The High Elder plummeted like a comet falling from space, crashing squarely in between the World Tree and the Elven Forest surrounding it. A small crater broke through the magic-rich soil and numerous cracks spread out from the centre of the unmoving Vampire. Yet, oddly enough, the man wasn't dead just yet.

As I descended from the skies, I could see a faint flicker of life coming from the High Elder. It was very slight, like a lonesome candle on a howling Winter's night, but it was still an ember of life.

With the Purple God's serpent spear sticking out from his stomach, the High Elder was impaled deep into the ground with nowhere to go, so I wasn't worried he might escape. No, given the state the man was in, I didn't need to worry even if he ran.

Vampires were known for their superhuman healing capacities, and it wasn't strange for them to recover from severed limbs and ruptured organs. However, the High Elder was completely battered, with much of his life energy corrupted and exhausted.

All of the High Elder's magic power was depleted, and there wasn't a single soul left within his corrupted core. The indomitable Angel state he was in had been ripped clean, and his entire body crumbled away like desert sand. He wasn't conscious, and his existence was quickly fading away. Any second now, he would be sent straight into the Emerald River, fated to reunite with the man he sought to resurrect.

So, even if I did nothing, the man would pass on… But I wasn't going to take any chances.

Since I started this fight, let's finish the job.

Alas, as soon I approached the lonesome devil, I sensed an external threat flying in at incredible speeds. Turning towards my right, I saw three distinct lights flickering through the skies until they turned into three gorgeous women.

The red and blue-haired ones stopped straight in their tracks, confused as they saw my face. However, it didn't take long for them to recognise the situation and for their genuine emotions to show.

"Who are you?! Where is my husband?!" The red-haired woman yelled.

"Husband?! Where are you?! Julien, where the fuck is my husband?!" The blue-haired lady added.

Husband? Ah, they must be the consorts of Dracula. I heard that at the peak of his powers, Dracula took in as many consorts as the number of days in a month. Each of his consorts was granted great power by consuming his blood, and eventually, they became as strong as many House leaders.

But as I look at them now…

The two Vampires possessed a substantial amount of life energy, and their magic power seemed far superior to most Vampires I knew. Heck, even Sirius himself couldn't compare to the two ancient Vampires. But there was one caveat…

In the middle of their chests were tiny little shards that radiated with a lustrous crimson hue. It wasn't any organ that I was familiar with, and it barely had any resemblance with any Vampire ability. However, the more I examined the shards, the more intrigued I became.

Most of the Consorts' magic power originated from that small shard, and its roots seemed quite familiar. It was just like… a piece of Dracula himself was inserted into the women.

Ah… I see. So that's how the First Vampire protected his Consorts. A piece of a Progenitor inside them was enough to give them power beyond the other Vampires. Now that I think about it, every Vampire came from Dracula in some capacity. So it makes sense that artificial insemination was the most efficient way to strengthen his Consorts.

I wonder if I could do the same with Irina and the other girls…

"Brat! Don't you ignore me!"

As I was lost in thought, the red-haired lady rushed over with her claws extended out. It seemed like she was underestimating me as she didn't even bother using her weapon, or perhaps she was too lost in her anger to realise the threat I posed. Either way, it was convenient for me.

The Purple God used one of its massive arms to grab hold of the red-haired Vampire, gripping her in place. The red-haired Vampire kicked the air, completely flustered and frustrated by the strength of my Martial God, and much more hateful speech came out from her mouth.

"You motherfucker!!! Let me go! I'll kill you!!!"

"You!!! Let her go!!!"

The blue-haired Vampire attempted to save her friend by casting some magic. Numerous water dragons ascended from the ground, and like vicious, poisonous vines, they tried to coil around the Purple God to rescue the woman in its hands.

Alas, it was a fruitless attempt.

With my mastery over Spacetime, I froze every water dragon and pulled the ignorant Vampire straight into the Purple God's other hand. Like two flies caught in my spider web, the two Bloodborne Vampires were completely trapped within the Purple God's grasp.

"Let me go at once!!! I command you, brat!!!"

"Do you want to die?! Once my husband comes back, we'll…!"

"Ah, shut up."

Annoyed by their constant rants, I raised my right arm and channelled magic power into my fourth ring. With my 'vision' now as clear as day, I could see every detail of the shards within the two women's souls. It was inlaid deep within the women's souls and practically an organ that couldn't be separated from them.

Dracula's soul may have returned to the Emerald River, but pieces still live on within these women. Moreover, upon further inspection, I realised a mysterious seal was placed within those shards.

