Reincarnated into a New World As a Vampire

The camp hummed with organized activity, as the faint sound of marching feet and shouted orders echoed across the ridge. Despite being vampires, the soldiers still needed training, and with their vampiric bodies, it only meant that their potential had expanded, so constant training was employed. Even the vampires themselves, even some who were more of labour workers than fighters, personally worked to improve themselves.

Now that they were in such a mana filled world, it was icing on the cake, as their determination rose even higher.

In the midst of all this, a single figure approached the outer perimeter, his presence causing an immediate stir among the guards.

Orven, clad in polished fitting black armor with crimson accents, bore the insignia of the Vampires on each side of the arms of his armour. The insignia showed a red rose with five layers, having four bladelike symbols pointing up, down, left, and right, emerging from below the blood rose, and another four pointy swords pointing outward from between the smaller blades. His movements were deliberate, and his crimson eyes scanned the camp with practiced precision and underlying scrutiny, studying every single thing his eye caught. He exuded the quiet confidence of a seasoned warrior, his pale face betraying no emotion, quite mirroring those of the other vampires, especially the soldiers under Aldritch, especially when on duty.

A pair of noble vampire family heads intercepted him immediately before he could reach the guards, their ornate armor and regal bearing signaling their high rank. The taller of the two stepped forward, inclining his head respectfully. "Welcome. You must be an envoy from the Vampire Society. Please, follow us to the central camp. A messenger will inform our Lord, Lord Aldritch, of your presence."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

'Noble? How's that possible?'

Orven was quite surprised, he didn't expect them to receive him in such a manner, giving the fact that he was even dressed in armour, not exactly friendly. Despite that, he nodded curtly, his tone neutral. "Lead the way."

More than that, he couldn't believe their rank! Despite the fact that they were Vampire nobles, their strength was lacking, which didn't seem to add up at all.

As they walked through the camp, Orven took in the sight of countless vampires milling about. The sheer number of them was impressive, though his keen eyes quickly assessed their strength. Most were of middling power and it was easily within his ability to defeat them, in fact, the majority of them, should it come to that.

Yet amidst them, there were figures of undeniable strength as far as his senses reached. A cluster of Blooded Vampires stood in quiet conversation, their presence radiating the energy of their rank, though once again, he found them lacking severely in strength, he couldn't quite understand it. Orven's gaze lingered on them, but he quickly lost interest.

"Interesting," he muttered to himself as they walked past.

The nobles escorted him to a grand tent near the center of the camp, its entrance flanked by two imposing guards. Inside, the air buzzed with tension as high-ranking vampires debated strategy around a large table etched with glowing runes.

"We have arrived," one of the nobles announced. "You will be treated as a guest while we await Lord Aldritch's arrival."

Orven stepped inside, his gaze sweeping over the assembled group. The atmosphere was respectful but guarded, with every pair of eyes in the room subtly evaluating him. He returned their stares with quiet confidence, though inwardly, he could not shake the curiosity growing within him. How could all of them be vampire nobles? It didn't make sense, especially given their strength.

…

Word of the envoy's arrival quickly reached Aldritch, who was in a smaller tent reviewing reports with Ingrid and Sigmund. The one who was sent to inform him delivered the message.

"A representative of the Vampire Society, has arrived. He has been led to the central tent." The vampire said respectfully.

"Alright, I'll be there at once." Aldritch responded.

"It seems they've taken notice of us at last." Ingrid said, a concerned look on her face.

"We'll see what they propose." Aldritch said, rising from his seat. "I'll meet with them now, can't keep our guest waiting."

…

Inside the central tent, Orven stood near the edge of the table, his hands clasped behind his back. He observed the gathered vampires with a mix of respect and scrutiny.

These numbers are formidable, he thought to himself. But quantity without quality can only take one so far. If their leader is similarly lacking… he couldn't say. Though, he was curious. If vampire nobles weren't the leaders, then who was? Surely, not a vampire of higher rank, right?

The sound of the tent flap opening interrupted his thoughts. Orven turned toward the entrance, and as soon as his eyes fell on Aldritch, an icy wave of instinct washed over him.

Aldritch strode into the room calmly, the rest of the vampires bowing respectfully. To Overn however, Aldritch's presence felt like a storm contained within human form.

Orven's instincts screamed at him, and for the first time in years, he felt a flicker of fear. His subconscious recognized Aldritch for what he was, a Vampire Lord, a rank that few could claim, and one that even Orven's master, Lord Vaelios Drakar, was at.

The surprise and fear almost made him fall backwards, had it not been for the table behind him for support. He quickly regained his composure, masking his unease with a measured bow. "Lord Aldritch, I presume. It is an honor to meet you."

Aldritch inclined his head, his voice calm but edged with subtle menace. "And you must be the envoy from the Society. Welcome to my camp. What brings you here?"

…

The two stood across from one another, the rest of the room fading into irrelevance. Just before their conversation began, the rest of the vampires evacuated the room.

"I am Orven, sent by Lord Vaelios Drakar under the authority of the Vampire Society," Orven began, choosing his words carefully. "My purpose was to deliver a message on behalf of the council. Your recent actions have drawn attention, and we wish to understand your intentions." He said, his tone calm and measured.

Aldritch's expression remained neutral, though his eyes gleamed with interest. "And what message might that be?"

Orven hesitated, the weight of Aldritch's presence pressing down on him. He had prepared to deliver an ultimatum as demanded, to demand submission or risk annihilation, but now, standing before this man, he questioned the wisdom of such an approach.

'This is no ordinary vampire,' he thought. 'To threaten him outright would be reckless. Perhaps… a different tactic is warranted.'

He adjusted his stance slightly, adopting a more diplomatic tone. "The Vampire Society recognizes your strength and the growing influence of your forces. We wish to propose… a partnership. A union of mutual benefit. As you must expect, your existence came as a sudden realization to us. We do not know of your origins, as they do not seem to be tied to us, but despite that, we do not seek to marginalize and forsake our own."

Aldritch raised an eyebrow, his smirk returning. "A partnership? Interesting. Tell me, Overn, was that your intended message, or are you improvising?"

Orven met his gaze, his composure steady despite the unspoken challenge. "The Society values strength above all else. To ignore what you have built here would be folly. I am merely adapting to the reality before me." He said, choosing to remain true with his words. A vampire Lord was a powerful existence, and if he decided to dig into Overn's brain and memories, it would be an easy task.

Aldritch chuckled softly, the sound sending a ripple of unease through the room. "Adaptation is a valuable trait. But partnerships require trust. Tell me, Orven, why should I trust the Society?"

Orven paused, carefully weighing his response. "Because strength recognizes strength, and above all in this world, race remains the same. The Society does not seek to diminish you, Lord Aldritch. They seek to elevate you, as one of their own. Together, we could achieve far more than apart."

Aldritch listened, his expression unreadable. Finally, he stepped closer, his voice dropping to a low, almost conversational tone.

"I will consider your offer," he said. "But know this, I do not like being controlled or told what to do, I bow to no one."

'Arrogant… would you still say that before the Ruler?' He thought to himself, but something in him confirmed that it would remain the same. 'Who is this vampire?'

Orven inclined his head, acknowledging the implicit challenge. "Of course. I will relay your words to the society."

'The Society wishes to elevate me, do they?' Aldritch thought to himself, a faint smile on his lips, 'Let's see how far they're willing to go.'