As the cold wind swept through the dilapidated corridors of the Solar Order headquarters, let's pause for a moment. Before continuing to follow Jack, Mira, and John, let's take a broader look—at this world, at Aetherion.
Aetherion. A sacred name, once the pride of humanity. A lush, vibrant world where humans and other strange species coexisted. 90% of the population was human, the remaining 10% comprised other species, mysterious entities, ancient beasts, supernatural beings… and among them were Vampires, blood-sucking demons in human guise.
In those days, humans were the undisputed dominant species at the top of the food chain. Not just due to their superior physique or vast numbers, but because of the perfect combination of intellect, magic, and technology—factors that made them irreplaceable overlords of the Aetherion continent.
Humans of that era not only built sturdy fortresses and developed powerful war machines but also shaped the world's order with reason and magic. They were the first to discover Arcane Crystal—a mineral carrying pure energy from the earth's core, which could be refined into high-level magical power, and was also the source of many mystical achievements.
Academies of magic sprang up everywhere, where individuals with supernatural aptitudes were discovered, trained, and awakened to potentials far beyond ordinary human limits. They were the War Gods of their age, symbols of humanity's peak evolution.
Humanity then—not only the strongest—but also considered itself invincible. An illusion nurtured by centuries of absolute dominance… For a time, Aetherion shone brighter than a dream, a place of wondrous magic.
But all of it ended on "Red Day"—the day the world turned crimson.
Vampires—the demonic creatures once chained in shadows—had risen. They had always existed on the fringes of the world, hunting silently like shapeless nightmares. They possessed intellect as sharp as humans, but also bodies that surpassed all limits: supernatural strength, terrifying speed, instant healing, and near-immortality.
Only one thing bound them—sunlight. That light was a sacred blade, cutting through all their ambitions, forcing Vampires to huddle in dark lairs, living like lowly predators, always wary of humanity's Vampire hunting squads.
But then Red Sky arrived. That bloody veil descended upon Aetherion, blocking out the sun, choking humanity's last light. With the sun sealed away, Vampires were no longer chained.
Under Dracula's banner, they surged forth with the ferocity of beasts imprisoned for too long. An unprecedented massacre began.
Aetherion—the world once built by humans with blood and magic—was now stained red with their own blood. In that terrible plague, 70% of humanity was wiped out within a few years. Most were either turned into Vampires or died.
To re-establish order—or rather, to protect their precious "food chain"—Vampires built a colossal empire called "Nocturnis Imperium." At its head was Dracula, the Emperor of All Things—the Emperor of The World.
Under him was the Supreme Council—Council of the Blood Revelation—which issued laws governing both Vampires and humans. Below the Council, twelve Blood Kings—each ruling a vast kingdom on the continent of Aetherion. Further down were smaller authority levels: counts, nobles, and various other departments.
But ultimately, the lowest rung of that power tower was Humanity.
No longer free nations, no longer autonomous cities. Homes, lands, resources—all now under the control of the Vampire Empire. Humans were merely labor machines, "food units" tightly distributed and controlled. A twisted society where laws seemed "fair"—but in reality, only served to protect the existence of the predator species.
Hundreds of laws were enacted. Among them were seemingly "lenient" laws, for example: prohibiting indiscriminate killing of humans. But everyone understood—this was not out of humanitarianism, but simply because the Empire needed to preserve its food source for the long term.
Under this red sky, Vampires had now become the "new humanity." They lived, studied, started families, entertained themselves… just as humans once did. There was only one single difference: the ruler and the ruled had completely swapped places.
The world had fallen. But… out there, somewhere in the forgotten lands, there were still humans who had not surrendered. They fought, they lit tiny sparks of hope, striving to reclaim the world they had lost.
And The Mountain, the last peak not swallowed by Red Sky, still stood as a legend.
The world of Aetherion… a continent ravaged under the dominion of the Vampire Empire.
Amidst the lingering ashes, there was a truth that both Vampires and humans had to painfully confront—the existence of Lesser Vampires.
These hideous creatures were once humans who lived on Aetherion, but for some reason—bitten, infected with poisonous blood, or simply victims of failed experiments—they transformed into something devoid of humanity. No memories, no thoughts, no emotions. In the minds of the Lesser Vampires, only primal instincts existed: hunt and survive.
Their forms were so repulsive they could barely be considered Vampires. Their bodies were withered, skin stretched over bones, fangs protruding everywhere, eyes glowing fiery red in the night, pointed ears pricked up, and sparse wisps of hair on their heads. They looked like living nightmares, indelible stains of the era.
The most terrifying thing was that there was no cure for someone who had turned into a Lesser Vampire.
They roamed everywhere on Aetherion, gathering in packs, in hordes. The old human cities—now just ruins—had become their breeding grounds. In those dilapidated buildings, they built blood cocoons, where human blood was stored to nourish their swarms.
And this was the most pressing problem that even the Vampire Empire could not ignore.
The number of remaining humans on Aetherion was dwindling. Meanwhile, the number of Lesser Vampiresmultiplied uncontrollably. To maintain order, the Empire was forced to feed these monsters with human blood.
If they were starved of blood for too long, the Lesser Vampire swarms would become insane, losing all control, even turning to attack higher-ranking Vampires. Even Elite Vampires—those who could spiritually link and control them—could not control a hyper-starved swarm of Lesser Vampires.
This is why human protection strongholds were established.
They were not built out of mercy, or for the purpose of protecting humans as many mistakenly believed. No, they were simply a way to protect the food source. The Empire issued a series of new laws, calling for all survivors to gather in designated strongholds, where they would live under Vampire supervision—like livestock on a farm.
A vicious cycle.
If they resisted, they would be hunted down and killed by Lesser Vampires or Vampire hunting squads.
If they submitted, they would become reserve food for those at the top of the new food chain.
That was the reality of Aetherion.
A world where hope was merely a faint glimmer beneath a blood-red sky.
Everything I've just told you…
Is just a small, blurred piece in the dark and bloody tapestry of this world.
A world where hope is crushed under the claws of darkness.
Where the screams of the hunted have become the soundtrack for the new rulers.
And now, the true journey begins.
Join Jack, Mira, and John—the last humans daring to hold onto a glimmer of hope—
as they traverse devastated lands, fallen kingdoms,
to explore Aetherion—the continent of despair and resistance.
Join them in searching for the last light in the bloody sky—
The Last Light in the Red Sky.