The revelation of Edward Bloodrose hung heavy in the air of the prison cell, a desperate, dangerous hope. Adam, Harry, Panchenko, and Jones sat huddled together, the meager light from the corridor casting long, dancing shadows. Adam's mind reeled with the implications. A vampire lord, crucified, waiting in a hidden level. And the key to their escape.
"So, Edward Bloodrose," Adam began, his voice low. "What exactly did he do to earn a spot in this… 'Level Six'?"
Tom, his glasses glinting, took a deep breath. "Edward Bloodrose was no ordinary vampire. He's the son of a Duke of House Bloodrose, one of the oldest and most powerful vampire lineages in the galaxy. He was destined for greatness, to inherit unimaginable power." Tom paused, his gaze distant. "But something happened. Something terrible. He committed what they call treason. He… he killed his entire family. Every single one. His parents, his siblings, his aunts, uncles, cousins. All of them. In one night."
Harry gasped, a faint whimper escaping his lips. Even Jones's confident demeanor seemed to waver slightly.
"He's known as the Kinslayer," Tom continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "No one knows why. The official demon records just say 'unknown reasons.' But after that, the entire Yandhaq Empire, even other vampire clans, turned on him. He became a pariah, hunted relentlessly."
Adam felt a chilling fascination. Such a monumental act of destruction. "And then he was captured?"
"Not easily," Tom said, a hint of awe in his voice. "He fought. And he fought well. They say it took a High Seat Demon to finally bring him down."
Adam frowned. "A High Seat Demon? Who are they?"
Panchenko slapped his knee, a wry grin on his face. "You don't know about them, and yet you killed a demon, Adam? My friend, you live a charmed, if terribly misinformed, life."
He then adopted a more serious tone. "The High Seats are the absolute top tier of the demon hierarchy, my boy. Among the Demon Lords, there are ten High Seats. Think of them like ranks. Rank Ten is the weakest, still incredibly powerful, but the bottom of the top. Rank One is practically a god. The one Edward fought, the one who finally defeated him, was Azazel, a Rank Nine High Seat. Just below the very peak of their power structure."
Adam absorbed this, a cold dread settling in his gut. He had killed a low-ranking demon, likely little more than a foot soldier. Edward Bloodrose had faced down a Rank Nine High Seat. The sheer power difference was staggering.
"So, to clarify," Jones interjected, his voice practical, "we're talking about freeing a mass-murdering, family-slaying vampire who went toe-to-toe with one of the most powerful demons in existence, and is now rotting in a secret prison level." He ran a hand through his afro. "Sounds like a solid plan. Now, how do we actually get to Level Six?"
Tom leaned forward, his voice conspiratorial. "That's the hard part. It's not just about surviving the levels; it's about breaking out of the established path. We'll need serious firepower. And for that, we'll need allies." He looked directly at Adam.
"And the best ally we can get right now is Julian. He's the strongest in Level One, isn't he? His skill with that blade… he's a force."
Panchenko snapped his fingers. "Good call, Tom! And we already know a few others who might be willing to risk it. Astrid, she's fearless and quick. And Lee, he's surprisingly effective in a tight spot, and funny too. Plus, Ylva, that woman's a warrior through and through. Even Pao, in his own… unique way."
Adam nodded, his mind already formulating a strategy. They couldn't do this alone. The path to vengeance, the path to Edward Bloodrose and escape, was a long one, paved with monstrous challenges and deadly alliances.
"Alright," Adam said, a new resolve hardening his features. "The next time we're in the Darkling Woods, we survive. And then, we start recruiting. We find Julian. We find Astrid and the others. We build our team."