When Malia found the opportunity to use her powers, she did not hesitate to go all out immediately.

Using one of her most dangerous abilities … Nebular Explosion!

​​

At the same time releasing the destructive properties of her power, Ingrid did not waste any single second to save her own peers.

Quick with her movements, Ingrid summoned thick ice around her allies.

Protecting each one of them.

Antoin was about to regain his composure and his normal self.

Until Malia made another attack, manipulating the ice which Ingrid created as a shield.

Impaling him, a sharp spike of ice extended and passed right through his chest.

"Aaarrghh!" Antoin was stunned as he bled.

"Antoin!!!" Ingrid yelled for Antoin's name.

Worrying for the life of her ally.

His allies were shocked at how things transpired.

Especially with Malia … controlling the element of ice at her will.

Never in their vampire years, witnessed such individual or creature that can control and manipulate multiple element like it was nothing.

All these times, Hanzo and the others thought … only Ingrid has the ability to create and manipulate the element of ice.

"Impossible! How could she?" Hanzo uttered while hiding behind the thick ice shield created by Ingrid.

But after seeing Antoin get impaled.

Petro and Hanzo stepped away from the ice shield created by Ingrid.

They were just right in time when they tried to stay away from the ice because Malia tried to do the same towards the two vampires.

Almost putting them into the same condition which Antoin is currently struggling with.

Ingrid had no time to even fight against Malia because her priority is to keep Antoin alive.

Antoin has an important role in keeping their king protected because of his ability to negate magic.

His death would affect their kingdom once Antoin dies.

Instantly, Ingrid removed the ice from the chest of Antoin.

"Aaarghh!!! It hurts, Ingrid!!! Aarrrghh!!!!" Antoin complained as he bled.

Confusion sets in Ingrid's mind.

"You should be healing right now! Why are you not healing?" Ingrid wondered.

"The … n-nightshade! She got me tricked …" Antoin informed Ingrid before losing his own consciousness.

"This is bad!" Ingrid expressed at the sight of Antoin getting worst.

Turning slowly grey.

Meaning, once a vampire turns ashy grey … they are at the brink of their death before turning completely into a dust.

Because his hand was tainted with nightshade.

Malia expected for Antoin to touch his wound so he could block the bleeding.

Unknowingly, Antoin would just worsen his own condition.

Falling perfectly right into Malia's scheme to completely take him out of play.

Allowing her to take out the one with the ability to disable her power … out of equation.

"I must remove the nightshade out of your system." Ingrid worriedly looked at Antoin.

Antoin was like a younger brother to Ingrid despite of not being related to each other.

When he was newly turned into a vampire by their king, Ingrid was the one who took care of him and mentored him at being a powerful vampire.

Encouraging him and being there for him all the time.

A life of a vampire was filled with death, sorrow and hollowness. But the presence of Ingrid made it easier for him to accept the fate he had to deal with.

This was because Ingrid saw Antoin like her own younger brother who died due to a plague in her own village.

Looking exactly the same like her 19 years old younger brother, Ingrid always treated Antoin like her own younger brother.

"Hanzo! Petro! Deal with that bitch! Don't let her disturb me here … I am handling Antoin!" Ingrid gave her command to the other two vampires.

A sudden change within them.

"Time to get serious!" Hanzo expressed towards Malia.

Gathering all sharp blades around which were coated with poisons.

At that moment, Malia prepared herself because she felt the sudden shift of the weight in the air.

As if death and darkness just became closer.

Something within her calling her to tap unto her darkness.

'Use the darkness in you!'

'Let darkness help you!'

'And true power shall be yours!'

Dark voice enticing her to tap unto her dark powers.

---

[-In the main headquarters of the hunters association-]

Somewhere far away from the territories of King Lionel.

An isolated land was heavily guarded with hunters and thick walls surrounding the entire main headquarters like a fortress.

Making it difficult for any intruders or enemies to penetrate within the walls.

The security of the place was heavily imposed.

Only authorized hunters can enter the place.

Not all hunters were given the authority to enter.

