The First Vampire

Boom!

Suddenly, a deafening thunder reverberated above Winterfell City, awaking countless people from their slumber.

Startled awake in church, Scholar Doan, who was dozing off on the pew, felt an intense shaking under his feet as if something had fallen from a great height and smashed into the ground.

“Ah”

A sharp scream rang out in the church, interrupting the serenity of the hymn, causing Scholar Doan, who was still in a daze, to jolt up.

What’s going on?

Quickly turning towards the direction of the voice, Scholar Doan was astounded to see the side hall on the left wing of the church engulfed in smoke and dust.

“It’s collapsed! It’s collapsed!”

Another wave of screams.

Only now did Scholar Doan realize that the entire ceiling of the side hall had collapsed.

The church was instantly plunged into chaos, a cacophony of alarm, screams, and cries erupting all around, causing extreme distress to anyone within earshot.

“Quiet down! Don’t panic! Prioritize saving others!” Bishop Roan’s voice echoed through the chaos, calming the hearts of many.

Scholar Doan, torn between helping or not, noticed the city defense force soldiers who had been standing guard outside the church, now rushing in like madmen.

“Lord Thomas! Lord Thomas!”

Watching the soldiers frantically digging through the wreckage, Scholar Doan suddenly pieced it all together? wasn’t the confessional on that side?

Could it be…

With that thought, Scholar Doan could no longer maintain his composure. He rushed over in haste.

Boom!

Amid the roaring thunder, the downpour that had briefly ceased, pummeled down unrelentingly once more, threatening to drown Winterfell city entirely.

Inside the church, the rescue workers were soaked to the bone. They worked tirelessly, moving rubble, until they found the first body.

It wasn’t the Knight Thomas.

Scholar Doan breathed a sigh of relief. A flicker of hope still lived on in his heart, and he quickly re-engaged in the intense rescue efforts.

Soon, they dug up three more bodies and one survivor.

Unfortunately, none of them was the Knight Thomas.

The guards personally assigned to Thomas were almost mad with terror. Their hands were covered in blood from the sharp rubble, but they did not stop their efforts to save their commander.

Finally, they dug out their commander—

His body.

Thump!

Scholar Doan plopped onto the soaking wet ground, his eyes wide with terror.

“What on earth happened? Why did the ceiling collapse?”

Thomas’ guards, unable to accept this reality, were relentlessly questioning Bishop Roan.

“I’m afraid it was caused by the lightning strike…”

A lightning strike?

Scholar Doan scoffed, how could that be a coincidence?

Just happened to strike the ceiling of the church’s side hall, killing the Knight Thomas who was in confession?

Moreover, Thomas was a fourth-order knight.

Even if he were hit by a boulder, it wouldn’t necessarily kill him.

Scholar Doan did not examine the body chiefly because he didn’t know how to and also because at that point, it didn’t matter anymore.

He was too late.

Thomas was dead.

And with that, his plan had failed.

Upon realizing this, Scholar Doan hurriedly got up from the ground, disregarding the howling storm outside, and briskly made his way towards Lion Roar Castle.

Lion Roar Castle.

Colin stood in the hallway, blankly staring at the raging rain outside.

Agani’s lingering scent seemed to still linger in his nose, but instead of reminiscing about her seductive beauty, he was pondering over the words she had left him with.

When Agani spoke those words, she seemed so confident, as if she had Colin completely under her control.

This raised a slight sense of unease in Colin’s heart.

As time ticked by, Colin’s unease continued to grow.

Moreover, Scholar Doan had gone for so long without any news coming back.

This only fed Colin’s bad premonition.

No!

He couldn’t wait any longer!

Although Colin still trusted Scholar Doan, he didn’t want to place all his hopes on him.

Besides, on this trip into the city, Colin had his own plans, he still had a trump card with Count Uman.

Boom!

A flash of lightning tore through the deep night, the thunderous noise was so loud it made one’s scalp tingle.

In the distance, Colin could faintly hear some commotion outside the castle.

At this point, he no longer cared about such things, having made up his mind he strode away.

Boom!

