Su Ping opened his eyes slowly.
A soft breeze brushed his face as he stared up at a sky unfamiliar to him. He was lying in an open field, the grass beneath him lush and green, stretching endlessly in all directions. Confused, he sat up and scanned his surroundings. There was nothing—no buildings, no trees, no landmarks just an expanse of vibrant grassland.
Except for one thing: a box.
It stood directly in front of him, seemingly out of place amidst the natural scenery.
His brows furrowed. What is this place?
The last thing he remembered was dozing off on a bus. He had been heading home from college, the road humming beneath the wheels. And now… this?
Before he could gather his thoughts, a strange voice echoed in his ears.
"Welcome to the Lord's Continent.
In this plane, Lords fight for hegemony and dominion.
The box before you is your Lord's Heart.
We wish you a happy journey."
The voice vanished, as quickly and mysteriously as it had come.
"Wait!" Su Ping instinctively called out, but there was no response. He was left alone with a thousand questions. Why am I here? What's a 'Lord'?
Though he had read countless light novels where people got transported to fantasy worlds, facing blood-soaked wars and strict talent hierarchies, experiencing it firsthand was an entirely different thing.
This world was dangerous ,he could feel it in his bones. A place where survival was decided by power, where even a moment of weakness could lead to death.
He shuddered.
Still, amid the anxiety and fear, a flicker of anticipation sparked within him. What if… my talent is good? He didn't dream of becoming a godlike figure—just someone strong enough to survive.
With that thought, he placed his hand on the box labeled as the "Lord's Heart."
A glowing message materialized before his eyes:
[Do you want to build your Castle here? Yes or No?]
(Note: Once you build your Castle, you cannot change its position.)
Su Ping hesitated only a moment before pressing Yes.
In a flash of light, a small wooden hut emerged from the ground in front of him.
He blinked in disbelief.
"…What castle? This is a damn hut!" he muttered under his breath, suppressing the urge to curse the ancestors of the mysterious voice that had welcomed him.
Before he could vent further, another notification appeared.
[Congratulations, Su Ping, on awakening your Lord Talent:
Divine Rank — King of the Vampire Kingdom.]
[Would you like to construct your Troop Recruitment Camp?]
His heart skipped a beat.
Divine Rank.
Even without knowing the talent rankings in this world, the word Divine was enough to hint at its rarity. His pupils shrank in shock.
I actually got something good…?
Without hesitation, he clicked Yes.
This time, a black, majestic building rose from the earth. It radiated an otherworldly aura, ancient and regal. A smile tugged at the corners of Su Ping's lips.
Another message followed:
[Your Divine Rank Talent can now be activated.
You may summon: Queen of Vampires.]
(Note: This is a one-time ability and cannot be used again.)
Su Ping's smile froze. One-time?
He hesitated. It felt like spending a legendary item in a game without knowing the stakes. Still, he had no idea what dangers lurked around him. Gritting his teeth, he made his choice.
"I'll use it."
A beam of radiant light shot from the camp. It was so bright he instinctively shielded his eyes. When the light faded and he slowly opened them, he found himself breathless.
Before him stood a woman cloaked in a flowing black robe, her hair loose, gliding gently in the wind. Her presence was mesmerizing, her figure graceful yet commanding, and her beauty… unreal.
She knelt on one knee, head slightly bowed.
In a soft, melodic voice, she spoke:
"Queen of Vampires, Lilith, greets her King."