In the underground shelter, the air was thick with fear. Children clung tightly to their parents, eyes streaming with tears. The elderly trembled, praying in vain.
Above, the battle raged on. The clang of swords, the spray of blood, the maddened howls of Vampires echoed down through the thin layers of earth and rock.
But… in a corner of the bunker, an old man sat in silence. His eyes were vacant. His hands gripped the necklace around his neck. The cloth-wrapped staff rested in his lap. Ignoring everything, he showed no reaction to the fear around him.
At some point, a few children had fallen asleep, their heads resting on his shoulder. The flickering firelight reflected on his aged face, briefly revealing a distant, nostalgic glint in his eyes. It seemed… deep within his soul, there had once been a time when he too believed in miracles.
But then…
CRASH!
A scream ripped through the air from the bunker door.
"Save me! AAAAH!"
"He's too strong…!"
"Run… URGGH!!"
BOOM!
The bunker door shattered like a piece of rotting wood. A dark figure stood there, holding the blood-soaked head of a soldier. Blood dripped steadily onto the floor. The man was not human. His wild, flowing platinum hair framed a face that was handsome, yet filled with malice and murderous intent. His eyes were red as blood, and he wore the dull black armor common to the Vampire Empire.
Jack "the Butcher."
He stepped in, dangling the head, bringing his mouth to the wound…
"GULP… GULP…"
The blood was drained in a flash. The head shriveled, skin and flesh shrunken, leaving only a withered, wrinkled layer over bone. He tossed the head to the ground, a triumphant laugh escaping his lips.
"Here they are… My slaves… My delicious blood bags."
Jack's eyes swept across the bunker, taking in the humans huddled in terror. Inhuman. Savage. A true predator.
The air in the bunker froze. No one dared to breathe heavily. Children clung tightly to the old man, trembling in despair.
The old man bowed his head to the ground, teeth clenched, his hands clutching the cloth-wrapped staff… but still, he said nothing. The others dared not meet Jack's gaze. They could only clasp their hands and pray.
"Please spare us…"
"God save us…"
"Please…"
Jack chuckled. "Don't be afraid, my tasty blood bags."
He spread his arms wide, like an arrogant preacher. "I come in the name of Dracula—the Supreme King of all things. I am here to take you. You will live, but not as humans… but as livestock."
"The Blood Farms await you. Be honored by it!"
"Now, praise my almighty lord… DRACULA!"
"HAIL!"
The humans cringed at the words "Blood Farms"—a place worse than hell. There, humans were drained of their blood day by day, hour by hour… existing like cattle, waiting to be emptied and discarded like trash.
A few were so terrified they trembled, stammering out weak praises:
"H-h-hail… h-h-hail…"
Only one person did not open his mouth. A young priest remained steadfast in prayer, eyes closed, believing in God.
Jack slowly turned his head. His eyes glowed, sweeping directly towards the young man.
"Still have hope, do you?" He advanced slowly, like a stalking beast. "Look at me, believer in God."
Jack touched the young man's chin with his blood-stained claws, lifting it gently. The young man trembled violently… but still whispered prayers.
"I like you. If you follow me, you'll make a good slave. I won't let you suffer."
Jack's words were like a devil's promise. The young man's eyes suddenly glimmered with a flicker of hope.
"Oh! Really?! You mean it?! Please take me… I'm so scared…!"
Jack's lips twisted into a smirk. "Oh? So you're not praying to your God anymore?"
The young man froze. His eyes widened, sweat pouring down his face. A foul odor wafted up… he had wet himself.
SLASH!
A flash of crimson cut through the air. Blood gushed like a fountain. The young man's throat was slit. He choked on blood, clutching his neck, stumbling to the ground, desperate "ack… ack…" sounds echoing in vain.
"AAAAAH!!!"—the entire bunker screamed in panic.
Jack laughed heartily. "God isn't here. He won't help you. HAHAHAHAHA!"
"Now then…" He turned back towards the door, waving a hand in command. "Soldiers! Help me sort the food."
