Capítulo 25: Novel 9-Rise of the Successor
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/Meanwhile…/
"... Cut it short. Tell me. What have you called me today for? I thought I made it clear last time we met."
"It's time you let go of that, father." Droruund said as he crossed his fingers
Before him, an older demon with slightly gray hair and a thin beard sat on a couch as he held a small glass of wine.
He was the spitting imagine of Droruund but sterner and older. His horns were also longer and sharper.
"Tche, whatever… So? I'll leave."
"No, you'll stay."
"Hm? Are you threatening your father? I thought you wiser than that."
"This isn't about that. It's about my son… Your grandson."
"I thought you wanted me to have nothing to do with him. Both me and your mother understood your message well."
"Father, stop distorting things. And drag mother here. She'll only get upset at you if she hears what you said today."
"What we discussed that day has long since ended… You'll understand once you read this." He said as he pulled a stack of papers from under his desk, putting it above his desk
"Say what you must…"
"Father. He's your kin. Will you let go of him for such a petty reason?"
"You call THAT a petty reason? Do you even understand the implication of what you did?"
"Father… It was just his name! Stop being so sentimental about it!"
"You! You named the child after the ancestor of another household! Are you even aware what that signifies?! If you were to name the child then you should've chosen our ancestor!"
"And destroy his social life? Are you aware what they're called?"
"You dare profane our ancestors?!"
"I'm merely speaking the truth! But if you want to act like that, you may as well leave! The moment you do so. Draxon will henceforth be a main descendant of the Tirgath!"
"You… You're far more foolish then I could've ever imagined. You'd rather push your son to be a collateral of another family then your own?"
"That's where you're wrong… They are my family and Draxon's ancestors. They may mean nothing to you but to us… They are our blood."
"Besides, Draxon won't be a collateral. He'll take over them… But that's not something you'd care about, do you?"
"What? Have you been possessed?"
"I should ask that of you. Why are you so narrow-minded?... Make your choice. Read or leave."
"... I'll give you a chance…"
"I don't want it. This isn't for me, this is for Draxon. He's the one you should apologize for. Not me."
"Humph. What's there to apologize for? Not even… Hm?... What ridiculous… Who wrote these nonsensical papers?"
"Does the name, Jabam Sangues ring a bell?"
"Jabam?... That old fart? Did you bring your son to that living mummy? No… How did you even find out where he is?"
'Jabam… That seven hundred-year-old dried corpse still walks the earth? And he's still taking patients?'
"You're slow with the news, old man. Jabam has taken office at one of Daremban's clinics. It's been this way for decades. I've been helping him settle and hide his identity for a very long time."
"So? Do you believe those words better?"
"... The Great Jabam acting as a child's doctor… That doesn't sound so far from his usual behavior… Very well, I'll trust the veracity of these papers."
"But you have yet to tell me what you're after."
/Silence…/
"... I only wish for my son's well being, nothing else."
"..."
The old demon looked at his son with a deep gaze before closing his eyes, thinking of the past.
'In the end, nothing's changed. This stubbornness and desire must be from the bloodline…'
'I cannot forget his actions but I can forgive as in the end, his transgressions are with the ancestors, not me.'
'For all I value them and our bloodline… My son comes first… And so does his son.'
'I'll help him as it is my duty and desire, even if it means pushing the name of our ancestor's enemy into the world.'
'If someone hasa to bare their wrath, then it shall be me.'
"... I'll send a tutor to aid his studies."
"A tutor?"
"He's still too young. There's little I can teach him that you can't. Besides, this is an opportunity and a test."
"A test?... Are you testing your own blood?"
"Don't use that argument against me Droruund. You know full well what I meant."
"Two years. I'll give him two years. Until he becomes seven I'll aid in his development with every resource at my disposal. The only thing I require is an update on his training."
"Humph… Not like you wouldn't receive it if you're the one sending the tutor…"
"I'd still very much prefer if you were the one sending the news then your servants."
"During those years, I'll evaluate his growth as he enters childhood and begins awakening his inner potential. And if his growth persists… I'll pull your grandfather into this matter."
"!!"
'Grandfather?!'
The previous head of the Galvidol household. A Demon over three hundred years old and one of the few Balor Rank Demons in the Clan.
Considered to be one of the greatest talents in the last thousand years of the Clan's history, he was one of the strongest patriarchs the Clan ever had.
His obsession with power and research was so great it led him to only having a son after being well over one hundred years old. However, it was this very stubbornness that led to his father also being an exceptionally talented horned demon.
"I more then anyone wish for my own blood's success, however, being in the position I am now, I cannot afford favoritism. Especially not you who's scheduled to succeed me."
"You must be strong and capable enough to surpass me in every way. Including parenting your child."
"If I grant you too much leeway, others will request the same and soon my authority and yours would be undermined… Give me a reason to intervene. Make your son the future of the Clan and I shall suppress all other voices."
"Giving you this kind of support is already the most I can do without putting others against me."
While the Demon world was ruled by individual force. When many gathered, even the strong would fall…
A family as old and ancient as the Galvidol tracing back to the 72-Great Lords had hundreds of elderly Demons and dozens of branches to look after. Leniency, even to his direct blood would only cause distress in the household as they too are part of it.
Like a King abusing the wealth of its people rather then using it to improve their lives…
"Think of this a chance for you as well. If your son goes well and proves my expectations, than few will doubt your ascension."
"There weren't many to begin with, but after naming your son like that… There have been voices of opposition that believe you aren't fit to be the Lord due to impartiality."
