HI3: I Don't Want to Be a Valkyrie

"DIE!" The black dragon snarled, realizing its surprise attack had failed. It shifted position, opening its colossal maw wide before exhaling a stream of dark dragon breath directly at Theresa.

Witnessing the approaching blast, Theresa's expression changed instantly. She hastily summoned Blood Embrace to create a crimson shield around herself.

The dragon breath bore down upon her, but Blood Embrace proved flawless in repelling the attack, perfectly safeguarding Theresa beneath its protective barrier.

After enduring the black dragon's breath, Theresa finally retracted her Blood Embrace. Thanks to its protection, she emerged unscathed.

"How can this be..." The black dragon gazed at Theresa, who had remained unaffected by its very own dragon breath, and felt utterly despairing.

A black dragon's greatest strengths lay in their dragon breath, defense, and close-quarters combat prowess. Their dragon breath and melee abilities were unparalleled among all dragons—but even these formidable assets proved no match for this diminutive adversary before them.

"Go forth, Blood Embrace!" Theresa gripped the Oath of Judah once more and hurled it towards the black dragon again.

"Unleash thy power! Embrace of Blood!"

The Blood Embrace landed beside the black dragon and fully unfurled...

The meat grinder-like Oath of Judah began its grisly work, slicing through flesh with relentless efficiency. Its reach was no longer confined to mere meters; now it spanned tens of meters in radius.

"Ahh... Aaaaagh... Spare me..."

Piercing screams erupted from the black dragon as the onslaught commenced. It couldn't bear the torment even as the attack just began.

For a moment, hesitation flickered across Theresa's face as she observed parts of the black dragon already reduced to pulp. She too found herself somewhat unwilling to continue witnessing such devastation.

The Blood Embrace was indeed terrifying—a true meat grinder beyond imagination.

After a moment's consideration, she retracted her Blood Embrace.

"How about it? Do you wish to continue?" Theresa approached, gazing down at the black dragon on its last breaths.

"Lady... I, Klawiyaschik... am willing to submit to your rule," the once-proud black dragon finally lowered its head in defeat.

"Hmm, not bad! But that is far from sufficient..."

Even with the dragon's submission, Theresa remained unconvinced. She stepped closer to the dragon's neck, still clutching her Blood Embrace, and continued biting down.

To everyone's surprise, Luna Kindred's fangs effortlessly pierced through the dragon scales beneath the moonlight.

Dragon blood flowed into her mouth—a substance entirely unlike any other, scalding hot as boiling water. Yet despite its volume, the energy contained within these blood sigils was hundreds, if not thousands of times stronger than those found in humans or centaurs.

Theresa drank continuously until she had consumed at least one-fiftieth of the black dragon's blood before finally stopping...

At this point, the black dragon had become fully bound to the Luna Kindred by their vampire pact.

Gazing upon the grievously wounded beast sprawled on the ground, Theresa pondered for a moment before producing a fragment of Honkai Impact.

"Eat this"

(TL Note: All might moment)

Even with the dragon's submission, Theresa remained unconvinced. She stepped closer to the dragon's neck, still clutching her Blood Embrace, and continued biting down.

To everyone's surprise, Luna Kindred's fangs effortlessly pierced through the dragon scales beneath the moonlight.

Dragon blood flowed into her mouth—a substance entirely unlike any other, scalding hot as boiling water. Yet despite its volume, the energy contained within these blood sigils was hundreds, if not thousands of times stronger than those found in humans or centaurs.

Theresa drank continuously until she had consumed at least one-fiftieth of the black dragon's blood before finally stopping...

At this point, the black dragon had become fully bound to the Luna Kindred by their vampire pact.

Gazing upon the grievously wounded beast sprawled on the ground, Theresa pondered for a moment before producing a fragment of Honkai Impact.

"Eat this," she commanded.

The black dragon dared not resist and swallowed the Honkai Impact fragment immediately. However, there seemed to be no reaction whatsoever.

After some thought, Theresa brought out another pile of fragments. "Consume all of them..." she instructed firmly.

The black dragon had been infected by Theresa, transforming it into a half-dragon, half-Honkai beast.

At this moment, Honkai energy seemed to be continuously absorbed by the black dragon, as if intent on completely converting it into a Honkai creature.

However, the fragments of Honkai contained far too little energy; the transformation was incomplete. The dragon remained not fully transformed because it wasn't human but rather, a giant dragon.

To utterly change its draconic bloodline into a true Dragon-type Honkai Beast would require an immense amount of Honkai energy—far more than what was available from mere fragments.

