I closed my eyes and waited for... something. I felt relaxed, that's for sure, but other than that, I didn't feel anything. I sighed and opened my eyes to find myself no longer in the cultivation room. I was instead staring at my core floating high above my foundation. I admired my previous handiwork before crouching at the head of the serpent on the floor. I stared into its eye which was a duplicate of my own. I chuckled and wondered if that smaller Uroboros had an even smaller Uroboros in its eye. Before I could even shake the distraction away, it was swept away by the pill which reaffirmed my focus.

I touched the serpent and stared at the flowing blood beneath its clear crystalline form. A moment later I was in the center of a whirling riptide of blood. Truths sparkled in the gleaming red fluid and I mentally reached out to them. Some resonated with me, an ephemeral vibration and pull in the center of my being. Some were strong while others met me with a silent apathy. Most, much to my pride and annoyance, were connected to me. While this meant my connection to Blood was incredibly strong, it also meant that it would be difficult to sort through the aspects.

I sighed and got to work. I picked through so many aspects before deciding on my first one. It held the sensation of an open wound, the blood flowing endlessly, leaving the victim a dried husk. As it spun around me in the torrent of Dao, I sent out tethers of mana. Like a fisherman casting a net, I bound the aspect of bleeding and brought it out of my Foundation. I was now seeing double. In one eye I was in a raging whirlpool of red, the other eye was looking at a dripping aspect floating on the edge of my Foundation.

Using the knowledge from when I formed my Foundation, I wove and threaded the mana around the aspect before tethering it to my Foundation. I wound up and up, the higher I went, the tougher it was. I had to restart twice as I noticed flaws in my weave that would weaken the final product. My first mistake was so terrible it would have collapsed the Pillar the moment it formed completely.

What seemed like hours later, it was finally formed and I was panting slightly. Though the barest bit fatigued, I looked at my product with pride. It was a narrow column in the form of a needle. From the needle's tip was a fountain of blood that trailed down a twisting gutter all the way down the Pillar of Exsanguination before resting in a wide pool of blood. However, I wasn't done, I had to engrave my two spells. Thankfully, I didn't need to carve by hand, so to speak. I was much more skilled and sent threads of mana up that acted as chisels. This was great since I wouldn't need to figure out how to make my way up.

I sensed what spells this Pillar allowed and chose quickly. I had energy to spare for my second Pillar after all. The first spell I chose was a debuff type called Hemorrhage. As the name suggests, I not only increase the rate at which wounds bleed, but I make it resist being closed. This'll pair great with Blood Burst. The next one I chose was too cool to pass up. I was puzzled why it came from the aspect of Exsanguination, but I suppose it makes sense. It was called Blood Clone (Basic). I could summon a copy of myself out of blood.

I returned my attention to the whirlpool and hunted down my next aspect. One quickly caught my attention, though not for the right reasons. It was an aspect of blood that came from my consumption of it. An aspect of Hunger. There was something strange that seemed to be hooked on to it. I gazed deeper and felt my own blood run cold. It was a pitch black thread that seemed to head off into the distance; and something was pulling itself closer. It was her. I knew it in my bones, a whisper in the back of my mind whispered with the psyche grating insistence of nails on a chalkboard, "Vacuolentia, Vacuolentia, Vacuolentia."

I shivered and pulled my attention away. Not that aspect, nope. I needed to hurry and close this connection. I could feel her eyes on me, oh god there were so many eyes. My eyes snapped on an aspect and I snatched at it, perfect. The image was that of T-cells devouring infections and curing wounds. I began my construction. I was a quarter finished when I gasped in pain and horror. I looked back at the Hunger aspect and snarled, trying to replace my fear with anger. A creeping clawed hand was reaching around the aspect and sensually touching my Foundation. Thin black veins spiderwebbed out from the claws that poked at my Foundation they led to me, up my leg, down my arm, and turned the mana threads black.

