"Partner?"
Kurose Akira stared at the Bond Trait that had surfaced above the Vampire Blood Jade Bead, genuine surprise flickering through his eyes.
According to the previous Bond Trait—Sisters—he had recruited the twin sisters Beatrice and Beatrice Fleur.
But this time, the Bond Trait was—
Partner.
Did that mean…Would it recruit a married couple?
Akira quickly dismissed the thought.
After all, the word partner didn't exclusively refer to spouses. It could indicate many kinds of intimate relationships—perhaps not even limited by gender.
He decided to shelve the question for now and revisit it during his next recruitment. After all, he had just recruited Virola, and his current pool of Bond Traits was still too small to draw any solid conclusions.
His gaze shifted to Xu Feiyan, who was now handing the Vampire Blood Jade Bead to Virola.
"This is a protective relic unique to the vampire race," Xu Feiyan explained gently. "It contains a special power. In critical moments, it can protect you."
"Thank you so much~"Virola accepted the Blood Jade Bead with visible gratitude, her eyes sparkling with joy.
She could clearly sense the powerful life force contained within it—a sensation she instinctively adored.
Meanwhile, Akira's gaze remained fixed on the Blood Jade Bead in Virola's hand, his thoughts drifting as he wondered whether there was anything he could offer her in exchange…
"Oh, right~"
Xu Feiyan suddenly spoke again, her amber eyes turning toward Akira.
"Guild Master Akira, has Pettico ever asked you about her ancestors? She's very concerned about that matter."
Akira shook his head slightly."No, she hasn't."
"Is that so…"Xu Feiyan narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. After a brief pause, she continued slowly.
"Then let me ask on Pettico's behalf—about those two vampire progenitors."
"In ancient vampire legends, the entire race was created by two True Ancestors. Both were primordial demons born from the Mother of Demons, beings who wielded the power of laws—what are known as the Primordial Sins."
At the mention of the Mother of Demons, Akira's expression involuntarily hardened.
This was already the second time he'd heard that title.
And at this very moment, the demon stone tablet fragment representing the Mother of Demons was still resting quietly inside his backpack.
According to legend, the Mother of Demons was the most ancient demon—the being who created all demons. Yet her existence remained a mystery. Even demons themselves had never truly witnessed her form.
"However~"
Xu Feiyan's tone shifted slightly, a hint of mystery flashing through her eyes.
"I heard from Pettico that the truth may not be quite like that. The entire vampire race may have been created by only one True Ancestor, through her blood alone—rather than by two progenitors reproducing together."
"That True Ancestor exhausted her own blood, bestowing it upon one hundred human women, transforming them into vampires. Then, through those one hundred women, the bloodline spread outward in the same way."
"After tens of thousands of years, this process ultimately gave rise to the most powerful demon race of the Arrogance Abyss—the Vampire Clan."
"So the vampire race originally came into existence through blood transmission…"Akira murmured softly, gaining a deeper understanding of this abyssal race.
"It's not that reproduction can't produce vampires," Xu Feiyan continued. "That method works as well. However, vampires born through blood transmission usually possess purer bloodlines—and are therefore much stronger."
"Of course," she added, "this only applies if the blood transmitted is essence blood, not ordinary blood. Vampires created from ordinary blood are merely inferior blood thralls."
"Consuming essence blood can be fatal to a vampire, which is why very few would ever create offspring on a large scale using that method."
Curiosity stirred within Akira."Then what happened to that True Ancestor after she exhausted her blood?"
Once again, the image of the woman from the vampire progenitor portrait surfaced in his mind.
Was she the one Xu Feiyan was talking about—the True Ancestor who had drained herself completely?
Xu Feiyan didn't answer right away. She lifted her teacup, took a light sip, then gently shook her head.
"That, I don't know. Even Pettico doesn't know what became of her."
"I see… then what about the other vampire True Ancestor?" Akira pressed on.
Xu Feiyan set her teacup down.
"According to Pettico, she went to search for the Mother of Demons. As for the outcome—that remains a mystery as well."
The answer left Akira momentarily stunned.
Both vampire True Ancestors…Their stories ended in disappearance?
At that moment, Xu Feiyan's amber eyes locked onto Akira.
"So that's why Pettico is very curious—how exactly were you cursed by the Vampire True Ancestors? After all, they've been gone for over ten thousand years. The vampire race has nearly forgotten them."
"Yet somehow… you became connected to them."
Akira let out a helpless laugh and shook his head.
"I'd like to know that myself…"
"If I had to give a reason," he continued after a moment of thought, "I think it might be because I obtained a portrait of a Vampire True Ancestor. Ever since then, I've been afflicted by their curse."
"A Vampire True Ancestor's portrait?"Xu Feiyan's expression shifted, as if a specific image had surfaced in her mind.
She immediately unfolded a holographic screen.
Displayed upon it was a lifelike portrait of a Vampire True Ancestor.
"Is it this one?" she asked.
Akira leaned forward, eyes widening.
"Yes! That's it—exactly this portrait!"
As he spoke, he carefully retrieved his own portrait from his backpack.
Placed side by side—
The two portraits were identical in every detail, from composition to expression.
A surge of indescribable excitement welled up inside Akira.
He never would have imagined that he'd discover a third Vampire True Ancestor portrait here, of all places.
"So it was because of this portrait…"Xu Feiyan murmured, surprise coloring her voice.
After a brief pause, she added, "Unfortunately, that portrait is currently kept in Pettico's family castle. Otherwise, we could've researched its secrets further."
"May I purchase that portrait from Pettico?" Akira asked. "It has a special significance to me."
"That's something you'll have to ask her directly," Xu Feiyan replied. "After this Demon Lair event ends, I'll help convey your request."
"Thank you very much," Akira said sincerely.
His heart raced with anticipation.
If he could obtain that portrait—
He would have clues to three portraits.
He could synthesize the [Vampire] Trait.
Just as the two of them were talking, the images on the holographic screens suddenly changed.
The two high-risk demon lairs began to shake violently, as if something were about to break free from within.
Moments later—
Tens of thousands of demon troops slowly emerged from the ice mountain and the volcano, their appearance immediately drawing the attention of countless adventurers.
"Looks like it's time," Xu Feiyan said, her expression turning solemn.
"Let's prepare ourselves. The war is about to begin."
"Mm."
Akira nodded, about to turn his attention to his guild members' viewpoint screens—
When suddenly, the voice of a Vampire True Ancestor echoed within his mind:
"She only told half the truth. I didn't go looking for the Mother of Demons—I went to challenge her."
"As the being who created all demons…her blood must be absolutely delicious, don't you think?"