Empress' Evolution
Chapter 10: Dhampy

Using berries and meat, she got on the way. Lilith lured the Goblins out of their dens.

Using the meat and the frail and innocent figure of the One Horn, she drew 4 Dens worth of Goblins to the clearing. She then killed some of the Goblins on both sides then snuck as a Newt before setting everything ablaze.

After doing all that, Lilith now stood before her purpose. She saw this Dhampir by chance. She saw it when the entrance opened by chance; it was being butchered by the Hobgoblin at the time.

Lilith was pretty sure this Dhampir would be dead and was willing to coax whatever race it was kept in this place, but replaceing the Dhampir still alive was a rather pleasant surprise.

[Dhampir LVL 17 (Common)]

The shelters were burning, it was a hell-like situation, but Lilith stood before the Dhampir as a loli with confidence. She had a comically evil expression, and the Dhampir stared at her with widened eyes.

"You can stare at my glorious image for all you like, but it will not change the situation, and soon enough, you will die. I only have another 30 seconds to wait for your answer — correction 25 seconds left. You can either die here and continue becoming the meat of the Goblins or —"

"I'll join you if you can help me leave this place. I will become your follower, I will worship you if you wish for me to do it. Give me a chance to live, and I will cast aside my name and accept what you'll bestow upon me."

[System: Number of willing followers: 1/2]

'That was easier than I thought... she's weird.'

===

[I know right, I thought all your effort would go down the drain like always but who would have thought you'd gain a follower?]

===

Lilith waved her hand and burned off the thick rope-vine that bounded the Dhampir's neck and then ripped apart the collar.

"No need to change your name. I only need a follower, not a slave. Stan...right, you can't do that." Lilith expected to escape together with the Dhampir. She hoped for it to run, but after seeing its four limbs had been severed, Lilith sighed but soon smiled and giggled.

"This is going to be rough, but we'll get out of here. Oh yeah, don't ask any question, while we are running!"

Outside

The Goblins continued to fight with other Goblins. The Hobgoblin had decimated the ranks of the invading enemy. It was strong, stronger than any of present enemy.

It was happily observing the situation whilst enjoying the slaughter. Its level had already increased after the hunt, the Hobgoblin was satisfied, but then, a loud crash caught its attention.

It turned to look at the camp; there, it saw a sight that caused it to shriek in anger.

"Food! No! Run! Away!"

Tied with a thick vine, an Ash Leopard was escaping with their meat source. The Ash Leopard was running with all its might, not turning back only looking ahead. The Ash Leopard was pulling the Dhampir as if it was paper.

"Ow, hey, be careful, if I twist my neck I'm going to die, you know!"

"Bah, who cares, at least try not to make me do more work than I already am. How dare you make your Boss do such a chore!"

Lilith complained as she ran with all her might. Seeing its meat escape with an unknown feline, was enough to make the Hobgoblin rage. But it could not go after them.

Every time it would turn away, the Goblins would rush it, pinning it down and stopping it from going after Lilith.

"SKRIEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!" The Hobgoblin screeched.

'It's pissed...' Lilith laughed but didn't really care. Before that thing could gather itself, she should have already made her escaped. Truly, retreating was the best tactic to keep her head.

While Lilith was on the run, the Dhampir was left to consider if it would have been better off staying at the Goblin Camp. But it then shook its head after giving the situation a quick assessment.

Lilith continued running for dear life, and the Dhampir spent its stamina praying.

Lilith retreated to her Den. Throwing the Dhampir to one side and almost collapsing due to her fatigue that had reached 90%, Lilith frowned.

The no-named Dhampir slowly sat on the cold ground; it bowed low touching the surface with its forehead showing its appreciation.

"I wouldn't have been able to escape the camp with my strength, thank you for granting me another chance in life. Now, can I ask if you are still my master? If this Leopard before me is still the One Horn noble, who saved me?"

Lilith remained silent.

'If not for the fact I don't know what will happen if I simply left you for dead. Sigh, it is already asking too many questions.'

===

[It is better safe than sorry, Lilith.]

===

'I know.'

Lilith grumbled and slowly stood up. She turned to the Dhampir and scoffed.

