One word.
But the sky roared in response.
Thunder rumbled, deafening.
The very air itself crackled with electricity, charged by Magnus' presence.
Vexarius' rage twisted into a deep scowl as memories flooded his mind.
The battle with Luminous.
The moment Magnus Ravenstein had stepped in—
The man who had put him down when he rampaged.
And now, once again, he stood in his way.
Vex exhaled sharply.
His aura settled.
The scowl remained, but his tone shifted, his voice carrying an edge of something almost like amusement.
"It's been a while, Magnus. You're still as fierce as ever."
Magnus didn't flinch. His expression didn't change.
The air only crackled louder.
"I will not repeat myself."
A final warning.
Vex's placid gaze held Magnus for several seconds before finally shifting to Atticus, his eyes lingering on him.
"I came to deliver news."
With a flick of his wrist, he tossed a scroll forward.
Atticus didn't catch it.
With the number of terrible situations he'd encountered with artifacts, he wasn't foolish enough to touch something blindly.
Instead, he manipulated the air, suspending the parchment mid air.
Vexarius' words echoed before his departure.
"We'll continue this later, kid."
And with that, he vanished.
Multiple Ravenstein warriors burst into the area, weapons drawn.
Their gazes darted around, searching for the threat…
But their expressions twisted into confusion.
Only Magnus and Atticus stood there.
No one else.
A small smile crept onto Atticus' face.
'Truly madmen.'
Their battle intent burned too fiercely for their own good.
His gaze shifted, focusing on Avalon and the approaching warriors.
They had felt the power, they knew it was Paragon level.
And yet, they had still rushed over.
"Are you okay?" Avalon asked, his eyes still darting around, his stance rigid.
There had been a strong presence just moments ago…
And now? Gone.
"I'm fine, Dad."
Magnus' voice carried over the murmuring warriors.
"Vexarius is back."
A wave of shock passed through the gathered Ravensteins.
That crazy bastard was back?
But instead of fear, their battle spirit ignited.
It was clear, clashes with the Sentinel Guardians were going to become commonplace.
"What did he want?"
Avalon's gaze darkened.
He didn't even need to ask, he knew.
Vexarius had come for Atticus.
Magnus' eyes shifted toward the floating parchment.
"What's that?…" Avalon's gaze sharpened.
"That's what we're about to find out."
Atticus still didn't touch it.
He manipulated the air, unfolding the parchment before them.
The moment it opened—
A wave of energy exploded outward.
The air shifted.
The expressions of Magnus, Avalon and Atticus turned grim.
That feeling.
That bloodlust.
Vampyros.
Avalon's voice came in a low, serious tone.
"The Vampyros sent a letter..."
But Magnus and Atticus had already begun reading it.
For beings of their caliber, it took less than a second to absorb the words.
And then, silence.
A silence only broken by Atticus.
He chuckled.
It was a genuine laugh, filled with amusement. It wasn't like Vexarius' laugh, which carried only contempt.
No.
Atticus was thoroughly entertained. Amused
It had to be a joke.
But only he reacted that way.
Magnus' aura turned oppressive.
Avalon's rage exploded.
The rest of the Ravensteins had wanted to stay and listen, drawn in by Atticus' presence—
But the atmosphere had shifted. The sheer anger radiating from Magnus and Avalon was enough to clear the area.
Soon enough, only the three remained.
Avalon's fists trembled as he re-read the words, as if trying to convince himself that his eyes were deceiving him.
But the words remained unchanged.
The Sentinel Guardian Paragon had been right. He had brought news.
Not even one day had passed since the battle with the Grand Elders and already, the Vampyros had sent their demands.
…
To the Leaders of the Human Domain,
You have trespassed where you were not welcome, defiled what was sacred, and dared to raise your blades against the eternal sovereignty of the Vampyros.
You marched into our domain uninvited, spilled the blood of our kind, desecrated our cities, and struck down one of our Grand Elders.
A wound of this magnitude cannot be ignored.
The arrogance of humanity continues to reach beyond its place, yet we are willing to offer a path forward.
The Vampyros are patient.
We are above the petty squabbles of lesser beings.
As an act of mercy, we will allow the Human Domain to correct its course before relations between our races are irreparably severed.
You will adhere to the following terms without resistance:
• Apex Atticus Ravenstein will wed Lirae Bloodveil, ensuring the union of our bloodlines.
• A regular tribute of human blood will be provided to sustain the lifeblood of our people.
• Sector 10 will be ceded to us, their governance permanently transferred under our rule.
• The military strength of humanity will be limited to prevent unnecessary conflicts.
• Vampyros representatives will take their rightful place among human leadership councils.
• Exclusive access to mana wells and energy sources will be granted to the Vampyros.
• Human advancements in weaponry and technology will be shared with the Vampyros.
• Human forces will provide military support to the Vampyros when called upon.
• Vampyros will be permitted to hunt within human territories without restriction.
• Key human paragons will be placed under Vampyros command.
• Trade and economic systems will be adjusted to prioritize the needs of the Vampyros.
• The Human Domain will publicly acknowledge the superiority of the Vampyros race.
• A formal apology will be conducted before the council, including a ceremonial act of submission where Apex Atticus Ravenstein will bend the knee.
• Vampyros will oversee the management of human academies, military training centers, and key institutions.
• All future rulers of the Human Domain will swear loyalty to the Vampyros.
• Human forces will be made available to fight in Vampyros conflicts as required.
You have one day to comply.
If these terms are rejected, the Vampyros will recognize the Human Domain as an enemy.
Our patience is not without end.
—
Atticus read the terms once more.
And then…
He burst into another fit of laughter.