Anime, Girlfriend Shokuhou Misaki

Various legends mention that being bitten by a vampire infects the victim, turning them into a new vampire and increasing their bloodline.

The vampires in this world aren't quite so exaggerated.

If it were that simple, the world would already be ruled by vampires.

However, vampires in this world do possess this ability. By injecting their own blood into the victim during the act of feeding, or through repeated and unrestricted bloodsucking, a vampire can transform the target into someone closely resembling a demon, a pseudo-vampire, becoming a loyal subordinate or partner.

This is a Blood Follower, inheriting the curse of the vampire whose blood they received, becoming an immortal being, completely obedient to their master.

However, the power of Blood Followers created through blood infusion is limited.

Therefore, to create more powerful Blood Followers, vampires will sometimes bestow a part of their own body to the follower's flesh.

The vampire cannot regenerate the lost body part; therefore, even immortal vampires are hesitant to create such Blood Followers.

However, once a Blood Follower is created in this manner, they inherit a strong imprint of their master's abilities. Depending on their compatibility with the master, their power can even surpass that of the vampire who created them.

Among the body parts that can be bestowed to a follower, the rib is undoubtedly the most superior.

After all, ribs contain blood-producing tissue, and a vampire's power source is blood. Obtaining a vampire's rib would undoubtedly create the most exceptional Blood Follower, capable of controlling and commanding even the master's familiars.

The twelve bodies used to seal the Fourth True Ancestor were created from the Fourth True Ancestor's twelve thoracic ribs.

So, for a True Ancestor, creating such a Blood Follower is a reward for their subordinates.

It is the ultimate reward.

Simply put, it means I can give it to you, but you can't actively take it.

Individuals like Zacharias will be instantly annihilated by an enraged True Ancestor upon their resurrection.

And spouting lies about his sister, his intentions are blatantly obvious.

"Take care of those guys; I shouldn't have to worry about that, right?"

Casting a quick glance at the panicked and disorganized Homunculi who have lost their leader, Harumura Makoto's gaze no longer lingers on them.

"Come here."

After saying this, Harumura Makoto turned his attention to the two young girls standing on either side of Zacharias's body.

These two fairy-like girls stared at Harumura Makoto expressionlessly. Neither their dreamlike appearances nor their beautiful eyes held any emotion.

Compared to Aurora's lively demeanor in Harumura Makoto's hands,

the first impression these two girls gave was that of "weapons."

They wore protective suits of reinforced fiber, similar to motorcycle rider gear.

On the surface of the protective suits were Roman numerals.

The girl on the left had the Roman numeral "Ⅱ" printed on her suit.

The girl on the right had the Roman numeral "Ⅸ" printed on her suit.

"Number Two and Number Nine, huh?"

"Where's Number One? You should know, right?"

Nearby, a fierce battle raged. Under the joint assault of Liana, Natsuki Minamiya, and the head maid, the twenty Homunculi were unable to mount any significant resistance.

The two girls silently obeyed Harumura Makoto's words and walked towards him.

"She's right here."

Along with the two girls' sudden voices, a transparent and beautiful crystal formed from gemstone crystals appeared.

A girl identical to the other two, wearing the same reinforced fiber protective suit similar to motorcycle rider gear.

And on this girl was inscribed the Roman numeral "Ⅰ".

"As expected, Number One, Aries Altar."

Harumura Makoto's eyes showed no surprise.

Not to mention the rib he had drawn out, he had already determined the origin of the power within it.

Even before he drew it out, he had guessed which body Zacharias would choose.

First Familiar: Aries Altar.

Corresponding to the Aries constellation, a great horned sheep made of indestructible diamond. Its ability is to reflect attacks, forming numerous shields from countless gemstone crystals, or creating giant reflective barriers to block the target's movement. It can also reflect all attacks that come into contact with the user and the crystals, and launch diamond attacks. It is a familiar that integrates offense and defense.

This was the first body Zacharias possessed.

It was also the most suitable body for him, who originally had little power, and the one that could protect him the most.

"Are you ready?"

With his hands in his pockets, Harumura Makoto suddenly said this to the three unusually calm girls.

"Is there anything to prepare for?"

The newly appeared Number One showed no reaction, simply tilted her head and said to Harumura Makoto in a strange tone:

"Although we don't know what agreement you reached with the Progenitor, since the Progenitor has recognized you and chosen you,"

"then you are our main body."

At the same time, Number Nine nodded and added as if supplementing:

"For us, the human form is merely a prison that confines us. The familiar form is our true form. Being able to escape such a prison is something we have long awaited."

"…"

Harumura Makoto opened his mouth, but ultimately smiled and said.

"You're not quite the same as Number Twelve. She's thinking about going out to have fun every day now."

"Is that so!"

Number Two said softly, then suddenly widened her eyes and looked at Harumura Makoto.

