Reincarnated with a lucky draw system

Draken returned to the underground city and found the dissembled parts of chimeras and monsters scattered everywhere. Limbs and broken armor lay like trash. The place stank of blood and burnt flesh. Endrick's body wasn't there.

"Just how strong is he?" Draken muttered, a frown carving his face as his body slowly metamorphosed.

He peeled off the borrowed face and shifted back to his original shape — a being without a face. No eyes, no nose, no mouth — just a blank slab where a face should be. His skin was purple; air seemed to pulse into him through the pores.

"Man, you really look ugly. No wonder you can't do without taking people's forms," a young voice said, and a smile tugged at Draken's lips.

"Nathan. What are you doing here? We can't be seen together," Draken said coldly, changing his appearance again into the face of one of the many humans he'd devoured.

"I wouldn't be here if I didn't have to find you myself. You messed up the plan. I can't find Leo's dead body anywhere. And since you're not using his face I assume you didn't devour him either," Nathan said, scanning the wreckage.

"A variable appeared. As you can see, all the chimeras are dead. Killing Leo will be a lot harder than usual. Plus, there's no need for Leo anymore," Draken said, already moving toward the tunnel.

"What are you talking about?" Nathan followed behind him.

"Aaron. I found him."

"You did? And he's not with you because—?"

"I can't risk my identity. He's awakened his bloodline. You told me he wouldn't awaken anytime soon."

"You got scared just because he awakened his bloodline? Are you really a god or a wimp?" Nathan asked, half-laughing.

"Shut up already. How annoying can you be? God or not, there's no way I can take care of thousands of vampires. Especially in a pocket universe I know nothing of. I don't take risks," Draken snapped, annoyed by Nathan's antics.

"I see. Then at least tell me he didn't suspect you. Like me, he has an inferior way of peeling at other people's secrets," Nathan said, curious.

"Do you think you could've known who I was if I didn't tell you? Talk more of him," Draken replied, eyes narrowing.

"Fair point. Then let's go. My father is waiting for you. We can begin the next phase now," Nathan said, picking up his pace to stay ahead.

"We'll have to speed up the process. With him awakening his bloodline and creating vampire armies, we can't afford to be laid back."

"Come on. What's with you and being scared of vampires? Are you really a demon or a scared cat?" Nathan groaned.

"You really haven't seen what a vampire is truly capable of. Especially when they hunt together," Draken said, shaking his head. He knew Nathan — a human from a backwater world — wouldn't grasp the full terror.

"I do. Aaron once lounged at me with the thought of draining my blood, remember?" Nathan said, smirking.

"You really don't know the difference between a vampire with a shackled bloodline and one without shackles. You wouldn't want to face Aaron now. I strongly believe he will bypass your stupid domain," Draken warned, finally exiting the tunnel to find a vehicle waiting outside.

"If you say so. And yes, I brought a vehicle. I can't fly like you gods and demigods, so you'll have to deal with sitting in the car. Ryder's driving," Nathan said, climbing in.

With no choice, Draken entered the car. They sped off toward Nathan's hidden location — toward meetings Draken didn't trust but had to attend.

---

Back in the sanctuary, Aaron excused everyone from the conference room. People filed out one by one, talking quietly, plans already running in their heads.

All except Alice.

"Did you mean it?" Alice asked Aaron, trying hard to keep a straight face and not let her emotions run wild.

"Why should I joke? The first step in being a leader is to not joke over your words," Aaron said seriously.

"Never knew you felt that way about me," Alice said, a small smile on her face.

"Me? I did from the very first time we met. I made up my mind to make you mine then," Aaron said, getting to his feet and walking to her.

He placed his hands on her face, cupping her cheeks like it was the most natural thing. The touch was confident, not gentle, but it meant something.

"So, Alice. I'm asking again. Are you willing to be my queen?" Aaron asked, his lips moving so close they could both feel each other's breath.

Alice went quiet. She had imagined a hundred scenarios of them together, but none this blunt, none so immediate.

"Yes," Alice replied finally, after calming her fast-beating heart, voice barely a whisper.

Aaron closed the gap and kissed her.

He controlled space inside the sanctuary and moved them to his room — away from prying eyes. Leo, of course, didn't understand privacy. The annoying friend hid behind the conference door, peeping shamefully, unable to help himself.

"Tsk. How do I even replicate that sort of tactic to get a woman?" Leo muttered, clicking his tongue. With no more show to watch, he decided to take his leave, grumbling and wishing his friend well in his own blunt way.

---

Aaron and Alice lay on the bed after several hours of... battling. Of course Aaron came on top. His charm talent had proven useful.

"Promise me… among the many other wives you will marry, you will love no one greater than me," Alice said, resting her head on Aaron's chest.

"I won't. I will love everyone equally. But you will be my favourite," Aaron said, half-smile on his face.

Alice's words sent Aaron sliding down memory lane — Rose, the first woman he'd been close to back on Blue Star. With Blue Star turned to apocalypse, he had no idea what became of her. The memory niggled at him even as he lay with Alice.

"What's the matter?" Alice asked, noticing the frown.

"It's Rose. I don't know her safety," Aaron said.

He had made mention of Rose to Alice in the past while in Ragnarok and their love dynamics.

"I see. Do you want us to go find her? Just the two of us. It can serve as a date while we search," Alice offered, smiling.

"You're okay with that?" he asked, surprised.

"Why wouldn't I? I always knew I can't have you all to myself. Plus, if I keep you to myself every night, I might be the first immortal to actually die from overexertion. Who hates a little competition?" Alice teased, hugging him tighter.

"Thanks," Aaron said, planting a kiss on her forehead. They stayed like that, holding each other — a quiet, messy comfort — while plans outside continued to move.