"Master," Lina said, stepping forward. "The preparations for the portal are progressing as planned. Sigmund has been working tirelessly."
Aldritch nodded as he listened to Lina's report. They had found an underground lair connecting the royal castle with the church. Within this lair was several regions where different experiments took place, especially ones that were not so scientific and more of spiritual and ritualistic. Amongst these was the space dedicated for the portal connecting the lesser world to the higher one.
This was not where the portal had initially appeared, but the humans of the lower world had succeeded in recreating the link between both world and replicating it in this location.
Aldritch took a little trip down to meet with Sigmund who had been working more than normal as of late.
In the heart of the lair, Sigmund was hunched over a glowing table cluttered with runes, vials, and arcane tools. Unlike his usual scientific laboratory, this one appeared very different. Surprisingly, Sigmund seemed to be well acquainted with everything. He hadn't been focusing solely on traditional science it would seem. Then again, since he had enough hands to assist him, there was little to no challenge.
He looked up as Aldritch approached, "master, you're just in time!" Sigmund exclaimed, gesturing toward a pulsating magical artifact. "I've nearly perfected the stabilizing runes for the portal. The energy required is immense, but with the power crystal, it should hold long enough for the entire family to ascend." He said.
Aldritch studied the artifact, his sharp mind analyzing its construction. Well, he didn't really understand any of it, maybe a little at best.
"Good. Ensure there are no flaws. If the portal collapses mid-transition, well, I shouldn't be the one telling you the consequences." Aldritch said.
Sigmund nodded. "Of course, Master. I'll triple-check everything." They both knew very well what failure meant, instant death.
...
Lodestar came to the castle which was now the main base of operations for Aldritch and his entire family. Not to mention that it was big enough to fit everyone, it was also at a favorable position.
Lodestar had come to visit Aldritch before embarking on his journey to find the main thing that had brought him to the lower world, a chance to fix himself.
"Even though you say so, if you are able to finish your business before we leave, you should go with us." Aldritch said to Lodestar as both of them stood in the garden.
"There's no need for that. There's no way it will be that easy. The time has already drawn near, very soon, the remaining months will come and pass."
"Mm..."
"Take this insignia. It will allow you an audience with the head of my family, and they should be of help to you as someone who will be entering the upper world as a newbie."
Aldritch took the insignia with a subtle smile. "Thank you very much for this, I won't forget this help."
"Hahaha, you better not. Alright, that is all, I should leave now."
"You won't take Rykia with you? I imagine she won't be happy to part ways with you like this." Aldritch said to him, after all, it was no secret that both had become rather close.
"Heh, despite how it may look, we don't have anything going on between us. We just understand each other being the oldest in the family, nothing more."
"I see. I won't waste anymore of your time then."
Nodding, Lodestar disappeared from the spot, leaving behind only a faint swirl of breeze.
Out from the shadows, Ingrid appeared.
"You intend to use the insignia from Lodestar to forge an alliance with the Dragons' Blest family?"
Aldritch nodded. "Lodestar's family is powerful and influential in the higher world. Their aid will provide us with the foothold we need. But it won't be an alliance. The insignia ensures that they cannot ignore us."
"I see."
Anshire had already joined Aldritch out of her own volition, and Aeress had heard from Nahia, the vision she saw of Aldritch, and how they were present in that vision. Though Naiha didn't see Aeress in it, following such a man didn't seem like such a bad idea. There was just one thing she needed to know.
"I'll like to meet with your master again before I make my decision." She said.
Agreeing, Helga used her magic to bring everybody to the capital and within the innermost walls. From there, they made their way to the castle to meet with Aldritch.
Aldritch immediately sensed Aeress's presence, something he had registered after meeting her before. Also, since her energy was mixed and a bit similar to that of the ayssal being, he could not forget it.
"You've come... I suppose, you seek an audience?" Aldritch said, leading Aeress away.
There was no better place to discuss than the garden, under the full moon.
After a brief discussion, they got to the main part of their meeting. "There is just one thing I wish to know. You seek power, but just how do you intend to acquire such great power?"
Aldritch decided not to hide anything, there was no need for it. "To achieve my goal, I will stop at nothing. If it means killing the entire world to achieve it, I won't hesitate, if it means sacrificing myself, I won't hesitate. For me, it's either I get stronger, or I die, I don't have a choice. Even if I had a choice, my decision won't change."
"I see... I will join you. But, I would like you to fulfil some of my wishes..."
"Let's hear them."
"I wish to remain the way I am. The same goes for those under me. For now, I can't say if becoming a vampire will be beneficial or detrimental."
"That is alright, we can just form a soul contract then." Aldritch said.
"You know how to form a soul contract? You really are extraordinary..." Aeress said, visibly surprised.
'Well, Lodestar is, I just learned from him.' Aldritch thought to himself.
...
That very night, they formed the soul contract, and the witches returned to gather all they would need to take with them.
Apart from that, Aeress also had something important she had to complete, something she had been working on. After learning of Aldritch's plans, she had to make huge adjustments to hers.
'So in the end, we are going to stand on his side, just as I saw... then, does that mean the vision I saw of the great mother will also come to pass?...' Nahia thought to herself loosely.
...
Just like that, time went by, and soon, they were in the final month before they ascended to the higher world.
With just one more month left, it was time to begin harvesting. For the past months, Aldritch had made sure that the people of the three kingdoms lived very good lives with minimal suffering. There was no paying of taxes, no forced labour, people lived peaceful lives, everything was perfect. Aldritch who had been secretly fattening these pigs to one day be slaughtered had now come for that particular purpose. The tax would be paid in full, all at once.
After gathering all the vampires who were blood suckers and above in evolution rank, he sent them to all the kingdoms. Their job was simple, to harvest the blood of every single human and livestock in all the three kingdoms.
There was the option of only taking enough to still leave the people alive, but that wouldn't maximize the gains, besides, these people were not the only people in this world. Aldritch had gotten news from Lodestar long before now, even before they started planning the invasion, he had found another land separate from the one where the three kingdoms stood on. For some reason, the people of the continent had yet to discover these other nations, either that, or the high powers kept it under wraps.
Well, all that didn't matter anymore.
With a combined population of 227,000,000... Aldritch was expecting the biggest harvest he had ever gotten. There was sure to be some escapees, but against such a number, it wouldn't matter.
Aldritch only needed to sit back and wait a few weeks for the blood massacre to be carried out, and he would reap the results.