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Chapter 12 - Shadows Beyond the StarsIn

Thee deepest reaches of the Crimson Star Planet, nestled between jagged obsidian spires and veined crimson skies, the Vampire Empire's most sacred hall stood—the Throne of Vitae.

The architecture shimmered with blood-crystal veins, pulsating like arteries across the onyx walls. At its heart, seated upon a massive throne of living crimson stone, was the Vampire Emperor.

He was a figure of terrifying majesty—tall, draped in ceremonial armor forged from void-touched alloy, his pale silver hair cascading like starlight over a dark mantle. His eyes, twin suns of blood-red fire, stared through the ethereal projection flickering before him.

A tall, gaunt vampire scientist—his lab coat as pristine as the sterile halls from which he came—bowed low before the throne, offering a glimmering obsidian data tablet.

"Your Majesty," the scientist spoke, voice trembling. "The results of the dimensional trace analysis have returned."

The Emperor did not blink. "Speak."

"The energy remnants from the Sealed Casket align with pre-exile royal blood. The heir..."

A pause. The Emperor's eyes narrowed.

"...was confirmed to have awakened," the scientist continued, his fangs clicking nervously. "But the coordinates... they're fragmented. The only consistent data places him at the far edge of the cosmos. Among the low-tier star systems."

"Earth," the Emperor murmured, as if tasting the word.

The scientist nodded.

"Possibly. The resonance signal is faint but consistent with that planetary zone."

A beat of silence.

"Mobilize a search force," the Emperor ordered. His voice rumbled like a death bell. "Select one hundred Vampire Knights and two hundred loyal kin. Equip them with Universal Vessel V-89 — The Nocturne Fang. Let them comb every primitive star-world. I want the bloodline erased."

"At once, Your Majesty.

As the scientist fled the chamber, shadows swirled at the Emperor's feet. The Crimson Star began to stir.

Far from the Emperor's world, on a dusty fringe colony known as Sector 12, Dray Ballack wandered the rust-colored streets of the industrial outskirts. His breath caught the morning air like smoke as factories hissed steam behind him. The mechanical hum of old drones overhead painted the sky with quiet tension.

It had been a few days since he began adapting to the presence of the Lost Bloodline System. While he hadn't leveled up, every moment spent walking, observing, thinking—even the sleepless nights deciphering the fragments of his past—had added layers to his growing focus.

The Main Quest remained active, its title burning quietly in the back of his mind.

[Main Quest Active: Rise of the Bloodline]

And then he saw it.

A massive projection shimmered above one of the communal towers. Military Recruitment Drive – Volunteers Welcome.

Underneath it, rows of young adults, mostly rough-looking locals, stood in ragged lines. Dray tilted his head. Uniforms. Weapons. Bad food. But...

"Fighting means EXP," he murmured.

The system chimed in subtle agreement.

"System Notice: Combat scenarios provide scalable EXP rewards. Leveling potential: High."

Dray took a deep breath.

This was it. A place where he could gain experience, grow stronger, and remain inconspicuous.

Dray walked into the enlistment area. The scent of grease, sweat, and aging metal filled the air. A burly woman in a black-and-copper uniform leaned back in her chair behind a dusty console.

"Name?" she barked.

"Dray Ballack."

Her cybernetic eye scanned him lazily. "Age?"

"Eighteen."

"Got a criminal record?"

"No."

"Bloodline enhancements or system implants?"

Dray hesitated. "None registered."

The scanner beeped. The woman grunted.

"You're clear. Welcome to Unit 47-C: Terra Infantry Recruits. Orientation in 30 minutes. Hall 2. Move."

Dray stepped aside, blending into the crowd of recruits. His heart pounded.

System Interface:

Name: Dray Ballack

Bloodline: Locked (Awakening Trigger Detected)

Race: Human (???)

Level: 6

Class: None

Strength: 7

Agility: 7

Endurance: 3

Vitality: 5

Skills:

• Night Adaptation (Passive)

• Blood Sense (Passive – Incomplete)

• Blood Echo (Tier I)

Inventory:

• Rusted Circuit Knife

• Obsidian Data Chip

• Unknown Crystal (Bound)

System Shop: [Access Granted – Insufficient Permissions for Purchase]

Next Level: 240 EXP

Status: Stable

He noticed the system didn't object to this path. In fact, it seemed to... quiet in approval.

The orientation was nothing grand. A gruff sergeant gave a speech about defending the sector, pushing back rogue mechs, and protecting trade routes from pirate guilds. Nothing about vampires. Nothing about legacy.

Just dirty work in broken armor under a sunless sky.

Perfect.

By the end of the day, Dray was given a standard-issue training suit, a room in the lower barracks, and an outdated rifle. He didn't care. He was in.

As he lay on the bunk that night, eyes staring at the rusted ceiling fan, the system pulsed.

"EXP Opportunities Detected. Daily Training begins tomorrow. Caution advised: injury risk 43.5%."

Dray smiled faintly.

"Bring it."

Far above, beyond starlight and silence, the Nocturne Fang tore through space toward the edges of the universe... toward Earth.

And its heir.

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