"..."
He knew that, he wasn't a fool. The choices he made that day… He already knew it would lead to this… Yet he still do it.
Deep down, he knew this was the name his child was destined to have.
Names cary power in the Demon world. The words tied to a newborn would follow them to the rest of their lives… So carefully consideration was necessary and it was often something Demons thought years before insemination.
And that was only for the spoken name… All Demons also possess a "True Name". One only known to their parents and the child itself. Albeit Draxon was far too young to learn his.
"Draxon… Has never ceased to amaze me ever since the day he was born."
"... Let's hope this remains for the next few years."
With that, his father left the office without an extra word.
No greetings, not farewells… Just a cold and hard meeting.
"... It seems like he decided to throw that matter behind him… But it's clear there's no turning back from those actions."
'While recovering my status within the family is a priority. My son's growth comes first. And as father said, regardless of what everyone thinks, if Draxon grows well, all opposition will cease.'
'Draxon… I can't wait for the day you show them whose blood you inherited.'
Droruund's eyes flashed dangerously as he left his office.
…
"Over here! Quickly! Xon! You're too slow Xon!"
"... Don't call me Xon. I much rather prefer Drax…"
"Xon! Look at this pretty flower!"
"..."
'Sigh, children…'
In the extensive gardens of the Manor, Draxon ran after a little girl as she went around the place grabbing flowers and laughing.
Whenever she asked questions, he answered, whenever she laughed, he smiled. It was peaceful. A strange scene to see in the Demon Realm but not unusual.
This was a scene far too common in this modern world, incomparable to the world where their ancestors had grown in… And maybe that was why they often looked back at their power and influence even now.
/Step…/
"Hm?... Grandfather!"
As he let the young girl play with his hair, tying flowers and plants around his horns. An elderly Demon with gray hair appeared before Draxon with his arms on his back, looking at him with judging eyes.
/Hug…/
However, instead of fear, Draxon showed compassion, hugging the old man. And while he did not react at all, neither did he try to stop him.
The old man let the child step back, looking down at him with stern eyes.
"Child. It's been a while. Have you been well?"
'Even though I'm exuding this much pressure he doesn't even react, huh… He's far too relaxed around me.'
'This isn't what I want. I'm sorry for this child…'
/Raise…/
"Grandfather?..."
/FIUM!/
/Thud…/
"?!?! NO!!"
A beam of light was released from the old man's hand, piercing through the young girl's chest, sending her crashing against the ground with a single sound.
"Child, you should not mingle with such distractions. You are a descendant of Galvidol. Act as such." His grandfather said as he put his hand on his back once more
"NOO!!"
But while he said that, Draxon was fully aware his grandfather wouldn't go as far as harm a descendant of another major family.
The young girl before them, while not the main inheritor of her household was still one of the daughters of one of three greatest Clans in the Kingdom together with the Galvidol household and another. Never in his right mind would he dare injure her over such a petty reason.
However… The very thought of her, a mere child, being impacted by his own presence irked Draxon very much.
'He is testing me. I've read this before, that Demons will often challenge their own bloodline to stir their innate bloodlines and desires, building them closer to the ideal demon they should be… But not like this.'
'Harming a child over this… Does it all matter so much to you?'
Draxon didn't know his grandfather very well. He merely knew him as the grumpy old man he often saw from time to time during special occasions. But he never struck him as such a cruel Demon… But that could've been his mistake all along.
'A test… If he wants to push a reaction from me… So be it.'
He raised his head to face his grandfather as he checked the girls condition. And he saw it, in his cold eyes, patience.
He was waiting for his reaction.
'The doctor said I had to spend my energy daily… Very well. I'll do it today.'
/Buzz…/
Draxon's horns lit up with light as he gently put the girl on the ground.
"Grandfather… Did something bad." Draxon said out loud as he clenched his fists
"I did. And what do we do with people who cross the line?" He asked as his eyes narrowed
/Buzz…/
While Draxon wished to say what he had in mind right this moment, he knew he had to maintain a degree of childness else things would take a turn for the worse.
Besides, it wasn't like he needed to fake his anger… He just had to show it differently…
"Father said that when that happens… We put them in their place!"
/BUZZ!/
For the first time ever since his contract, Draxon let his entire inner energy run berserk!
/BAM!!/
A red haze took over the entire hill, pushing away the flowers and the leaves in the trees, cracking the ground and ripping apart their clothes.
/Shine!/
Draxon's horns glew red, pulsating with power as they momentarily grew longer, becoming as long as his father's hands.
His eyes turned red as his forehead lit up with green light.
"Hm?..."
His grandfather seemed to noticed something about this but remained quiet, letting him release all of his pent up energy.
This was more then mere provocation, he knew the child had too much energy contained within and that it needed to release it. However, a systematic released was far too slow and inefficient for him. He was going to force to puke it all out at once.
Draxon's energy grew further and further, surpassing that of a Low Rank Demon and reaching the Intermediate Rank, yet it kept climbing further high.
/Tremble…/
The ground quaked as his inner potential and energy built over the last few years burst all at once!
"... That's right. Let it all out. Your father should've let you done this ages ago. Look at where we stand now." He said as he noticed how Draxon had lost control of himself
Demons could lose control of their powers and emotions if they gave into them too much. Draxon's current appearance was exactly that.
Berserk energy running rampant with nowhere to go, clouding his thoughts like alcohol…
/Crack!/
Behind him, the thick tree snapped in half, being sent flying back at ever growing his Demonic Power.
