Episode 465
Zeke watched the Three-Eyed Clan, who had just revealed themselves, with keen interest.
“Survivors from the fallen Shambhala?”
The figure from the Three-Eyed Clan had striking red hair and pale skin, with an androgynous appearance that made it hard to tell if they were male or female. Strange tattoos adorned their cheeks and body.
At that moment, the blood-red eye embedded in their forehead began to glow.
“The master of Shambhala commands you. Kneel.”
The red light emanating from the eye caused the orcs and arachne to tremble, bowing their heads and dropping to their knees.
The power of the eye was not conveyed through language but through sheer will, compelling even the orcs and arachne, who spoke different tongues, to obey the Three-Eyed Clan.
Orcs, known for their unyielding spirit, and the proud arachne, both ceased their fighting and knelt at a single command from the Three-Eyed Clan.
Zeke was both amazed by the power of the Three-Eyed Clan and intrigued by their survival.
“So, some survived the fall of Shambhala, even after the Blood King Caligula fled from the Godslayer. I thought the entire clan had vanished.”
After calming the orcs and arachne, the Three-Eyed Clan member cast a cold gaze over them before turning and entering a stone building at the center of the camp.
The dark sorcerers of the Abyss shouted as they watched.
“There will be another assault soon! This time, we will breach the forest, so prepare thoroughly!”
With the departure of the Three-Eyed Clan, the orcs and arachne relaxed slightly, frowning as they returned to their respective camps.
Zeke, hidden and observing the situation, focused on the stone building the Three-Eyed Clan had entered.
“There must be something important in there.”
While dealing with the energy supply station was urgent, the alliance between the Abyss and the Three-Eyed Clan was equally concerning.
The power of the Blood King, absorbed into Zeke’s body, was reacting to the presence of the blood-red eye, trying to awaken.
He calmed the power within him and headed towards the stone building where the Three-Eyed Clan and the dark sorcerers had gone.
“Such insignificant, inferior creatures.”
The one who had quelled the orc and arachne conflict with the power of the blood-red eye couldn’t believe they were among such lowly beings.
Shaking their head in frustration, they opened the door and entered.
Immediately, someone knelt before them.
“Lord Titus.”
Titus, as he was called, looked down at the kneeling figure, who shared a similar appearance but lacked the blood-red eye.
“Yulina, rise.”
Despite Titus’s words, Yulina remained kneeling.
Titus spoke with irritation.
“Must I command you with the eye for you to listen?”
At this, Yulina hesitantly stood.
“I’m sorry, Lord Titus. It’s an honor to be in the presence of your noble blood…”
Titus was a true heir of the Three-Eyed Clan, destined to become the master of Shambhala.
In contrast, Yulina, though of the same bloodline, had not awakened the blood-red eye and was of a lower caste within the blood hierarchy, making it difficult for her to interact with Titus.
Titus clicked his tongue at Yulina’s demeanor.
“In Tantra, it can’t be helped, but outside, you and I are siblings. There’s no need for such formality here.”
Despite Titus’s words, Yulina stood silently by his side, still overwhelmed by the honor.
Having lived in the strict caste society of Tantra for so long, it was difficult for her to act naturally as siblings outside of it.
Seeing Yulina’s discomfort, Titus shook his head and spoke.
“It seems someone with traces of the Blood King has appeared on this land.”
Yulina looked up, surprised.
“Is that true?”
Tantra, a secret kingdom hidden deep beyond the eternal mountains of the Eastern Continent, was where the surviving Three-Eyed Clan had continued the legacy of Shambhala.
They avoided contact with the outside world and rarely ventured beyond their borders.
Yet, the Abyss had reached out to them with a piece of information.
Someone possessing the power of the long-lost Blood King Caligula had appeared.
The ultimate goal of the Three-Eyed Clan in hiding was to reclaim the Blood King’s power and restore the glorious Shambhala to the world.
Upon receiving this information, the elders of Tantra decided to send heirs from each family to the central continent, with the promise of bestowing the title of king upon whoever reclaimed the Blood King’s power.
Titus was one of those selected heirs.
While other heirs sought to gather strength by finding the old vassals of the Shambhala clan scattered across the continent, Titus, lacking such resources, chose to ally with the Abyss and take a more direct approach to find the one with the Blood King’s power.
He clenched his fist, thinking of the other heirs.
“I must find and reclaim the Blood King’s power quickly. If they use the oath of subjugation to command the vassal races, I’ll be at a disadvantage without my own forces.”
Titus had allied with the Abyss to use their lower races, like the orcs and arachne, to reclaim the Blood King’s power.
Though inferior to the vassal races like the Beastfolk, Dream Demons, and Faceless, Titus couldn’t afford to be picky.
After a moment of thought, Titus turned to Yulina.
“The Abyss plans a full assault soon. I’ll lead the legion into the forest to capture Zeke Draker. You stay here.”
Yulina was taken aback.
“I can’t allow that! I must go with you!”
Titus frowned at her insistence.
“Don’t be mistaken! Yulina, you’re here as my backup in case something happens! Stay put and don’t cause trouble!”
