Ethan stood motionless, staring at the cityscape stretched out before him. His eyes gleamed like molten rubies, his senses heightened beyond human comprehension. Every breath of the wind, every heartbeat within a block's radius, every whispered conversation carried to his ears like a symphony of life—and prey.
The transformation had begun, but it was still incomplete.
Power coursed through his veins, raw and untamed. His body had changed, but he was still growing, evolving. The system's words echoed in his mind:
[Progenitor Evolution Detected.][New Ability Unlocked: Blood Dominion.][New Passive Unlocked: Crimson Sovereign.]
They weren't just words. He felt them.
The very air around him seemed denser, heavier, as if the world itself recognized his authority. His presence alone was enough to exert pressure, a weight that made the night tremble. It was not simply power—it was the burden of dominion.
But power meant nothing if it wasn't wielded.
Tonight, he would wield it.
The Hunt Begins
Selene sat cross-legged on the rooftop, her arms wrapped around her knees. Though exhausted from training, she was still processing her transformation.
She had seen glimpses of her power—heightened senses, increased speed, monstrous strength—but she wasn't Ethan.
Not yet.
Mira leaned against the rusted railing, watching the city with mild amusement. Unlike Selene, she was unfazed.
"So," Mira spoke, breaking the silence. "What's the plan, King of the Night?"
Ethan ignored the teasing title. He was no king—not yet.
His eyes locked onto the streets below.
"We need resources," Ethan said simply.
Mira raised a brow. "And by 'resources,' you mean?"
Ethan turned to her, his expression unreadable.
"Money. Influence. Information."
Selene looked up, frowning. "I thought we didn't need money anymore?"
Ethan's gaze didn't waver.
"Power isn't just about strength," he said. "We may not need money to survive, but we do need it to control. The world still operates on human systems. The strong don't just take—they shape the battlefield to their advantage."
Selene nodded slowly.
Mira smirked. "And where do we start?"
Ethan's eyes narrowed as he scanned the city below.
The answer was obvious.
"The underworld," he said.
The First Step – The Wolves of the City
Ethan didn't need to search for them. They were everywhere.
Criminal organizations—gangs, smugglers, corrupt businessmen—they thrived in the shadows, just like he did. But they were still human, limited by flesh and fear.
Tonight, that would change.
They would learn what it meant to serve.
The scent of blood, sweat, and fear filled the warehouse district.
Ethan and his disciples moved through the maze of storage buildings, stepping past rusted cargo containers and abandoned trucks. The Wolves of the City, one of the larger crime syndicates, operated here.
They weren't the biggest, but they were organized—arms smuggling, human trafficking, underground fighting rings.
Disgusting.
And useful.
Ethan stopped in front of a warehouse marked "87-C", his gaze piercing through the steel walls. Heartbeat signatures—twelve inside. Armed. Relaxed. Unaware.
Perfect.
Mira grinned. "Let's make this quick."
Selene's fingers twitched. Her bloodlust was growing, but she was still learning to control it.
Ethan raised a hand.
"No killing unless necessary," he ordered.
Mira scoffed but nodded. Selene swallowed hard and did the same.
Ethan moved first.
One moment he was standing at the door—then he was inside.
Dominance in Motion
The men inside barely had time to react.
The first gunman was still mid-sentence when Ethan gripped his throat, lifting him off the ground effortlessly.
CRACK.
He hurled the man across the room like a ragdoll, sending him crashing into a stack of crates. The others scrambled, drawing weapons.
"Who the—"
Ethan moved.
A gunshot rang out. Useless.
The bullet barely touched his coat before he was on the shooter. His hand pierced the man's wrist like a blade, shattering bone. A scream followed, cut short as Ethan backhanded him into unconsciousness.
Mira and Selene followed, shadows at his back.
Mira danced between attackers, snapping arms, dislocating joints, breaking bones with sadistic precision.
Selene hesitated—only for a moment—before instinct took over. She dodged a strike, grabbed the attacker's arm, and twisted. A sickening pop. The man screamed, dropping his weapon.
She didn't hesitate again.
It was over in less than a minute.
The last conscious thug cowered, his hands raised in surrender. His heartbeat raced, his pupils dilated in terror.
Ethan crouched in front of him, meeting his gaze.
"You work for the Wolves," Ethan said.
The man nodded frantically. "P-please, man—I don't know who you are, but we don't want trouble!"
Ethan tilted his head, amused.
"You don't have a choice."
His voice was calm, but it carried weight. A presence.
The thug froze, his breath catching in his throat.
[Blood Dominion Activated.]
The man's pupils dilated further, his body trembling under Ethan's sheer will.
"Your boss," Ethan continued. "Who is he?"
"T-Tony Morello!" the thug stammered. "He runs things—money laundering, smuggling—everything goes through him!"
Ethan considered this.
"Where is he?"
The thug swallowed. "Club Inferno—downtown! He's there every night!"
Ethan smiled.
"Good."
He stood, turning to Mira and Selene.
"Looks like we have a meeting to attend."
Mira's grin widened. "Now this is getting fun."
Selene, still catching her breath, nodded.
Ethan looked back at the trembling thug.
"You work for me now," Ethan said.
The man shuddered, nodding frantically.
Ethan walked away, his disciples following.
Behind him, the man fell to his knees, gasping for air.
He had felt it—absolute authority.
This was no ordinary man.
This was a king in the making.
The Night is Ours
As they stepped back into the city streets, Ethan exhaled slowly.
Power wasn't just taking—it was building.
The Wolves of the City were just the beginning.
Tomorrow, the entire underworld would kneel.
And soon, the world itself would know his name.
Ethan Beaumont—the Progenitor. The Crimson Sovereign. The beginning of an empire.
And nothing would stop him.