Chapter 1 The Underground City

As twilight fell, no one noticed that deep beneath the bustling November celebrations of the capital city, an ancient metropolis was stirring to life.

With the right permission, one could traverse the long, shadowy paths leading to the deepest, blackest palace.

"That's odd, where's my ID?" a man muttered to himself.

He was clad in a jet-black leather jacket, its polished buttons gleaming in the bloody sky's reflection.

Maguire couldn't fathom how his Special Operations ID had vanished.

He ruled out losing it himself. He usually hung his jacket in his office, rarely out of sight, and no one could enter his office without him, not even Nicola.

But he didn't have time to dwell on it. He needed to report it lost and request a replacement immediately, and couldn't afford to make a fuss. Such a slip-up at this critical juncture could be fatal for him.

As the only seventh-order combatant in the Imperial Special Operations, no one dared to easily tail Maguire. He also possessed the best counter-surveillance awareness.

Moreover, entering and exiting this isolated underground city through the City Hall's secret doors was completely undetectable.

Maguire strolled towards the city's end. A majestic castle of natural obsidian stood silently in the darkness, its exterior inlaid with cold, hard silver edges and adorned with sparkling red crystal carvings, refracting a hazy light in the dimness.

The crimson blood moon, hanging high in the dark dome, cast its bright moonlight upon the earth, veiling the city, meticulously constructed from dark stone, in layers of hazy red gauze, making one feel as if they were in a mysterious and surreal dream.

Passing through layers of corridors, Maguire pushed open a massive door engraved with incantations from the Blood Moon Dynasty's golden age.

Before him lay a grand, awe-inspiring council hall-like palace.

Maguire respectfully lowered his head.

Before the vampires, he knew his insignificance and humility,不敢擅自张望, and could only silently await the Blood Ancestor's response.

He waited a long time, but received no orders.

It seemed he was early; the Blood Ancestors who had summoned him had not yet arrived.

Only then did Maguire slowly raise his head.

Above, on the towering dome, black iron chandeliers hung from cold iron chains, and on either side of the long council table, the thirteen throne-like high-backed chairs were empty.

Suddenly, Maguire sensed something and looked towards the shadowy corners of the council hall.

Someone had arrived before him—

The tall figure was like a statue carved from darkness, his coat seemingly rustling in the rising wind, making it difficult to discern his form in the pitch black.

Only his deep purple eyes were strikingly clear in the darkness.

"Colonel Macrae, what are you doing here?"

After careful observation, Maguire identified the man from the faint outline of sunglasses beneath his sharp purple eyes.

The Capital Garrison Command's military police consisted of the First and Second Brigades.

Last month, when the Brieldar magical energy incident occurred, it was the Second Brigade, responsible for the capital's outer districts, that responded.

The First Brigade was responsible for maintaining security within the capital's inner ring.

Colonel Macrae was the commander of the First Brigade.

"..."

The man merely crossed his arms, silent.

"So cold," Maguire muttered.

Maguire didn't plan on saying much to him anyway.

He had never gotten along with the commander of the Capital Garrison Command's First Military Police Brigade, even on the surface.

This guy always wore sunglasses, acting like he was above everyone else.

Despite being both colonels, the Imperial Special Operations, as an intelligence agency, had more authority than the Capital Garrison Command's Military Police Brigade, but Macrae seemed oblivious to this.

Just then, an incongruous sound of dripping water echoed in the council hall.

Deep within the palace, a flash of green light flickered.

On the lifeless floor, a tender green sprout emerged.

It grew rapidly, vines coiling like snakes, leaves rustling.

In an instant, a human-sized tree sprang up, its branches lush.

Suddenly, a crack appeared in the trunk, and a slender figure emerged slowly, like a butterfly breaking from its cocoon.

Her skin was as white as snow, and her pale golden hair cascaded down her back.

Her long eyelashes fluttered, and the eyes that slowly opened were like new spring leaves, or deep pools of turquoise water, clear, bright, and gleaming.

She wore a simple white dress adorned with intricate green patterns, as if entwined with vines.

Her bare feet clad in wooden sandals, she stepped lightly off the tree trunk, wandering through the palace like the wind.

