31 All Red

As the Scarlet Moon shines brightly on the distant planet teeming with otherworldly vampires, everyone is dancing, conversing, and feasting at the huge banquet hosted by one of the world's most powerful vampire factions. The House of Ghal all came here to witness and celebrate the baptism of new members of the nobility.

But three people in particular were the focus of everyone's attention as they walked by, glances of eyes peering at them from every direction. Of course, the earlier prank gave everyone a different perspective on Merciless.

Beatrice, on the other hand, was leading the way, her hands linked to Merciless's as they proceeded along the trail toward the rear of the woods and away from the crowd. Merciless stared forward, perplexed as to why Beatrice was dragging them away from the festivities. He has, however, matured and learned not to question everything. However, because they were far from any third party intruding on their chat, Merciless took this time to talk to Beatrice, as he stated.

"Beatrice, a moment, please."

"Ha, yes, young master?"

"Agh. As I already stated, please refer to me as Merciless. Anyway, I'd like to apologize."

"Apologize?! For what, young mas... egh, Merciless; why do you need to apologize to me?"

Beatrice, apparently perplexed by Merciless' recent actions, inquired. She did, however, keep her mouth shut for a minute to allow Merciless to speak. And as soon as he understood he had the floor, he told her as such.

"I'm sorry; you see, I didn't mean anything I said earlier." I apologize for scaring you. You did, however, inform me that this place was populated with some of the worst people around. As a result, when I observed the power of those two, as well as how brutal you can be when enforcing discipline, it demonstrated how much respect these vampires had for you. So I told myself, "Well, everyone seems scared of you when you're mad," and I wanted something in return for nearly losing my life. When I realized you were ready to injure Vague, I used my position to bring you to your knees while simultaneously creating a good impression on the majority. It's a simple maneuver, but I wanted to show how much power I have when, in reality, I don't have any. Everyone here is a monster in their own right; therefore, I play on your fear, treating you like a pawn on a chess board, so the others don't think of attacking or taking advantage of me so readily. And I apologize once more; I did what I had to do to protect myself and benefit at the expense of your pain."

Merciless declared, stunning Beatrice, who was taken aback by Merciless' adaptability, despite the fact that it was a low move. But Beatrice was surprised by how easily Merciless, with no regard for her reputation or sentiments, casually used her name and position to assist two strong individuals who owed him something for almost killing him. While simultaneously gaining the respect of the majority of the nobility. Merciless, in their opinion, was an unknown behemoth with enough clout to make even the likes of her, to kneel before him, which was a massive feat in the eyes of the public.

She was impressed by this feat because Merciless casually duped hundreds of elder vampires. And he even made two people look foolish without anyone noticing how he influenced them. It was a terrifying display of perception and understanding, and Beatrice was taken aback to see what this two-day-old fledgling could do.

'This kid is a natural-born con man; hehehe... what a terrifying ability. If he's already this good, he might not even need Quincy to teach him how to be clever and take advantage of opportunities. Maybe I should tell Quincy about this. That way, his workload would be reduced when teaching him, allowing the others to spend more time with him, including herself, when his training begins two days from now.'

'Although my pride is a little bruised, even I was fooled by him; no, I was utterly exploited by him, and in the end, no one but him profited from that stunt he pulled earlier.'

Beatrice thought to herself, but she quickly snapped out of it, retaining her expression, and answered to Merciless as such.

"Is that so? Hmmm, what a jerk you are for doing that, yet I forgive you. Just remember that you owe me one in the future. Even so, the rewards you obtain today for playing mind games, deceiving everyone, myself included, and Keziah above, you easily tricking two other Overseers as well, will definitely be a million times more than what I will get in return."

"Sure, sure, I owe you one for this indeed. Either way, where exactly are you taking me?"

Merciless responded and inquired simultaneously. Beatrice, on the other hand, simply grinned and murmured as such as she gazed at Merciless.

"Well, before your baptism, someone specifically requested your presence; she stated that she wanted to see the one-of-a-kind creature that is you." Unlike Quincy, who caused the Michellian vampires to populate over the centuries, Michelle is still, by definition, the first true Michaellian. But it was Quincy who eventually made it into what it is today. So, in a sense, Quincy is the clan's father, in the sense that his blood has flowed through all vampires before him in some shape or fashion. Giving him reign over the entire clan, save for his creator and master, Michelle, and you."