Yulina had no choice but to lower her head at Titus’s words.
In truth, Titus had brought Yulina along to pass on his blood-red eye to her if he were to die here.
Due to ancestral regression, the number of those who could awaken the blood-red eye among the current Three-Eyed Clan was low.
Especially those with pure blood, qualified to be heirs of Shambhala, were even rarer.
If Titus were to die here, and the family lost its holder of the noble blood, they would lose all privileges.
However, transferring his blood-red eye to Yulina would make it a lesser blood, losing heir status but retaining some benefits.
Knowing Yulina would refuse if he told her, Titus had kept this from her and brought her along.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
“Lord Titus. The Apostle wishes to discuss the upcoming assault.”
Titus rose from his seat.
“Understood. I’ll head to the office shortly.”
He glanced at Yulina.
“I’ll meet with the Apostle. Stay here and don’t wander off. I’ll be back soon.”
Yulina knelt again, bowing to Titus as he left with a look of irritation.
”…Damn blood hierarchy.”
Despite being siblings, the difference in caste meant Titus and Yulina could never be equals.
Titus, who cared for Yulina as a sister, resolved that if he became the king of Shambhala, he would abolish such outdated hierarchies.
Clenching his teeth, he steadied his emotions and entered the office where the Apostle awaited.
“I came to discuss the assault…”
As he opened the door and began to speak, Titus froze at the sight before him.
The Apostle and other dark sorcerers lay beheaded on the floor.
A young man, barely in his twenties, sat at the Apostle’s desk, casually reviewing documents as if it were his own office.
Without looking up, the young man spoke to Titus.
“Close the door and have a seat.”
The Three-Eyed Clan, known for their awe-inspiring power, had always been rulers over other races.
But now, the roles were reversed.
Titus found himself unable to refuse the young man’s command.
With trembling hands, he closed the door and slowly walked to the chair in front of the young man.
The floor was slick with the Apostle’s blood.
Finally, the young man looked up from the documents and addressed him.
“I hear you’ve been looking for me.”
Titus flinched, realizing the identity of the young man who had infiltrated the place unnoticed, killed the Apostle, and awaited him.
“This must be… the descendant of the Dragonslayer, the one with the Blood King’s power.”
Titus studied Zeke, trying to discern any trace of the Blood King within him.
Zeke set down his papers and turned fully to face Titus. “Interesting. You thought you could handle Caligula’s power with just the opening of the Blood Eye?”
Titus felt as if the air had been sucked from his lungs. ‘He knows about the Blood Eye. Could it be… this man not only possesses the Blood King’s power but has absorbed it?’
It was an impossibility, at least by conventional wisdom. A lower species like humans couldn’t possibly wield the awe-inspiring power of the Three-Eyed Clan.
As Titus wrestled with his confusion, Zeke met his gaze. “It’s surprising that the Three-Eyed Clan survived. But compared to Caligula, their power is pathetic. They can’t even properly wield the Third Eye.”
Zeke’s cutting words snapped Titus back to reality, and he glared at him, teeth clenched. “Silence! How dare a mere human insult the great Three-Eyed Clan…!”
But suddenly, Titus found his tongue frozen, unable to speak another word. “Ugh…?”
He couldn’t even close his mouth. Zeke shook his head at the sight. “You flaunt your pride without understanding the true power of the Three-Eyed Clan.”
Zeke reached out and grasped Titus’s hand. “Let’s see how you managed to survive.”
He activated the Dragon’s Wisdom skill, and a hum resonated as the Akashic Code opened, filtering relevant information through the Sage’s Eye into Zeke’s mind. Secrets of the hidden kingdom of Tantra, long concealed beyond the eternal mountains, flowed into his consciousness.
Absorbing the information, Zeke nodded. “So, Tantra is a secret kingdom created by the survivors of Shambhala. It’s laughable to call you the Three-Eyed Clan. You’re just offshoots who arrogantly claim to be Shambhala’s heirs, creating a nonsensical hierarchy.”
Titus’s eyes widened in shock. “Ugh…!”
Though he still couldn’t speak, Zeke understood his silent protest. With a snap of his fingers, Zeke released Titus’s tongue, allowing him to speak. “What do you mean, offshoots of the clan?”
“Exactly what it sounds like. The survivors who founded Tantra are offshoots of the Three-Eyed Clan, unable to fully harness the power of the Third Eye. By your own hierarchy, you’d be around the fifth rank. The higher ranks perished with Shambhala’s fall.”
Titus’s hands trembled violently. ‘Are we not the true Three-Eyed Clan?’
They had survived the harsh environment of Tantra, driven by the pride of being the most magnificent and awe-inspiring race. Yet Zeke was telling him that everything they believed was a lie.
Watching Titus tremble, Zeke spoke again. “Your name is Titus, right? I’m sorry, but your Blood Eye won’t withstand Caligula’s power. Your head would explode first.”
He extended his hand toward Titus. “If you still don’t believe me, take my hand and see for yourself what the true rulers of Shambhala looked like.”