Chapter 220: Surpassed
Cornelia did not speak after Elder Achilor gave his permission.
She only nodded once, slowly, as if sealing her decision in that single motion, and then she lowered herself with care, her movements steady despite the countless eyes fixed on her, until she finally sat upon the surface of the transformed palm.
The moment she settled, the entire structure seemed to react again, not violently this time, but in a way that felt heavy and alive, as if it had accepted her presence fully, as if it was now ready to reveal something that had been waiting.
The arena held its breath.
No one spoke.
No one dared to interrupt.
Even the faint sounds of movement ceased, leaving behind only the quiet pulse of energy that spread from the palm and into the air, pressing against every vampire present.
Then—
A drop of blood appeared.
It formed above her head, hanging in the air for a brief moment, glowing with a deep crimson light that seemed far richer than anything they had seen before.
Then it fell.
Gently.
Slowly.
As if time itself had slowed down just to allow everyone to witness it.
The drop landed on her forehead.
And the moment it did—
A low hum echoed from the palm.
"One..."
Someone whispered.
The voice was barely audible, yet it spread through the crowd like a ripple, because everyone understood what it meant.
The first drop.
The first measure.
The first sign of her lineage.
Cornelia remained still, her eyes half-closed, her breathing steady, as if she was allowing the process to unfold without resistance, as if she was listening to something deeper than the voices around her.
The second drop began to form.
It took longer this time.
Far longer than what they had seen with the others.
The blood gathered slowly, almost reluctantly, as if it was drawing from something vast, something that did not reveal itself easily.
"Why is it taking so long..."
One of the vampires murmured, his voice filled with unease.
"This... this is different..."
The second drop finally fell.
It landed on her forehead beside the first, and the glow intensified slightly, spreading across her skin in faint lines that shimmered before fading.
"Two..."
The crowd did not erupt.
They did not cheer.
Because something about this felt... wrong.
Not weak.
Not lacking.
But different in a way that made them unsure how to react.
Even the Emperor-level vampires watched with narrowed eyes, their earlier confidence replaced with focus.
"Why does it feel heavier..."
Lord Vord muttered, his gaze locked onto the drops.
"It’s just the second..."
Achilor did not answer.
His eyes remained fixed on the process, his mind already racing, trying to understand what he was witnessing.
The third drop began to form.
Even slower.
Even heavier.
The air around the palm thickened, making it harder to breathe, as if each drop carried a weight that pressed against the very space itself.
"What kind of bloodline is this..."
Another voice whispered.
"This isn’t how it’s supposed to behave..."
The third drop fell.
A deeper hum echoed.
"Three..."
Cornelia’s fingers curled slightly against the palm, not in pain, but as if she could feel something moving within her, something responding to the process.
Her heart beat steadily.
Her mind was clear.
But deep within, something stirred.
Something ancient.
Something that had not been awakened until now.
The fourth drop began to form.
This time, the entire palm reacted.
The veins of blood-like energy across its surface pulsed in rhythm, each pulse sending a faint tremor through the ground, making even the strongest vampires shift their stance to remain steady.
"This... this is already too much..."
One of the guards muttered.
"With this pace... what will happen next..."
The fourth drop fell.
"Four..."
A murmur spread through the crowd.
Not loud.
Not chaotic.
But filled with growing tension.
Because now they understood.
This was not a simple test.
This was something else.
Something they had never seen before.
Cornelia’s breathing deepened slightly.
Her eyes remained closed, but her expression softened, as if she was feeling something familiar, something that did not frighten her.
The fifth drop began to form.
This time, the reaction was immediate.
The moment the blood gathered, the entire arena seemed to respond, the air growing heavier, the ground trembling more noticeably, as if the world itself was acknowledging what was about to happen.
"Five..."
Someone said, even before it fell, their voice filled with disbelief.
"It’s going to reach five..."
The Moonshade family leaned forward, their eyes wide, their hearts pounding as they watched the drop descend.
When it landed—
A loud resonance spread across the arena.
"Five!"
The silence broke.
"They’ve reached it!"
"She’s at the same level as the ancestors!"
"Just like them!"
The Moonshade family erupted into voices, their earlier fear replaced with excitement, their pride overflowing as they watched Cornelia reach the same level as their strongest elders.
"That’s our Madam!"
"We knew it!"
"We told you!"
Even the ancestors themselves looked at her with approval, their expressions filled with satisfaction, as if their belief had been confirmed.
Elder Ghurn nodded slowly, a faint smile forming on his aged face.
"She has reached us..."
Lord Vord exhaled, his lips curling into a grin.
"Not bad... not bad at all..."
But Achilor did not smile.
Because he knew—
It was not over.
The palm did not stop.
The energy did not settle.
Instead—
The sixth drop began to form.
At first, no one noticed.
Their attention was still on the fifth, still celebrating, still reacting.
But then—
The air changed.
A pressure descended.
Not from any individual.
Not from any aura.
But from the drop itself.
"...Wait..."
Achilor’s eyes widened slightly.
"Look closely..."
The voices quieted again, one by one, as they followed his gaze.
The sixth drop.
It was forming.
Slowly.
Heavily.
Like a weight that did not belong to this world.
"...No..."
One of the Emperor-level vampires whispered.
"That’s impossible..."
The Moonshade family froze.
"...Six?"
Someone said, their voice trembling.
"That means..."
"That means..."
No one finished the sentence.
Because they already understood.
The sixth drop fell.
The moment it touched her forehead—
The entire arena shook.
Not like before.
This time, it was deeper.
Stronger.
As if something had broken through a limit.
"Six!"
Achilor’s voice echoed, no longer calm.
"She has surpassed them!"
Shock exploded across the arena.
"She went beyond the ancestors!"
"She exceeded the lineage!"
"This... this is..."
The Moonshade family stood frozen, their minds unable to catch up with what they were witnessing.
Elder Ghurn staggered slightly, his eyes wide as he stared at Cornelia.
"She... she surpassed us..."
Lord Vord’s grin vanished, replaced with a look of pure disbelief.
"...This is no longer just talent..."
The Emperor-level vampires could not remain composed.
"This is monstrous..."
"This is unheard of..."
"No one reaches this level so easily..."
Cornelia remained seated.
Calm.
Unmoved.
As if the storm around her had nothing to do with her.
But within her—
Something had awakened.
Something that none of them could fully understand.
And as the sixth drop settled upon her forehead, glowing faintly before fading into her skin—
The truth became undeniable.
She had surpassed the lineage of her ancestors.