The True Ancestor’s Vessel

Seraphina stared blankly at Godia, who grew increasingly agitated with each word. A trickle of foolish drool unconsciously escaped the corner of her lips.

“Abba abba abba.”

Seeing Seraphina’s utterly bewildered expression, Godia sighed deeply.

“In short… the True Ancestor abandoned her frail body and transferred herself into mine.”

He pulled open the top that had been concealing his massive physique.

“Whoa! No, why are you stripping in the middle of talking?!”

Having long considered herself a girl, Seraphina instinctively raised a hand, attempting to shield her eyes.

Yet, a single, accidental glance at Godia’s body from the corner of her eye was enough to freeze Seraphina in place.

That enormous form was not the body of one person at all. It was distinctly two bodies, grotesquely melded together!

It was like a boss presiding over Stormveil Castle. Upon what was clearly once a slender, frail physique, a massive growth protruded. From this tumorous mass sprouted shriveled limbs, encircling a single, pallid, delicate face.

“At that time… the True Ancestor controlled my body, forcing me to consume the fragmented flesh and blood scattered on the ground.”

Gazing at Godia’s contorted face, Seraphina understood the horrifying implications of that flesh and blood.

“Subsequently… I acquired the incomplete [Blood of the True Ancestor], and simultaneously gained the authority of the fragmented Shard.”

“Seraphina, do you know the true meaning of the Shard?”

‘I don’t know, bro. I don’t even know what a Shard is!’

“It is the pedestal that bears a god.”

‘Don’t just explain it to yourself! I already said I don’t know!’

“She merged with me…”

Godia peeled back the limbs covering the pallid face on his chest, gently stroking the visage of the True Ancestor parasitic there.

“At the same time, I understood her true intentions.”

“But I… I cannot resist her.”

“She assimilated into my body, not becoming a part of me, but rather, I became a part of her.”

“Yet I have not given up; my final will still persists.”

“Damn it…”

Faced with such a revolting spectacle, Seraphina instinctively recoiled several steps.

“You’re a goddamn lunatic…”

‘What in the world is going on? Why do the recent events feel increasingly melodramatic?’

‘Weren’t they just having a sweet, affectionate moment with Iqiyah a few days ago? How did the tone suddenly become so bizarre?!’

“So what exactly do you want?!”

‘Damn it, with such a terrifying sight… whatever Godia is asking for, it can’t be good!’

Her legs trembled slightly, Seraphina already poised to flee.

“She will not be satisfied with my body… what she desires is the complete Shard, the complete authority.”

“For this… I adopted countless retainers. Unfortunately, none of them possessed the power to bear the [Blood of the True Ancestor].”

“But you are different.”

“Upon you rests the aura of a god… you are the perfect vessel to bear the Shard, to carry the True Ancestor’s consciousness!”

‘Damn it.’

Seraphina had already guessed what this lunatic intended.

“You… you don’t want my body, do you?!”

At this moment, she no longer knew whether to call the man before her Godia or the True Ancestor.

She only knew one thing: this was no place to linger!

Without waiting for Godia’s response, Seraphina turned and fled.

“Gah! Iqiyah! Save me!”

Running and shouting, Seraphina pushed past a throng of retreating vampires, heading towards the direction Iqiyah had exited.

That’s right! Based on their previous encounter in the library, Godia—no, the True Ancestor—still dared not act recklessly in front of Iqiyah. They likely hadn’t succeeded in bewitching her, nor had they recovered enough to defeat her.

‘Then… as long as I find Iqiyah! As long as I can reach that place!’

“Do you think I would let you escape so easily?!”

Godia’s long arm shot out, seizing Seraphina’s body and instantly lifting her into the air. In the next moment, a colossal ice crystal erupted from the ground, impaling Seraphina’s body entirely.

“Gah!”

“What the—?! What is that?!”

Witnessing the sudden emergence of the ice crystal beside them, the surrounding vampires all revealed expressions of astonishment.

“My kin, pay it no mind.”

With heavy steps, Godia pulled closed the gaping front of his clothing and slowly approached the immobilized Seraphina.

“She is merely one of my retainers, a bit mischievous. I am simply forced to discipline her.”

“But… but isn’t she Iqiyah’s retainer?” a female vampire, who had once tried to toy with Iqiyah, noticed the discrepancy.

“Iqiyah is my daughter. Disciplining her on her behalf is hardly unacceptable, is it?”

“Hmm…”

Upon hearing this, the vampires merely furrowed their brows before departing one after another.

After all, disciplining a retainer was considered nothing more than a perfectly normal ‘refined pastime’ among vampires.

‘Damn these good-for-nothings…’

Watching the vampires leave, Seraphina desperately wanted to scream for help, but no sound would escape her lips.

Her entire chest had been impaled by the ice crystal, and her consciousness was completely overwhelmed by immense pain, making any cry for help impossible.

“Seraphina… please forgive me.”

From behind Seraphina, Godia extended a massive hand, seizing her body.

“I cannot lose Iqiyah.”

“I can only ask you to take her place.”

****

“I can only ask you to take her place.”

The narrative rewound to that fateful night.

Twisting in the newly acquired body, the True Ancestor, inhabiting Godia, wiped away the remnants clinging to the corner of her lips and rose from the pool of blood.

“I have no complaints.”

Hearing two distinct voices emanating from his mouth, Godia felt a peculiar sensation.

“If my body can satisfy you… I am willing.”

“No, no, Godia, you are mistaken.”

The True Ancestor, within Godia’s form, surveyed her surroundings. She attempted to direct a look of disdain towards Godia himself.

Alas, by then, she had already merged with Godia, making such an action impossible.

“Your body, after consuming Cardo, is merely a defective product that gained power, insufficient to bear my ambitions.”

“Never mind… I shall grant you an opportunity.”

“If you can find another vessel suitable for me… I might spare your daughter.”

“But…” The True Ancestor, within Godia’s body, rolled her eyes. “Is there truly a second body as perfect as a Scarlett in this world?”

“…I will strive relentlessly.”

Gazing at his daughter’s fresh blood in his hand, Godia’s heart pounded wildly, as if preparing for a final, desperate struggle.

“I absolutely cannot let Iqiyah die.”

****

“I absolutely cannot let Iqiyah die! I absolutely cannot lose Iqiyah!”

Gripping Seraphina’s body tightly, the clothes encasing Godia instantly burst open.

“Seraphina! Your body it is!”

The limbs on his chest flailed menacingly, grabbing Seraphina’s head and forcibly prying open her mouth.

Simultaneously, the previously serene and delicate face on his chest now sprouted a long, twisting neck, preparing to burrow into Seraphina’s mouth.

“Eek!”

Faced with this sanity-shattering sight, even a physically unharmed Seraphina would be powerless to resist, let alone one currently pierced through the heart.

‘Could it be… that this is where I’m destined to die!?’

No.

Suddenly, a voice echoed within Seraphina’s mind.

‘Your destiny has not yet concluded; you will not fall here.’

It was neither Levian nor Iqiyah, but a voice Seraphina had never heard before.

Then, in the very next second, a white figure suddenly materialized, interposing itself between Seraphina and the gaping maw.

“!?”

Upon seeing the figure, both Seraphina and Godia (True Ancestor) were startled.

However, Godia’s astonishment stemmed from fright, while Seraphina’s was born of joyous surprise.

“Iqiyah!” / “Iqiyah!?”

“Seraphina… haven’t I told you multiple times?”

With a swift slap, Iqiyah sent the face with the twisted neck flying. Frowning, she then turned to look at Seraphina.

“Don’t get involved with my father.”

“Now look, you’ve gotten yourself into trouble, haven’t you?”