Lesser (Mid-tier) Vampire soldiers began to pour in… The bunker plunged into desperate wails and cries. The air was thick with the stench of fear. The people huddled together, not daring to breathe heavily. The Vampire soldiers swarmed in, each with a delighted look, like hungry wolves entering a sheep pen.
"Delicious, these are so delicious!"
"Should we have a little taste, perhaps?"
"Sir, may we have a bite?"
Three Lesser Vampire soldiers turned their heads to look at Jack, grinning maniacally. Jack offered a savage smile, his eyes glowing fiercely in the gloom. "Go ahead… but don't let them die…" He paused, then flicked his mouth. "Ah, never mind… just try not to kill too many. Hahahaha!"
The miserable humans were once again plunged into an abyss of despair. To die or not to die, they could not choose. The Vampires' eyes roved around the bunker, looking at each person like choosing items in a market.
One stopped at a dark corner. Two small children huddled, trembling, in the arms of an old man. He licked his lips.
"I choose that girl."
The old man's entire body stiffened. His heart constricted. The scene of flashing red blood appeared in his mind… a young girl lying in a pool of blood.
"ALIAA! NOOOO!!!"
He gritted his teeth, his hands clenching the cloth-wrapped staff… but he didn't move. The Vampire lunged, grabbing the little girl's hair. She screamed in terror, tears streaming down her face. The others could only close their eyes and turn away. No one dared to stop him. The Vampire bared his fangs, laughing gleefully…
"What will your taste be like, little one? Don't die too soon!"
THWACK!
The Vampire froze. A bony hand gripped his wrist. The entire bunker fell silent. He turned back…
The old man.
His hood had fallen. The flickering firelight illuminated his aged face. His silver beard wasn't too long, his eyes were sharp as a blade to the throat. And the tattered, old clothes he wore… a priest's robe.
He spoke in a low voice, but each word was as sharp as thunder:
"Release. The. Child."
The bunker was utterly silent. All eyes turned to the old man. The people were astonished. The Vampires' eyes widened.
"An old man??"
"Is he crazy??"
"Looks like he's a priest too?"
Jack narrowed his eyes, his gaze slowly turning interested. The Vampire whose wrist was grabbed violently pulled his hand away, snarling, "Does this old man want to die?!"
He dropped the little girl. He swung his mace powerfully, aiming straight for the old man's head!
CLANGGGGGGG!
The sound of metal vibrated through the entire bunker. No one could believe their eyes. The Vampire staggered forward, his mace missing its target.
But before he could react—
SWISH!
The cloth wrapping on the old man's back ripped open. Everyone's eyes widened at what was revealed—a sword. Not a staff, not an old relic…
A finely crafted Long Sword, still in its scabbard, radiating a faint golden glow. The blade was etched with ancient runes, the hilt bearing the symbol of the sun—a representation of holy light.
Giving them no time to think, the old man yanked away the cloth, gripping the hilt of the sword.
WHOOSH!
The blade left its sheath. The sword blazed with light. And in that very moment—
SLASH!
A sword stroke ripped through the air. The Vampire was cut straight across the chest. He crumpled, his eyes wide with panic. Vampires could regenerate from mortal wounds, but this time…
"NOOOO… WHAT… IS HAPPENING?!"
His entire body trembled violently. The gash glowed, and from within, a brilliant golden flame erupted.
GHHHHHAAAAAA!
A scream of ultimate agony, then—WHOOSH! He turned to ash. Only a charred skeleton remained, falling to the ground.
CLATTER…
The entire bunker was utterly silent. The Vampires' eyes bulged. The humans gasped, their hearts pounding wildly. Jack subtly frowned, his smile gone.
"What in the world…?"
Whispers began to spread among the people.
"He… He killed a Vampire with a single strike?!"
"Who is he?"
"Maybe… we have a chance to live!"
Small glimmers of hope… The desperate humans, whose eyes had been filled with despair just moments ago, now shone as if they had witnessed a miracle. Jack gritted his teeth.
