Vampire: World of Blood

As the cave sank deeper into the Sea of Correspondence, its purpose was fulfilled, for now, Merciless felt the familiar tug of another source.

But this one was different, its power was unlike anything he had encountered before. It was vast, overbearing, and powerful to say the least, a force that called to him with undeniable authority.

The moment he sensed it, a recognition stirred within him, even though its use remained elusive.

It was the weird dagger he had inside him.

The very one Brunhilde had driven into his heart no so long ago with loving intent; the blade forged from sand, or some material so fine it seemed like that, but it was otherworldly, to say the least.

Formless and suspended between reality and a dreamlike haze, his mind teetered between consciousness and unconsciousness.

And in that shifting state, he saw it.

Before Merciless stood a figure, its form a stark contrast to anything mortal or mundane. The skeleton was wrapped in robes of immaculate white, the fabric cascading over its frame in elegant folds, as though crafted from the finest silks and adorned with a faint shimmer that suggested a weave of stardust and moonlight.

The garment moved with almost fluid grace, defying the rigidity of death that its wearer embodied, every thread speaking of wealth and timeless refinement. The robes were not mere cloth; they were symbols of status, a declaration of opulence that transcended lifetimes.

But it was the skeleton itself that drew the eye with an undeniable pull. Its bones, polished to a metallic sheen, gleamed with a purplish hue, as though forged from some mystical alloy. Each bone seemed impossibly smooth, reflecting light with a glossy finish that pulsed in rhythm with an unseen force.

There was something uncanny about the way the purple radiance danced across its form, giving it an aura of vitality despite its lifeless nature. The bones exuded an ancient power, vibrating with an energy that was both mesmerizing and unsettling as if the remnants of life had fused with the cosmos itself.

The skull was adorned with intricate engravings, symbols etched into the bone that pulsed with faint traces of energy, their meanings lost to time but brimming with significance. Hollow eye sockets glowed faintly, giving the impression that, though the eyes had long decayed, the figure still perceived everything with a level of clarity.

Even without muscles, skin, or a voice box, the figure's speech rang out effortlessly, reverberating through the empty white expanse.

The voice was rich, deep, and haunting.

"Hmm, it's been a long time since I've felt... whole...

"And sane; at least partially... I am not hearing so many voices in my head at the moment."

But he stopped, currently sitting upon a golden throne as he looked at Merciless... when he got up... I was a very tall figure... at least over 8 feet, about 8'9 in height.

"So you are the child Brunhilde was talking about."

The skeleton murmured, tilting his head as if studying Merciless intently.

His voice carried an air of overwhelming pride and selfishness, almost unbearable, yet, like all the other sources within the Sea of Correspondence, he, too, was crucial for Merciless' growth.

"Forgive my tone, young one."

The figure continued, a trace of politeness slipping into his words.

"It's common for those who are incompatible with the vestiges of sin to suffer from personality disorders. Sadly, I was cursed to bear not one, but two sins.... I was tricked, bested by my enemy to weaken me by forcing more power upon me... that I could not control."

The man explains to Merciless.

As continued.

"When a sin-user kills another, they inherit that sin's power, but it always aligns with their main nature or main sin power, as an equally powerful sub-ability of one of the main sin abilities...

He said to himself, recalling the past while remembering the basics and now explaining it to another.

"Well In my case, I was chosen for Pride not of my will, but the will of another. Although it made me strong, Pride has always been seen as the weakest of the Nine Sins, and I, in turn, was known as the weakest of the Pride bearers."

He paused, a hint of bitterness creeping into his voice.

"A cruel twist of fate, wouldn't you say?"

"I never fully embraced the power—it was foreign to me, never truly resonating, never truly meaning anything within my core. My mastery was in energy manipulation... given that I was an energy practitioner, I was a grand master in the art of psyche energy."

The man explains to Merciless, as he explains a little about his life.

He then continued; not stopping, but elaborating.

