Midnight.
Moonlight flooded the vast stone hall, washing over rows of towering pillars and spreading across the flawless marble floor.
No torches burned.No candles flickered.
Darkness was enough.
Every being allowed into this chamber stood among the highest ranks of vampire nobility. Night itself served as their sight.
At the elevated platform, two Vampire Kings sat in silence.
The man upon the central throne was massive, draped in flowing white robes of ancient Greek design. Brown hair rested upon his shoulders, framing a stern, bearded face. A transparent crystal shimmered faintly at his waist.
Netherworld.
The eldest among the Seven Vampire Kings.
Beside him sat another figure—thin, motionless, wrapped in luxurious Arabian robes. His hawk-like eyes remained half closed, as though sleep interested him more than the world itself.
Abyss.
The King who had once watched Adam escape along the North African coast.
Silence lingered.
For creatures who had lived more than two thousand years, conversation was rarely necessary.
The hall itself seemed frozen in time.
Abyss spoke first.
"Time stands with Adam."
The temperature dropped.
Frost spread silently across the marble floor, crawling along the base of the pillars like pale veins.
Neither King moved.
Yet the castle reacted.
As if the very structure remembered that name.
After Adam escaped, Abyss had immediately informed the remaining Kings.
He understood the truth better than anyone.
Give Adam time—
time to relearn this world,time to master the blood within him—
—and none of the Seven Kings together would be enough.
When that moment arrived, resistance would become meaningless.
Only eternal sealing awaited them.
Once, Abyss had intended to claim Adam's blood essence alone.
Now, the thought felt foolish.
Some predators could not hunt alone.
Earth was too vast.
A vampire determined to disappear might never be found—just as the Eden bloodline had once failed to locate the fallen Adam after arriving on this world.
Reluctantly, the secret had been shared.
All seven Kings were now moving.
A shadow appeared silently at the entrance.
"Your Highness. The Western European envoy has arrived."
Netherworld opened one eye.
Stars shimmered within his pupil.
"Dusk did not come himself?"
"No, Your Highness."
A brief pause.
"Let them enter."
His eye closed again.
The messenger vanished without sound.
Abyss's dry lips moved.
"He remains arrogant."
A faint rasp colored his voice.
"I should never have allowed him to live."
"We had no choice," Netherworld replied calmly.
"The First City supported him. In that war… they carried the true weight."
Abyss let out a quiet breath.
"When we finally opposed the First City, his power had already matured."
Silence returned.
Then—
"Enough," Netherworld said.
"If Adam is found… and we ascend again…"
A faint ripple passed through the hall.
"…Dusk's pride will end on its own."
Three figures entered.
They stopped below the steps and knelt.
"Greetings, Your Highnesses."
The leading vampire bowed perfectly.
Flawless posture. Impeccable etiquette.
Yet the smile lingering at the corner of his lips remained just a fraction too long.
Golden hair. Aristocratic attire trimmed in gold.
Chaoyang.
Behind him stood two companions—
a towering, dark-skinned giant of a vampire,
and a petite blonde woman whose beauty felt almost unreal.
"Rise," Netherworld said.
"Where is Dusk?"
Chaoyang lifted his head.
"Lord Dusk remains stationed at the Britannia front."
A slight pause followed.
"He sends his regards."
Abyss gave a cold snort.
Everyone knew the First City had fractured into internal conflict. Factions now competed across the world for influence and neutral forces.
There was no true front line to guard.
The excuse was transparent.
Netherworld's eye opened again.
The starlight within condensed slowly into crimson.
"Second Generation?"
Chaoyang smiled.
"Yes, Your Highness."
One Second Generation.
Two Third.
Or more accurately—
one Fourth Generation and two Fifth.
Dusk's direct lineage.
"I see," Netherworld said.
"Remain here. The other Kings will arrive soon."
A casual wave dismissed them.
The audience ended.
Outside the hall—
The corridor fell silent once more.
The blonde vampire raised her hand, casting a soundproof barrier.
"Chaoyang… are we truly proceeding?"
Her voice rang like music.
Venus.
"Of course," Chaoyang replied lightly.
"It is Lord Dusk's command."
A booming laugh followed.
Jupiter cracked his knuckles.
"So tomorrow night becomes interesting."
Chaoyang shook his head.
"Not tomorrow."
His smile widened.
"Tonight."
Venus froze.
"Tonight? Isn't it already too late?"
"I brought several people from Western Europe," Chaoyang said casually.
"They should already be moving."
"And us?" Jupiter asked.
Chaoyang brushed invisible dust from his sleeve.
A small, almost absent-minded motion.
"Our targets are watching one another."
"We simply give directions."
His crescent-shaped eyes gleamed faintly.
"The Kings are busy preparing for a meeting."
A pause.
"It would be unfortunate…"
He turned toward the distant hall behind them.
"…if the city hosting them began burning before the first guest even arrived."
Inside that hall—
the supreme rulers of vampirekind waited in silence.
Unaware—
that the night had already begun to collapse around them.