The Royalblood Vampires all stood alert at the sudden appearance of a violet slime.

"A slime monster?"

"Did the Demon Queen send you?"

Arthrax gained confidence as he saw the violet slime approaching him. He raised his hand and said in an authoritative voice:

"Under our authority of being Royalblood Vampires, I command you to stop and tell us your motive in coming here."

But Fudge, seemingly not even hearing his words, still boinged boinged his way towards the wary Vampires. He bounced happily, completely bringing horror to the people in the room.

Arthrax took a step back, appalled.

"How...," he muttered in complete disbelief.

Vampires and Werewolves were both ruled under one hierarchy: the Demon Queen. She was the Supreme Being that ruled over them all, including monsters.

As far as they knew, the Demon Queen was in control of all monsters. Including this slime. So, imagine their surprise when they saw a talking slime so far away from their mother continent and seemingly without the influence of their Demon Queen.

It was instilled in all lower monsters that they should always follow the rules and commands of those above them. The slime was the lowest species of all, and the Royalblood Vampires were among the top, only lower to the main forces of the Demon Queen herself.

They should have been able to command this slime to stop in his place!

Yet, he remained unconcerned with this breaking of the rules.

This shouldn’t even be possible! The Nascent Influence of a Supreme Being was permanent.

"Who are you?" Arthrax asked warily. "Are you sent by the Demon Queen?"

The only way this slime could have disobeyed Arthrax’s command was if he was under the Demon Queen’s order himself.

Yet, Fudge’s next words quickly debunked that theory.

"Who? I’m not sent by some evil pathetic woman."

The Royalblood Vampires gasped out loud and cowered under their own hands. They were waiting for the inevitable lightning strike to smite the slime that dared to speak ill of the Demon Queen!

Yet... even after a few seconds have passed, there was nothing. The slime had completely gotten away scott-free from his treacherous words.

This meant that the violet slime truly wasn’t a part of the Demon Queen’s forces! If so, then who was he?

"Who are you? Why have you come here?" Arthrax asked. He was less wary about the slime, but he was still on his guard.

Fudge finally stopped bouncing and landed right in front of Arthrax’s feet. "My name is the great Fudge. And I am here to enlighten you all of the truth."

The Royalblood Vampires all looked at each other, confused as to what the violet slime meant.

"You dimwits. I’m here to tell you the truth about the one true religion!"

As soon as he said that, the Royalblood Vampires tensed. And immediately, Arthrax’s fingers elongated, his fingernails becoming as sharp as a nail.

Then, he pointed this dangerous weapon at Fudge’s body, just a few inches away from the slime. "I would suggest for you to be careful with your next words. We do not take blasphemy lightly. Whatever religion you are espousing about, it is not our religion."

They’ve been duped too many times.

"You dare?"

Fudge’s disembodied voice came out of nowhere.

And suddenly, Fudge had disappeared from where he was. Arthrax’s hands were threatening to pierce through nothing but the air.

"I am simply extending grace," Fudge said. "As Vampires, I figured that you all deserve to know that the one true religion has been found. But if you do not want to believe it, then it is your loss."

Arthrax and the other Vampires were still full of doubt. "How can you be so sure?"

Fudge appeared behind the Vampires, surprising them.

"It’s because I know!"

Arthrax and the other Vampires couldn’t help but scoff at Fudge’s words. What kind of reasoning was that? It didn’t make sense at all. If he wanted to convince them, then he should have presented some kind of physical evidence that they would have believed.

"There are signs that the one true religion has been found. We haven’t seen them yet," Arthrax said. "So it is extremely unlikely that what you said is true."

Fudge scoffed at their words. "The Iron Maiden does not need your approval."

The other Vampires perked up once they heard that. They’ve heard of the Iron Maiden, of course. They’ve seen a few believers in New Sparta spouting some kind of worship for the automobiles on the streets.

From that alone, Arthrax knew that the Iron Maiden wasn’t their god. After all, their god was Gaia, the goddess that oversaw the world and everything natural. The automobiles were anything but natural.

"Then let us have a bet," Fudge said.

Arthrax and the Vampires were intrigued. "What kind?"

"If you win, then I shall leave you all alone and admit that I was wrong. But if I win, then you shall all follow my lead and ask for my forgiveness," Fudge said.

The Royalblood Vampires all looked at each other, a silent understanding soon coming upon them.

Arthrax nodded. "Very well. We accept. How do we decide the winner of our bet?"

Fudge pointed at the magical one-way window showing the arena in full view. Jaku and his opponent were just about to clash against each other.

"The demi-human will win," Fudge declared.

"Very well," Arthrax agreed. "We will take the side of the human swordsman."

Fudge’s eyes widened as he heard those sweet, sweet words. A magic circle appeared under their feet as their bet was solidified into truth.

"HAHAHA! You idiots!" Fudge couldn’t help but laugh.

But for the Vampires, their choice couldn’t lead to anything other than victory.

...

...

...

In the arena, the Knight referee tapped his sword onto his shield, signalling the start of the fight.

Then, it was over.

In a blue flash of lightning, the woman swordsman found herself falling to her knees, cuts on her body suddenly bursting with blood.

Silence.