SSS Awakening: Rebirth of the Strongest Vampire God Chapter 716 No way out

Damon’s intuition proved accurate; at that very instant, he sensed a violent tug deep within his spirit. A vicious smirk spread across Namina’s face as she licked her lips. “Listen here, handsome. Your face might be forgettable, but that physique is exquisite. No need to beg for mercy; I am taking you for myself. Just one trivial requirement first—surrender your soul.”

Before the words had even left her mouth, a brutal shockwave battered Damon’s consciousness.

The pressure on his soul grew fierce, no longer subtle. It was a cold, jagged intrusion, like invisible talons attempting to rip the very core of his being away. Below Namina’s feet, dark symbols ignited, coalescing into an intricate soul-binding formation.

Her eyes gleamed with a chilling light as she stared at Damon with ravenous intent. “You shall make a magnificent addition to my keep,” she roared with laughter.

Witnessing this, the crown prince and the members of the secret orders let out a collective breath. A moment ago, signing the system contract felt like their only escape, but that desperate necessity had vanished.

Everyone understood that once Namina descended into madness, nothing could rein her in. Only those at the B-rank could potentially offer resistance, and the Western Desert Empire lacked any such terrifying experts.

The bloodsucker was undeniably doomed.

Some onlookers clicked their tongues in sympathy. Falling under Namina’s control was far worse than death, a fate most would never wish upon their greatest rivals.

Meanwhile, Alzara and the aged emperor stood paralyzed by horror. Neither had anticipated the mad witch to materialize, let alone unleash her full power. The emperor, however, was the fastest to react.

As the soul-binding formation flared to life, he lunged forward. He realized this was a battle far beyond Damon’s current capacity.

A thunderous shout erupted through the chamber as ancient imperial wards glowed around his arms. Mana surged in a manic torrent, forging a searing bolt of sunlight that lashed out toward Namina. The attack streaked across the room like a falling sun. Golden radiance shrieked as it tore the air, with the emperor pouring every ounce of his cultivation into the blow. “Stay away from him!”

The blazing arc crashed into Namina, yet before it could impact her form, a translucent barrier etched with runes materialized. The sunlight shattered instantly upon contact, dissolving into harmless sparks that drifted to the floor like dying embers.

Namina pivoted, irritation flicking across her features. “Tsk. Old men really should know when to stay in their graves.” She flicked her wrist. The backlash struck instantly.

The emperor was caught mid-stride, his Imperial seals shattering one after another as an invisible, crushing force struck him. He was sent flying like a discarded puppet, smashing through a marble pillar before sprawling across the floor amidst a shower of debris and blood.

“FATHER!” Alzara shrieked.

However, long before she could reach him, a limb of solid, blood-red mana enclosed the emperor, shielding him from further harm.

Upon seeing the construct, every gaze whipped back toward the only person capable of such a feat.

Alzara gasped for air. The crown prince’s jaw hung loose in shock, and many others gulped in naked terror. The man who should have been reduced to a soulless husk by Namina’s ultimate technique stood completely unscathed.

Damon winced slightly, the fierce glint in his eyes signaling that the ordeal was nothing more than a nuisance. Even Namina froze, staring at Damon in disbelief.

“Interesting!” she shrieked. But before she could continue, her expression shifted. Her flawless, pale skin—the very visage that made men drool despite her cruel nature—began to wither.

Decay consumed her from the inside out. Immobilized and silenced, her shock fermented into absolute dread as she realized her fate.

“You had one opportunity. Now, it has slipped away.” Damon stood relaxed, a faint smile playing on his lips. His work was already complete. “Did you honestly think I would enter your domain unprepared, you wretched hag?”

While Damon hadn't mastered the art of soul-healing or total protection, he had certainly made strides. With Arya laboring incessantly to craft soul-poison and restorative elixirs, they had collaborated with various sigil alchemists. Together, they had perfected a refined version of the soul-clouding poison, allowing Damon to mask his soul at the cost of a minor reduction in his stats.

He barely cared about the penalty. In truth, it was a perfect trade, as he had accumulated plenty of surplus stats by now. Even if the poison compromised his strength, agility, or intellect, he could simply reallocate his points to bridge the gap in his damage potential.

It may not have been an ideal solution, but it was the finest tactic his team could devise under such tight constraints.

And it had proven decisive in mounting a defense against her soul-binding assault.

Fury burned in Namina’s eyes, yet she remained utterly helpless. As she stood there silently rotting, her beauty wilting into ash, the surrounding crowd finally broke their stupor.

The members of the secret orders, who had been arrogant moments prior, were now scurrying on their knees. With trembling hands, they frantically accepted the glowing system contracts hovering before them. Pride and ambition evaporated—survival took precedence. If Namina could not best this person, none of them had a hope in hell. Namina was a peak C-rank expert nearing B-rank; if she could not touch this bloodsucker, the situation was truly hopeless.