The battle took place indoors, familiar territory for Kanisen. Even so, Kanisen knew how to use the advantageous terrain, managing relatively tactical maneuvers. Amid the complex indoor combat, Finlay, Beta, Delta, and I headed to the underground armory where the Progenitor resided.

In front of the ominous and enormous iron door of the armory. Ordinarily, it would be filled with meticulously crafted weapons from the military nation, but Tantalus was different. Within that place slept an entity far more fearsome and powerful than any weapon.

The Progenitor, Tirkanjaka.

The Progenitor of all vampires. The Queen of Shadows. An eccentric and a monster, she had chosen to live in the Abyss voluntarily, finding solace in the quiet, sunless depths.

Isolation, darkness, and hunger—any reason that would make a human fear the Abyss didn’t apply to her. She herself was a fear comparable to the Abyss. It seems fear often mirrors itself.

Beta, facing the primal darkness, spoke in a trembling voice.

“This place is the cursed vampire lair—mmph.”

Delta hurriedly covered Beta's mouth. Apparently, he knew enough to understand what kind of being his girlfriend was messing with. Holding Beta’s hand, Delta pleaded sincerely.

“Cindy, please. Be careful with your words. Don’t say a word in front of the Progenitor.” “Alright, since it’s Elsie’s request.”

'…Right. I’m not betraying my faith. I’m only following the request of my beloved Elsie.’

Reading Beta’s thoughts, I clicked my tongue.

Some people need a reason to take action. It's not just Beta's story. The Resistance members before they compromised were similar. They took action out of dissatisfaction with reality, then wrapped it up as if it were for a grand cause. Eventually, they became so trapped they couldn’t do anything without orders, ultimately following Kanisen into the Abyss.

How did it come to this? Well, there are many reasons, but if I had to attach one, it's because what we can’t see has become divine. That's why I ended up on the side that tears gods apart.

I was planning to hold out until Jiseon arrived, but the fact that I had to rely on Resistance leftovers made me sigh. I exhaled and said:

“If we write with blood, it might draw her attention. Ideally, it should be blood similar to the Progenitor’s. She’d probably prefer a woman’s blood over a man’s….” “You—you’re offering my blood?! To a vampire?!” “…I’ll use my blood first, but if that doesn’t work, I’ll borrow Beta’s.”

Was it because she didn’t want to hurt herself? Or was offering blood to a vampire a religious taboo? No need to differentiate; both reasons ultimately led to the same result. The conclusion: she wouldn’t offer her blood.

I bit my finger. A bead of blood formed on the slightly torn skin. Naturally, the blood should have spread on the ground, but instead, it rolled like a bead and seeped into the door’s crevice, as if it no longer belonged to me once it left my body.

Finlay, observing the surreal scene, spoke up.

“Using blood as ink? Quite an idea. But the Progenitor will take all the blood outside your body. How are you planning to write with fleeing ink?” “Ink is traditionally made by burning something.”

I replied shortly, then activated a ritual spell with my blood-stained finger.

“Set, Lee. Fahrenheit.”

A flicker of flame rose, reflecting the amount of my mana—a feeble flame, though intensely hot but low in thermal energy. The blood darkened slightly under the heat.

“By burning the blood as it spreads, it’ll stick. This way, the letters retain their shape.” “Hooh… I see.” “I’ll keep writing until I pass out from blood loss. Wow, writing a blood letter by charring my own blood. Even the Emperor wouldn’t get a letter with this much dedication. Grand, isn’t it?” “Our Progenitor is far greater than some human Emperor, so it’s not grand at all.”

'Truly impressive. If the Progenitor could perceive letters written in scorched blood, this guy might be human, but he’s impressive. But… why did he bring that woman here?’

It’s a test. Even if I try to awaken the Progenitor in this extreme way, if Beta does something reckless, we’ll all be in danger.

Under Finlay’s watchful gaze, I placed a dot with the charred blood. I started with some typical lines, and if she still didn’t wake up, I’d try a love confession. Still not enough? Then I’d scratch at her vanity by mentioning her vampire age.

Waking up gracefully was a myth. Whether human or vampire, it took an intense, almost unpleasant stimulus to rouse from sleep.

So, as I wrote a somewhat conventional blood letter, the two lovers merely held hands, watching.

“Hughes, he looks hurt….” “Hughes can’t handle this alone. Even if he’s writing in blood, he won’t manage much. If it comes to it, I’ll use my blood.” “But is it necessary? If the Progenitor doesn’t respond after all this, isn’t it pointless?” “…This is our best option for now. Without the Progenitor, we can’t defeat Ebon.” “Is there any guarantee the Progenitor will help us? She’s killed over ten thousand people. If she’s hungry, she might drain us all.”

As Beta said that, her hand unconsciously went to her chest, where her lifeline and idol, the holy cross, hung as a necklace…. Ah, finally. She’s crossed the line.

“Elsie. What if we just set off the explosives instead?” “Cindy! Are you serious? That would kill us all!” “We joined the Resistance with that in mind from the start. It’s just going back to an old plan.”

Positive feelings don’t wake people from sleep. What moves people out of inertia is always negative emotion. History is soaked in blood because those who act carry resentment.

The same goes here. The Resistance decided to fight the military nation out of dissatisfaction, and Beta is rebelling because she despises vampires. And the Progenitor Tirkanjaka…

“Do you mean… to die together?” “If we’re going to die anyway, it’s better to die martyrs than as a vampire’s meal….”

Screw it. Just die, then.

I stopped writing the blood letter and stepped aside. The next moment, the door exploded open. The iron door that didn’t budge even when Azi pounded on it now opened greedily, and from within, a dark red aura stretched out like a tongue—toward Beta.

