Su Ping stood frozen.
The woman before him, kneeling gracefully, was a vision he couldn't take his eyes off. Her golden-blonde hair shimmered under the pale sun, cascading like a silken waterfall down her shoulders. Her crimson eyes piercing and enigmatic held a depth that made his breath hitch.
She wore a flowing black robe that clung perfectly to her curves, exuding both power and seduction. Atop her head rested a crown carved with ancient runes, its black-gold design hinting at a lineage older than empires.
She looks like a goddess from Greek mythology…
His mind blanked for a few seconds with no thoughts, no questions ,only awe. She was a creature born of fantasy and darkness, yet here she was, saluting him with elegance.
Just then, a mechanical voice rang in his ears, breaking the silence.
"You may now view the status of your summoned being."
Su Ping blinked, snapping out of his trance. He shook off the daze, trying to regain his composure. With a deep breath, he focused on the beauty before him.
A translucent blue panel appeared in front of his eyes:
[Name: Lilith]
Identity: Queen of Vampires, Goddess of Seduction, Goddess of Cruelty
Strength: Viscount
Loyalty: 100
Charm: MAX
Combat Power: Equivalent to Ninth Level Mortal Rank
Su Ping's eyes narrowed slightly as he read the panel.
Viscount? But her combat power says ninth-level mortal? Why are there two different systems?
He looked at Lilith again, her posture still one of perfect grace and submission. Despite her aura of dominance, she waited patiently for his command.
"Okay, Lilith," he asked, his voice steady, "what's the difference between your strength level and your combat power? Why are they displayed differently?"
Lilith raised her head slightly, her eyes shimmering like blood-red gems. Her lips curled into a seductive smile as she responded in a voice that could melt steel.
"My Lord… we vampires follow a different cultivation hierarchy than mortals.
Our levels begin from Childhood, then progress to Baron, Viscount, Count, Marquis, Duke, Prince, and beyond.
Mortals, on the other hand, are ranked from First to Ninth Mortal Rank, followed by King, Emperor, Saint, and Supreme."
She paused, letting the knowledge settle in, then continued:
"To clarify—
First to Third Mortal Rank equals Childhood.
Fourth to Sixth corresponds to Baron.
Seventh to Ninth, like myself, are Viscount-level.
King Rank is on par with a Count,
Emperor with Marquis,
Saint with Duke,
Supreme with Prince.
Beyond that… both paths converge: Demigod, then God Ascension."
Su Ping nodded slowly, taking it all in. It wasn't unlike the power systems in the novels he had read, but seeing it applied to real, breathing beings made it feel… real.
He looked toward the building he had summoned earlier—the dark, aura-filled camp nestled into the grassland. As he approached, another notification shimmered before his eyes:
[Level 1 Vampire Recruitment Camp]
Daily Recruitment: 5 Vampires
Cost per Unit: 10 Soul Crystals
Free Recruitment: Available today
Upgrade Cost:
100 Soul Crystals
1,000 Iron
1,000 Wood
1,000 Stone
Su Ping's face darkened.
"One thousand of each just to upgrade a hut-sized barrack…?" he muttered under his breath. He felt a strong urge to curse the system's creator back to the eighteenth generation, but barely stopped himself.
Still, he quickly noticed the free recruitment option.
"…Well, I won't complain about that."
He clicked it without hesitation.
Instantly, five rays of crimson light burst from the recruitment camp. The energy was so intense, he had to shield his eyes. A second later, the light dimmed.
He lowered his arm and found himself face-to-face with two figures emerging from the glow.