Chapter 203: The Uninvited Guest

Chapter 203: Chapter 203: The Uninvited Guest

Location: En route to Cairo. Western Desert, Egypt. Night.

The desert stretched endlessly under a blanket of stars. A rugged, mana-powered vehicle — bought by Lucian at a desert outpost — cut through the silence, its engine humming a low, steady growl. Vrrrrrrm. Mickey sat behind the steering wheel, his crimson eyes focused on the dark road ahead. Lucian sat in the passenger seat, his elbow resting on the window frame, the night wind tugging at his silver hair.

The vehicle jolted over a dune. Thud. Lucian didn’t flinch. His crimson eyes stared out at the emptiness, but his mind was far away — in another world.

Lucian Noctis Vael.

The name echoed in his memories like a ghost. He remembered standing before armies — not with a sword, but with words. Strategy had been his greatest weapon, not raw power. He had manipulated entire factions into tearing each other apart before his forces ever engaged. He had built a shadow resistance from nothing — humans, rebel vampires, outcasts — turning the empire’s own infrastructure against itself.

He was doing the same thing now. Building a small force. The vampire clans were fragmented, arrogant, and blinded by their own ancient hierarchies. They didn’t understand that the most dangerous predator wasn’t the strongest — it was the one who planned ten moves ahead.

Mickey broke the silence. "Lucian."

"Hm?"

"I’ve been meaning to ask." Mickey’s grip tightened on the steering wheel. "How are you so much stronger every time I see you?"

Lucian turned his head slightly. "What do you mean?"

Mickey frowned, his eyes flicking between the road and Lucian. "When I arrived at the academy, you weren’t that impressive. Then came the tournament — you could be considered a prodigy at that point. At that time, you and I were probably on the same level. But now..." He shook his head. "You’re on a whole different league. You possess multiple abilities — blood, light, mental abilities. I can attribute some things like your insane physique and senses to your vampire side. After all, even I’m still getting used to my own. But you... you seem to be just built different."

Lucian was quiet for a moment. The wind howled outside. Fwoooo. He watched a distant sand dune drift in the wind.

"I’m just a visitor in this world," Lucian said softly.

Mickey glanced at him.

The silence returned. The vehicle rumbled on. Vrrrrrrm.

Then Lucian’s Blood Sense triggered.

"Stop the car."

Mickey slammed the brakes. Screeeech. The vehicle skidded to a halt on the sand. Lucian stepped out, his black coat billowing in the desert wind. His crimson eyes scanned the horizon.

FWOOOOSH.

A figure descended from the sky, landing directly in front of the vehicle with enough force to kick up a wall of sand. BOOM. The sand settled slowly, revealing a woman with silver hair, silver eyes with slit pupils, and pale skin that glowed faintly under the moonlight. Her arms were crossed. Her expression was a mixture of relief and barely contained fury.

Clara.

Lucian’s expression darkened. "Clara. What are you doing here?"

Mickey stepped out of the vehicle, leaning on the vehicle. He observed the scene with raised eyebrows.

Clara uncrossed her arms. "I tracked you. Ryan placed a microscopic tracker on you before you left Paris."

Lucian’s eye twitched. He murmured under his breath, frustration dripping from every syllable. "Damn it, Ryan."

He immediately scanned his body with Blood Sense, searching for the foreign object. He found it — a microscopic mana-chip embedded in the collar of his coat. He pinched it between his fingers and crushed it. Crick. The chip shattered into dust.

Clara continued, her voice tight. "I noticed you were gone from Paris. I called Rose. She told me you left for Egypt." Her voice rose, trembling with anger. "You were planning to leave without me. Again."

"Clara—"

"Are you trying to get killed?" Lucian shouted, his frustration boiling over. "Are you trying to fucking get them killed? Do you have any idea what’s out here?"

He sighed, dragging his hand down his face.

"Go back," Lucian said, his voice hard. "Go back to Paris. Now."

"No." Clara’s silver eyes blazed. "I’m not a damsel, Lucian. I’m an Early Grand Core master with SS-Rank abilities, and I’ve been training nonstop since you disappeared. I’m coming whether you like it or not."

Lucian stepped forward, his voice dropping to a cold growl. "This isn’t a game, Clara. The Apeps have Grand Core cultivators. Possibly more than one Peak Grand Core Realm. You—"

"And Mickey is here too!" Clara shot back, pointing at Mickey. "He’s just at Early Grand Core, same as me. Why does he get to stay?"

"Because I turned him. He follows my—"

"Because he’s useful to you?" Clara’s voice cracked. Her silver eyes glistened. "I’m tired of being left behind, Lucian. I’m tired of being pushed through portals and told to stay safe while you go off." She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "If you push me away one more time, I will never forgive you."

Silence.

The wind howled. Fwooooosh. Sand swirled around their feet.

Mickey watched the argument with undisguised amusement. A small smile played on his lips.

Lucian stared at Clara.

He sighed.

"Fine," he said quietly. "But you follow my orders. Every single one. No exceptions."

Clara’s expression softened instantly. "Okay."

Then her eyes shifted to Mickey. She studied him as her eyes narrowed.

"Mickey... you’re a vampire."

Mickey grinned, revealing small fangs. "Freshly minted."

Clara turned to Lucian, her expression a mixture of surprise and accusation. "You turned him?"

Lucian shrugged. "He lost his leg in the academy siege. My blood healed him and enhanced him. He needed the power, and I needed the ally."

Clara stared at him for a long moment, then shook her head.

"Get in the vehicle," Lucian said, walking back to the passenger side.

Clara jumped into the backseat with an energy that was almost childlike, her previous fury melting into excitement. Thud. The door shut. Mickey climbed into the driver’s seat and started the engine. Vrrrrrrm.

He glanced at Lucian in the passenger seat and laughed. "She completely dismantled you."

"Shut up and drive."

Two hours later.

Location: Cairo. Night.

The city rose from the desert like a colossus. Cairo was massive — a sprawling metropolis where ancient architecture and post-Cataclysm mana technology existed in a breathtaking, chaotic harmony. Mana-powered street lights lined the wide boulevards, casting pools of blue-white light. Military checkpoints dotted every major intersection, soldiers in tactical gear scanning vehicles with mana-detection devices. Hunter Guild outposts occupied nearly every corner.ℴ