The Eclipsed Order

Chapter 228: Chapter 228: The Vampire Hidden in the Ruined Castle

The newly established highland was already beginning to take on the appearance of a true city in the sky.

Several days had passed since its completion, and the Order’s members had wasted no time adapting to their new surroundings. Across the vast floating territory, members from different divisions could be seen moving between the newly established districts, carrying out their respective duties while construction and expansion continued throughout the highland.

Some members were working alongside the research division, while others transported materials between the various facilities. Further away, several members were training in the newly established combat grounds, their weapons moving through the air as the sounds of steel and magic echoed across the open land.

Above them, the central castle stood at the highest point of the highland, overlooking the entire territory beneath the enormous Eclipse banners.

Ares walked along one of the elevated paths overlooking the newly transformed land, with Selene walking quietly beside him.

From their position, almost the entirety of the highland could be seen.

The central headquarters surrounded the castle, while several separate floating lands extended outward from it, connected by enormous bridges and spatial pathways. Forests covered one section, training grounds occupied another, and the research and production districts were already becoming increasingly active.

Ares looked across the territory for several moments, taking in the progress.

’It seems everything is developing smoothly.’

Selene glanced toward the surrounding districts before speaking.

"Everything seems to be going well, Master. The members have adapted to the new environment faster than I expected, and the different divisions have already begun settling into their assigned areas."

Ares nodded.

"Yes. The transition has gone smoothly so far, and the infrastructure is developing faster than anticipated."

He looked toward one of the distant districts where several members were carrying materials into a newly constructed facility.

"But I am sure the kingdom has already begun investigating the highland. Given its size, there was never any chance of keeping it unnoticed."

Selene remained calm.

"Then it is only a matter of time before they send an investigation team."

"Exactly," Ares replied. "They will probably approach cautiously rather than sending an army, especially after seeing the scale of the territory and the Eclipse insignia."

His expression remained relaxed.

"We’ll let Vhan and Vince handle that matter when they arrive. They are more than capable of dealing with an investigation team without creating unnecessary conflict."

Selene nodded.

"Yes. Everything is proceeding according to Master’s plan."

Ares continued walking for a short distance before suddenly remembering something.

"By the way, Selene, you’ll be coming with me on a journey."

Selene’s steps slowed slightly.

"A journey?"

Ares looked toward her and gave a faint smile.

"Yes."

He turned his gaze toward the vast horizon beyond the floating highland.

"There’s somewhere I want to visit."

Selene looked at him with quiet curiosity.

"Where are we going, Master?"

Ares’s smile became slightly more pronounced.

"Across the continent of Ravellon."

Selene’s eyes widened slightly.

"The continent of Ravellon..."

Her expression gradually changed as the significance of those words settled in.

’To be given the opportunity to accompany Master on a journey across the Grand Continent of Ravellon... This is an honor beyond what I expected.’

She lowered her head respectfully.

"I understand, Master. It would be an honor to accompany you on such a journey."

Ares gave a small nod.

"Don’t worry about it. It’s nothing you need to prepare for immediately."

He then glanced toward the central research district.

"I’ll be heading out for a while. In the meantime, you can go to the research division and assist Octavia, or help any of the other officers if they require additional support."

Selene nodded.

"Understood, Master. I will assist Octavia and the others until you return."

"Good."

With that, Ares turned away and began walking toward another section of the highland.

Selene remained where she was for a moment, watching him leave before turning toward the research district.

The floating city continued its quiet activity around her, completely unaware that its master was preparing to leave the highland once again.

Ares had traveled far from the heart of the kingdom before finally arriving at the ruins that had been troubling him for some time.

The land surrounding the area was almost completely destroyed. Broken roads disappeared beneath weeds and cracked earth, while the remains of abandoned buildings stood scattered across the desolate landscape. Whatever settlement had once existed here had been reduced to ruins long ago, leaving behind nothing but weathered stone and the faint traces of an ancient civilization.

At the far end of the ruins stood the remains of a massive castle.

Much of its outer structure had collapsed, with several towers broken and entire sections of the walls reduced to rubble. Even so, the remnants still carried an imposing majesty that suggested how magnificent the castle must have been in the distant past.

Ares stopped several hundred meters away and looked toward it.

There was something wrong with this place.

He had sensed it long before reaching the ruins.

A powerful presence had been lingering here, so immense that Ares could feel its mana even from a considerable distance. It was faint, almost completely concealed beneath the passage of time, but the sheer density of that presence was enough to distinguish it from anything ordinary.

’So this is what has been troubling me.’

Without hesitation, Ares continued toward the ruined castle.

The massive entrance had long since been destroyed, leaving only fragments of stone pillars on either side. He stepped through the remains and entered the castle, his gaze moving across the dark interior.

The deeper he went, the more obvious the nature of the place became.

The architecture was unmistakable.

