Ariella
Thornhill city,
Vankar Island
Northern Isle Region,
Kingdom of Ashtarium
October 12th 6414
6:54 pm
Dusk settled in, bringing with it the fading light of the Dome's artificial sun. Overhead, the night sky glimmered with scattered synthetic stars, their cold glow casting soft shadows over the mansion's grounds. I sat on the stone steps leading up to Enoch's grand home, my eyes drifting toward the woods beyond as I waited for Lil to return.
She had been gone for over an hour now. After the fight with Jennifer McClough in the Dungeon, a fight that Lil ultimately lost, she had vanished into the dense forest behind the estate. I didn't blame her for wanting solitude, but the memory of what happened still gnawed at me. That request—Jennifer's audacious demand for a date with Lil—was utterly surreal. I could still feel the embarrassment creeping up my neck at the thought of it. Lil hadn't answered Jennifer. She'd simply turned and left the arena, her expression unreadable, and we'd followed her out, deciding to end our exploration for the day. Now here I was, left to wait and wonder.
The light had long since vanished from the artificial horizon, and the mansion behind me loomed quiet and still. Finally, I stood and headed inside. Hector was already there, poised as always to assist me.
"Is Sanders around?" I asked.
"No, your highness," Hector replied with a slight bow.
"Then I'll be in the training room," I said. "I'm not to be disturbed."
"As you wish," Hector said, and I continued through the halls.
Enoch's mansion was vast, a sprawling structure with countless rooms. I hadn't yet explored it all, but the training room was familiar territory. Sanders had introduced us to it when we first arrived—a massive, gymnasium-like space outfitted with all manner of equipment. Beyond the physical apparatus, there were places designed for meditation and Spirit cultivation, a feature that made the room feel more like a sanctuary than a gym.
I stepped into the training room, still clad in my fighting attire, my bow and quiver of arrows slung across my back. I made my way to the Archery side, where rows of targets lined one wall. My hand brushed against the smooth, brown wood of my bow—an expertly crafted piece Sanders had procured for me. As I drew the first arrow, I paused, breathing in deeply, centering myself. This time, I wouldn't rely on my Mana. I wanted to test my natural skill.
I raised the bow, the string pulling taut under my fingers. My senses focused, the rest of the world fading. I released the string and let the arrow fly. Before it even hit the target, I moved on to the next shot, then the next. Each movement was precise, each shot deliberate. My muscles ached and stretched, and my vision sharpened with every draw and every release. Yet, my mind refused to stay in the present.
I kept thinking about Lil's fight with Jennifer McClough. The human's control over ice was remarkable—fluid, controlled, devastating. It wasn't just raw power; it was skill honed to perfection. I knew such humans existed, rare as they were, and yet it still surprised me. After all, my mother's lineage was human, and it was from her side that I inherited certain strengths. But even knowing that, I couldn't imagine myself besting someone like Jennifer.
Could I ever stand against her? No. The answer was clear and stark. I was an Old Blood Vampire, a noble-born immortal, superior in strength and speed. And yet, I could not defeat Lil. How could I hope to face a human of Jennifer's caliber?
I reached for another arrow, only to realize I had none left. My hand fell to my side, the weight of my thoughts heavier than the bow in my hand. I stood there for a moment, staring at the empty quiver.
I studied the target pieces, noting that every arrow had struck its mark. Not a single miss. I exhaled deeply, taking stock of my lack of fatigue. My near-infinite stamina meant I didn't even break a sweat anymore. Before I awakened, sessions like this would leave me gasping for air, drenched and trembling from exertion. I used to train so hard my hands would bleed, my body screaming in protest. But that was then. That was when I was still mortal.
Now, as a full-blood Vampire, I possessed a near-perfect constitution. It was a marvel of strength, endurance, and regeneration. But it wasn't without its drawbacks—especially when it came to cultivating Battle Power. Body cultivation relied on pushing one's physical limits, breaking the body down through grueling, torturous training and then rebuilding it stronger than before. But with an immortal body, there was nothing to break down. No physical exhaustion to endure, no wounds that couldn't be instantly regenerated. We didn't need food to survive, didn't suffer from mortal frailties, and possessed vitality so dense that, barring external threats, we could live forever. We were fast, durable, powerful—seemingly perfect.
