Chapter 1 Fall
Chapter 1: Fall
Bai leaned against a crumbling wall, his sword tossed aside. He was completely at the end of his strength now.
The youngest Holy Temple Knight Commander of the Empire, the leader of the reform faction, never imagined he would end up in such a situation.
…
The blood clan’s sudden attack on Fort Liège was completely unexpected. Many of Bai’s soldiers didn’t even have time to put on their armor. The sky was filled with black shadows, clearly showing that this time, the Thorn Temple’s blood clan had come out in full force.
Bai’s deputy commander hurried to the tower top to sound the alarm. The doomsday cannons on both sides and in the middle of the fortress slowly rose, but how could the well-prepared blood clan allow such formidable weapons the chance to operate?
“Wensa, I’ll leave the giant cannons on both sides to you.”
Blood Clan Queen Vivian spread her wings and headed straight for the center of the fortress. She had been planning this surprise attack on Fort Liège for a long time.
Bai noticed the alarms blaring everywhere. He quickly put on his armor and rushed out to organize a counterattack.
The fortress immediately fell into chaos. The soldiers below were mostly resting or eating. Many had just picked up their bowls and chopsticks when their hearts were pierced.
With no other choice, Bai closed his eyes. A field of energy immediately spread from his body, and the thick waves of magical power were impossible to hide.
“All soldiers who are still alive, listen. Form groups of three to five, and slowly retreat from the fortress in formation.”
The soldiers below had been getting slaughtered one-sidedly by the blood clan, but upon hearing Bai’s voice, they immediately began to mobilize and organize a counterattack.
“…Damn it, are there only this many people left? A third of the soldiers are not responding.”
Bai’s method of transmitting messages, which he called the “Mind Web,” could quickly convey his thoughts to marked targets.
In other words, he was a walking radio.
Though in this world, the concept of radio didn’t even exist.
Just as he finished using the Mind Web, a giant scythe came flying at him from the sky. In his panic, he quickly grabbed his sword to block it, but how could a hasty defense withstand an attack that had been building up for so long?
The huge consumption of the Mind Web left Bai feeling somewhat drained. He was almost sent flying by the scythe, and the wound on his arm was bone-deep, continuously bleeding.
The magic scythe, sensing the smell of blood, emitted an even stronger dark red light.
Bai covered his wound, quickly using magic to stop the bleeding, and questioned the noble queen.
“Vivian, what exactly are you doing? The Empire and the Thorn Temple have signed a peace treaty. You’re unilaterally breaking the agreement. Are you trying to start a full-scale war?”
Vivian smoothed her silky silver-white hair, her movements elegant but not affected. As a noble vampire, she exuded a cold aura. Combined with her stunning appearance, she was like a rose with thorns.
“The Rose Temple’s decision is my will. You’ve placed these giant cannons here pointing at us, and we’re very afraid, you know?”
Bai barely recovered from his injuries. Between the drain from the Mind Web and being ambushed, his strength had dropped to about thirty percent of normal. He really wasn’t a match for Vivian at the moment.
Although under normal circumstances, he would have little problem dealing with someone like Vivian, now with his left hand immobilized and his magic depleted, he really couldn’t handle her.
Logic told him there was only one outcome—being dragged to death here by Vivian. Moreover, the defeat of the fortress guards below was just a matter of time.
Vivian smiled devilishly and waved her small hand. The magic scythe immediately gained its own consciousness and began to automatically attack Bai. The blood-congealed long sword in Vivian’s hand seemed to sense that Bai was bleeding, and both the blood sword and magic scythe began to grow restless.
With the support of the holy sword “Frost Moon,” Bai dodged and weaved to avoid the attacks while also being wary of the scattered bats.
After barely blocking and parrying for a while, Bai retreated step by step. Vivian only needed to launch a final attack to take down this fortress commander who was fighting with all his might.
Vivian didn’t want to waste words. She raised her hand, and a huge blood-colored magic array immediately rose from beneath her feet, inscribed with dense blood clan runes.
Bai felt his whole body go weak, unable to move at all. But his mind was still clear. He knew that if he didn’t think of something, he would die here…
He had no choice but to use this move.
Vivian’s expression became serious as she activated the magic array. Crimson light immediately engulfed the entire command tower.
“Melt away, though I didn’t expect you would still be able to struggle.”
When the blood-colored light dispersed, there was no expected fall. Instead, a layer of golden armor had been shattered.
“Forbidden technique, Dance of the Burning Angel.”
As the Holy Temple Knight Commander, Bai could only resort to this last measure that burned life force in exchange for overwhelming power for a short time.
The Burning Angel phantom behind Bai had already faded to the extreme. He walked shakily, but the judgment sword in the phantom’s hand had not yet disappeared.
“Vivian, even if I die, I’ll take you with me!”
Bai swung his sword with almost all his strength.
The pressure from the Burning Angel left Vivian terrified and unable to move. She could only watch in despair as the giant sword came down on her.
…
There was no expected annihilation. She opened her eyes in disbelief. Bai ultimately couldn’t withstand the powerful side effects of the Burning Angel state. He collapsed on the ground, now completely drained of magic.
In other words, Bai had gone from being the respected Holy Temple Knight Commander to a cripple.
“Still couldn’t do it, then… I can’t let these vampires get these things.”
He retreated to the side, kicked open the hidden compartment beside the table, revealing a trip wire that had been prepared long ago.
Vivian was still being suppressed by the remaining might of the Burning Angel. She could only watch in despair as Bai pulled the trip wire.
“You will never be able to withstand the Empire’s fury…”
Bai uttered his final harsh words, then lost consciousness.
There was no expected destructive explosion. Instead, Duke Wensa came to the rescue, carrying the drained deputy commander.
He wasn’t in good shape either. His left sleeve was empty, his formal attire torn in several places, looking quite disheveled.
“Vivian, what’s going on? Didn’t you say it was a sure thing? Looks like someone’s going to be in trouble when we get back.” As he spoke, Wensa helped her up and placed a rune stone in her hand.
Vivian finally regained some strength and slowly stood up.
“I didn’t expect he had hidden a lethal amount of explosives under the fortress. Fortunately, this deputy knew something.”
The blood clan was famously difficult to kill. Severed limbs were normal, and they could recover by drinking a bit of blood. This surprise attack on Fort Liège was ultimately won by the blood clan.
Looking at the unconscious Bai before her, Vivian’s gaze turned cold. She lightly raised her hand, and Bai’s figure immediately disappeared.
“Perhaps he’ll be useful later.”
…
On top of the fortress, the Empire’s eagle flag was casually broken and lay powerlessly to the side.
….