Chapter 212: A second one
For a long moment after Elder Ghurn stepped down from the massive palm, the air itself seemed to change, as if the weight that had been pressing down on the Moonshade Family had loosened just enough for them to breathe again, and this change did not go unnoticed by the two Ascendants who stood at the center of it all.
Lord Vord’s expression, which had turned cold and distant not long ago, gradually softened, not into warmth, but into something far more measured, as if he had recalculated the worth of what stood before him and found that perhaps he had judged too quickly.
Elder Achilor stood beside him, his posture still straight and composed, though the sharp edge in his gaze had eased, replaced by a more thoughtful look as he observed the old ancestor who had just revealed a talent that could not be ignored.
Then, almost at the same time, both of them spoke.
"To possess a Nascent Blood Mana Soul," Lord Vord began, his voice carrying clearly across the courtyard, no longer dismissive but filled with a firm acknowledgment, "is a blessing to any lineage, no matter where it originates from."
Elder Achilor continued without pause, his tone smooth yet authoritative, as if reinforcing the importance of what had just been shown.
"Even within our domains," he said, "those who reach such a level are not common, and they are never treated lightly, for they carry the potential to rise further, to stand among those who can influence the fate of entire territories, and to protect those beneath them with strength that is both respected and feared."
The Moonshade Family listened in silence, their earlier despair replaced by a fragile pride that began to grow stronger with every word spoken by the Ascendants, because the tone alone was enough to tell them that something had changed.
Achilor folded his hands behind his back, his gaze moving across the gathered family members as he continued speaking, his words now carrying a different kind of weight, one that hinted at opportunity rather than rejection.
"In your previous world," he said, "it is possible that such talent was surrounded by weakness, limited by those who could not support its growth, restrained by resources that were insufficient to nurture it properly, and hindered by a lack of guidance that could bring out its full potential."
Lord Vord gave a small nod, a faint smile appearing on his lips as he added his own thoughts.
"But here," he said, his voice lowering slightly as if sharing something valuable, "that will not be the case, because within our lands, those who possess such blood are not left to struggle alone, they are given what they need, trained by those who understand their worth, and surrounded by others who can match their level, allowing them to grow without restraint."
He glanced briefly at Elder Ghurn, who still stood quietly among his family, his expression thoughtful, as if trying to process everything that had just happened.
"You will not lack companions of equal standing," Lord Vord continued. "Nor will you lack enemies who will force you to become stronger."
There was a faint chuckle in his voice now, though it carried a hint of sharpness.
"And in this world, both are necessary."
The words settled over the Moonshade Family like a wave, filling them with a mixture of relief and excitement, because what they had feared losing just moments ago had now turned into something they could hold onto again.
Before anyone could speak further, Achilor lifted his hand slightly, signaling that the testing was not yet over.
"There is still more to see," he said calmly.
His gaze moved once again toward the group of ancestors.
"Next."
The word was simple, but it carried a quiet command that left no room for hesitation.
Among the remaining ancestors, another figure stepped forward.
Vic.
Like Ghurn, he bore the marks of age, his scalp smooth and bare, his frame lean yet steady, his eyes sharp despite the years that had passed, and though he had watched the previous result with surprise, there was no fear in his movements as he approached the massive clawed palm.
Behind him, members of the Moonshade Family began to murmur, their voices filled with renewed hope, though still touched by uncertainty.
"If one reached that level..."
"Then maybe..."
"Perhaps another..."
They did not finish their thoughts, as if afraid to speak them too boldly, but the expectation was there, growing quietly within them.
Vic stopped before the massive palm, looking up at it for a brief moment, his expression calm, almost unreadable, as if he had already accepted whatever result would come.
Then, without hesitation, he stepped forward and sat within the center of the hand, his posture straight, his presence steady despite the immense structure surrounding him.
The runes beneath him flickered to life once more, glowing faintly as they prepared to judge the essence of his blood.
He raised his hand.
Cut his palm.
And let the blood fall.