However, even he had a limit, eventually stopping as his body reached its limits…
/Thud…/
And like someone who did too much exercise, he fell down, unconscious.
Draxon overestimated himself, playing right into the old Demon's hands.
By letting his anger take over in an attempt to justify himself and "punish" this old fool, he ended up forcing his body to such a point his brain just shut itself off when pushed too far…
"So this is your limit… Just shy of Gal-Dan."
'This kid truly is a beast in the making… But he's far too compassionate.'
'It is okay for a child to have such emotions, but a leader that will rule this House… No, this Kingdom. Will need to be stern and strong to remain standing.'
'As for the young girl… She isn't anything impressive. But she's still a daughter of the Lanak Household.'
'The other daughters are too old to be matched with him and they already have potential suitors… Her being his match seems appropriate, but far from enough.'
'At this rate, it'd be better to match him with the first daughter of the Wezolpol Clan for she has awakened their innate bloodline from birth. And while Draxon hasn't… He clearly does not lack compared to her.'
'Once they both reach their teenage years, none of that will matter.'
'I'll contact both Clans just in case…'
/Fwoosh!/
As the old Demon thought about the future, dozens of knights, including his son and his wife aproached from afar, attracted to the commotion.
From there was a rather erratic situation, but that was a story for another time and place…
Today marked the start of Draxon's deep training by the hands of what he could only a Devil… Multiple Devils…
From common studies to advanced practices and physical exercise, Draxon was pushed to his limits daily in his pursuit of escaping from his predicament.
Within a year, his condition had greatly improved. Within two, he had become a completely different person.
The older he grew and the more he learned, the better he became at managing his issues and developing himself.
As such, the promised day finally arrived… The day his grandfather would take over his training.
…
"... Draxon… Don't go…"
"... Stop it Freena, it was going to happen eventually." Draxon said out loud as he patted his childhood friend's hair
The day had finally arrived. After two years of training and studies, playing and resting in between… Draxon's body had grown to a degree his grandfather could confidently say he was ready for specialized tutoring.
Remaining within his birth manor wasn't a possibility anylonger as his grandfather had his duties within the main household.
For him to train, he had to return to his Clan's central land.
"No…I don't want it… Let's go play…"
"..."
It pained Draxon to see this small child cry like this, but there was little he could do.
He could see them already. The gorgeous carriage drive by monstrous beasts in the gates of the Manor. It was his grandparents, waiting to take him with them…
/Pat…/
/Sniff…/
He could only pat her head as he waited to be called. This would be their last time together for what would like be a decade if not more…
But for what was he training for?... Well, there was a certain place his parents wanted him to challenge…
That, however, was for the future him to care about.
"Sniff… D-Draxon hates me…"
"Shhh… I don't hate you… It's the contrary…"
While he tried to calm her down, in truth, he was quite worried.
'If she gets rilled up her horns will hit me right in the chin…'
Because of his physical training, he'd grown quite tall for a child, being around a head taller then her, a prime position to be smacked in the face by.
How many times had this happened anyway? He should be thankful most females had their horns pointed backward…
'It's been a long way… A lot of training and research for this moment. Parties and networking… My grandfather has accepted me and so have the other decision holders of the main house. It's time for me to go to them and achieve my absolute potential.'
'At least… That's what they believe… With my contract with my old body, my growth will never cease, however… Now that I'm reaching puberty and my potential has begun to surface, I'll need their tutalage to properly manipulate the ancient rising bloodlines within me.'
'Because I've devoured the equivalent of over a million Souls, my potential has reached an unbelievable stage.'
'Soul power is one of the fundamental forces that all Demons seek. It allows them to improve their talents, powers, rank, and much more… When refined and properly integrated of course… Otherwise, madness and worse may happen. But this was something I learned of years ago anyway…'
'The thing is, since the Soul formed inside my old body is shapeless, formless, and ownerless, there's no need to refine it as its just like a bundle of pure power. It may be weak due to it lacking any experience, but in the last few years I've done quite a bit to strengthen my old body, resulting in the lump of Soul power increasing in both size and power.'
'And since my Soul origaned inside that old body, it perfectly matches mine. As such, there's no need for any refinement, I merely need to absorb it and guide the power where I want it to go and it'll fuse onto me seamlessly.'
'By progressing my studies and research, my understanding of the Soul has greatly increased, allowing me to not only improve the process but also better control it. Diminishing the side effects that plagued me before. And while it's still impossible for me to absorb the Souls without rest, I've reached a point where I can better tolerate it… Since now, I have other areas to transfer this power to rather then my own innate Demonic Power.'
'Bloodlines… There are multiple within me right now. It's impossible to tell how many unless we take out the records of the family and trace back thousands of years… Which is unrealistic. We'd end up with tens of thousands of ancestors before we reach the 72-Great Lords.'
'They're the ones behind many of the bloodline powers contained within the modern Capra Demons of today. And so far, none have been able to properly recreate the same process. And the answer to that is simple. Time are different and so is the world. Growing and developing your abilities to the point your descendent can inherit is nothing short of legend.'
'Simple things like potential can be affected if you grow to a certain point before conceiving a child, its what most Demons do, however, creating a power and attaching it to your bloodline is far greater milestone.'
'It's far simple to train in what your father and his father did then pursuing such an impossible thing, otherwise, they wouldn't be called the 72-Great Lord by other species even those rivaling the Capra and Horned Demon Clan as a whole.'
