Damon smirked as he lazily swirled a drop of blood atop his palm. The group was staring at him with their eyes red and their jaws practically hanging open.

Of course they would.

Because the drop of blood he was playing with was none other than the ancestor's blood.

The very same drop that had been guarded for centuries. The sacred relic that every noble in the clan dreamed of inheriting. The power that could reshape the fate of the entire world.

The crimson droplet floated just above his palm, rotating slowly. Each time it turned, faint waves of terrifying pressure spread across the chamber. The ancient runes carved into the throne room pulsed in response, glowing brighter as if acknowledging the authority of the blood.

Several nobles staggered back.

"That… that's impossible!"

"How did he!"

"The ancestor's blood should only awaken for the chosen heir! He has already been rejected! He shouldn't be able to touch that blood!"

Samarishit's face had turned completely pale.

His eyes locked onto the droplet, burning with disbelief and fury.

"That belongs to the throne," he said through clenched teeth.

Damon raised an eyebrow. "Does it?" The droplet spun once more. The throne behind him rumbled faintly, as though responding to his touch.

Damon leaned back lazily. "You people really don't understand anything," he said calmly. "The throne doesn't own the blood."

He flicked his finger lightly. The crimson droplet shot upward, hovering in front of his face. "The blood owns the throne."

A wave of ancient pressure flooded the chamber. Several weaker nobles collapsed to their knees instantly. Even the C-rank elders struggled to keep their footing.

Samarishit's aura flared violently as he tried to resist the oppressive force radiating from the droplet. "That power… it should have been mine," he blankly mumbled.

Damon chuckled. "You mean the power you were planning to steal after my convenient death?" His gaze swept across the room. "I must say," he continued lightly, "your plan was quite impressive. Killing the heir, claiming the throne, and presenting yourself as the savior of the clan."

The nobles stiffened. Damon's smile widened slightly. "Unfortunately for you… I managed to awaken the blood."

"Shut up! That doesn't change anything! You killed so many of our clan members! You will pay for your sins! The blood will never accept a low-life scoundrel like you! You have strayed your path! You will never be the King!" Samarishit hurriedly shouted.

Right after he finished speaking, someone else added. "Right! Long live King Samarishit! You may have gained the recognition of the blood but that doesn't mean you have the ability to wield its power! Lord Samarishit, test him! Make him bring out all the powers of the ancestor's blood! Don't let him get away with this! Prove yourself you sinner!"

Samarishit turned to look at the noble who had spoken out. A weird expression appeared on his face because the person who had spoken out was Lord Benalitish and he was usually a silent guy. This was probably the most he had spoken in the entire decade. Nevertheless… his point was very valid.

A few others thought so as well as one by one other nobles spoke up.

"Can you activate the clan blessing? Every single clan member should get a blessing!"

"Yes!" another noble shouted immediately. "The ancestor's blood grants protection to the entire clan. If you are truly acknowledged by it, prove it!"

"Activate the domain blessing!"

"Strengthen the castle barrier!"

The voices rose one after another. If Damon could not wield the true authority of the ancestor's blood, then everything they were witnessing was nothing more than a trick.

Samarishit's expression slowly steadied. The earlier shock faded from his face and was replaced by a calculating calm. Yes. This was perfect.

Even if Damon had somehow managed to touch the ancestor's blood, that did not mean he could wield it. The power of the throne was not something a wastrel like him could control. Only a true king could command the clan's ultimate treasure, their ancestor's blood. If Damon failed now, the court would tear him apart.

Samarishit straightened his back and stepped forward. "Yes," he said calmly. "Prove it." His gaze locked onto Damon.

"The ancestor's blood carries his will. It grants blessings to the entire bloodline of this clan. If you are truly its chosen heir… activate the blessing."

Everyone's gaze landed on Damon, awaiting eagerly for him to fail and fall on his ass.

Meanwhile, Damon remained seated on the throne, lazily twirling the crimson droplet above his palm. He listened to their shouts without interrupting them, as if he were watching a group of children arguing over something trivial.

This was exactly what he wanted. While he looked calm and indifferent on the outside, he was actually trying his hardest to unlock the secrets of the drop of blood.

The thing was the first part of his plan had worked perfectly. Damon went on a killing spree and absorbed the blood of the clan members left and right, hoping he would absorb the bloodline of someone important.

Which King had kept his business in his pants. Sure, there might be some exceptions but vampires were an indulgent race in general. The chances were that many bastard sons of the king were roaming about in the clan.

Damon placed his bets on those chances and he won. He was finally able to sense the drop of blood and form a bond with it. However, the next second, the damn thing poured a bucket of cold water on his head. His excitement dropped when he saw that he couldn't bring out anything at all from the blood. It was just a drop of blood that's all.

He needed more guidance, more information to unlock the whole damn thing. For this he hatched another plan, not a very elaborate one but it was working nonetheless.

From what the group of angry vampires were shouting and demanding, unlocking the blessings part of the blood should be the easiest and probably what most heirs managed to achieve. "I guess I will try to do the same." Damon took a deep breath and focused.

Seconds ticked by, and Damon still had zilch to show for his efforts. The drop of ancestral blood continued floating lazily above his palm, rotating slowly as if it had a mind of its own. One second.

Two.

Five.

Nothing happened.

The nobles began exchanging looks.

At first, they were cautious, unsure whether the power was simply taking time to awaken. But as the seconds stretched longer and longer, doubt slowly crept back into their eyes. Then someone chuckled.

"He can't do it."

Another noble snorted loudly. "Of course, he can't. He is the good for nothing wastrel. He used some taboo skill to somehow awaken the blood, but now he has nothing more."

"I knew it."

"A thief pretending to be a king."

Samarishit slowly straightened, the earlier tension leaving his shoulders as a confident smile returned to his face. "So that is all you can do?" he said calmly. His voice carried easily across the chamber. "You can steal the relic, but you cannot command it."

A few nobles laughed openly now.

"Pathetic."

"You dared to mock the court with such a cheap trick?"

"You thought you could fool the ancestor's will?"

Samarishit took another step forward, his aura rising once again. "You see?" he said coldly. "The throne has already rejected you." His gaze shifted to the hovering droplet of blood. "The ancestor's blood will never accept someone like you."

Several nobles nodded eagerly.

"Yes! Kill him!"

"Take the blood back!"

"Execute the traitor!"

Damon slowly looked up. Then he sighed. "You people really are impatient."

Before anyone could react, he closed his fingers around the floating drop. The entire throne room trembled. A small ripple of energy rolled across the chamber and then continued spreading to the rest of the settlement.

Every vampire present felt it. It was subtle, almost gentle but their blood stirred. A thin crimson aura wrapped around each of them for a brief moment before fading away. The nobles blinked in confusion. One of the captains looked down at his hands. He could feel it. He was stronger now and faster. He suddenly felt a clarity in his mind that he hadn't felt for years!

"The blessing! He has activated the blessing!"