The first drop landed.
The first finger lit up.
No reaction.
The second drop followed.
The second finger lit up.
Still, no one spoke.
The third drop.
The third finger lit up.
The pattern was the same as before.
Yet this time, the silence felt different.
Because now, everyone was watching with expectation.
The fourth drop fell.
The fourth finger lit up.
A ripple moved through the crowd.
Eyes widened.
Breaths held.
And then—
The blood continued.
It gathered once more.
And fell again.
The fifth finger lit up.
For a split second, the world seemed to stop.
Then—
"What... another...?!"
"That level again...!"
"Impossible...!"
The reactions erupted instantly, louder than before, filled with genuine shock that could not be contained, as even the surrounding Emperor level vampires leaned forward, their attention completely fixed on the scene before them.
"Two...?"
"Two of them...?"
"In the same family...?"
"This is no coincidence..."
Their voices overlapped, disbelief and interest mixing together as they tried to make sense of what they were witnessing.
Within the Moonshade Family, the reaction was even more intense.
Cheers broke out once again, louder, more confident, filled with pride that had been buried moments ago but now surged forward without restraint.
"Ancestor Vic...!"
"He reached it too...!"
"We are not weak...!"
"We are not worthless...!"
Their voices echoed across the courtyard, no longer restrained, as they celebrated the second ancestor who had proven that their lineage held something far greater than what had been shown at the start.
Even those who had failed earlier could not help but feel a spark of hope, because now it was clear that their family was not entirely lacking.
At the center, Vic opened his eyes slowly, looking down at his own hand with a faint frown, as if he too did not fully understand how this result had come to be.
"This..." he muttered quietly.
His voice carried confusion.
"In my past... I never..."
He did not finish the sentence, but the meaning was clear.
Like Ghurn, his previous limit had been far lower.
Yet now...
It had changed.
Above them, Lord Vord and Elder Achilor stood in silence for a brief moment, their earlier irritation now completely gone, replaced by a quiet understanding that this situation was no longer as simple as they had first thought.
Lord Vord glanced at Achilor, a faint smirk forming on his lips.
"Well," he said softly, "it seems we judged them too early."
Achilor let out a small breath, though there was no embarrassment in his expression, only acceptance.
"That happens," he replied calmly. "Even to us."
There was a pause.
Then both of them looked back at Vic, who had now stepped down from the massive palm.
"Two Nascent Blood talents within one family," Lord Vord said, his voice carrying a tone of approval that was no longer hidden. "That alone places them above many lineages within our domains."
Achilor nodded.
"Indeed," he said. "Such individuals are not easily found, and to have two within the same group suggests that there is more to this bloodline than what was initially revealed."
Around them, the Emperor level vampires began to murmur in agreement, their earlier skepticism replaced by recognition.
"At least they are not useless..."
"That level is worth cultivating..."
"If there are two, there might be more..."
Their voices carried a new tone now, one that acknowledged potential rather than dismissing it.
Within the Moonshade Family, the celebration continued, their spirits lifted higher than before as they looked toward their two ancestors with admiration and pride.
"Ancestor Ghurn... Ancestor Vic...!"
"You have saved us...!"
"We are not weak...!"
Their voices were filled with gratitude, as if these two had pulled them back from the edge of something they did not want to face.
Meanwhile, Lord Vord and Achilor exchanged another glance.
There was no need for words.
Both of them had already adjusted their stance.
Whatever they had planned earlier...
Had changed.
And yet, despite this change, neither of them showed any sign of guilt in their expressions.
They were old.
Far older than most could comprehend.
And in their world, changing one’s judgment based on new information was not something to be ashamed of.
It was simply survival.
And even if they are found being like that, what can others do?
They are ascendant Vampires!
Lord Vord stepped forward slightly, his gaze sweeping across the Moonshade Family once more, his presence steady, his tone now carrying a clear authority.
"Good," he said.
The single word carried weight.
Then, without pause, he raised his hand slightly and spoke again.
"Next."