'The method most Clans use in the modern times is that of inheritance. To persevere in one craft and art for multiple generations hopping it eventually becomes a talent inherent to them. Or in other worlds, they're forcing their bodies to adapt and evolve to accept this art… Which some succeed in accomplishing.'
'My Clan succeed in it after all…'
'In these two years, while I haven't manifested any of my unique bloodlines, several of them have already begun showing signs of awakening… Which only makes things more problematic…'
'If certain bloodline powers are inherent to a certain Clan or House, what do you think happens if a child conceived between members of both ends up manifesting both of their abilities? A clash of interests will ensue.'
'I've already heard my parents arguing over this before which makes me feel bad but it's the nature of the Demon world.'
'At this rate, I'll likely awaken a dozen bloodlines. And even if they're weak, it won't matter since I can strengthen them forever.'
'Most Demons, even if they can awaken their ancestral bloodlines cannot properly use the same powers as their ancestors either due to the bloodline thinning out, mutating, or the methods to control it properly being lost or not passed down properly.'
'I can't count how many of the 72 Lords blood courses though me… But it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say half does… And as long as I keep devouring souls and improving my methods, I can't begin to think about how many of those powers I would awaken.'
'Once they awaken, I can just infuse them with Soul power and strengthen them back to their original state. This is how the Demonic Ranking process works… It's the ultimate bloodline power of all Demons that hasn't vanished in… Since written history began.'
'No wonder all Demons call this power the bloodline of the Demon God, the creator of all Demons…'
'I once thought about it… If I keep absorbing Souls… Would I eventually strengthen this bloodline within me?'
'I often sit down to remember my past life and some of its unique characteristics… And I often wonder as I remember who I used to be, if we extrapolate things, wouldn't the Demonic Ranking process be something akin to a Cheat System?'
'As long as you gather energy, the Ranking process can strengthen you… That is, if you have the proper qualifications.'
'And I have a cheat that allows me to gather infinite energy… Which in this context becomes the greatest power of them all… If I'm given time.'
'This is the reason why I never bothered to seek anyone's acknowledgement. I believe respect and influence will come to be naturally as long as I grow stronger… And if it doesn't… Who cares? I'll just keep growing stronger.'
'I can live outside of the System… But I don't expect it to accept me. I know full well what'll happen to me if I pop out too much. It's how the Demon world works. Even Earth was like that to a certain degree.'
'I just need to focus on myself and everything will be fine…'
/Sniff…/
"..."
Although he never had a daughter or a sister, this girl which he had spent over five human years playing with had grown quite a bit in his heart.
This was his issue, being so compassionate in a world of currently and barbarism…
'Is growing absolute with the cost of loneliness trully the right way to achieve power?'
An issue he'd have to figure out himself…
/Fwoosh…/
A shadowy figure appeared behind him, saying:
"Young master, the Lord's waiting for you."
"... I'll be going…"
"Noooo!!"
/Burst!/
"..."
Upon hearing his words, the little girl grew angry, throwing a tantrum as her horns glew with light.
However, the intensity of her Demonic Power was so low it barely shuffled Draxon's hair…
"Let's go Fren… It's rude to have them wait for us…"
"No!"
"..."
'I've listened to her for many years… I've pampered her.'
Draxon smiled as he sighed… Making a decision.
'I'm sorry for this… I hope you can forgive me.'
/Shine…/
Draxon's right palm glew with light, infusing something into Freena's head…
/Thud…/
She grew limp soon after, collapsing in his arms.
"... Let's go."
…
/Wave…/
Saying his last goodbyes, Draxon departed with the gorgeous carriage, leaving behind his family and friends in pursuit of his ambitions.
The servants and knights felt emotional as they saw him leave, but none could compare to the grief madam Algra felt this moment…
"My baby!! No!..."
"Dear…"
'It's… For his own good. But that brat… He left without even crying…'
"So that's your son, Droruund?"
A middle aged Demon wearing similar clothes to him. Freena's father, Lord Lanak.
While both were of the same age range, Lanak had already taken over his Houshold due to their customs, which technically meant his status was higher then Droruund's.
"Yes. Its your first time seeing him in person, isn't it?"
"And I apologize for that… It seems I should've done this sooner." He said with a light expression as he looked at his daughter sleeping in his wife's arms
"It seems she grew quite attached to him… What do you think? Should we officialize it?"
"... Sneaky fox. You barely even know him. Don't you think I can't see your intentions?"
"Humph… And you think my daughter's not good enough for him?"
"You know full well what I'm talking about here."
"... You're tough, very well, let's do it like this then..."
"When he comes of age and its time to decide on these things, the Lanak household shall be the first to be taken into consideration. How about that?"
"I'll raise my daughter well so she can stand next to him without embarrassment."
"... So you want preferential treatment for nothing?" Droruund asked as he crossed his arms
"I'm essentially giving my daughter away and you're still not satisfied?"
"You have five daughters, don't act as if you've been a compassionate father all this time…"
"You bastard! You want to fight?!"
"Dear… Let me take it from here." His wife said as she sighed
"Indeed, this is something we should take our time discussing… And in the end, I don't think we can force either of them onto it." Algra said as she wiped away her tears
"... How long did you say this was going to take?" Lord Lanak asked as he looked at the carriage vanish in the clouds
"At most ten years. However, it is purely to my grandfather's arbitration. Once he believes Draxon has nothing else to learn, he'll be sent there. But it'll definitely won't take much longer given the rules."