"However, because you were created by the first and only true Michellien, you have become a true Michellian by definition as well." As a result, the Michellian clan has formally begun; in other words, you are a Michellian vampire in name only, but far superior. In simple terms, you are a new species of vampire. That would make you the Michellian clan's second progenitor, and everyone else is a subspecies of what a true Michellian is intended to be. When Lord Seventh decides to sire you, you and those you sire will be considered true Michellian vampires, as the cycle has finally begun anew."

Merciless' eyes widened in shock when he heard this, but he quickly gathered his composure and questioned Beatrice.

"Wow, that was some heavy and shocking news!" But, in any case, who wants to see me?"

"The founder."

Beatrice replied, and Merciless began to inquire even further.

"Egh, the founder!" So, who is the founder, and what are they usually like?"

When Beatrice heard this, she grinned even creepier since the following words she said truly made Merciless stop in his tracks because of how shocking the news was.

"The founder is someone most exalted throughout the entire vampire community, because when one is before her, they kneeled in her presence, not out of respect but because their blood willingly submitted. She is the daughter of the vampire king and his worst creation. If the vampire king ever had a fear, it would be his fourth offspring; she is also the reason why vampires are not allowed to mingle with witches and warlocks. The founder is the last of her kind before the practice became taboo, a half-ancient witch and half-true vampire."

"The only child who willingly left the king's bloodline and name behind, it was said, she despised his blood more than anyone else." So much so that she spit on her father's heritage and remade herself in the image of her yearning. Her true identity has long been lost in the mists of time, and she has adopted the alias Keziah Maddison. A former vampire of the Neitherstar clan and the only vampire now known to have gained enlightenment and broken away from her father's rule by becoming something more than a vampire by which he can control."

"The fourth princess—wait, you're talking about the big man's own child, right?" Eos, the vampire king; the first progenitor of the vampire race?"

Beatrice's only response was as follows:

"Yes, Keziah is still the fourth princess by right; as such, she continues to be acknowledged as such, despite escaping her father's bloodline." She can still exert some control over the vampire race while still possessing her Ichor. She is essentially a separate kind of creature, unique in every way, but she is also a vampire—just one that is built differently."

"... Is that so? Hehehe... that's quite a character, but why would the vampire king be scared of his own daughter? Isn't he the strongest vampire?"

Asked Merciless.

"Well, Merciless, it's really simple: the king fell in love with several women during his lifetime before you were born." One of them was an extremely powerful witch, but this witch was unusual; she was a witch, but not a divinely inspired witch; she was a witch from another world outside our universe, or in other words, a worm. That witch was Keziah's mother, and little is known about her except that she was powerful enough to rival Eos in power alone because of her powerful magic. nonetheless, records show that Eos murdered Keziah's mother in cold blood for an unknown cause; nonetheless, before she died, she cursed Eos with a curse that no one can break, a curse that still plagues him to this day."

"For as long as you live, let the moon count down your remaining days, live in fear knowing that a child will be born under the misty coat on the night of the gibbous blood moon." My chosen sucessor will be a child of an ancient witch and a vampire progenitor. The one to pierce your black heart with crimson ice from even which the likes of you cannot thaw, and then, and only then, Eos, will you know what it's like to stare death in the face."

"That night, Keziah witnessed her father brutally murdering her mother, and as if her mother was speaking to her." She aspires to be that person, the one who would pierce his black heart with crimson ice, even going so far as to sign a contract with the demon of the Cosmic sea, Leviathan, in order to acquire and learn how to use the magic nature of the strongest Ice base user in the underworld. Ironically, Eos' own daughter fulfilled the exact description of the curse; she was born on the night of the full-blood moon, which was also a misty night."

"Yet he couldn't bring himself to murder his own daughter; talk about a loving and befuddled father." So, fearful of the curse, he tried everything he could to prevent that child from being born, including prohibiting vampires and witches from procreating at all. Treating such actions as an act of betrayal of the vampire race. Even going so far as to form a pact with all pantheons throughout the Platosphere."

"The God despised the vampire race and its king, and the Vampire king despised the Gods and their worshipers, but this was mutually beneficial for both sides." This way, powerful hybrids that may rival and potentially kill the gods, as well as hybrids with the capacity to murder the King, will never be born into this world. As a result, a contract was formed under the premise that procreation between vampires and witches would be considered as a threat on both sides. And the penalties for both persons who conduct such a prohibited behavior would be severe."

