Chapter 115 - The Great Awakening

  The ruined town of Morvael, once a forgotten husk of destruction and despair, had suddenly burst into a flurry of frantic activity. The vampires who had, until moments ago, been nothing more than desperate, half-starved remnants of a fallen civilization were now moving with fervent purpose. They scurried through the debris-laden streets, overturning broken structures, dusting off shattered remnants of what had once been homes, and making every attempt to restore what little dignity their settlement had left.

  It was not true reconstruction—there was no undoing the devastation wrought upon their city—but it was an effort, a desperate attempt to present themselves as something more than what they had become. All because of Adam.

  From the moment he had unleashed his cursed energy, from the instant they had recognized his impossible presence as that of a Vampire Lord, their entire world had shifted. He was no longer an intruder, no longer a trespasser to be attacked and devoured. He was their master, their savior, their noble superior who, despite their grave offense, had shown them mercy. That alone had sent them into a frenzy of servitude, eager to prove themselves worthy of the forgiveness he had granted them. And so, the broken town of Morvael pulsed with something resembling life for the first time in years.

  Vaelric Duskthorn, the self-proclaimed leader of this wretched settlement, walked closely beside Adam as he and Abbess made their way back toward the entrance. His gaunt features, though still sharp with the inhuman beauty inherent to his kind, were weathered by years of suffering and deprivation. As they moved, he spoke, his voice carrying the weight of history—one marred by defeat and helplessness.

  “This place, Morvael, was among the first to fall after the ‘Great Awakening’.”

  Vaelric explained, his tone filled with something between bitterness and reluctant acceptance.

  “The moment the war began, we were doomed. We had no great bloodline to protect us, no powerful noble to rally our defenses. The forces of the Holy Empire descended upon us like fire upon dry grass, and our city was left in ruins, and yet…”

  He exhaled, as if still struggling to comprehend it himself.

  "They did not finish the job. They razed our homes, executed the ruling family, and then… they left. The paladins did not purge us to the last. They simply locked us in this husk of a city and allowed time to do their work for them."

  Adam’s brows furrowed slightly. He had heard of plenty of wars that had ended in massacres, but this… this was something different. He did not know what the so-called ‘Great Awakening’ was, and the term piqued his curiosity, but for now, he let the vampire speak without interruption.

  "We have lived like this ever since, trapped in a ruin we once called home, unable to leave without becoming prey to the Empire’s patrols. Those of us who remain have grown weak, not from age, but from hunger. Our kind does not die from starvation, oh great Lord, but deprivation takes its toll in other ways. It strips us of reason. Of control. We become little more than beasts, shadows of what we once were. Our isolation has left us ignorant of the world beyond these borders, and now, I must ask…"

  He hesitated, as if bracing himself for the answer.

  "What of our people? What of our capital of Velmoria? Does the Crimson Seat still stand?"

  Adam met Vaelric’s gaze, measuring his words before answering.

  "It stands, but its survival is far from guaranteed. The humans have not relented. Their goddess still demands the eradication of all who are not like them."

  That, at least, was not a lie. It was exactly what Gideon had told them. The paladin had spoken of the sacred duty to cleanse the world of vampires and giants, of their crusades that would never cease until every last remnant of these races had been wiped from existence. The knowledge lingered at the back of Adam’s mind, a silent warning of just how precarious the balance of power truly was.

  Vaelric closed his eyes for a long moment, as if mourning the fate of his kind. But when he spoke again, it was not with anger or despair—only weary acceptance.

  "Then we are doomed to extinction. It is only a matter of time."

  Adam narrowed his eyes slightly. That didn’t match the ruthless efficiency he had witnessed from Gideon and the Sacred Order. If they viewed vampires as a blight upon the world, why spare even a handful? Why leave any trace of them behind?

  “Why?”

  The boy finally asked, his voice calm but pointed.

  “If the Empire’s goal was complete eradication, why leave you here at all?”

  Vaelric’s lips pressed into a thin line.

  “That is something we have wondered for years. But in the end, it doesn’t matter. We are not dead, but we are not alive either. We are trapped here, unable to leave without walking straight into Imperial territory. This is our reality, oh great Lord.”

  By the time they reached the entrance to the ruined city, Adam’s gaze lifted to the distant figures of his own team, along with the members of WNATN. They were moving cautiously, exactly as he had instructed, their postures tense, their expressions wary. The moment their eyes fell upon him, standing there unscathed, accompanied not only by Abbess but also by a creature that was obviously a vampire, confusion spread among them like wildfire.

  Angela, in particular, stared at him with an expression hovering between disbelief and exasperation, her blue eyes wide with incredulity. She had expected a battle, a confrontation. She had expected Adam to either return bloodied or be forced to retreat. Instead, he stood there, completely unharmed, smiling as though he had merely gone on a casual stroll through the ruins.