Unless one could provide it with Honkai crystals...

Yet even those were scarce enough for her own needs...

A single five-star weapon decomposed yielded only one piece of Honkai crystal—a madness-inducing price for such power. She barely had enough just to upgrade her weapons.

Still, the current state sufficed perfectly well. Thanks to the Honkai energy, the black dragon's wounds had fully healed. Moreover, it had become even more ferocious and imposing in appearance.

No longer merely a demonic giant dragon, it now embodied the fusion of both dragon and Honkai beast essences.

Its size alone had increased by nearly one-third, with each limb adapting further towards combat readiness.

"From now on, you shall be my familiar!" Theresa declared, gazing contentedly at the black dragon before her...

Though it couldn't compare to Benares, it was certainly sufficient for navigating this world. Once she ascended to Law-chan status, even creatures like Benares would likely prostrate themselves before her, vying for favor much like loyal hounds seeking affection.

"Yes, Mistress."

"Oh right, who named you?" Theresa asked curiously.

"It was Lord Milim..."

"What?! Milim herself?"

The adorable Theresa nearly jumped in fright at this revelation. How could it be Milim herself?

Milim was one of the three oldest Demon Lords in existence. She was born to Veldanava, the Star King Dragon—the creator god—and Lucia, sister of Rudra, the former Savior and Emperor of the Eastern Empire.

For such a mere "naming" by the black dragon—a being whom even Milim had treated with disdain, going so far as to steal her people... Chilling indeed...

"Why didn't you mention this before..." Theresa trailed off.

"I am but an ordinary dragon, briefly bestowed a name when Lord Milim happened upon me," the creature replied humbly. "What qualification do I have to invoke Lord Milim's name?"

"...I see."

An ordinary dragon, huh? Indeed, that seemed fitting enough.

Theresa instantly let out a sigh of relief. If that was the case, there shouldn't be any issues, should there?

She had initially feared he might be some important subordinate of Milim's. But then again, why would the Demon Lord want such a weak underling? Though both in personality and appearance, Milim seemed more like a little girl than anything else.

"Well then," Theresa said decisively. "Klau—whatever your full name is—take me to the Great Jura Forest."

Vampire Princess Theresa leaped onto the head of the black dragon, stretching languidly as she spoke.

Riding on a dragon was indeed a most comfortable experience.

"Yes, Lord!" The response came promptly from those addressed.

The black dragon spread its wings and soared into the sky, hurtling towards the Great Jura Forest at breakneck speed.

Its velocity far surpassed that of either centaurs or even Theresa herself.

A journey that would have taken days by any other means was completed in less than half a day, bringing them swiftly to the edge of the vast forest.

However, Theresa realized carrying such a conspicuous creature like the massive dragon would draw too much attention. She decided to let it roam free while she continued her search for Rimuru.

-

The goblin horde wasn't alone here; however, Theresa couldn't find any trace of Rimuru amidst them.

Though she failed to locate him, she did encounter a veritable army of demonic beasts—especially those lacking intelligence.

"Axe of the Fallen!"

Theresa bellowed, eyeing the colossal centipede-like creature that had ambushed her. The monstrous beast stood nearly seven or eight meters tall—a truly fearsome sight.

Enraged, Theresa transformed her Blood Embrace into an axe and swung it with all her might. In an instant, the giant centipede was reduced to nothing more than paste.

And then...

"Damn...it..."

Poor, adorable Theresa felt on the verge of madness. Why had bits of the giant centipede's flesh splattered onto her face? And why were there so many damn monsters in this forest?! They seemed utterly fearless of death.

She'd seen before how even goblins, centaurs, and minotaurs would cower at the mere sight of her. Yet these brainless creatures, despite their feeble strength, persistently launched attacks against her without regard for self-preservation.

Theresa spread out her bat wings and flew up to a big tree. She wanted to find a pond to clean herself off.

But then another giant blue python lunged at her.

"Go die already!"

Outstretching her bat wings, Theresa soared up to perch atop one of the massive trees, seeking a pool or pond where she could clean herself off.

However, just as luck would have it, another enormous azure python lunged towards her from above.

"Go die already!"

Gripping both short swords tightly, Theresa swiftly severed the python's head from its body.

"These forest dwellers must be poisonous," she muttered. "Why do they always target me specifically...?"

Had she known earlier, she would've brought along her black dragon companion. With him by her side, none of these creatures would dare approach. After all, she wasn't some reincarnated slime king capable of absorbing skills through devouring other beings—not like that certain someone who shall remain nameless.