Chapter 86: Crimson Crucible
When Ash walked through the coliseum, he entered a long, dark hall lit only by torches that burned crimson instead of orange.
The flas hissed softly against walls of polished bloodstone, throwing shadows that writhed like living things across the vaulted ceiling. Each torch was held by a stone gargoyle carved in the likeness of a screaming vampire; mouths open wide enough to swallow a man’s head.
Ash moved without hurry, hands in his pockets, tails swaying behind him like lazy banners. The air tasted of iron and old wine, thick enough to coat the tongue.
’Hmm, I wonder what this world is truly like...’
He had never been one to wait and play by soone else’s rules. He needed the full board in view... not just for himself, but for the family and companions still training inside the Haven. Before he brought them out, he wanted to know the real threats, the real powers, the real monsters.
’I’ll hit Calamity in a week. Then I’ll see this world with my own eyes.’
His thoughts ended as he reached the end of the hall. A male vampire lounged behind a booth of black marble veined with scarlet, feet propped on the counter.
Pale skin, bored crimson eyes, fangs just visible behind a lazy smirk.
The vampire’s gaze slid over Ash lingered on the ten tails, the rose-gold tips, the ears and settled into open disdain.
"SSS-rank," he drawled, voice dripping condescension. "And a fox. What’s a fox doing in vampire territory? We don’t get many volunteers."
Ash t the stare without blinking.
"Does it matter?"
The vampire snorted, already sliding a blood-red badge across the counter.
"Rules are simple. Once the Badge rings, you fight. On stage it’s live or die; only winners walk off. The contestants are prisoners and vampires looking to farm EL. However, since you’re a visitor, you’ll fight both. Try not to bleed on the glass too much."
Ash picked up the badge, and it was warm, pulsing faintly, like a living heart. It clicked against his palm. Then he turned and walked deeper without another word.
The waiting room beyond was a cavern of crimson torches and black stone benches. Dozens of vampires lounged or sharpened weapons, every single one radiating SSS-rank pressure thick enough to choke the air.
Ash found an empty bench, sat, and closed his eyes.
Every gaze in the room snapped to him at once.
"Hey, fox."
A slender vampire with short black hair and red eyes dropped onto the bench beside him.
"It’s Ash," he corrected without opening his eyes.
The vampire chuckled. "Haha, an SSS-rank demanding respect." He leaned back, stretching long legs.
"I’m Kain. Nice to et you."
Ash eyes looked over to him again seeing his information for a second ti.
[Kain Salvatore
Age - 243 Years Old
Race - Vampire (Bloodline of Salvatore (Calamity))
Rank - Low SSS Rank (Existence Level - 643,0000
Affinities - Blood, Saber
Law - Blood 15%
Remarks - Orphan, Battle-Freak, He has dreams to start his own Clan... one that could be eternal.]
----
After seeing this Ash nodded towards Kain who continued to speak.
"You know it’s pretty rare, seeing a non-vampire participate in our coliseum if they’re not a prisoner." Kain and continue talking as if he didn’t see Ash with his eyes closed again.
"Non-races will find their chances at living much slimr."
Ash cracked his eyes open.
"Why is that?" He asked
Kain smiled seeing he grabbed his attention. He laid back and looked around the waiting room.
"Well, as you can see everyone here are only small fries. Although the stage is life and death... we only have to worry about fighting prisoners." Kain said as he looked back at Ash.
"You on the other hand will fight prisoners as well as the coliseum’s champions.... That’s if you last that long though."
Ash interest was truly piqued by now. He himself cared not about who he was fighting, but the more people ant the more EL he could gain.
"And how many champions are their?"
"Ten, and each of them are right under the brightest talents or powerhouses of the clan."
Before Ash could speak again his badge went off. He rose a brow at that, and before he could ask.
Kain laughed.
"Visitor’s perk. You’re up first."
Ash rose, calm as winter dawn.
"Well... don’t mind if I do."
He walked away, face serene, not a shred of worry.
’It’s been 100 years since I’ve stretched my legs...’ He thought.
----
While Ash moved toward the arena gate, Raven sat in a private box of black marble and crimson silk high above the stands. In this room there were two won and two males who all looked to be young. However, judging a book by its character was sothing one should never do in the world of cultivation.
"So, who’s the little pet you brought?" Seth asked, sprawling across a couch-like chair, shoulder-length white hair spilling over red eyes.
Raven eyes flashed as the temperature dropped.
Raven’s gaze sharpened; the temperature in the box dropped ten degrees.
"Who’s a pet?"
Seth smiled awkwardly.
"Ahem... your guest, I an.".
The two won chuckled.
"Raven, you should learn to be softer, you know," Katherine said, sipping from a crystal glass filled with fresh blood. Blonde hair, red eyes, lazy smile.
Raven rolled her eyes and turned back to the arena.
"Honestly though... who is he?" Sumr asked from the seat beside her, long black hair cascading down her back, black eyes curious.
"I haven’t seen any fox clan with those features on Astralis."
"Hmm, he’s..." Raven’s words trailed off as realization hit.
’I didn’t even ask his na!’
She recovered smoothly.... or thought she did.
"He’s mine. Although I don’t know his clan. I didn’t ask."
Every eye snapped to her.
"He’s what?" Connor asked, short white hair, black eyes wide.
"Uhh... mine," Raven repeated, turning to them in genuine confusion.
"R-raven..." Katherine muttered.
They all were from the main branch of the Nocturne clan and were on Astralis for a few different reasons. However, they knew how important it was for their clan to not marry outside. Clans were so big and had so many different branches that it was rare for an entire clan to be pure family.
The Nocturne in specific, they liked to keep their bloodlines as pure as possible. So, the only way to marry another or be with soone outside their clan is if it was another vampire.
Before they could say anything else. They crowd of the Coliseum erupted as Ash finally stepped into the arena. He walked up casually and calm with his hands in his pockets. As he walked his ten snow white tails with rose tips flowed with their own minds.
"He seems... pretty confident," Seth muttered.
"He’s... beautiful as hell too," Sumr breathed.
Katherine nodded in agreent.
Raven narrowed her eyes at them, then turned back to the arena.
From the opposite gate, a human prisoner erged.... shackled until the last second, eyes burning with hate. Forty kiloters of blood-stained glass separated the two fighters.
The announcer’s voice bood across the coliseum, dripping with glee.
"WE HAVE A SPECIAL ONE, FOLKS! A FOX VISITING OUR CLAN’S CRIMSON CRUCICBLE!!!"
The crowd lost its mind.
"RULES ARE SIMPLE: WIN AND LIVE... LOSE OR DIE!
...NOW... FIGHT!!!!"
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