Ancestral Lineage

The berserk state wasn't just a physical transformation but a battlefield within Ethan's soul. He stood at the center of a dark, endless expanse, the ground beneath him slick with a crimson liquid that rippled with each movement. The heavy and oppressive air filled with an overwhelming aura of despair.

Shadows writhed and loomed around him, their forms shifting and twisting into grotesque, faceless figures. They whispered insidious words, their voices a cacophony that clawed at his sanity.

"You're weak."

"You couldn't save him."

"You'll never be enough."

Ethan clutched his head, his fingers digging into his temples as he tried to drown out the voices, but their venomous words grew louder. They encircled him like predators, their cold presence suffocating.

A sharp pain bloomed in his chest, and he staggered, falling to his knees in the crimson pool. His reflection stared back at him—twisted, monstrous, and unrecognizable. Crimson eyes marred with black veins glared at him, full of anger and sorrow, a distorted version of himself that seemed all too eager to devour him whole.

"Is this... all I am?" Ethan murmured, his voice trembling. The words felt heavy, a crack in his fragile resolve.

And then, amidst the swirling shadows, a faint light appeared.

It was small, almost imperceptible at first, but its presence was enough to draw Ethan's attention. He lifted his head, the faint glimmer cutting through the oppressive darkness. He instinctively reached for it, his hand trembling as it extended toward the light.

The shadows recoiled at the touch of the light, hissing like wounded beasts as they retreated slightly. The crimson liquid at his feet rippled violently as if resisting the intrusion.

The light coalesced, growing stronger until it took the shape of a familiar figure—Tia.

She floated before him, her small form flickering like a candle in the wind. Her usually vibrant glow was dim, her translucent wings drooping, but her voice was clear, unwavering.

"Master, come back to us."

The simple plea struck Ethan like a thunderbolt. He froze, his crimson eyes meeting hers, and the shadows fell silent for a moment.

Around him, more lights began to flicker into existence. They were faint at first, but one by one, they grew stronger, forming the silhouettes of those closest to him.

Trevor's commanding voice rang out, steady and unyielding. "You are stronger than this, Ethan. Fight it."

Clara and Harley's voices were raw with emotion, tinged with desperation. "We need you, Ethan! Don't leave us!"

The lights gathered around Ethan, their presence pushing the shadows further back. And then another voice rang out, calm and resolute.

"You are more than your rage."

Ethan turned toward the source of the voice, and a radiant figure stepped forward. Andriel's silver hair flowed like moonlight, and her violet eyes burned with a fierce determination. She extended a hand toward him, her voice steady and soothing.

"You carry more than your burdens, Ethan. You carry our hopes. You are not alone."

Her words resonated deep within him, cutting through the suffocating despair like a blade. Ethan's trembling hand reached toward hers, and as their fingers brushed, a surge of warmth flooded his body. The crimson pool at his feet began to recede, and the shadows let out a final, guttural hiss before retreating entirely.

The light grew brighter, enveloping him completely until all that remained was a serene, golden glow. Ethan stood there, his breath heavy but steady, as the distorted reflection in the pool vanished, replaced by his true self—or so he thought.

As he raised his head to look at the familiar faces of his friends and family, he noticed that his surroundings had shifted once again. He was back in the world of blood, but something felt different. The air was thick yet tranquil, the crimson liquid beneath him no longer hostile but calm, flowing with an almost rhythmic serenity. It felt divine, pure, ancient… he couldn't quite place it.

A voice broke the silence, familiar and laced with a strange mixture of amusement and gravity.

"Welcome back, Ethan. It seems we've met earlier than I anticipated. I thought it would take years, if not more."

Ethan's head snapped toward the source of the voice. His crimson eyes widened slightly as he caught sight of Kael, perched casually atop a small hill of solidified blood. The figure's long red hair swayed gently in a nonexistent breeze, and his piercing crimson eyes seemed to gaze beyond the horizon holding secrets untold.

Kael's white, ivory-like skin was etched with glowing red, vein-like tattoos that seemed alive, pulsing faintly in tandem with the world around them. The sheer intensity of his presence made Ethan feel small, his form a pale imitation of the perfection Kael embodied.

"Kael," Ethan muttered softly, the name escaping his lips as he began walking up the hill toward the other version of himself—another him, from a different reality. He had long since accepted the truth of Kael's existence, though the nature of their connection remained shrouded in mystery.

Kael turned his gaze toward Ethan, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Sup, man?" he asked, his tone casual, yet carrying an undertone of depth.

Ethan sat beside him without a word, the blood world around them resonating with their every movement, every breath. One part of the landscape was serene—calm, flowing blood that mirrored the life force of a healthy being. The other part was chaotic—boiling, erupting blood and violent splashes that mirrored Ethan's turmoil.

Ethan's gaze drifted across the strange expanse before settling back on Kael. His face was a mixture of confusion and suppressed pain, but his tone was steady as he went straight to the point.

