Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 507: I shall not!

Chapter 507: I shall not!

The Basilisk lowered its head to the ground, allowing Alex to walk off along with Vorigan and Victoria.

The gazes of most Vampires were filled with awe as they stared at Alex while a few, like a certain Monarch, were filled with jealousy.

Ignoring them, Alex pondered on the options available to him.

He could rebuff the claims that he was the Dark Lord but considering the reason he’d agreed to Vorigan’s request was to recruit an army, he knew it was best to go along with it.

And so, he said. "Arise, friends, do not treat me as some god because I am not. I am merely a simple being carrying a heavy burden."

Alex expected them to pause as to why he was acting humble but it seemed to have the opposite effect as the Vampires began to murmur amongst themselves.

"Despite being greater than us, he refers to us as friends, even calling himself a simple being."

"The Dark Lord is a humble soul."

Alex didn’t know how to feel about the misunderstanding but as it was working in his favor, he continued down that path.

"Please do arise, we have much to discuss. Like why you all have abandoned the Night to follow a false representation."

Chastised, the Vampires bowed their heads in guilt, unwilling to gaze upon the representative of Night.

"And who are you to judge us?" A Monarch suddenly remarked causing Alex to look in his direction.

"I do not judge nor do I dare to do so. But you must know that what your kin has done, violating the Night like so would have consequences." Alex muttered softly.

The Monarch scoffed. "We wouldn’t have done so if the Night hadn’t betrayed us first. We were overlords of this continent once but were betrayed by the darkness. Now that we have decided to take matters into our own hands, you dare to come here and utter such sophistry."

"In that case, pray tell, what have your actions ended up causing?... You have invited disaster in the form of the Abyss, yet you still act like you did no wrong?"

"I will not stand here and listen to a human speak like this to me." The Monarch remarked. "My name is Gregory and I will not acknowledge a human as the Dark Lord and representative of the Night!"

"Do you deem me unworthy?" Alex inquired.

"I do."

"Then come, take my Authority and you shall replace me." Alex calmly said.

"Master." Victoria quickly remarked, even glancing at Vorigan, hopeful that he would say something as well.

Surprisingly or rather, unsurprisingly, he remained silent.

That was when she understood that none of the Monarchs wished to allow a human to serve as the Dark Lord.

Victoria felt disgusted at their myopic thinking.

"There is a reason the Night chose him!... Why don’t you fools understand that!" She exclaimed in annoyance, unable to hold herself back any longer.

"Then let him prove himself." Yet another Monarch spoke up, the only female in their midst. "I mean, it shouldn’t be difficult if he is indeed the Dark Lord?"

"Even now, you all are focused on the wrong thing." Alex intoned in a disappointed tone. "The Abyss is currently beyond this domain of mine, wreaking havoc on Ra’as, yet..."

"Forgive me, Dark Lord, but their concerns are valid. You must understand that you are destined to lead us to the Promised Land, that would mean we’d have to give you our all. We need to be sure that you are capable of leading us." Vorigan spoke up at that moment, earning a perfunctory glance from Alex.

Looking away from the oldest Monarch, Alex remarked. "Then, go ahead, if you must have your proof, then I shall endeavor to hand it to you."

Gregory grinned wickedly, almost like he’d hit the jackpot.

He knew no one else would try to compete with him as he had benefited the most from the Blood Feast, reaching a power level beyond what a single Monarch of the current age could accomplish.

All that stood between him and ultimate power was a puny human.

Taking a step forward, he dashed forward, moving like a blur and appearing at arm’s length away from Alex.

As he swung his killing blow, hoping to end the battle in a single move to further enhance the image of his power in the eyes of the others, Victoria suddenly stepped forward with her eyes a milky white with tails protruding from her waist, each one with a flame tongue at the tip.

Her arm was covered in threads and with that arm, she caught Gregory’s fist, stopping him clean in his tracks.

"This is not your fight!" Gregory bellowed.

Victoria grinned. "The Dark Lord is the one that has blessed me with such strength. If you cannot even overcome me, then you are unworthy to face him."

"Bitch!" Gregory bellowed as he unleashed his bloody aura, prepared to destroy Victoria when a crisp snap echoed.

What followed was the recession of Eternal Night, once again exposing all Vampires in the vicinity to the bloody sky.

From above, a powerful gaze descended and all fell on their knees, save for Alex and Victoria.

The Blood Vampires trashed like mad men, struggling to resist the madness gnawing at their minds, same with the Psionics and Spiritomancers.

As all let out howls of anguish, Alex snapped again and unfurled Eternal Night.

The silence that followed was deafening, punctuated solely by the sound of heavy breathing.

"You..." Gregory trailed off as he looked up to meet Alex’s cold gaze.

"I save you all from your idiocy and the best way you can repay me is by questioning my Authority?... And you expect me to go along with your suggestions like some lamb ready for slaughter?"

Alex scoffed as he looked around, then he continued. "Well, I shall not!... I am who I say I am and as of this moment, you all shall either accept me as the Dark Lord or be prepared to experience the madness of the Abyss after which I will kill you myself. Do I make myself abundantly clear?"