SSS Awakening: Rebirth of the Strongest Vampire God Chapter 713 It was you?

Damon took a final look at the system interface as it faded from view. Zero accomplishments, no fanfare of global announcements, and absolute silence in terms of rewards. It was a marginal victory at best. Still, he mused, it might provide enough leverage to tilt the balance against those bastards if he executed his plan correctly. Nearby, the father and daughter were locked in an emotional embrace, sobbing uncontrollably. "How long until I see you again, my precious little plum? Each departure feels like a gamble against destiny. This old man’s heart can barely sustain this agony. Why couldn't you have chosen some simpleton content to remain within our palace walls?"

Alzara pressed her face into his robes, her tears quickly soaking the fabric. "Forgive me, father. My heart simply wouldn't obey me. I find no joy in leaving your side either. I promise to return as often as possible. I will always come back, and I shall miss you dearly too."

"See that you do. Should you vanish for too long, I have every intention of dragging this aged body across the realm to pull you back by your ear personally."

Sniffling, Alzara nodded vigorously while still clinging to him. "You wouldn't last a single day outside of the palace," she retorted through her tears. "You’d spend the entire time complaining about the conditions."

"That is merely because the world outside is dreadfully uncivilized," he grumbled, drawing her into a tighter embrace. "Especially now that my daughter has chosen to elope with the most lethal man in existence."

Damon’s expression flickered involuntarily. He desperately wanted to distance himself from the cringeworthy scene to grant them some privacy, yet he found himself trapped, forced to endure the entire dialogue.

After several agonizing minutes, the emperor pulled away. "Take care of yourself, my sweet child. Should you require anything at all, notify this old man immediately. I will secure it for you, regardless of the cost or location. You possess the crystal, after all. Speak with me daily without exception. You know I cannot find rest without seeing your face."

Alzara offered a tearful smile. "I know, father. I certainly will."

Standing tall, the emperor squared his shoulders and turned toward Damon. Although his eyes remained bloodshot, his voice regained its composure. "Blood God," he stated firmly, "if you allow any harm to befall her..."

Damon met his stare without faltering. "Then there shall be no place in this world left for me to hide," he responded plainly. "I understand my duty. I shall shield her with every fiber of my being."

The emperor gave a single, sharp nod. "Very well."

Alzara slid her hand into Damon’s and gave it a soft squeeze. Her face beamed with a foolishly happy grin, which drew a chuckle from Damon. As he listened to the lingering chatter of father and daughter, he contemplated his upcoming moves. Bizarrely, the Emperor of the Great Western Desert was not so different from his own parents.

Different power levels, different worlds, yet the underlying fear remained identical: the terror of witnessing one's child venture into peril, knowing they possessed neither the strength nor the authority to prevent it. Perhaps, should he ever have a daughter of his own, he would react with that same desperation.

Picturing a cute daughter with any of his wives was… a terrifying prospect indeed. Damon quickly pushed the thought aside before it could take root. No, he was definitely not prepared for the domestic life quite yet. It was safer to savor the honeymoon period for a while longer.

Then again, a daughter reminiscent of Kate would possess the same adorable cheeks and pouting lips. A child of Lirae would certainly be a little princess. And little Aurora? She would surely be a whirlwind of chaos!

Seriously, he was absolutely not ready to be a family man.

Damon cleared his throat, firmly banishing the thought to the depths of his mind where dangerous, hypothetical future concerns went to die. He was entirely unprepared to handle a cute, cuddly little monster. Power was manageable; enemies were routine. But a child? That was an entirely different sort of challenge.

Suddenly shifting his focus, Damon was about to interrupt the pair to inquire about a time-dilated training chamber when his primordial senses suddenly spiked.

"We have company," he declared, rising to his feet as his blood-red aura surged. The warmth within the hall vanished, replaced by an icy tension. The emperor’s demeanor transformed instantly; all traces of sentimentality evaporated as he tracked Damon’s gaze toward the far end of the hall. "Company?" he queried gravely.

Alzara felt it as well. Her smile vanished, and her grip on Damon’s hand tightened. "Blood God… there are so many of them."

He pulled her closer and kissed her cheek. "We expected this much. Do not let it worry you."

From several corridors, presences began to manifest—first dozens, then hundreds. Damon’s primordial perception swept over them in a heartbeat. Every single one was a C-rank expert, and they were certainly not amateurs.

The massive entrance groaned open. Figures materialized and fanned out with practiced precision, sealing every exit and establishing a loose tactical encirclement around the group. Their advance was calm and calculated, as if they were already assured of their victory.

The emperor let out a dry, mirthless laugh. "It seems these vipers couldn't even wait for the sun to set before striking."

A familiar figure emerged from the center of the gathering.

The Crown Prince.

Dressed in flawless regalia, his posture was languid, his expression one of arrogant composure. He offered his father a shallow, mocking nod. "Father."

The emperor’s eyes ignited with fury. "So, it was you."

Alzara went ghost-white. "Brother?" She could barely process the sight. Her brother had always doted on her more than anyone else in the palace. Since childhood, they had been inseparable. After her father, he was the one she trusted most. Why would he do this?

The Crown Prince barely acknowledged her, his focus locked entirely onto the emperor. "Old man, I genuinely hoped you might change, but to the very end, you remain nothing but a disappointment."

The emperor’s jaw clenched. "You poisoned your own sister."

"Indeed," the Crown Prince replied coldly. "A gradual process, executed with precision. A toxin that left no visible trail. No violent reactions—just a slow fading of vitality until her death appeared entirely natural." He glanced briefly at Alzara. "I ensured it wouldn't be painful. Had you simply left things undisturbed, everything would have resolved itself. But you forced my hand. Now, I have no choice but to destroy you."

Alzara’s eyes widened. "…Why?" she breathed.

This time, he met her gaze, though it held no warmth—only cold, clinical estimation. "Because you were never meant to survive until this point. The empire centered around you. Father centered around you. Every policy, every delay, every failure—everything was justified in your name."

The emperor stepped forward. "You dare—"

"You consistently chose her over the empire!" the Crown Prince snapped. "And now, you intend to surrender everything to this bloody vampire?" He laughed harshly. "You have finally proven my assessment correct. You are nothing but a weak, pathetic old man. The empire would never flourish under your rule. You possess no ambition, no foresight, and frankly... no spine, Father. Always cowering and hiding from the hidden orders."

"Have you ever stopped to consider what might be achieved if you simply chose to cooperate with them instead of fighting a losing battle?"