"No shit, didn't you see me change my form? Oh yeah, I changed my mind, I'm going to name you after all."

"That is fine, with me."

Granting a name to a daemon was similar to chain it. A chained daemon stronger than its master in terms of evolution and level was impossible, but it was possible for Lilith, who had the system's assistance.

After all, if she could only ensla... I mean recruit those weaker than her, then the dream of becoming an Empress would be harder than it should be.

Lilith saw the regenerating limbs of the Dhampir and smiled, realizing its uses. Although she does not plan on eating it, she was still considering the possibilities.

"I presumed you have a super-strong ability of regeneration, but seeing first hand is something else entirely. What level of regeneration do you have?"

"It is but a medium-regeneration passive skill, I am told Dhampirs have low-regeneration capabilities but mine mutated about seven months ago."

"Interesting."

Lilith was acting as if everything happening in front of her was normal. The Dhampir was a part of a noble race; they were the spawn of Vampires and had strong abilities of regeneration. They were also particularly strong but not to the point of matching with a Hobgoblin's.

Time passed, and the severed limbs grew back as if she was a starfish. Kneeling on one knee, the Dhampir wished for the pact to end.

"Please, give me a new name and let me be reborn and shed my previous self."

"Your name would be, Dhampy, wait that might sound a little rude considering you are going to become a Vampire soon. Oh, you're glowing gold, what does that mean?"

"I have accepted the name you bestowed upon me; my name shall now be forever known as Dhampy." Dhampy accepted her new... magnificent name.

"Hmmm, okay."

Lilith's magnificent naming sense appeared as she gave Dhampy her name; who, by some twisted turn of events accepted that name without much trouble.

Sighing, Lilith looked at the genderless and subservient image of Dhampy. She was still suspicious of her. The fact that Dhampy accepted the offer of becoming a follower was still something Lilith did not expect. She had prepared line after lines to convince Dhampy into accepting her offer in under 30 seconds, but it ended up for nought.

While Lilith's suspicious nature began showing its head, a new panel appeared before Lilith.

[Name: Dhampy

Lv. 17

HP: 2500/3000

MP: 20/1500

Attributes: Blood (C), Dark (C)

Class: Dhampir

Tier: Common

Life Essence: 53/100

Loyalty: 10/100

Passive Skills: Medium-Regeneration (A), Heart of Life (SS), Dark Heart (A), Hemomancy (C)

Active Skills: Life Steal (C), Blood Bullet (D), Blood Manipulation (F)

Fatigue: 125%

Note: She is strong, but her Loyalty is about as strong as a person's approach to an average-looking stranger.]

'That is one overpowered Passive Skills.'

Lilith could not help but be astonished after seeing Dhampy's Passive Skills. It was too overpowered, and in the act of trying to preserve her life, an instinctive response activated, and Lilith decided to treat her much better.

'She can either be an asset or a liability... I should first show kindness.'

Lilith had her back turned to Dhampy when she made this decision.

"It is late now; we will be going to sleep now. I shall wake you up when it is time to switch."

Lilith's words came as a surprise to Dhampy.

"Are you not going to sleep first? I am now your follower; I am supposed to protect and serve you, correct?" Dhampy asked, confused about the situation... this was not how it worked in the past.

"Sleep and rest, you can't do anything if you are hurt and tired. You must also be fatigued; you are falling apart, so close your eyes and let your Boss protect you. After all, it is a Boss' job to protect her followers as it the follower's job to protect their Boss."

Dhampy observed Lilith's actions and found it odd that she wanted to do all the work. She had unpleasant memories of the past, but she showed a quiet smile. Lilith was now back in her loli form, and as Dhampy looked at her small back, she felt oddly secured and fell asleep.

Lilith, on the other hand, was sweating bullets. She was carefully treading a path that would secure her life, and secretly she was contemplating whether to kill Dhampy or not.

'I can behead her or twist her neck right now! Should I do it?' she thought as she snuck a peek.

But after seeing the Passive Skills once again, she shook her head.

'Nah, she might survive even that. This is rather scary.'

She thought as a notification went up.

[Dhampy's Loyalty +2]