Even miles away from the main headquarters, plenty of check points were scattered to make sure that no suspicious creature would roam around.

In the president's office …

Some of the heads of other noble families of hunters requested for the audience of their president.

Including Boss Emil from the Rogers Family.

As everyone took their seat in President Tony's office, the president left his desk and approached them instead.

Taking his seat at the president's chair.

"Boss Emil, I was told you and the other bosses wanted to meet with me. Is there anything I can do for you?" President Tony asked the head of the Rogers Family.

"I came here for two reasons. First, regarding with the raid which you gave the leadership to your other daughter, Malia! Why would you allow a woman lead such an important raid? This is a man's job! You should have at least assigned my grandson in charge of it. It reduces the morale of the entire group." Boss Emil elaborated his first concern.

The other bosses or heads of the other noble families nodded along in agreement with Boss Emil.

Boss Emil continued, "Do you see any woman in the board of directors? Board of directors consist mainly of heads of each noble family of hunters. No woman was allowed to lead because of our belief. A belief where men are the ones who lead and women are the ones who should follow. Not the other way around!"

After letting Boss Emil express his concerns, President Tony spoke and shared his reasoning for the matter.

"I totally respect your argument, Sir Emil Rogers! But you have to understand … amongst all hunters, Malia has a record of zero failed missions and highest survival rate of her team. Making her the most qualified of them all. Lastly, just in case she fails on this mission. We can set it as an example for all female hunters. To why we do not let women lead us!" President Tony told everyone.

Silence followed through for their amused reaction from President tony's way of thinking.

Even Boss Emil was impressed at how President Tony was handling the situation.

Deep inside, he commends the president for his strategic way of handling things. A win-win situation where he would look fair to all hunters and at the same time he could assert his own principles without being portrayed negatively towards his subordinates.

'No wonder he achieved such success! What a calculated move!' loudly thought by Boss Emil.

Upon sipping his tea calmly as if there was nothing to worry about. President Tony was simply being calm and collected towards his allies.

Then Boss Emil expressed his last concern.

"I guess you have completely taken things into consideration. So, my last concern why I requested for your presence is … a proposal for two noble families."

"Okay! What is it?" President Tony asked.

"A marriage arrangement from our two noble families! The Rogers Family and The Vitre Family united. Thus, I want your daughter to be arranged with my grandson, Booth Rogers!" Boss Emil Proposed.

"My daughter … Malia?"

"No! Your real daughter … Melody!" Boss Emil cited with full seriousness.

Everything became silent as President Tony looked at Boss Emil.

---

Meanwhile …

Back at the borders of King Lionel's territory.

Malia struggled to keep up. A dark voice just became her distraction from her enemies.

Struggling to keep herself sane …

And keeping up with two powerful vampires.

Both Hanzo and Petro became more serious in their attacks.

Combining one attack after another.

"Damn it!" Malia was having difficult time keeping up against her enemies and ignoring the dark voice in her head.

'Succumb to your true power!'

'Let darkness help you!'

In the middle of her exchange of attacks against the two vampires.

Malia got hit by the blade of Hanzo and the acid poison which Petro released.

Hurting her arm and ankle at the same time.

"Argh!" falling to the ground after getting hit.

And immediately she released a powerful counter-attack of wind cutters.

Making her enemies distance themselves away from her.

Upon raising her head.

Her eyes completely turned pitch black.

"TRUE POWER …" Malia silently mentioned.

---

THANK YOU FOR SUBSCRIBING!

Check my -Wall of Appreciation- dedicated for my readers! It changes time to time. I am planning to include some new things to show my appreciation for my readers. Just always check my -Wall of Appreciation- that is located on the {-auxiliary volume-} right before {-Chapter 1-}.

Please support my other stories!

[1] "TRANSMIGRATION OF SHAMS: THE LEGENDARY CULTIVATOR"

[2] "THE MAKING OF THE VAMPIRE QUEEN"

- I need your votes and collections, please vote and -add to your library-

Once again, thank you so much!

---