As I delved deeper into the realm of knowledge, my insatiable curiosity led me to explore the boundaries of my kludde contract.

It had been my loyal companion, granting me an undeniable advantage in battles, enhancing my senses, and bestowing upon me the gift of minor shadow magic. These abilities had elevated me above my peers, making me a force to be reckoned with.

My mind raced with the possibilities. Could I make my contract even stronger? Was it conceivable to obtain multiple contracts, each with a different beast of elemental power? The notion of becoming nearly omnipotent tantalized my imagination.

However, the cruel hand of reality swiftly shattered my dreams. I discovered that only one contract could be held at a time, and acquiring a new one would overwrite the previous. It was a bitter pill to swallow, knowing that my ambitions for wielding multiple elemental powers were unattainable.

Still, I couldn't help but wonder if there was a way to upgrade my existing contract. After all, my tattoo bore the mark of an emperor beast. Could it be possible to have a demi-divine creature elevate it to new heights? My quest for answers continued.

My journey of inquiry began with the fundamentals. How could the contract of a divine beast be manipulated? Could it be transferred to another being? Did it have an expiration date? And what were the limits to the powers I could potentially harness?

Days turned into nights as I tirelessly searched for a glimmer of hope or a trace of knowledge that could guide me toward my goal. And then, one fateful day in the dimly lit corner of the library, I stumbled upon a book that would change everything.

Its title, "The Allegory of Dracula Volume II," held an air of intrigue that drew me in.

The aged tome was adorned with a thick metal lock, hinting at secrets hidden within. I carefully dusted off the cover, revealing its weathered pages, and turned to the first page.

"The beast contract with the demon that I had made five centuries ago has finally taken its toll."

The words on the page gripped me, and I read on. Dracula, the enigmatic figure from ages past, recounted his own pact with a demon and the price he paid for his powers.

"I had wiped out my enemies and those who betrayed me. I have become wealthy, all I had ever wanted had been achieved. But, the loneliness, the solitude, the thirst, bearing it all alone had driven me to insanity."

Dracula's words resonated with me. The isolation of wielding such power, and the loss of loved ones were challenges that I, too, faced on this path.

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"Now I understood why the demon had given me this power without a cost.

He wanted to watch me suffer and be tormented by my own mind, plagued by the crying of my dead children, tormented by the smiles of wives I thought I could love like no other, and tormented by friends who I trusted but were mortified of my true self, watching as those around me turned to dust."

Dracula's torment mirrored my own fears. Living a life with nothing… The thought alone brought trepidation to my heart and made me yearn to see my sister and uncle once again.

"My heart had felt a thousand heartbreaks, my eyes had shed tears for a thousand losses.

My lips had missed a thousand goodbyes to dear friends.

My back experienced a thousand stabbings.

But I had not gotten this far by giving up. I was determined to have my own family, and not even the gods themselves could stop me.

I pledged that I would break every natural law and force my will upon this godforsaken earth.

I swear upon all that is or ever will be… I will not be stunted by the cold claws of time!"

Dracula's determination spoke to the core of my being. The pursuit of power, the defiance of fate, and the resolve to transcend one's limitations were all challenges that my heart resonated with.

The book went on to detail Dracula's quest for power. He embarked on a century-long journey to acquire the necessary components for a ritual of immense power.

The first part he hunted was the fang of a vetala; its fangs were known to release a highly contagious poison that caused delayed death, then turned its victims into walking corpses who would go on to make more walking corpses. He used this as the transmitterable agent in his ritual.

Dracula's method was ruthless, but it demonstrated his unwavering commitment to his goal. Each component he sought had a specific purpose in the ritual.

Next he stole the seed of the world tree. According to his research, he needed a binding agent. A living creature that could never die of old age to ensure the binding was permanent.

The world tree's seed represented eternal life, a crucial element in Dracula's quest to defy the ravages of time.

The final ingredient he needed was the blood of a similar or a more powerful creature as his contract to help coerce his contract into evolving.

This final component held the key to unlocking his contract's full potential. Dracula's choice of an ancient dragon's blood was a testament to the magnitude of his ambition.

Dracula only got one drop, and this was only after witnessing two ancient dragons fighting did he steal the blood. He used this as the base substance for the spell.

The scarcity of the blood served as a stark reminder of the challenges he faced. But his resourcefulness allowed him to obtain what he needed.

After gathering all the ingredients, he asked the help of a legendary ranked magician to create a magic formation that could conduct the ritual.

This magical formation was the linchpin of Dracula's plan, the conduit through which he would channel the combined powers of his gathered components.

As I read on, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and trepidation.

Dracula's path was fraught with peril, his ingredients rare and formidable.

But what truly intrigued me was the realization that there was no specific recipe. Dracula understood the foundational principles of ritual magic, and that knowledge had guided him to acquire what he needed.

I concluded that if I could obtain ingredients with similar properties, I might be able to achieve similar results. It was a theory worth exploring, and my determination burned brighter than ever before.

In the days that followed, I immersed myself in the study of magic formations and ritual magic, seeking a deeper understanding of the principles at play. Dracula's journey had illuminated my path, but it was up to me to forge my own way forward.

With each passing night in the library, my resolve grew stronger.