Alcat finally grasped the immense power of the Vampire Progenitor's body he now inhabited. With enhanced physique and arcane affinity, he was the perfect blend of a Melee Tank and Arcanist. In terms of potential, even the hidden classes briefly mentioned on the "Divine Radiance" official site couldn’t compare.
The third skill section was the Arcanist's abilities, categorized from 1st-level Spells up to Divine Magic. As a Level 10 High Arcanist, Alcat had mastered several 2nd-level Spells and a few 3rd-level Spells. Only at Level 15, as a Grand Arcanist, could he learn 4th-level Spells. 5th-level Spells required a level above 20, and Forbidden Spells and Divine Magic were still far beyond his reach.
However, Alcat noticed the absence of warrior skills on his panel. In "Divine Radiance," each person could have two professions, but the secondary profession's level could only be half of the primary one, with a double experience penalty.
Currently, Alcat's panel displayed a Level 5 Warrior, but only Arcanist skills. This made him chuckle upon reflection. The Vampire Progenitor was a staunch supporter of the arcane arts, viewing warriors as inferior. The secondary profession as a warrior was chosen to complement the passive enhanced physique, maximizing its potential.
Alcat sighed internally, marveling at the inherent power of vampires. Besides their sunlight vulnerability, they were overwhelmingly strong. With the Vampire Progenitor's unique trait nullifying the sunlight weakness, he was virtually invincible.
Knock, knock, knock~
A series of knocks interrupted Alcat’s thoughts. "Lord Alcat, are you inside?" A melodious voice, as sweet as a nightingale, drifted through the wooden study door. Although spoken in a different language from Chinese, Alcat understood it perfectly. He responded instinctively, "I’m here." He was surprised to find the words flowing effortlessly, despite not being in Chinese.
"It must be due to inheriting the original body's memories," he thought, feeling relieved. Though he had inherited the Vampire Progenitor's memories, adapting to new habits was no easy task. With both attributes and language now inherited, he faced no significant issues.
After straightening his slightly disheveled blue arcane robe and noting that his fangs had already turned into regular teeth, Alcat felt more composed. Though his face remained pale, his spirit had significantly recovered. He opened the door with a slight puff of his chest.
Creak~
The door opened to reveal a young girl dressed in a blue arcane robe. She stood at about five foot seven, exuding an air of elegance. Her large, watery eyes glimmered like torches held by a goddess. Her delicate features were accentuated by a radiant smile, and her golden curls cascaded down her back like waves.
What a stunning girl, Alcat thought, his eyes lighting up.
"Lord Alcat, your lunch is ready. Would you like to dine in the study or the dining room?" Amelia asked with a sweet smile, her voice gentle and soothing.
As the master of this Arcane Tower and an elite member of the Aventon City Arcane Association, Alcat's presence was akin to a deity in the tower, commanding absolute authority and respect.
Amelia had become responsible for Alcat’s daily needs since being chosen six months ago as an arcane apprentice by the Scarlet Arcane Tower due to her outstanding talent. Her duties were extensive, sometimes even requiring her to warm her master's bed.
The scent of jasmine perfume, presumably worn by the girl, filled the air. The orange candlelight in the hallway cast a warm glow, mingling with the sunlight streaming through the half-open study window, highlighting her face. Her fingers lightly rested on her robe, moving with a graceful touch. Everything felt real, incredibly real, beyond what any virtual game could replicate.
Alcat looked at the girl waiting for his response, taking a deep breath. The sensation of conversing with a real person was far beyond what any game could achieve. This girl had a genuine soul, unlike the lifeless game NPCs. Her presence shattered some of his assumptions, but it ignited a deeper curiosity. "Divine Radiance" wasn’t just a virtual game. What secrets lay hidden within it? Why was the game being used as a global promotional tool?
As his thoughts raced, Alcat’s expression returned to normal. With a cold face and an unchanging gaze, he shook his head. "Amelia, bring my lunch to the arcane lab. I’ll eat there."
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Amelia felt a pang of disappointment at his indifferent tone. She had seen the light in Alcat’s eyes moments ago and felt a surge of joy, but it quickly faded as the master of the Scarlet Arcane Tower, the person she admired most, returned to his usual calm demeanor. She respectfully bowed, "Yes, Lord Alcat." With a heavy heart, she turned to make the arrangements.
Does Lord Alcat really not like women? Amelia pondered, recalling the strange rumors within the arcane tower. Being a woman and a high-level Arcanist was a dream for many, and Alcat was incredibly handsome too. Thinking of his strikingly fair face, Amelia bit her lip. Alcat watched Amelia’s graceful figure disappear and let out a slight sigh of relief.