"It seems Number Twelve is doing well with you."

"Being so close, we can also feel Number Twelve's happy emotions."

Harumura Makoto raised his eyebrows and revealed an interested expression.

"You even have this kind of ability."

"I also know what you want to say. Don't worry, when you return to my body,"

The three bodies exchanged glances, and a faint smile finally appeared on their calm faces.

Then, the three girls, who looked less than ten years old, uniformly raised their small hands and pulled down the clothes on their shoulders, revealing their snow-white shoulders.

"Devour our blood completely. This is our final destiny, our new king."

"…"

"There's no need. Relax your minds. I'm a little different from you."

…

Itogami Island, Northern Port.

A blond-haired, blue-eyed man stood on the rocks below the pier, letting the surging waves crash against the rocks and splash onto his shoes.

"The Feast of the Ember, this is truly exciting."

The man appeared to be in his twenties, wearing a very proper and elegant pure white suit. With his blond hair and blue eyes, he looked like a nobleman from somewhere at first glance.

In fact, the man was indeed a nobleman.

Not a human nobleman, but a vampire nobleman.

"Just the opening is already so grand. Does this mean that this year's Feast of the Ember will be even better than before?"

The man continued to mutter to himself.

However, this time, someone responded to his muttering.

The voice came from behind him.

"Smelling the scent of war, coming like hyenas who smell the scent, you really are the man of rumors."

It was a boy who looked about twelve or thirteen years old.

The boy wore a loose white robe, adorned with bright gold ornaments. He had black hair, brown skin, and a pair of golden eyes. His face was childish, but he exuded an overwhelming majesty like a lion.

Looking out at the turbulent sea, a proud look appeared on his face.

Seeing the boy, the man with the aristocratic air bowed very politely.

"Isn't this Prince Iblisbel Aziz?"

"I didn't expect you to choose to personally participate in this year's Feast of the Ember. This is truly unnerving."

The noble youth spoke these words in a rather exaggerated tone and gesture.

However, it was appropriate for him to do so.

Because the boy indeed enjoyed a very high status in vampire society.

—『Iblisbel Aziz』.

This was the direct descendant of the Second True Ancestor "Extinction Eye", the second generation who inherited the blood of the Second True Ancestor, the ninth prince of the Extinction Dynasty among the three great empires. He truly inherited the blood of the True Ancestor, the son of the vampire king.

Moreover, he was not an ordinary prince.

This one possessed power second only to the True Ancestor without having undergone cannibalism.

It was precisely because of this that Iblisbel was highly anticipated by the Second True Ancestor, who granted him the eight northern provinces and a military fortress near the War King's territory.

The direct descendant of the True Ancestor, coupled with hundreds of years of survival, gave this one the capital to completely silence the ocean.

"Vattler, are you trying to start a war by deliberately feigning ignorance in front of me?"

Iblisbel turned his gaze, and his eyes towards the noble man were like golden torches.

"You came here not at all related to the Feast of the Ember, but purely to hunt down strong people like me and devour me, isn't that right?"

"Since we are both strong, don't put on such a posture in front of me."

As they spoke, Iblisbel's body emitted terrifying magical fluctuations.

That's right, the noble man before him was also a strong man, a vampire that even he, as the son of a True Ancestor, had to take seriously.

You should know that this man was just an ordinary nobleman. With his strength, not to mention nobles, he didn't even look at the elders of the third generation.

Only the long-lived elders of the second generation could fight him.

But the man before him possessed this power.

Only because this man had performed the best way for vampires to increase their power.

In the world of vampires, blood is the source of all power. The closer the bloodline is to the True Ancestor, the stronger it is. Even if the bloodline is impure, one can accumulate power in their blood by living for a long time and sucking blood.

Among them, there is only one way for vampires with impure bloodlines and young generations to quickly gain powerful power.

That is to devour powerful vampires through the act of sucking blood and seize their blood. In this way, one can obtain the other party's powerful power.

This is the 『cannibalism』 that I have been talking about before.

Of course, why don't many vampires try such a simple method?

This is because vampires cannot devour vampires who are stronger than themselves. Even if they successfully suck the other party's blood, they will be occupied by the other party's body and consciousness, with almost no exceptions.

Yes, before this man appeared, there were no such words as almost.

It was him, who, with an ordinary noble identity, forcibly devoured two elders of the third generation with his special abilities.

In other words, this man already had the power of two third-generation vampire elders and himself.

This level of power is already comparable to the ancient ones among the second-generation vampire elders.

The First True Ancestor 『Forgotten War King』 restricted him from continuing to engage in cannibalism. After all, there are very few vampires. If they all engage in cannibalism from below, the vampire race will destroy itself.

However, the Forgotten War King still expressed his appreciation for this man, and granted him the rights and status comparable to the second-generation royal family.

"Dimitrie Vattler."

"How could that be!"