  Adam let a small, knowing smirk curve at the edges of his lips before raising a hand, gesturing for them to come forward.

  “Come on, it’s safe.”

  Safe… Angela narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously. Safe was not the word she would have expected to hear so soon after he had walked into a den of vampires alone. And yet, the creatures who had once been ready to rip him apart were now running around in a frenzy, preparing the ruined settlement as if for an honored guest.

  The others hesitated, but, slowly, they began to move forward, their wariness still present, their minds struggling to comprehend what exactly had happened in the short time Adam had been gone.

  Angela, however, was the last to step forward, her eyes never leaving him as she muttered under her breath.

  “What the hell did you do?”

  The moment the girl’s words left her mouth, the atmosphere shifted violently. Vaelric’s composed demeanor shattered as if she had spat directly on his pride, his expression twisting into one of pure, unrestrained fury. His crimson eyes burned with outrage, his fangs bared as a guttural growl rumbled from deep within his chest, like a predator who had just been insulted by its own prey.

  To him, a mere human—one who was nothing more than cattle—had not only spoken out of turn but had dared to raise her voice in defiance toward a Vampire Lord. It was the gravest insult imaginable, a blasphemy against the natural order. His body tensed as his killing intent surged, his fingers twitching as he prepared to lash out, ready to put this audacious mortal in her place.

  But before he could move, before his wrath could manifest into action, Adam acted first.

  The boy stepped forward and raised his arm with a single swift motion, intercepting Vaelric’s movement with effortless precision. The force behind the vampire’s barely restrained lunge was considerable, but Adam held firm, meeting the enraged vampire’s gaze with an expression so cold, so utterly unyielding, that it was enough to make Vaelric hesitate.

  There was no mistaking the shift in Adam’s aura—this was not a suggestion, nor was it a plea. It was a command.

  “They are my personal herd.”

  Adam declared, his voice steady and authoritative, the weight behind his words carrying an undeniable force.

  “No one touches them.”

  The effect was immediate. Vaelric’s muscles locked in place, his rage momentarily halted by the sheer dominance in Adam’s tone. His fangs clenched, his nails digging into his own palms, but he did not argue. He did not dare. However, the boy knew that simply demanding obedience was not enough. The lie had to be reinforced, and so, against every fiber of his being, against every instinct screaming at him that this was the worst decision of his life, he forced himself to say it.

  “And… she spoke that way because…”

  He hesitated, the words catching in his throat, his mind revolting against the absurdity of what he was about to utter. But there was no other way.

  “…because she is also… a candidate… to be one… o-of my c-concubines.”

  The moment the words left his lips, Adam wanted to dig his own grave and crawl into it. His entire body tensed as an uncontrollable wave of secondhand embarrassment threatened to suffocate him. His ears burned, his mouth felt dry, and for a second, he genuinely wondered if death would be preferable to the sheer humiliation of having spoken such nonsense aloud.

  Vaelric, however, reacted exactly as expected. His eyes widened momentarily before his rage instantly vanished, replaced by understanding. He exhaled sharply and took a step back, lowering his head in a gesture of submission.

  “Forgive me, oh great Lord.”

  He said with deep reverence.

  “I did not realize. If she is to be one of your concubines, then her impudence is… understandable. I will not question it again.”

  Adam wanted to die. But if he thought he was the only one suffering, he was mistaken.

  Angela had been frozen in place for several seconds, her expression locked in complete, utter disbelief. She blinked once. Twice. Slowly, very slowly, she turned her head toward Adam, her blue eyes demanding an explanation that she was never going to get. Her mouth opened as if to speak, but no words came out.

  Behind her, the rest of both teams had long since lost control. They were struggling, shaking, their faces contorted with suppressed laughter, their shoulders trembling from the effort of holding it in. André, the ever-opportunistic troublemaker, was the first to break. He stepped forward, barely containing his grin, and with a few light taps on Angela’s shoulder, said.

  “Congratulations.”

  That was all it took. Angela snapped.

  Her fist moved like a blur, striking André directly in the back of the head with such force that the poor boy staggered forward, nearly tripping over himself. He let out a strangled yelp, clutching his skull as if she had cracked it open, his attempt at teasing instantly regretted. Dayana, standing behind him, simply shook her head in disappointment before delivering another swift smack to the back of his head for good measure.

  “Idiot.”

  She muttered. Most of the rest of the group barely held it together. Kazue had to bite down on her sleeve to stop herself from making noise. Chloe’s face was red from restrained laughter, her shoulders shaking violently. Even Gregor, normally the stoic one, let out a quiet, barely contained chuckle.

  Abbess, standing beside Adam, was the only one who did not find amusement in the situation. If anything, she seemed… oddly pleased. A faint, almost imperceptible blush dusted her gray skin, her crimson eyes glancing away for a brief moment before returning to Adam with a gaze that carried an entirely different meaning.

