My Blood Legacy: Reincarnated as a Vampire

"What's with that reaction? I didn't know I was that famous," Dante remarked, looking at Clovis, who rolled his eyes and sighed.

"You should be aware of what you are. Have you been so busy that you forgot about the mess you've created? Famous? You're currently considered one of the most dangerous beings in the world!" Clovis said, pointing at him.

"Is that so?" Dante turned to the dwarf he'd already put down, and she looked away.

"Ah… damn, I need to work on my image. I'm not that bad," he shrugged, and both Clovis and Runa stared at him, struggling to understand how he could think he was "not that bad."

"Anyway, you must be Runa," he said, stepping closer with natural confidence, his imposing presence drawing curious stares from some of the dwarves nearby.

Dante observed Runa closely, his analytical gaze picking up on something different in her eyes—a girl truly frightened but also brimming with curiosity. He was skilled at reading people; each person had a story, a hidden potential beneath layers of life and experience. Runa was no different. Though small and seemingly fragile, she held a vibrant energy, and she seemed genuinely intrigued to see him. Despite clearly trembling with fear.

"So, you're the famous Runa, bearer of the sin of gluttony," he said, crossing his arms and tilting his head slightly. "You know, that's quite a title. It's not every day I meet someone who carries a sin so… appetizing."

Runa frowned, a mix of confusion and defiance in her gaze. "And what do you know about that? That I'm cute or something?" Her response was quick, defensive, but Dante noticed there was something in how she spoke—a vulnerability she tried to hide behind her bravado.

"Actually, it's not just that," Dante replied, his tone now more serious. "The sin of gluttony isn't just about eating, though you do seem to enjoy it," he added, winking at her. Runa grimaced, but couldn't hide the smile that crept up. "It's also about wanting more—more than necessary, more than is good. But don't worry, that doesn't make you a bad person. In fact, it can be a powerful force if you learn to channel it."

Runa started to process his words. There was something intriguing about Dante, something that made her want to hear more. "And you… what do you want with me? Besides giving me this pressure of being a sin and all?"

Dante took a step forward, his imposing figure nearly blocking the light from the forge. "I'm not here to intimidate you, Runa. Actually, I want to understand you. What's behind this facade of bravery and sarcasm? Besides… never mind, it's better you don't know for now." He watched her closely, his red eyes seeming to gleam with genuine curiosity.

Before Runa could respond, a sudden tremor shook the Iron Mountain. The structure of the forge creaked, and tools clattered off the shelves. Dante instinctively turned, his sharp instincts telling him something was wrong. At the same time, a piercing, desperate scream echoed through the stone walls, freezing everyone in their tracks.

"Durin! What was that?" one of the dwarves shouted, his face pale with fear.

"Clovis! What's going on?" Durin turned to the taller dwarf, who was already running out of the forge, his eyes wide with worry. Clovis's expression was grave, and he seemed to sense the weight of the impending danger.

"Stay here! I'm going to check it out!" Clovis yelled as he opened the forge door, daylight flooding into the dark interior. Runa felt her heart racing, a mix of fear and curiosity consuming her.

Dante followed Clovis, his ever-imposing presence now carrying a palpable tension. "What's happening?" he asked, his voice firm and controlled.

As they exited the forge, the scene before them was chaotic. Dwarves were running in all directions as a deep roar reverberated through the mountains, making the stones tremble beneath their feet. Clovis looked in the direction of the sound, his gaze widening as he saw a colossal creature—a giant lizard, its scales gleaming under the sunlight as if made of metal.

"A draconid! What's it doing here?" Clovis exclaimed, watching the monster attack one of his companions, a dwarf trying to fight off the creature.

"Damn... just when I finally found her?" Dante murmured, turning to the girl. "Stay back and hide," he said, but the young dwarf was already stepping forward, gripping a massive iron axe, her eyes sparking with determination.

"I'm not going to just sit here while you face that thing alone!" Runa replied, her gaze now ablaze with fierce resolve. "I can help!"

"I already told you, no." Dante warned, but it was too late. The young dwarf had already grabbed her axe and was charging forward with courage. The draconian beast, with its sharp claws and hungry eyes, had just dealt a deadly blow to a dwarf, who now lay incapacitated on the ground.

