Hundreds of meters above an impressive body of water, a simple carriage was magically flying towards the horizon.

The carriage was made of a transparent material. Angel Fangs’ aura.

Cale and Nilus were showing some uneasiness as well as pale faces. It did not help that they could see outside from all directions even if they felt like they were not moving at all.

Angel Fangs who was sitting across them said: “It will pass. The journey to the Darkcloud continent will take three days.”

Cale said: “It is not the flying sickness I am worried about. You said that even a Divine stage like you is afraid of having any contact with the merfolk down there. If something happens from up here, I see no land for us to take refuge to.”

“I was just joking. It is true that the merfolk care about their territory too much and like human meat from time to time, but I am still a divine stage.” The blue eyed albino shrugged his shoulders.

The Merfolk guard was comprised of divine stages only. No one knew where they had acquired such power generation after generation. And no one knew why they refused to leave their territory even for Divine stages. They simply made sure no human delved deeper into their territory. For thousands of years, no one had dared to trespass for fear of dying an early death even if uncovering their secret could possibly make them more powerful. Only Divine stages that could fly for an indefinite time could think of crossing the ocean just like Angel Fangs was doing.

“Fangs. Can you tell me how you know about the Soul eaters and the limits my power can reach?” Nilus asked. He had waited long enough to ask the question. He and Cale also needed to think of something else while they were flying on top of the ocean.

“My father is one them. That is how I know your species so well. I also know that there is a possibility for you to break the barrier of the 12th stage easily. There are no limits to your power the more energy you eat the stronger you become. Others are the same as well, it’s just that you have access to some amazing abilities.” He paused for a moment then continued:

“As you eat more energy, your soul core will convert it into your own aura. All you do is strengthen your own soul core from the beginning until…well…forever. When the soul core is given a soul or aura to eat, it will automatically take half of it after converting it. The other half will be sent throughout your whole body. The resulting ability at the divine stage will be a spirit body. The soul core prepares you for a complete fusion between your soul and body. At that stage, you will be able to interact with souls easily as well as becoming as formless as a soul at will. Other living beings can be born with a similar ability but soul eaters get the most useful of all. It is basically a soul body since nothing but souls can touch it.”

Cale interjected: “Then, running away from King Alek is useless. He will not need to turn into something else if he can’t even be touched. ”

“Wrong.” Nilus said. He added:

“The aura comes from the ignition of the soul and if King Alek’s fire is an aura ability he got from his soul, it is entirely possible that I can burn in the spirit body form or even die.”

Fangs said: “You will die for sure. But it will be because you let yourself die. Having a soul core ensures that you will never be corrupted or lose your soul in any way. Turning into a vampire, for example, makes you lose your soul instantly, but that is because the new vampire blood inside of you absorbed that soul to nourish itself and infect the rest of your human blood. In your case, there will be a balance being maintained. The vampire blood will never be able to absorb the soul core and the soul core will keep doing its usual job of splitting the energy but this time it will even take the vampire blood into consideration. Your body will never present the characteristics of the vampires on the outside without your consent. The blood will be the only thing being turned in your case. The rest will stay the same because they are all part of the future spirit body, your new vampire blood included. ” He ended with:

“I would recommend you turn into a vampire first and as for the shapeshifter target I want you to turn into, I will tell you when it is time. Werewolves would be a good start or even a full-fledged shapeshifter that can turn into any shape would be useful, but they are not strong enough.”

Nilus was hesitant at the idea of turning into a vampire, but since he could keep his soul and humanity, in the end, he would not lose out on having vampire powers. He asked: “What kind of shape shifter is stronger than a werewolf? Besides, I would never have agreed. I would like to look as human as possible in the future.”

“Well, you look human until you change. As for your future descendants, they will also be human. Being a soul eater cannot be passed down remember? It is a random chance to even be one. Any alteration you do on your body from now on is just a sub category ability of the soul eating ability that lets you keep them all in the same body.” Fangs said. He added:

“My father has eighteen kids, yet all of them are normal considering the alterations he made to himself over the years.”

“Then, why did you bring me along to the Darkcloud continent?” Cale asked.

“Because it’s been along time that I chanced upon another stealth oriented aura like my family. I want to train you before you reach the Divine level.” Fangs answered.

From their endless chat, the duo learned that Angel Fangs came from a continent that they had never heard of before, the Blackmist continent.

Fangs had left the family business and decided to start his own on the Darkcould continent. He created an Assassin guild. He soon realized how profitable it was and decided to expand on two other continents, the Newwolf continent and the Shadowthorn continent.

He had left home with just a Divine body and over the decades he had amassed enough resources to reach the Divine soul stage. If he had stayed home, it would’ve taken him a few more centuries to get there.

He had five aura weapons: his soft boots, an arm guard and two moon daggers. He could see how long it would take him to get them to become divine weapons. Even with the revenues of three guilds and no matter how many high value targets he took care of, it was just a simple dream to ever own a divine weapon.

Until he chanced upon a soul eater like his father.

He planned on using both the Darkcloud continent and the Newwolf continent as sacrifices to help the duo and his weapons reach the Divine level.

If he let the two nobles see the precarious situation the humans on both continents lived in, they were sure to kill forever as the creatures of the dark were lurking everywhere. He would also offer a helping hand as well as help Nilus eliminate a common enemy, king Alek.

He was ready to make himself an enemy for the creatures of the dark as long as they had souls to be fed on. He was a human himself and even if he turned a blind eye to the maltreatment of humans in the past, deep down he cared enough to give them special treatment in his guilds even if they were a minority.