I could feel the Blight corrupting my Pillar of Purification, warping it to form a stronger connection to me. A throaty chuckle echoed from the Hunger. Damn it, I had to work fast. It was no longer an aspect of Purification, but now way in hell was I going to let it be whatever the fuck she was trying to make it. Instead of visions of healing and curing, it was a malediction, a corruptive force that slowly ate away at the healthy blood. I hated that I resonated more with this aspect.

My mana was forming faster than her corruption thankfully and I was soon finished. I sighed in tired relief as the Pillar of Malady stopped her corruption and fought it back, the second Pillar making my soul stronger. I pushed away her connection through Hunger and I heard her click her tongue in admonishment. Shit, shit, shit, she was going for my Foundation itself. I needed more strength.

I fell to my knees in pain, my soul burning from the tainted intrusion. I grasped at more aspects. Flitting from one to the other, no longer being picky but choosing those based on resonance. I could choose my spells later, I needed power to push out this skanky Lovecraftian horror.

One Pillar formed, then another. Each one tore at my soul and the realm around me shuddered in protestation. I screamed in agony at both her corruptive clutches and my soul beginning to unravel from the strain I was putting it through. Three Pillars and it wasn't enough. I didn't even have the minute amount of attention to spare for Dreya's warning not to go past three Pillars.

I chose my fourth Pillar and touching it was like laying a hand on a hot stove, pulling it was like trying to move a truck when I was a human. I persisted, my soul was on the line, damnit! Like trying to build the Pillar brick by brick with broken hands, I started on the fourth Pillar.

I practically felt her breath on my neck as I barely heard her whisper, "Tut, tut, pet. You'll hurt yourself at this rate. I can't have my new Apostle a shattered heap."

I ignored her and focused on building my fourth Pillar, my vision went blurry and I nearly cried when the top of the Pillar collapsed and I had to restart a quarter from the top, but I got there in the end. Like a weight lifted from my back, I felt her get pushed back with a huff of annoyance. Unfortunately, there was a lot more weight tied to me. I muttered, "Nearly, there." Huffing, I shifted my focus back to the whirlpool and heaved a fifth aspect from the pool. This time tears did fall as bloody droplets fell from my eyes to pitter on the floor.

She was extremely slowed, but half my foundation was covered in a black film. I nearly crawled over to where the fifth Pillar would be. Slowly, oh so slowly, I built my fifth Pillar. I was too torn to realize she stopped trying to do whatever she was trying to do to my soul as she watched me in hungry amazement.

Practically a walking corpse, I trudged back to the Dao, my only thought the realization that five Pillars wasn't enough. My soul space was going through a horrifying and constant rumbling that was strong enough to knock me off my feet. With stubborn determination, I clawed my way to the sixth spot with the aspect in my other hand. I couldn't even tell which aspect it was, only that it resonated strongly with me and that I needed more power.

Cracks began to form on my Foundation as I formed this Pillar. Halfway to the top, I collapsed, twitching, as I gazed at my half finished Pillar. It was little more than a smudge to my blurred vision. Vaguely, I heard a seductive voice in my ear, "Oh, my sweet, sweet dear. You're almost finished. Just let me help you. You'll be so very powerful. I've never heard of someone with six Pillars. I don't know whether to be hurt you're so determined to push me away or touched that I'm such an inspiration to you. Just let me in, sweetie, I'll help you finish."

Slowly and shuddering, blood flowing freely from my eyes, nose, ears, and mouth I let out an inhuman cry and with a final burst of energy I wove and wove until the final Pillar was complete. No matter if it was enough or not, this was my final Pillar. With all my might I lashed out with clawed hands and sundered the connection from Hunger, the energy of six Pillars burning away at the corruption on my soul. Though I had no energy to worry about it now, the cracks remained on my Foundation.

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The image of pouting lips were the last thing I sensed from the Void Goddess as the connection was severed. No longer fighting a war on two fronts, one from a corruptive bitch and the other from the sheer weight of forming not only six Pillars, but six at once, I was able to choose my spells only to realize in my haze, I had done this as well. I smiled and as my vision faded to black I let out, "Who needs your help?"

