only gave him a quick sidelong look without responding.
"Were you… an Overlord back there? In your world?" he asked gently, hoping to connect with her, or maybe just to understand her a little better.
"Immortal."
Damn!
Wait! No way!
Atlas's mind scrambled to process that single word.
First, yes, she'd actually answered his question with a straightforward response, which felt like a victory in itself. But second, holy hell! Immortal?! She was at Immortal rank?! Even higher than Edrik and Karian had predicted?
Atlas swallowed hard, mind reeling as he tried to imagine the sheer scope of her power in her original world. Flying through the air at supersonic speeds? Crumbling mountains with a flick of her fingers? Unleashing devastation with a single skill cast? Could she actually reduce New Earth to rubble if she wanted to?
"Immortal…" he echoed, almost breathless, struggling to find words that could match the weight of what she'd just said.
"That's… so high, so godlike, so… magnificent." He shook his head slightly. "I honestly don't know how else to express my awe."
"It was a long journey," she continued.
This was gold! Hearing Morganna finally open up was a rare and priceless moment.
Atlas focused all his attention on her words, listening intently.
"Five…" she started, then paused, "five thousand years."
Atlas swallowed hard. Holy damn. Morganna was even older than Lyrassa, ten times her age, in fact. To her, Lyrassa must seem like a mere child, and Atlas himself, probably just an insignificant insect.
He couldn't help but wonder just how vast, how brutal, how epic her battles must have been, each one pushing her closer to the Immortal rank. And yet, in the end, they'd brought her here, summoned as a subordinate to a newly awakened Lord who could barely wield a spear.
"You wouldn't survive what I've been through," she said after a long silence.
"I won't pretend I would," he replied quietly.
"Humans are… fragile. Short-lived. Nothing special about them," she continued. "No survival mechanisms worth mentioning. They're just that weak… and useless."
Well, she wasn't wrong. Humans, on average, only lived about 60 years. Even the Awakened could only hope to double that, and even then, it was still brief compared to someone like her, who had existed for thousands of years.
"I can see where you're coming from," he replied.
Could humans live longer? Sure, but for a pure human to even reach 200 required intense dedication, and most didn't make it that far. Unless... they did something drastic to alter their bodies, sacrificing their humanity in the process.
"Become a vampire, and you'll have more time to live," Morganna said, prompting Atlas to turn toward her again.
***
(Author's Note:)
Morganna just revealed her Immortal rank and even offered Atlas a path to longevity by becoming a vampire! 😳
It's pretty rare for her to open up like this, and she's finally sharing her view of humans, fragile, short-lived, and nothing special in her eyes. But can Atlas really accept that offer, knowing it might mean giving up parts of his humanity?
How do you think he should respond?