Chapter 267 – Floor 57: Part 1

  Essence: Aura – Tier 3 – Soul’s Voice

  Your words resonate with supernatural power, compelling absolute attention and evoking deep emotional responses. Your speeches or commands can sway entire crowds, inciting love, fear, or devotion.

  Essence – Command – Tier 3 – Subjugate Will

  Temporarily suppress the target’s ability to resist commands. They will obey any direct order you give without hesitation.

  Essence – Farsense – Tier 1 – Aura Perception

  Observe the Auras of individuals, revealing their emotions, supernatural nature, or their recent actions. The more powerful the user is, the more Aura can be perceived.

  Floor 57 – A Clan Coup

  Use the power obtained from the Primogenitor Blood and the Highborn to dominate Clan Exaltis. Never forget that your ultimate goal is to find and eliminate the Three Primogenitors of the Lineages; the Clan will lead you to them.

  Pry the secret of the Primogenitor ‘Eryn’ from the Clan.

  Reward: One (1) tier enhancement for the Clan Exaltis Essence ‘Aura’

  Adelaide stepped into the elevator, her stiletto heels clicking sharply against the polished metal floor. The glass back of the elevator car opened to a panoramic view of New York City, a sprawl that stretched out like a labyrinth of concrete buildings and streets.

  Even from her vantage point, the city seemed to pulse with a wild energy, mirroring the turmoil brewing within the Clan.

  As the elevator began its smooth ascent, the noise of the lobby faded away and was replaced by the soft hum of machinery. The city lights spread wider, casting their glow onto her reflection in the glass. Adelaide adjusted the hem of her tailored black blazer as her gaze locked on the horizon where the skyscrapers brushed the dark clouds hanging above the city.

  Her mind churned with thoughts of the past few nights. The Ashen Pact had taken refuge in the old Power Plant, and the Clans had thought to stop their attempt at opening the Sacred Vessel and retrieve the artifact for themselves.

  But somehow, the Ashen Pact and the Clans were both wiped out, while the Sacred Vessel had gone missing.

  It was a terrible loss for the Clans, and even Clan Exaltis lost multiple members, including Dimitris, their Champion, and Mathew. The death of her Scion had nearly broken her heart, and the fact that there wasn’t even a body to bury was agonizing.

  The deaths of so many bled mistrust and uncertainty into the Clan’s ranks, made worse by the news they had received this morning.

  The murder of the Highborn by his own Steward had thrown their power structure into disarray. A Highborn’s death always led to extreme chaos, and the fact that this was treachery and a betrayal from one so trusted made everyone wary of each other.

  The cityscape blurred as the elevator climbed higher, the lights mixing with the water streaks on the glass like shooting stars. Adelaide forced herself to steady her thoughts, but the fragments of whispered accusations and heated debates among the remaining leaders gnawed at her calm.

  Who could Clan Exaltis trust now? The Highborn had been a constant security presence in the city for centuries. He was a dam that kept the violence and chaos at bay. Without him, how would things progress?

  Adelaide turned briefly to watch her reflection, studying the composed mask she wore so well. Her green eyes betrayed nothing, but inside, she felt the weight of the Highborn’s death and the Clan’s expectations pressing down on her.

  ‘At least they still had the Grand Elders.’ Adelaide thought to herself. They would be an ‘anchor in the storm,’ guiding the clan and keeping them grounded while the storm raged outside.

  As the elevator neared the top floor, the shimmering skyline gave way to darkness. Adelaide inhaled sharply and smoothed her hair into place. With a soft ‘ding,’ the elevator reached its destination. Ensuring that everything was perfect, she stepped off and made her way to the main hall where the Grand Elders were waiting.

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  The air was colder here, but not from a draft or air condition, but from the palpable tensions and the weight of the Grand Elder’s ancient authority. Adelaide’s shoes sunk into the plush purple carpet that led to the council chamber.

  The room was vast, dominated by a raised platform where the three Grand Elders were currently standing in front of the gathered Elders of the Clan Exaltis.

  Cassandra was the first to catch Adelaide’s eye, with her white hair and her ivory dress. She stood with an unnerving stillness, her pale fingers clasped in front of her. Next to Cassandra was Gabriel, with his auburn hair like molten bronze and his eyes hard and cold as they stared at those assembled.

  Gabriel had donned armour for the occasion, an ancient Roman cuirass of polished metal with a short sword, a gladius, hanging from a scabbard at his side.

  Finally, there was the Grand Elder, whom Adelaide was most familiar with. Lila stood with a small smile on her face, her bright red lips curled faintly. Her black hair framed her face, perfectly styled and shiny in the light of the room. Her gown shimmered faintly, a deep red that was nearly as dark as her hair.