"That old fogger?..."
'As expected. They aren't holding anything back.'
"Very well. We'll do the same on our end, although if he takes too long, I'll be sending her there first. Is that fine?"
"That's up to you. But regardless of the order, they'll both meet there eventually."
The Demons silently agreed with one another before walking inside the Manor to finish their discussions.
Many hours later, another carriage would leave the Manor.
Once it did, the once lively Manor was cast in silence just as it had been years before Draxon's birth.
…
/Later that day…/
/Step…/
Within a dark hall, Draxon walked in silence as he followed after his grandfather.
Albeit the darkness was thick, he could faintly sense his surroundings.
A dark path made out of smooth stone surrounded by large status throughout its length…
/Step…/
His footsteps echoing in the darkness, they arrived at a circular room faintly lit by an opening in the concave ceiling.
On the ground surrounding a circular pattern on the ground were several old Demons, some of which he recognized.
But while he could not tell all of their identities, despite their varied appearances, they all had something in common…
They were all Balor Rank Demons!
It was a gathering of the strongest Demons in the Galvidol Clan!
"You're here my son… That must be the rumored child." One of the Demons said as he turned his head to face them
"So he's your grandson? He's cute. Don't be afraid child, come here."
An old lady opened her hand to him, smiling slightly as she waited for him.
/Grab…/
Draxon went to her, grabbing her hand.
"You're such a cutie. Obedient too. Your grandfather was quite the brat when he was your age, wasn't he dear?"
"That was long, long ago… We can talk about the past once this is over."
"..."
'So this lady is my Great Grandmother? I heard she came from a side family, being one of the most talented Demons they had produced in the last few centuries. The perfect match for Great Grandfather…'
"Mnn… Where is this place?" Draxon asked as he raised his head to look at his grandma
"My… This is a very important place for our family. This is the Ancestry Repository." She replied as she patted his head
"Ancestry Repository?"
"It's the place where we leave the records of every single members bloodline. By family law, every descendant that carries the name Galvidol, rather officially or unnafocialy, has the right to leave their name in our family tree for the sake of record keeping." One of the other old Demons said as they crossed their arms
"Whenever a child reaches the end of their childhood, usually around ten years of age, if they're from the official family, they're obliged to leave behind a drop of their blood so their bloodline may be added to the records."
"Those unofficially affiliated with the family may leave their bloodline behind as well if they desire. However, if they don't do so, their next generations won't be allowed to carry the analog surname of the household meant for those who've distanced themselves from the family one reason or another."
"Ohhh…"
'Then I must be here for…'
"You're here today to leave behind your bloodline, but more importantly, for us to check for ourselves how much of our ancestors bloodlines courses through you." His Great Grandfather said deeply as he put his hands behind his back
"... But why?..."
"Child, just because you're a direct descendant doesn't mean you carry with him the bloodlines of the ancestors."
"Bloodlines thinner over time, change and mutate, fuse and dissipate… Not all innate powers can be awakened. Even the most talented of us could not. So today we shall determine your path by seeing which you can awaken. The path you're most suited to follow." His Great Grandmother said as she pat his head once more
"I understand."
"Let's not waste anymore time then. Son, call forth the family tree."
/Nod…/
His Grandfather walked to the center of the room where the strange symbol was located.
/Cut…/
But cutting his hand with a ritual dagger, a single drop of blood fell onto the symbol, igniting it with light.
/Shine!/
"Woah!"
The symbol shone with light, and in the air, a massive family tree sprung like a hologram.
The family tree was massive, going back ten generations, leading back to four Demons he could not recognize…
"Vassago, Seir, Zepar, and Balam. Those are the four great ancestors of the Galvidol Household. Four of the 72-Great Lords. However, the clan name only came to be later during the third Patriarch's rule."
"If we want to see exactly where it all began, then Balam would be the first patriarch with Seir being his partner. Together, they conceived Almafera, the second patriarch of the Galvidol house."
"He then married the daughter of Lord's Zepar and Vassago. Giving birth to Raosondir the third patriarch and the one who created the Galvidol name."
"... And while it may seem strange given he was Lord Balam's greatson. When Raosondir was born, it had already been 1000 years since Balam vanished."
"In this same period, many of the original 72-Great Lords also either vanished or were confirmed to have passed away to a multitude of reasons."
"Raosondir himself led the Galvidol household for five hundred years before marrying a lady of another rising Household, their union conceived the forth patriarch, Jarebec who was said to have mastered the eight unique bloodlines within him, being the Great Grandson of eight of the 72-Great Lords."
"Jarebec ruled the house for seven hundred years before passing down his position to his youngest son, thus being not only the strongest patriarch in the clan following the Great Lords, but also the longest in charge."
"That was one thousand, four hundred years ago and since then, each patriarch has been in charge for about two hundred years before passing their position to their children."
"In total, this puts the history of the Galvidol household to around that of two thousand, nine hundred years where excluding the Great Lords where eleven patriarchs took charge, with me being the teneth, my son the eleventh, and your father shall be the twelfth."
"There hasn't been one condition where the position wasn't transferred from father to son, however, this doesn't mean one has to take charge."
"While it only happened once, a generation can be skipped. However, they will still be recorded as a patriarch, even if one who solely seeded their position to their child."
"Following this line, you'll see that with the passing of the generations, in the 3600 years of our family's history, we've accumulated 31 out of the 72-Great Lords' bloodlines. Which is normal given how the families have mingled over the years."
