Natsuki sighed, looking at Kojou, who was panting, and Nagisa, who had clearly lost too much body heat.
She frowned and said, "Hey, Mr. Matrix, stop looking around. Hurry up and clear the ice here. Can't you see these kids can't handle it?"
Gozo Island was a tropical region, and everyone's clothing was thin. However, Alrescha-Glacies's freezing ability had turned the place into the North Pole. This wasn't an environment where two kids could linger.
Aslan glanced at Kojou and Nagisa, then smiled, "You're right, this isn't a suitable environment for kids."
As he spoke, the layers of ice and snow melted. The melting ice turned into a flood, flowing into the vase held by Alrescha-Glacies. Instantly, the temperature in the underground tomb returned to a comfortable normal level, neither too cold nor too hot.
Seeing this, Natsuki suddenly fell silent, staring at Aslan seriously. So, it wasn't an illusion earlier?
The Fourth Primogenitor's matrix truly had this level of intelligence. No, Natsuki scrutinized Aslan and the pillar where the ice coffin had been. His physique didn't match, and the other matrices were all female.
"This level of intelligence… so, he's not a matrix?"
Natsuki had seen other Fourth Primogenitor matrices, split into twelve parts. Before coming here, she'd seen two matrices in the Warlord's Empire, but they were mere puppets restricting the Beast Vassals in their bodies, with very low intelligence.
A matrix with full intelligence, able to communicate like a normal person and show emotions, was no longer a matrix.
"Fourth Primogenitor—Lord of the Night of Flame Light, rumors say your soul was sealed in the twelfth matrix's body. So, is this rumor true?"
This also explained why the Fourth Primogenitor appeared as a male. Aslan, having cleared the cold air, glanced at Natsuki.
"You seem to misunderstand. I'm not an idiot who doesn't even know the real situation and tries to seize someone's body."
At this point, Aslan looked at her with amusement.
"Hey, Witch of the Void, interested in joining me? I'm actually quite interested in you."
People who played with space were rare, even in Little Garden. Especially a cute, petite girl like her. Most importantly, Natsuki was legal, with beauty surpassing a doll and a maturity that didn't match her appearance. This contrast brought a subtle majesty, incredibly appealing.
If possible, Aslan really wanted to adopt Natsuki like this—as a subordinate or maybe a secretary?
Natsuki gripped her umbrella handle, looked at him, paused, and took a step back. That step showed her stance.
"Sorry, I don't want to be someone's subordinate."
(And being by your side, I feel like I'd be the victim of a bad prank at any moment. Plus, the name of the Fourth Primogenitor, the world's strongest vampire, is too big, with too much impact. Who knows how many ambitious people in this world covet the Fourth Primogenitor's terrifying power and want to pledge loyalty to him? They want to control the Fourth Primogenitor and help him build the fourth Night Empire.)
Natsuki could imagine the bloody storm behind this just by thinking about it. Though she was one of the world's great witches, if she got involved, she'd be crushed to pieces.
Seeing her step back, the corner of Aslan's mouth curled slightly, and he said with amusement, "But I refuse. Natsuki-chan rejecting my offer isn't a wise choice."
He then gently flicked a card into Natsuki's body. It was a small thing he made when bored, using Spatial Divinity to create a Gift that granted teleportation abilities to others.
Unlike Natsuki's Spatial Manipulation magic, which wasn't true teleportation but magic that reduced movement time to zero, Aslan's teleportation directly reduced distance to zero, allowing free position swapping within a short range.
In appearance, it was roughly similar to Shirai Kuroko's teleportation ability.
"…"
Natsuki closed her eyes resignedly, feeling the ability just granted to her. Though it was powerful, arguably elevating her combat strength to the next level, her face showed no joy, only wariness. If she could, she wished she'd never come here today.
But clearly, the domineering Fourth Primogenitor gave her no room to refuse. He'd even given her a reward upfront—did she have any other choice?
Meanwhile, Gajo, silently watching, could only mourn for Natsuki and be grateful that he and his daughter weren't targeted.
Who knew what he thought when he saw this fully intelligent Fourth Primogenitor?
His daughter was a high-level Miko, a Spiritual Medium, and a high-quality Hybrid. How valuable she was and how attractive to vampires—he knew well.
Now he worried that if Nagisa became the Fourth Primogenitor's target and was forcibly "sold" like Natsuki, what then? But reassuringly, Aslan didn't even glance at Nagisa, as if she were just an ordinary little girl.
Then Aslan prepared to leave with Natsuki. At that moment, seeing Aslan about to go, Liana couldn't hold back and hurriedly stood, calling out to him.
"Please wait a moment!"
Hearing this, Gajo's face turned green.