A refreshing floral fragrance wafted around her, filling the air with a faint hint of spring.

"I'm sorry. That's just my precious Saint, he's always like this. Please forgive him, Captain Maguire," a light-haired, green-eyed woman said with a smile.

This sent chills down Maguire's spine.

He instinctively didn't want to meet her gaze.

Bishop Nidochka of the Withering.

Skilled in wood and mental attributes.

An enigmatic woman who enjoyed manipulating hearts.

She liked to bewitch those in power, offering insidious advice, killing many brave generals and wise ministers, bringing countries to the brink of collapse.

Everyone had thought she would find a Saint or Saintess with equally wicked talents.

Instead, she found a Saint whose greatest strength was exceptional direct combat ability.

"Captain Maguire, why don't you talk to me when I talk to you?" Bishop Nidochka of the Withering asked again.

Her pure, innocent smile held a hint of naivety, but her eyes held a bewitching gleam that sent shivers down one's spine.

She looked around the palace distractedly, her slender white fingers gently stroking the walls, and wherever she touched, delicate, dewy flowers bloomed, and green vines cascaded down like waterfalls.

The air instantly became fresher, but the power that surpassed nature made Maguire feel an indescribable magical force, experiencing the power of a creator.

"Bishop Nidochka is jesting," Maguire said with a slight cough, apologizing.

The Withering Bishop seemed like a very kind beauty, but if you actually believed that, you would undoubtedly die without knowing how.

"Don't be so..."

Just as Nidochka was about to say something, she slowly turned her gaze towards the entrance of the council hall.

Within the palace, a figure walked in, leaving a rhythmic sound of footsteps on the carpet.

Middle-aged, he wore a dark green scholar's robe, a top hat, his hair and beard neatly trimmed, looking gentle and refined, as if he had never experienced battle, but the overly dark eyeliner added a sinister touch.

In his hand, a dimly lit lamp cast long shadows on him and his surroundings.

The middle-aged man had already pushed open the black iron door of the council hall and stood alone inside.

"Farmer, you were called here too?" Bishop Nidochka of the Withering recognized Bishop Farmer of the Decay at first glance, asking in confusion.

Although the Withering and Decay branches were both collaborators with the vampires, generally nothing so important would require gathering all their top combatants together.

"Of course, Herityer sent someone to call me," Bishop Farmer of the Decay nodded.

Even though he had just arrived, he roughly understood the uneasy state Captain Maguire was in, surrounded by the two cardinal bishops.

It seemed Captain Maguire's master, the Blood Ancestor, hadn't arrived yet, and Captain Maguire was very wary of these notorious cardinal bishops.

"Alright, Nidochka, you're scaring people. We cardinal bishops have a pretty bad reputation in the Southern Continent, we need to be aware of that," Bishop Farmer of the Decay said, putting down his briefcase as if to smooth things over.

He was merely considered relatively cruel, having killed more people in biochemical experiments.

But Nidochka was a veritable femme fatale.

"Really, I haven't done anything bad. I just played around a little, how can you blame it all on me... You agree, Saint?" Nidochka raised her hand, looking at her beautiful nails, and murmured a complaint.

"I can't comment on you. Someday I'll arrest you," the Withering Saint did not agree with her. Instead, he stood on the opposite side, denying her bluntly.

"Hehehe, you truly are my greatest joy. I await that day. Catch me if you can," Nidochka not only wasn't angry, she covered her mouth and laughed mockingly with great pleasure.

"As for you, Farmer, restrain your hobbies a bit in the imperial capital. The Imperial Special Operations almost caught you," she turned to advise Farmer.

"There are always serial killings everywhere. Is it rare in the Empire to kill a family of three and turn them into a family portrait art sculpture?" Bishop Farmer of the Decay asked nonchalantly.

Before they could continue their conversation, "Sorry to keep you waiting, two bishops," a voice echoed in the massive council hall, and two more figures walked in.

Leading the way was Seventh Ancestor Marquis Herityer.

She walked straight towards the seventh high-backed chair on the side of the council table.

The other figure sat in the high-backed chair diagonally opposite her, relaxed and at ease.

