The Hall of Judgment emptied slowly.
The one hundred survivors were escorted back through the towering corridors of the Citadel of Night, each of them silently replaying their conversations with Queen Nythera Valerys.
Some felt confident.
Some felt uncertain.
And some already knew they had failed.
High above them, inside the throne chamber, Nythera stood beside the massive observation window overlooking the galaxy.
The dying star at the heart of the Citadel cast long crimson shadows across the black floor.
Vaelis approached quietly.
"The evaluations are complete."
Nythera didn't turn.
"And?"
"Many were strong."
"And?"
"Some were intelligent."
Nythera sighed softly.
"And?"
Vaelis hesitated.
"Only a few truly understand power."
Nythera finally turned toward him.
"Names."
Vaelis activated the central display.
One hundred names appeared.
Then the list began shrinking.
Ninety.
Seventy.
Fifty.
Thirty.
Twenty.
Until finally—
Only ten names remained.
The ten finalists.
---
Below in the arena, the remaining contestants were gathered once more.
They stood in a wide circle beneath the enormous throne platform.
Kael Varyn.
Soren Vale.
Darius Sol.
Rowan Thorne.
And six others who had survived through strength, intelligence, or sheer ruthlessness.
The arena doors opened.
Nythera stepped onto the throne platform once again.
Silence fell instantly.
Her voice echoed across the chamber.
"You have all proven yourselves stronger than the rest."
She looked down at the group.
"But strength alone does not build an empire."
The holographic display above them lit up again.
100 contestants
The number began dropping.
One by one.
Until only 10 remained.
Gasps spread through the arena.
Nythera's crimson eyes gleamed.
"You are the finalists."
Some contestants allowed themselves small smiles.
Others looked wary.
Because the closer they got to victory…
The more dangerous the trials became.
Nythera spoke again.
"The next trial will determine which of you are truly worthy to rule."
Then she paused.
Her gaze moved slowly across the ten men.
Until it stopped.
On Aurelion.
He stood quietly among them.
Calm as always.
As if none of this mattered.
Nythera spoke again.
"But before the next trial begins…"
She turned slightly toward Vaelis.
"Bring the archive."
A massive holographic projection appeared above the arena.
Ancient text.
Older than the empire itself.
Nythera watched Aurelion carefully as the image appeared.
The projection showed a figure.
A man.
Dark hair.
Pale skin.
Sharp features.
The same calm expression.
Aurelion.
Murmurs spread through the contestants.
Nythera spoke slowly.
"This record predates my empire by thousands of years."
She turned her crimson gaze toward Aurelion.
"The legend of The First Bloodborn."
The arena grew completely silent.
Even the surviving contestants stared at him now.
Nythera continued.
"According to ancient records… the first vampire ever created vanished long before my empire existed."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"But the image in those records…"
She gestured toward the projection.
"…looks very familiar."
All eyes turned toward Aurelion.
For a moment he said nothing.
Then he sighed softly.
"I was hoping you wouldn't find that."
The arena erupted with shocked whispers.
Kael stared at him.
"You're telling me…"
Darius finished the sentence.
"…you're the first vampire?"
Aurelion shrugged slightly.
"Technically."
Nythera leaned forward slightly on the throne platform.
"So the legend is true."
Aurelion looked up at her calmly.
"Yes."
Nythera studied him carefully.
"And you're older than my entire empire."
"Yes."
Nythera smiled slowly.
"That explains why you're not impressed."
Aurelion chuckled softly.
"Empires come and go."
Then he looked directly at her.
"But you…"
He tilted his head slightly.
"You lasted longer than most."
The arena fell silent again.
Nythera held his gaze.
"And yet you joined my competition."
Aurelion nodded.
"Yes."
Nythera crossed her arms slightly.
"Why?"
Aurelion thought for a moment.
Then answered honestly.
"Because I wanted to see the woman who built an empire that survived thousands of years."
He paused.
"And because the stories said you were beautiful."
Nythera laughed softly.
"You're surprisingly honest."
Aurelion smiled slightly.
"I find it saves time."
Nythera stepped closer to the edge of the platform.
Her crimson eyes locked onto his.
"Well," she said quietly,
"you've certainly made this competition more interesting."
Then she turned back toward the arena.
"The final trials begin tomorrow."
Her voice echoed across the chamber.
"Only one of you will stand beside me as king."
The ten finalists looked at each other.
Friends no longer.
Only rivals.
Nythera's gaze returned to Aurelion one last time.
And something in her expression had changed.
Curiosity.
Excitement.
And something even more dangerous.
Interest.
Because for the first time in thousands of years…
Queen Nythera had found someone who might actually be her equal.
And that made the final trials far more dangerous than any of the contestants realized.