<h4>Chapter 31: Vaeloria Empire</h4>


    "All kills - Check."


    "Show off - Check."


    "Perfect save - Check."


    "Now, all that''s left to do is walk up to her and deliver a cheesy line like those protagonists in fantasy novels, and I will be a knight in shining armor," Ben mused, strutting confidently toward the silver-haired girl lying on the ground. He extended his right hand toward her, striking a pose straight out of his favorite romance novel back from Earth.


    "Are you alright, miss?" he inquired with theatrical ir, channeling his inner fictional hero.


    -Heal-


    The girl chanted a healing spell, lightly healing her wound before she picked up her wooden sword and stood up on her own, leaving Ben in a frozen state.


    "I feel dumped again!" -? Ben Franklin.


    [ You have my sympathy, Host.]


    "Ah, forget it. I''ll just tag along with her to the nearest town or whatever. I better keep my blood vision active at all times," Ben resolved with a determined expression before trailing behind the silver-haired girl.


    "Show me the notifications" Benmanded in his mind, while still following behind the silver-haired girl. A holographic blue screen appeared before him, indicating his kills from previous battles.


    [ 7 Basic Ties Monsters: Goblins killed ]


    [ Exp: 35/100]


    [ Normal Tier Soul Essence Obtained: Wind born Shoes]


    Ben, without hesitation, tapped on the info button next to wind-born shoes to see their properties, while still keeping an eye for surroundings using blood vision.


    [ Wind-Born Shoes: Basic Tier( Grade 1)]


    [ Defence: +5 when equipped ]


    [ Ability: Wind walk ( Grants the user, a +3 increase in agility once activated. Lats for 3 minutes.) ]


    "Now that''s what you call a piece of good equipment. Especially when I am walking barefoot since I ever evolved into a vampire." Ben thought, sneakily equipping the pair of brown shoes on his legs.


    "We are...close...to the human kingdom." While Ben was still busy with his new equipment, the silver-haired girl said, heavily breathing, breaking the long silence between them.


    "Looks like my little trick wasn''t all in vain," Ben thought, a triumphant smile forming on his lips. He stepped closer to the girl, walking in sync with her.


    "And how did youe to that conclusion?" Ben asked, curiositycing his voice and a yful smile dancing on his lips.


    "Goblins don''t typically dwell deep in the forest. They tend to reside near viges or dungeons, often raiding human farms," the silver-haired girl responded in a hushed tone, her expression serious.


    [A/N: By farm, she means animal farms here.]


    "If my estimation is urate, the human empire should be approximately 5-6 kilometers from our current location," the girl continued, breathing heavily, her face flushed and her steps asionally faltering.


    "By maintaining this pace, we should be able to reach the empire by morning," she panted,ing to a halt and steadying herself with her wooden sword.


    "What''s the deal with her now?" Ben thought, the excitement on his face instantly turned into a frown as he observed the girl before him.


    [ Host, I''ve detected a severe case of poisoning in her body. Check her status.]


    "Poison! Disy her stats now," Benmanded, a sense of urgency in his voice, as he studied the screen before him.


    ╔═══?STATUS?════╗


    Name: ???


    Affiliation: ve


    HP: 21/52 [Poisoned]


    MP: 68/113


    Stamina: Critical


    ╚══════════════╝


    "Poisoned effect? How did she even get poisoned?" Ben pondered, searching for possible exnations.


    [ The most usible cause might be the goblin''s w attack. While not immediately fatal, the poison could prove highly dangerous if left untreated.]


    "In other words, I need to get her to a doctor before the poison spreads too far." Ben swiftly unsummoned his weapons, which he kept in case of emergencies, and approached the girl.


    "While I''m at it, I can tie a makeshift bandage around her leg to slow down the poison''s cirction," Ben nned, but the system intervened.


    [ It''s already toote for that, Host. If you wish to save her life, you must take her to the empire.]


    [ But again, will it be safe to take a girl to an empire who could be possessed by the devil at any point in time?]


    "Allowing her to die carries more risk," Ben concluded quickly, "I have a feeling that there is more to the devil thing than it matches the eyes,"


    "Jump on my back. I''ll carry you to the empire," Ben offered, approaching the girl who still leaned on her sword for support. He sat on the ground, his back to her, indicating she could climb on.


    "I... I can walk... by myself," she protested, attempting to move away and continue on her path, avoiding Ben''s help.


    "I detest this attitude. If she were a guy, I''d knock some sense into him," Ben''s annoyance showed on his face. He stood upright, facing the girl again.


    "I won''t repeat myself. Do as I say," Ben''s tone grew firm, teeth clenched. Something changed, however, as his eyes began to emit a crimson glow like red-hot iron freshly drawn from a furnace.


    [ Active Skill: Influence - Cast]


    The girl''s gaze turned vacant as if she had lost consciousness, her replying mechanically, "I will do... as you say."


    [ Active Skill: Influence - Sessful ]


    "Whatever works," Ben muttered, disregarding the status screen momentarily. He lifted the silver-haired girl onto his back, providing her with a piggyback ride, and activated his windwalk skill.


    [Wind Walk Activated: Agility +3]


    "She''s lighter than I anticipated," Ben noted as he set off from the ground, bolting toward the western direction where the human empire awaited.


    Ben maintained a moderate pace to conserve his stamina while using his blood vision to scan the surroundings for potential threats. Before long, his Wind Walk skill reached its duration limit, triggering a 3-hour cooldown. Yet, he had a considerable distance ahead of him to cover.


    Determined to ensure the girl''s safety and get her to the empire promptly, Ben pressed forward. With each step, his crimson eyes scanned the terrain, his senses heightened by his vampire abilities.


    For any ordinary human, covering a distance of 7 kilometers on foot would require hours of effort. However, with Ben''s enhanced vampire powers and stamina, he managed to sprint the entire distance in a mere 20 minutes, the girl safely secured on his back. As they moved forward, the forest around them began to thin, and patches of daylight broke through the dense canopy.


    Ben''s sprinting was a testament to his supernatural capabilities, making the seemingly impossible journey appear effortless. His vampire traits granted him agility and endurance far beyond those of a mere mortal. With every step he took, thendscape transformed around them, and the trees grew sparser.


    The duo had been walking for nearly a day and a night toe this close to their destination. As the first light of dawn began to paint the horizon, Ben''s sharp eyes caught a glimmer of distant lights ahead. The faint illumination signaled the presence of civilization,...