The city never slept, but tonight, it held its breath.
Downtown's neon glow bathed the streets in artificial light, masking the darkness that lurked beneath. At the heart of it all stood Club Inferno, a den of crime and corruption.
Ethan Beaumont, the Progenitor, stood before its grand entrance, his crimson eyes reflecting the club's red glow. Beside him, Mira and Selene waited, their postures relaxed but alert.
Tonight, the underworld would kneel.
The Wolves' Den
The bouncer at the door barely had time to react before Ethan moved.
One step.
A surge of power.
[Blood Dominion Activated.]
The air shuddered. The bouncer's knees buckled, his breath caught in his throat. Fear rooted him in place, his instincts screaming at him to submit.
"You will let us in," Ethan commanded, his voice smooth but absolute.
The man nodded frantically, stepping aside like an obedient servant.
Mira smirked. "I love when you do that."
Ethan said nothing as they entered.
Inside, Club Inferno pulsed with energy—deep bass, flashing lights, the scent of sweat, alcohol, and sin. The crowd moved to the music, oblivious to the monsters in their midst.
Ethan's gaze swept the room. He didn't need to search—he could feel him.
At the VIP lounge on the upper floor sat Tony Morello, surrounded by bodyguards, laughing over a glass of expensive whiskey.
It was time.
A Throne Claimed
The ascent to the VIP lounge was swift. The first guard moved to stop them—Mira snapped his wrist before he could draw his weapon. The second reached for his gun—Selene moved faster, disarming him and breaking his jaw in one fluid motion.
By the time they reached Morello's table, the crime boss had already drawn his pistol.
He aimed it at Ethan's forehead.
"Who the fuck—"
Ethan stepped forward.
[Blood Dominion: Suppress.]
The gun trembled in Morello's grip, his finger frozen on the trigger. His breath came in ragged gasps, his pupils dilating in primal terror.
His men staggered back, their bodies instinctively rejecting the sheer authority radiating from Ethan.
"I'll keep this simple," Ethan said, his voice unshaken. "You work for me now."
Morello gritted his teeth, fighting against the pressure. He was a man who had built his empire through blood and fear. He had seen killers, monsters, psychopaths—but Ethan was something else.
He wasn't human.
"What… the fuck… are you?" Morello rasped.
Ethan smiled.
"Your king."
And then he moved.
Morello fired.
The bullet never reached him.
Ethan's hand blurred, catching it midair. The metal flattened between his fingers before he tossed it aside like trash.
Silence.
Terror.
Morello dropped the gun, sweat trickling down his forehead. His pride warred with the primal instinct to kneel.
Ethan grabbed him by the collar, lifting him effortlessly over the table.
"You have two choices," Ethan whispered. "Serve me—or die."
The words weren't a threat. They were truth.
Morello gasped, his entire body trembling. His mind screamed at him to resist—but deep down, he knew.
There was no choice.
"I… I submit," he choked out.
Ethan released him, letting him collapse into his chair.
[Blood Dominion Established.][New Asset Acquired: Tony Morello – Crime Syndicate Leader.]
The system's voice was cold, absolute.
Ethan turned to Morello's men. "Anyone else want to resist?"
They shook their heads.
He owned them now.
A New Empire
With Morello's submission, Ethan's influence expanded.
Money. Power. Resources. He now had access to the Wolves' smuggling networks, businesses, and political contacts.
But this was only the first step.
Sitting across from Morello, Ethan swirled the whiskey in his glass.
"You're still useful," he said. "But things will change. No more human trafficking. No more senseless bloodshed."
Morello hesitated but nodded.
Mira leaned closer, grinning. "And if he betrays us?"
Ethan met Morello's gaze.
"You won't."
It wasn't a question.
Morello swallowed hard. "No. I won't."
He meant it.
Because he knew—defying Ethan meant death.
The Coming Storm
As they left the club, Ethan felt it.
A presence. Watching. Waiting.
He stopped in the alley, his eyes narrowing.
"You can come out now."
A figure stepped from the shadows, draped in a long coat, his expression unreadable.
Golden eyes flickered in the dark.
"You move fast," the man said, his voice smooth. "Most would take years to build power. You've done it in days."
Ethan studied him.
"You're not human," he said.
The man smiled. "Neither are you."
Silence stretched between them before the stranger finally spoke:
"You're not the only one watching the city. Others have noticed you. And they won't be as welcoming as I am."
Ethan's fists clenched.
"Who are you?"
The man's golden eyes gleamed.
"Someone who can help you survive what's coming."
And then—he vanished.
Ethan exhaled slowly, his mind racing.
The world was changing.
And he was at the center of it.