The Blackmist continent he came from, was bigger than all three of the other continents combined. The humans and creatures of the dark lived in harmony over there and there was no war to speak of in centuries. Under the rule of his father, the continent was as peaceful as ever.

Three days later.

Headquarters of the Assassin guild, Darkcloud Continent.

A cat eared woman showed a surprised expression as she bowed and said:“ Welcome back guild leader.”

The same reaction appeared on everyone the group of three passed by.

“You seem too popular for just a simple human in this dark world.” Cale remarked.

“Well, they all think that I will end up choosing a clan to join in the future. They are so desperate to gain a human of my caliber in their ranks that they keep sending gifts over. Some vampire and shapeshifter clans even sent blood samples for me to turn should I finally choose to. They are too desperate. I am either an enemy or a friend. They cannot stomach a human at the same level as them, yet they cannot bring themselves to kill me. I have too much value.” Fangs helplessly said.

Nilus widened his eyes and said: “I am going to turn here?”

“What? You thought we were going to attack an entire clan and steal the blood just like that? You see, even a vampire thrall is accounted for. You cannot just barge in even with me as your spear. They are too strong you have no idea. Plus, the both of you wouldn’t be of any help with your current strength. Just be happy that they were too desperate and sent me a few blood samples.” Angel Fangs said.

He then shared his knowledge about vampires. It started by a true vampire at the top of the pyramid. True vampires were at the divine level.

Then came the vampire princes at the asura SSS level.

The pure blood vampires followed at the SS level.

Lastly, the vampire thralls or half vampires who were eternal servants of the vampires until allowed to level up to the pureblood level and start their clans.

A newly turned vampire thrall started at the S rank. A terrifying powerful servant that all vampires could create and control. A vampire thrall was under the orders of its master until released and allowed to level up.

There was no known weaknesses for a vampire. Only their undying thirst for souls and aura was their dominant trait.

They almost looked like humans.

Their eyes glowed red and could see and appraise the souls of their victims.

They had enhanced senses, speed, strength as well as fast healing that defied common sense.

Their blood could be weaponized outside of their bodies and it was their only weapon as well as the tool used to absorb souls or turning others.

As the soul ability was absorbed along with the soul when a living being was turned, the dominant ability would win.

If the vampire bloodline that turned you controlled the wind, like the Valerius clan, you would have the same power over wind upon reaching the True Vampire level.

If your soul ability survived, you could keep that ability at the true vampire level like the Vulpin clan, a vampire clan that was started by a shapeshifter who succeeded on keeping his soul ability during the turn.

The probability that you kept your soul ability was too low and the probability that you reached the True vampire level, even lower.

There were six prime vampire clans with the Macnius clan on top of the other five as they had three True vampires at the helm. The ability of the Macnius clan was known as the Blood spirit. They could turn their body into a bloody ethereal form that could go through anything.

The second clan was the Valerius clan that controlled the wind. They had two True vampires.

The third clan was the Allectus clan. They had the ability to control fire. They had one True vampire.

The fourth clan was the Antias clan with the ability to control ice. They also had one True Vampire.

The fifth clan was the Vulpin clan. They had the ability to shapeshift from the vampire thrall level. All the other vampires only acquired their ability at the true Vampire level. They had one true vampire.

The sixth clan was a clan of telepaths. It was the Jirich clan. They were ruled by three true vampires. They preferred to keep to themselves.

All the other clans were either ruled buy a few vampire prices of pure blood vampires. They could choose to join the prime clan that they truly belonged to or just remain on their own, but there was a solidarity between all of them.

“How come they allow other creatures to join their bloodlines? That shapeshifter must’ve been in an unsightly situation to be turned into a vampire.” Cale said.

“Nope. He chose it himself. There are many vampire clans with different origins than humans. He created his clan by turning anyone who wanted to become a vampire shapeshifter. With the shapeshifting ability, there is no fear to lose your soul ability during the turn as it’s another species entirely. Anyone in his bloodline can shapeshift into another human or an animal at will. They can even hide the fact that they are vampires. All the other non-human vampires out there keep their main abilities upon being turned. It is only that humans are the only ones who must wait on reaching the True vampire level to unlock their ability. Coincidently, only that shapeshifter is the only non-human vampire to reach the true vampire level.” Fangs informed. Before he said:

“I have a blood sample from the vampire shapeshifter bloodline if you want to. I also have one of the ice , fire and telepathy bloodlines. What do you choose? The two strongest bloodlines hate humans more than the last four. We can steal one of them if you want to.” Fangs asked.

“I will take all of them except for the shape shifting ability. It doesn’t suit me. We will steal the others later.” Nilus said.

“You know that it is going to be hard to control and level up so many bloodlines. When I said that you could turn into anything, I meant a few. Your body might not be able to contain all of them before the Divine level...That is why vampires do not absorb other bloodlines and prefer to feed on humans. They’d rather nurture one bloodline.” Fangs paused and then said: ” I have an interesting suggestion for you. What if you just chose one ability and then learn witchcraft under me. With your strong soul, you’ll be able to master it in no time and it will make up for the other abilities.” Fangs suggested.

Nilus and Cale almost subconsciously backed up.

“Relax. It is just some things that I picked up from watching my father. Its entirely harmless. Look.” He snapped his fingers and a black Bombay cat materialized on the table next to him as if it has always been there. It was sleeping at first and then opened its eyes before it suddenly jumped on Angel Fangs’ shoulder as it yawned.

It said with a lazy voice:

“What did you wake me up for?...hum?...who are those two?...oh a .SOUL EATER???” It disappeared as if terrified.

The nearby Angel Fangs said: “See? Even my familiar is afraid of you. Completely harmless.”