  The boy did not dare acknowledge it. Instead, he cleared his throat, his face still burning from humiliation, and motioned toward the entrance of the city.

  “Enough of that, let’s move.”

  He muttered, forcing himself to regain his composure. With that, the group finally advanced, following Adam, Abbess, and Vaelric deeper into the ruined city. Their destination was clear—the city hall, or at least what remained of it.

  As they approached, the entire town was in a frenzy of movement. The once-silent streets were now filled with vampires scurrying about, their pale figures darting between collapsed buildings and shattered roads as they desperately tried to clean and restore what they could. Broken pillars were being stacked in place, debris was being swept away with frantic speed, and some vampires even seemed to be attempting makeshift repairs on the tattered banners that once hung from the city’s structures.

  Despite their best efforts, however, the task was monumental. The city had been in ruins for years, and no amount of frantic cleaning could erase that reality. The crumbling walls, the scorched earth, the skeletal remains of once-great structures—it was clear that no matter how much effort they put in, Morvael would never return to its former glory.

  And yet, they tried. They moved with a sense of urgency, their fear of Adam evident in the way they worked without pause, desperate to ensure that they did not disappoint the Vampire Lord who had chosen to grant them mercy.

  Adam absorbed the sight before him, his eyes sweeping across the desperate activity that consumed the ruined city. The vampires scrambled about with frantic purpose, but as he looked closer, he realized something else—something far more telling than their fear. They were thin. Not just thin, but skeletal, their bodies gaunt and malnourished, their once-proud features hollowed by starvation and deprivation. Their pale skin clung tightly to their bones, their movements jittery, lacking the fluid grace he had always associated with vampires.

  This wasn’t a powerful, thriving coven. This wasn’t even a broken faction regrouping for another war. This was a prison, and its inmates had long since been left to wither.

  The realization sent a strange sensation through Adam’s chest. He didn’t know if it was pity, disgust, or something else entirely, but it solidified one thing—Vaelric hadn’t been lying. The vampires here had truly been abandoned, kept as caged relics of a forgotten battle, unable to escape, unable to fight back. And now, they had latched onto him, not just because of fear, but because he represented something they hadn’t had in years. Hope.

  He exhaled quietly and said nothing. There was no need to. As they neared what remained of the city hall, the full extent of its destruction became clear. Once, it had no doubt been an elegant structure, a place of power befitting the rulers of this settlement. Now, however, it stood in a state of ruin, its once-pristine gothic architecture fractured beyond repair.

  The tall spires that had likely once crowned its rooftops were now jagged stumps, their edges blackened by fire. The grand windows, which must have once displayed intricate stained-glass designs, had long since shattered, leaving only jagged frames that let the evening breeze whistle through. And yet, despite its ruin, the vampires had worked relentlessly to restore whatever they could.

  The massive double doors had been reinforced with scavenged wood, polished as best as possible. Inside, the floors had been swept clear of debris, and remnants of silk curtains had been hung strategically to hide the worst of the crumbling walls. Though the ceiling bore massive cracks, and sections of it had caved in entirely, they had draped dark banners to obscure the damage, giving the illusion of a more dignified interior.

  At the center of the hall, a long wooden table had been placed, surrounded by mismatched chairs—some whole, others barely standing, their legs uneven or hastily repaired. However, a single chair that was unlike the rest stood at the far end of the table.

  It was massive, ornate, carved from dark wood with meticulous craftsmanship. Despite the rest of the hall’s ruined state, this chair remained intact, its high back adorned with intricate engravings that resembled curling vines and wings. A throne. A remnant of the noble family that had once ruled this place.

  As the group entered, Vaelric moved with fluidity, leading Adam toward the head of the table. The vampires who had been following them silently took their seats, their movements measured, reverent. Vaelric himself chose a seat nearby, though it was clear that his position was secondary—there was no doubt in his mind who the real master of this gathering was.

  And then, with a grand gesture, he turned toward Adam and motioned toward the throne-like chair.

  “My Lord, this seat is yours.”

  He said, his voice thick with devotion. Adam stared at it.

  His first instinct was to refuse. Sitting in a throne, being regarded as some kind of ruler—it was ridiculous. He wasn’t a king. He wasn’t even a real Vampire Lord. This entire charade was a fabrication, a necessity to ensure their survival in the short term. And yet… he hesitated.

  To refuse outright might raise suspicion. And beyond that, there was a strange weight in the air—an expectation, an unspoken rule that had been ingrained into these creatures for generations. This seat did not belong to just anyone. It belonged to power. And at this moment, whether he liked it or not, Adam was that power.

  Suppressing the sigh that threatened to escape him, the boy finally stepped forward and, without a word, lowered himself onto the chair.

  The wood creaked slightly beneath him, its sheer size making him feel as if he had been swallowed by something far greater than himself. But as soon as he was seated, the vampires at the table collectively exhaled, their bodies relaxing slightly, as if the sight of him in that chair had brought them comfort.