Herityer's eyes remained tightly closed, as if constantly piercing through layers of domes, discerning the shapes woven by the brilliant stars in the night sky.

"Everyone's just arrived," Bishop Nidochka of the Withering casually spread her hands.

"First, Maguire, tell us about the Imperial Special Operations' intelligence." Seventh Ancestor Marquis Herityer's tone was calm and ethereal.

She didn't mind sharing the Empire's current situation with the two allied cardinal bishops.

"No problem," Maguire replied quickly.

"Violet has returned to the capital, Brieldar, but she's completely unaware of the abnormal situation where Princess Alexia's freedom has been restricted, and is still wholeheartedly preparing for the Moon God Festival in the middle of the month."

Maguire immediately reported the latest situation.

The last instruction he had received was to find a way to keep the Sixth Divine General, Violet Jade Throne of Aqua, away from Brieldar for as long as possible.

The vampires secretly manipulated events, creating the illusion of the appearance of fragments of an ultra-ancient divine beast, King of Bones, within the Empire. The discovered ruins were extremely dangerous, requiring a powerful force to protect the Imperial exploration team and the archaeologists from Saint Crete's Monastery.

In the end, Violet personally went to Lake Stabergen, near the Botswana province. She could freeze the entire lake surface near the exploration cave.

If fighting underwater or on the water, Violet would have an absolute advantage.

Besides her, only First Divine General Hyacinthus could ensure complete safety, but as Commander-in-Chief, Hyacinthus couldn't personally go.

Therefore, the Sixth Divine General Violet was the only choice.

During this period, the vampires had achieved many goals in Brieldar.

For example, further controlling the royal family, transporting an Ancestor back into the Imperial capital from abroad, and assassinating many targets they had long wanted to eliminate.

"Very good. While she was away, we basically completed all our goals," Seventh Ancestor Marquis Herityer nodded.

Although there were a few things they didn't manage to accomplish, including failing to kill the wolf witch with the eyes of judgment, it was within the allowable margin of error.

Failing to kill her once made it harder to kill her again. Not only would Violet protect her, but even that old guy Dex might notice her.

The hounds under Duke Dex of the Imperial Special Operations weren't that strong in combat, but their reconnaissance abilities were quite strong. They had almost caught Bishop Farmer of the Decay in the act of overeating some time ago.

Even Maguire was hesitant to help Bishop Farmer of the Decay from the inside. The risk of making small moves in the Imperial Special Operations was very high. In addition, large-scale infiltration would definitely be discovered by Dex. Currently, the vampires only had Maguire as a genuine turncoat within the Imperial Special Operations, ensuring that Maguire wouldn't be implicated by other turncoats.

Aside from those troublesome agents of the Imperial Special Operations, there was an even more important reason—Duke Dex was one of the Empire's most secretive powerhouses.

He was difficult to assassinate or control, not only having few weaknesses, but also, given his position in the Empire and his keen insight, would certainly cause disaster if he couldn't be completely controlled.

"Thanks to your plan, our assassination operations not only didn't arouse the Empire's suspicion, but were all blamed on the Silver Moon Restoration Society," Captain Maguire said with respectful flattery.

Last month, the Silver Moon Restoration Society's acts of assassinating nobles had become increasingly rampant. Although the Silver Moon Restoration Society sometimes helped them eliminate political enemies, it also sometimes killed the pawns they controlled.

Maintaining a certain degree of internal conflict within Crete was certainly a good thing for the vampires.

However, if they allowed the Silver Moon Restoration Society, this terrorist organization, to continue killing indiscriminately, inciting nobles and citizens to an uncontrollable degree, even if the vampires controlled the Crete Empire in the future, it would all be trouble, and they would have to clean up the Silver Moon Restoration Society's mess.

Even Marquis Herityer couldn't divine the identities of the organization's nine Venerables because they had no contact with each other. There was little karma among the core members, making it impossible to divine.

Even if they found one Venerable, it would be difficult to use that Venerable to eliminate the other Venerables.

So they were difficult to deal with.

However, later Marquis Herityer gave them a wicked plan for Maguire to execute—

Since the Silver Moon Restoration Society wanted to kill, they would help the Silver Moon Restoration Society kill.