I don't know how long it was that I was unconscious, I only knew that I felt like I was experiencing the mother of all hangovers after having been hit by the wildebeest stampede that killed Mufasa. I groaned and brought my hand to my head. I felt a crackling sensation and noticed I was covered in dried blood and that rotten gunky impurities. I must have been out for a while since it was bone dry. While the dried blood, and there was a lot of blood, was chipping with each movement, the expelled impurities stuck to me like bad latex.

I stumbled my way to the shower and turned on the faucet, caring more about ridding the foul stench more than facing the cold water. To my delight, however, the water came out hot. It was also scented, it took me a moment, but I realized it was the same scent of that bar of soap Eli gave me the last time I expelled impurities. I glanced to my left and saw the same bar there. The infused water would help, but the grit in the soap would be a godsend. Unfortunately every movement was agony. It was nothing compared to the deep pain in my chest. It was like my soul had second degree sunburns then someone took a jackhammer to it. The pain was enough to make me vomit bloody bile. "That's probably not good," I croaked.

An hour of scrubbing later, I was finally squeaky clean. That gunk really liked to cling to unfortunate crevices. I stepped out of the shower, rubbing the nicest towel I've ever had the pleasure to use across my hair. The fibers seemed to be ravenous for any moisture it could touch. My long hair was dry as a bone quicker than any Earth hair dryer could have managed. I blinked in pleasant surprise as I noticed the puddle of impurities I vomited was gone as well. The room was likely enchanted.

Once I was dressed I dragged myself out feeling simultaneously better and worse than I had ever felt. After becoming a Vampire, I felt extremely strong, especially after forming my core. However, that was still in the realm of human expectation minus my inhuman speed. Now I felt like a superhero. I flexed my steel corded muscles and attempted a grin that came out more like a grimace. I couldn't wait to test out this new strength. First things first, I need to let my friends know I'm finished. I was also starving... and thirsty... and needed morphine. Ooh, I wonder if there was magic morphine.

I stepped out of the cultivation room, steam still billowing from my shoulders in the cool air. It was early afternoon which caused me to pause. The sun was definitely touching on evening when we arrived at the apothecary. I stumbled at the threshold and gripped the doorframe. A jolt of even more intense pain shot through my chest, I gasped, "Oh cool, it gets worse." Dreya herself was at a shelf labeling some products when she heard my footsteps.

"Ah, our lazy Lord returns. Must have been some trance. How many Pillars did you form?" The short woman asked though she trailed off upon seeing my condition, "By the Gods, you must be an idiot. Go on, tell me. How many?" She then started to hurriedly grab some pills, a couple of potions, and two devices that looked like a steampunk stethoscope and an engraved disc.

"I have many questions, but lets begin with what is wrong with me and how long was I in the trance?," I asked.

She waved dismissively, "You mean besides the unfortunate size of that unused sack of meat between your ears? You likely damaged your core, Foundation, or even your soul itself," she paused a moment to place the stethoscope to my chest and clicked her tongue, "And you've been out for a month. So either you're really bad at forming the Pillars or you did something very dumb. So I ask again, how... many... Pillars?"

I gaped, "A month?! Is everyone okay? What about the attacks?"

"They're fine. They received housing in the Duke's estate and are visiting your other friends. You're really bad at answering questions aren't you? Oh that poor girl is going to pull her hair out dealing with you."

I shook my head, clearing it and replied, "Right, sorry. I'm a little bit rattled." I hesitated before looking away and mumbling, six."

The elderly Gnome froze and I could feel the heat from the astonished glare, "Did you just say six?" she screeched.

"Um, yes." I winced as another jolt of pain hit me.