Yet, that perfection was an illusion. The Long War made it painfully clear that vampires were not invincible. Against the right opponent, our so-called immortality crumbled. Our strength vanished. Our superiority proved fleeting. Lil was a stark example. Even without cultivation, she could kill a vampire outright, their immortality meaningless in the face of her power. That realization changed everything. After the war, vampires started to approach cultivation with the same urgency and discipline as humans. But it wasn't easy. For us, the process was grueling in a very different way.
So how did a vampire cultivate when their bodies couldn't be broken down and rebuilt? The answer was starvation. We would deny ourselves blood, growing weaker and weaker until our strength was reduced to near-human levels. In that fragile state, we could train until we were at the brink of collapse. Only then—when we were at our weakest—could we truly push our limits. Afterward, we would feed and meditate to strengthen our Soul Core. This cycle was our growth path. Yet, it was slow and arduous. Humans could reach new heights of power relatively quickly, but for vampires, the process stretched over years, decades, even centuries.
Before my awakening, my cultivation had been straightforward. I'd started building my Soul Core as a mortal, progressing quickly by comparison. But after I awakened as a full-blood, the pace slowed. It was as if my own body resisted the very process that should have made me stronger. I placed a hand over my solar plexus, focusing inward, and checked the state of my Soul Core. The small, glowing organ pulsed with a soft yellow light—a clear sign that I was still in the middle phase of the Advance rank.
A vampire's Soul Core rank was reflected in its color, a progression from pale hues to deep, radiant tones. Each step forward required immense effort and time.
Brown for Novice, Orange for Acolyte, Yellow for Adept, Red for Warrior, Green for Master, Teal for Grandmaster, Cyan for Sage, Azure for Great Sage, Aqua for Semi-Saint, and finally, Purple for Saint.
At the moment, I was stuck in the middle phase of the Warrior realm. I stared at the soft, pale crimson light pulsing within my Soul Core, knowing I still had a long road ahead. The gap between where I stood now and where I needed to be felt insurmountable at times. Reaching even the next realm, the Master realm, seemed a distant goal.
I let out a sigh, my frustration swelling. I had to get stronger. Not just for myself, but for the battles yet to come.
***
Lilith's POV
I opened my eyes to the rustle of leaves and the faint chirping of birds in the distance. The soft sounds of small creatures scuttling across the grass tugged me out of my haze. What the hell? I wasn't at the mansion anymore. I had left Ella there—dropped her off—and now I found myself lying on the roadside, just at the edge of the woods. I had no memory of how I got here.
I looked around. The Dome's white artificial sun had disappeared; the night sky now stretched overhead, its stars glimmering like tiny shards of glass. I pushed myself up, my confusion and disorientation quickly overshadowed by something worse. Pain. It slammed back into me, sharp and relentless, as if my skull were caught beneath a crushing weight. Ever since the fight with Jennifer, the headache had only grown worse, intensifying until it felt as though my head might split apart.
I knew the only way to stop it. I had to let it out—the torrent of power that had been building inside me. But I couldn't do it near Ella. It was too dangerous. With that thought, I turned and ran into the woods. The dense canopy of trees loomed overhead, blotting out the stars and wrapping the forest in darkness. The silence here was heavier, sharper. It heightened my senses as I finally came to a halt.
The pain was unbearable, spreading through me like a freezing fire. It wasn't the heat of a burn, but the searing cold that bites and gnaws. I could feel it leaking out, a pale aura seeping from my skin, crawling like frost. I couldn't take it anymore.
With a guttural scream, I let the energy surge free. A blast of raw Spirit energy exploded from my body, ripping through the surrounding woods. Trees splintered and toppled, undergrowth disintegrated, and every living thing within range—plants, critters, and anything else unlucky enough to be nearby—was wiped away.
As the energy ebbed, a chilling stillness settled in. Death's icy presence lingered around me, familiar yet no less unnerving. Then it happened. The lifeforce of everything I'd destroyed poured into me. It flowed into my Soul Core like a rushing tide, filling me with intoxicating strength. The pain faded as if it had never been. I stood in the middle of a new clearing, about five meters wide, the open sky above giving me a brief glimpse of the stars.
