People regard Vampires as mythical creatures. Beings that lived in ancient times. Vampires were depicted as humanoid monsters who once terrorized and feasted on the flesh and blood of innocents. Tales were told and spread through word of mouth about their encounters with the creature. Vague records had also been unearthed depicting their savagery and power.
But of all the legends that surround these blood-sucking monsters, the story of their demise was the most popular. A Great War, the Crimson War, a war that might've and might've not happened between the Vampires and the Garden, one of the leading religious factions in the world. Myths and legends of heroic deeds were spread all over the globe about how the Garden overwhelmingly won the Crimson War. It was said that the Holy Paladin, Lancaster The Gold, cut his way through the horde of Vampires to reach the King Of The Night, the leader of the monsters. The Garden's flag was raised and they followed Lancaster through the fray. After much carnage and slaughter, the Holy Army finally won the war, saving countless lives and stopping further decades of bloodshed.
Many centuries have passed and there were still those who wholeheartedly believed in the existence of these monsters. But the majority of the people alive today regarded these tales as nothing more than the propaganda of this so-called Holy Faction. Vampires are a myth that's it. People today wrote novels and made games with them as the protagonist and the villain. They only exist as entertainment.
And either by a coincidence or by an elaborate scheme, the legend of how the first Vampire in history came to be, this one particular tale became an absolute fact. Out of all the tales that surround the Progenitor of leeches and the undead, this story was believed to be the most realistic one.
The story takes place far on the Northern Continent. It tells about a chronically ill Warlock whose days were numbered. The Warlock searched far and wide for a cure. The Warlock traversed dangerous locations and forbidden places to look for what is its only hope and salvation. But everything was for naught…
After long years of fruitless endeavors, the Warlock gave up and eventually decided to spend its last remaining time in isolation and disappear from the world quietly. But either by the machinations of fate or just a cruel joke, an unlikely encounter changed everything. Deep inside a mysterious cave, the place where the Warlock wanted to be its resting ground, it found the body of a powerful dead Beast. Feeling the rich essence preserved in its unspoiled corpse, the Warlock carried out what had never been done before.
After bathing and drinking the blood of the Beast deep inside an unknown cave, the Warlock gained tremendous strength, boosted agility, and finally, a heaven-sent blessing… Eternal life.
But just like anything good in this world, it came with a price…
The Warlock lost its humanity and developed an unquenchable thirst for blood. Its body morphed and its mind was poisoned by the very venom that saved it. The Warlock, no…
The very first Vampire soon scourged the land as it thirsted for blood. It didn't take long for the whole Northern Continent to be plunged into death and destruction.
Feasting in the flesh and blood of the people, the Vampire gained more and more power. Even after gaining rationality, it continued its evil ways.
And it didn't take long before its thirst was pointed toward the powerful, it set its eyes on the ancient Mages, powerful individuals that were able to utilize and wield Aera. Many resisted and many more tried to subjugate the vicious creature but at a certain point, the Vampire grew so powerful that very few were able to rival it.
The first Vampire that ever lived soon created more of its kind, extending its everlasting progeny. With its faction established, the ancient Vampires became a plague that swept through the continent.
But all things have their reverse equal, after being deemed as Devil worshipers, the Holy Garden that came from the Central Continent waged war on them. The Progenitor of the Vampires was powerful no doubt but in the end, it was slain by a Hero clad in silver and gold, ending its unnaturally long life with a sword pierced into its heart. That was the story of the very first Vampire, the Progenitor of the leeches and the undead, the master of the night.
And now…
Now Arthur had acquired the unholy body of that very being. The physique of the very first Vampire. An ancient entity with tremendous power that ruled over Darkness and Blood. The Primordial Vampire Physique and although it's only half awakened, he already gained one of its core abilities. The power to control, influence, and dominate all those who had blood coursing in their veins, the Blood Dominion Skill. Every Physique has an inborn talent, natural prowess, and traits connected to it. Aside from dominion over blood, Vampires are also known for being more powerful at night. Their soul feeds on the darkness as their body feeds on blood.
Arthur had gained all there is after becoming a Vampire, albeit the downgraded version. Vampires had a great connection to Aera, they were natural when it came to wielding it. Vampires were also gifted with a bunch of personal abilities and traits like enhanced strength, agility, and speed. They are also known to have beautiful appearances and most of all, Vampires were blessed with Darkness Affinity, a very rare and powerful elemental power.
