The First Vampire

Shit!

Howen pulled his long knife from the enemy’s chest, and scorching blood splashed all over his face.

Pant pant

He was gasping heavily, hunched over by hunger-induced abdominal cramps. His vision was blurred by fluid, either blood or sweat, rendering his surroundings unclear.

The fight was too sudden and inexplicable.

Howen had thought he could finally escape being a prisoner, but what awaited him was not an acceptance from the allies, but an attack!

He couldn’t understand why the Menam family would want to kill them.

But he was just a nobody, incapable of understanding or changing the situation. When enemies swarmed in like a tide, all he could do was unsheathe his knife and fight back.

Long-term malnutrition as a captive had left Howen without much strength. His arms felt so leaden that it was impossible to raise them.

Under the shroud of the night, Howen didn’t know what the state of the battlefield was, only realizing that his comrades were continually falling. Even his squadron leader had fallen.

If General Tumu hadn’t been fighting at the front line like a war god, these recently released dwarf prisoners would have already collapsed.

But now, they were also on the verge of collapse.

At that moment, Howen heard a faint noise from behind him. Turning his head, he saw the gate of Winterfell City open again, and a fire dragon made of countless lit torches shot out from the city gate.

The Golden Lion Legion has also arrived!

Howen’s heart spasmed. He had a grim premonition that this night would be a horrifying memory for the dwarfs.

The Golden Lion Legion exiting the city did not rush to join the battlefield but started to form a neat military formation with their backs to the city wall, as if waiting for the dwarfs to settle their fight first.

The moves of the Golden Lion Legion alerted the battling dwarf parties of an unfavorable situation. The Menam family’s army immediately sounded the retreat horn.

However, the Dawson Family army mercilessly pursued them as they wanted to save Marquis Dawson.

But the freed dwarf prisoners deflated instantly and slumped onto the ground, completely unable to move anymore.

In this battle, they were the most heavily hit. Of over fifteen thousand prisoners, it was suspected that less than half of them were still able to breathe.

Once the Menam Family’s army gradually retreated, the Golden Lion Legion’s military formation gradually moved forward.

“Drop your weapons and kneel to surrender!”

“Drop your weapons and kneel to surrender!”

Hearing this, Howen had no intention of resisting. He immediately threw away his long knife and obediently knelt on the ground letting out a silent sigh

Damn it!

How did I end up as a prisoner right after being freed!

The faint dawn light gradually broke through the darkness, bringing light back to the earth.

The armies of the Dawson family and Menam family also temporarily halted their fights and entered a period of tense standoff.

In fact, the moment Marquis Menam saw the Golden Lion Legion leave the city, he instantly regretted it.

Though it was hard to admit, he knew that he could have potentially been tricked.

So, while he had his army slowly retreat from Winterfell City, he sent an envoy to the Dawson family’s army to propose reconciliation.

Wells Dawson, who was now in command of the Dawson family’s army, instantly put forward his demand. The only possibility for reconciliation was for the Menam family to immediately release Marquis Dawson and compensate for the Dawson family’s losses.

However, Marquis Menam had other ideas at this time.

He was clear that after a night of chaotic fighting, relations between the Dawson family and Menam family had irreversibly broken down. Even if he complied with Wells’s request to release Marquis Dawson and compensated for their losses, it wouldn’t be possible for the relations between the two families to return to how they were.

The seed of distrust had been firmly planted, and it would be extremely difficult to eliminate.

Once the two major dwarf clans can no longer unite, they will no longer hold an advantage against St. Hilde family. In fact, after a night of confusion and battle, fatigued and suspicious towards each other, the Dwarf Union Army would probably be no match for the Golden Lion Legion anymore.

At this moment, Marquis Menam was contemplating how to wrap things up.

The original peace talks proposed by the St. Hilde family, seemed increasingly acceptable to him now.

Marquis Dawson seemed to perceive something from Marquis Menam’s wavering gaze, and immediately introduced a fresh argument:

“If you want to hand me over to gain forgiveness from St. Hilde family, it will be a suicide mission.”

Marquis Menam was taken aback and asked in a heavy voice, “Why?”

Marquis Dawson sneered, “Don’t you understand yet? From the beginning, St. Hilde family never intended to negotiate peace with us—they simply cannot tolerate the establishment of an independent dwarf nation in the North Territory!

Their provocative tricks aimed at us continuously appear, one following another—it’s all interconnected!

If you hand me over, even with the help of the Golden Lion legion to defeat the Dawson family’s army, do you think the St. Hilde family would spare the Menam family?

No!

They would certainly devise every possible way to take care of the Menam family too!

When the time comes, can the Menam family alone face the St. Hilde family without the assistance of the Dawson family?”

Marquis Menam subsequently fell into silence.

Seeing this, Marquis Dawson quickly added further, “Hence, the Dawson family and Menam family are entities united in joy and sorrow!

Only when our two families join forces, can the dwarves secure a foothold in North Territory!”

But Marquis Menam still did not agree immediately, but instead asked suspiciously, “Marquis Dawson, do you believe I could continue to trust you after yesterday’s incident?”

Marquis Dawson took a deep breath and answered solemnly: “I can promise, if you let me go, I will immediately cease my troops, never allowing them to attack you guys!

Moreover, I can bring Count Falko to your side!”

Marquis Menam’s gaze sharpened, now somewhat interested.

He was aware that Count Falko was the successor chosen by Marquis Dawson, this act does seem more binding than a simple verbal promise.

However, he frowned soon after: “Isn’t Count Falko in Winterfell City now? I suppose he has already been seized by the St. Hilde family, so how could you hand him over to me?”

Marquis Dawson’s eyes flickered, immediately responding, “Then Wells is fine, if you let me go, I will give you Wells as a hostage.”

Marquis Menam chuckled, shook his head and said: “Do you take me for a fool? That lad Wells is not significant to you, you probably wouldn’t even feel a pinch if I slaughtered him.”

Marquis Dawson conceded, “Then what do you propose?”

Marquis Menam fell into contemplation.

However, at this moment, the Golden Lion Legion finally caught up, and targeted the Menam family.

Meanwhile, the Uman Clan’s army also arrived promptly. Their aim was Dawson’s army, but unlike before, the Uman Clan’s army had only arranged their military formation and did not seem to intend to attack. It seemed they were only on guard against the Dawson family, preventing them from taking any reckless actions.

On the other side, the Golden Lion Legion was ready to launch their attack.

Seeing this scene, Marquis Menam immediately ordered his army to prepare for battle, while he watched Marquis Dawson with icy eyes and mockingly said:

“You still claim that you have no secret negotiations with the St. Hilde family—if so, why is the Golden Lion Legion only attacking my army and not yours?”

Marquis Dawson let out a sigh, seemingly dispirited: “If you remain continuously baffled by the St. Hilde family’s tactics to sow discord, there is indeed no need for us to continue working together.

The dream of establishing a dwarf nation, hah, maybe it truly is the joke that Marquis Garcia says it is!”

Having said that, Marquis Dawson looked somber as he closed his eyes, as if he no longer wished to say anything.

Marquis Menam’s mood fluctuated, but as the enemy was at hand, he didn’t have the luxury of overthinking. Thus, he had to put all miscellaneous thoughts aside for now, to focus entirely on withstanding the Golden Lion legion’s attack.

Soon, the vanguard troops of both armies clashed head-on.

The air was instantaneously filled with echoes of war cries in this wilderness.