A violent gust of wind swept through the hallway, as if something had suddenly plunged into the rain curtain.

“My lord, we just received news that the side hall of the Glorious Church has collapsed, killing over a dozen people. Among them is Knight Thomas,” said a messenger.

“I see,” nodded Count Uman, his face calm as if he had already anticipated the death of Knight Thomas.

Putting on his coat, Count Uman left his abode.

He had only walked a few steps when Viscount Walra approached.

“Father!”

“Hmm,” Count Uman smiled and nodded, “Are you not asleep at this late hour?”

The thunder tonight is too loud, I can’t sleep. Are you going out, father?”

Count Uman nodded, then said, “Since you can’t sleep, come with me to visit Young Master Joyce.”

Viscount Walra hesitated, “Father, it’s so late, disturbing young master Joyce… isn’t it inappropriate?”

Count Uman sighed regretfully, “We have no choice. There was a collapse in the church just now, and Knight Thomas unfortunately lost his life. We must let Young Master Joyce know about this. We also need to appoint a new commander for the City Defense Force.”

“Knight Thomas… lost his life?” Viscount Walra looked surprised. It took him a while to recover, then he leaned close to Count Uman, whispering, “Father, this wasn’t an accident, was it?”

Count Uman mysteriously smiled, patted his son’s shoulder, but did not give a clear answer.

Just then, a large figure appeared around the corner of the hallway. He was completely covered in heavy blue Armor, exuding an intense sense of oppression, but strangely, his footsteps were extremely light, appearing suddenly like a ghost.

Count Uman frowned, it seemed strange. He didn’t recall having such a person within the St. Hilde family guards.

Suddenly, Count Uman felt a sharp pain in his waist.

Thud!

With a kick, he sent the attacker flying, but his face was filled with puzzlement and shock.

“Walra…why?”

Count Uman began to tremble uncontrollably, not because of the physical injury, but because of the greater pain in his heart.

He could not understand why he was being continuously assassinated, and the assassins were all people he trusted.

Lawrence, Penny, Cynthia, and now even his own son, Walra, was trying to kill him!

For a moment, the count felt a sense of being betrayed by everyone he trusted, as if the world was against him.

But he quickly calmed himself, even correctly guessing the mastermind behind this assassination.

Walra was Colin’s “welcome gift”. Clearly, this assassination was very likely by Colin’s command.

Count Uman couldn’t figure out how Colin manipulated Walra to kill his own father, but he felt as though he had fallen into a trap of his own making.

Perhaps this “welcome gift” was also a “return gift.”

A year ago, Count Uman had Knight Carter assassinate Colin in Grey Castle. A year later, Colin used Walra to assassinate Count Uman in Lion Roar Castle.

This, perhaps, is fate.

Walra slowly spat out a mouthful of blood, the count’s ruthless counter attack had caused his chest to cave in. Yet there was no panic on his face, no regret, just a deep-rooted hatred.

“Because you deserve to die!” Walra growled with a distorted face. “For your own selfish desires, you went as far as to invite a wolf into our home! The mother’s early death, my painful first-half of my life, the repeated chaos of the North Territory, and the innocent lives of three hundred thousand people in Fallen Eagle City, are all thanks to you!”

Count Uman was stunned. He wanted to argue, but found that in the face of his own son’s betrayal, any argument seemed feeble.

All the past conspiracies flashed rapidly through his mind, a hint of regret surfaced, but was quickly suppressed by Count Uman.

His expression became resolute again.

He had no regrets!

So what if the world turned against him, even his family?

To ascend to the peak of power, how could one not pay a price?

Hiss!

Count Uman unsheathed the dagger at his waist and threw it forward.

The giant in the blue Armor had accelerated towards him. The large shield in his hand shone with a faint blue light, as if he was about to crush anything standing in his way.

At the same time, a figure in red Armor appeared from behind him. Although he appeared to be far shorter than the other, his massive hammer in hand was a clear sign he was not to be trifled with.

Count Uman swiftly drew his sword, shouting:

“Viscount Angler! Dare you reveal yourself and fight me!”