"I could dominate my enemies without ever calling upon the strength of Pride. But fate had other plans. Another sin-bearer was sent against me; just as incompatible as I was...

He said, a prideful hum coming from that last bit.

"Unbeknownst to me at the time, when I struck him down, I didn't just end his life, I inherited Vanity upon his fall, their plan was brutal indeed, who would have thought using another power to poison another? Hehehe.... humans sure are creative when they run out of options."

He said, in clear acceptance.

"But either way, the moment, I got infected with Vanity was when the erosion of my mind truly began."

"Hehehe...

The man laughed as he continued.

"I never thought I would end up as superhuman you know... but sin abilities sure something else."

He mused to himself, as Merciless; formless as he was, he still listened intently albeit partially conscious.

As the man continues with his life story.

"Keep in mind that while I may have started weak, the transformation into a superhuman amplifies one's power to unimaginable levels. In essence, superhumans are akin to a type of esper. However, in earlier times, they weren't classified that way. It wasn't until the rise of supernatural science in the early 60s that this classification became the norm."

"You see, there were originally three types of espers. The first type, known as Paranorms, consists of ordinary humans who can manipulate various forms of energy from the known energy spectrum. This includes energies like chi, ki, cardinal energy, and even the dualities of negative and positive, malevolent and benevolent energy, among others. I think you get the idea."

"The second type of espers is officially known as Ocuulants. In ancient times, they were referred to as witches, warlocks, devils, or heretics; essentially, any humans endowed with miraculous powers of a magical nature, whether derived from gods, demons, or devils. In simple terms, Ocuulants are individuals who draw their power from a supernatural source rather than a natural one, which I'll explain further in a moment."

"However, it doesn't even have to be of a magical nature; some individuals are simply born with these magical natures instead of borrowing them, and no one knows why or how they acquire them. Moreover, if someone is closely tied to or favored by a supernatural being, that can also grant them the title of Ocuulant-type esper." Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire

"This classification is entirely different from the newer type of espers, which have existed since the first generation of humanity but are only now gaining attention due to their increasing numbers. In simpler terms, superhumans are referred to as Apex Espers."

"Apex espers are humans who have evolved into superhumans either by the will of the entity known as Him or by being born into that state. They represent the pinnacle of esper power, as unlike other espers, superhumans do not need to undergo tedious processes to enhance their abilities. Instead, the constant use of their powers allows them to evolve into higher forms until they reach Ex rank."

"While there are levels above Ex rank, they are exceedingly rare and are known as Supreme Humans. At this level, the only way to gain further power is through continuous evolution, which has no definite end. To be considered an Apex esper, one must be chosen for their potential by "Him," or born into it, to begin with, it is as simple as that."

A slight chuckle escaped the man's mouth, as he continued to explain further about esper type.

"Finally, the last category is known as hybrid espers. These individuals are any human or esper who possesses one or more esper traits. For instance, a superhuman with connections to the supernatural world or connection that allows them to harness the powers of a supernatural being or possess magical nature abilities."

"Additionally, energy users can also fall into this category. It's important to note that aside from Paranorms and Ocuulants, all other types are classified as high humans, indicating a higher quality of humanity. However, biologically speaking, superhumans are superior, making them the strongest type of esper—unless we consider hybrid espers."

The man explained as continued, his hands motioning in an exaggerated manner, clearly, he seemed like the type that loved to be heard.

But he began his story on how he became Pride.

"You see both me and my wife were espers, I was a Paranorm, and She an Apex... she was the previous pride, and one the strongest Pride users they were... her name was Grace Lumen. She was born a superhuman, inheriting her power from a bloodline steeped in the traditions of the elite; her family held the vintage of pride for over 48 generations... dating back all the way to the age of ruin."

Announced the man.

"Her grandfather, Licht Lumen, was part of the Council—a predecessor to the current organization known as Gift. Through her family, she inherited the Sin of Pride, her own ability, with her own version of Pride different from her deceased grandfather, with Pride she could impose her ideals onto the world itself."

