Flying high above Astralis, six figures cut through violet winds that tasted of iron and distant thunder.
Four blazing suns painted the continent below in shifting crimson and gold, while rivers of molten silver carved glowing scars across endless plains of blood-red grass. Mountains rose like the spines of sleeping titans, their peaks swallowed by perpetual storms that flashed silent lightning the colour of fresh bruises.
Far beneath them, herds of continent-sized beasts migrated in slow, earth-shaking waves, their roars felt more than heard.
"So, what other factions or races are on this world?" Ash asked, voice carrying effortlessly despite the wind.
Raven flew closest, dress snapping like a war banner. "Too many to count individually; factions come and go on worlds not directly owned. But our intel tracks another vampire clan, demi-human tribes, Abyssal World Serpents that coil around entire mountain ranges, and both Abyssal and Solar Fox clans."
Seth spoke next, white hair whipping across his face.
"…Didn't you have tails a couple weeks ago?"
He nor any of the others could understand how he changed so fast. Normally nonvampires had to go through an entire process to change races.... and not just that, vampires didn't have wings.
Ash shrugged, bronze skin catching the sunlight like forged metal.
"Elder Kaelthyr had some bloodline...."
Katherine laughed, blonde hair streaming behind her like molten gold. "Some bloodline? You look like you ate a deity and wore its wings."
Connor just shook his head; black eyes fixed on the horizon.
They descended toward a city on the outskirts of the Nocturne Domain. It sprawled across seven floating landmasses connected by chains of living blood-iron.
Each island was a different biome... one eternal night, one perpetual dawn, one drowned in crimson mist.... Towers of black glass and red jade rose like fangs, bridges of frozen blood arched between them, and waterfalls of liquid ruby poured upward into the sky before raining back down as rubies the size of houses.
The streets teemed with races Ash had never seen.
A nine-tailed Abyssal Fox with fur like liquid shadow and eyes of frozen starlight prowled past, each tail ending in a tiny black hole. A Solar Fox followed with pure white fur blazing with golden flames.... Demi-humans with crystalline antlers and skin that shifted between flesh and diamond bartered in the markets.
And also, the Serpents that all had scaled skins and slit eyes.
"I'll book us rooms," Katherine said, grabbing Summer's wrist and diving toward the largest island. Seth and Connor followed without a word.
Ash lingered in the air a moment longer, bronze skin drinking the light of four suns, black wings with rose-pink veins spread wide. Raven tugged him down by the sleeve, fangs peeking in a teasing smile.
"Surprised, aren't you? Come on; we'll find somewhere safe for you to register your clan."
She led him to the central island's heart... an empty plaza of blood-red marble beneath an open sky. No guards, no arrays, just a single obsidian monolith pulsing with the weight of the cosmos itself.
Ash sat cross-legged before it, wings folding like living shadow. He closed his eyes and reached.
'The Records of Eternity…'
An emotionless voice answered inside his mind, vast as collapsing galaxies.
{The Records are listening. Access limited to Clan, Sect, or Faction Creation.}
'Clan Creation.'
A single thread that was invisibl to all eyes except his tethered itself to him. Normally it would bind to a soul... however, Ash had no separate soul; he was the soul. The moment it connected images flooded the connection: every desire he had ever tasted, every lover's sigh, every battlefield soaked in blood, every crown he had melted.
They converged into one burning point.
{Name your Clan.}
One word, spoken into absolute silence.
"Originat."
"My clan will be… The Originat."
The moment those words sounded the plaza faintly trembled before the records spoke again.
{The Originat Clan is created. All information uploaded to status.}
He opened his eyes... and the two blood drops flashed faintly.
Raven stared, lips parted, affection meter silently rushing forward as she couldn't take her eyes off of him.
Ash rose, wings unfurling, as he looked at the Clan information.
[Clan: Originat | Rank - Unrated | Members: 1 | Branches - 0 | Worlds/Galaxies - 0]
'Hmm, this is pretty neat....' He thought before he closed his eyes once more.
As one must know, Ash's race had been undefined since he gained his ten gifts long ago. However, now it was time to change that.... It was undefined because, a race such as himself had never been seen before....
'My race... it will be called the Primavus!'
The Records returned instantly, voice vast and indifferent.
{New race acknowledged.
You are the First. Reward granted: Title – Progenitor. With a single drop of your blood, you may awaken another as Primavus. As a Progenitor, you possess absolute command over your bloodline—both living and dead.
You can awaken latent abilities in your progeny or descendants, bypassing set restrictions.}
The moment the voice left again... Ash felt himself change subtly almost as if he was elevated. He then opened his eyes once again and then looked towards Raven who was still locked onto his figure.
He smiled and then approached as he spoke.
"Well, it's all done now. Let's take some time to look around now."
Raven blinked, then smiled with her fangs peeking and eyes sparkling like fresh blood under the light.
"Alright… let's go."
------
Ash and Raven found themselves walking through the main city of this Island. Here Ash finally got to see things mentioned in novels he used to read.