  Adam glanced to the side, catching a glimpse of his team. Angela was staring at him, her expression unreadable. Drake, meanwhile, simply smirked, as if greatly amused by the entire situation. The rest of his team either watched in mild interest or, in the case of Kazue and Chloe, actively tried to suppress laughter.

  Adam let out a slow, measured breath as he leaned back slightly into the towering chair, his gaze sweeping across the gathered vampires with a contemplative stillness. The reception for the rest of his group had been notably less grand, but not hostile.

  None of them had been mistreated or even regarded with open disdain. In fact, the vampires had made an effort—if it could be called that—to provide some form of hospitality. Before each person sat a small dirty plate containing something that looked suspiciously like fine black ash, a substance that no one dared to touch. Not out of rudeness, but because it was painfully clear that this was the best the vampires could offer. The realization only deepened the growing sense of grim understanding within Adam. This place was starved in every sense of the word.

  His eyes moved over the many expectant faces surrounding him, watching, waiting, hoping. The sheer number of vampires present was staggering, and yet their conditions were uniform—sunken eyes, hollowed cheeks, their once-elegant features marred by years of deprivation. They weren’t monstrous in the way one might imagine a coven of nightwalkers to be; in truth, if not for their unnervingly crimson irises and the sharp gleam of elongated canines, they could have passed for humans suffering from extreme famine.

  But it was those eyes—those blood-red windows into desperation far beyond physical hunger—that made them unsettling. If they had been healthier, and stronger, their presence alone would have been suffocating. Now, however, there was something undeniably pitiful about them, something that Adam had never expected to feel when regarding creatures of the night.

  He let the moment settle and allowed his presence to sink into them as deeply as their reverence for him had. Then, at last, he spoke, his voice calm but firm, carrying the authority that his role now demanded.

  “For a long time, I have wandered.”

  He paused for just a fraction of a second, letting the words weigh heavily in the air.

  “Due to a mission I imposed upon myself, I remained in hibernation for many years. Much has changed in my absence.”

  He wasn’t lying, not exactly. The knowledge that filled his mind was real, fed to him through the influence of his ‘Lord of Vampires’ title. He could feel it, woven into his very being, an instinctive basic understanding of the physiology, hierarchy, and customs of the vampiric race that made contact with him.

  And yet, the moment he had laid eyes on Vaelric and his people, he had immediately realized just how different they were from the only other vampires he had encountered—the Jiang Shi. The difference was profound, stark. The Jiang Shi were unnatural, reanimated corpses bound by necromantic forces, their power drawn from something beyond life and death. But these vampires… these creatures were wholly different, an entirely separate lineage of nightwalkers. Their biology, their needs, even the way their cursed energy flowed through their veins—it was something unique, something ancient in its own right. And so, he played the role he had been given, using the knowledge granted to him while carefully avoiding what he did not know.

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  He leaned forward slightly, his fingers resting lightly against the table as he continued, his voice steady, measured.

  “Because of this, I have missed much of the world’s events—especially this so-called ‘Great Awakening’.”

  The moment he uttered the name, the room reacted.

  A ripple passed through the gathered vampires, a collective unease that manifested in hushed murmurs and flickers of wary glances exchanged between them. It was confirmation enough—whatever the ‘Great Awakening’ was, it was not something they spoke of lightly.

  Adam’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he did not let the silence linger for too long.

  “I sought answers in Velmoria, but the nobles there would not speak of it. They claimed it was taboo.”

  He let his gaze drift over the vampires, watching their reactions closely.

  “And so I have set forth on a journey to uncover the truth myself.”

  The shift in the atmosphere was immediate. Before, they had been tense, uncertain, but now they stared at him with something bordering on awe. That a noble of their kind—a Vampire Lord—would go against the unspoken decree of Velmoria’s aristocracy to seek knowledge on his own? That was unheard of.

  Before they could dwell too long on that revelation, Adam pressed on.

  “I have already encountered the paladins.”

  He said, his tone carrying the slightest edge of amusement.

  “They are of no concern.”

  Gasps echoed throughout the chamber. Soft, sharp, startled exclamations. The very name of their greatest enemies sent a shudder through the gathered vampires, but the way he had spoken of them—with such ease, with such confidence—seemed to strike them deeper than fear ever could. Some of them stared as if they could not comprehend the words, while others exchanged looks of disbelief. He could hear a few of them whispering amongst themselves, barely concealed voices carrying through the ruined hall.

  “He encountered them… and lived?”

  “To speak of them so lightly…”

  “Is it truly possible…?”

  Adam let their murmurs swell for a moment before silencing them with the next words he spoke.

  “I am gathering knowledge, and for that, I require information. Everything this city knows. You will tell me everything.”

  He said. There was no threat in his voice, no command, only a quiet certainty that made his words feel absolute.

