The Blood Moon descended, and the world transformed. My friend and I became extremely rare pure blooded human survivors. After being captured by the vampires, I was chosen by Queen Inferna and became her closest blood slave. As her territory expanded, Queen Inferna dominated the region, and I became the most protected human in this apocalyptic world. Meanwhile, my friend Julian followed Queen Aquila, who controlled the power of tides. Soon after, her territory was conquered and absorbed by other vampire princes. He became a prisoner again, passed between multiple vampire clans and tortured endlessly, until I finally rescued him. But instead of being grateful, he went mad with jealousy and pushed me off a high-rise building. I dragged him down with me as we fell to our deaths, only to be reborn on the day the vampires divided their spoils of war. Julian rushed toward that tall queen with flame insignias carved into her face. Seeing that familiar malice in his eyes, I smiled. Finally, I could leave that cage. And there’s actually an idiot fighting to jump right in!
The low growl of a vampire servant rang in my ears. I jolted awake and realized I’d been reborn, back to the day we were captured by the vampires. At this moment, Julian was running right past me, heading straight for that towering female prince covered in burning flame totems. “Choose me, Queen Inferna! I’m willing to become your companion!” I could barely believe my ears—he actually dared to say that out loud! The height difference between them was so obvious. In my previous life, he trembled with fear when he saw this queen who was nearly twice his height. When Queen Inferna’s gaze swept over, he didn’t hesitate to push me forward. Now he’s not afraid of dying in her bedchamber? He actually dares to offer himself! Meeting that undisguised malice in his eyes, I instantly understood—he’d been reborn too. In the past, shortly after Julian followed Queen Aquila, her clan was absorbed by other princes. He was passed around between several vampire groups, treated as a plaything and blood source, suffering endless humiliation before I finally rescued him. I never expected that his heart had already been consumed by jealousy. He took advantage of my carelessness and pushed me off a building. Reborn, he wanted to seize the advantage. He thought that by securing Queen Inferna’s favor first, he could become the most respected human in the apocalypse. I couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. Did he really think the position of “Father of the Blood Heirs” was so easy to endure? Queen Inferna seemed quite interested in his initiative. She lifted him with one hand and placed him on her broad shoulder. “Then I’ll take you.” Julian used to study dance. His frame was slender and his appearance was indeed outstanding. I just didn’t know if that build could withstand the queen’s domineering infernal flames and harsh demands. Delight flashed in his eyes, and he looked at me with triumph. His lips moved silently, forming words: “This should have been mine all along. Now it’s back where it belongs.” Setting aside where his confidence came from, I had no intention of competing with him. He only saw my later life—the surface glory, the protection I received—but he had no idea what I paid for it. I smiled at him slightly. Since he was so desperate to jump into the fire pit, I’d let him have this “honor.” We used to be best friends. After the apocalypse hit, he had limited combat ability and largely relied on my protection to survive until now. I never called him out on it, but that didn’t mean I didn’t know about his little schemes. Secretly cutting my food rations, always making me take the front line when we were attacked, claiming “you learned combat, you can protect yourself better.” In this world where I’d lost all my family, he was my only connection to the past. That’s why I tolerated him again and again. Under my protection, he enjoyed the benefits while secretly scheming with jealousy. Now he wanted to steal my chance of survival and make me step into the hell he already knew. He even eagerly gestured to Queen Aquila. “Your Majesty, that person over there is my good friend, Mason! He’s physically strong, absolutely suitable to provide blood for you!” His eyes were full of impatience, desperate for me to experience all the suffering he’d endured.