“Huh…?”

As her vision turned dark red, Beta reflexively grabbed her cross. Simultaneously, the extended aura seized her.

Snap, crack. Bones broke, blood splattered. I’d never eaten a human, but I knew without being told—that was the sound of a person being crushed. It took barely a moment for Beta’s consciousness to end.

Even a torrent of aura has its ebb. The dark aura that greedily scoured the ground receded like the tide, leaving nothing behind, just like a retreating wave leaves an empty beach.

Delta blinked.

“…Cindy?”

'What? She was just here a moment ago. We were holding hands. I felt something warm, and then….’

No answer came when he called his lover’s name. Failing to understand, he fumbled through the air, searching for her form.

“Cindy? Beta? Why, why aren’t you answering? Are you kidding? Where did you go…?”

Unfortunately, Delta was smart enough. He realized that his girlfriend, who couldn’t abandon her cross, had finally met her end by the Progenitor’s judgment. His accumulated knowledge led him to the answer along a path of logic. It was obvious to anyone.

But Delta himself was desperate to deny it. He refused to accept reality and searched around for his missing lover, believing she had to be somewhere.

At that moment, Finlay laughed loudly, ignoring his own pain.

“Hahaha! Yes, fitting! To seek out a god in this godless Abyss, right by the Progenitor’s side, is akin to begging to die! If her dying wish was death, then so be it! It’s only right!”

Delta turned sharply, filled with rage.

“You…! Finlay…!” “Yes. If you wish for death, then die. It’s the right thing to do.”

I stated coldly, and Delta’s face looked as if he’d been struck. Ignoring his gaze, I pulled the stakes out of Finlay. Free at last, Finlay healed himself and spoke.

“Did you expect this outcome?” “To some extent. I’d hoped the blood letter would be enough.”

“Hahaha! As expected, I like you! I was going to beg the Progenitor to kill everyone! But you—I’ll spare you alone!”

Ridiculous. Since when is my life or death up to you? It’s up to me.

“No need. Do you think the Progenitor listens just because you beg her to kill? Is she your lapdog?” “What?”

“Stop chattering. The door’s open, so let’s go in.”

With that, I strode into the open door. After a brief, dumbfounded pause, Finlay hurried after me. Not long after we entered, Delta followed with weak steps. His reasons for entering…remained unclear.

The Progenitor’s lair itself was a blasphemy against the god. The beautiful murals, stained with blood, shone ominously, and the candlelight burned with a foreboding crimson glow. Walking through the shadows, barely seeing our feet, we arrived at the Progenitor’s chamber.

[…The only reason I summoned you here was curiosity.]

Even after awakening, the Progenitor hadn’t risen. She remained lying within her coffin, appearing before us only as a voice.

Out of sheer curiosity, the Progenitor addressed me.

[Was it to provoke me with that worthless devotee, or was it to wake me with that absurd love letter? I was too curious to go back to sleep. So, what was your intent?]

“A love letter? What did you write with your blood?”

I answered casually.

“I wrote, ‘I have admired you for a long time. Please, if only, show me your beautiful face.’ That’s it.”

“You insolent wretch!”

[Silence.]

At the Progenitor’s single word, Finlay fell silent. It wasn’t voluntary; the Progenitor’s command held absolute power, capable of ruling over every drop of vampire blood within her domain. Until she allowed it, Finlay wouldn’t be able to open his mouth.

'What a refreshing child. It has been ages since I encountered someone who, even in my presence, doesn’t tremble with fear and replies so boldly.'

The Progenitor chuckled softly from within her coffin.

[Amusing. It’s hard to believe you’re sincere.]

“If sincerity would make you accept it, then I am always sincere. This time, there’s no deception.”

[What could make me accept your heart? Let’s see… The bloodshed above, that’s what concerns you, is it not?]

“If you accepted my feelings, that’s the first favor I’d ask of you.”

[Your words flow as smoothly as if they were oiled.]

'I have no interest in intervening in the battles of mere mortals, and certainly not when even the Beast King is involved. But…if stopping it is all you ask, perhaps I might consider it.'

The Progenitor Tirkanjaka’s heart doesn’t beat. She is neither easily offended nor pleased. She has emotions, but there’s a vast gap between her feelings and actions.

That’s why dealing with Tirkanjaka calls for a slightly provocative approach. The more unpredictable I am, the better my chances of survival.

[If your comrades mean that much, why did you let that devout follower of God meet her end?]

Still, reaching for the cross was out of bounds—even as a joke, some lines shouldn't be crossed.

“I have no interest in those already committed to others. Why would I care about their fate? If they won’t be with me, it doesn’t matter what happens to them.”

[Oh, I see. Are you truly devoid of affection, or merely pretending? Very well. Then, I, too, shall offer you a choice.]

“Apologies, but any choice is irrelevant. For me, there’s only you.”

[Your shamelessness knows no bounds!]

'Quite the amusing child. Having you close by would cure loneliness. But there is… one thing that bothers me.'

I had successfully left a positive impression on the Progenitor. Now, it was time to reap the reward. I waited calmly for her next words.

[If you choose to live alone, I shall spare your life alone. But if you choose to save your comrades, I shall act as an arbiter and propose a truce. However, should you be endangered in the process, I shall not save you. Now, which will you choose?]

Surety of my own survival or the safety of everyone else. There was no need to think twice. Naturally…

Just as I was about to recite the obvious answer, a loud scream interrupted.

“Argh!”

Delta, with a gun in hand, charged toward the Progenitor’s coffin.