Chapter 5: The First Legacy
The laughter echoed through the darkness.
It wasn't loud.
It wasn't manic.
It was calm…
Almost welcoming.
Dawsyn's skin crawled.
The lights throughout the bunker remained dead, leaving only the crimson glow of the fang necklace to illuminate the room.
Marcus slowly pulled a pistol from beneath his jacket.
"What the hell was that?"
Daisy answered without taking her eyes off the massive steel vault.
"I don't know…"
She paused.
"…and that scares me."
For the first time since Dawsyn had learned the truth, he saw genuine fear on his mother's face.
The woman who had stood toe-to-toe with Vincent Graves…
Was afraid.
Another notification appeared.
Legacy Vault Synchronization
28%
Host Authorized
Opening…
With a thunderous groan, the twelve-ton steel door slowly split down the middle.
Cold air rushed from inside.
It smelled ancient.
Like a place untouched for centuries.
Beyond the entrance stretched a long hallway lined with towering black pillars.
Each pillar held a burning crimson flame that somehow produced no heat.
Marcus lowered his weapon.
"Impossible…"
"What?" Dawsyn asked.
"This bunker was built fifteen years ago."
He pointed toward the hallway.
"That place wasn't."
Dawsyn frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Marcus swallowed.
"There shouldn't be enough room beneath this house."
The three cautiously stepped inside.
The steel door slammed shut behind them.
Boom!
Dawsyn instinctively spun around.
"It closed!"
Marcus rushed to the entrance.
He shoved against the door.
Nothing.
Not even an inch.
"We're locked in."
Further ahead…
The hallway opened into an enormous circular chamber.
Dawsyn's jaw dropped.
The ceiling disappeared into darkness.
Hundreds of marble statues stood in perfect rows.
Each depicted a different man or woman dressed in elegant suits rather than armor.
Every statue wore the same necklace hanging around Dawsyn's neck.
"They're…"
"My ancestors," Daisy whispered.
She slowly approached the nearest statue.
"I've heard stories…"
"…but I never believed this place existed."
At the center of the chamber stood a black throne carved from a single piece of obsidian.
Behind it hung an enormous banner bearing the Crimson Fang crest.
The moment Dawsyn stepped toward the throne…
Every statue opened its eyes.
Marcus nearly fired his gun.
"They're alive!"
"No."
Daisy shook her head.
"They're watching."
A deep voice suddenly filled the chamber.
"At last…"
"The heir has returned."
The voice came from nowhere.
Everywhere.
Dawsyn instinctively reached for the necklace.
"Who's there?"
Silence.
Then…
A man slowly materialized upon the throne.
He appeared to be in his early forties.
Jet-black hair.
Tailored black suit.
The same piercing gray eyes Dawsyn had seen in the portrait.
His father.
"Dad?"
The figure smiled sadly.
"I wish."
Dawsyn's heart sank.
"You're not real?"
"No."
"I am merely an Echo."
"A fragment of Damien Ashford's memories preserved by the Bloodline."
Daisy fell to one knee.
Marcus quickly followed.
Only Dawsyn remained standing.
The Echo laughed.
"Good."
"Never kneel simply because others do."
He looked directly into Dawsyn's eyes.
"Kings kneel to no one."
The words sounded identical to those Vincent had spoken.
Dawsyn noticed it immediately.
"You both said the same thing."
The Echo nodded.
"Because Vincent learned it from me."
Marcus clenched his fists.
"So he really betrayed you…"
The Echo's smile vanished.
"Yes."
"He was like a son to me."
The chamber fell silent.
After several moments, Damien's Echo stood from the throne.
"You have many questions."
"I cannot answer them all."
"The Bloodline forbids it."
"But I can leave you with one truth."
He walked toward Dawsyn until they stood face to face.
"You believe I died because I was betrayed."
Dawsyn nodded.
"You didn't?"
"I was betrayed."
The Echo's expression darkened.
"But betrayal wasn't the reason I fell."
"It was only the method."
Dawsyn frowned.
"I don't understand."
"You will."
"When you discover who truly ordered my death."
The System suddenly interrupted.
Emergency Quest
Legacy Trial I
Objective:
Claim the Ashford Throne
Difficulty:
Unknown
Reward:
Bloodline Evolution
Failure:
Permanent Death
The obsidian throne began glowing crimson.
Cracks spread across its surface.
The entire chamber trembled violently.
Marcus looked around.
"Something's coming."
One by one…
The statues stepped off their pedestals.
Stone cracked.
Dust filled the air.
Hundreds of ancient patriarchs slowly turned toward Dawsyn.
The Echo smiled.
"Every heir must prove they are worthy."
He stepped backward, disappearing into darkness.
"You wanted answers…"
"Earn them."
The last flame in the chamber suddenly extinguished.
Complete darkness swallowed everything.
Then…
Two hundred pairs of crimson eyes opened at once.
To Be Continued…