Chapter 15: Blood Oath
The rain had not stopped.
It fell endlessly from the sky, striking the rooftop of the gymnasium like a warning from the heavens themselves. The cold seeped into everything—bones, walls, even thoughts.
But Ash Dante Corleone stood unmoving.
His figure was calm, almost indifferent, as he looked down from the upper balcony of the gymnasium. Below him, dozens of survivors moved around in fear and uncertainty. Some whispered. Some cried. Some simply stared into nothingness.
Weak.
That was the only word that came to his mind.
Ash exhaled slowly, his breath forming faint mist in the cold air. His sharp eyes scanned the crowd, calculating, measuring, deciding.
This world had changed.
And he would not survive by being kind.
Behind him, soft footsteps approached.
"Ash…"
The voice was hesitant, but steady.
He didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
Emily Carter.
She had been following him since the cafeteria incident. Unlike the others, she didn't just look at him with fear—there was something else in her gaze.
Curiosity.
Resolve.
Maybe even… belief.
Ash finally turned slightly, his cold eyes landing on her.
Emily stood there in damp clothes, her blonde hair clinging to her face. She looked exhausted, but she didn't look away.
"Why are you standing alone?" she asked quietly.
Ash didn't answer immediately. Instead, he studied her.
She wasn't the strongest.
She wasn't the smartest in the room either.
But she didn't break.
That alone made her… useful.
"Tell me something," Ash said calmly. "Why are you still following me?"
Emily hesitated for a second, then clenched her fists.
"Because I want to survive."
Ash's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Everyone here wants to survive."
"No," she shook her head. "They want to be saved. That's different."
That answer made Ash pause.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
"And you?" he asked.
Emily took a step forward.
"I don't want to wait for someone to save me. I want to become strong enough… so I don't die."
Silence followed.
The sound of rain filled the space between them.
Then—
A faint smile appeared on Ash's lips.
Not warm.
Not kind.
But approving.
"Good answer."
Emily's heart skipped slightly.
Ash turned fully toward her now, his presence suddenly heavier. It felt like the air itself had thickened.
"You understand something most of them don't," he said. "This world… doesn't reward the weak."
His voice dropped slightly.
"It devours them."
Emily swallowed but didn't step back.
Ash took a slow step toward her.
"Strength," he continued, "is no longer optional. It's everything."
His eyes locked onto hers.
"And I can give you that."
Her breath caught.
"What… do you mean?"
Ash raised his right hand slightly.
A faint crimson glow began to form around his fingers.
It pulsed.
Like a heartbeat.
Emily's eyes widened.
"What is that…?"
Ash didn't answer directly.
Instead, he said calmly:
"My power isn't just for killing."
The red glow intensified.
"It can evolve others."
Emily's expression changed instantly.
Shock.
Hope.
Fear.
"All at the same time."
"You're saying… you can make me stronger?" she asked.
Ash stepped closer.
"Not just stronger."
His voice turned colder.
"Better."
There was a brief silence.
Then Emily asked the most important question.
"What's the cost?"
Ash smiled slightly.
Now she was thinking properly.
"Loyalty."
One word.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
"If I give you my blood," Ash continued, "your body will evolve. Your talent will grow. Your survival chances will increase dramatically."
He leaned slightly closer.
"But from that moment on…"
His eyes darkened.
"You belong to me."
Emily's heart started beating faster.
Belong.
That word should have scared her.
It did.
But at the same time…
She looked around.
At the weak.
At the scared.
At the people waiting to die.
Then she looked back at Ash.
At strength.
At certainty.
At survival.
"…What happens if I refuse later?" she asked quietly.
Ash didn't hesitate.
"You won't."
That answer sent a chill down her spine.
Not because it sounded threatening.
But because it sounded… absolute.
Like a fact.
Ash extended his hand toward her.
"Decide."
The red energy pulsed again.
The rain grew louder.
Time seemed to slow.
Emily closed her eyes briefly.
Then opened them again—this time, with determination.
