The heavens tore open.
Black lightning screamed across the crimson sky as the comet descended. The air stank of ozone and void. Lucien stepped forward, naked from the waist up, blood-streaked and still radiating from the bond with Aralynn.
Behind him, his three women stood alert:
Seraphiel with corrupted grace.
Lilith with primal hunger.
And Aralynn, trembling—for the first time.
> [Incoming Threat: Bloodline Rival – Valcros the Hollow Star]
[Power Signature Detected: Starborn Abyss Class – DO NOT ENGAGE ALONE]
But Lucien smiled.
"I'm done running."
---
The comet struck the chapel's courtyard like a hammer from hell. Debris scattered. Statues cracked. And in the impact crater stood a man—no, something shaped like one.
Valcros.
He rose from the smoke, tall, lean, dressed in a star-forged cloak and silver-gray armor laced with runes older than time. His eyes were infinite. His grin... cruel.
"Little brother," he said smoothly. "You've made a mess."
Lucien narrowed his gaze. "You're no brother of mine."
Valcros chuckled. "But we were born of the same madness, weren't we? Father's most successful experiments."
Behind him, the shadows writhed—tendrils of void trailing behind like a cloak. A harem of wraith-like beauties hovered just behind him, starfire dripping from their eyes.
Aralynn stepped back.
"He's not just strong," she whispered. "He's unbound."
> [Bloodline Conflict – Starborn vs Tyrant: Initiated]
[Rewards: Unknown. Survival Chance: 24%]
Lucien clenched his fists. "Let's find out if the stars bleed."
---
Valcros blinked forward.
No warning.
Just a blur of cosmic velocity.
Lucien barely blocked—his arm nearly shattering under the pressure. He flew backward into the chapel wall. Rubble exploded. Dust clouded everything.
Seraphiel screamed. "Lucien!"
But he stood again—bruised, bleeding, laughing.
"You hit like a spoiled demigod."
Valcros tilted his head. "Still talking? I expected more from the Blood Emperor's favorite spawn."
---
Meanwhile, Lilith moved to flank—but one of Valcros' wraith-wives descended on her, mouth unhinging with a screech of starlight.
"Back off!" Lilith snarled, slashing upward. The wraith dodged, coiling like smoke.
Seraphiel took flight, light burning around her corrupted wings. She fired a bolt of Lustfire at Valcros, but it was absorbed into his chest like mist.
Valcros sighed. "Your toys are loud."
---
Lucien charged again, eyes burning crimson.
> [Blood Rage: Activated]
[New Skill Unlocked – Tyrant's Surge: +50% Speed / +50% Damage / +Lustfire Enhancement]
Their fists collided—shockwaves ripping the cathedral open, columns crumbling as roof tiles rained down.
Aralynn chanted behind them, blood magic spiraling around her. "You can't beat him in raw power. You need to use the bond!"
> [Bond Sync Option – Aralynn: Available]
[Skill Fusion – Bride's Veil + Tyrant's Surge = Forbidden Waltz]
Lucien growled, "Do it."
---
Chains of blood and starfire wrapped around his wrists. Aralynn's magic surged through his veins. Her body glowed on the altar, legs trembling, voice breathless as she poured her essence into him.
> [Forbidden Waltz Activated]
[Lucien's Stats: +200% Agility, +Charm Aura, +Lustfire Counterstrike]
Lucien blurred. He reappeared behind Valcros—fist slamming into his jaw, then gut, then ribs—each strike releasing moans of magic.
Valcros staggered, chuckled, then wiped blood from his mouth.
"I see. You are growing."
Lucien smirked. "Scared?"
Valcros' smile widened. "Hard."
---
A flash.
Valcros vanished again—reappearing behind Seraphiel.
Before anyone could react, he grabbed her by the throat mid-flight.
She gasped, wings flaring.
"No!" Lucien roared, charging.
Valcros held her up, eyes glittering. "This one's corrupted. Delicious. You've tainted heaven, brother. Father would be proud."
He leaned in, licking the pulse at her throat.
Seraphiel whimpered.
Lucien's rage exploded.
---
> [Skill Unlocked – Bloodbound Domain: Tyrant's Arena]
The world shifted.
The sky turned black.
Everyone was yanked into a space between space—a blood-red arena forged from Lucien's will and bloodline.
Valcros grinned. "Finally."
Lucien's voice echoed. "No more running. No more threats."
Lilith landed beside him, weapons drawn. Aralynn materialized in full bridal armor, veil burning.
Seraphiel stood, chest heaving, holy-fire crackling in her now-blackened halo.
> [Party Sync Bonus – Bloodbound x3: Tyrant Buff x 1.5]
Lucien pointed at Valcros.
"You don't touch what's mine."
---
The battle began.
All four of them rushed him—blades, spells, corrupted light. Valcros twisted through them like liquid void, blocking, countering, laughing.
And then—
Aralynn tackled him mid-air, lips crashing against his in a sacrificial kiss.
He screamed—power siphoning.
> [Blood Steal Activated – Bride's Gambit]
Lucien blurred behind and drove his claws into Valcros' back.
> [Blood Drain – 4% Essence Extracted]
Valcros roared in fury—flinging them both off.
"ENOUGH!"
He raised both hands—stars aligning overhead.
"Feel the hollow scream!"
---
> [Starborn Ultimate – Void Singularity Incoming]
Lilith grabbed Lucien's arm. "We need to run!"
But Lucien stepped forward.
"No. We need to end it."
> [Final Bloodburst – Tyrant Core Unlocked Temporarily]
His body surged—tattoos glowing, muscles bulging with divine vampire energy.
He charged.
Right as Valcros launched the attack.
Stars rained down.
Blood exploded.
The arena shattered.
---
Silence.
Smoke.
Lilith crawled out first, coughing blood.
"Lucien…"
Seraphiel limped forward, eyes wide. "Where is he?"
Then—from the center of the crater—Lucien stood.
Bloodied. Shirtless. Glowing.
Holding Valcros by the throat.
> [Valcros HP: Critical. System Sync at 2%.]
Valcros laughed weakly. "You're… not bad…"
Lucien stared into his eyes.
"Tell me what Father is planning."
Valcros coughed blood, smirked.
Then whispered—
"He's not planning… he's awakening."
Lucien's heart stopped.
Valcros's body turned to dust—vanishing into starlight.
> [Tyrant Victory – Blood Rival Defeated. Power Absorbed: 11%]
---
Aralynn fell to her knees.
Seraphiel collapsed in exhaustion.
Lilith sheathed her weapon, staring at Lucien.
He walked forward, the sky cracking above.
> [Main Quest Updated – The Blood Emperor Wakes In 30 Days]
[Survive. Build Your Throne. Breed Your Legacy.]
Lucien looked up at the stars.
Then whispered:
"Let him come."