From the moment he pushed me off that building, whatever friendship we had was completely destroyed. I rolled my eyes. Before Queen Aquila could speak, I quickly pointed at her second-in-command. “Can I choose to follow this vice-commander?” Queen Aquila was straightforward, with limbs as thick as rocks. Her appearance was honestly not pleasant to look at. But she valued loyalty and rules within her clan above all. She wouldn’t steal a “contractor” that her subordinates had already claimed. She just asked in a rough, curious voice, “Oh? Why choose her instead of me?” I put on a fearful expression and answered in a low voice, “Because… the vice-commander’s build is… closer to mine.” At these words, Queen Aquila burst into loud laughter. “Hahaha! You’re afraid my size is too big for you to handle? Fine, then you can go with Shadow!” Queen Aquila’s vice-commander “Shadow” was a wandering powerhouse recently recruited. She’d made great contributions clearing out enemy clans. Her build hadn’t swelled excessively like some vampires. She was just taller than average women, around six-foot-three. Her appearance was closer to human too, except for those mysterious purple-gold patterns on her face. Not too frightening. After vampire transformation, the more human-like the appearance, the more rationality and wisdom retained, and usually the stronger they were. I’d researched these elite clan members in my previous life. Her power was no less than any prince. If she hadn’t been ambushed and injured before, hunted by other clans, she would definitely have had the chance to dominate a territory in the future. I was done living like a rat, at others’ mercy. Depending on others was unreliable, whether they were human or monster. This time, I would carve out my own path of survival. Those vampires who retained some rationality understood and let out low chuckles. Vice-Commander Shadow’s expression clearly darkened. After all, being evaluated for “size compatibility” to your face probably wasn’t a pleasant experience. She was quite rough with me, throwing me over her shoulder like a sack. Her sharp nails scratched through the skin on my thigh. Smelling the blood, she actually lowered her head and licked away the oozing drops. The touch was ice-cold. I forced down my disgust and made myself stay calm. I’d experienced worse. This was nothing. Julian looked at me with contempt and mockery, as if looking at a dead man. In his eyes, the vice-commander I chose was even worse than the Queen Aquila he’d originally chosen. Either way, I couldn’t escape becoming a plaything again, passed between vampires, ending up as miserable as his previous life. Too bad I wasn’t as stupid as him. In his limited brain, besides clinging to others, what brilliant ideas could he come up with? This city originally had four vampire princes. After today’s battle, only three remained. The territories were redistributed. The remaining survivors were also divided into three groups. Males became “blood bags” or food, while human females became playthings and breeding tools. Vice-Commander Shadow was clearly very dissatisfied with me for that remark about her “size.” I didn’t know how she would “deal with” me. Their base was in a luxury hotel in the original city center. I was thrown onto a soft bed. That woman—no, female vampire—with dark purple patterns on her face pressed down on me viciously. “Compatible?” Her voice carried icy mockery. “Then let’s test it properly and see if we’re really compatible.”
Sure, she was compatible—just slightly shorter than those two queens. She had every muscle line she needed, and at nearly six-foot-three, she had overwhelming presence for someone just over five-foot-seven like me. I really don’t get it. Already turned into a vampire, and still so sensitive about pride. I was rolling my eyes internally, but I could only try to please her verbally. After all, avoiding immediate trouble was the first rule of survival. “No, that’s not what I meant! I just… I’m afraid of pain, really no other meaning!” Hearing this again, she almost ground her teeth to dust, looking like she wanted to tear me apart. And she really did bite down on my neck and shoulder. That moment I almost suffocated. Because I knew the process of being marked as a blood slave for the first time was extremely painful. I hadn’t expected her to be so casual about it. Just when I thought I was about to become a mindless lower-class blood servant, she suddenly released her bite. There were only shallow teeth marks on my shoulder, no broken skin. She almost growled my name through clenched teeth. “Mason, even in the apocalypse, your mouth is still so infuriating!” Huh? I’d never told her my name. Even though I used to be a human survivor squad leader, I shouldn’t be famous enough for all vampires to know me. Meeting those cold eyes with a familiar feeling, a face that was both austere and refined gradually overlapped with the vice-commander before me… Wait… I jolted up and practically threw my arms around her, my voice carrying exaggerated emotion. “Luna? Is that you? I never thought I’d meet you here! This is great—you’ll protect me, right?” I heard her mocking snort by my ear. “Mason, that’s not what you said before.” Ugh… yeah, that was a bit fake. Before her transformation, she was a senior in the Finance department named Luna. She was also the city’s freestyle fighting champion. Back then, I bragged to people that someone like Luna—that skinny type—I could knock her down with one punch. I mocked her, saying she looked weak, that I wouldn’t want her even if she threw herself at me. It was just sour grapes—because I’d confessed to her once and got rejected cleanly and decisively. That scene was humiliating. Right now, I wanted to find a hole to crawl into. I thought I’d calculated everything, but I ended up choosing my nemesis. We were already at odds when we were human. Now that she’d become a vampire and I’d fallen into her hands, could I expect anything good? But… I never had the chance before. Now “sleeping with her” wouldn’t be a loss, right? That’s what I was secretly thinking. But in reality, she clearly hated me. She looked at my “ready to die” expression with mockery, then unceremoniously pulled me off the bed and tossed me onto the carpet. “I need someone to handle chores. Hope you know your place, or you can go be a public blood—” “—bag instead. Trust me, you don’t want that.” She looked down at me coldly, arms crossed. I quickly got up and knelt, trying to salvage the situation. “No, no! I’ll behave! Luna—uh, Commander Shadow, I was young and stupid back then. Please forgive me!” “You’re still young and stupid now.” She walked to the window, gazing at the blood-red sky. “But you’re right about one thing. Compared to those queens, I’m your best bet for survival.” Her tone softened slightly. Maybe the old Luna was still in there somewhere. “In three days, the clans will hold a gathering. Queen Aquila wants to show off her new territory. You’ll serve drinks.” She glanced back at me. “Try not to embarrass me.” “I won’t! I promise!” She waved dismissively. “There’s a servant’s room next door. Get out.” As I scrambled to leave, her voice stopped me. “Mason.” “Yes?” “That friend of yours, Julian.” Her eyes glinted with something unreadable. “He won’t last a month with Queen Inferna. She goes through companions like tissues.” A chill ran down my spine, but not from fear—from satisfaction. “That’s his choice,” I said quietly. Luna’s lips curved into the faintest smile. “Smart answer. Now get out.”
