The Multiverse Hunter

"I'll wait outside, my lord. Your clothes are in the corner," Sarina said with a soft bow before slipping through the doors, closing them behind her with a quiet click.

Ali glanced toward the corner of the bath chamber. A woven basket sat neatly near the wall, filled with simple, functional garments—dull, baggy clothes made recently by hand. Nothing extravagant. Just comfort stitched with care.

He stripped off the bloodied remnants of his old clothes and stepped into one of the large wooden barrels first. Steam drifted lazily into the air as he lowered himself into the hot water.

The heat bit into his skin.

Dirt, blood, and ash from the day's chaos melted off his body in rivulets, darkening the water as the scent of scorched fabric faded.

After a few minutes, Ali climbed out of the barrel and moved toward the main pool at the centre of the chamber. It was fed by a natural spring, the water ice cold, sourced deep from beneath his land. The same water that now filled the village well, under Miles' guidance.

Ali entered slowly.

The cold shocked his body, but it grounded him.

He made his way to the stone bench lining the edge of the pool and sat directly beneath the carved dragon's mouth, where water poured down in a steady cascade. It slammed into his head and shoulders like a waterfall, but he didn't flinch.

Instead, he leaned back, muscles relaxing, eyes closing.

The white water streamed over him like nature's purification rite.

"You better not have cameras in here, Miles," Ali said casually, not bothering to open his eyes.

"Why would I install cameras in the bath? I am not interested in seeing anyone naked," came the flat, robotic reply from above. Miles's voice echoed from a small vent in the ceiling—emotionless, antisocial.

Ali smirked faintly.

"Are you getting missions from rebuilding the fort and village?" he asked.

"A surprisingly large number," Miles responded. "Some even rewarded me with intelligence points. Surveillance on Houses Nolan and Cinder, and designing new infrastructure, have been the most valuable so far."

"Good for you."

A pause.

"I didn't ask before," Miles said. "Why is a vampire with us?"

Ali's eyes stayed closed.

"She'll help us. She's under contract. I own her. Don't worry about her."

He spoke plainly. There was no hesitation in his tone. Miles was the only one Ali ever spoke to with unfiltered clarity—his most useful ally, and by far his most valuable asset.

"Understood."

Another pause, then Miles continued.

"I've finished scanning the Demi-Human territory. Full layout, topography, heat maps, population data. They're situated between multiple dangerous beast dens. Yet they're unharmed. They must either avoid the creatures entirely or coexist with them in a way I haven't detected yet."

Ali processed this in silence before answering.

"I'll offer them a chance. Serve me, and I'll give them a real home— a proper village, trade with my territories. If they refuse…"

His tone hardened.

"…we exterminate them. Except the women and children. I'll take the girls I like and sell the rest to the slave markets. Prepare to lure the beasts to their borders if they decline the offer."

"Already done," Miles answered coolly. "Drones are in position. One dragon will be enough to assist with the white wolf."

Ali tilted his head slightly at the name.

"What about the war?" he asked. "Everything still on track?"

"All known assets accounted for. Except for five individuals," Miles replied.

Ali opened one eye.

"Players?"

That was always the wild card.

Players weren't like the natives of this world. They could communicate with allies at any moment from miles away, call in entire guilds, and carry tools from other realities.

"Yes," Miles confirmed. "One in House Nolan. Four in House Cinder. Not in my records. Not ranked. Unknown players."

Ali's eyes narrowed.

"So either too weak to register or they chose not to fight. Leave them to me. I'll deal with them before they even know I exist."

Silence followed.

An hour passed.

Ali stepped out of the pool, his body steaming in the cold air. He dried off with a fresh cloth from the basket and pulled on a loose pair of comfy pants from his inventory. Then came the black bathrobe—soft, high-grade fabric from Paradise.

He adjusted the collar, let the belt hang loose at his waist, and glanced once more at the now-quiet pool behind him.

The dragon's mouth still poured water, serene.

