anwhile, inside his mind, Cain was laughing.
Not a quiet chuckle. Not a polite, restrained laugh. It was mocking, cruel and loud.
It echoed in the empty space of his thoughts like thunder rolling across a dark sky.
Finally.
His lips almost curled, but he stopped himself just in ti.
Finally, my ti has co to show them... the most talented Vampire they would ever co to know in the history of their pathetic Moonshade, I an pathetic Vampire history!
His eyes remained calm on the outside.
But inside, his thoughts were full of dripping with amusent.
Let’s see how long you fools can keep those proud faces.
Cornelia stood beside him, her posture straight and noble.
But inside her mind, unease slowly crept in.
She heard everything.
Every word.
Every hidden laugh.
Every cruel amusent buried behind his calm face.
Her fingers tightened slightly.
He sounded sarcastic.
Not proud.
Not nervous.
Not excited.
Sarcastic.
Which ant one thing.
He was going to do sothing.
Her red eyes moved toward his face, studying him carefully.
Her voice remained silent, but her thoughts whispered quietly.
What are you really planning, my husband?
She knew him.
She knew that tone.
It was the sa tone he had when he was insulting Cedrick and the Blood Knights outside earlier.
Now she’s getting a bad vibes.
Not from fear.
But from curiosity.
Next, the ancestors stepped forward.
The Bloodline Test Tower stood tall between them, its ancient surface covered in dark crimson veins that pulsed faintly like a living heart.
Inside the transparent center, ancient blood rested in still silence.
It was not ordinary blood.
It was blood gathered from countless noble vampires across generations.
Blood that responded only to bloodline authority.
Blood that could never lie.
One ancestor held the base of the tower with both hands and slowly pushed it forward toward Cain.
His voice was calm, but heavy with aning.
"...You know what to do, right?"
Cain looked at the tower.
Then he nodded.
"...Yes."
His voice sounded humble.
Compliant.
The vampires around him began whispering.
Their eyes burned with curiosity.
"What do you think it will be?"
One whispered softly.
Another answered quietly.
"...Baron, perhaps?"
Another shook his head imdiately.
"No, no. He is Madam Cornelia’s husband. It must be higher than Baron."
Another added.
"...Earl, maybe?"
Another crossed his arms.
"Marquis would make sense. Madam Cornelia herself surpassed Duke level. Her husband cannot be too far behind."
A female vampire leaned closer to her friend and whispered with excitent.
"...Do you think he could also reach Prince level?"
Her friend gasped softly.
"That would be impossible... wouldn’t it?"
Another vampire spoke quietly.
"...But Madam Cornelia was also thought to be ordinary before today."
Another added.
"...Maybe he is hiding sothing too."
Another whispered nervously.
"...If two Prince-level bloodlines appear in one generation..."
He swallowed.
"...the Moonshade family would rise beyond imagination."
Another said.
"...Perhaps he will reach Duke level."
Another nodded.
"Yes. Duke level would already be extraordinary."
Another whispered.
"...Even Baron level would still be respectable."
Another added quietly.
"Yes... Baron level would still an noble blood."
Their whispers overlapped, filling the air with restless curiosity.
All eyes focused on Cain.
Cain slowly raised his hand.
He placed his palm on the lowest section of the tower.
His skin touched the cold surface.
For a mont, nothing happened.
Then, faintly, blood mana began flowing from his palm.
It was quiet.
Gentle.
Subtle.
The blood mana seeped into the tower like water soaking into dry soil.
The vampires leaned forward.
Their eyes widened.
Their breathing slowed.
Their hearts pounded.
They waited.
Any mont now...
Any mont...
The blood inside the tower should move.
Even slightly.
Even a ripple.
Even the smallest tremor.
Because even the weakest vampire bloodline would cause a reaction.
Even the lowest bloodline would cause the blood to stir faintly.
They stared.
And stared.
And stared.
But... the blood did not move.
Not even a little.
Not even a single ripple.