"... But… If I'm the 13th generation, wouldn't I have… Erm… Over sixteen thousand ancestors? I-It doesn't make sense for our bloodline to only trace to thirty one of them…"
""...""
/Silence…/
"A-Ahem… Over the thousands of years, there were cases of bloodlines mingling. However, given how distant those individuals were at any given point, there wasn't any substantial risk of mutations occurring."
"At the same time, we only track the ancestry of the 72-Great Lords. Other ancestries are kept stored somewhere else but aren't meaningful for us. Otherwise the number of Demons originating our family would be in the hundreds if not thousands."
"Not to add other bloodlines coming from other Horned Demons and not solely from our species. After all, not all of the Great Lords were Capra Demons, albeit all were considered Horned Demons."
"However, you may have realized the family tree is only half complete and that's because your line… From your mother's side is not recorded."
"This family tree only tracks the bloodline of each patriarch and his ancestors. It doesn't include their brothers, nephews, uncles, and more."
"We can only track so much at once, albeit all of them are recorded in our archives… Although not all."
"Unfortunately, not all families from the side of the mothers of each generation can be recorded as more often then not, they come from another Clan of equal status and such clans hold their family lines with utmost prestige, refusing to share any information on them."
"As such, we can only take their word for their pedigree and add the Great Lords they claim be descendants of. When you were born, we requested information on your mother's family and as expected, we were cordially refused… However, it matters little for we have our own records as well. Even if not official."
"Once you infuse your bloodline onto the altar, your ancestry lines will be recorded and we'll be able to see how many of the Great Lords' blood courses through you."
"So far, we've been able to preserve Lord's Vassago, Seir, and Zepar's bloodline, however, in a tragic turn of events, after Jarebec's rule, Balam's power vanished from our bloodline. And it wasn't only us but other families descended from the 9-Kings also lost contact with the bloodline of their ancestors."
"If you aren't aware, the 9-Kings were the strongest out of the 72-Great Lords, each of them originated multiple lines, either direct as having their first child lead a family, or indirectly, such as having their grandson or great grandson create it."
"Our family was directly created by the 7th King Balam, but only given a proper name by Raosondir."
"Other notable families directly originated from the 9-Kings includes the three Royal bloodlines and the Imperial bloodline said to have been originated by the 1st King, Baal."
"The three royal families and the Imperial clan claim to have preserved the powers of the Kings, however… Speaking of such is blasphemy against their name so never dwell on it, especially in public."
"To most, we believe the bloodline powers of the 9-Kings had never been actually passed down but only broken down into pieces. As such, once they vanished or passed away, the power they lent to their children scattered as well."
"Some even claim they very reason they vanished was because they had so many descendants their powers wanned out beyond their control. And that within a single generation, as the number of descendants doubled with a few years, they all vanished before being able to recall their powers."
"This is the history of the Galvidol Household. And maybe if given the chance, you may be allowed to peer into the Tirgath Household's heritage as well. However, asking your mother would likely be the correct path to take."
"..."
"I think you spoke too much dear. Didn't you say the same thing when it was our son's turn?"
"Ahem… Our history is important... But that said. Step into the circle."
/Walk…/
Draxon walked into the circle, giving his right hand to his grandfather who gently nipped at his palm, letting a tiny droplet of blood fall onto the sigil, which was quickly absorbed by the stone.
/Shine!/
The entire family tree lit up with light, adding a new name right beneath his father's and mother's names.
At the same time, several sigils rose from the ground, lighting up in the sky.
One, two, four, seven…
"Incredible. So he does carry the bloodlines of the original ancestors." One of the old Demons said as he scratched his chin
However, it was far from over…
Seven… Eight… Twelve… Sixteen…
"... I don't recognize those sigils…" Someone else said as they frowned
"Furfur, Bifrons, Sabnock. Aamon… Those sigils aren't present in our bloodline. They belong to his mother side." Another Demon replied as she adjusted her glasses
"How many bloodlines are present in her bloodline?" His Great Grandfather asked as he frowned
"Hard to say, the Tirgath Household claims being descendants of at least twenty unrelated to us. Having shown signs of four… No… Seven… Wait…"
"... Just how many…"
Twenty… Thirty… Fourty… Fifty…
The space above them had been completely overtaken by sigils, each representing one of the ancient Great Lords.
"This… Impossible… Does this mean this child possess the potential to awaken all innate abilities belonging to all of the Great Lords?"
"Not quite… Only 59 bloodlines… As expected, none of the 9-Kings bloodlines were awakened and out of the remaining four bloodlines, Andrealphus' bloodline has been maintained by the Adrammelech Household where none of their children have ever been married off while Agares' bloodline was completely wiped off the earth over two thousand years ago."
"Meanwhile, Aim is said to have fallen in the Northern extremes, fighting to the very end without carrying about leaving behind his bloodline while Orias spent one thousand years in the Astro Perceiver Tower until he vanished like all other Lords. Not leaving a bloodline either. Albeit we can't say if either of them have ever had children before."
"Their bloodline may still roam the lands, albeit so mixed in with the commonfolk who can't inspect their blood that it remains elusive."
"Still, Dromalius! Are you aware of what this means? My Great Grandnephew has the potential to awaken almost 60 of the 72 Great bloodlines, this is almost all bloodlines aside from the 9-Kings." One of the Demons said as he looked at Draxon's Great Grandfather
"I am aware… This could mean war…"
"... Am I in trouble?..." Draxon asked in a low tone as he looked around anxiously
"No… You're not, child. Come here." His Great Grandmother said as she pulled him closer, hugging him
"Stop scarring the child Frepez."
