First battle

　　"Are you not a lowly servant?" one of the vampires exclaimed, his pupils narrowing in disbelief as he stared at Caesar.

　　The other three were equally taken aback. The physical power Caesar had just displayed was far beyond what an ordinary traditional vampire could possess.

　　Caesar frowned, his irritation boiling over. "You're the lowly ones—your whole family is lowly!"

　　He despised such class discrimination more than anything.

　　"Hmph! So what if you are a traditional vampire? Hand over your money, and we might just make your death a little more painless," one of the vampires sneered, as they began to close in on him.

　　Unfazed, Caesar cast a cold glance at them. "You think you can rob me? With just the four of you misfits?"

　　"Enough talk—kill him!" the leader snarled, and the four vampires lunged forward, driven by bloodlust. 

　　Caesar's expression hardened. He had waited long enough for this moment. As they charged, he readied himself, the air around him crackling with tension. He would not go down easily; he would show them the true strength of a last-generation vampire who had no intention of being prey.

　　Without hesitation, Caesar clenched his fists, his blood surging within him, and his eyes suddenly turned a vivid crimson—an unmistakable sign that a vampire was entering combat mode.

　　In an instant, he surged forward, charging like a fierce tiger!

　　The first vampire in front barely had time to react before Caesar appeared beside him, a figure enveloped in a fiery aura of blood. Then, a fist wrapped in crimson energy came crashing toward him.

　　"Shatter Skull Strike!"

　　Boom!

　　In a deafening explosion, the vampire's skull exploded like a watermelon struck by a hammer, fragments scattering in all directions. The gruesome sight of brain matter mixed with blood sprayed out as the skull was obliterated.

　　The headless corpse wobbled for a moment before collapsing to the ground with a thud.

　　The remaining three vampires stood frozen in shock, terror coursing through their veins.

　　"This… this is a royal combat technique!"

　　"You're one of the royals?"

　　"How could a commoner possibly learn royal techniques?"

　　They could see now that the crimson aura emanating from Caesar's fist was a clear indicator of the royal bloodline's power. 

　　Panic gripped them as they realized they were no longer confronting just any last-generation vampire, but someone with the blood and training of the elite. 

　　Their resolve to attack faltered, and thoughts of retreat began to creep into their minds.

　　Though commoner vampires often reveled in their bravado, engaging in fierce battles amongst themselves, they rarely had the opportunity to grasp the intricacies of advanced combat techniques. Caesar's lineage had reached the pinnacle of traditional vampires, and with royal combat skills at his disposal, dispatching these foes was laughably easy.

　　"Hmm?" 

　　Caesar was slightly taken aback; he hadn't expected his technique to be recognized so quickly. It seemed the **'Royal Secret Combat Techniques'** had quite the reputation in Seidamir City.

　　"You know too much, which gives me all the more reason to eliminate you!" 

　　A fierce glint ignited in Caesar's eyes. 

　　With a powerful push against the ground, he launched himself forward, breaking the sound barrier in an instant, a crimson glow trailing behind him as he closed in on his enemies.

　　"Death Neck Snap!"

　　Crack— 

　　In a heartbeat, one vampire found his head twisted a complete 820 degrees, his jaw hanging limply against his back, neck contorted like a twisted rope, and he collapsed dead on the spot.

　　"Run… run!" 

　　The remaining two vampires stammered in fear, attempting to flee.

　　But Caesar would not grant them such mercy. 

　　He soared into the air, executing a devastating roundhouse kick that struck one of them in half with a sickening crunch, colorful entrails spilling out onto the ground, mingling with the shards of bone and blood.

　　Without hesitation, he darted forward again, raising his arm for a brutal elbow strike that punctured the chest of the last remaining vampire, sending him crashing to the ground in a lifeless heap. 

　　The once-feared attackers lay scattered around him, their arrogance extinguished in an instant. Caesar stood amidst the carnage, breathing heavily but filled with exhilaration. This was the power he had sought, and it was only the beginning.

　　Thud—thud!

　　The two bodies fell to the ground, lifeless. Caesar wore a calm expression as he crouched down to wipe the blood off his hands on the clothing of one of the corpses. Rising to his feet, he began to stride away.

　　For a commoner to kill a civilian was a grave offense. Yet, by the time the sun rose the next day, all traces of the night's bloodshed would be thoroughly erased.

　　This was his first time taking a life. The first time witnessing such gruesome violence, a sight that could turn the stomach of many. 

　　Oddly enough, he felt no revulsion in his heart. Instead, there was a subtle thrill—a rush of excitement. Perhaps it was the latent bloodthirsty violence inherent within his vampire cells coming to the fore.

　　This battle could hardly be described as spectacular. It had been a complete one-sided massacre—power, speed, and skill mercilessly overwhelming his foes.

　　Caesar would not allow himself to feel pride or arrogance for having dispatched a few lowly henchmen. He understood that this was merely a small step, a necessary part of his journey. 

　　He had much more to achieve and stronger adversaries to face. The night was still young, and the world was filled with challenges waiting to be conquered. As he walked through the shadows, he felt the weight of destiny upon him, urging him onward.