  The vampires hesitated only briefly before Vaelric himself bowed his head deeply.

  “Of course, my Lord, we will share all that we know.”

  He said with the utmost reverence. But Adam wasn’t finished. He lifted a hand slightly, stopping Vaelric before he could continue. His eyes swept across the room, letting them all feel his presence, his authority.

  “And in return, I will reward you.”

  Silence. Then, a flicker of something else. Hesitation. Hope.

  Adam leaned back in his seat, his expression unreadable.

  “I will quench your hunger. I will ensure you are no longer trapped in this prison.”

  He let those words settle, let them sink deep into the minds of every starving vampire present.

  “But in return, you will follow my conditions. You will not touch a single one of my own without my permission. You will treat them as you would treat me.”

  This time, there was no hesitation. Vaelric immediately fell to one knee, lowering his head with unshaken devotion.

  “Your mercy is beyond measure, my Lord.”

  He declared, his voice nearly trembling with emotion. Around him, more vampires followed suit, kneeling, bowing, their previous wariness now replaced by something entirely different.

  Adam’s expression remained still, unreadable, as he leaned slightly forward, letting his presence settle over the room. The vampires around him tensed at his command, their hollow eyes filled with hesitation, but none dared to defy his will. He had given them an order, and they would obey. The weight of expectation hung heavy in the air, an unspoken pressure forcing them to act despite the unease that clung to them like a lingering shadow.

  Without delay, the boy’s voice cut through the murmuring tension, firm yet patient.

  “Tell me everything you know about the ‘Great Awakening’.”

  A ripple of discomfort passed through the room. Even before anyone spoke, Adam could see it—the way their bodies stiffened, the way some of them lowered their heads slightly as if the mere mention of those words carried a deep-seated pain. They had all lived through it. Every vampire in this ruined hall bore the scars of that event, be it physically, mentally, or both. It was not just history to them—it was trauma, etched into their very existence.

  For a brief moment, no one spoke. Then, Vaelric straightened his posture, took a slow breath, and stepped forward. His crimson eyes darkened, as if dredging up memories buried deep within his mind.

  “I will tell you all that I know.”

  He declared, his voice carrying both resolve and sorrow.

  “I do not know how much you, oh great Lord, are already aware of, but to ensure that nothing is left unspoken, I will begin from the very start.”

  The vampires fell into a hushed stillness, their attention fixed on their leader. Even Adam’s team and their allies sat in silence, waiting, their expressions ranging from curiosity to grim anticipation. Vaelric’s voice carried a solemn weight as he began his tale.

  “As I am sure you recall, long ago, the balance between the three great races—the Giants, the Humans, and the Noble Vampires—was one of constant struggle. Not peace, never peace, but balance. Wars were waged endlessly, territories shifted hands over centuries, but no single race ever gained dominance over the others. That was the way of things. That was how it had always been.”

  His fingers clenched slightly, the old wounds of the past bleeding into his tone.

  “But then, without warning, the balance was broken… The ‘Great Awakening’—that is what we call the day the world changed forever.

  His crimson eyes flickered with something raw. A deep silence settled over the room. The weight of his words pressed against the ears of all who listened, an unshakable heaviness that hinted at the horrors that followed. Vaelric’s voice did not falter as he continued.

  “I do not know what the humans tell themselves, how they justify their actions, how they write their history.”

  His tone sharpened with barely restrained bitterness.

  “But for us, that day was not salvation. It was slaughter.”

  His hands clenched at his sides.

  “I was there, in my prime, I served as a Blood Commander in the grand army of our Empress—Her Majesty, the Crimson Monarch, Lilith.”

  He admitted, his voice quieter but no less fierce. A murmur of reverence swept through the gathered vampires at the mention of her name. Even after all these years, even after all that had happened, the name Lilith still carried undeniable power. Vaelric’s eyes darkened further as he continued.

  “On that fateful day, we stood upon the battlefield, as we had countless times before. The war with the humans was nothing new to us, and at that moment, we had the upper hand. Their forces were crumbling, their morale shattered. Victory was within our grasp.”

  Then, his expression hardened, a shadow falling over his features.

  “And then—the sky opened.”

  A ripple of unease passed through the vampires at those words, as if the memory itself sent a chill down their spines.

  “A golden light descended upon the battlefield, it was blinding, suffocating. I had never felt anything like it before. It was pure—a divine force unlike anything our kind had ever encountered.”

  Vaelric said, his voice lower now, as though speaking of something unnatural. His crimson eyes flickered with something between anger and pain.

  “The moment that light touched the battlefield, everything changed. The wounded among the human soldiers—those who should have been too weak to fight, those whose bodies had already been broken beyond repair—rose to their feet. Their wounds mended in an instant, their strength renewed as if they had never been harmed in the first place. Even the dead… those who had fallen only moments before, returned. Their corpses surged with life once more, their eyes burning with something unnatural.”

