My Borderline Supervillain-Slash-Hero System-Chapter 54 — The Road to Galbaza

Arthridian World

The driver returned, this time with a far larger and sturdier carriage pulled by two massive, corrupted beasts. Zane’s eyes immediately locked onto the creatures. They resembled horses but were something more — Dragonic Horses.

Their coarse, black skin glistened with clusters of toad-like bumps. Their muscular bodies towered over any corrupted horse they’d seen so far — at least twice the size — and their glowing crimson eyes exuded both majesty and menace.

Zane quickly scanned their stats. He nodded in approval.

"These ones. They can handle our weight."

Shelby gave a silent nod, his expression unreadable — likely using his own methods to evaluate them.

"I knew it," Erlin said with a satisfied smirk.

The ornate carriage door opened, and a man stepped down. He was distinct from the rest — his attire formal, elegant, with a sharp aura of authority and power wrapped around him like a cloak.

"So, you’re the ones hiring my carriage?" he asked.

The driver who brought him bowed deeply. "Yes, sir."

"Then your job is done. You may leave."

The first driver didn’t hesitate, vanishing as quickly as he had arrived.

The new man stepped forward, placing a hand on his chest in a polished bow.

"Boroka Barua of the Three Moon Company, at your service."

His nose twitched slightly — the scent of pure-blood humans drifted through the air. His gaze moved from Zane to Shelby, narrowing.

Not one, but two pure-bloods? Here?

Then his eyes landed on Erlin — and his composure cracked. His breath hitched, and he stiffened like a soldier recognizing a monarch.

He thumped his chest and almost said it aloud, "Princess—"

"Shut up." Erlin’s voice cut sharply through the air.

He froze. "Forgive me, prin— Miss. I-I beg forgiveness for my foolish tongue."

The awkward exchange made both Zane and Shelby lift their brows. It didn’t take a genius to put the pieces together. They’d already had their suspicions. This slip of the tongue only confirmed it — Erlin wasn’t just anyone.

But Erlin kept her head high. She took a breath and exhaled slowly, regaining her calm.

"These are my companions. I don’t want you, or anyone else, asking questions about them. Just take us to Galbaza Town. Can you do that?"

She tossed a thick bundle of notes into his hand.

Boroka bowed low, slipping the money into his coat.

"Of course. As you wish, Miss."

He opened the door to the main carriage with a respectful gesture, and the trio climbed in. Before departure, Erlin laid down firm instructions:

"No talking unless spoken to. No stopping. And take us directly to Galbaza."

Barua nodded and climbed to the driver’s seat.

From his brief words, they learned the journey would take half a day — a long but manageable trip. Thankfully, this time, the powerful carriage and dragon horses had no trouble handling Zane’s immense weight.

Inside the carriage, silence reigned.

Romantic antics were forbidden — Shelby’s orders — which made the atmosphere... tense. The only sounds were the rhythmic clatter of wheels rolling over uneven road and the occasional gusts of wind brushing past the windows.

Now and then, the group would dip their fingers into the buckets of bone-marrow paste they carried and lick them clean, savoring the rich flavor like a strange shared ritual.

Eventually, Shelby leaned back, arms crossed, and began snoring. Zane joined in moments later.

Erlin glared at the two of them.

"These two," she muttered. "So loud..."

Suddenly, the carriage jerked to a halt.

Both Shelby and Zane jolted upright at once, alert.

Erlin’s voice sharpened with frustration.

"Why did you stop? I explicitly told you not to!"

"Pardon me, Miss," Boroka Barua replied nervously from the driver’s seat. "The road’s blocked."

"Why?"

"There’s... a group of bandits up ahead. They’re looting merchants." He glanced toward the distance. "This is bad, Miss. Shall we turn back? Take a different route?"

Erlin narrowed her eyes. "No. We’ll handle it right here."

Zane and Shelby silently stepped out with her.

A little distance ahead, seven merchant carriages were halted, surrounded by a group of twenty-five rough-looking men, brandishing rusted swords and blood-stained axes. The air reeked of sweat and violence. A frightened merchant family — parents and two children — were being shoved around by the bandits.

One of the bandits growled, "Don’t you know this path belongs to the Nuxon Gang? Nobody gets through unless they pay every coin they have!"

"If you don’t have enough gold, then pay with your blood!" another added, spitting the black residue of whatever foul herb he was chewing.

Erlin stepped forward, but Zane extended an arm to block her path.

"I’ve got this," he said calmly.

He stepped ahead, his voice cool, almost casual.

"Whatever you’re doing here, I really don’t care. I’m in a hurry. Just move those seven carriages aside and give us a free pass. That’s all I ask."

The bandits all turned to him, some blinking, others narrowing their eyes.

"Who the hell are you to talk like that?!" one roared, raising his blade.

Zane didn’t flinch. "I’m trying to avoid trouble. Move aside."

Boroka Barua, still atop the carriage, began to sweat bullets.

What is this human doing?!

He sniffed the air — the scent of pure-blooded humans was unmistakable. He started panicking.

If the predators here smell him, we’re all as good as dead.

Forgive me, Princess... I can’t die here!

He quietly tried to sneak away.

But before he could flee, Shelby appeared behind him, draping an arm around his neck like an iron chain.

"Going somewhere, Mr. Driver?" he asked with a calm smile. "Relax. Just watch. Everything’s going to be fine."

Fine, my foot! Barua cursed in his head, struggling to shake free. But no matter how hard he tried, Shelby didn’t budge — not even an inch.

One of the bandits, likely the leader, stepped forward and sniffed the air. His eyes widened.

"Pure-blooded human..." he murmured, then burst into manic laughter. "This is my lucky day!"

He raised his axe and shouted, "Bring him to me alive! Don’t harm a single strand of hair on his head!"

The other twenty-four vampires heard the word "pure-blood", and a frenzy took over. Their eyes lit up with bloodlust. They wanted his blood — for power, for pleasure, for status.

They all charged at Zane like rabid wolves.

Zane looked at Shelby.

Shelby nodded solemnly. "Do what needs to be done."

Zane exhaled deeply. "This is the first time... I’m about to get my hands dirty. Even if they’re vampires, they’re still people."

Shelby’s voice turned firm. "Forget your morals for now. This isn’t Earth. This isn’t a comic book. These creatures would rip you apart without hesitation. They’re not here to chat. They’re here to drink you dry."

He paused, then added coldly,

"If someone tries to kill you — you kill them first."

Zane nodded slowly. His eyes narrowed, his stance changed.

The first vampire reached him with a wide grin.

"Surrender, human! You’re only worth your blood anyway."

He raised his arms, not to strike — but to seize Zane.

Zane took a single step forward.

To the onlookers, it seemed as if he was surrendering.

But then—he raised his right hand, extended his middle finger, and flicked it forward with pinpoint precision, striking the vampire dead center in the forehead.

CRACK!

The bandit’s head exploded, chunks of skull and brain matter scattering across the grass.

The rest froze in their tracks.

The vampire’s body stood for half a second... before slumping backward to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut.

A dead silence followed. Even the wind held its breath.

No one had seen that coming.

This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