"However, the Gods went one step further, flooding the entire world to eliminate all vampiric hybrids from Hellmora's surface." Killing 99% of humanity, as well as many other races. Only stronger vampires remained, and almost all hybrids vanished, especially the forbidden hybrids. The Gods referred to them as the Nephilim, beings with a chaotic and divine essence, whilst vampires adored the forbidden hybrids as the Anaks. A child of this rare bloodline would be born with a divine magical nature as well as the Ichor of the vampiric race, as well as the combined abilities of both without the weaknesses of either."

"As such, given that Keziah is the last of her kind, and the most unique, given that she is the daughter of a worm that identifies as a witch and the daughter of the vampire king." The vampires see her as the last Anak and the gods regard her as the last Nephilim. The church, on the other hand, refers to her as the last Primigenial, and if such a being exists again, they will likewise refer to them as a Primigenial. Believe it or not, you are going to encounter the enemy of not only the Gods but the entire world. And if this was a novel, she would most likely be the main antagonist of the main character on the side of good."

Beatrice declared this when she told Merciless the story of Keziah Maddison. However, he found this mysterious woman's narrative to be pretty interesting, if not heartbreaking, as he recited the words said to him under his breath.

"Crimson ice that will pierce the king's heart, hmm?" I'm not sure how strong one has to be to kill someone like Eos who has absolute immortality, but even killing the other progenitor is already considered as nigh impossible, but ending the life of the monarch himself might as well be a dream, and nothing more."

"Men, this dark world we live in is truly terrifying, and I've met monster after monster in the last two days." I know that Eos is powerful, that the Gods are powerful, and that Scáthach is powerful as well, and she can easily slay a large number of them. And Eos himself is thought to be superior to her, and the majority of them, with just his father standing in his way as the only thing cannot surpass no matter how hard he tries."

"And by right, he is infinitely stronger than Scáthach and Quincy, as well as the Progenitor, who is even stronger than the two of them combined, as well as standing at the very top as a boundless powerhouse." I'm curious how strong his pure-blood progeny are. Keziah Maddison, hahahaa... how interesting, I feel like I have nothing to brag about nor to be proud of, my greatest achievement of power thus far has been me destroying a supermarket in an instant."

"While their people like Hector, who has enough physical strength to destroy the entire world in a single night in his true form, and hax that can affect boundaries." Then there are the so-called enlightened vampires, all of them are multiple times stronger than I am, and some are even stronger than Hector. The Overseers that rule over them, are already capable of creating an actual void in space, and Beatrice treats the attack as if it were child's play. She is clearly stronger than these creatures, giving her the role of second Overseer."

"But how strong is the first Overseer, hehehe... just thinking about it is mind-boggling, is she stronger than Scáthach, who is revered as the strongest female vampire in existence?" Then and again, based on her story, Beatrice, herself, has stated, that she does not consider Keziah as a vampire, but rather a creature with vampiric powers."

"Men, this is getting dangerous by the second, and powerful people are becoming aware of my existence for some reason." I wonder if I can match these monsters after a hundred, no, a thousand years of nonstop training with a single aim in mind. Doing everything possible to get more power along the way as well. Well, I think when the time comes to train, I will genuinely devote myself to the cause; I will not begin my vengeance until I have defeated each elder in a one-on-one battle, Scáthach included, even if it takes a million years."

"However, given my Ichor's propensity to evolve under pressure and the cluster of magical natures I got from this arm when I integrated with it. It is certainly conceivable; but, my primary edge in future fights will be when I perfected and mastered my main magical nature. Desire magic, also known as Ichormancy, is the ultimate skill used by the leaders of each clan, with the royal family claiming to be the most powerful users of this practice."

"Yeah, I'll definitely do it, but for now, let's be surprised, and when the time comes, I'll be the one to leave everyone speechless, I'll just use everyone to my advantage, I need more power because power is what matters in this life." The Overseers, the church, the vampire clans, the royal family, demons, the Garden of Monsters, and even Father Himself. I don't mind who I have to employ to achieve my goal."

Merciless murmured to himself, but he came to a halt as he sensed a repulsive presence in front of him. His heart was rushing, his eyes were closed, and from behind the enormous expanse of alien-like trees, black in hue, with pink grass beneath his feet. He saw a monster, no, it was the aura of a powerful person. Extremely powerful, to the point where their aura isn't an aura at all, but rather a manifestation of their overall power and potential given form.