My mind churned. If I had unleashed this power against Jennifer back in the Dungeon, it wouldn't have been just her who died. Everyone—including Ariella—would have been wiped out. I focused on my breathing, forcing the rising fear down before it turned to panic. I had to get back to Ella. Her presence would keep me grounded.
But then I froze.
A shriek pierced the air, sharp and distant. My body tensed, and then—whoosh! Something moved at the edge of my vision, darting too fast for me to track. Another whoosh, from a different direction. Whatever it was, it was quick, impossibly quick.
I turned slowly, straining to catch a glimpse of the movement. Shadows flitted through the darker parts of the forest, deeper into the gloom where the moonlight barely touched. Against my better judgment, I stepped out of the clearing and back beneath the dense canopy. I moved cautiously, each footfall muffled by the thick layer of leaves and dirt. The movement followed me, staying just out of sight as I ventured farther into the woods.
Neil's words echoed in my mind: The woods are home to Mana Beasts.
The sounds stopped suddenly. Silence fell. But this wasn't the comforting stillness of the forest. It was heavy, oppressive—a silence that felt like it was holding its breath.
And then it came. The silence before a—
Boom! The air around me exploded as something crashed down with a force that rattled the forest. The impact sent me flying, trees and branches rushing past in a blur. What the hell was that? I hit the ground hard, rolling before pulling myself up just as the dust began to clear. My senses sharpened instantly, every nerve on edge.
Through the dissipating haze emerged a grotesque figure. It was tall, unnervingly thin, and wrapped in dark, tattered robes. Its body was an uncanny blend of human and bird—slender limbs, brown feathers covering its arms, and massive wings folded against its back. Its head was broad and heart-shaped, with large black eyes that gleamed coldly. The creature's beak-like mouth opened and closed, twitching slightly as its head swiveled in an unnatural semi-circle. The thing looked like an owl twisted into a man's shape.
And then it moved.
Without warning, it darted toward me, faster than I thought possible. "Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" The words slipped out in a frantic mutter. What the hell was a Demonic Beast doing in the woods of this damned town? This wasn't a Mana Beast. It was something far worse.
I turned and bolted, adrenaline kicking in as I tried to put as much distance between myself and that thing as possible. But it was fast—too fast. In a blink, it closed the gap, talons digging into my shoulder as it lifted me off the ground. Panic surged, but so did my instincts. I lunged, twisting with all my strength, and tore free of its grip. I hit the ground hard, rolling before springing back to my feet.
The beast lunged again, but I was ready. I focused, channeling energy into my palms. Pale light began to form around my hands, crackling like electricity as my power surged. When the creature came within range, I unleashed it in a blinding arc. The blast struck it head-on, tearing through its body. In a flash, the beast disintegrated, its form dissolving into raw energy that flowed back into me. I felt its vitality surge through my veins, the rush of stolen life force strengthening me tenfold.
I exhaled sharply, trying to steady myself as the chill in the air faded. The brief moment of calm was shattered by a sound that made my blood run cold—a rustling chorus of wings and claws. I turned, and there they were. A dozen more of the damned things swarmed out of the trees, their twisted forms moving in eerie unison.
And then it hit me—the hunger. That primal, insatiable need clawed its way up from the pit of my gut. I didn't fight it. I let it take over, relinquishing the self-control I'd tried so hard to maintain. With bloodlust searing through my veins, I rushed headlong into the first monster. My hands closed around its head, and with a violent slam, I drove it into the ground. Bone cracked, and blood splattered in a warm spray across my fingers.
I didn't stop. The next one came at me, and I clapped my hands together, sending out a shockwave infused with my pale energy. The force shredded its body, sending gore and viscera flying through the air. The others closed in, their screeches blending into a cacophony of rage. I reached for the enchanted blade at my side, a prize from another battle, and drew it in a single swift motion. The air sang as I slashed through the creatures, the blade carving arcs of blood and entrails with every stroke. Each time one fell, I drank in its fading life force. The power was intoxicating, coursing through me in waves. I was growing stronger, faster, deadlier with every kill.