"Grace's ability was extraordinary...

His expression on that notion was full of pride, but at the same time, a sad tone followed behind it.

"You see, she could recreate any power she deemed inferior to her self-worth and bless others with it. She could casually reshape concepts and ideas, changing their meaning while leaving their essence untouched....

"She could even copy and pass aspects of her own being to others, altering them fundamentally. Her Pride wasn't just about selfishness; it was a force that could rewrite reality itself, bending it to her desires...

"Its greatest weakness however is her mentality... the moment she starts thinking her standards of perfection aren't enough then that's how it is. Her ability essentially works at its best if she knows what she is dealing with beforehand, to clear any potential doubt."

The man said.

"It's astounding how a woman this powerful could simply perish. She had the ability to diminish others at will, simply by believing they were beneath her. While the abilities of the Sin Series superhumans are formidable, they are not invincible. They can be incredibly challenging to confront, but they are not unbeatable, provided you know what you're doing. Sin abilities have the capacity to shatter the established rules of superhuman power, which is why they can only be countered by higher-grade powers that similarly defy those rules."

The man explains to Merciless in great detail.

And then continued once more.

"In her final moments, before she was slain by Malhartd Votrhos, one of the top five Ex superhumans in the world itself, back in the day; she performed one last act of defiance. On her dying bed, she transferred her essence, her powers, and her experiences to me."

"It was more than an inheritance, it reshaped my existence, changed my race, and made me something else entirely... but the thing is, I'm not compatible with the Sin of Pride."

He blatantly admitted.

Ironically in a proud manner.

"The truth is, I was never meant to receive this power. Sin powers can only be passed down to another superhuman; or, by definition, anyone who possesses an Eden."

"This is how it was transferred through her family lineage until it eventually reached me. However, due to the unique nature of her power, which allowed her to manipulate her standards of perfection, essentially redefining how things should be versus how they actually are."

"She managed to convert me into a superhuman. In doing so, she reshaped my very being into what it is now."

"And now, Malhartd Votrhos is still out there, one of the few capable of challenging even the divine order. My wife's sacrifice has given me the strength to stand against him and those who would tear this world apart, to some degree at the time, and with the help of others I manage to get my revenge."

"Or so I thought. You see, I don't know much about Malhartd's abilities, but he has the power to possess the bodies of others. Specifically, he was ordered by Sigma-C, the leader of H.A.D.E.S., who was trying to gather other sin bearers to take their powers as his own."

Said the man.

"But transferring sin powers isn't an easy task. That bastard Malhartd has a twisted ability; from what I understand, he can clone his consciousness and infect the bodies of others, connecting them like a web."

He explained.

"This means that at any given time, one vessel can hold hundreds of different abilities."

"Tragically, he took possession of our eldest daughter's body Cassie, and used her as a hostage, ordering Grace to kill herself with one of his death-inducing daggers while simultaneously passing the superhuman power of Pride onto Cassie. Now, what do you think my wife did?"

He asked Merciless who replied.

"Comply."

"Pfft as if."

The man jokingly said.

"My wife as loving as she is to her own... was too prideful to be bested like that... as such she outwitted him."

"She was cunning you see.

The man stated as memories of the past flushed through him.

"When Malhartd forced her to take her own life, she did just that, but also faked her death; at least to a certain extent. Because of her unique powers, she managed to recreate a false version of Sin of Pride, tricking Malhartd into believing that the transfer had been successful."

The man admitted with a prideful nod.

And continue to explain his story more.

"But those daggers are no ordinary weapons; they drain life away, either instantly or over time. So much so, that my wife couldn't use Pride to save herself due to the weird and unexplainable rule-breaking nature of those cursed blades. However, just before she died, she passed on the Sin of Pride to me. And that is how I became the next bearer of Pride."

He explained and then confirmed further upon this information further by saying.

"Naturally, before I was sealed away by Sigma-C, I had already obtained a different version of Pride. However, because I lacked a truly prideful demeanor, I was incompatible with it. As a result, the power I received was defective and weak."