  “Adelaide, you are late.” Cassandra said; her voice was soft but still sounded loud in the heavy silence.

  “I apologize; I was coordinating another search of the Power Plant.” Adelaide responded by giving a small bow and taking her place with the other Elders.

  “Is there any news regarding poor, dear Mathew?” Lila asked, and her smirk grew wider and more mocking. Adelaide felt a surge of anger but stifled it. Taking another deep, steadying breath, she shook her head.

  “No, there is not.”

  “A pity. He was so handsome and surprisingly competent. I was impressed by him, especially when compared to…” Lila trailed off, and Adelaide understood her meaning.

  ‘Compared to his Elder.’ She thought.

  “That will be enough, Lila. We have more important concerns than the loss of some whelp. We must use this time to strike! We will carve out new territory and seize the title of ‘Highborn’ for ourselves.” Gabriel suggested, only for Cassandra to shake her head.

  “The Highborn favoured our Clan. The other Clans will not allow us to take the title.”

  “Then we fight! No empire was bloodlessly formed. I don’t care if all of New York burns! I will forge a throne from the bones of the slain if I have to!” Gabriel cursed, and Adelaide almost expected the Grand Elder to charge out of the room with his sword drawn.

  The tension in the room was a tangible force, thick and oppressive like a storm cloud ready to break. Adelaide’s eyes flicked to Cassandra, whose own icy gaze was fixed on Gabriel. There was a faint wrinkle of disapproval creasing the normally composed Grand Elder’s face.

  “Gabriel, if you are so eager for battle, then you should fight the other Clans by yourself and not involve Exaltis.” Cassandra said.

  “You think diplomacy will save us now, Cassandra? Our enemies smell blood, and hesitation will only embolden them.” Gabriel retorted.

  “Hesitation? What you call hesitation, I call foresight. We cannot afford reckless displays of power. The Sacred Vessel has still not been found, and I do not believe the Steward was capable of acting alone.” Cassandra replied.

  “A conspiracy? If that were true, one of the Clans would have stepped forward already and seized control of the city. The chaos outside does not conform with that theory.” Lila pointed out, and Adelaide found herself agreeing with her.

  “The chaos may be the point.” Cassandra finished. Before anyone else could speak, they were interrupted by the sound of the door to the chamber opening. With all of the Elders and Grand Elders gathered, there should have been no one else to interrupt them.

  With a scowl on his face, Gabriel was just about to order that someone detain whoever dared to disrupt their meeting when the figure was revealed.

  A wave of air seemed to rush seemed to rush into the room, carrying with it an indescribable weight that settled over everyone like a dense fog. All eyes turned to the entrance to see who could have such a presence.

  It was a young man, radiant and with a handsomeness that was almost otherworldly perfection. His features seemed to have been carved from divine stone, and his presence commanded the room with the gravity of a king or emperor.

  The aura around him was tangible, a field of majesty that made the air shimmer faintly.

  Adelaide recognized him immediately despite the changes. It was Mathew.

  His eyes were the most arresting of his transformations. They glowed a vivid, unnatural blue that was filled with power, as if a piece of the night sky had been set aflame and trapped within them. When Mathew’s eyes swept over the room, every one his gaze touched felt an almost primal instinct to kneel.

  Adelaide’s breath caught in her throat at the sudden reappearance of her Scion. Not only was he still alive, but what had happened to him to make such shocking changes to him? It had only been a few days since she saw him last, and he had been nothing like this.

  Mathew strode forward with effortless grace, his footsteps measured and elegant. There was a faint hum of power surrounding him, a low thrum that vibrated in the bones of everyone present. Seeing that everyone was cowed, Mathew turned his attention to the Grand Elders.

  “Where is the Primogenitor, Eryn?” Mathew asked, and his voice carried the weight of a command, the sound both demanding and regal. The room seemed to hold its breath as if even the walls were waiting for a response.

  His glowing blue eyes swept over the Elders, a flicker of impatience flashing through them as though they were beneath his notice.

  “How dare you-” Gabriel began, only for Mathew to respond with one of his Essence Abilities.

  “Soul’s Voice. Where is the Primogenitor, Eryn?” Mathew restated his question, and this time, his voice had an edge that hadn’t been present before. It was laced with Mana, and his oppressive presence turned into an almost crushing weight that forced the Grand Elders to respond.

  “Beneath…beneath the city.” Gabriel responded, stuttering and stammering. Soon, Mathew forced the location from him.

  With one last look, Mathew left the room while the sound of a ‘ding’ rang out in his mind.

  Adelaide tried to process what had just happened, but her mind was still playing catch up. Before she knew it, she was running out of the room after her Scion.

  “Mathew, wait!”