SSS Awakening: Rebirth of the Strongest Vampire God Chapter 677 A small warm-up

Before long, the group reached a secluded clearing on the fringes of the wasteland, centered around a quiet, modest pond. The water possessed an eerie stillness, appearing more like a burnished mirror than a natural pool.

Smooth stones encircled the water's edge. Bizarre flora with glowing veins thrived nearby, their petals unfurling as if sensitive to the party's arrival. A light fog drifted across the liquid surface, twisting into lazy shapes that gave the scene a breathtaking quality.

"Wow... this place is gorgeous... It’s so romantic... Hubby, I’m really enjoying this trip..." Aurora skipped closer and murmured into Damon's ear. Her voice was uncharacteristically soft, likely due to the presence of Damon’s entire family, yet her eyes remained full of mischief. Danger was a foreign concept to her; despite being in the wilderness, she acted as if she were on a whimsical picnic.

In contrast, the rest of the group was far from at ease.

Ellora watched the trees with the sharp, tense focus of a predator. Kaelthorn’s ears shifted at every sound, his hand never leaving his weapon. Malia’s gaze shimmered with the light of detection magic, while even the usually calm Erin appeared anxious.

Despite the picturesque clearing, the serene pond, and the shimmering fog, a sense of dread lingered. Something felt fundamentally wrong about the environment, as if unseen eyes were constantly tracking their movements.

"It begins." Damon gave a small smile. "There is a reason this place is known as the 'Forest of Doom'." An instant later, the pond's surface erupted.

A dozen obsidian tentacles, slick and etched with glowing runes, tore through the mirror-like water. The violent splash shattered the calm as the appendages lashed out like whips, cutting through the air toward the group at a frightening velocity.

The party snapped into combat stances immediately. Only Aurora looked genuinely irritated by the interruption, pouting at the beast. "You ugly thing, why are you ruining my mood?" Even as she spoke, she reacted first. Unleashing a volley of darkness spears at the creature, she moved to end the encounter swiftly.

The tentacles thrashed in a frenzy, striking the earth and trees with enough force to shatter wood and send tremors through the ground. However, Aurora’s spears struck with surgical precision, piercing the runic hide and severing limbs with brutal efficiency.

In a single heartbeat, the pond became a chaotic mess of flailing limbs. By the second heartbeat, all was silent.

A final spear drove into the monster's core beneath the surface. The creature curled inward before floating lifelessly atop the water.

While the level 200 beast was formidable, it stood no chance against the fallen angel. It had been neutralized in mere seconds.

Aurora dramatically brushed off her hands, casting a final scornful look at the mutated monstrosity—a hideous blend of an octopus and various other creatures.

"That takes care of that. This zone should be safe for now," Damon remarked with a chuckle while he began refined the beast's blood essence.

Riven leaned against a tree, gasping for air, while Kaelthorn kept a wary eye on the water as if expecting another explosion. Malia could only whisper in disbelief, "That was... incredibly fast."

"We’ll pitch camp here. This spot is as good as any other." With a simple gesture, Damon pulled the beast's carcass into his spatial ring and took a seat comfortably by the water.

Before the others could relax, he spoke again. "There are still countless beasts lurking nearby. I want you all to split into small teams and clear the surrounding area. They are mostly level 200 monsters and abominations. Stay alert and stay close to the camp. Consider this a warm-up. I have business to attend to, so enjoy yourselves."

The group stared in shock. Level 200 abominations were just a warm-up?

Aurora, however, nodded with excitement. "Yes! A warm-up! Hubby is right! We need to get ready, or how will we face the truly terrifying things deeper in?" She spoke with the cheerful tone of someone suggesting dessert.

"The monsters here are mostly mutated variants. They have high physical power, magic resistance, and odd traits, but nothing you can't handle." Damon closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. Though he had enhanced his capabilities, depleting his mana reserves repeatedly had taken a toll. He needed a moment to recover.

His blood avatars within his soul space had been working tirelessly. Damon took this moment to synchronize with them and absorb their gains. Suddenly, a majestic aura radiated from him, causing everyone to instinctively recoil in a mixture of awe and fear.

Georgina’s expression soured with envy. "You drag us to this miserable place, treat us like prisoners, and then just go off to do your own thing? John! Your brother is being completely unfair. He needs to pay us back for all this trouble."

Aurora’s face darkened, and neither Lirae nor Erin hid their distaste for the woman. Surprisingly, Kate was the one who fired back. "So what? Do you expect him to hold your hand? Just because he actually gave a damn whether you lived or died? Listen, Georgina, try showing some gratitude. You only have that A-rank class because of him. Don't forget it."

"If you want to keep whining, go do it somewhere else. You aren't forced to stay. I doubt any B-rank expert would even bother kidnapping you to blackmail Damon. Who would pay for you anyway? Feel free to leave whenever you like. Don't let the door hit you on the way out."

Georgina looked livid. "Shut your mouth, Kate. You're nothing but a slut in his harem now. A sex slave! You should watch how you speak to your betters."