On this day, Itogami Island welcomed some extraordinary guests.
Even August couldn't afford to take them lightly. The ruler of the Chaos Zone, the Third Progenitor—a stunning woman with long emerald-green hair—had arrived.
"So, you're August? Seeing you in person beats all the rumors."
"I didn't expect you'd come to meet me yourself."
"Well, you're the most infamous figure in the world right now. You defeated and killed the Fourth Progenitor—and more impressively, made one of your own the new Fourth Progenitor."
"You're interested in the Fourth Progenitor too?"
"Of course. It's the strongest vampire in the world, after all."
"Heh."
August gave a faint smile, not taking her words at face value.
She and the First and Second Progenitors—ancient beings who'd lived for untold millennia—were living history in this world.
Especially this woman before him. She had a close, almost intimate connection with the Sinful God Cain.
In the original story, Kojou Akatsuki, wielding the Shadow Familiar of the Vampire King, went berserk and was trapped in her spatial familiar's alternate dimension. By chance, he glimpsed her memories.
In those memories, she and Cain were deeply familiar. That fragment revealed much.
Cain was a monstrous genius who sought to alter the world's laws with magical technology, granting life to the lifeless—though he ultimately failed.
That "lifeless thing" was the earliest form of Mogwai, later brought to Itogami Island by Senra Itogami.
In the plot, Mogwai showed great respect for Senra, even calling him "My Lord."
A brief moment, but it hinted at Cain's terrifying power—creator of the fearsome "Holy Annihilation" and a man who dared to reshape the world's laws.
"Third Progenitor, no need to beat around the bush. What's your point?"
"Just call me Giada, August."
"Fine, Giada. State your purpose."
"Such an impatient guy."
Clap, clap.
Giada Kukulcan, the Third Progenitor, clapped her hands. Two figures entered from the doorway.
They were identical—golden hair, doll-like features, and brimming with potent magic.
"They are—"
"The Sixth and Tenth, missing pieces of the Fourth Progenitor."
"You brought them here to hand them over?"
"Hm, you could say that."
"Interesting."
August glanced at the pair. As vessels of the Flame-Haired Night Lord, they were shells housing familiars—intrinsically tied to them.
Giada Kukulcan smiled at August, giving off an air of guileless sincerity.
But August didn't buy it for a second. An ancient monster who'd lived for tens of thousands of years wouldn't offer favors without motive.
"Get to the point, Giada."
"Fine, fine. I came here for one question."
"Ask."
"Your goal—what exactly are you trying to do?"
"My goal? Simple. First, I'll establish my own Night Empire. Then, I'll destroy the others."
August met Giada Kukulcan's gaze unflinchingly, speaking without reservation.
Declaring his intent to dismantle her empire to her face was outright provocation.
"Destroy all the Night Empires? Interesting. And then?"
But Giada didn't flinch. To her—or the three progenitors—the Night Empires meant little.
In their eyes, those empires were mere playthings. They could build countless more if they wished.
"I'll finish what Cain couldn't. No—I'll do it better."
"You know Cain's purpose?"
"Somewhat."
Giada's expression shifted, and August smirked.
There was definitely something between her and Cain. Her reaction to his name was too strong to ignore.
Boom!
Suddenly, a surge of immense magic radiated from Giada Kukulcan.
Faintly, the silhouettes of several terrifying familiars loomed behind her—the Third Progenitor in her glory.
Ruler of twenty-seven familiars, the pinnacle of vampirism.
Yet August didn't waver in the face of her power.
Boom!
He responded in kind, unleashing an abyss-like dark magic laced with traces of Conqueror's Haki.
Giada faltered slightly, realizing August was on her level.
But he wasn't a vampire, so his strength and abilities defied precise measure. That very unknown made her wary.
"Giada, a world doesn't need two kings. Nor do empires ruled by kings. Since I've decided to build my Night Empire, the other Night Empires—and their progenitors—are superfluous."
"So, you plan to kill us?"
Giada Kukulcan burst into laughter, genuinely amused.
Killing a progenitor—what a joke. How long had it been since she'd heard such a thing?
If anyone wanted to kill progenitors, it was the three of them who most desired their own deaths.
Countless years of solitude and torment weren't something ordinary people could fathom. The three progenitors had lived since the beginning.
Neither she, the Second, nor the First feared death—they welcomed it.
A progenitor's "immortality" was a curse. Unable to die, time eroded everything—its terror unmatched.
"I'm not joking, Giada. I'll dismantle your Night Empires and eliminate the redundant three progenitors. Not just them—demons, magic, and all supernatural forces in this world shouldn't exist."
"You want to erase all 'mystery'?"
"What, think it's impossible?"
"No. If that's truly your plan, it might just be feasible. You and Cain do share some similarities."
Giada Kukulcan studied August, her gaze locked on his face.
---
If you're interested in reading more, feel free to visit my pat reon, https , // www .pat reon. com /XElenea