　　"Let's go," Caesar said as he climbed back into the carriage.

　　The coachman, overwhelmed by the strong scent of blood emanating from him, couldn't help but shudder.

　　Ten minutes later, the carriage came to a halt in front of Stephen Castle.

　　Caesar stepped down, his demeanor composed as he entered the castle, making his way back to his small room. 

　　The familiar surroundings greeted him with a sense of comfort, a stark contrast to the chaos he had just left behind. As he closed the door, he took a moment to steady his breathing, the adrenaline from the confrontation still coursing through his veins.

　　He reflected on what had transpired—a mix of exhilaration and clarity flooded his mind. This was only the beginning. He had crossed a threshold, and with it came the realization that he was capable of far more than he had ever imagined. 

　　Sitting on the edge of his bed, he began to strategize his next steps. With the royal techniques at his disposal, he could no longer remain a mere servant. Caesar would rise, and he would wield his power with purpose. The night had revealed a glimpse of his potential, and he was determined to explore just how far it could take him.

　　...

　　The next day, his coffin arrived.

　　It was a beautifully crafted corpse-nurturing coffin, adorned with intricate purple patterns along the edges. The interior was spacious enough that even with someone curled up inside, it wouldn't feel cramped. The texture of the velvet fabric was exquisite, yielding and comfortable.

　　Caesar lay down inside for a minute, and a wave of comfort washed over him—this two-gold investment was well worth it!

　　Bang!

　　The lid sealed tightly, ensuring excellent insulation.

　　"System, I'd like to sign in while inside the coffin," he thought suddenly. Would signing in for the first time in this nurturing coffin result in something extraordinary?

　　"Ding! Sign-in successful. Congratulations, host, you have received a reward: Marquis Blood x1!"

　　The system's voice echoed in his mind.

　　Caesar couldn't help but gasp in shock. 

　　Marquis-level blood? 

　　The life tier of a Marquis vampire was a significant step above that of Count Stephen. In other words, this was something even a Count would covet.

　　Once his bloodline reached the peak of the Count tier, consuming a drop of Marquis blood could potentially allow for a direct breakthrough to the next life level!

　　Excitement surged through him as he contemplated the implications. This was a golden opportunity—an invaluable asset that could propel him further along his path of power. With a newfound determination, Caesar knew he had to make the most of this gift. The journey ahead was filled with potential, and he was more than ready to embrace it.

　　"This is it! I'm really going to make it!" 

　　With excitement coursing through him, Caesar climbed out of the coffin. He retrieved a drop of Marquis blood, and, just like before, diluted it with water before tilting his head back and swallowing it down!

　　The pain hit him like the sun scorching his skin, causing him to furrow his brow. 

　　But the next moment, an explosive surge of life energy erupted within him.

　　How pure this energy was!

　　It violently wrapped around his blood, launching a fierce assault on the shackles of the Baron tier.

　　Boom!!!

　　A resounding roar echoed in his ears as Caesar broke through to the next life level without any hindrance. His physical body strengthened immensely, multiplying in power several times over, while his mental energy found an outlet, expanding uncontrollably.

　　The two fangs at the corners of his lips glimmered brilliantly, having grown a few more inches.

　　Baron! 

　　He had broken through to the Baron tier!

　　But it didn't stop there. His eyes sparkled with determination as he downed the remaining blood in the cup. 

　　In an instant, it felt as though a nuclear explosion was occurring within him. 

　　An overwhelming torrent of life energy brewed for a new eruption!

　　Boom! Boom! Boom— 

　　Evolution! Evolution!!!

　　Caesar's muscles and bones crackled and popped, the sounds resonating in the air. 

　　Finally, his body trembled violently… 

　　Viscount! 

　　He had broken through to the Viscount tier! 

　　A surge of exhilaration surged within him as he reveled in this newfound power. The world had just become a much smaller place for him—he was on the rise, and nothing could stand in his way.

　　"Haah..."

　　After a long moment, Caesar finally calmed down, like a once-red-hot boiler gradually cooling.

　　He looked down at his body, savoring the indescribable sense of strength that now flowed through him. He didn't even know how powerful he had become, but he felt as if he could tear down Stephen Castle with his bare hands.

　　The most pronounced change was in his mental prowess. If Caesar's mental strength had once been a small stream, it was now a roaring river, surging and unstoppable.

　　The world around him appeared transformed. Everything was clearer, sharper, more agile!

　　At the same time, he sensed a new ability stirring within him...

　　"Superpower?" he murmured to himself, suddenly struck by a feeling. 

　　His body began to lift off the ground, floating effortlessly into the air until he reached the ceiling.

　　There was no wind, no disturbance in the air.

　　But it was undeniable—Caesar had finally awakened his first superpower: flight! 

　　A thrill of exhilaration surged through him as he hovered, feeling an exhilarating freedom he had never known before. This was only the beginning; with this newfound ability, the horizons of his ambition had expanded infinitely. He was no longer just a servant in the castle—he was a force to be reckoned with, ready to embrace the challenges ahead.