After meeting Amelia, he could no longer see these living people as mere NPCs. The original Alcat, being a vampire, a race often despised by humans, kept a certain distance from the apprentices in the arcane tower. If his vampire identity were discovered, especially in Aventon City with its extraordinary Arcanists, he wouldn’t stand a chance.
If Amelia were in another arcane tower, she’d probably have been devoured by the tower’s master by now. But to the original Alcat, she was just a cover as a regular arcane apprentice. He wouldn’t rashly change the original’s habits – caution was never a mistake.
The Scarlet Arcane Tower, named after the red alchemical materials on its exterior, was seven stories high, standing twenty-five meters tall. In "Divine Radiance," a meter equaled one real-world meter. The first two floors housed the apprentices, the third and fourth contained the library and lecture halls, the fifth was Alcat’s residence, and the sixth and seventh served as storage and the arcane lab. The original Alcat, though a vampire progenitor, was obsessed with the arcane arts. Two hundred years ago, he became a vampire progenitor by accidentally consuming a vampire artifact, establishing a shallow foundation. Thus, he infiltrated Aventon City to join the Arcane Association and learn arcane magic. This arcane tower was built three years ago with the association’s funding and assistance.
Learning the vampire progenitor’s history, Alcat shook his head. The title was grand, but the substance was lacking, even less than a second-rate noble in Aventon City. At least those nobles wouldn’t infiltrate enemy territory due to resource shortages. Regardless, the vampire progenitor’s efforts now belonged to him.
Stepping out of the study, Alcat saw gray alchemical material walls, with the floor and walls faintly glowing with arcane traps. An arcane tower was an Arcanist’s lair, the most dangerous place for outsiders. Alcat’s memories held over five hundred arcane formations engraved within. Any intruder would trigger them and be blasted to oblivion.
Ascending the gray wooden stairs to the seventh floor, Alcat reached the highest point of the tower, his usual spot for arcane experiments. The entire seventh floor was a single large room with anti-magic oak flooring. Light streamed through a giant stained glass window on the left. The walls, made of alchemical materials, bore numerous defensive arcane formations, ensuring the tower’s safety even if an experiment exploded. The room was cluttered with various arcane materials: a cyclops’ head, snow maple branches, Orlian magic crystals, unground toxic vine, and hundreds of other items.
Walking to the intricately carved window, Alcat gazed down. Without admiring the elven craftsmanship for long, he opened the colorful semi-transparent glass and, for the first time, directly viewed Aventon City, the largest city in the southern Edoras Empire with a population exceeding a million.
The vastness of the city stretched endlessly before Alcat’s eyes. Standing at 25 meters high, the Arcane Tower was among the tallest structures in Aventon City. In this arcane world with relatively low productivity, even nobles couldn’t afford such towering buildings, giving Alcat a panoramic view of the scenery. Medieval European-style buildings stood tall, with domed and spired rooftops. Windows adorned with colorful religious and divine motifs gleamed, and in the distance, a stone statue of a hero who had sacrificed for Aventon City stood on the wall.
At a bustling crossroads, a tavern’s spire towered above, with drunken patrons stumbling in and out of its arched doors. Shops lining the streets sold a variety of goods, and nobles in ornate attire rode unicorns along the cobblestone roads, causing peasants to hurriedly retreat in fear. Laborers in tattered robes carried massive burlap sacks, unloading goods from carriages under the direction of lavishly dressed merchants. A few beggars, clad in rags and holding grimy bowls, looked imploringly at passersby.
A group of slave traders, leading a chain of tall, muscular, tusked orcs, strutted arrogantly, not even yielding to mounted nobles. Mercenaries, fresh from a mission, walked past beggars, their swords stained with dark blood. When one beggar stumbled into their path, a mercenary coldly severed the beggar’s hand with a sword wider than two hands. The street instantly filled with the scent of blood. The beggar’s screams and moans of pain were ignored by the nobles and laughed at by the slave traders. No one dared to confront the departing mercenaries. The beggar was left to suffer until a compassionate shopkeeper provided some healing herbs and food.
Alcat observed these scenes in silence. The cultural backdrop resembled medieval Europe but was far more mysterious, blending ignorance with wisdom, and mysticism with divinity. Nobles, slaves, orcs, elves, and vampires—all existed in this fascinating yet brutal world. It was also a world of arcane magic.
Alcat's gaze rose higher, spotting three towering arcane towers in the distance. These were the towers of the three most powerful Arcanists in the Aventon City Arcane Association, each belonging to a Grand Arcanist of Level 15.