The chaos did not settle.
It did not even calm.
Instead, it turned into sothing else entirely, sothing more controlled but far more dangerous, as the loud disbelief slowly turned into quiet calculation, and the gazes of those Emperor level vampires began to change in a way that even the most inexperienced among the Moonshade Family could feel.
It was no longer just shock.
It was interest.
Sharp.
Focused.
Hungry.
Cain felt it imdiately.
Of course.
He almost sighed inside his mind, watching how fast the atmosphere changed, because this was the natural result, and there was nothing surprising about it at all.
They will not destroy them.
Not yet.
Not when they can use them.
That was the way of power.
And just as that thought passed through his mind, one of the Emperor level vampires rose from his seat.
He did not rush.
He did not show any aggression.
Instead, he stepped forward with a composed smile, his long crimson cloak flowing behind him, his presence heavy enough to make the surrounding air feel tighter, yet controlled enough that it did not crush anyone beneath it.
"My friends from another plane," he began, his voice smooth, almost pleasant, as if he had not been one of those shouting in disbelief monts ago, "what a rare and... wonderful surprise you have brought to us."
The Moonshade Family fell silent.
Even those who had been cheering monts ago now looked toward him, their expressions uncertain, because they could feel the weight behind his words, could feel that this was no longer sothing simple.
The Emperor vampire smiled wider, his gaze landing on the group of ancestors.
"Ten individuals... each with the potential to reach the Nascent Blood Soul Realm... this is not sothing that appears even once in thousands of years," he continued, his tone almost admiring, yet there was sothing else hidden beneath it, sothing that made his words feel heavy.
He stepped closer.
Not too close.
Just enough to show intention.
"I will not waste ti with empty words," he said, lifting his hand slightly, and as he did, several glowing rings appeared, floating gently beside him, each one filled with dense Blood Mana that made even the surrounding space tremble lightly, "join ."
The words were simple.
Direct.
But the aning behind them was imnse.
"If three of your elders would be willing to serve under , I will provide resources beyond your imagination," he continued, his voice lowering slightly, becoming more persuasive, more enticing, "not just ordinary resources, but treasures that will allow you to advance faster than any other of your kind, weapons forged from ancient blood, techniques lost to ti, even protection under my banner."
The Moonshade Family stirred.
So widened their eyes.
So looked at each other.
Because even if they did not fully understand everything, they could feel that what was being offered was not sothing ordinary.
"And not just them," the Emperor vampire added, his gaze sweeping across the rest of the family, "your entire family will benefit. Those with lesser talent will not be abandoned. I will provide cultivation grounds, blood pools, and everything needed to ensure your growth."
His smile remained.
Calm.
Confident.
As if he was certain they would accept.
And before the Moonshade Family could even respond—
Another voice ca.
"Three?" another Emperor level vampire scoffed lightly, stepping forward from the opposite side, his presence colder, sharper, his eyes gleaming with interest that was far less hidden, "you are being too stingy."
He looked at the Moonshade elders.
Then smiled.
"I will take five."
The first Emperor’s expression stiffened slightly.
But the second one continued without care.
"Five of your elders under , and I will give you double what he offers," he said, his voice firm, almost challenging, "better resources, better techniques, and direct guidance from myself. I do not make empty promises."
A third voice joined in.
Then a fourth.
And suddenly, the quiet calculation turned into open competition.
"I will take four and give you a direct path to Blood Core Formation within a decade!"
"Six under , and I will provide protection for your entire bloodline for a hundred years!"
"I will not limit it to elders, bring your young ones as well, I will personally train them!"
The offers ca one after another, overlapping, growing louder, more aggressive, more desperate, as the Emperor level vampires began to reveal their intentions without restraint, no longer caring about appearances, no longer pretending that they were above such actions.
They wanted them.
All of them.
Because what stood before them was not just a group of talented individuals.
It was a future force.
A future power.
And no one wanted to let that slip away.
The Moonshade Family beca overwheld.
