MY SUGAR MUMMY IS A BEAUTIFUL VAMPIRE

Dumphries turned to face them, his expression a mix of fascination and bewilderment. "I'm just looking for where Blake injured it. I can't see any physical damage."

Blake, groaning as he sat upright, spoke up. "It's just under the dragon's jaw. That's where I punched it."

Dumphries whirled around, his eyes wide with disbelief. "A punch? You mean your fist brought down this beast?"

Blake chuckled, wincing at the pain from his healing wounds. "Well, not exactly. It was my blood-infused punch. And it wasn't just one."

"What?!" Dumphries stood stunned, his mind struggling to process this information.

Randal and Reggie exchanged glances, their own thoughts racing:

'This is the same man who was terrified of bullets just two years ago before turning into a vampire. How did he become so powerful, and right under our noses?' Reggie thought.

'What are Blake's true limits? We've seen him in action before, but this... this is something else entirely.' Randal thought.

The silence that fell over the group was heavy with unspoken questions and a dawning realization that perhaps they had underestimated Blake's potential. As they watched their comrade, still battered but healing, they couldn't help but wonder what other surprises he might have in store for them.

As the group prepared to depart, Randal took charge of packing their belongings. He was the first to step outside the cave, eager to leave the oppressive atmosphere behind. Dumphries followed closely, visibly relieved to be putting distance between himself and the fallen dragon. Even in death, the beast's presence was overwhelming, its aura no less intimidating than when it had been alive.

Reggie approached Blake, offering a supportive arm to help him up. Though most of Blake's flesh wounds had healed, he could still feel a deep soreness in his bones. Complete recovery would take another hour or so, but time was a luxury they couldn't afford.

"You go ahead," Blake told Reggie, his voice low and contemplative. "I'll be right behind you."

Reggie flashed him a questioning glance but didn't press the issue. 'What's the point in questioning a man who just slayed a dragon?' he thought to himself. With a nod of understanding, Reggie excused himself and went to join the others waiting outside.

Left alone in the cavernous space, Blake turned to face the fallen beast. For a full minute, he stood in silence, his eyes roaming over the dragon's enormous form. The sheer scale of the creature he had defeated was almost beyond comprehension.

'This... this is what I slayed?' Blake thought, a mix of awe and disbelief washing over him. The dragon's massive body, its scales dulled in death but still impressive, stretched out before him like a mountain of flesh and bone. The reality of his accomplishment began to sink in, bringing with it a complex swirl of emotions - pride, fear, and a dawning realization of his own potential.

As he stood there, taking in every detail of the fallen dragon, Blake's mind raced with questions about his own abilities and the path that lay ahead. The enormity of what he had done here would change everything, not just for him, but for all of them.

Blake stood before the fallen dragon, a mix of emotions washing over him. He began to speak softly, his words meant only for the beast and himself.

"I... I didn't know what I was doing," he admitted. "But I could tell you had intelligence. You weren't just some mindless creature." A rueful smile crossed his face. "What's worse, this is a story I can never tell Celena. My daughter would probably murder me herself for killing a dragon, even when she chases hunters who threaten her forest friends."

His expression softened, filled with a strange mix of respect and regret. "More than anything, I appreciate you. You showed me an untapped part of my abilities that I wasn't even aware of." Blake paused, his voice dropping to a whisper. "And while it's not much, I'm sorry things had to be this way. But the love of my life's life was on the line. Even a beast would understand what that means."

Blake's eyes narrowed, remembering a detail from their battle. There was one more thing he needed to confirm.

Approaching the dragon, he lifted its massive head, nearly the size of a car. He examined the wound he had inflicted, noticing the residual red blood around the area. With a mix of trepidation and curiosity, he dipped his fingers into the blood and placed it on his tongue.

Instantly, an overwhelming sensation coursed through his body, akin to a seizure but not unpleasant. Every cell in his body seemed to come alive, buzzing with an influx of energy that felt like an electric shock.

But there was more. Blake's eyes widened as he noticed a strange, red flaming aura flickering inside his hands and forearms. It pulsed through his veins, visible beneath his skin like living fire. The sight was both terrifying and mesmerizing, a testament to the raw power he had just absorbed.

'What is this?' Blake thought, flexing his fingers as the fiery energy danced within them. He could feel the dragon's essence merging with his own, enhancing his vampiric abilities in ways he couldn't yet comprehend.

As the initial rush continued, the visible flames in his veins dimmed, but Blake could still feel the power coursing through him. His entire body felt rejuvenated, the lingering aches from the battle completely gone. He felt as if he could take on another dragon right then and there.

Blake clenched his fists, marveling at this newfound power. He knew instinctively that this was something he needed to keep to himself, at least for now. The implications were too vast, too dangerous to share without fully understanding them first.

'As I suspected,' Blake thought, his mind racing. During the battle, one of his blood attacks had mingled with the dragon's blood, and he had noticed a strange energy. Now, satisfying his curiosity, he could tell that the dragon's blood indeed had properties similar to human blood that empowered him.

But this feeling was beyond anything he had experienced before. The lingering ache in his bones vanished, replaced by a surge of vitality. His entire body felt rejuvenated, as if he could take on another dragon right then and there.

As the initial rush subsided, Blake stood there, marveling at this newfound power coursing through his veins. The implications of this discovery were staggering, opening up a world of possibilities he had never considered before.

With one last look at the dragon, a mix of gratitude and resolve in his eyes, Blake turned to leave the cave, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead with this unexpected gift from his fallen foe.

Blake emerged from the cave, a newfound energy radiating from him. His companions, who had been waiting anxiously, turned to face him with a mix of relief and curiosity.

Reggie was the first to speak. "Blake, are you alright? You look... different."

Blake nodded, a slight smile playing on his lips. "I'm fine. Better than fine, actually. But we can discuss that later. Right now, we need to focus on our final ingredient."

Randal stepped forward, his expression grim. "Right. We've got the spring water, but we still need the last component for the ritual to save Rose."

Dumphries, who had been unusually quiet, spoke up. "And something tells me this next part won't be any easier than facing a dragon."

Blake's eyes hardened with determination. "You're right, Dumphries. In fact, it might be even tougher."

"Tougher than a dragon?" Gunther scoffed. "What could possibly be more challenging than that?"

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