Although Arthur hasn't fully unlocked his newfound physique, he already gained a powerful ability since the Physique was a Primordial Rank. The very first of its kind. He wasn't just some random guy turned into a Vampire, no, it could be said that he was a Vampire since he was born. He was self-made!
Arthur can become the Progenitor of his clan if he wished to be, that is his privilege as a possessor of a Progenitor Body. And as the sole and prime ruler of his clan, Arthur would also have the authority to not only command his clan but also control their will. For in the clan member's body, Arthur's blood will run deep.
As Arthur was familiarising himself with his new body he remembered the time he had acquired the Primordial Vampire Physique in his previous life. He could remember it like it was just yesterday, back then Arthur was at his lowest. It was the time when he had just some vague guesses and hypotheses about his ability to manifest Physique.
At that time he was being chased by powerful beings for weeks and he barely had any time to sleep, eat or even catch his breath. At some point, he was cornered by a team of two, and just like a cornered animal he fought back and managed to kill them both. But it came with a cost, he lost his right eye and both arms in the fight.
But at that very moment, while his mouth was still biting the torn-up neck of the last enemy, with bottomless rage, unwillingness, and hatred, he drank the hot blood flowing into his mouth. He didn't think much of it as he only drank the blood of the enemy out of spite.
And to his surprise, he felt satisfied yet unsatisfied… like his thirst was being quenched but it was not enough. He then felt a hot ember inside his body that he had felt before, the feeling of a new Physique waking up. He continued to drink and drink. He made use of his sorry state to make the rest of his enemies let down their guard and strike when they least expected it. He feasted and thirsted for more. At some point he became the hunter, it became easier for him to hunt at night as he continued to chase that feeling of satisfaction.
In the end, it was never enough. He then began his research, continued to drink blood and kept tabs on his condition. After some time and countless experiments later he stumbled upon the myth of a chronically ill Warlock. A tale that is nothing more than a legend. But it resonated with him and after seeing a clear path he walked forward. It didn't take long until Arthur underwent a metamorphosis and emerged as a new being.
Right then and then Arthur knew, he knew that the Myths and Legends are true.
"Perhaps all the monsters in the legends were like me…" he pondered.
Arthur had ranked every Physique he ever unlocked based on their evolutionary potential. From the most powerful to the least, the rank goes as Supreme, Immortal, Celestial, Primordial, and lastly Empyrean. Besides the rank, Arthur had also categorized them as either being a Bloodline Physique or Dominator.
Bloodline Physiques are those that can create Minions or an Army, like a Covenant of Vampires, a Pack of Werewolves, or a Horde Of Zombies. Dominator Physiques on the other hand can't create minions but can dominate the battlefield nonetheless. A one-man army if you may.
As Arthur was relishing his new power a thought flashed in his mind. A thought that had haunted him before.
'I wonder how the ancient Vampires taste.'
'Well, I'll know soon enough.' In his previous life, he didn't have the chance to look into it but now it's different, in this period he had information that no one else knew about,' just thinking about it makes his mouth water.
But he didn't have time to worry about such a matter right now. Time is of the essence. After all, he almost died because no one saw him collapse the morning before. This didn't happen in his previous life since he made sure not to cause trouble for Dian as much as he could. Staying still and invisible also benefited him since no one came to mess with him during this time. But now everything has changed, after the incident, his cousin will surely take preemptive measures to not let it happen again.
A security camera and even a butler will surely be added to the manor. The privacy Arthur that Arthur had relished would soon be gone and his real nature might be revealed if he wasn't careful. He only had one chance, and he doesn't want to waste it. He will make sure these last remaining hours will bear a bud that will bloom a stunning result in the future.
'Now… onto the next.' Arthur smiled as he began to gather the surrounding Aera around him.
At this very minute, the one deemed as a cripple and a waste by the whole Rory Household. The one ridiculed and scorned by the world for being born with a Mortal Physique. Arthur Severus Rory now wields Aera!
*swoosh*
The runes that Arthur carved on the walls shined in bright red color.
Then an invisible dome covered the whole room preventing anything from leaking out.