After several rounds of testing, Locke finally gave a name to the ability that allowed him to directly command vampires and suppress their bloodlust.
"Mantra."
The moment the thought formed in his mind, a stream of information flooded in, clear and structured.
"…What?"
Locke's eyes narrowed slightly in surprise.
The ability had appeared directly on his original Vampire God panel, as if it had always been there—but now, it was fully defined.
Mantra: The Vampire God possesses absolute dominance over all direct and indirect blood descendants. Capable of suppressing bloodlust and exerting overwhelming pressure on all bloodline entities. (Upgradeable)
He let out a quiet breath, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
So now it finally gives me the full breakdown?
From the beginning, Locke had already noticed that some of the system's ability descriptions were incomplete, even misleading at times. There had been gaps—unclear mechanics, vague limitations. He had figured things out mostly through trial and observation.
Now that it could update itself with complete information, it only confirmed one thing.
This panel isn't fully reliable.
Still, the deeper understanding was valuable. As he processed the details of Mantra, he realized something unexpected—his control over indirect blood descendants wasn't weaker than over direct ones.
In some aspects, it was even stronger.
Interesting.
Without hesitation, Locke activated Mantra again, pushing it further. The oppressive force spread outward, instantly diluting the lingering bloodlust within the three newly turned vampires.
Harley didn't react much, her expression barely shifting as the violent urge inside her disappeared.
Kyle and Faso, however, dropped to their knees almost immediately.
"Thank you, my Lord!"
Kyle's voice carried genuine relief. While he didn't entirely hate the bloodlust—in fact, he had found it intoxicating, addictive even—it also meant a loss of control. That loss wasn't something he welcomed.
As for Faso, he simply followed Kyle's lead. But unlike before, his expression held no fear. Instead, there was a strange satisfaction in his eyes as he felt the strength in his body.
Power changed perspective quickly.
"I'm about to enter a deep sleep," Locke said, his voice echoing through the factory.
The reactions were mixed.
Harley showed no concern at all for the oppressive aura surrounding him. Without hesitation, she stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his, clinging to him as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Locke suppressed the urge to react and simply let it happen, though the sight caused Faso to glance over with subtle curiosity.
Ignoring it, Locke continued.
"The Blood God faction will operate as a subordinate branch under the Council. Its purpose is to maintain order in Gotham's East District while the Council's primary members remain hidden."
Kyle's eyes lit up instantly. He had no interest in maintaining order or punishing crime, but one detail stood out to him—the upcoming absence.
A sleeping master meant fewer constraints.
Faso, on the other hand, felt something entirely different. Excitement surged through him, almost childlike in its intensity. The idea of enforcing justice, protecting order, becoming something greater—it resonated deeply.
This… this was the life he wanted.
"Thank you, Ancestor!" Faso said, his voice filled with enthusiasm.
Locke paused briefly, his gaze lingering on the man. Of all the outcomes he had expected, Faso's reaction was the most surprising—and the most satisfying.
Kyle, meanwhile… had a different role to play.
"You may leave. Faso stays."
The moment he received confirmation, Kyle didn't hesitate. His body blurred as he moved at high speed, disappearing into the night without a second glance.
Harley, however, didn't move.
Her eyes remained fixed on Locke, burning with intensity, as if wherever he went, she would follow.
As a direct blood descendant, her resistance to Mantra was clearly higher than Faso's or Kyle's. Locke frowned slightly, understanding the reason, but chose not to press the issue for now.
"Faso."
"I'm here!"
Faso straightened immediately, his expression firm and respectful. Whether it was logic, instinct, or both, his loyalty felt genuine.
"I need you to find those who are oppressed," Locke said evenly. "Turn them into blood descendants. The three of you alone aren't enough to stand against the forces in the dark."
"The three of us…?" Faso repeated, confused.
From everything he knew, the Council wasn't small. There were at least two major figures—the Judge and the Blood God—and likely more. It was supposed to be a massive, hidden power.
So why did this feel… limited?
"I can't explain everything," Locke replied calmly. "The Council will disappear for a time, but we will always be watching."
"Yes!"
Faso accepted the task without hesitation. Even if he didn't fully understand why Kyle and Harley weren't assigned the same responsibility, it didn't matter.
He had been given a mission.
And more importantly, an opportunity.
Forming a vampire force… building something powerful from nothing—it thrilled him.
If the Grace family ever found out he had joined the Council, they'd regret everything.
Watching Faso disappear into the night, Locke finally turned his attention to the person still clinging to his arm.
"Harley."
He pushed Mantra to its limit again. The pressure intensified, enough for Harley to finally sense his displeasure. Her expression shifted slightly, and she slowly loosened her grip.
Locke exhaled quietly.
This ability needs refining.
His mind worked quickly, adjusting his approach. The oppressive tone in his voice softened just slightly.
"I trust you the most."
The effect was immediate.
Harley's eyes lit up, the excitement in them unmistakable.
Locke continued without hesitation.
"I don't fully trust Faso or Kyle. I'm concerned they might abuse the power I've given them. I need someone to watch them… closely."
"I'll do it!" Harley said instantly, her voice eager.
"I need you to build a small team. At least three people," Locke said. "One will secure Wall Street—it's the most stable area under our watch. It cannot fall into chaos. You can guard it personally if needed."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"The others will monitor Kyle and Faso. If anything goes wrong, report directly to me."
"Got it!"
Her answer came without a second of hesitation.
"You may need to report frequently. It won't be easy," Locke added, testing her.
That only seemed to excite her more.
Watching her finally leave, Locke let out a quiet breath of relief. He could have forced her away, but that would have created unnecessary complications.
And with someone like her… it was better not to provoke things blindly.
After all, she was Harley Quinn.
Running through the plan in his mind again, Locke's focus settled on one core element.
Mantra.
That was the foundation of everything.
Kyle was unstable—unpredictable, ambitious, potentially dangerous. But that didn't mean he was useless.
In fact, his instability made him valuable.
Who said I had to stand on the side of justice?
A faint smile crossed Locke's face.
Sometimes, fear was far more effective than righteousness.
As for Faso… on the surface, he seemed completely aligned with the plan. With the influence of Mantra reinforcing his loyalty, there was a high chance he would push himself to the limit to carry out the mission.
....
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