Not even the smallest tremor.
It remained completely still.
Like dead liquid.
Like nothing had touched it at all.
The vampires froze.
Their expressions slowly changed.
Confusion, doubt and disbelief.
"...What..."
One vampire whispered.
"...Why isn’t it moving?"
Another frowned.
"...Maybe it needs more ti."
Another nodded quickly.
"Yes... yes. Bloodline tests sotis take ti."
Another whispered nervously.
"...Wait... wait a little longer."
They waited.
Seconds passed.
Then more seconds.
Then longer.
Still nothing.
The blood remained completely motionless.
Like stone.
Like frozen darkness.
No ripple.
No wave.
Nothing.
The silence grew heavier.
The vampires began looking at each other.
Their eyes filled with confusion.
"...Is sothing wrong with the tower?"
One asked quietly.
Another shook his head.
"No... this tower has never failed."
Another whispered.
"...Maybe Lord Cain has not released enough blood mana?"
Another added carefully.
"...Perhaps he is being too cautious."
The ancestors looked at each other.
Their ancient eyes narrowed slightly.
One ancestor spoke calmly.
"...Cain."
Cain looked at him.
"...Yes?"
The ancestor spoke gently.
"...Try again."
Cain nodded obediently.
"...Alright."
He placed his hand back on the tower.
This ti, more blood mana flowed from his palm.
It was thicker.
Heavier.
Stronger.
It entered the tower once more.
The vampires leaned forward again.
Their eyes filled with renewed hope.
This ti...
This ti it will react.
It must react.
Even the weakest bloodline would cause at least a faint movent.
They watched carefully.
Every second felt longer than it should.
Their breathing slowed.
Their hearts pounded louder.
They stared at the blood inside the tower.
Waiting.
Waiting.
Waiting.
But the blood did not move.
Not even a little.
Not even the faintest ripple.
It remained completely still.
Like nothing had happened.
Like his blood did not exist.
Soon, the silence beca suffocating.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
No one breathed.
"...Impossible..."
One vampire whispered.
Another shook his head slowly.
"...That... that cannot be..."
Another whispered.
"...Even below Baron bloodlines cause a reaction..."
Another swallowed.
"...But this..."
His voice trembled.
"...this is nothing..."
Another vampire whispered.
"...Not even a ripple..."
Another said quietly.
"...It did not even move a little..."
Another finished the thought.
"...That ans..."
He could not finish the sentence.
Because they all knew what it ant.
If the blood moved slightly, it ant below Baron level.
If it created small waves, it ant Baron level.
If it created strong waves, it ant higher nobility.
But this...
This was nothing.
Which ant...
Far below Baron.
Far below even the lowest noble bloodline.
It ant...
Almost worthless blood.
The vampires slowly turned their heads toward Cain.
Their eyes filled with shock.
Confusion.
Disbelief.
Cornelia stared at the tower.
Her red eyes widened slightly.
Nothing?
Her heart trembled.
Nothing?
Her mind struggled to accept it.
Her husband...
Her Overgod husband...
His bloodline...
Below Baron?
Her thoughts soon beca chaotic.
No...
That cannot be right...
She knew what he was.
She knew what he had done.
She knew he had injured two Emperors.
She knew he possessed power beyond comprehension.
So how...
How could his bloodline be this low?
Her chest tightened.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
Her eyes slowly moved toward Cain.
He stood there quietly.
Then he laughed.
Not loudly.
Not proudly.
But helplessly.
"...Ah..."
He rubbed the back of his head.
"...I guess..."
He smiled awkwardly.
"...my bloodline isn’t very impressive."
His voice sounded self-deprecating.
Almost embarrassed.
Cornelia stared at him.
Her heart trembled.
My husband...
Her thoughts beca uncertain.
Her confidence wavered.
Her emotions tangled together.
Confusion.
Doubt.
Concern.
Her lips parted slightly.
Her voice whispered inside her mind.
My husband’s bloodline...
Was this low?
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