In front of Merciless was a massive dark abyss with no end or beginning. The abyss was like a black hole, and it wasn't real, it was simply someone's aura at the time. And he felt like if he walked any further, he would be consumed, he would be overwhelmed to the point of insanity. To Merciless, this entity was a devourer of all things, someone who would take from him and utilize everything he was for their own profit.

his was the end, this was death, no, this was the epilogue, he would be consumed by this abyss if he walked any farther. But the main concern was if he could ever return and if he would die if he faced this abyss. And why he was even here in the first place. His thoughts were racing, so he began to move back instinctively, causing his hands to separate from Beatrice's. Hector, on the other hand, is looking forward, sweat streaming from his brow. However, Beatrice merely grabbed Merciless's hands back and said.

"Mhhhh.... what the problem Mercilesss?"

Beatrice inquired as she saw Merciless begin to shiver uncontrollably, and for the second time tonight, Merciless experienced the full significance of dread. As even the voices of the shagoth's souls, began to speak to him, his heart was beating extremely fast, and his hair was standing.

'Run... run away!'

'Dont go, escape... escape... escape.'

'You are already dead, you just dont know it yet."

'Im cold, extremley cold, agh im being frozen in place.'

'Blood; all I smell is blood, its hollow eyes, there watching, no stay away, stay away!'

The Shagoth's voices were whispering, their voices layering on top of each other, making them appear as non-sensical gibberish, their whispers becoming calls for aid, others expressing their terror, and the majority of them ordering him to flee. Merciless, on the other hand, was unable to concentrate at all. He could sense it; there was no way out, and the possibility didn't even exist. An aura of this degree was too much for him, to the point where even the third eyes couldn't properly conceive it were it began, or ended.

"Be-B-Beatrice?"

"Agh. Yes Merciless?"

"What, the hell is Keziah really?"

"An eldritch abomination, a being beyond all thoughts of perception, would be the best way to describe her." I can picture how your third eye might have perceived her aura. It is distinct from the rest, I assure you; aura sensors such as me cannot fully fathom its form. Just looking at it, let alone being in her presence, can drive a weak-willed person insane with paranoia. However, open your eyes; we are no longer in a crowd."

Merciless opened his eyes with those words, and the effects of the third eye were removed. He could no longer perceive auras, and he still had the twisted sensation of being on the point of death. The fear of knowing what lies beyond the veil of the unseen, on the other hand, remains, since it was buried deep within Merciless' sense of being.

An entity beyond our comprehension lurks just beyond those trees.

Merciless wanted to turn back just thinking about it. And then shoot his brains out with a shotgun to make himself forget what he had just witnessed. But he overcame his trepidation and turned to face Beatrice, saying.

"Lets keep going."

Beatrice smiled, and the party continued to move ahead, past the tree, but the atmosphere became heavier and colder, almost as if some invisible presence was forcing them back. Merciless and Hector are upset by it, while Beatrice appears bored if not completely dismissing the presence of the immense and silent psychological pressure. Until they eventually come to an opening.

And that's when they all noticed it: in this massive opening, there were millions of strange fleshy eggs, the landscape was red and black, and the ground turned rubbery and bouncy, almost as if they were on rubber. In summary, the geometry of the surrounding area spanning thousands of kilometers became non-euclidean.

Merciless couldn't stand correctly because each step seemed like someone was forcing him upwards, and when he looked down, the ground was moving up and down as if it were alive and breathing in and out.

The fragrance of blood was very strong here as well, but a voice spoke out softly into the distance, yet all heard it as clear as day, as it echoed with every word spoken, drawing everyone's attention.

"I see~~ So you've finally arrived, Beako; Hmmm... and you've brought the boy with you... good... very good indeed."

Merciless began to gaze up into the distance at those words, and what he saw perplexed him greatly. As he felt the silent pressure showering down on him the minute he met eyes with the woman before him. Despite how near she was, he couldn't see her face clearly. It wasn't because she didn't have a face; rather, it was as if the woman herself was a hazy idea or a vague concept, that distorted his perception of what she truly looked like. But one thing was certain: this woman, while being impossible for Merciless to fully comprehend for some reason. Was incredibly tall, and her piercing crimson eyes looked down on him as if she had a pair of gigantic horns on her head. But what struck him about the woman before him; was that she was standing much above him, as she was easily over two meters tall. Standing at a towering 10'4" in height.

She was all red, almost as if red itself was the concept that others saw her to be.

The woman's focus was now all on Merciless alone, and solely Merciless, as she began to speak to him.

"So you are the II Elderblood, fufu... interesting; boy come closer, let me get a better look at you, take my hand, I want to truly see you as you, and not the vessel that you are currently occupying... Let me see the shape of your potential, and the essence of your concious mind."

Keziah remarked, reaching out her hands to a horrified Merciless.