Chapter 168: Powerhouses
Matilda surveyed the people around her, their gazes filled with a deep reverence that was humbling and overwhelming. They saw her as their Queen, and not a single person among them was less than a god-tier powerhouse. Their strength was staggering. The feeling of being so small in comparison to the immense power around her was both terrifying and exhilarating.
Her attention was drawn to Jabez, Alastor, and Andras. She’d once thought they were just a small group of subordinates, but now she knew better. They guys were second-order powerhouses, capable of leveling the lower world if not for the restrictions on their power. Her earlier assumptions felt naive and foolish in hindsight.
Jabez was whispering to Georgia, who then turned and walked toward Matilda. She stopped before her, a gentle smile on her face that revealed a flash of her fangs.
"Mistress, I now understand everything," Georgia said, her voice a soft murmur.
"Are... are you a vampire?" Matilda asked, surprised.
"Yes, Mistress," Georgia replied, her smile widening. "We are all vampires. The Deaths just prefer human looks." She gestured toward the grand entrance of the mansion:
"Please, come inside."
As Matilda walked toward the mansion, a question formed in her mind. "If you’re a vampire, how can you stand in direct sunlight?"
Georgia, walking a respectful foot behind her, explained:
"Lower-ranked vampires fear the sun. But once we break through the god rank, we transcend that weakness. We are no longer just warriors, but true powerhouses."
Matilda nodded, processing this new information. Her mind raced with possibilities:
’The power within me... is it the power of a vampire Queen? Will I become a vampire?’ she wondered, stepping across the threshold of the mansion with Georgia.
_
"Wow... You guys look like shit!"
A woman’s voice, vibrant and sharp, cut through the air. Jabez, Alastor, Andras, and Vinous looked up to see a stunning woman with long black hair and striking red eyes, dressed in a red top and black pants, descending from the sky.
"Fourth Death, Agrona... Welcome," Andras greeted her.
Agrona landed with a graceful thud, her crimson gaze sweeping over the group. Her eyes narrowed as they landed on Vinous’s severed wing.
"What happened? Can’t you heal it?" she demanded, a frown creasing her brow.
"A bastard ripped it off," Vinous growled, a surge of killing intent in his tone. "I can’t heal it. I don’t know why."
"So annoying," a new voice drawled, and a pale-skinned old man appeared out of thin air, his hands clasped behind his back.
"Fifth Death, Ernesh," Agrona said with a smirk. "You finally broke through to the first order."
"You’re still in the first order," Ernesh retorted coldly, walking past her to examine Vinous’s wound.
"There’s an ancient energy around it. The one who injured you... they must have an ancient bloodline, right?"
The courtyard fell into stunned silence. The rest of the group exchanged disbelieving glances.
"What?!"
"This?!"
"....?!!"
"Ancient bloodlines?!" Agrona’s voice was filled with a dawning horror.
"Only true gods can unlock such a bloodline! How did someone from the lower world unlock one?!"
"Not one," Vinous said, his voice quiet but firm. "He has four ancient bloodlines in him."
".....?!!!!"
The profound silence returned, even more deafening than before. Everyone stood frozen, their minds reeling.
"Monster! Even the supreme lord only has two!" Agrona exclaimed, her horror giving way to disbelief.
"How did he have four?!"
"Don’t tell me it’s the God Wolf," Jabez said in a low voice.
"Yep, that’s his name," Vinous confirmed with a nod. "He is the one."
Ernesh snapped his fingers, and a golden pill appeared on his palm. "You’re lucky," he said, holding it out to Vinous.
"This is a precious pill. I only have two. Here, Have one."
Vinous stared at the pill in awe. "You would give such a thing away? Just like that?"
"Shut up and swallow it," Ernesh said impatiently. "If you don’t want it, just say so."
Vinous took the pill and swallowed it. Instantly, his wing regrew, whole and perfect. He flapped it a few times and then ascended into the air:
"Thank you," he said, his voice filled with sincere gratitude. "I am grateful."
"Stop all that," Ernesh waved a dismissive hand. "Just know you owe me a favor."
He turned to the others, his expression grave: "No matter what happens, we will face this person in the future. You must make sure he doesn’t injure you when he’s in any of his bloodline forms. I don’t have enough pills for everyone. Pass this information to the others."
The rest nodded in grim agreement.
"Now," Agrona said, turning to Jabez. "Let’s go inside and get to work."
She didn’t wait for a response, simply striding toward the mansion.
__
Matilda’s eyes widened as she took in the massive hall before her.
"You’re saying all of this is mine?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
"Yes, Mistress," Georgia confirmed with a respectful bow.
Drawn by an unseen force, Matilda walked toward a massive bone throne. She placed her hands on the hand rests, and a stream of red energy flowed from the throne, into her fingertips, and coursed through her body. A jolt of power hit her. Her own strength surged, and in a matter of moments, she reached the peak of the grand master rank.
’This belonged to the late Queen,’ she thought, marveling at the feeling. ’Why did I get stronger just by touching it?’
Matilda turned to Georgia. "Get me one of my belongings."
Georgia bowed and transformed into a bat, flying swiftly up the stairs.
’If my guess is correct, I can absorb the residing energy in her belongings,’ Matilda mused, settling onto the throne. ’If I absorb all of it, I might even pass the celestial rank.’
As she thought, a shadowy silhouette of the Blood Queen appeared behind her, a smirk on her face:
’Continue, my host,’ the Blood Queen thought, the smirk widening.
’The more energy you absorb, the faster I take control. You are such a good child, your father did well raising you.’ With a final thought, the Blood Queen’s silhouette melted away, seeping back into the ignorant Matilda.
"Mistress!"
Georgia returned, transforming back into her human form. She held a small, ornate mirror in her hand and bowed, presenting it to Matilda: "This is your favorite item in the house," she said.
’Good girl.’ The Blood Queen’s voice echoed in Georgia’s mind, stunning her into silence .
"Beautiful," Matilda whispered, taking the golden mirror. She ran a finger over the smooth glass, feeling a dense, unknown energy emanating from it.
’This energy is unknown,’ she realized, a sense of wonder filling her. ’It’s not celestial energy; it’s something stronger.’
Without hesitation, Matilda absorbed the energy, a powerful rush that pushed her strength straight to the peak of the heavenly rank.
’Wow! That much of a boost! Just from a mirror!’ Matilda stood up, her body humming with newfound power. She turned to Georgia, a new confidence in her stance:
"Show me my room."