Chapter 11: The Supreme Monster

While Dante's life was settled, with the strongest Vampire existing, the real global problem was worsening.

The Gathering of Rulers was happening again for the third time in the last year since Dante became a vampire. These meetings didn't happen regularly, only when something really significant occurred.

At the top of the Tower of Nightmares, ten super-beings conversed.

Titania Nightfall, the Queen of Fairies, sat in the tenth seat, with a rigid stature like a warrior. Her long red hair exuded an aura of royalty, and her golden armor reflected a noble air befitting her title. It's worth noting she bore a striking resemblance to Valentina with her hair, and to the Elven Queen with her pointed ears.

In the ninth seat was Velkan Sucellus, the Ruler of all Werewolves. Muscular and large, with a black beard and abyss-like black hair, he didn't show any obvious signs of being a werewolf; he looked easily like a human.

In the eighth seat sat the Dwarf King, Barskev Arton. A common dwarf, he had red hair with a braided beard and wore a silver armor suit.

In the seventh seat, the Elven Queen Aewyn Frostsky sat. With hair as white as snow and pale skin that could easily be mistaken for a vampire, she wore a sky-blue dress and a crown.

In the sixth seat sat the Giant King, Orion Dolafor, dark-skinned, cloaked in dark green that concealed his entire body, much like his Long Black Iron Sword.

In the fifth place sat the Western Human Emperor Adão Smith, an ordinary human but emanating a sacred aura, with a golden sword at his waist. He had golden hair and wore Emperor attire with golden and red details everywhere and a black cape.

In the fourth place sat the Human Empress Lyriana Vortex, the Empress of the Eastern Human Empire, the supreme ruler in a region of the Umbral World similar to Asia. She had blue hair and also had the "Aura of the Hero" emanating from her body. Compared to Adão, Lyriana was much more stable and powerful. She had with strong Asian features making her a unique beauty.

In the third seat was Alice Arcano, the Queen of All Witches, the first Witch, and the foremost expert on the energy known as Mana. She wore a purple cloak and a long hat, with silver hair and golden rune-like eyes. Her body was as seductive as a Succubus; even the strongest would falter against her charm.

In the second seat sat Andrius Black, the Current Beast King, a lion-like demi-human, imposing and emanating an extremely dangerous aura. He wore a hide as a luxurious piece from a successful hunt; his attire was highly intimidating, exuding his superiority.

In the first seat, completing the cycle, was Vlad Dracula Tapes, the King of all Vampires... well, almost all. Valentina would kill Vlad if he claimed to be the King of "ALL" Vampires. He was tall, two meters in height, and wore a black cloak with a red interior.

The audience began calmly; besides the rulers, all the right-hand people of the kings were present, such as Lisa Tapes in relation to Vlad and Morgana Arcano with the Witch Queen.

The topic of conversation? It was the completion of the new academy in conjunction with all the races, the so-called Royal Academy, an institution transcending the worlds of Nightspefere and Umbral, where all forces could enroll their potential members and discover the geniuses of each region. An academy aimed at raising the world's power level as a whole.

While the kings discussed, the topic of the academy's opening was finally addressed.

"When do you think we can open it?" Vlad asked, looking at the Dwarf King who was in charge of designing the project plan.

"Five years, but we need manpower," the Dwarf King replied to the Vampire King.

"Can anyone volunteer?" Vlad asked, acting as the leader of the council of kings since he was in the first seat.

"We can help," replied the Demi-Human King.

"We can also provide manual labor for this project," the Werewolf King said. Despite not liking Vlad, he was still supportive of this plan; it would benefit younger werewolves and increase the strength of everyone.

"Need anything else?" Vlad asked, and the King shook his head in negation.

"May I ask a question?" The Elven Queen raised her arm, and Vlad nodded.

"Will the new generation appear only six years after the academy's inauguration? Will you all send your children at that time?" The Elven Queen asked curiously, and the first to respond was Titania.

"I will send my daughter once she turns thirteen," Titania replied kindly.

"Same here, my son is growing healthy," the Dwarf King replied.

"Yes, thirteen seems the right age," Alice Arcano said, recalling her recent offspring created by magic, a magical little girl made with all the love in the world given by her mother.

"I have no problem; at thirteen, it seems my daughter's growth will combust and ascend to new heights rapidly," Lyriana replied. Her daughter had acquired something very unique at birth.

"I agree," Vlad said, and the image of his youngest daughter came to his mind.

"I understand," the Elven Queen said and then summoned a black and golden scripture. Everyone there knew about the epic prophecies that the elves received with each change of era. This time, Aewyn received this scroll directly from the chief prophet. In front of everyone, she recited,

"One day, incredible beings will arise and will dominate everything within their reach. An era akin to a frenzied flame of madness that will ignite the hearts of the young to the furthest reaches of the stars." The Elven Queen finished reading and then looked at the rulers.

"In ten years, all the heirs of all factions will meet amid all the chaos that the elven prophet foretold," Aewyn Frostsky said with a smile.

"It will be interesting," Vlad said with a smile.

It wasn't a bad prophecy; on the contrary, it marked the beginning of a new era. The onset of a new era meant new beginnings for all; changes of eras are moments when the balance breaks, and powerful beings flourish until the balance is reestablished.

"It can't be..." Lisa Tapes said, drawing everyone's attention as she began to unconsciously tremble, thinking of a little child she hadn't yet met in person.

"Are you okay, Lady Lisa?" Morgana asked, seeing a disturbing look coming from Lisa that made some people uncomfortable...

Lisa ran her hand over her back to make sure she hadn't been pierced by a Flaming Lance yet and then looked at the people who were witnessing her embarrassment.

"I see," Vlad said, returning his gaze to the rulers with a chilling smile that even his subordinates found a little intimidating.

"What did you understand, old man?" The Werewolf King said, trying to mock Vlad.

"The Supreme Monster," Vlad said with a wide smile.

"What do you mean by that, Dracula?" Queen Titania asked incredulously. It had been years since she heard that nickname, and she didn't want to hear it again.

"Oh yes! I better secure his place in our personal academy," Vlad said and then stood up, a hologram appearing on the screen.

A two-year-old boy appeared on the screen, and Morgana began to laugh, catching everyone's attention.

"Ha! Ha! Ha!" Morgana roared with laughter in front of everyone. The Witch Queen was embarrassed at how her daughter was behaving in front of so many important people, but her embarrassment faded when Morgana looked at her and shouted with all her might.

"Valentina's son! My little Dante!" Morgana said while everyone's eyes widened in profound shock. They didn't know about this information because Vlad suppressed all the leaks that the Silverblood Clan had made on the Vampire Continent.

"NO WAY!" Queen Titania roared as she saw the two-year-old child and even broke part of the table where she was sitting. Not only she but most of the rulers had the same reaction.

The reason? Fear of Valentina.

"Yes, that's right, Titania," Vlad said with a big smile.

"My dear friends, I present to you the son of the Scarlet Devastator, Valentina Scarlet." Vlad said with a smile on his face, feeling normal; a monster's son? Just a little monster.

"Dante Scarlet," Morgana added with a smile on her face, making even her mother wonder how she could keep that on her face knowing who the boy was.

Of course, Alice didn't know that Morgana had her eyes on the little boy...