"Oh, that's a good one. You nearly had me, let me guess, you're just embarrassed that you spent that long only to hurt yourself attempting your... first..." Once again she trailed off staring in shocked disbelief at the disc she had placed on my chest. I looked down and saw six lights glowing in the center of it. Her mouth worked soundlessly before she shot up and shoved two pills, three potions, and pointed me out her door. "You need to take the blue potion and the red pill now. They will start repairing the damage. Your core is fine but stressed. You have minor fractures on your Foundation, which is not good. However, what's much more concerning is the scarring on your soul. It's no wonder how you got them, after all it's a miracle you're alive and not crippled. What's worrying is the residual energy on it. It's the exact same as those monsters. I need time to make medicine that will cure soul damage like that. Go to the Duke, she'll help you get treatment and a more thorough diagnosis. Take those meds I told you now and take the others before you go to sleep. They will get to work on repairing everything else." Finishing her rant with calling me a dumbass, she slammed the door on my face and I assumed began to work.

I did as she said and immediately straightened in relief. The pain was still there but greatly muted. I turned around to make my way to the Duke's home before the door behind me slammed open and she shouted, "One more thing, hurry you're ass to the Duke, because in exchange for nullifying all that pain, it will comeback much stronger for a while after it wears off. You have about five hours, now move your ass." Once again, the door slammed leaving me stunned. More pain than the agony that nearly brought me to the ground? Oh hell no. I turned and nearly jogged away. It took me a bit and several requests for directions before I was pointed to a winding staircase as wide across as a highway that spiraled up the mountain. On either side of the staircase were city blocks filled with buildings of various uses. Thankfully, there was a trolley system that carted people up the stairs. Towards the summit of the stairs, I hopped off and walked into a large tunnel that headed inside the actual mountain.

A twisting labyrinth of tall tunnels wound inside the innards of the huge mountain. The ceiling was easily a hundred feet above me. Intricate engravings and statues that were carved out of the walls themselves decorated the hallways. Buildings that were the same lined the walls as well. It wasn't merely one long winding tunnel, streets, byways, and alleyways were everywhere. It appears that the city outside were just the tourist district. The core of the city was within the mountain. The mountain, however, was so huge that this enormous city only took up a small corner of the mountain.

With less than an hour before the medicine wore off, I found myself outside a walled estate. Despite being inside a mountain, there was plenty of plant life. The crest that the Duke often bore was displayed on either side of the huge gates. A lush garden greeted those that entered the gates. However, before I could do so, I was stopped by a pair of guards. "State your name and business."

I nodded a greeting and responded in a rush, "I am Lord Sanguine, a guest of the Duke and a friend of Eliara Helfist. I just completed my secluded cultivation and formed my Pillars and was told I could find my friends here. I had some complications and need to reach the Duke before Dreya's medicine wears off."

They saluted me after glancing at my dual pupil eye, "Ah, Lord Sanguine, we've been expecting you. Congratulations on your breakthrough. Madam Dreya is quite the skilled alchemist as I can see you have quite the power emanating from you. You must have had great success. The Duke will surely host a celebration. Please, head inside. A steward will guide you once you knock on the door. I hope whatever complications you face aren't too dire."

I gave them my thanks and headed through the now open stone gate. I tried not to marvel at the beautiful garden and the huge mushrooms that acted as trees. I glanced upward and saw the bright magical lights that illuminated the tunnel system. I guess they provide the necessary light for plants to grow. Beautiful and alien flowers were carefully cultivated in pleasing aesthetics. The Duke may not like extravagant shows of wealth, but she must love plants.

I rapidly knocked on the huge wooden door of the impressive manor. An unfortunate sensation was growing in my chest. The building was five stories tall and possibly as large as a city block if not larger. To my surprise a human man in typical butler garb opened the door. He took one look at me and recognized who I was, a consummate professional. This was my first time meeting a human native to Veru. He bowed and said, "Lord Sanguine, it is a pleasure to finally meet you. Lady Eliara has been singing your praises. Your timing is most fortunate, lunch will be served shortly. Please, follow me and I shall guide you to Duke Armstrong and your friends."

"Thank you, ah..."

He smiled, his middle aged face showing the first hint of laugh lines of a life spent smiling, "This humble servant is Michael Langstrom, my Lord."

"The pleasure is all mine, Michael. Please, after you." With that out of the way he led me through an opulent structure, despite Armstrong's attempts to downplay the gaudy manor. I was excited to see everyone again. I decided to focus on that and not the slowly growing pain.