The next three days passed in a blur of menial tasks. I cleaned, organized supplies, and learned the hierarchy of Queen Aquila’s clan. Luna—Shadow, as everyone called her here—was respected but also feared. She’d killed the previous vice-commander in single combat to earn her position. The other blood servants whispered that she was “different.” More controlled. More dangerous. I kept my head down and worked. But I also watched. Learned. On the third evening, Luna summoned me to help her prepare for the gathering. “You’ll stay close to me tonight,” she said, adjusting an elaborate dark coat. “Other clans will be there. Some will try to test boundaries.” “Test boundaries how?” She gave me a sharp look. “By seeing if they can steal or harm another clan’s humans. It’s a power play.” My stomach dropped. “And if they succeed?” “Then the human’s master looks weak.” She stepped closer, and I smelled something like smoke and frost. “I don’t look weak, Mason. Understand?” I nodded quickly. “Good.” She handed me a server’s uniform—surprisingly well-fitted. “Stay within arm’s reach at all times. Don’t speak unless spoken to. And if anyone but me or Queen Aquila tries to touch you…” “Run?” “Scream.” Her smile was cold. “I’ll handle the rest.” The gathering was held in what used to be the city’s grand opera house. Now it was a monument to vampire excess—dripping with salvaged luxury and the scent of blood. Queen Aquila sat on a raised platform, looking pleased with herself. Queen Inferna occupied the opposite side, her flames casting dancing shadows. And there, standing behind Inferna, was Julian. He looked… terrible. Pale beyond natural, with dark circles under his eyes. His dancer’s grace was gone, replaced by a trembling rigidity. When our eyes met, the hatred in his gaze was volcanic. I kept my expression neutral and followed Luna through the crowd. “So this is your new pet, Shadow?” A male vampire with silver markings sneered. “Looks fragile.” “Looks are deceiving,” Luna replied smoothly, not breaking stride. I poured drinks, served blood-soaked delicacies, and tried not to think about what they were made of. Then Julian appeared beside me when Luna was momentarily distracted. “Enjoying yourself?” he hissed. “You think you’re so clever, picking her?” “I think I’m alive,” I whispered back. “How’s Queen Inferna treating you?” His face twisted. “Better than you’ll ever have it. Just wait. Soon—” “Julian.” Queen Inferna’s voice boomed across the hall. “Come here.” He flinched but obeyed, and I watched him stumble toward her. Luna reappeared at my side. “What did he say?” “Nothing important. Just jealous ranting.” She studied me for a moment. “You’re different from before. Calmer.” “Dying and coming back changes a person.” Her eyes widened slightly—understanding flickering there. “You too?” she breathed. I nodded minutely. “Then you know,” she continued quietly, “that this gathering is where—” A scream cut through the room. Julian had collapsed. Queen Inferna stood over him, looking annoyed. “Weak,” she pronounced. “I’ll need a replacement soon.” Her burning gaze swept the room and landed on me. “Shadow,” Queen Inferna called out. “Lend me your human. I want to see if he’s truly as strong as Julian claimed.” The room went silent. Luna’s hand moved to my shoulder—protective or possessive, I couldn’t tell. “With respect, Queen Inferna,” Luna said carefully, “he’s mine. And I don’t lend my possessions.” The temperature rose. Flames licked at Inferna’s frame. “Are you refusing me, vice-commander?” This was it. The test Luna warned me about. Queen Aquila watched with interest but didn’t intervene. This was about clan dynamics, not her. Luna’s grip on my shoulder tightened. “I’m stating a boundary, Your Majesty. Just as you would if I asked to borrow Julian.” The standoff stretched. Every vampire in the room held their breath. Then Queen Inferna laughed—a sound like crackling fire. “You’ve got spine, Shadow. I respect that.” She turned away dismissively. “Keep your human. He wouldn’t last anyway if he’s friends with this disappointment.” She kicked Julian, who whimpered. Relief flooded through me, but I kept still. As the gathering continued, Luna leaned down and whispered, “We need to talk. Privately. About what we both know.” I nodded. Because if she was also reborn, everything changed. This wasn’t just about survival anymore. This was about revenge. About rewriting fate. And maybe—just maybe—about settling that old rejection in a very different way. “—bag instead. Trust me, you don’t want that.” Not much harm done, but extremely insulting. Fortunately, my self-esteem had been worn down by the apocalypse long ago. If I had to be a servant, so be it. However, before the end of the world, there were rumors at school that she seemed to have a soft