Maguire and other vampire subordinates also went to kill, taking the opportunity to kill a few more political enemies, creating a sensational case, and then framing the Silver Moon Restoration Society, provoking the emotions of the Imperial nobles.

"Now the Empire's search for them has reached an unprecedented level. Even Colonel Macrae has probably worked a lot of overtime because of this," Maguire continued, with a hint of apology.

Colonel Macrae, standing by the wall, glanced at him but didn't speak.

"Sure enough, now the Imperial Special Operations has to thoroughly investigate the Silver Moon Restoration Society. Red Falcon Nicola is overwhelmed," Bishop Farmer of the Decay clapped his hands, knowing what the vampires had done.

"You guys are really bad. No wonder I haven't heard any news about the Silver Moon Restoration Society lately," Bishop Nidochka of the Withering commented helplessly.

Now the vampires were not only controlling the Crete Empire's government, but also controlling the Empire's economy and media. While taking advantage of the chaos to kill a few difficult-to-deal-with Imperial bigwigs, the Silver Moon Restoration Society would take the blame for the vampires, allowing them to act with impunity.

At the same time, they also had to kill some of the Imperial tycoons the vampires had already controlled to confuse people and avoid suspicion.

Since their actions were premeditated, they could prepare in advance to allocate the deceased's inheritance and power from one hand to the other, essentially with minimal losses, just replacing one puppet with another.

"This is called a two-way commitment, taught to me by an old opponent," Seventh Ancestor Marquis Herityer sneered, both sighing and reminiscing.

"Maguire, what about the movements of the other Divine Generals?" She casually asked, turning her face.

Since the information about the Twelve Divine Generals was the Empire's top military secret, unauthorized investigation might arouse counter-reconnaissance. Only the Imperial Special Operations was one of the few inspection departments independent of the military.

As the war continued, the eighth-order hero units of both the Empire and the Allied forces would gradually be depleted.

Legions and city defense facilities were also difficult to restore.

Although the vampires had top hero units, they lacked legion strength.

They could only use humans, or convert them from the human camp.

To some extent, legions were like minion waves. Without minion waves to withstand the enemy's city defense facilities and magic engineering barriers, hero units couldn't break through alone, and might even be defeated by a strong attack.

Now, the fierce battles of the early war had gradually slowed down.

▲ttkд n ▲￠ o

With the loss of the Allied forces' key strategic points in the southern periphery, they took the initiative to abandon some areas, resources, and vision, and retreated north to consolidate their defenses.

If the Empire wanted to catch the Allied forces' hero units outside the city defenses, it was no longer so easy.

Next, the key to victory for both sides lay in subsequent operations, the outcome of large-scale battles, and the competition for neutral resources.

Without strategic points, the pace of attack and defense for both sides also began to slow down. It was possible that the Divine Generals would gradually return, continuing the Divine Generals' crucial blessing of the God of War and Sword.

"Currently, only the Tenth Divine General, Julius, the Ruby Throne, has returned. More Divine Generals will return for the Moon God Festival in the middle of the month. And next month, for the Crete National Day Festival, all the Divine Generals will definitely arrive, responsible for maintaining the order of the ceremony and receiving blessings," Maguire still knelt on one knee, hand on his knee, reporting respectfully.

Crete's Divine Generals all had the God of War and Sword's blessing with a time limit, which could grant a slight enhancement of basic attributes. The annual National Day Festival was the time to regain the blessing.

Divine blessings could only be held one at a time and could not be stacked, but the Crete Empire's God of War and Sword blessing was a rare, pure attack attribute.

And the Crete Empire could bestow a year-long God of War and Sword blessing on the Divine Generals, not the short duration of most Divine blessings.

"Why is this guy rushing back?" Bishop Nidochka of the Withering asked instinctively.

Although this Divine General was no threat to her.

"He didn't want to come back himself. I guarantee he wants to stay on the front lines more than anyone else. He's coming back for a court martial," Captain Maguire shook his head and explained.