"My ability revolves around creating reiterations, essentially, I can view the world around me as if it's unfolding like a script, even seeing events that have been forgotten. I can remember what others have forgotten, and even when time is reversed, I remain aware. I have the power to loop events, even on a universal scale. But there's a catch: I can only focus on one event at a time."

"In situations where multiple things are happening simultaneously, I can't fix or change them all. This ability truly shines in one-on-one confrontations, but against multiple or especially strong enemies, it's nearly useless."

"Sure, I can see past events within an area, tap into the memories of others and replay them, and manipulate space-time to a degree. On paper, it's a power that should make me unbeatable."

"But in a world like this where strength is perverse, being merley unbeatable just isn't enough. And trust me when I say this young one, this world is full of illogical monsters hiding in every corner, even in places you would never expect; whose definition of strength is just in another dimension of definitions altogether."

"To make things worse, every reiteration I create comes at a cost. I lose pieces of my emotions, memories, and sometimes even my lifespan. The more I use this power, the more it drains me...

"If there are no memories or emotions left for it to consume, it takes from my physical life instead. So, you can imagine how many memories I had to accumulate over the years just to use the power of Pride. A year's worth of memories, countless emotions; I've had to build them up just to keep going.... and honestly, it is the reason I barely use it."

His voice trailed off, showing a glimpse of the man's former hope before he continued.

"Vanity, on the other hand, is a power far stronger than anything else I possess. It grants me the ability to perceive the meaning behind explanations, essentially allowing me to absorb knowledge at an accelerated rate."

After he said that he continued, once more.

"What might take someone a full day to learn, I could master in mere moments; equivalent to gaining ten years' worth of knowledge and experience in an instant. Naturally, this elevated my intelligence to abnormal levels, making me a master of countless disciplines. But Vanity, for all its power, was like a slow-acting poison."

"Just like Pride, it was incompatible with me, and instead of enhancing my potential, it accelerated the corrosion of my mind. The more I used it, the faster I deteriorated, until I eventually became almost completely inactive, unable to function."

And then he mentioned its greatest source of use.

"This ability pairs perfectly with Pride, as I can take what I've learned and apply it to my reiterations on a massive scale, should the situation demand it. With Vanity, my ability to manipulate knowledge and experience is unparalleled, and when combined with Pride's reiteration, it becomes a dangerous tool in my hands."

The man said, but he made sure to make Merciless see how dangerous H.A.D.E.S was.

"But that is my story; sorry if I bore you; you're probably going to be the last one to hear it anyway. After all... you are the next successor...

Said the nameless man, as he continued.

"If both Pride and Vanity fall into the hands of Sigma-C, the multiverse will be doomed. Even Wilhem, the strongest superhuman who surpassed her daughter Rule-B, hehehe... I'm not sure how he fairs, to be honest."

The skeleton's mind seemed to be unraveling at the potential probability but without present information on Wilhelm, it was hard to say.

On the other hand, Merciless presence was anchored there, as he soon began to think to himself.

This source was different from the others. It didn't ask complicated questions or require difficult answers. Instead, the figure made him listen to a life story and began to ask him one last request before passing his power to Merciless.

As such he took a seat back on his throne.

His last word before the questions he had for Merciless being.

"Well, that's my story. To be honest, my only real regret in this life was not being able to do more in order to make a difference. But the truth is, some of us just weren't made to carry these Sins; it is as simple as that."

"But let not waste any more time now shall we? So here is the first question.

"If you had the power to change the world."

The skeleton asked, his voice growing distant.

"What would you do, in selfish pride, to make it better?"

Merciless considered the question for only a moment before allowing his deepest desires to speak.

"Freedom. I would free this world from the chains of the divine. To cast it into an age of pure self-interest. There is no need for gods, no need for pity or suffering. Blind hope is a crutch. In this new world, the law of the jungle would reign supreme. No action would go unpunished, for those with power would carve their own destiny."