"I'm not sure. Why am I here again?"

"Straight to the point, I see. I suppose this might help answer your current question," Kael said with a smirk as he waved his hand in the air before them. The space in front of them cracked, fragments falling like shards of glass as a portal-like screen materialized. It shimmered faintly before expanding, taking the shape of a 45-inch window into another reality.

Ethan's expression tensed as the screen flickered to life. Images of his battle with the Platinum-ranked beast played out, showing his descent into a berserk state. Every detail was laid bare: the uncontrolled power, the brutal savagery, and the mounting corruption that seeped into his very being. The scenes shifted to his subordinates receiving desperate system messages, their frantic movements as they raced to save him.

By the time the display ended thirty minutes later, Ethan sat frozen, his face pale. Shock and shame etched themselves into his expression as the final moments of his unconscious collapse played before fading to black.

"This..." Ethan's voice faltered. He didn't know what to say. He didn't know how to respond.

Kael leaned back slightly, his smirk softening as he observed Ethan's reaction. "It's perfectly normal, although in your case, it's far beyond what most would consider normal," he said, his playful tone a stark contrast to the gravity of his words. But then his voice turned sharper, more serious, as his crimson eyes bore into Ethan. "You are lucky, Ethan. Lucky to possess one of the Primordial Paths and the protection of both the Golden Emissary and the Empress. Without them..."

Ethan snapped out of his daze, his tone urgent. "Without them, what? What would've happened to me?" Find more to read on My Virtual Library Empire

Kael's expression grew grim. "You would have fallen into the abyss," he said simply, but the weight of his words was anything but light. "You would've become a blood beast at the level of a Primogenitor—a being of pure destruction. Your power would've evolved to match your new status, and you would've been a creature of nightmares. Not just to your enemies, Ethan, but to everyone. Even your subordinates wouldn't have been spared."

Ethan's hands clenched tightly. "What do you mean?"

Kael's gaze never wavered. "You would've entered a blood hunger—a frenzy so intense it would drive you to kill everything for blood. Everyone. Everything. The only one who might survive for a time would be Trevor, but even he would eventually fall to you unless he ascended to Primogenitor level fast enough to counter you. And even then, the odds would be slim."

Ethan's heart pounded as Kael continued.

"You would've slaughtered until all blood was yours, consuming every drop of life on the planet. Extinction would've been inevitable," Kael said bluntly. "And so far, from what I've observed, no other Primogenitor-level is being near you except Trevor. If this had happened now..." He let the words hang in the air, their weight suffocating.

Ethan sat in silence, the realization washing over him like ice.

"I'm sorry..." Ethan muttered, his voice heavy with guilt.

Kael turned to him, his expression unreadable. "I don't need your apologies," he said firmly. "Save them for your friends when you wake up. They're the ones who still need you."

Ethan nodded slowly. "Thank you," he said after a moment, his voice quiet but sincere.

Kael gave a faint smile, leaning back on the hill of solidified blood. "It's nothing. I can't let you experience what I went through. Trust me, it's a path you don't want to walk. Anyway, there's something else—a way to save Lamair."

Ethan's head snapped up, his crimson eyes widening. "How?"

Kael raised a hand, silencing him. "Let me finish, bruh."

Ethan blinked, then sighed, nodding. "Okay."

Kael chuckled lightly before continuing, his tone growing serious. "You can save him. He's dead, but his spirit hasn't fully dissipated from the world yet. As a Blood Primogenitor by status, you can turn him—but he won't become a vampire. He'll become something far darker. A ghoul."

"A ghoul?" Ethan repeated, frowning.

Kael nodded. "Yes. A creature tethered to you, bound by blood and will. However, to make this happen, you'll need the assistance of a spirit being to guide his transition. Without that, it won't work."

Ethan's mind raced. "How do I find a spirit being? And how long until his spirit completely dissipates?"

Kael smirked faintly. "Good questions. His spirit should have dissipated about three hours ago—thirty minutes after his death. But because of your connection, your protection, and his status as your subordinate tied to your path, both his spirit and body have been preserved, shielded from decay and the natural dissipation process."

Ethan exhaled in relief. "How much time does that give me?"

Kael's expression turned contemplative. "I'd say you've got about two days, give or take. But don't waste a second. As for the spirit being—you've already got two of them on your team. They just don't know it yet."

Ethan's brow furrowed. "Two-spirit beings. On my team? Who?"

Kael shrugged. "That, I don't know. Their presence is faint, dormant even. But they're there. They'll need to evolve before they can help you, though. The Empress can take care of that. She's been watching over you more closely than you realize."

Ethan let out a dry laugh. "Why do I feel like all of this is just one massive plan?"

Kael's crimson eyes gleamed as his lips curled into a wry smile. "Welcome to the chessboard of Fate, my friend. Where even gods are but mere pawns in her grand game."