The view in front of him dwarfed anything he had ever seen on Elaris.
Four colossal suns hung in a blue sky like four burning gods, their light clashing and bleeding into each other so violently the horizon itself looked bruised.
Mountains rose like jagged black teeth that scraped the heavens, their peaks lost in permanent auroras.
Trees the width of cities towered so high that from a far the canopy looked like, a entire system and rivers of the clearest waters he'd seen ever, filled with pure mana carved glowing scars across continents visible even from where he was.
However, all that was just into the distance.
A perk that came with his new physique was the distance he could see with his eyes. Now, he could see up to his MP limit... which was billions of Kilometers. In front of him was something that was much different from the bright lush scenery he was looking at.
Everything closest to him was drenched in eternal twilight. A canopy of blood-red mist clung to the land like a funeral shroud, turning the air thick and sweet with iron.
Literal rivers of liquid blood wound between obsidian towers, glowing faintly from within, slow and viscous as living veins. Black castles floated on inverted pyramids of solidified blood, their windows flickering with candle-flame the color of fresh arteries.
"This just screams... vampires." Ash muttered as he looked around the room and noticed, despite the dark, edgy vibe of outside. The room was pretty bright with colors and light
Walls of pale ivory marble drank light from floating crimson lanterns that burned without flame. Thick carpets of deep wine-red swallowed every footstep, and silk curtains the color of fresh dawn framed tall arched windows.
Furniture carved from night-black wood gleamed under golden sconces; a massive four-poster bed dominated the center, draped in layers of velvet and spider-silk sheets.
He walked over to the mirror and got a look at himself. He didn't know the style of clothing people normally would wear nor did he care. He used his ring and shifted his outfit into plain casual clothing.
He wore a loose linen long sleeve shirt that was all black. Sweatpants that wear the same color along with simple boots. Although it was simple, it looked enchanting simply because of the ring. He also had in two earrings that dangled a bit the symbol of black suns.
"Heh, I look damn good." He said to himself with a smirk. Then before he could do anything else the door behind him creaked open.
And before he could even turn around, he received a notification.
[Raven Nocturne's Affection 35%]
'Eh.... wait Nocturne?' He rose a brow as he turned around to see who was standing at the door.
And the moment he did...
"Fuck..." He muttered looking at the woman who could be described as nothing more than a bloody beauty.
She was pale as fresh bone, skin almost luminous against the gloom. Long black hair spilled past her waist like liquid shadow, tips brushing the floor with every step. A slim, dangerous hourglass wrapped in a backless dress of living darkness and crimson lace, breasts pressing softly against the fabric.
Beneath each eye, tiny blood-drop tattoos glistened, as though freshly painted.
She smirked looking at him.
"After a week, the fox is finally up." As she said this she moved and sat down on the bed like they had already met.
"Uhh... where am I? and who are you?" Ash asked as he appraised her as he slightly got defensive.
[Raven Nocturne
Age - 450 Years Old
Race - Vampire (Sanguine Nocturne (Ultimate))
Rank - Second Calamity
Affinities - Sanguine Mirage, Silence
Laws - Blood 80%, Illusion 80%, Silence 65%
Calamity Laws - ???
Remarks - Third Princess of the Eternal Nocturne Clan.... Increase strength for more information.]
'Shit... what kind of luck is this? ' Ash thought as he got even more on guard.
And by on guard....
'Let's increase the affection, shall we? He thought before casually walking over the bed and sitting next to her. As he did, he deliberately brushed his hand over hers.
"Hmm?" She blinked once, then clapped with sudden clarity.
"Oh right… I forgot… hehe."
A soft giggle escaped.
"I'm Raven Nocturne, one of the Princesses of the Eternal Nocturne Clan… and you're in my clan's domain."
Ash now sitting beside her internally shook his head at his luck.
'Yep... the same Nocturne's apparently... and even the fourth princess is stronger than those two? As he thought this his ten tails moved on instinct, brushing slow circles along her back.
"And I'm assuming you kidnapped me?" he asked, voice low.
Raven pouted playfully. "Hmph, it's your fault for being so beautiful…"
She didn't even try to deny it.
She rose, dress whispering like spilled blood across marble.
"How can you be so beautiful, yet so weak?"
"I'm weak?" Ash asked with a frown that swiftly went away as he noticed her affection reached 50%.
Raven eyes narrowed hearing that.