Their earlier pride now mixed with confusion, with unease, with hesitation, as they listened to the offers being thrown at them, each one more tempting than the last, each one promising power, safety, and a future far greater than anything they had ever imagined.
"What do we do..."
"Should we accept..."
"This is... too much..."
Their voices beca quiet, uncertain, as they looked at each other, unable to decide, unable to fully understand the weight of the situation they were in.
And then—
A loud laugh echoed.
"Hahaha!"
Lord Vord stepped forward.
His earlier confusion had completely disappeared.
His earlier embarrassnt was gone.
What remained was sothing entirely different.
Boldness.
Shaless boldness.
"You are all too slow," he said, his voice carrying a tone that was almost mocking, as he looked at the other Emperor level vampires, "trying to divide them like scraps... how disappointing."
The others frowned.
So narrowed their eyes.
But Lord Vord did not stop.
He stepped forward, directly in front of the Moonshade Family, his presence rising, not to suppress, but to dominate the conversation, to take control of the situation.
"You," he said, pointing toward the group of ancestors, "all ten of you."
The air froze.
Even the other Emperor level vampires paused.
"I will take seven."
The words landed heavily.
Clear.
Direct.
And before anyone could react—
"I will take seven of your elders under my command," Lord Vord continued, his voice filled with confidence, "and in exchange, I will provide resources not only to them, but to your entire family."
He spread his arms slightly, as if presenting sothing grand.
"Unlimited resources," he declared, his tone firm, leaving no room for doubt, "your weak mbers, your young ones, your elders, all of them will receive what they need. No restrictions. No limitations."
The entire place fell silent.
Because what he offered...
Was far beyond what the others had proposed.
Even the Emperor level vampires felt it.
Their expressions darkened.
This bastard...
They cursed inwardly, their gazes turning sharp, because they understood exactly what he had done.
He had raised the stakes to a level that made it difficult for them to compete without making promises they could not easily fulfill.
But they could not back down.
Not now.
Not after everything that had been revealed.
"Then I will take the rest," one of them said, his voice cold, "the remaining three elders will co with , and I will match your offer for the rest of the family."
"And I will take the younger generation," another added quickly, "I will cultivate them personally."
"I will provide territory," another spoke, "land, resources, and protection."
The competition escalated once more.
Faster.
Sharper.
More desperate.
Even those with weaker talent within the Moonshade Family were no longer ignored, their nas being brought up, their futures being bargained over, as if they were treasures waiting to be claid.
The Moonshade Family stood in the center of it all, surrounded by offers, by promises, by powerhouses who were now treating them as sothing valuable beyond asure.
And yet—
There was unease.
Deep unease.
Because sothing about this did not feel right.
Sothing about being divided, being claid, being separated, did not sit well within their hearts.
Cain watched everything.
Silent.
Calm.
But inside, his thoughts were clear.
This is the problem.
This is exactly the problem.
They are turning them into pieces.
Pieces to be divided.
Pieces to be owned.
His gaze moved slowly toward the elders.
What will you choose.
And just as the voices began to overlap once more, just as the offers continued to pile up, just as the pressure of decision began to build—
One figure stepped forward.
Elder Ghurn.
The sa old vampire who had first shocked everyone with his result.
He raised his hand.
Not forcefully.
But enough.
Enough to make his presence known.
Enough to make the voices quiet down.
Slowly.
Gradually.
Until silence returned.
He looked at each of the Emperor level vampires.
One by one.
His expression calm.
Respectful.
But firm.
"We thank you," he said, his voice steady, carrying a sincerity that could not be faked, "truly, we do."
He paused.
Letting the words settle.
"For your offers, for your recognition, for seeing value in us... we are grateful."
So of the Emperor level vampires nodded slightly.
So waited.
Expecting acceptance.
Expecting agreent.
But then—
Elder Ghurn continued.
"However..."
The word hung in the air.
Heavy.
"We are afraid..."
His gaze moved toward his fellow elders.
Then back to them.
"That the ten of us... cannot do that anymore."
User Comments
0 comments from readers