Chapter 12: THE OFFER

Aaron tapped the Sanctuary item’s description, his crimson eyes blazing with a hunger for power as the system’s words materialized in a shimmering holographic display before him. [Sovereign Rank - Sanctuary]: A cosmic artifact forged at the dawn of time, fought over by ancient powerhouses in a millennium-long war that scarred the multiverse, only to vanish in the ensuing chaos. Sanctuary conjures a haven rivaling paradise itself, scaling with its owner’s strength—from a modest island to a universe teeming with divine fruits, its potential as boundless as the host’s ambition. Abilities: • Sanctuary: Grants an independent island unbound by any dimension, impervious to all multiversal beings unless the host grants entry. The host accesses it with a mere thought, a seamless bridge to safety. • Omnipotent: Within Sanctuary, the host wields absolute power—undefeatable, unkillable, with infinite stamina and mana, a god in their own realm. • Dimensional Anchors: Record five locations (increasing with strength) linked to Sanctuary, enabling instant travel from any point via the island as a bridge for swift movement or retreat in times of danger. Anchors can be changed at will. • Guest Access: Authorized individuals enter Sanctuary with a thought, with the host notified of their movements, ensuring total control over their comings and goings. "Hell yeah! No more duds—this is a damn game-changer!" Aaron whooped, his excitement erupting like a long-dormant volcano after a week of soul-crushing system disappointments. A secure base where he could rest without fear of ambushes from opportunistic fools was a dream made real. "Take that, you stingy-ass system!" he grinned, his mind already racing with plans to recruit vampires using the Daylight Ring Manufacturer to grant them sunlight immunity, forging an unstoppable army within his new domain. The Sanctuary would be his fortress, a place to strategize, train, and unleash his Vampire Primogenitor potential without prying eyes. Following the system’s prompt, Aaron focused, willing access to the Sanctuary. A shimmering rift tore open before him, its edges pulsating with cosmic energy, a radiant gateway to his private paradise that hummed with otherworldly power. Stepping through, Aaron emerged on an isolated island floating in an endless void of inky darkness, a realm untouched by time or intrusion, suspended in a sea of stars. An invisible barrier hugged the island’s edges, a protective veil ensuring no one could plummet into the abyss below. At its heart loomed a colossal castle, its obsidian spires piercing the starry sky, sprawling across an expanse rivaling a small town. Lush forests and serene valleys encircled it, their vibrant greens and blooming wildflowers weaving a tapestry of tranquil beauty that felt alive with quiet energy. To the castle’s right, a crystalline lake sparkled under the starlight, teeming with fish whose scales shimmered like jewels, from tiny, darting minnows to massive, iridescent leviathans gliding through the depths. The forest buzzed with wildlife—graceful deer, chattering birds, and prowling predators—forming a perfect ecological harmony that pulsed with life. The island, bathed in the soft, silvery glow of distant stars, felt like a perpetual night, a haven crafted for a Vampire Primogenitor. Aaron’s SSS+ vitality drank in the serene darkness, his senses sharpened by the dimness, every sound and scent amplified. "This is no mere island," he marveled, realizing its vastness rivaled Canada from his old Earth life, a domain far grander than the system’s modest label suggested. "With this, I can build a vampire army in peace. Blood supply’s the next hurdle, but I’ll crack that soon," he thought, his mind already calculating how to secure resources for his future followers. He spent hours wandering the castle’s grand halls, their walls etched with ancient runes that pulsed faintly with arcane power, and the forest’s winding paths, where the air carried the scent of pine and starlit dew. Returning to reality, Aaron’s mind buzzed with plans to fortify his stronghold, a sanctuary where he could unleash his full potential without fear of betrayal or ambush. --- "Leo, you’re Aaron’s best friend. Any idea where he’s at?" Alice asked, catching Leo in Skyhold’s bustling courtyard, where students milled about under the morning sun, their chatter a lively hum against the stone walls. "No, teacher. He’s ditched school and barely replies to messages, but he’s fine," Leo said, scratching his head with a sheepish grin, his eyes betraying a flicker of envy. Alice, Skyhold’s heartthrob, turned heads with her ethereal beauty—raven hair cascading past her shoulders like a midnight waterfall, an 8/10 face paired with an 11/10 figure that blended into a vision of perfection, leaving students spellbound and tongues tied in her wake. "Is he raiding dungeons?" Alice pressed, her voice soft but her true question cutting through the casual tone, her eyes searching Leo’s face for answers. "Yeah, with an A-rank bodyguard, so he’s safe. Probably just sightseeing. I envy that guy—living free while we sweat the entrance exam," Leo sighed, his voice heavy with longing to trade places with Aaron’s carefree existence, unbound by the pressures weighing down his peers. Aaron, unlike his classmates, didn’t lose a wink of sleep over the entrance exam. Designed for E-rankers at most, it was laughably trivial for someone contemplating a duel with an elite A-ranker. The exam was like asking an engineer to solve basic arithmetic—he’d probably nod off from sheer boredom, his mind already far beyond such petty challenges. "Alright. If you see him, tell him I’d like to meet," Alice said, gliding away after Leo’s nod, her presence leaving a trail of wistful stares and hushed whispers among the students. "Tsk, lucky bastard," Leo muttered, trudging toward the assembly ground, jealousy gnawing at his gut as he imagined Aaron’s meeting with the untouchable Alice. To prepare students for the upcoming entrance exam, Skyhold organized group dungeon raids under instructor supervision, ensuring safety if battles spiraled out of control—a stark contrast to Aaron’s bold, unsupervised ventures with Blade. --- Aaron and Blade stormed a B-rank dungeon, dismantling trolls with the ease of a Thursday stroll through a sunlit park. But today wasn’t just another raid—it was a pivotal moment, the day Aaron would decide whether to turn Blade into a vampire, a choice that could shape his growing empire. Perched atop the troll boss’s corpse, Aaron clutched its glowing heart, its faint pulse resonating with his SS+ mana. He exuded an aura like an anime protagonist radiating untamed power, missing only shadowy minions bowing and calling him "liege." His SSS+ vitality thrummed, casting a faint crimson glow that seemed to bend the dungeon’s dim light around him. "Blade, you’ve got a decision to make," Aaron said, his voice calm but carrying a razor-sharp edge that sliced through the dungeon’s stale, blood-scented air. "You’ve felt it, haven’t you? Your memories are distorted after our raids." Blade’s eyes widened, his stoic facade cracking like brittle stone under the weight of truth. "Yeah... I thought it was exhaustion," he confessed, his voice low, tinged with unease and a dawning realization of Aaron’s power. "My doing," Aaron admitted, his crimson eyes locking onto Blade’s with an intensity that pinned the man in place. "I’ve been wiping your memories to hide my strength. After this raid, you’ll forget my power again." "Is there no way out?" Blade asked, his grim expression betraying his resignation, as if he knew the answer but clung to a fleeting spark of hope, his hands tightening around his daggers.