SSS Awakening: Rebirth of the Strongest Vampire God-Chapter 217: It’s so...

"Perfect," Damon whispered with satisfaction.

"It’s so... gauche. Over the top. Completely lacking in refinement," La Rocha muttered, his tone thick with disdain. "It looks like a teenager’s fever dream after too much blood wine."

Damon happily ignored him. "Now let’s start with the defensive barriers, etcetera and etcetera. Make this place as strong and impenetrable as the metallic fortress was." His eyes gleamed, voice hardening.

"You cannot be careless with this part. The castle has to be absolutely untouchable. I want it warded against scrying, teleportation, curses, memory charms, and whatever other foul tricks these legacy bastards might try."

La Rocha sighed dramatically. "Yes. Yes. I will get on that."

"Do your job properly without finding loopholes. I enjoy not getting assassinated in my sleep," Damon said flatly.

"Fine, fine. I’ll begin the layering." La Rocha became silent as he quickly got to work. Damon could already feel several mana barriers and other sorts of runes he did not understand flare up here and there.

Behind him Sylvara and Artimius were staring at the castle slack jawed.

Artimius blinked several times, then leaned toward Sylvara and whispered, "Is it just me, or did our boy here summon an entire vampire stronghold out of thin air?"

Sylvara didn’t respond at first. Her wide eyes tracked the glowing runes and towering spires like someone watching a divine miracle unfold. "No," she finally breathed, voice reverent and bewildered. "It’s not just you. I think he really did."

A shrill shriek echoed overhead as one of the bat-winged gargoyles animated and leapt to a higher perch, its eyes sweeping the terrain like a paranoid sentry. Faint chants began to resonate from the walls, subtle, low-frequency vibrations that made the hairs on the back of one’s neck rise. Somewhere deep within the castle, a bell tolled once, slow and ominous, as if acknowledging the awakening of an ancient beast.

Then after a couple more minutes, La Rocha’s voice echoed once more from the castle walls, somehow both bitter and resigned. "Enjoy your brooding vampire fortress. I hope your enemies have a flair for the dramatic."

Damon grinned. "Oh, they will. But wait, I am not done with you yet. Make a part of the castle mana free next."

"Mana free?"

"Its for my family."

La Rocha’s voice became even more miserable. "Your entire family is going to stay in the castle?

"Then what? Why did you think I asked you to build such a big one? Quick get it done soon. I don’t have a lot of time."

The item spirit grumbled something in a language Damon could not understand. Damon did not give two shits about it. He only made a mental note to ask the item spirit later for a language compendium skill crystal or something like that so that he could be familiar with as many languages as possible.

The item spirit busied itself and soon came back with positive results another couple of minutes later. "...It’s done," La Rocha finally announced, voice soaked in reluctant obedience. "I’ve carved out an entire wing isolated from the rest of the castle’s mana flow.

Damon nodded, satisfied. "Good. That’ll keep them safe for now. Alright. No need to waste any more time." He had already asked Mark to walk back over with his family and Kate and her mother and the group reached the castle gates soon.

"Everyone. Let’s get inside first. We can talk about everything later."

The heavy iron gates creaked open with an almost ceremonial groan, revealing a long, torchlit corridor lined with crimson banners and polished obsidian columns. A gust of warm air rolled out, carrying with it a faint scent of blood.

Damon absolutely loved it. So did Mark and Kate but the others could only find it creepy and icky.

Damon stepped through first, his silhouette framed by the looming arches and the firelit glow, casting a shadow that stretched like a king’s across the stones.

Behind him came Mark, carrying a wide-eyed toddler in one arm and guiding Georgina and John and Damon’s parents with the other. Kate followed, her steps still unsteady from the aftershocks of everything. Her mother walked beside her, holding her hand tightly, eyes flicking to the gargoyles above with visible unease. Everyone was in silent shock.

While the group was observing everything around them, Damon signaled for Sylvara to get in as well along with Artimius. The two of them did not say anything. Sylvara helped the old man walk inside. He was still recovering and needed more time to completely heal.

Together, they stepped through the archway, and the gates groaned closed behind them.

Damon was already ahead, his boots clicking against the marble floor as he moved.

"The mana-free wing is to the right," he said without looking back. "La Rocha’s ensured it’s stable, comfortable, and to your liking. You should all go and pick out your rooms and take a rest. I still have something to do."

Everyone nodded and started walking to the right. Damon’s father Anderson took the lead and gulped as he opened the first door. Immediately his eyes widened in shock. Inside, there was a huge luxurious bedroom fit for royalty.

A canopied bed draped in crimson and silver silk stood at the center, flanked by floating candelabras that flickered gently with flame-free light.

A massive fireplace crackled warmly in the corner, and the stone walls were lined with shelves already stacked with books, vases, and what looked like handpicked artifacts. Even the floor was covered with a plush dark-red carpet that muffled every step. novelbuddy-cσ๓

Anderson stepped inside with stunned reverence. "I... I think this might be bigger than our entire apartment."

Georgina peeked in behind him, her mouth hanging open. "Maybe I can- " She opened her mouth but mama Linda was faster. "Move. Father and I will be staying here." Damon’s mother quickly claimed the first big room.

Damon wanted to tell them that all the rooms would be equally big and luxurious but he decided to let them figure it out for themselves. After everything that happened, it wasn’t too bad to distract everyone like this with some much needed pampering.

***

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