"I accept."
Ash's smile deepened slightly.
"Good choice."
Without hesitation, he stepped closer.
Then—
He bit his own thumb.
A drop of dark crimson blood formed instantly.
But it wasn't normal.
It glowed.
Faintly.
Like it was alive.
Emily's breath trembled slightly.
Ash lifted his hand toward her lips.
"Drink."
She froze for a fraction of a second.
Then—
She leaned forward.
And accepted it.
The moment the blood touched her tongue—
Everything exploded.
Her body shook violently.
"Ahhh—!"
She collapsed to her knees, gripping her chest.
Pain.
Unimaginable pain.
It felt like her veins were on fire.
Like something inside her was being torn apart and rebuilt at the same time.
Ash simply watched.
Calm.
Unmoved.
This was necessary.
Her screams echoed through the empty hallways.
Down below, a few people looked up nervously.
But no one dared to come closer.
After all…
They knew who was up there.
Minutes passed.
Then—
Silence.
Emily's body stopped shaking.
She collapsed forward, breathing heavily.
Ash stepped closer and looked down at her.
"Stand up."
His voice was calm.
Commanding.
Emily's fingers twitched.
Slowly…
She pushed herself up.
Her movements were shaky at first.
Then steadier.
Then—
Normal.
But something had changed.
Her eyes.
They were sharper now.
Clearer.
Stronger.
Ash noticed immediately.
"Status," he muttered under his breath.
A faint invisible interface appeared before his eyes.
Emily Carter
Level: 6
Star Rank: 1-Star
Bloodline: Corleone Blood (Awakened – Minor)
Loyalty: Absolute
Ash nodded slightly.
It worked.
Emily looked at her own hands in disbelief.
"I… feel different…"
She clenched her fist.
Strength surged through her body.
Not overwhelming.
But undeniable.
"What did you do to me…?" she whispered.
Ash turned away slightly.
"I refined you."
That was all he said.
Emily took a deep breath.
Then suddenly—
She dropped to one knee.
Ash paused.
"I… don't know why," she said honestly, "but…"
Her voice softened.
"I trust you."
Ash looked down at her.
There was no hesitation in her eyes.
No resistance.
Only… acceptance.
The bloodline had done its work.
Ash smirked slightly.
"Good."
He turned and walked toward the stairs.
"Follow me."
Emily stood immediately.
"Yes… Ash."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Only obedience.
As they walked back down into the gymnasium, the atmosphere shifted instantly.
People noticed.
They always did.
The way Emily walked behind him.
The way she looked at him.
Something had changed.
Chen watched from a distance, frowning.
"That girl… something's different."
Marcus crossed his arms.
"I don't like it."
Ashley, the silver-haired woman, narrowed her eyes slightly.
She could feel it.
Energy.
Different.
Dangerous.
Ash stopped in the center of the court.
All eyes turned toward him.
Good.
That's exactly what he wanted.
He looked around slowly.
Then spoke.
"From now on…"
His voice was calm—but it carried across the entire room.
"I decide how things are done here."
Murmurs spread instantly.
Some angry.
Some afraid.
Some curious.
Marcus stepped forward.
"And why should we listen to you?"
Ash looked at him.
Unimpressed.
"Because I can keep you alive."
Silence.
Heavy silence.
Then—
Ash continued.
"Food. Safety. Strength."
He paused.
"I can provide all three."
He gestured slightly.
"And if you're useful…"
His eyes darkened slightly.
"I can make you stronger."
Now that—
That caught everyone's attention.
Ashley's eyes narrowed further.
"Stronger… how?"
Ash didn't answer directly.
Instead, he said:
"Prove your worth."
Then he turned away.
Conversation over.
Emily followed him without a word.
And just like that—
The balance of power in the gymnasium began to shift.
Not with noise.
Not with chaos.
But with quiet, inevitable control.
Like a rising empire.
And at its center…
Was Ash Dante Corleone.
Unnoticed by most—
But feared by all.