'I could wipe this thing out with a sneeze, but… I'll let her fight. Let's see if this calms her down… Besides, I need to pierce her soul and find the connection to the demon lending her power,' Dante mused to himself.

Runa, clutching her heavy axe, was determined to face the draconian monster, even if it put her in danger.

'At least I'll guide her, then,' Dante thought.

"Runa, listen to me!" Dante shouted as the draconian prepared to strike again. "If you're going to fight, fight to devour your opponent—imagine his flesh roasting!" Dante yelled, grinning.

'There's no point in trying to teach her anything logical. I'll use her own hunger against her,' he thought with a smirk.

"D-draconian meat?" She asked, her mouth watering uncontrollably, then, "I WANT TO TRY IT!!" With a fierce yell, Runa charged at the draconian, her axe raised high above her head. "I'm gonna eat you, you ugly lizard!" The creature, surprised by the audacity of the young dwarf, turned its gaze to her, claws ready to strike.

Clovis, standing beside Dante, watched the scene with concern. "Couldn't you just, I don't know, snap your fingers and incinerate it?" he asked, struggling to understand why Dante—

"I've already sealed the area. Let her handle it. I also cast a healing spell, so any wounded dwarf should be recovering now," Dante said with a smile.

"I wouldn't risk your people when I have the ability to destroy the threat instantly, but that girl there seems excited," he added.

"She's brave, but she has no idea what she's up against!" Clovis protested, starting to run toward the fight, but Dante stopped him with a gesture.

"Let her fight, Clovis. She needs to prove herself. This could be a valuable lesson for Runa," Dante said, keeping his eyes fixed on the young dwarf. He wasn't just watching—he was analyzing the situation, trying to understand Runa's connection to the sin of gluttony.

The draconian lunged forward, its claws slicing through the air with a deafening roar. Runa, in an agile move, dodged the attack, rolling to the side and, in an instant, was back on her feet, her axe spinning in her grip. In a swift motion, she struck at the creature's leg, making it recoil with a growl of pain.

"That's it, Runa! Keep it up!" Dante encouraged, feeling more confident as he watched her determination.

'It's different from Greed and Lust that I already have…' Dante murmured to himself. As Runa fought, Dante moved closer, observing her movements and analyzing the energy emanating from her body. He realized that gluttony wasn't just a sin—it was a form of power that could be shaped and controlled if channeled correctly.

"I can do this!" Runa shouted to herself, gripping her axe tightly and preparing for another attack. The draconian, enraged, unleashed a blast of flames in her direction, forcing her to duck quickly to avoid the burst of heat.

"She's much stronger when food is involved," Dante commented as he watched her fight. "The way she fights is intriguing—she's using sin as a source of energy… funny form of power… I never thought it could be effective, but I guess I was wrong…"

With that, Runa felt a surge of energy course through her body. It was a strange sensation, as if the hunger that always accompanied her was being transformed into raw strength. She stood up, determined to continue the fight, and charged once more at the draconian.

But, in an unexpected move, the creature raised its claws and swung wildly, landing a brutal blow on Runa's shoulder. The young dwarf cried out in pain but didn't fall. Biting her lip, she summoned a burst of courage and struck a powerful blow with her axe, hitting the draconian in the ribs.

The draconian, now weakened, staggered back, and for a moment, Runa felt like she might actually win.

"I can do this! I

want

to do this!" Runa shouted, the pain in her shoulder only fueling her determination. With a fierce yell, she raised her axe again and, in a powerful motion, delivered a decisive blow to the creature.

The blade cut through the air and struck the draconian with devastating force. The creature growled, and in one last effort, tried to strike back, but Runa was too fast. With a final swing, she brought the axe down with all her might, slicing through the draconian's neck.

The creature fell heavily to the ground, its massive body hitting with a thundering crash. The forge trembled slightly, but Runa remained standing, panting, looking down at the fallen creature with a mixture of triumph and disbelief.

"I... I did it!" Runa exclaimed, her eyes shining with pride and a hint of fear. Dante watched her, a satisfied smile forming on his face.