An order of blind faith.

Those injected with these shards would be blindly faithful to the one who inserted them. In exchange for great power, they would be the man's slaves until the end of time, and even though Dracula had passed on, the order still remained.

How sinister… No wonder the Bloodborne House had become this corrupted. As they all say, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Although I'd never met the man, I doubted I would get along with the First Vampire.

So… Let's do these women a favour, shall we?

"W-What are you doing?!"

"H-Hey, stop!"

The two women showed signs of fear and anxiety for the first time since they'd arrived. They could feel their souls moving beyond their control, and the shard that gave them power was slowly being ripped cleanly away. Alas, it was far too late to beg for mercy now.

BOOOOPPPPP!!!

With one final tug, I pulled the two shards out from the Consorts and almost instantly, I could see their magic power draining. As ancient Vampires, they wouldn't die just because I'd removed this foreign magic core, but their bodies would be in no shape to move or fight anymore.

And to prove my point, the two Consorts fell face first onto the ground, and their bodies gradually shrivelled up like a fish being laid in the open to dry. Their beautiful complexions had completely wrinkled as their faces instantly aged by a hundred years. Soon, the two women became highly reminiscent of mummified bodies as their agonising groans echoed through the Elven Forest.

In time, they would recover and likely become a threat, but I had lost all interest in the weakened women. Instead, I focused my attention on the two shards in my palm.

I may harbour some hate for the man, but I had to admire Dracula's ingenuity. To make such an elegant construct that could enhance the powers of his Consorts, plus make them utterly devoted to him… Yeah, it's a marvel to behold.

Other than the order of blind faith, the shard really was the most elegant way to increase a Vampire's strength.

Could I make some for Irina, Lilith and Ysabelle? Rosa… Well, if she wants to have it, I can make one for her too. But since she's already at the Progenitor level, would it be any helpful?

And as much as I would love to delve into the secrets of the shards, there was one more unfinished business to attend to.

I returned my gaze to the fallen High Elder, only to see a yellow-haired woman cautiously approaching from afar. There was fear and trepidation in her eyes as if she were a sacrifice being offered to the primal Gods. However, the woman still carried on as she finally was able to lay one hand on the High Elder's unmoving body.

"Julien… So we've lost, huh?" With a forlorn smile, the woman gently stroked the High Elder's forehead. "Don't worry… Leave the rest to me."

Leave the rest to her? Does she want to fight as well?

Although it was a ludicrous deed, I would welcome her at any time. After all, this woman also had a shard, and obtaining it would help my own replication of them. But just as I was about to prepare to fight, the Bloodborne Vampire did the unexpected.

She knelt.

"The Bloodborne House surrenders!" With a heavy kowtow, the yellow-haired Vampire slammed her forehead onto the soil.

"... What?"

"The Bloodborne House surrenders!" The woman repeated herself. "We will stop all aggressive actions at once! All our members will surrender, and we will accept whatever punishment you give us. Please, let's stop all of this senseless violence! Let us tend to our injuries and give me a chance… To save my son."

The woman held the High Elder in her arms, and with the most heartfelt cry, she begged.

The Bloodborne House had surrendered, and they were now all at my mercy. Any good-natured human would take this opportunity to end the fighting and stop the bloodshed. After all, in war, both sides are the ones who suffer.

But…

Will I be able to allow the man who aimed at my life, who killed so many for his own selfish agenda, who… pointed his fangs at the ones I loved most walk free?

I don't think so. ????????????????????????d. ????o????

BANG!!!

With one tightening of my fist, I used my Spacetime magic to rupture the High Elder's body, leaving the man as nothing but bits of flesh. This time, it was for certain… The menace that had brought carnage to the Vampire world… had finally perished.

"Y-You…"

In a state of complete shock and disarray, the yellow-haired woman froze for a couple of seconds. However, it wasn't long until her emotions caught up to her, and her entire body started to shake violently.

"Julien… No, Julien… JULIEN!!!"

The cries of the mother resonated all around me. Her sobs and yells were both excruciating as it was solemn. Even the new spectators that had recently arrived were stunned by the turn of events. One Elf and one Vampire, likely the High Priestess and the current Matriarch of the Shadowgarden House, stared with gaping jaws at the tears of the yellow-haired Vampire.

As for me… I had no empathy for the fallen Bloodborne House.

They had made many mistakes that I sought to learn from and adapt to. After all, from this day forth, there will be a new Progenitor House in the Vampire World.

The Valter House.