  A deep breath rattled through his chest.

  “And for us? That same light felt like hellfire.”

  The vampires around him tensed, some even shuddering at the memory.

  “We could feel it, burning through our very essence. It was not fire, yet it seared us from within, an unbearable agony that made the strongest of us falter. I remember the moment my own strength gave out, the way my body nearly collapsed beneath the weight of that divine presence… And then, they appeared.”

  His voice turned sharp, his gaze far away.

  “Several human commanders… their bodies transformed, infused with that accursed light. They grew wings. Wings of gold, shining with the same power that had restored them. And in their hands, flaming swords. Weapons that cut through the strongest of our warriors as if they were nothing.”

  The room was so silent that even the faintest breath could be heard. Vaelric exhaled slowly.

  “The battlefield turned into a massacre. What should have been our victory became our annihilation. The champions of our Empress—some of the most powerful warriors of our kind—were cut down like cattle. And as I stood there, fighting to hold my ground, struggling against that overwhelming power, I realized something.”

  His voice dropped lower.

  “Our Empress was gone.”

  A heavy stillness gripped the chamber.

  “The very moment the ‘Great Awakening’ occurred, Her Majesty, the Crimson Monarch Lilith, disappeared. Without a trace, without a word. And with her… So too vanished our Blood Oath.”

  His hands clenched so tightly that his nails bit into his palms. A sharp intake of breath passed through the gathered vampires.

  “The foundation of our very existence, the power that bound our kind together—the Blood Oath of our Empress—was severed. Without it, our strength was halved. It was as though our very souls had been weakened, our bodies reduced to shadows of what they once were. And against the divine power of the humans, we stood no chance.”

  Adam remained silent, absorbing every word. Vaelric’s voice held no falsehoods, only the weight of bitter truth.

  “We were forced to flee. The entire war shifted overnight. The humans, now carrying the strength of their self-proclaimed goddess, became unstoppable. City after city fell. Not just ours, but the strongholds of the Giants as well. None could resist the advance of the Paladins.”

  His eyes darkened further.

  “I fought until the end. I led the defenses of this town. But it was futile. When the armies of the empire came… there was nothing I could do.”

  A bitter chuckle left his lips.

  “And yet, unlike the others, they did not slaughter us all. They took our strongest and killed them. But they left the rest of us to rot here, prisoners in our own ruined home. For years, we have been kept here—starving, forgotten, waiting for the day they return to finish what they started.”

  Silence. The weight of his words was absolute.

  Adam remained seated for a few lingering moments, his mind racing through the implications of everything they had just learned. The pieces were falling into place, and if his experiences in past scenarios had taught him anything, it was that history rarely existed in isolation.

  If the vampires had suffered such a catastrophe at the hands of the so-called Great Awakening, then it was highly likely that the giants had endured something similar. Their leader had likely disappeared in much the same way as the Crimson Monarch, and their civilization had almost certainly been subjected to the same methodical extermination. The pattern was too clear, too structured, too deliberate to be a mere coincidence. But right now, they had only one faction to work with—one group that had the potential to provide them with an advantage. The vampires. And among them, Adam had leverage.

  The questions still burned within him, pressing against the edges of his patience, but they were running on borrowed time. The third team’s arrival loomed over them like an inevitable storm, and every wasted second brought them closer to an unknown force that could tilt the balance in an instant. He could not afford to let this moment slip away.

  His decision was made. With a slow, deliberate motion, Adam pushed himself up from his seat. The grand chair, though beautifully crafted, felt unbearably heavy beneath him—he wasn’t meant to sit upon thrones, wasn’t meant to be revered like some ancient noble. Yet, here he was, and for the first time, he was using that reverence for something beyond survival.

  He met the gazes of the vampires around him, their expressions a mixture of reverence, confusion, and hope, and then spoke with an unwavering tone.

  “I still have more questions. Many things I want to know. But we don’t have the luxury of time.”

  His words carried a weight of finality, one that silenced even the hushed murmurs of his allies behind him.

  “We’ll continue this discussion on the move.”

  A ripple of surprise spread through the hall. Vaelric visibly tensed at the sudden shift in conversation, his mind likely struggling to process what that could mean. His crimson eyes narrowed slightly, cautious yet attentive.

  “On the move, my Lord?”

  He repeated slowly, the weight of uncertainty thick in his voice. Adam nodded once, his expression firm.

  “We’re heading to Velmoria.”

  The room fell into stunned silence. A collective stillness gripped the gathered vampires, as though time itself had momentarily stopped.

  Then a murmur, a shuddering breath, and then the realization hit.

  The reaction was immediate and overwhelming. Some of the vampires gasped audibly, others recoiled as if the very mention of their lost capital was a dream too fragile to be spoken aloud. Several pairs of crimson eyes widened in disbelief, and for the first time since Adam had stepped foot into this city, he saw something break through the despair that had long festered in these creatures—hope.

