The First Vampire

Occasional lightning illuminated the black veil of the night, its brilliance a jarring spectacle. The following thunder resonated deafeningly throughout.

The Huerong Fortress stood as if in the eye of the storm. The ceaseless lightning and thunder seemingly threatening to turn the beautiful fortress to rubble.

Inside the castle, the candles wavered uncertainly against the hurricane-strong winds, threatening to be extinguished at any moment.

“Father-in-law, the lords around Riverside City have heeded my call, with troops already deployed to cut off the Blood Knight Army’s retreat. Now, with the heavy rain making travel difficult, it’s the perfect chance to trap them in Riverside City!”

Count Brugen stood on the castle balcony, his face periodically illuminated by the flashes of lightning.

A moment passed before he made a decision, commanding:

“Alright! Assemble the Huorong Army!”

Upon his command, the five knights of the Brugen family bowed and left the room immediately, preparing to rally the troops.

Count Evan could barely contain his excitement. The nightmare that had haunted his mind for so long was finally nearing its end.

The humiliation of Alfalfa City would finally be washed away in this storm.

Turning around, Count Evan saw a beautiful figure standing at the door.

His heart raced. He walked briskly towards his fiancée, gazing at her radiant face while saying in a low voice:

“Grace, I’ll dedicate this victory to you!”

Grace smiled gently, lowering her head as if unable to withstand her fiancé’s intense gaze.

The sight of her bashfulness compelled him to hold her in his arms. But as he reached out, Grace subtly stepped back, murmuring,

“Then, I’ll be praying for your quick victory.”

Count Evan’s hands awkwardly hovered in mid-air. Realizing his inaptitude, he quickly retracted his arm, gave a curt bow, and hurriedly left.

Watching all this silently, Count Brugen walked up to his daughter and murmured, “Once we return victorious, you will stop resisting Evan.”

Grace stubbornly snorted, saying, “Ignoring the wellbeing of White Dew City and her people just to wash off his own shame, tricking neighboring lords into service by using the Duke’s name, and forcing the Huorong Army into service through marriage… these are not victories worth boasting or honorable at all.”

“But, victory is still victory.” Count Brugen responded sternly, “If he wins this, he’ll be the future master of the East.”

Having said that, Count Brugen left his temperamental daughter and walked out.

…

The rain had stopped.

As if the heavens knew of the impending decisive battle, the suspenseful atmosphere had well set in. It was time to serve the main course.

Standing atop the city walls of Riverside City, Colin surveyed the plains in silence.

Winter was near, and the outskirts of the city were desolate. Toward the end of the storm, rain started to mix with snow.

Now, the rain had cleared, but a sharp drop in temperature followed. The northern wind howled past, triggering bouts of shivering.

A messenger approached hastily.

Seeing that Colin had no intentions of taking the military report, Prince Harrison who stood beside, took it. After perusing through, he reported softly,

“Master, the Huorong Army has mobilized.”

Only then did Colin regain his consciousness, a cryptic smile appearing on his face, “We’ve been surrounded.”

Afterward, he turned toward the solemn-looking Prince Harrison, asking, “Which direction do you think, we should break through?”

Hearing this, Prince Harrison breathed a sigh of relief.

Despite remaining calm and composed, Prince Harrison had watched in anxiety while the Eastern Army congregated around Riverside City. He could barely keep his composure.

Hearing Colin’s question, Prince Harrison thought it was his master’s test. Eagerly, he presented the solution that he had been contemplating for days:

“Master, I believe we should break through the West!”

“Why?”

“Firstly, the Western side has the confederate army comprising various Eastern lords. Although they mobilized early in an attempt to cut off our retreat, they lack synergism due to their diverse backgrounds. Achieving a coordinated battlefield strategy would be difficult. Despite their numbers, they are still our best chance for a breakthrough.

Secondly, the Northern army lacks in numbers, but they are cavalries. If we get caught up with them, escape would be difficult.

Traveling East would lead us deeper and deeper into Bright Moon Forest.

As for the South, there’s the mightiest Eastern Army— the Huorong Army…”

“The mightiest Eastern Army?” On hearing this, an expression of mock contempt crept up Colin’s face.

Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Prince Harrison rubbed his nose and said, “Although the Eastern armies are known to be weak, the Huorong Army does command a formidable reputation and should have some military prowess. With our limited forces, it would be better to avoid clashing with them…”

“No!” Colin shook his head slowly, “I want to smash that backbone!”

Shock painted the face of Prince Harrison as he stuttered to his teacher, “Master, is this your way of catching them off guard?”

“Yes.” Colin said seriously, “The Easterners will never anticipate a southern breakthrough. They all will assume that we intend to escape to the West, but I never intended to escape in the first place!

The mightiest Eastern Army?

Hah-hah.

I want to shatter the Easterners’ pride, cross Mount Althus, and march all the way to White Dew City!”

Prince Harrison gazed at his master, utterly speechless.

If an ordinary commander had made such a declaration, he would have thought the person to be mad.

But standing before this renowned Northern Guardian, Prince Harrison felt that this was not an insurmountable fantasy.

At that thought, a surge of excitement rushed to his head.

To create a miracle in the face of despair— that is a hero!

Under Prince Harrison’s gaze of adoration, Colin commanded the messenger, “Rally the troops!”

“Yes, sir!”

Whoo—

The sound of the military horn tore through the skies of Riverside City.

The residents watched the Blood Knight Army gallop past, cowering in terror at the road’s side.

Colin stood atop the walls, silently watching the blood knights gathering below, a rush of excitement surged within him.

Limited forces?

A smirk formed on Colin’s lips.

With just these three-thousand Blood Knights, he would shatter the backbone of the East!

“Move out!”