This had to do with the last time the Empire and the Allied forces fought for energy on a large scale in the Western Hub District. The Tenth Divine General Julius, the Ruby Throne, reversed the situation with a single shot, triggering a massive explosion, almost involving the Allied forces' eighth-order, led by the Western Chairman, and other Divine Generals.

The Imperial military now dared not let Major General Julius, who was greedy for merit and took risks,乱来 on the front lines again.

Perhaps First Divine General Hyacinthus took war as a way to realize the Empire's ideals.

Other Divine Generals took battles as work.

Only Tenth Divine General Julius was truly enjoying the war.

"To be honest, I'm sometimes quite envious of the Divine Generals," Bishop Farmer of the Decay sighed.

"Please be careful not to expose your magic in the Imperial capital from now on, two bishops. There are now three Divine Generals stationed, and there will be more and more until the National Day Festival at the end of the month," Seventh Ancestor Marquis Herityer reminded the two cardinal bishops.

"Do we need to stay near Brieldar all the time?" Bishop Nidochka of the Withering asked.

Bishop Farmer of the Decay also looked at Seventh Ancestor Marquis Herityer.

From Marquis Herityer's meaning, there was still something they needed to do next, which was probably the main reason they were invited here today.

"Farmer, do you remember? You once asked me, do we really need to go this far to kill Micahya's daughter?" Marquis Herityer asked Bishop Farmer of the Decay.

"I remember. We haven't succeeded several times. Micahya's daughter is like she has the protection of the Goddess of Destiny, always avoiding the Death Star you see. She does seem to be a priestess of the Church of the Goddess of Destiny. It's not strange to be favored..."

Bishop Farmer of Decay recalled slightly, remembering that he had indeed asked when he personally gave the vampire decay alchemy beast to the vampires last time.

"The more we can't kill that half-blood demon, the less anxious that eighth-order demon will be. Her evolution speed is unusually fast. If we let her continue to cultivate in the Crete Empire like this, she'll become the biggest variable. Everything seems to have some karmic connection with her." Seventh Ancestor Marquis Herityer said.

Ever since their vampires captured Duke Micahya, that silver-haired female demon actually found their Blood Moon City coordinates,抓到血族便往死里折磨, and even interrogated them about the location of their underground palace.

And she even let the gifted her run away.

Even if she was poisoned by the Blood King Divine Fire, Herityer couldn't completely rest assured.

Because Sixth Divine General Violet Jade's blood could解开 this fire poison.

But as long as the silver-haired female demon felt intense hatred, no matter how she grew, she would never be a match for their vampire's current highest combat power, Third Ancestor Duke Rashaar.

Duke Rashaar's power was at the pinnacle of mental magic. The heavier the enemy's negative emotions, the easier it was for Duke Rashaar to find a mental flaw, complete mental control and forced mind control.

"I understand. You're worried that on the day of the Crete National Day Festival at the end of the month, when the Twelve Divine Generals can't move, that demon will make a comeback, even bringing stronger companions, breaking into Blood Moon City?"

Bishop Farmer of the Decay lightly hammered his palm, drawing a conclusion. The interest in his eyes became even stronger. He had long wanted to catch this rumored gifted demon and put her in his laboratory.

However, the threat of the silver-haired demon was not the main purpose of killing Miss Hesperian. The real meaning of Miss Hesperian's death was to break Duke Micahya's mental defenses. Only in this way could Micahya become a slave to the vampires.

Duke Micahya's dark magic was too useful to the vampires. It could also become a shield for the vampires during the day.

"I don't know if that demon will come to save her husband that day, but I think according to her thinking, as long as it's possible, she'll try on National Day. The longer the time drags on, the more likely her husband will be killed by us impatiently."

Herityer said with certainty.

To the side.

"One, two, three... six, seven."

Bishop Nidochka of the Withering counted, lightly tapping the air with her fingertips. She included herself, Bishop Farmer of the Decay, Marquis Herityer, and the figure sitting opposite Marquis Herityer.

That figure was obviously also a vampire, but hadn't said anything since entering the council hall, just listening calmly.

The rest should be Eighth Ancestor Marquis Somerset, Ninth Ancestor Marquis Bernhard, and Third Ancestor Duke Rashaar, who weren't present today.

