CHAPTER 170: ARRIVAL ON THE PLANET OF VAMPIRES

The air cracked like shattered glass.

In the middle of a silent, endless forest beneath a blood-red sky, space itself twisted. A tear opened, swirling with black fog and faint silver lightning. From it, two figures emerged—Aamir and Klain—stepping into a world that was nothing like Earth.

Aamir’s boots sank slightly into the soft, dark soil. He looked up, his crimson eyes narrowing.

"What... is this place?" he muttered.

Klain only smirked, his long coat fluttering in the strange wind. "Welcome, Aamir... to Sanguira—the planet of vampires."

Aamir scanned the horizon. The sky was crimson, as if stained with blood, and at its center burned a single, massive sun. Yet, despite its size, it gave no warmth, only a dull, oppressive glow that painted the entire world in shades of red and black.

Forests stretched endlessly, their trees unlike anything Aamir had seen before. Their bark was pitch black, their leaves a deep crimson that shimmered faintly as though they were alive. The wind passed through them, carrying with it a metallic scent that reminded Aamir of blood.

"This... feels wrong," Aamir muttered, clenching his fist. "It’s like the air itself is heavier."

Klain chuckled softly. "That’s because it is. This world exists on a different plane of existence. Here, even breathing demands strength. This is a predator’s world—built to crush the weak."

Aamir took another step forward, his boots crunching against the ground. He spotted rivers in the distance, their waters as black as ink, reflecting the crimson glow of the sun above. "Those rivers..."

"They’re not water," Klain said. "They’re infused with residual blood essence. The vampires draw power from it, and even the beasts here feed on it. This world... was shaped by blood."

Aamir tilted his head, his gaze sharp. "Beasts?"

Klain nodded. "Seventeen hundred years ago, Zorwath descended on this world. He merged its native Blood Beasts with his own creations, forging monsters so powerful that even the vampires fear them. Some are strong enough to rival the Demon-tier beasts of your own world."

Aamir’s eyes gleamed faintly at the thought. "Stronger prey... means better training."

Klain smirked. "Exactly. And you’ll need every battle you can get if you want to face Zorwath."

They moved through the forest, the ground sloping downward into a valley. Strange plants grew here—dark, thorn-covered vines that pulsed faintly, as if alive. In the distance, jagged black mountains rose toward the red sky like fangs.

"This place..." Aamir muttered, "...it’s like Earth, but darker. Twisted."

Klain stopped, his gaze shifting toward the horizon. In the distance, faint red lights shimmered—the sign of civilization. "That," he said, pointing, "is one of their cities. Towers of black marble, blood-crystal spires... ruled by their king. But don’t think of them as helpless. Every vampire here was born in battle. Their society doesn’t forgive weakness."

Aamir crossed his arms. "And why bring me here? What does fighting vampires have to do with Zorwath?"

"You’ll find out soon enough," Klain replied, his tone calm but certain. "This is the first step. There are other worlds, Aamir. Eight of them. Each one a trial. Each one will push you further than the last."

Aamir stared at him. "And this... is only the first?"

"Yes," Klain said. "Help them. Learn their strength. And in the process... become something far greater than Zorwath ever imagined."

Before Aamir could reply, Klain’s figure began to blur.

"Wait—where are you going?"

Klain smirked, his voice echoing faintly. "You don’t need me for this part. Survive, Aamir. That’s all you have to do."

And just like that—he vanished.

Aamir stood alone beneath the blood-red sky. He exhaled slowly, scanning the horizon one last time.

"Fine," he muttered. "If this is your game, Klain... I’ll play."

He clenched his fist, his aura flaring faintly around him.

"Let’s see what kind of monsters live on this cursed planet."

And with that, he walked forward, deeper into the crimson wilderness of Sanguira.

Aamir stood atop a jagged cliff, staring toward the distant city that Klain had pointed out before vanishing. Its black spires clawed at the red sky like the fangs of some ancient beast, and faint lights pulsed within its walls—cold, crimson, and unwelcoming.

"Let’s see what we’re dealing with," Aamir muttered.

He closed his eyes and expanded his Pran Energy, letting it ripple across the land like an invisible tide. In an instant, the surrounding forests, rivers, and valleys unfolded in his mind. He felt the movement of countless creatures—winged beasts lurking in the skies, blood-hounds prowling the shadows, and thousands of humanoid signatures within the vampire city itself.

