My Vampire Harem Will Dominate Everything

Ezra's jaw tightened, but he remained silent.

Unbidden and unwelcome, memories of Faewall and Nicodemus flitted through his mind.

All he could see was the Abyss.

The weave.

The changes he'd made, whose effects still rippled through the world.

And most of all, he remembered Genesis.

His wife who had sacrificed herself in pursuit of righting a wrong.

His wife whom he could no longer remember his first meeting with, something he'd sacrificed to save the world.

And Tether had played a role in it all, but discussing it now was not something he was willing to do.

Akiko watched him closely, her eyes searching for any hint of emotion. When none came, she sighed softly.

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"Tether is no longer in play, due to whatever had happened at Faewall." She put emphasis on the city's name, telling him that even the Monarchy wanted to know what had happened and caused all this.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

He'd eventually have to give them a clue. Just enough to satisfy and get them off his back but not enough to reveal his closely guarded secret.

"However," Akiko continued, "its counterpart, the third Nightmare relic, Riptide, is very much active."

"It is currently wielded by Prince Caspian himself."

At the mention of the Nightmare Court's leader, Ezra's focus sharpened. "Riptide?" He asked.

Akiko nodded. "Riptide is very special. It has a simple but… dangerous ability."

"While the Daydream relic, Tether, is rumored to grant the ability to never die, Riptide allows its wielder to kill with just a touch."

At her words, a chill ran down Ezra's spine. The ability to kill just by touching?!

"And the scariest thing about Riptide? It bypasses any protection, any barrier."

"No matter what tattoo you get or how much vitality you power it with, once you're touched, it's game over."

"Riptide is one of the reasons why even the Society's Council is wary of crossing Caspian. He is dangerous in ways most can't even comprehend."

"Imagine facing an opponent who only needs to lay a single finger on you to end your life. That's the stuff of nightmares."

Ezra Aura instinctively expanded, covering any single area an attack could come from. He calmed himself as Olivia and Red entered the range of his Aura, both relaxing in their suite.

The thought of someone with that ability so close was something he didn't want to even think about.

Akiko resumed walking, her hands clasped behind her back.

"Finally, we come to the fourth relics."

"The Daydream Court's fourth relic is Omnia. Its wielder, the royal in charge of the western border, is quite the reclusive vampire."

"He doesn't like sharing much about his ability but what we know of Omnia is… interesting."

"It allows its wielder to reveal or see anything that exists, both physical and metaphysical, no matter where it is."

"Imagine being able to uncover any secret, expose any plan. The possibilities are endless. In fact, he might already know everything that happened in Faewall, how you were able to conceive a child and if you're really loyal to us or not."

"He's the royal who keeps an eye on the council for us. If anything happens to him, we lose our early warning system against attacks by the Society."

"He's so useful that we can't afford to lose him. That's probably why he has been careful to keep Omnia's full potential under wraps."

"I see." Ezra said softly. Another terrifying ability.

So, there was someone out there who could find out his every secret if they wanted to.

He tilted his head slightly, turning to glance at Akiko. "And its counter?"

"You already know." Akiko answered. "Nihil. My relic."

"While Omnia reveals all, Nihil hides anything that exists. It's the perfect counter. Omnia may see all, but it cannot see what I choose to hide."

"This is also what makes me the other half of the Monarchy's defense. Omnia reveals all their plans and with Nihil, I hide ours. Simple, wouldn't you say?"

"Although…" She paused, her gaze turning thoughtful. "I've often wondered if Omnia and Nihil were meant to be wielded together."

Ezra imagined it as Akiko kept speaking.

"Unlike the others, they seem less combative and more… supportive. Omnia's wielder sees the world for what it is, while Nihil's wielder decides what the world should see."

"In the hands of a single person, these two relics could create an unstoppable force."

Ezra could see what she was talking about. The idea of having both Omnia and Nihil was both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

"Unlike some other relics, the fourth relics of both courts don't seem that impressive in battle, do they?" Akiko grinned as she continued. "Think again."

"These relics don't shine alone but when paired with the seventh-ring ability, Foresight, you realize just what's in front of you."

"With Omnia, you're fighting an opponent you can never hide from. An opponent that knows every hidden plan you have and with the use of Foresight, can tear you to shreds even if you have foresight of your own. With him, you can never win. Not unless you're of a higher ring."

"And with me, you're fighting an opponent you can never see coming. That should be enough to terrify."

"Both are terrifying in their own right, but together…" She trailed off before sighing wistfully.

The garden seemed quieter now, as if even the world was listening in on their conversation. There was no one close, the guards backing off with Akiko strolling with Ezra.

"Sometimes, I can't help but think about the Progenitor as a god in his own right." Akiko glanced at Ezra with an inscrutable expression on her face. "His legacy is quite a complicated one, isn't it?"

"Even with him gone, he made sure to create relics that will give us the balance we have today. With wielders on each side of a court and the dream of a Monarchy alive."

"I won't be surprised if we're all killed and eventually find out that he has a backup plan for who gets to sit on the throne." She chuckled.

"Now, let's move on to the fifth relics."