Ryo came to the great palace, its high red spires casting back the sickly light of the moon. A royal messenger escorted him through the extravagant corridors, bringing him to a rich meeting room.
"Wait here, please," the messenger said before departing.
Ryo relaxed into a soft velvet couch. A poised maid came over, filling a dainty porcelain cup with tea and presenting it with a curtsy. He tasted it, the deep fragrance filling his senses, when the thunderous voice of the guards outside rang through the room.
"His Majesty, the Vampire Lord, and His Majesty, the Dragon Emperor, are arrived!"
The thick doors opened with a creak, showing the imposing forms of the Vampire Lord and the Dragon Emperor. Though they looked regal, nothing could be gleaned from their faces. Entering, the Vampire Lord waved a hand.
"Remain seated."
Ryo scoffed in her mind. Like I was going to stand up in the first place.
The two monarchs sat down opposite him, their sharp eyes fixed on Ryo's. The Vampire Lord began to speak.
"I've gotten the complete briefing on what happened on your journey—the attack, the sabotage of the teleportation monument, and the abduction of your family."
Ryo's face grew dark at the words.
"The perpetrators of this act have already been identified," the Vampire Lord went on. "It was the family of the senior noble whom you murdered in the Grand Stadium of the Academy. They avenged but miserably failed. Justice has been served—they have been condemned to the eternal imprisonment dungeon."
The Dragon Emperor continued, his voice low and authoritative, "Fools who dare to challenge the powerful without adequate strength do not deserve mercy. But this is only a taste of the enemies you will accumulate. Power draws both allies and enemies. You need to be ready."
Ryo was quiet, taking it all in. His enemies were being taken care of effectively, but he did not think this was the end of them.
The Vampire Lord leaned forward. "Shall we proceed to the main subject?"
Ryo arched an eyebrow. "Main subject?"
A small smirk slid across the Vampire Lord's face. "Your territory."
Ryo sat up a little, curious.
"As a gesture of our faith and future unity, the Vampire Realm and the Dragon Empire have decided to bestow you with a territory. Its position is special—in the very center of all nations that exist."
Ryo's head spun at the implications. The core of all countries? That meant it shared a border with all major kingdoms—dwarves, elves, fairies, demons, spirits, angels, and even the Holy Kingdom, which revered the gods of other races.
The Dragon Emperor's turn came next, his eyes shining gold. "This is not a typical land. This is an ancient land, unclaimed by leaders, but its value as a strategic location is certain. Ages past, the gods encased countless races in this world, keeping them from trespassing in the human world as they pleased. Only those of mixed blood or in exceptional circumstances are able to utilize the teleportation monuments. Your special life has been able to travel in both worlds."
Ryo thought. That makes sense why Selena and Seyra could make it through. But they still required my magic to get there.
Before he could even think about it some more, the Vampire Lord beckoned him to follow.
"Come with me for a moment."
Ryo trailed them through the dark passageways until they arrived at a magnificent treasury chamber. The chamber was overflowing with treasures—ancient arms, magical trinkets, and artifacts that emitted massive amounts of power.
"Pick one," the Vampire Lord commanded.
Ryo blinked, taken aback. "Why?"
The Dragon Emperor laughed. "Think of it as a little present from two fathers-in-law to the future son-in-law."
Ryo rubbed a hand through his hair. "You people just don't let me have an option, do you?"
Disregarding their smirks, he focused on the treasures. Scanning the collection, he brushed past blinding swords and sparkling amulets, until he came to stop on a black ring.
He saw it as soon as his eyes fell on it, a searing stinging in the back of his head.
System Notification:
[Memory Fragment Found]
A shattered voice resonated in his brain, too scattered to decipher.
Grimacing, he reached out and took the ring. The agony stopped at once, leaving only a dull throb. He clenched the ring in his fist and turned away. "I'll take it."
The Dragon Emperor studied the ring intently, his eyes growing dark. "That ring. It is not something we left here. It has been in this treasury for centuries, but none have dared to claim it. Are you sure?"
Ryo paused for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah. It feels. significant."
Once the formalities were over, Ryo went back to his parents. They ate dinner together, a brief moment of tranquility. But later that evening, in bed, his mind wandered back to the ring.
He was curious, so he took it out of his pocket and studied it. It looked normal—smooth, cold, and without any markings. But something about it seemed. familiar.
Acting on impulse, he put it on his finger.
The instant the ring came in contact with his flesh, it disappeared.
In a split second, before he could do anything, pain burst within him.
System Notification:
[Memory Fragment Acquired]
[New Dormant Characteristics Unlocked – Can't Be Shown Because Of Low Level]
[New Ability Acquired – Ether and Divine/Holy Powers Beginning to Manifest]
Ryo gasped, holding his head as excruciating pain flooded his body. White-hot power ran through his veins, writhing, reforming, and inflating his very existence.
His vision went blurry. His awareness faltered.
As he collapsed, he heard the system muttering, "Seeing memory fragment." And then darkness consumed him.
Author's Note:
Hello guys! I hope you guys enjoyed Chapter 25! This chapter is a milestone for Ryo's life—he not only wins more land but also uncovers secret memories linked to his history. What is the black ring? What is the kind of power hidden within him? And how will his new powers determine his future?
I'd love to hear your thoughts! What's your prediction on what's coming next? Leave it in the comments!
Stay tuned for the next chapter!