"I… It wasn't my intention… Still, my brother has a point here."
"The reason most clans are okay with marrying their daughters away is because they know its almost an impossibility for their child with a man of another clan has almost no chance of inheriting their bloodline abilities given its the man who usually passes down most of it."
"It is evident the bloodline will persist, but even if their grandson or beyond awakens their bloodline, it would usually be a weakened or depreciated form… But in his case, awakening so many bloodlines, some of them so distant its hard to even tell when those connections were made, its obvious their respective households will frown at his existence."
"Worse, given we're already like this, if he goes and awakens their powers in any way comparable to their main inheritors… It could lead to a complete meltdown of the current System… Because he is, at this moment, the embodiment of the Great Lords."
"If he is to marries a daughter of the Adrammelech household, this would complete all of the remaining bloodlines and birth the ultimate inheritor of the Great Lords… In fact, I expect this to reach even the Imperial Family's ears!"
/CLAP!/
"This won't be reaching anyone's ears."
A demon slowly walked down from the darkness, joining the group of old Demons.
He was extremely old as his skin was soggy and his horns were losing their color, one of them broken in the middle.
He was like a bag of bones, a miracle o even walk.
""Elder.""
Everyone bowed slightly in respect to this ancient Demon.
"Child, fear not for you represents someone our kind has dreamed of for a long time…"
"For ages, many of us who hold onto the bloodlines of the Great Lords have waited for the individual who would carry within them the power of multiple Lords, greater then anyone had ever shown."
"And while no proof had ever been conceived, mathematically, it was only a matter of time until someone like you appeared… And I never thought i'd still be here to witness it."
"My name is Datyvilos, seventh patriarch of the Galvidol Household."
"... How old are you?"
""...""
"Chuckle… Leave it to a child to ask something like this…" Datyvilos said as he chuckled lightly
"Right now, I am over eight hundred years."
"Woaaah… I thought we could only live for half of that!" Draxon said in excitement as he ran to the old man, jumping around like a child
His acting was often surprising… Even to him…
"Ho… Under the right circumstances, Capra Demons can push a little past that. Especially if they become a Balor at a young age…"
"There aren't many like me in the other Households, albeit I'm certain there are a few over five hundred watching their descendants just like me. It's the norm after all."
"A Patriarch doesn't vanish once they retire, they must do something to pass the time… Some take hobbies, others teach, some roam the world… A few opt to blend in with the Household and observer from an inconspicuous position…"
"In my case… I've chose to waste away in this glorified coffin… Waiting for something interesting to happen… And sign it off with a bang." He said with a light smile as he walked past Draxon, going to the center of the room where the family tree was written
He rose his walking stick, pointing at a Demon's name considerably high up in the line.
"See up there? Jarebec was my great grandfather. Although, unfortunately, I never saw him in person as both my father and grandfather took great pride in their work and with it, time to manage a descendant…"
"After all, following Jarebec handing down his position to his son, the fifth patriarch… My grandfather, it still took around six hundred years for me to be born… Quite a lot even for long lived and powerful Capra Demons…" He said as he sighed loudly
"... So you are…"
"Sorry to disappoint you, child. But it has been over a thousand years since a Baol has emerged in our household… Because Jarebec was the last one."
"My father and grandfather worked tirelessly to reach that rank but failed… I meditated and research greatly on the reason why that was the case and so did them, but alas, none ever reached a reasonable conclusion aside from a lack of talent."
"I tried to reach the same realm too but alas… The only difference between us was that I accepted my limits sooner, focusing instead on self preservation rather than pursuing a realm I would never reach."
"And now, while I've accumulated enough Demonic Power and enlightenment to surpass the barrier, my body has already reached the limit long ago… Even my once prized horns have degraded to this extent."
"Even if I could turn back time, I'd still be unable to break through this hurdle."
"Our species has a limit, one that is not so easy to surpass. Otherwise, the ancient Demons wouldn't have been revered so much… And they were said to be beyond even a Baol toward the realm only the Noble Species can look down from."
"Understanding and breaking this limit has been a dream of all Noble families of the Empire of centuries, however, in the past thousand years, I can count on my hand the number of Baols that have emerged throughout the lands…"
"... However… This may soon change."
""!!!""
"Child… Your name… Tell it to me."
"... It's up there?" Draxon said as he pointed up
"Haa… I know child, but I want to hear it from you."
"Draxon… Draxon Galvidol Tirgath."
"Draxon… Very well."
/Thud…/
He slammed his walking stick on the ground, saying:
"From henceforth, you're my disciple. I shall pass onto you all I have mastered in the last few hundred years I have been in seclusion."
""!!!""
"However… I don't have the energy to teach you the basics I'm afraid… And I'll need some time to compile the proper research material to provide you…"
He turned to the old Demons, saying:
"From here on out, you all will be dividing the tutoring role amidst yourselves."
"Draxon may possess multiple bloodlines, but this doesn't correlate to his talents and aspirations."
"Hm… How old are you again, child?"
"I'm seven! My birthday was last week. Grandpa shouldn't been there! It was fun." Draxon replied as he smiled at the elderly Demon
"Ho… I would love to be anywhere else and participate in these parties but I can't move as well as I once did. A side effect of my age…"
'Seven is he? I bet they're thinking of sending him to the Dragons… Then they must be aiming at around ten years. Not too young, not too old either, just around the middle of his teenage years.'
