"He who inherits the blood inherits the war."
---
The Crimson Dream
Kael stood in an endless field of ash. The sky above was split in two—half burning, half black. Towering thrones made of bone, steel, and decayed roots encircled a blood-soaked altar at the center.
And seated upon the central throne, bound in ancient chains, was a figure Kael could barely look at.
His face was hidden by a shattered crown. His chest was carved with glowing glyphs. But it was the voice that chilled Kael's soul:
> "You've tasted power, Kael Draven… but power tastes back."
Kael stepped forward, heart thundering.
> This isn't a dream.
This is a summons.
The system confirmed it:
> [Bloodline Event – Ancestral Awakening]
Status: In-Progress
Origin Trigger: Blood Moon Ascension II
Objective: Face the Throne
Risk: Unmeasured
Reward: Evolution Path Access – Tier II
The figure rose slowly from the throne, chains dragging.
> "Others have answered before you. None remained whole."
Then the thrones around the altar cracked.
Figures stepped down from each one.
Kael's blood froze.
Seven of them.
Each cloaked in red mist, each with the same mark he bore—the Crimson Brand. Each radiating the unmistakable energy of cursed heirs.
And then the voice whispered in his ear—not aloud, but inside the marrow of his bones:
> "You are not the only one born of the ancient sin.
Choose your path, Kael… or it will be chosen for you."
The thrones began to crumble.
And Kael woke up screaming.
---
Vanguard Academy – Medical Wing, Early Morning
Kael sat up, drenched in sweat. His heart pulsed unnaturally—beating not with rhythm, but with intention.
> [Bloodline Sync Rate: 82%]
Unlocked: Access to Tier II Potential
Hidden Trait: "Bloodline Rival Detected"
Warning: Bloodline Conflict is now active
Closest Rival Location: Vanguard Academy – Enrolled
Kael stared at the glowing system interface, disbelief tightening in his chest.
There was another heir.
Here.
Now.
> Who?
The system didn't reveal the name.
But it gave him a new quest.
---
> [Quest: Crown of Conflict]
Objective: Identify and confront the rival cursed heir
Location: Vanguard Academy
Reward: Tier II Mutation Access
Morality Divergence Impact: Variable
Secondary Objective: Survive the Throne Trial within 72 hours
Kael stood, pulled on his jacket, and moved.
He couldn't afford to wait.
---
Sector 7 – Combat Class Records Archive
The Vanguard database was a fortress of red tape. But Kael had learned from Graye's betrayal—every security system had a blind spot.
With the Hunter's Spine Ring, he slipped past detection wards and downloaded energy profiles from the combat exam logs.
He set the filter:
> Cursed Energy Signature
Bloodline Resonance above 50%
Vanguard Enrolled – Active
Only one match returned.
Student: Cassiel Thorne
Class: Silver Combat Elite
Rank: A-Class
Status: Duelist
Hometown: Ravenward Province
Academy Entry: Three months ago
Kael's stomach turned.
He'd heard the name before—Cassiel, the silver prodigy who had decimated three upper-tier students in a single match. Calm, silent, perfect.
A golden boy with cold eyes.
But Kael now saw the truth.
Cassiel wasn't polished.
He was hollow.
A mirror of Kael with the mask still on.
---
Elsewhere – Cassiel's Quarters
Cassiel stood before a wall of sealed blades, his reflection shimmering across the steel.
He touched the crimson mark on his chest.
It pulsed faintly.
He closed his eyes, and in the dark of his mind, the throne whispered:
> "He has awakened. The weaker heir. You must consume him… or he will consume you."
Cassiel opened his eyes.
He did not smile.
But his fingers tightened around the hilt of his blade.
---
Later That Day – Combat Dome Announcement
Vanguard's tournament dome lit up with an unexpected flash message.
> [Exhibition Match Added – Ranked Duel Request]
Challenger: Cassiel Thorne (A-Class)
Target: Kael Draven (Zeta-Class)
Type: Open Combat, Non-Lethal
Rules: Suppression Devices Disabled
Approval: Granted by Headmaster Solus
The entire school buzzed with disbelief.
> A-Class vs Zeta-Class?
Why would Cassiel challenge someone so low-ranked?
Kael stood at the center of the crowd, reading the message.
He didn't flinch.
The moment he saw the name, he understood.
> He knows.
He wants to face me before I evolve.
---
That Night – Private Garden near Sector 9
Lyra found Kael seated alone on the edge of the fountain, sharpening a blade he rarely used.
"Cassiel challenged you," she said.
Kael didn't answer.
"He's not just testing you," she added. "He's baiting you."
"I know," Kael said quietly.
Lyra stepped closer, her tone softer. "You don't have to fight him. You can refuse. No one expects a Zeta to accept."
Kael looked up.
"There's only one way this ends, Lyra. And hiding won't change it."
She stared at him, searching his eyes.
"What's happening to you?"
Kael looked away.
"Something old… is waking up."
---
Midnight – Crimson System Interface
Kael stood in the underground chamber beneath the academy—a forgotten place where blood runes still flickered on ancient stone.
The system spoke aloud in a voice that no longer sounded entirely mechanical.
It sounded… familiar.
> "Prepare, Kael Draven. The throne watches. The rival approaches."
"Your path has diverged. You are now walking the razor between sovereignty and damnation."
"Tomorrow, you fight not for rank, but for right of blood."
> "And only one heir will walk away unchanged."
---
The Bloodline Throne – Distant Realm
Within the ash-drenched dream realm, the seven broken thrones began to hum with power.
Two thrones glowed brighter than the rest.
Kael's.
And Cassiel's.
Across the distance, the chained figure on the central throne whispered to itself:
> "The war begins anew."
---
End of Chapter 10