  Vaelric’s entire demeanor shifted, his body going rigid as though he had just been struck by lightning.

  “Velmoria? My Lord, you mean to—”

  He echoed, his voice barely above a whisper. It was as if he feared speaking the name too loudly would cause it to vanish like mist. Adam’s tone remained steady.

  “We will take you there. All of you. Out of this prison. Away from the Paladins’ reach. You will rejoin your people.”

  There was no immediate response—just pure, raw disbelief. And then the dam broke.

  Tears welled in the eyes of some of the vampires, their malnourished bodies trembling under the weight of emotions they had long been forced to suppress. Some clutched at their chests, others covered their mouths as though the mere thought of freedom was too overwhelming to bear. A few of the younger ones, those who had likely never even seen Velmoria with their own eyes, simply stood frozen, unable to process the idea that their suffering might finally have an end.

  Vaelric’s breath hitched. His entire body was trembling, though whether it was from the intensity of his emotions or sheer disbelief, Adam couldn’t tell. He looked as though he wanted to say something—needed to say something—but the words simply refused to form.

  Adam, however, wasn’t finished. His gaze sharpened, cutting through the raw emotion that flooded the room.

  “But before we move, I need something from you.”

  He continued. His tone was not harsh, nor was it demanding. It was a simple, unshakable truth.

  “Gather everyone in this settlement. Every single one of your people. I want them all in one place.”

  Vaelric finally managed to swallow down the lump in his throat, his mind still struggling to catch up.

  “Gather… everyone?”

  “All of them.”

  Vaelric did not question the order any further. There was no hesitation in his movements, no lingering doubt in his expression—only absolute obedience. He bowed deeply, his crimson eyes gleaming with renewed determination before turning sharply on his heel, his long cloak flowing behind him as he strode toward the exit with purpose.

  As the heavy doors of the city hall creaked shut behind him, Adam let out a slow breath, his gaze following Vaelric’s departure before shifting toward the rest of the gathered teams. Silence settled for a moment, thick with the weight of everything that had just transpired. Then, one by one, those who had remained seated stood from their chairs, their expressions a mix of curiosity and anticipation. The quiet murmur of movement filled the space as they gravitated toward Adam, their gazes expectant.

  Kazue, always the first to voice her thoughts, took a step closer, her brows furrowed in concern.

  "Alright, so what exactly are you planning?"

  She asked, her tone carrying more confusion than suspicion. Adam did not answer right away. He closed his eyes for a brief second, gathering his thoughts before speaking.

  “I felt it the moment I got here. These vampires… they are a race with many similarities to myself.”

  He admitted. His gaze flickered to Abbess, who had remained silent beside him, her own unreadable expression betraying a flicker of understanding. He exhaled slowly, glancing at each of his allies in turn.

  “I want to know more. I want to understand them. There’s something here—something worth uncovering.”

  His tone was measured, but there was a weight to his words that left no room for doubt. His team exchanged glances, but none of them refuted his claim. They knew Adam well enough by now to recognize when he had a gut instinct about something. Even Li, who often questioned everything, did not offer any objection.

  “But first, I’ll help them.”

  Adam continued, his tone shifting slightly. Chloe, who had been listening intently, crossed her arms.

  "Help them how? You mean just getting them to Velmoria, or…?"

  She asked, tilting her head. Adam shook his head.

  “It would be a hassle to travel with a pack of starving vampires. Right now, they’re weak, half-mad from years of deprivation. If we want them at full force to aid in the journey, they need to be restored.”

  His team took in his reasoning without protest. It was logical. They had seen firsthand just how frail these vampires were—mere remnants of what they once must have been. Traveling with them in such a state would slow them down significantly. If Adam could find a way to restore their strength, it would be beneficial to everyone.

  Angela, however, did not seem entirely convinced. She narrowed her eyes slightly, arms still folded across her chest.

  “And why Velmoria? Why are you so fixated on getting them there?”

  She asked, her voice more thoughtful than confrontational. Adam sighed. He had anticipated this question.

  “Because, if you think about the structure of the story we just heard, then there’s only one place we’re going to find a Hidden Subplot related to it… The capital. Velmoria. There’s no way something like the disappearance of the Crimson Monarch isn’t tied to a larger event. The system works on narrative structure—if we want the real answers, that’s where we’ll find them.”

  He said. Angela considered his words carefully. Her blueish eyes flickered with something unreadable, but after a moment, she nodded in reluctant understanding.

  "Alright, that makes sense."

  She admitted. Drake, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke.

  “Then let’s assume we’re going through with this. How exactly are you planning to help them?”

  His voice was calm, composed, but there was an edge of curiosity beneath his words. Adam’s lips curled into a small, knowing smirk.

  “Like I already said, they’re a race with a lot of similarities to me.”