She only calculated the eighth-order and above combat power, and there were seven of them.

"This is the necessary preparation." Seventh Ancestor Marquis Herityer seemed to see through Bishop Nidochka of the Withering's careless thoughts, and told her.

Caution was definitely right. It was because she hadn't made one thousand percent, even one ten thousand percent preparation back then.

Marquis Herityer rarely clenched her fist.

"Thank you for saving me." The figure in the tenth high-backed chair finally spoke.

He had white hair and ruby-like eyes with restrained brilliance.

"..."

Maguire couldn't help but look at this vampire.

This was the first time he had seen this vampire after coming to Blood Moon City so many times.

Soon, Maguire realized his rudeness. He shouldn't have stared at the other party and began to panic.

The vampire ancestor that Maguire was looking at at the moment seemed to notice Maguire's gaze and returned a gentle and polite smile to him.

Unlike other vampire ancestors, he seemed to have no danger on him. His existence itself was like a natural work of art.

"No need to be reserved," the vampire marquis said.

He was sealed in the north ten thousand years ago and would have needed more time to be found.

But fortunately, the north seemed to have triggered a series of chain reactions due to the defeat of Apostle Duke Morotian. Therefore, the forces in the Northern Continent took the initiative to propose a deal to them, that they could send back a chimaera stone pillar sealing a vampire marquis. In return, they wanted a copy of the blood soul from each of the four vampire ancestors in the Southern Continent.

No one knew what the north was planning, but it probably wasn't the Northern Continent, or even outside the Land of Disaster even further away.

But that might be a variable that would only happen in another story a few years from now.

Now they had received the vampire marquis sent by the other party across the ocean.

After unsealing it, they discovered that it was Tenth Ancestor Ulysses who was resurrected.

"Ulysses, please help us fight when the time comes." Seventh Ancestor Marquis Herityer looked at this old friend whom she hadn't seen for tens of thousands of years and reluctantly asked.

He had just been unsealed, and she was going to let him fight again.

"It doesn't matter, it's all for our long-cherished wish," Tenth Ancestor Ulysses nodded in agreement.

As the vampire's supreme painter, his power of Blood Creation could make the products of his pen materialize for a short time. He could quickly create a large number of summons based on the situation. He was a fairly all-around summoner.

Although his combat power was weaker than Seventh Ancestor Marquis Herityer, Eighth Ancestor Marquis Somerset, and Ninth Ancestor Marquis Bernhard, he excelled in being all-around, nearly a hexagonal mage ancestor, able to cope with all kinds of opponents.

"You guys really have given that demon lady a lot of respect," Bishop Nidochka of the Withering said with a smile.

One ninth-order plus six cardinal bishop-level eighth-order.

Blood Moon City's defensive power would reach its peak that day.

This was an excessive trap.

And with the support of Blood Moon City's impeccable mechanism, sending as many enemies as they wanted was just giving them away.

It seemed the vampires were waiting to catch that demon, end the trouble, and then start the next plan to completely control the Imperial royal family.

"As long as we assimilate Black Night Bishop Micahya into our ranks, even on the ground, we won't be affected by the Empire's daytime anymore."

Marquis Herityer slowly opened her eyes, which were as deep as a pool of blood. The gaze above the tear mole seemed to travel through vast space and time, crossing countless eras,

"We vampires will learn from our lessons, but humans won't. This foolish race can only repeat history, repeat one tragedy after another,生生灭灭."

At that time, even the Twelve Divine Generals, the Holy Crete Emperor, and Duke Dex wouldn't be able to stop their vampires.

Herityer's voice almost carried weight, constantly falling, penetrating the ground, and falling into the vast void of Blood Moon City.

...

Blood Moon City, deep in the abyss several kilometers below the void.

A palace with rotating and interlocking stone magic cubes, at the end of the spiral staircase, was a temple space with an altar in the center.

At the center of the altar, sealed in a black amber-like crystal, was a haggard man.

The black crystal imprisoned his figure, unable to break free.

He was a gentle, black-haired man with an air that didn't make people feel distant, with unbelievable handsomeness.

But at this moment, he was only asleep.