"Worthless fools. Kill the old man for me!"
The two remaining Vampires immediately charged. They were afraid, but dared not disobey Jack's command. The old man stood still. Only his sharp eyes remained. Not a hint of hesitation.
SLASH! SLASH! The old man's eyes glowed with a brilliant golden aura. Shimmering golden veins appeared on his face, spreading down his arms, radiating an eerie light in the gloomy space.
The two Vampires lunged.
WHOOSH!
SLASH!
Just two sword strokes.
BOOM!
Before the two figures could understand what was happening, their bodies suddenly burst into flames from within.
GHHAAAAAA!
They shrieked in ultimate agony. Their bodies slowly contorted, turning to ash, leaving only white skeletons falling to the ground.
THUD… THUD…
The entire bunker went completely silent. The humans looked up at the old man, their eyes blazing with hope.
"THE OLD MAN IS AMAZING!"
"WE CAN LIVE NOW!"
"GO! GO!"
They cheered, shouted, almost forgetting their recent fear.
But amidst that exhilarated sound—Jack took a step back. He felt something… very wrong. A chilling sensation… a fear rising from primal instinct. What was it? He didn't know. But his Vampire instincts told him one thing—
RUN!
He stared intently at the sword in the old man's hand. It was like… the sun. It emitted a light that could incinerate even souls. He shivered, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
But just then—something happened.
The golden veins on the old man's body… glowed even brighter. But then…
COUGH!
The old man stopped, clutching his chest. His eyes widened, his breathing ragged. Nosebleed began to drip.
"Damn it…"
The old man crumpled, propping his sword against the ground. Jack blinked. Then he smiled. The fear vanished. Because he had realized—"He's… exhausted? What's wrong with him?… My chance."
An Elite Vampire like him couldn't miss this opportunity. Jack clenched his fists.
"DIE!"
He lunged like a whirlwind.
CRASH!
No one had time to react. The entire room held its breath.
And then—
CLINK!
Jack froze mid-air. Everything paused for a few seconds. Jack was rigid, his eyes wide. Then—
COUGH!
He stumbled back. A searing pain ripped through his chest. He looked down…
"What… the hell…"
A sword was plunged through his chest. It was the Long Sword. Jack gasped, his whole body trembling violently. He staggered a few steps, then collapsed onto the cold ground.
CLINK!
The sword remained impaled in him, emitting a faint golden light.
Silence. No one could believe their eyes.
Then—
"WE WON!!!"
Cheers erupted. The humans screamed with joy, almost forgetting their fear.
"WE'RE ALIVE!!"
Children ran to hug the old man, sobbing with happiness.
But the old man remained silent. He sighed, then slowly stood up. The golden veins on his skin gradually receded. But blood still dripped from his nose.
"Phew… Just in time."
The old man walked over, gripping the sword's hilt. Slowly, he pulled the Long Sword from Jack's chest. Blood splattered onto the ground. The people around him focused their gazes on him.
Some cried and thanked him.
"You saved us!"
"You truly are a saint!"
"I knew it, you're a good person!"
But amidst the excited crowd… there were other eyes. There were whispers, murmurs.
"It's him… isn't it?"
"No way… That's just a legend!"
"I'm sure of it! It's him!"
"If the legend is true… then he's the one who brought the apocalypse."
The old man's eyes subtly darkened. He didn't react. He simply sat down by the fire, re-wrapping the sword in its old cloth. As if wanting to hide everything. Wanting to return to being an anonymous old man among humanity.
But—
Wait.
Someone suddenly realized something was very wrong.
"Wait… Jack's body…"
Everyone suddenly fell silent. All eyes snapped towards Jack. He was still lying there. But something was… wrong.
"Why… isn't he burning?"
A Vampire pierced by a holy sword… should have turned to ash instantly, just like the others. But Jack remained intact. His body hadn't been incinerated at all.
And then—
THUMP!
His finger twitched. A chill spread through the entire bunker.
Destiny… was unfolding right here.