As the final creature hovered high above, the frenzy subsided. It didn't attack. It perched on a thick branch, its head rotating slowly as it studied me. For the first time, the roles were reversed—it wasn't the hunter anymore. The intelligence in its scarlet eyes burned as it appraised me, realization dawning in that unnatural gaze.
It climbed higher, its body shifting with a cautious, deliberate grace. Its mouth opened slightly, revealing rows of serrated fangs that looked disturbingly familiar—fangs that resembled those of a vampire. It let out a piercing screech, not an attack, but a signal. The movements in the forest receded, the rustling and screeches fading as the other beasts withdrew. And then, with a powerful leap, the creature took to the sky, its dark wings cutting through the night as it disappeared into the distance.
I stood alone among the broken bodies of its fallen kin, dripping in blood and gore, my senses heightened and my hunger sated—for now.
"Hmm! That look suits you so well," came that infuriatingly familiar voice.
I turned and there she was—Jennifer, leaning casually against a nearby tree, her sharp green eyes locked on me. There was something unreadable in her expression, a strange mix of interest and amusement that I had no desire to decode.
"What are you doing here?" I demanded. "How did you find me?"
"You might not use Mana, but you still have Spirit energy," Jennifer replied easily. "I recognize your Spirit signature."
I rolled my eyes. Of course. Ever since I'd used my Ability Factor against her, she must have memorized the way my Spirit energy felt.
"What do you want?" I asked, already dreading the answer.
"You didn't give me an answer," she said, tilting her head. "You owe me a date."
"A…a what?" I stammered. "What are you talking about? I don't even know you."
"That's the whole point of a date," Jennifer said, smirking. "To get to know each other."
"I…I don't like you," I said quickly, taking a step back as she pushed off the tree and closed the distance between us.
"Is that so?" she said, her eyes narrowing slightly. She didn't so much as flinch at the sight of me, covered head-to-toe in the blood and entrails of the beasts I'd just killed. If anything, she seemed more intrigued. I found myself stepping back again, trying to keep a little space between us.
"Someday, I'm going to kill you," I said, my voice low and firm. I didn't like how boldly she encroached on my space.
"Hmm, dying in battle doesn't sound so bad," Jennifer replied, her eyes gleaming with something wild and reckless. That expression caught me off guard, leaving me momentarily speechless.
She grinned at my reaction. "What?"
"Are…are you one of them?" I asked. "A battle junkie?" I'd encountered my share of lunatics who lived for the fight, who treated combat like a drug they couldn't quit.
"Look who's talking," she said, and her smirk widened.
"What do you mean by that?" I asked, frowning. We had already begun moving away from the blood-soaked scene in the woods, walking along the empty road that stretched toward the Enoch Mansion.
"I saw the way you looked back there," Jennifer said, her tone casual but cutting. "When you were tearing those Estries apart. You looked like you were having the time of your life."
"That's not—" I started to argue, but her raised eyebrow stopped me cold. I clenched my jaw, pressing my lips shut. She wasn't entirely wrong. There were moments, dark and fleeting, when the thrill of combat overtook me. I thought I'd controlled those impulses—left them behind. But facing someone like her, someone who pushed me so close to my limits, brought out a side of me I wasn't proud of.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of," Jennifer said as we reached the gates of the mansion. She glanced at the estate, her eyes assessing every detail of it. "You're a warrior, just like me. Enjoying the fight doesn't make you a monster. It makes you strong."
"Thanks," I muttered, unsure whether I meant it. I pulled open the gate and started to step inside.
"So about that date," she said.
"Jennifer—"
"Call me Jen," she interrupted with a grin. "And when I say 'date,' I mean more duels."
"You want to fight me again?" I asked, meeting her gaze. That reckless glint in her eyes was back, and it sent a shiver through the air around us.
"Yes," she said simply. "To be honest, it felt like you were holding back during our last duel."
I snorted. I'd felt the same about her. "I could say the same about you. It's hard to take a fight seriously when the other person isn't giving it their all."
"Well, then." She smiled, her confidence unshaken. "What do you say to another duel?"
I hesitated, my hand still on the gate. As much as I didn't want to admit it, I was curious. I wanted to see what she was truly capable of.
"Fine," I said after a moment.
Jen's grin widened, and she turned, raising a hand in a casual wave. "See you soon."
And just like that, she vanished.