He said his answer firmly in its meaning.

And continued.

"Revenge would be their justice, and hate... hate is a powerful motivator."

"I would drive this world into lawlessness, where anyone can seize their future. The strong would have the right to rule, and the weak would have no place in this world. To suffer is to grow, and to grow is to suffer. It's a choice; fall and be free of misery, or rise and rule above all...

"That is the only law this world needs...

The skeleton remained silent for a moment, his hollow gaze staring at Merciless. He could feel the intensity of Pride and Vanity reacting to Merciless' answer; resonating with him in ways they had never with anyone else.

Even Sigma-C hadn't invoked such a response.

Though he did not agree with Merciless' ideals, he knew now that the boy was more suited to bear these sins than Sigma-C could ever be.

"I don't approve of your ways."

The skeleton said, his voice thick with regret.

"But perhaps you're right. The weak should never take on the tasks meant for the strong. If only I had been more ruthless, maybe I could have saved countless lives. Maybe even my own daughter and my wayward son. But I failed, and I failed miserably."

He exhaled a long, tired breath.

"This power is yours now, Merciless. But show some benevolence, here and there, even in your twisted way. My name is Faust, and I hereby name you my successor."

At that moment, both Pride and Vanity transferred to Merciless, assimilating into his being. Faust's skeletal form suddenly erupted in purple and golden flames, his body and soul consumed by the inferno of his own sin.

But before he was entirely erased from existence, he managed to speak one last time.

"Please if it's not too much to ask... I have a younger daughter. A kind soul... and a son, lost in his self-destructive ideals. Save him if you can. And my daughter... she is with G.I.F.T. I trust them, but this world is falling into darkness. If ever you meet her, when the time comes, be a guiding light for her."

"I was never the father my little ones deserved... not like I was for Cassie. After she and their mother died, what was left of our family drifted apart. I feared that if I stayed too close, the same fate that took Cassie would claim them as well. Sometimes, to truly love someone, you have to become a stranger."

Merciless' voice reverberated through the air, powerful and smooth, as the dual forces of Pride and Vanity found perfect harmony within him. In that pivotal moment, the two essences converged, feeding off his manipulative tendencies and selfish subconscious thoughts.

His mind, already consumed by an insatiable hunger for control, allowed these dark forces to merge seamlessly, amplifying his ego and sharpening his will.

The dying man before him pleaded to save his children; it was a noble request, no doubt. But nobility had no place in Merciless' heart, not when it conflicted with his desires. Still, this man had passed down a power, a gift worthy of acknowledgment.

For that, at the very least, Merciless would offer a token of gratitude. He spoke the words the dying man longed to hear, not out of compassion, but because it was practical, after all, whether the man's children lived or died depended entirely on their value to him.

"My my how touching, how noble of you to carry such burdens even in your final moments."

Merciless said softly and continued.

"You have suffered greatly, haven't you? But rest assured, your heart has not gone unnoticed."

He pauses for a moment, allowing a brief, sorrowful silence to linger in the air.

"As for your daughter and son, I will see to it that their paths are touched by a guiding hand... just as you wish."

Merciless continues.

"And though you feel you have been absent, love is a strange and powerful thing, isn't it? Sometimes, being distant may have spared them more pain than you know."

His voice was a whisper filled with false reassurance.

"In the end, love is not defined by presence alone, is it? Perhaps, in your own way, you did protect them."

"Sleep now, and let your worries fade. Leave the rest to me."

Merciless said, to which Faust inwardly smiled, and said.

"Then I will leave them in your capable hands, new inheritor of the sin of Pride and Vanity."

And with those final words, Faust vanished, his existence erased by his own will.

And so, Undeterred Vanity and Self Righteous Pride met their end when expressed through Faust.

And now a new Dawn of their definition had begun.

This day Undeniable Vanity and Profane Pride were born in place of the former.

Meanwhile, Merciless was kicked out of this domain; and back into the Sea of Correspondence.

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