Year 10 – Winter's End, The Blood River
The Blood River howled that night.Crimson waves lashed against obsidian cliffs, and thunder rolled like the heartbeat of a dying god. Beneath the storm, a fleet of longships carved their path through the current — sails of red flame and void-light cutting across the dark.
At the head of the armada sailed The Crimson Drifter, its dragon-shaped prow breathing fire and red code into the storm. The Red Code Dragon coiled along the mast like living lightning, its laughter echoing across the skies.
On the deck stood Ketsuraku, his cloak whipping in the wind, crimson eyes glowing against the storm.Rosa tightened her gloves beside him, the insignia of the Crimson Veil stitched on her chest. Luminous stood near the helm, her hair glowing faintly blue and gold as she held the Navigation Crystal—a divine compass tuned to the River's pulse.
"The Shadow Citadel lies ahead," she said softly. "Its defenses are drawn by darkness, not walls.""Then we'll burn their shadows," Rosa murmured.
Ketsuraku drew his scythe, its edge bleeding red lightning. "For the River."
The citadel rose before them — a fortress of black glass and screaming statues, floating above the crimson tide. The air was thick with whispers. Tens of thousands of shadow people guarded it — twisted silhouettes of greed, corruption, and old magic. Behind them, demon merchants wielded gold-plated staves, chanting in a language made of profit and curses.
The first bolt of black fire struck the Drifter's sails. The ship trembled but did not fall. The Red Code Dragon roared, releasing a storm of red symbols that tore through the enemy lines like living meteors.
[System Alert]
Astral Raid – Shadow Citadel Initiated
Enemy Forces Detected: Shadow Legion (12,000)
Objective: Secure Relic – Heart of Nihility
"Shields forward!" Rosa commanded, flipping a pair of daggers that shimmered with Blood Qi. Her shinobi leapt from ship to ship, exploding into red mist and reappearing among the enemy ranks.Luminous raised her hand; a circle of divine light formed above the fleet, blinding the shadows as thousands of runes rained down.Ketsuraku slammed his scythe into the deck — a crimson wave exploded outward, slicing through the front ranks of the shadow army.
The ships rammed the docks of the Citadel, shattering them in a burst of blood and code. Warriors of the Veil poured out like liquid fire, blades screaming, eyes burning.
Ketsuraku moved like a storm incarnate. His crimson scythe traced arcs of annihilation, his movements mirrored by his astral clones — one wielding twin blades, one firing crimson arrows, one summoning chains of Blood Qi that impaled demons through the walls.
Rosa vanished into shadows, her assassins appearing behind enemy captains, cutting throats before they could scream. Every kill left behind a whisper of illusion, confusing the survivors into attacking each other.Luminous descended upon the battlefield like an angel of equilibrium, her hands weaving patterns of light and gold. Where her power touched the River, it turned white — holy and silent, purging corruption.
And above them all, the Red Code Dragon roared, rewriting the very reality of the battlefield. Walls crumbled into zeroes and ones. The heavens bled red.
Hours later, only the fortress's heart remained: a single spire of black crystal pulsing with void.Ketsuraku entered it alone.
At the center hovered a sphere — The Heart of Nihility. It pulsed like a living organ, black veins spreading across the room. The whispers of the dead filled the air, chanting his name in a thousand distorted voices.
"You seek the void," a voice hissed. "But the void seeks you."
Ketsuraku reached out. Blood streamed from his fingertips as he grasped the relic. It throbbed once, and reality shattered. The walls exploded outward into red code. Visions flooded his mind — countless worlds collapsing, Aeons devouring themselves, and Ix watching from a crimson throne.
Then came a voice — smooth, cold, amused.
"You took what even gods feared to touch," Ix whispered within his mind. "You never disappoint me, little heir."
The Heart fused into his chest, merging with his Blood Core. His aura flared, a storm of red and black, his veins glowing with raw void energy.
[System Update]
Relic Obtained – Heart of Nihility
Effect: +25% Void Affinity · +1 Astral Capacity · Aeon Bond Deepened (Ix)
Unique Skill Unlocked – Reality Inversion (Rank ???)
Description: Temporarily invert matter and void; rewrite form through reflection.
When the dust settled, the Citadel was gone — reduced to drifting shards of glass. The fleet stood victorious, its sails burning brighter than the stars.
Luminous emerged from the bridge, wiping ash from her cheek. "You absorbed it, didn't you?"He nodded. "It called to me. The rest of the spoils are yours to divide."Rosa grinned. "Oh, there's plenty to sell — demon cores, relics, enchanted jewelry, enough gold to drown a noble house."
They began loading treasure onto the ships, sealing crates of weapons and resources marked for the Mirage Exchange.
[System Update]
Raid Completed – Shadow Citadel
Loot Acquired: Demon Cores × 73 · Gold Ingots × 4000 · Relics × 21 · Enchanted Weapons × 37 · Resources × 9 crates
Heart of Nihility – Bound (Non-Transferable)
New Market Feature: Astral Raid Shares Unlocked
[Skill Progression]
Navigation level 1 – 41% Mastery
Blood Magic level 2 – 7% Mastery
Nihility Magic level 1 – 55% Mastery
Finance level 1 – 57% Mastery
That night, the Crimson Drifter anchored upon calm crimson waters. The sails whispered softly under the twin moons.
Rosa poured demon wine into three glasses. "To the first raid."Luminous raised her cup. "To balance — through chaos."Ketsuraku lifted his own, crimson energy flickering across the rim. "To conquest… and to whatever comes after."
The three drank as the Red Code Dragon circled the fleet, painting the sky with red trails.Below, the Blood River flowed endlessly, carrying whispers of their victory toward realms that did not yet know fear.
[System Update]
Astral Capacity – 5/7
Fleet Status – Veteran (Tier II)
Active Clones: Alchemy (1), Hunting/Gathering (2), Blacksmithing (3), Raiding (4), Logistics (5 pending creation)
Raid Profit Distribution Active – +1,400 Astral Coins per cycle
[Title Gained]Scion of Nihility – He Who Holds the Heart