spot for Julian. Later, after Queen Aquila died and her clan was absorbed, I heard that this vice-commander had the ability to escape alone, but got seriously injured trying to save Julian, and eventually fell. I didn’t understand before, but now that I knew this vice-commander was Luna, everything seemed to make sense. Previously Julian followed Queen Aquila—she had no chance. Now Julian followed Queen Inferna—she had even less chance. I thought her taste was really questionable, actually falling for a schemer like Julian. However, this might give me a reason to convince her to work together. But Luna was extremely harsh with me now, her disgust evident as she treated me like a complete servant. I didn’t dare get too friendly yet. 4 After Julian and I were chosen, there was one more male survivor left. Queen Aquila traded other spoils to get him. His name was Derek, and like me, he’d learned combat. We were roommates in college. Without him in the survivor group, I probably would’ve been killed by that burden Julian long ago. Actually, I had a selfish reason for choosing Vice-Commander Shadow. Given Queen Aquila’s current strength over the other prince, if I followed the vice-commander, Queen Aquila would definitely want another human male. That way Derek and I could both stay in this clan and look out for each other. In my previous life, he was assigned to the third faction and tortured to death within days, even becoming food after death. Whether for cooperation or old friendship, I wanted to save him once. As for Julian, let him enjoy himself for now. Once he got to Queen Inferna’s territory, he’d have a hard time. That queen was half a head taller than Queen Aquila, all powerful muscle. Sure, she looked strong, but that massive size difference could kill him. Certain experiences would probably be more painful than so-called “childbirth.” And Queen Inferna retained very little humanity, with a brutal personality. How well could she treat him? I didn’t choose the third prince because that was “Venomfang,” who absorbed Queen Aquila’s forces in my previous life. He awakened the ability to release paralyzing toxins, specialized in ambushes, sinister and ruthless. His strength wasn’t actually top-tier, and he was later absorbed by other clans too. Beyond this city, surrounding forces were deeply entrenched. Well, mainly that guy’s appearance was truly unbearable—a body of ominous dark green, like moving toxic moss, triangular head, small eyes, more beast than rational being. In my previous life, Derek didn’t last more than a few days under him, and Julian also suffered terribly when he fell into his hands later. When we left, Prince Venomfang didn’t say much, just swept his cold gaze over us with a sinister smile at the corner of his mouth. He had no objections to the distribution of the few human males because he’d already planned to absorb other forces and take all the spoils for himself. In my previous life, he succeeded, ambushing Queen Aquila’s territory while Queen Inferna was out expanding. But this time, with me here, his plan would probably fail. Though Queen Aquila was rough, she wasn’t extremely evil, and her mind was relatively simple. She desired to breed powerful offspring and needed quality blood sources, but in my previous life, her blood extraction from Julian was relatively controlled, not to the point of endangering his life. So as long as Derek didn’t resist violently or anger her, he should be safe for now. In this year-plus of apocalypse, we’d long abandoned meaningless dignity. Survival was what mattered most. On Derek’s side, he seemed to have lucked out and escaped disaster because of his poor condition. After transformation, Queen Aquila actually retained a trace of bizarre “gentlemanly” behavior. I quietly told Derek that Vice-Commander Shadow was Luna. His expression immediately became quite spectacular. He knew about the old grudge between Luna and me—I’d cursed her plenty in the dorm back then. We used to be senior and junior, but now it was the apocalypse. Even blood brothers might turn on each other, let alone mere acquaintances. In the end times, humanity had grown thin. Then, in a speculative tone, I revealed that Prince Venomfang would likely ambush soon. When that happened, we might find a chance to escape. Derek worried we couldn’t get away and hoped I could find a way to communicate with Luna. So that night, I crept to Luna’s bedside. Before I could speak, she pinned me to the bed like picking up a chicken. After transforming into a vampire, she seemed to have become an agility-type warrior, moving fast as a ghost. I had no power to resist before her. “What?” Her cold breath brushed my ear, playful. “Want to verify if we’re ‘compatible’?”
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