(Is this foolish woman going to offer Nagisa to show her loyalty?)
But Gajo was overthinking. Aslan paused, turned, glanced at Liana, and said calmly, "Anything else?"
That glance instantly terrified Liana. Her raised foot couldn't land. She stood on one leg, sweating coldly.
After struggling with fear for a long time, she thought of her ruined family and Natsuki, who made her envious and jealous, having received Aslan's gift. Liana gritted her teeth.
"Your Excellency, modern society's rules are very different from your era. There are also villains out there coveting your power."
"Though you already have the Witch of the Void, she alone is too weak to deal with those pests." Liana lowered her head humbly. "With this in mind, the Caruana family is willing to offer our meager strength to eliminate those who defy you."
In short, she was asking to be Aslan's lapdog. Even for free, she was willing. This was an extreme level of "bootlicking."
Aslan looked at Liana, rubbed his chin, thought for a moment, and raised an eyebrow.
"Hmm, forget offering meager strength. But I need some test subjects, depending on your willingness."
Though he'd come to the Strike the Blood world, Aslan had no intention of abandoning his research on the Blacklight Virus and developing the Kali Yuga Spirit Status.
If Absolute Evil's direction was a zombie apocalypse caused by an uncontrollable virus destroying humanity, Kali Yuga's direction was a perfectly analyzed and controlled Blacklight Virus, leading the world to human evolution.
Humans would no longer need gods. Everyone would have god-like power in the new era.
Vampires currently seemed to best fulfill humanity's fantasy of evolved future humans. Plus, Aslan was eager to research the differences between Little Garden vampires and those in this world.
Could he help Leticia's Little Garden vampires overcome their sunlight weakness through modifications?
If he recalled correctly, Deva in this world also seemed highly sensitive to sunlight, like Little Garden vampires. Or were Deva the original vampires, with modern vampires created to overcome the sunlight weakness?
Aslan didn't remember clearly; in the original story, it was just speculation. Specifics would have to wait until he gathered enough information.
But that didn't matter. He could research the racial differences between vampires of the two worlds, right?
"…"
Hearing this, Liana's face suddenly showed immense excitement. She hurriedly knelt on one knee and said sincerely, "Yes, Your Excellency."
Her attitude was so earnest, her tone so resolute, as if she weren't talking about being a test subject but pledging loyalty and becoming a knight. Even Aslan couldn't help but twitch his mouth.
He'd never heard of someone willingly becoming a test subject. Even he couldn't fully guarantee no accidents during the experiments and research. He could only ensure Liana probably wouldn't die on the operating table and might gain significant benefits.
But as for the process in between, he couldn't guarantee anything. After all, he wasn't a professional. How well could he do?
Still, seeing Liana so… pure and foolish, Aslan ensured she wouldn't lose out.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"So… how did things end up like this?"
In a special car heading to Gozo Island's airport, Natsuki looked at Aslan, sitting beside her playing with Aurora, and sighed.
She'd only gone to complete a mission, but now she'd surrendered her freedom, becoming the Fourth Primogenitor's slave. Though no contract was signed, Natsuki didn't feel she had the power to resist someone who could casually grant such terrifying abilities. The effect was far faster and more terrifying than the demon contract she'd signed.
"By the way, where are the other matrices?"
Aslan, holding Aurora, looked at the rapidly changing scenery outside the window and asked calmly.
Natsuki felt a strange sense of foreboding. It was natural for Aslan, as the Fourth Primogenitor, to want to reclaim his twelve Beast Vassals. But why did she feel this bad premonition?
Before she could answer, Liana, acting as the first test-subject driver, seized the chance to curry favor and quickly reported.
"Currently, the eleven matrices are scattered across the three Night Empires and in the hands of some individuals. The confirmed ones are matrices three, four, and five held by Dimitrie Vatler, and matrix one held by an arms dealer."
"And now, No. 12… ah, no, Your Excellency has appeared. The Fourth Primogenitor has fully emerged in the world. The Blazing Banquet will be held on Itogami Island in Eastern Japan by the Lion King Agency."
The Fourth Primogenitor's awakening ritual was called the Blazing Banquet. Whenever the Fourth Primogenitor awoke, those holding matrices would participate, trying to awaken him and gain his immense power through their matrices.
"Then, the next stop is Itogami Island." Aslan said calmly.
The best way to gather all matrices was to wait leisurely at the event's location. And Itogami Island, as Kaine's altar, was also very useful to him.
But Natsuki, hearing Aslan's voice, froze.
Itogami Island, wasn't that where she lived? The Blazing Banquet, the battle of the Fourth Primogenitor's matrices, would happen at her home?
Instantly, Natsuki felt the urge to curse.