"Erm… Grandpa?… Are you in pain? We should see the doctor."
"... I'm fine, child. Just an old man who made a choice, nothing else. I've accepted this condition long ago…"
He turned his gaze from Draxon to the others again:
"For the next seven years I aspect you all to find out where he excels at and help him awaken and mature his bloodlines."
"While the child may possess the talent to awaken them all, it would be foolish to try and perform such an act… At least while he's still so young."
"He may mature his potential as he ages and has the time to do so, but right now what he needs is mastery over a few so he may cement his position in the realm."
"I won't explain myself any further, solve the rest amidst yourselves…" He said as he turned around, going back to the darkness
"... Are you leaving grandpa?"
"Uhum… We'll see each other again when the time comes. Until then, learn well."
/Clack… Clack…/
Like that, the old Demon walked into the darkness, the echoes of his cane reverberating throughout the halls…
Until only silence was left.
"... That solves it. As the Elder said, we'll be dividing ourselves into tutors for the next seven years. But first, we must divide who'll be in charge of what. So if you aren't interested in teaching him, step out now."
One of the Elders took a step forward, saying:
"... There isn't much I can teach any of you cannot, however, I'm still the one who has awakened the strongest form of Orobas' bloodline power. Teaching the child how to properly control and what to expect of it should be enough for my contribution."
As he said that, the other elders were quick to voice their opinions:
"Since that's the case… I should be able to teach him Biology in general. The understanding of the creatures of the world is an essencial subject. This alone would take quite a bit of time for a strong foundation."
"In that case, I can teach him Runic and Language. I've dedicated almost three centuries to the studies of languages. If I can teach it to him, there won't be anything he won't comprehend."
"Then I…"
/Chatter…/
"I'm sure everyone has something to say, in that case, we'll be returning to the Manor… It's disrespectful to discuss such subjects in this place where our ancestors rest."
"For now… Dear, give him a tour around the Manor. He'll be staying here a while so I need the others to understand his position."
"Sure thing dear, the poor thing's starving so I'll have him eat something first if you don't mind." She replied as she held onto Draxon's hand
"Let's move dear. Leave the rest to them."
"Yes."
"Fufu… You sure are better than my son. My grandson did a good job raising you." She said with a chuckle as she walked with him outside of the hall
"... I don't think I need to remind you all that today is something that should remain here alone… For our safety."
""...""
/Nod…/
"Will we be conducting his entire training within the main land?" Frepez as he cleared his throat
"It would be safer to have him remain in one place…" Someone else added as they looked around
"But a child needs to experience the world. I bet he already lived quite the sheltered life. What will you do if he ends up growing timid?" One of the grandmas asked as she frowned
"Indeed, it would be best if he moved around a little…"
"We can discuss all of that outside… Let's leave the rest for later…"
/Step…/
The Elders left the hall, leaving behind the family tree as it slowly dissipated…
/Shine…/
However, as the light dissipated, a new simbol shone on the tree…
"... As expected…"
At that moment Datyvilos stepped out of the dark, stopping before the family tree with a serene gaze.
/Shine…/
A powerful sigil manifested in the air, its mere presence seemed to bend the air around the other sigils…
"As fate foretells… Oh Great Lord Paimon… Have thoust predicted this day?"
"The prophecy makes itself true… Right, it all makes sense now. Only when my life is nearing its end that my purpose will come to me… How meager."
"Had I never fought so desperatedely to preserve myself, would I have been able to see this day? I often thought the prophecy was not for me but… I couldn't have been more wrong."
"Now… The Great Lords are dead but their descendents live on. In these times of strife, peace is merely but an illussion. War couldn't be deadlier."
"Millions of Souls will be sacrificed… In the sea of chaos of destruction, a new Lord, one to surpass them all shall be born."
"Not from nobility, not from humility, the right Lord that understands and despises all. Not neutral but not foolish either… Could the prophecy be referring to Draxon?..."
"However, if the words of the prophecy are to be taken at face value, Draxon does not carry within him the bloodline of all Lords… Some still allude him…"
"Then… Does the prophecy refer to his child? Is Draxon the one who shall father the Lord of all Lords?... How vexing that my fate is merely to guide but not reach…"
/Shine…/
As he said that, another sigil grew in the dark, one of equal intensity to the previous one.
"... "The Kings make their appearance once more, proclaiming their successor, they shall crown the prince and bestow upon him a crown of horns…"... Haa…"
"Even if not him, the time of the prophecy is fast arriving. War is on the horrizon."
He looked back at where Draxon and the others left, grimacing.
"I don't have much time. I must create the next Baol… Or at least give him the means of achieving it… My life's goal, I cannot let it end just yet."
"Regardless of who he is, Draxon is my closest bet yet."
'I've observed many talented children grow old, Draxon has the greatest potential of them all… I can only hope it translates to his capabilities as well.'
'Such potent bloodline can't be wasted on an incapable person… We must shape him so he can be the best of him… If he wants to or not.'
'With such blood, his fate will be turbulent. If he cannot sail in such waters, he'll only drown in the sea of change and expectation.'
"Fight, child… And I'll support you as best as I can."
/Clack…/
The elder walked away as the sigils in the air broken appart.
No one apart from him would even know of this, he'd make sure of this for as long as he was alive…
The child would grow, he would be their greatest creation…
...
.
.
.
Notes
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