But then, something caught his attention.

"There are strong ones here," Aamir murmured, "but none stronger than me..."

He paused, his brows furrowing.

"...except..."

There were several spots—dark voids where his scan failed completely. No presence, no signature, nothing but empty silence.

"Either they’re stronger than me," Aamir said quietly, "or they know how to hide their energy."

He smirked. "Well... I’ll find out soon enough."

Without another word, he bent his knees and bolted forward, his speed tearing through the forest like a black streak of lightning.

As he moved, a familiar voice echoed in his mind.

[Host.]

Aamir’s eyes flickered. "Luman?"

[I suggest you hide your scent.]

"My scent?" Aamir raised a brow. "Why?"

[Two reasons, host,] Luman explained calmly. [First, you came from Earth. Your scent is alien to them. Second, as a Beastkin, there is a chance the vampires could mistake you for a beast—and that would draw the wrong kind of attention.]

Aamir clicked his tongue. "Good point. But... can I even do that?"

[Yes,] Luman replied smoothly. [Command your system to scan your history for any beast you’ve slain with the ability to alter its scent and presence. Then, copy it.]

Aamir’s lips curled into a grin. "Alright. System—run the scan."

At once, his crimson system screen appeared before his eyes, glyphs spinning rapidly. Within seconds, it stopped on a single entry:

[Beast Identified: Chameleon Wraith]

[Ability: Diff Press Change – The power to alter scent and presence according to the environment.]

Aamir chuckled. "Right... I remember killing that thing. Didn’t think I’d actually need its skill."

[Host may now use Permanent Copy.]

"Do it."

A faint glow wrapped around Aamir as the ability integrated into his system.

[New Skill Acquired: Diff Press Change]

Description: Alter your presence and scent to perfectly blend into your surroundings. Suppresses foreign markers detectable by native species.

Aamir smirked. "Man... my system is a damn cheat."

With a thought, he activated the skill. In an instant, his scent vanished into the environment, his presence fading until even the beasts in the forest stopped paying attention to him.

"Perfect."

He crouched slightly, then pushed off the ground with immense force.

BOOM!

The earth cracked beneath his feet as he launched himself forward at full speed, a shadow streaking through the crimson wilderness. Within minutes, the towering gates of the vampire city loomed before him.

Two guards stood there—tall, pale figures clad in black armor etched with blood-red runes. Their eyes glowed faintly like embers in the dark. They carried long halberds carved from obsidian bone, and their expressions were sharp, cold, and unwelcoming.

Aamir slowed to a stop just a few paces from the gate.

The guards crossed their halberds in front of him.

"State your name," one of them demanded, his voice deep and edged with suspicion.

Aamir smirked faintly. His scent concealment was perfect—neither guard even flinched in recognition.

"Name’s Aamir," he said casually. "I’m here to... look around."

The guards exchanged glances, their crimson eyes narrowing.

"Another wanderer?" one muttered.

"Doesn’t matter," the other said. "We’ll see if he survives the night."

Aamir’s smirk only widened.

"Oh," he whispered under his breath, "you have no idea."

Aamir’s gaze lingered on the two guards for a moment—then his eyes widened slightly. Their faces... their posture... even the faint traces of emotion in their expressions.

"They... look human," Aamir muttered under his breath, his voice low with disbelief.

He stepped closer, studying them carefully. Their skin was pale, their eyes glowing crimson, but beneath that... he saw something undeniable. Their bone structure, their stance, the way they shifted their weight on their heels—it was all too familiar.

"These aren’t just monsters wearing human shapes," he whispered. "They really were human once..."

A chill ran down his spine, not from fear, but from the strange realization.

"If vampires on this planet came from humans... then what the hell happened here?"

The guards caught his stare and scowled, but Aamir’s mind was already racing with questions.

Aamir kept his eyes on the guards, his thoughts swirling.

Humans... no, not exactly. Their scent is different, colder, sharper... but their movements, their habits—they’re too close to be coincidence.

"Luman," he whispered in his mind, "are they descended from humans?"

[Possible, host,] Luman replied. [But this evolution isn’t natural. Something—or someone—reshaped them.]

Aamir’s jaw tightened. Zorwath... was this your doing too? Or is this world far older than even you?

He clenched his fists. If this planet hides answers... I’ll drag them out, no matter what it takes.

And with that, he stepped toward the gate.