SSS Awakening: Rebirth of the Strongest Vampire God Chapter 677 A small warm-up

Before long, the group reached a secluded clearing on the fringes of the wilds, where a small pond sat in silence at the center. The surface of the water remained unnaturally stagnant, possessing a mirror-like finish that seemed more like polished glass than a natural spring.

Smooth stones formed a ring around the pond. Exotic flowers, their petals etched with glowing bioluminescent veins, began to unfurl as if acknowledging the arrival of the travelers. A delicate mist drifted across the water's surface, swirling in rhythmic, lazy patterns that created a truly magnificent sight.

"Wow… this place is stunning… It feels so romantic… Hubby, I’m really enjoying this trip…" Aurora skipped closer and murmured into Damon’s ear. Her voice carried a rare gentleness, likely due to the presence of Damon’s family, though the mischievous glint in her gaze remained. She seemed completely oblivious to the concept of peril. Despite being in the heart of the wilderness, she acted as though they were attending a whimsical picnic.

In contrast, the rest of the group was far from being at ease.

Ellora tracked the treeline with the sharp, tense focus of a predator. Kaelthorn’s ears twitched at every sound, his hand hovering near the hilt of his blade. Malia’s eyes shimmered with the faint light of detection magic, while even the usually calm Erin appeared to be on high alert.

Despite the scenic beauty of the clearing and the peaceful aura of the shimmering mist… an underlying sense of dread permeated the air. A feeling of being watched persisted, making everything feel profoundly unsettling.

"And so it begins." Damon wore a slight smile. "There is a reason this place is known as the 'Forest of Doom'." Suddenly, the still water of the pond erupted.

Over a dozen pitch-black tentacles, slick and marked with glowing runes, lashed out from the glassy surface. The violent splash shattered the calm as the water surged upward like a geyser. The appendages cracked through the air, whipping toward the party with lethal velocity.

The group instantly snapped into combat stances, ready for battle. Only Aurora looked genuinely irritated by the interruption, pouting at the creature. "You hideous thing, why are you ruining my mood?" She was the first to strike, manifesting several spears of darkness that she hurled at the beast, intending to end it quickly.

The tentacles thrashed in a frenzy, striking the earth and trees with enough force to shatter wood and send tremors through the clearing. However, Aurora’s dark spears pierced them without resistance, carving through the runic hide and lopping off limbs with cold, brutal precision.

In a single heartbeat, the pond became a chaotic mess of flailing limbs. By the second heartbeat, all was silent.

A final spear drove deep into the creature's core beneath the surface. The monster curled inward before floating to the top, lifeless.

Though a level 200 monster was considered formidable, it was insignificant before the power of a fallen angel. The threat had been neutralized in mere seconds.

Aurora brushed off her hands with a dramatic flourish, casting a final disgusted look at the mutated abomination, which looked like a grotesque fusion of an octopus and various other beasts.

"I suppose that takes care of that. This clearing should be safe now," Damon remarked with a chuckle as he began absorbing the beast's blood essence.

Riven leaned against a tree, drenched in sweat, while Kaelthorn kept a wary eye on the pond as if expecting another eruption. Malia could only whisper in disbelief, "That was… incredibly fast."

"We will set up our camp here. This spot is as good as any other." With a simple gesture, Damon pulled the monster's carcass into his spatial ring and sat down casually by the water's edge.

Before anyone could let their guard down, he continued. "This region is still crawling with beasts. I want you all to split into small teams and clear the surrounding area. Most of them are level 200 monsters and abominations. Stay sharp and don't stray too far from our base. Consider this a warm-up. I have tasks to attend to, so have fun in the meantime."

The group stared at him in shock. Level 200 abominations were just a warm-up?

Aurora, naturally, gave an enthusiastic nod. "Yes, exactly! A warm-up! Hubby is right! If we don't get our blood pumping now, how will we deal with the truly terrifying things deeper inside?" She spoke with the cheerful excitement of someone suggesting a dessert.

"The majority of the creatures here are mutated variants. Expect high physical power, magic resistance, and the occasional odd ability. Nothing you can't handle." Damon closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. Although he had reached a new level of power, the consecutive depletion of his mana reserves had left him fatigued. He needed a moment to recover and stabilize.

His blood avatars within his soul space had been toiling without pause. Damon took this moment to link with them and integrate their progress. Suddenly, a heavy, profound aura radiated from him, causing everyone to instinctively recoil in a mixture of reverence and dread.

Georgina’s expression soured with envy. "You drag us to this miserable place and toss us aside like prisoners while you go off to do your own thing? John! Your brother is being completely unreasonable. He should be compensating us for all this trouble."

Aurora’s expression darkened. Lirae and Erin also looked on with distaste, but it was Kate who finally snapped. "So what? Do you expect him to hold your hand every second? He only brought you because he gave a damn whether you lived or died. Listen, Georgina, try being grateful for once. You only have that A-rank class because of him. Don't forget it."

Kate continued, "If you want to keep whining, go do it somewhere else. You aren't even required to stay. I doubt any B-rank expert would bother kidnapping you to use against Damon. Who would even pay your ransom? Feel free to leave whenever you like. Don't let the door hit you on the way out."

Georgina’s face turned a shade of ugly purple. "Shut your mouth, Kate. You're just another slut in his harem now, aren't you? Nothing more than a sex slave! You'd better watch how you speak to your betters."