The long corridors, the black stone walls, the intricate carvings depicting bats and winged creatures, and the ancient symbols engraved throughout the castle all pointed toward the same conclusion.

’A vampire’s castle.’

Ares continued through the ruined halls until he eventually reached what appeared to have once been the throne chamber.

Two enormous thrones stood at the far end of the room, their surfaces covered in dust and cracks. The surrounding pillars had partially collapsed, allowing pale sunlight to enter through the broken ceiling.

Yet what immediately caught Ares’s attention was not the throne.

Beside it rested a majestic coffin.

Unlike the rest of the castle, the coffin had been remarkably well preserved. Its dark surface remained almost untouched by the passage of time, covered in elaborate crimson and silver engravings that gave it an ancient and ominous appearance.

Ares approached slowly, his eyes fixed upon it.

The powerful presence he had sensed from outside was coming from within.

He stopped in front of the coffin and examined it carefully.

"As I expected," Ares said quietly. "This is where the presence is coming from. Such a powerful presence, despite the fact that its owner appears to have remained asleep for an extraordinary length of time."

His gaze shifted briefly toward the surrounding chamber.

"There is no doubt about it. This entire castle was built for a vampire of considerable status."

Ares placed one hand against the coffin.

The moment his fingers touched its surface, he could feel the enormous amount of power woven into the seal.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

’This seal is considerably stronger than I expected.’

He examined it for several moments before opening the coffin.

Inside lay a young-looking figure.

Despite the ancient age of the castle, the person resting within appeared no older than a teenager. His pale complexion remained almost unnaturally flawless, while his long black hair framed a youthful face. Dark clothing covered his body, accented by deep crimson details that gave him an unmistakably aristocratic appearance.

His eyes remained closed, and there was not the slightest movement from his body.

He looked less like a corpse and more like someone who had simply fallen into an impossibly deep sleep.

Ares studied him in silence.

Then his attention returned to the seal surrounding the coffin.

"There is a powerful sealing formation placed upon this coffin," he said. "Even Draven would have difficulty breaking something of this level."

A faint smile appeared on Ares’s face.

"Fortunately, that kind of thing is useless against me."

He raised one hand.

"By the authority of the Eclipse, let the ancient seal return to silence."

The moment his words ended, a massive magical formation appeared beneath his feet.

The formation spread across the entire throne chamber, its intricate patterns illuminating the ruined castle with a strange, oppressive light. Ancient symbols began appearing around the coffin, responding to the force Ares had released.

The seal immediately reacted.

Crimson light surged across the surface of the coffin as the ancient formation attempted to resist the intrusion.

Ares remained completely composed.

One after another, the layers of the seal began to crack.

The first shattered with a deep metallic sound that echoed throughout the chamber.

Then another.

And another.

The ancient barriers that had remained intact for thousands of years collapsed one after another beneath the overwhelming power of the Eclipse.

Within moments, the final layer broke apart.

The magical pressure filling the room disappeared.

Silence returned.

Yet the vampire inside the coffin still did not move.

Ares looked down at him.

"He still isn’t waking up."

He carefully observed the vampire’s condition and could immediately sense how weak his current state was compared to the immense presence he had detected earlier.

’His body is extremely weak. Perhaps that is the consequence of remaining asleep for such a long period.’

Ares’s eyes changed.

The world before him transformed as his True Sight activated, allowing him to see far beyond ordinary physical appearances.

Information began to reveal itself.

Vampire Progenitor — Lord of Eternal Blood

Name: Mihai Dracula Vasile

Title: Lord of Eternal Blood

Race: Vampire

Species: Vampire Progenitor

Age: Over 5,000 years old

Ares’s expression became slightly more interested as he continued reading the information revealed by True Sight.

Dracula was one of the oldest and most powerful vampires to have ever existed.

More than five thousand years ago, he had already been feared throughout the ancient world as the Lord of Eternal Blood, a title earned through his terrifying mastery over blood and the extraordinary power contained within his existence.

Ares stared at the sleeping vampire for several moments.

"I see."

His expression remained calm, but there was a trace of interest in his eyes.

"So, he was once known as one of the strongest immortal beings to exist five thousand years ago."

Ares glanced at the shattered remains of the ancient seal.

"And because they were incapable of defeating him, they chose to seal him instead."

He fell silent for a moment, considering the possibilities.

’What would happen if I awakened this sleeping vampire?’

His gaze settled on Dracula once again.

’If I give him my blood, he should be able to evolve. At his current state as a Vampire Lord, his power is already comparable to Selene’s strength when she was still a Dragon Emperor. Selene has since become a True Dragon Lord, so if Dracula receives my blood, he should be capable of reaching that same realm.’

Ares’s eyes narrowed slightly.

’No.’

’With the nature of my blood and the power of the Eclipse, he may reach something even greater.’

A faint smile appeared on his face.

’It can’t hurt to try. If he proves useful, then I gain another powerful ally. And if he refuses to obey, I can always seal him again.’

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