Alchemy shops glowed with cauldrons that breathed violet fire. Blacksmiths hammered weapons on anvils carved from dragon bone while sparks formed tiny living phoenixes that died and were reborn with every strike.
Beast-tamer pavilions displayed eggs the size of houses... Illusion boutiques sold bottled nightmares and bottled dreams in crystal vials. Auction houses taller than mountains also rang with bids...
"Now that your clan is created… what are your plans?" Raven asked, voice soft against the rush of wind and distant city noise.
"My plans…" He let the words hang, tasting them.
'Hmm… from what I've gathered so far, the cultivation world doesn't revolve around leaderboards. No, cultivation here is everyday life, and everyone is only aiming to be stronger by any means…'
"I need more power," he said simply, the sentence carrying the weight of a vow. He also needed information, but he already had an idea that would teach him everything about this galaxy in the fastest way possible.
"Understandable. That's all that matters anyway," Raven answered with a fanged smile. Before he could reply she grabbed his wrist and yanked him toward a floating restaurant suspended by chains of frozen blood.
"Hehe, let's eat here."
They stepped through arched doors of crimson glass into a cavernous hall alive with heat, scent, and hunger.
Vampires in silk robes lounged at tables carved from dragon bone, fangs buried in crystal goblets that steamed with fresh blood-wine.
Demi-humans with crystalline antlers and shifting diamond skin laughed too loudly, their plates piled with still-beating hearts that dripped silver ichor.
Abyssal Foxes with shadow-fur and starless eyes shared booths with Solar Foxes whose golden flames licked the air without burning anything. The mingled aromas of spiced blood, charred beast meat, and night-blooming roses was so thick Ash could taste them on his tongue.
They claimed a private table draped in black velvet and crimson silk, overlooking the entire hall through a wall of living glass.
The menu floated before them in letters of liquid blood that rearranged themselves into whatever language the reader desired.
Ash flipped through it and felt a wry smile tug at his lips.
'Uhh, I don't have any money...'
Before he never needed to make currency... because he took it all from kingdoms. However, as he looked around as seeing people pay... he noticed they were not using mana stones.... or at least they looked nothing like the ones he had.
Raven noticed instantly and giggled, fangs glinting.
"What? Did you lose your mana stones as well?" She leaned closer, voice like teasing silk.
"Don't worry, it's all on me~"
She ordered without looking... some blood-aged mana wine that was a thousand years old, a phoenix heart seared in starfire, roses cultivated in dragon essence and tons of beast meat. The dishes arrived on plates of black ice that never melted, steam curling upward in perfect spirals of rose and gold.
As they were enjoying their time two people approached Ash and Raven. They both had skin as pale as snow. The male had short black hair and deep red eyes that were almost black. The woman to his side was had longer hair stopping at her shoulders that was black and eyes that were just the same.
They ate slowly, knees brushing beneath the table.
She told him stories of Nocturne banquets where guests drank from living arteries.
He fed her a petal of dragon-blood rose from his fingers and watched her blush darken to scarlet when their eyes met. Every laugh, every shared sip, every accidental touch pushed her affection higher; he could feel it like a second heartbeat against his own.
Two figures approached through the crowd.
Skin pale as moonlight on bone. The male had short black hair and eyes so deep red they looked black until light struck them. The woman clinging to his arm had shoulder-length black hair and the same abyssal gaze, expression cold as winter void.
"Oh, if it isn't the Fourth Princess of the Nocturne Clan," the male said, sly smile curling.
Raven paused mid-bite, mood dropping like a blade.
"Silas… what the hell do you want?" She knew who it was from the moment she heard the snarky voice. Her eyes then shifted to the woman and she only scoffed.
"Why so angry all the time?" He said before walking over to the table.
He looked at Ash and then frowned. The moment his eyes met Ash's his bloodline shuddered.
'Who the hell is this?' He thought before Raven's voice sounded.
"Tsk, state your business or leave."
Silas recovered his smirk.
"Well, I was wondering if the Nocturne Clan had heard about a Third Era Secret Realm opening in two days on the Vyrnath Continent."
Raven's eyes widened slightly at the mention of this.
"A Third Era Realm?" She questioned before her eyes narrowed.
"What's the catch?"
"There is no catch." Silas said with a shrug.
"You know, even though we are from separate clans... I would always look out for you~"
Raven's frown returned... and Ash his eyes narrowed as he'd just been observing the entire time.... and not just that.
[Elowen Noctis' Affection - 25%]
The woman next to Silas had been stealing glances at him nonstop....
"Cut the bullshit, Silas. I've told you thousands of times—I don't need a guardian. Leave."
Silas shrugged once more and walked away.
"Suit yourself, princess. The realm opens in two days, Vyrnath Continent."
After he left, Ash finally spoke.
"Interesting.... another vampire clan?"
Raven looked at him for a moment and then nodded.
"Right, the Eternal Noctis Clan... one of the four Eternal Vampire Clans."
Ash nodded.
"Well... how about we check the secret realm out?"
Hearing that he found interest in the realm.
"I don't mind... if it's with you." She said as they both rose up together, hands brushing as they stepped out of the restaurant and vanished into the crimson twilight of Astralis.