"Uhh, are you from some backwater world? Of course you're weak; even my maids are at the SSS rank."
She shook her head, then adopted a pondering look. "Hmm, now that you're awake… I did plan to keep you here forever."
Her bloody eyes went wide and sparkling.
"But… tell me, would you like to stay for a while before returning to your faction?"
She.... deployed puppy eyes without mercy.
Ash's eyes nearly popped out his head seeing the sudden change. First, he was kidnapped.... then she planned to keep him locked away... Now she's giving him a choice?
'Heh... this is just too broken...' That's all he could think before smiling.
"Of course, milady..." He said slyly,
"I will stay around for a while."
Her eyes sparkled like fresh blood under torchlight.
She grabbed his hands and yanked him toward the door.
"Good, let's go."
And just like that, the Original Desire found himself in the Domain of Vampires.
-----
Raven led him through corridors that felt carved from living night itself. Walls of polished obsidian drank every flicker of torchlight, reflecting nothing but faint crimson veins that pulsed like arteries beneath the surface.
Chandeliers of frozen blood hung from vaulted ceilings, each droplet glowing soft scarlet, casting the entire castle in the color of a tinted red. Portraits of ancient vampires lined the halls... eyes following them, fangs bared in eternal hunger.
As they walked Ash's eyes were scanning relentlessly and he got the shock of his life. Although he had already been told that SSS rank was essentially the beginning, he didn't think it was so literal. Everywhere he looked, no matter maid, butler, guard... they all were SSS rank.
'I need to get stronger... immediately.' He thought as even though he could wipe the floor with any of these SSS ranks. It just goes to show just how stronger everyone else is, because if an SSS rank is only a maid, then what are the true monsters?
"Uhh, so where are we going?" Ash asked as Raven still had her arm locked around his. They had received a few stares which they both ignored completely.
"Somewhere to increase your strength," she answered bluntly, fangs peeking when she smiled.
"What's your current Existence Level?"
"Hmm, about 4 million..."
"Not bad." She tilted her head. "I'm sure your elders have told you the requirements to reach the next rank, right?"
'Yea, right... what Elders?'
He scratched his head as the thought this, then aloud.
"Uhh, would you believe me if I said I have no recollection of my clan?"
Raven stopped dead in her tracks and turned to him.
Her bloody eyes lit up like twin rubies held to flame.
"Really?!"
'The hell? Is she crazy?' Ash thought before chuckling and smoothly shifting the topic.
"Ha… well, I remember some things. Anyway, the requirements are?"
Raven pouted before continuing to walk.
"Hmph. The SSS rank preps you for Calamity by letting you touch Laws. Laws can be used raw or through skills, but raw use needs complete comprehension…"
She waved her pale hands animatedly as she spoke.
"Calamity Realm is where most cultivators spend their entire lives. You need at least fifty million Existence Level, and you must create your own Calamity Law."
"A Calamity Law?" Ash echoed, brows arching.
"It's like mortal Soul Brands and Paths, but deeper," she said, voice softening with genuine excitement.
"Forged from your experiences, memories, goals… everything that makes you. Then you wield it however you want... in battle, domains, whatever."
"Neat…" Ash muttered, already cataloguing every word.
They stepped through a final set of doors carved from a single piece of blood-dragon bone. The coliseum yawned before them. Tiered stands of black marble and red velvet rose in perfect rings; each seat already filled with thousands of vampires whose eyes glowed like scattered coals.
The arena floor was a lake of liquid blood contained by invisible barriers, reflecting the four suns in fractured scarlet shards.
"Welcome to the Crimson Crucible," Raven said, fangs fully bared in a radiant smile.
"This is like a breeding ground for anyone looking to gain strength quickly. Five arrays beneath the arena multiply the Existence Essence of the dead which is perfect for rapid growth."
Ash's grin matched hers.
Especially since he already had a physique that gave a multiplier for things like this. He didn't know what it had increased to with this new physique, but he wouldn't mind testing it out.
"Doesn't sound bad... is everyone my Rank?"
"For the most part. The champions are Calamity 1, though."
Ash rolled his shoulders and gently detached from her arm. "Well, I'll head in myself. Just enjoy the show."
Raven's brow rose, amusement and something hotter flickering in her eyes.
'He talks as if he's already strong…'
Ash walked away without looking back, tails swaying like a promise.
Behind him, Raven turned and vanished into the VIP entrance, smile sharp enough to cut the night itself.