Sarina was still waiting outside when the bath doors creaked open behind her.

She turned instinctively—then instantly dropped her gaze.

Ali stepped out, his dark hair wet and tousled, strands falling over his eyes. His black robe hung loose at the front, revealing his broad chest, droplets of water still trailing down his skin. The scent of hot water, clean stone, and his natural musk hit her in one overwhelming wave.

Even for an older woman like Sarina, Ali's presence was disarming—something raw, that made her heart skip despite herself. Her face flushed. She kept her eyes fixed firmly on the stone floor.

"Take me to the treasury," Ali said calmly.

Sarina gave a quick nod and turned, leading him silently down the hall.

They ascended to the second level, passing the fractured stone staircase that led up to the war table on the ruined third floor. Just as on the ground level, a corridor behind the stairs led deep into the stone foundation of the keep.

At the end stood a massive steel double-door, polished and reinforced, with a glowing rectangular slot embedded in its centre.

Sarina stopped and gestured to it.

"Your hand, my lord. That's what Lord Miles said. Only you, Lady Fiona, and now Lady Seraphina can open it."

Ali nodded. "They're inside?"

"Yes, my lord. Both Lady Fiona and Lady Seraphina are inside right now."

Ali stepped forward and inserted his hand into the slot. Blue light surged along the frame like veins of energy, and a soft mechanical clicking echoed through the walls. The great doors groaned—and then slowly opened on their own.

Sarina immediately turned her back to the entrance and folded her hands in front of her. It was common law—no servant looks into a lord's treasury. It was sacred space, and looking upon it without permission was a deep insult.

Ali stepped inside.

The room was massive—nearly the same size as the newly rebuilt bath chamber below. Raw stone walls framed the space, with clean lines and a cold atmosphere. Along the back wall stood a large metal shelf system, mounted into the stone itself. Dozens of neatly stacked silver bricks lined the shelves, and to the side was a digital screen counting the total value in real-time in the native language of the continent.

It was climbing quickly.

To it's left, Fiona sat cross-legged on the floor, her baby in one arm, suckling softly. Her other hand was removing silver coins from a chest—the one he'd retrieved from the eagle's nest—and stacking them with meticulous care.

To the right, Seraphina was pulling silver from her coffin, stacking it in organised rows while her red eyes followed the rising numbers on the screen.

Ali was watching the most beautiful women in the region—one noble, the other royal-born vampire—stocking his vault like loyal scribes.

They paused when he entered.

Fiona didn't turn to face him—her chest was still exposed as she nursed her daughter. Her voice came softly.

"You're back."

Seraphina glanced over with curiosity.

"What happened with the Kobolds?"

Ali stepped further into the room, water still dripping faintly from the ends of his hair.

"I took care of them."

He moved to the empty side of the vault and raised his hand. The two women instinctively turned to watch.

A moment later—

THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.

A massive pile of loot appeared out of thin air, slamming into the ground and sending small tremors through the stone floor. Weapons, armour, silver—everything he'd looted was dumped neatly into the vacant space.

Both women blinked in stunned silence.

"What are we going to do with all that?" Seraphina asked.

"Leave it here. We'll sell it after the war."

Ali reached into his robe and tossed something to her—a shimmering green core.

She caught it mid-air, eyes locking onto it.

Her voice shifted instantly.

"This is… Where did you find this?"

"Behind the Kobold Captain's throne. Add it to the pile by the silver."

Ali turned toward the door.

"You two can head out now. Miles will handle the rest."

The girls let out subtle sighs of relief.

Counting silver wasn't fun work, no matter how necessary.

They walked together back to the fortress office, which now had its curtains drawn shut, protecting the space from the sunlight. Sarina had made sure of it—as Ali ordered.

Ali sat in the high-backed chair behind the desk, the flickering blue light from the mirror casting soft glows over his face. His robe was still loose, his bare chest still faintly damp.

He looked at the two women now seated in front of him.

Both beautiful.

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