  He murmured, tilting his head slightly. His gaze swept across the room, settling on the doorway where Vaelric had disappeared.

  “And one of those similarities is the fact that, curiously enough, their entire species has the ‘Malediction Reversal’ trait as well.”

  A moment of silence passed as the weight of his words sank in. And then the realization hit.

  His team immediately understood the logic behind his plan. They had witnessed his abilities firsthand, knew how his traits functioned, and grasped the implications of what he was about to do. However, the same could not be said for the members of WNATN, who were clearly confused. They exchanged uncertain glances, their expressions a mix of curiosity and skepticism. They had no idea what this ‘Malediction Reversal’ trait was or what Adam intended to do with it. André even opened his mouth to ask, but before he could, the heavy doors of the ruined city hall creaked open once more, and Vaelric returned.

  The vampire leader strode forward with urgency, stopping a respectful distance away from Adam before bowing deeply.

  “My Lord, the order has been carried out. Every remaining soul in Morvael has gathered at the plaza as you commanded.”

  He announced, his voice carrying a reverence that had not dulled since their first meeting. Adam gave a single nod, wasting no time. Without another word, he turned sharply and made his way toward the exit, his long coat shifting with each stride. Abbess followed him closely, her crimson eyes scanning their surroundings with quiet focus. Behind them, the rest of the group fell into step, moving as one toward the meeting point.

  By the time they arrived at the plaza, the sight before them was staggering. A sea of pale faces stretched out across the space, a gathering of over a hundred vampires, all frail and emaciated from years of starvation. Their forms were weak, their movements sluggish, but their eyes—those crimson, weary eyes—burned with something deeper. Hope. Desperation. The sheer need to believe in something after so many years of suffering.

  Adam exhaled, stepping onto a small wooden stool that had been placed near the center of the plaza, elevating himself so that he could see them all. From his new vantage point, he could take in the full scope of what had become of these people.

  He had already noticed it before—how thin they were, how their skin clung unnaturally to their bones—but standing above them like this, seeing the sheer magnitude of their suffering laid out before him, it was even more apparent. They were nothing like the undead monstrosities most humans imagined vampires to be. If anything, they looked even more fragile, more pitiful. It was difficult to look at them and not feel something akin to pity clawing at his chest.

  But pity alone would not help them. He steeled himself, took a breath, and spoke.

  “We are leaving. Soon, we will set out toward Velmoria.”

  He declared, his voice cutting through the hushed silence like a blade. A ripple of shock ran through the gathered crowd. Many exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions flickering between disbelief and nervous anticipation. Adam didn’t let them dwell on that assumption for long.

  “But before we can move forward, you need to be at your best. We are crossing enemy territory, and I will not allow us to be weak.”

  He continued, his tone heavy with authority.

  “That is why I will restore you. I will end your hunger.”

  This time, there was no murmur of speculation—only stunned silence. A few vampires stiffened, others blinked in shock, as if struggling to process what he had just said. The very idea of being freed from their starvation, after so many years of deprivation, was something that none of them could immediately accept as reality. A few turned their eyes toward the humans standing behind the boy, as if assuming the implication of his words—that they would serve as food to fuel their journey.

  And then, Adam moved.

  A deep, unnatural presence pulsed outward from him, sending a tangible shudder through the air. The shift was immediate. His cursed energy expanded in a massive surge, thick as a storm cloud, pressing against the atmosphere with an overwhelming density. Some of the members of WNATN, who had never witnessed anything like this before, recoiled instinctively. Even Angela took a half-step back, her golden eyes narrowing as a visible chill ran down her spine.

  From the depths of the swirling energy, Adam’s ‘Spectronomicon’ emerged.

  A shrill, ghostly cackle erupted from the tome as it materialized into its spectral form—a floating, grinning skull with hollow, flickering eyes. Its laughter rang through the plaza, a sound that sent a ripple of unease through the gathered vampires. It circled Adam slowly, as if savoring the moment, before stopping directly in front of him, waiting.

  Adam knew exactly what he was about to do and did not hesitate.

  A dark glow ignited within the Spectronomicon’s skull, swirling like a spiraling abyss of cursed energy. Then, in an instant, a brilliant flash of indigo light erupted from it, engulfing the entire plaza in its glow.

  A system window blinked into existence before Adam’s eyes.

  The moment the skill took effect, the change was instantaneous.

  The vampires, who had once stood trembling in frail exhaustion, now gasped as something unnatural coursed through their bodies. It was as if they had been drenched in a wave of revitalization. Muscles that had long since withered tightened, skin that had paled from deprivation regained some of its strength. The hollow, sunken expressions they had worn for years twisted into something else entirely—something that wavered between awe and disbelief.

  And then, one by one, they began to tremble—not in fear, but in sheer, overwhelming realization. For the first time in years… they no longer felt hunger.