The night the sky bled, Nerulia Haven held its breath.
A crimson haze drifted across the southern horizon, rolling like smoke yet glowing like living embers. The moon, normally pale silver, shimmered with streaks of deep red an omen no one in the city had ever witnessed before.
Yuto stood atop the Spirit Spire as alarms tolled across the city, echoing through alleyways and market streets. Citizens rushed indoors, guards mobilized, and the Aetherguard assembled at the plaza in shimmering lines of disciplined formation.
The city was alive and bracing for something none of them understood.
[Advisor: This is not natural. Overlord interference confirmed. And not subtle interference either, this is basically a giant cosmic middle finger pointed at you.]
"Which Overlord?" Yuto murmured, eyes fixed on the red moon.
[Advisor: Vampire Overlord, 87% probability. They're the only ones dramatic enough to change celestial phenomena just to say hello.]
Yuto's jaw tightened. "Vel'Drath…"
---
The Council Gathers
Within minutes, the core members assembled inside the Citadel Hall , Elira, Mimi, Zarek, Seraphina, Lyra, and several senior commanders.
The atmosphere was tense.
Seraphina leaned over the large runic map glowing on the table. "The red aura is corrupting the sky but not touching the ground. Whatever this is… it's meant to intimidate, not destroy."
Zarek slammed his fist on the table. "Then let it intimidate someone else! Why target our city?"
"Because Yuto awakened," Lyra whispered softly. "Overlords can sense each other's rise."
All eyes shifted to him.
He felt the pressure, like icy fingers brushing across his spine.
Someone was watching him from afar. Not with eyes...
but with presence.
A cold, ancient, powerful presence.
Yuto exhaled slowly. "This is a warning. Or an invitation."
[ Advisor: Or both. Overlords love being cryptic.]
Mimi raised a hand timidly. "Um… what exactly is an Overlord? We know they're strong but… how strong?"
The room fell silent.
Finally, Advisor's projection flickered into view , a blue spirit hologram rising from the runic disk.
---
Advisor's Explanation : The Twelve Thrones
[ Advisor:
Overlords are the apex evolution of each magical species beings who've crossed into absolute transcendence. They don't just possess power , they embody the laws of their kind.]
[There are twelve known Overlords across Aetherion:
The map shifted, projecting twelve glowing sigils across the room.
[The Twelve Thrones of Power]
1. Vel'Drath, the Vampire Overlord : Crimson Eclipse. Lord of Blood andShadows. Commands the Crimson Legends.
2. Lyganos, the Werewolf Overlord : Fang of the Silver Moon. Dominates the Northern Wildlands.
3. Dravion, the Dragon Overlord : Rumored to be the strongest, The Endless Flame. Slumbering beneath the city of Aerthros.
4. Seraphael, the Angelic Overlord: The Light of Judgement. Dwells and leads above the clouds in the Sky Fortress of Velyria.
5. Tyrnak, the Demon Overlord : The Abyssal Crown. Ruler of the Ebon Pits.
6. Eryndra, the Fairy Queen Overlord : Blooming Star. Guardian of the Sylvan Realms.
7. Morthal, the Giant Overlord : Mountainbreaker. He rules the giants of everlos
8. Kaelith, the Magical human Overlord : Ethereal Sovereign. King of the humans In katharon.
9. Aqura, the Leviathan Overlord : Queen of Tides. Her true form encircles the oceanic trench of Lunaris.
10. Ryzen, the Golem Overlord : Stone Monarch. Protector of the subterranean realm.
11. Nefra, the Elf Overlord: queen of the beauty, ruler of the eastern land of Crimsos.
And finally, an empty twelve symbol , a broken circle.
[Advisor: This final throne belonged to the original Spirit Overlord Aethreal… but it has been empty for thousands of years.]
Yuto felt a pang in his chest.
"Am… am I supposed to take that one?" he asked quietly.
[Advisor:
Possible. You are the strongest Spirit entity alive, but not strong enough to claim Overlord authority yet. You're at maybe…
3% of Vel'Drath.]
Everyone froze.
Zarek broke the silence. "Three? As in… three out of a hundred?"
> Advisor: Yes.
Mimi collapsed dramatically on the floor.
Seraphina's expression darkened.
Even Elira swallowed hard.
Lyra stepped forward. "Then we must train him. Harder than before."
[Advisor:
He will evolve. He must. Because now that the Overlords sensed him… they won't ignore him.]
Yuto clenched his fists.
"I won't let Nerulia Haven be destroyed because of me. I'll face whatever comes."
He meant it.
Everyone in the room could feel the resolve radiating from him...
a faint pulse of spirit aura that swirled gently around the hall like a calm breeze.
---
The Crimson Messenger Arrives
A panicked shout echoed from outside.
"INCOMING ENTITY!"
The group rushed to the balcony.
The crimson moonlight twisted, condensing into a swirling blood-red mist that shot down toward the city. The barrier flared, runes igniting as something pressed against it—something humanoid, tall and slender.
The air froze.
A figure stepped out of the mist.
Mid-air.
Suspended above the barrier.
He wore a long black coat lined with silver and blood-red embroidery. Pale skin, glowing crimson eyes, and hair white as snow. His smile was sharp, elegant, and terrifying.
A vampire.
But not a normal one.
This was the aura of an apex predator.
[ Advisor (whispering): Oh great. The pretty one. Of course he would be first.]
The figure laughed softly, his voice ringing like a haunting melody.
"Spirit child… so you are the one who awakened."
"What do you want?"
Yuto said, with a dark expression on his face.
The vampire's smile widened.
"I am Vel'Drath, Overlord of the Crimson Eclipse..."
" I know that, get to the point..."
Yuto said codly, he still hadn't forgotten the other time.
Vel'Drath spread his arms theatrically.
"I have come to greet the newborn spark who trembled the echo of the Thrones."
His crimson eyes sharpened.
The air crackled.
Yuto's aura surged in response.
"Sorry," he said camly "but can you leave now.."
Vel'Drath chuckled genuinely amused.
"Wonderful. Your behavior suits you. I look forward to breaking it."
Before anyone could react, he vanished.
A heartbeat later, a whisper brushed Yuto's ear from behind.
"I'll return when your city stops trembling."
Then...
BOOM
The barrier rippled violently as Vel'Drath disappeared into a streak of crimson light.
Silence fell over the entire city.
---
Yuto's heart pounded.
Not from fear.
From realization.
Vel'Drath didn't come to destroy the city.
He came to evaluate him.
[ Advisor: Well… good news: he didn't kill anyone. Bad news: he clearly likes you. And not the friendly kind.]
" Yeah right, I'll make sure I beat him up once I'm strong enough"
Lyra touched Yuto's arm gently.
"You handled that well."
Elira stepped closer, cheeks flushed. "But now we know… you're really involved in something enormous."
Zarek cracked his knuckles. "Then we train. Hard. Until you're strong enough to punch that blood-sucker in the face."
Mimi raised her hand again. "Can we not provoke the guy who changed the moon color?"
Everyone ignored her.
Seraphina took a deep breath.
"Yuto… what will you do now?"
He looked at the sky.
The red tint slowly fading.
The normal moon returning.
"Train."
His voice was calm but firm.
"Harder than ever. I need to evolve. I need to reach them. Because whether I like it or not…"
He clenched his fist.
Spirit light flickered in his eyes.
"I'm part of the Overlord game now."
[ Advisor: And we have 97% left to climb. Yay.]
---