The midnight sky spread over the open fields outside Ebonwake. The darkness was wide and deep, broken only by the pale light of the full moon. A cold wind moved through the grass and made soft sounds against the trees at the edge of the forest.
A narrow path ran through the thick bushes. From inside it, five pairs of glowing eyes appeared. They were quiet and steady. Then the shadows moved. Figures stepped out of the woods and into the moonlight. They were Lycans.
A guard on the wall of Ebonwake saw them. He froze and tried to see more clearly. The shapes became clear, large fur-covered bodies with glowing eyes that shone in the moonlight.
The bell rang and broke the quiet.
Another guard, already on his horse, started riding fast. The hooves struck the wet ground and sent up mist as he rode toward the inner keep of Ebonwake. He had one goal.
Vaelith had to be told.
***
The guard rode fast through the streets of Ebonwake. The sound of the bell still rang in his ears. Lanterns lit up as he reached the castle gates. He hardly slowed down before jumping off his horse. His boots hit the stone floor as he ran through the halls, pushing past servants and guards.
He reached Vaelith's room and knocked once, quick and firm. The door opened before he could speak. She was already there.
He waited. Then the door opened again.
Five people entered. They were Vaelith's generals.
"Lycans are attacking," Lucian said.
"We will meet them," Vaelith said and turned at once.
They walked through the halls without rushing. They passed through the tall doors of the castle and stepped into the open night.
The horses waited and moved with unease as they came near. Without speaking, they got on their horses. The seven rode into the night toward the kingdom's gate. The air carried the smell of blood from far away.
***
They reached the gates.
The scene beyond was chaos. Guards and soldiers filled the field, some crawling to safety, others lying still. The five Lycans moved through them with great force. Bodies were broken and weapons shattered.
A wounded soldier showed his fangs. His red eyes shone as he bit the neck of a fallen comrade, not from anger but to stay alive. Another soldier, pale and fast, pulled an injured man away from the fight.
Some of the wounded cried out and held their torn bodies.
A soldier stumbled toward them. "We can't hold them," he said. "They're unstoppable."
Vaelith looked over the battlefield. Her face showed nothing. She knew the truth. Lycans were strongest under the full moon. Vampires gained power from the crescent moon. Tonight, they were weaker.
The seven got off their horses at the same time. The guard who came with them stopped for a moment, then ran to help the wounded and joined the retreating soldiers.
Vaelith stepped forward. Her gloved hands moved as if ready for the fight. The others followed.
Lucian spun his daggers in his hands. Darius drew his two swords slowly. Varian lifted his glaive and rolled his shoulders.
Selene moved quietly, her hands alive with purple light that sparked around her fingers. Kieran spoke softly as glowing signs appeared around his hands. The air shook near him.
They moved without hurry. They advanced, slow and sure. The darkness seemed to follow them, twisting the air around their path.
Among the five Lycans stood a tall one, bigger than the rest. His fur was thick and rough with old scars that showed many battles fought. His bright amber eyes stayed fixed on the seven who were coming closer. He did not blink or move.
Fenrath.
The fight continued around him. While Vaelith and her generals came forward, the Lycans kept killing soldiers and guards without pause. Some of the wounded still fought. Others did not move at all as the ground turned dark with blood.
A deep growl came from Fenrath's chest. The Lycans turned together and faced the new threat.
Then the fight began.
Steel hit claw in a storm of noise and motion. Lucian moved between strikes, his daggers flashed in the moonlight. His blades cut deep but did not stop his enemy.
Darius stood firm and struck again and again, his swords cut through flesh. But even his strength started to fade under the endless attacks.
Varian swung his glaive in wide arcs to push the beasts back. One of them slipped past his guard and struck his armor with sharp claws, forcing him to step back.
Selene's purple lightning burned through the air and struck across the battlefield. The Lycans took the hits but kept fighting. Their bodies resisted the pain.
Kieran spoke his spells, and the shadows moved around the enemies, making the ground twist under them. Even so, the magic did not hold them for long.
Vaelith faced Fenrath.
He attacked fast, his large body moved like a blur. She moved aside just in time, her clawed gloves cutting his side. Blood flew, but the wound was not deep. Fenrath struck back with a heavy blow to her ribs and sent her sliding across the ground.
She had little time to stand before he attacked again. She turned aside, her strikes were sharp and quick. She aimed for his throat, his joints, and his eyes. But Fenrath was faster than he looked. His movements were sure and strong. He caught her wrist as she swung and drove his knee into her stomach.
The fight changed.
One by one, the generals were pushed back. Lucian was held down under a large paw. Darius was forced to his knees. Varian could barely stand. Selene's lightning grew weak, and Kieran's magic started to fade under the heavy pressure.
The result was clear.
Vaelith wiped the blood from her mouth. Her body ached with pain. She could not lose, but staying alive was no longer certain.
***
The sound of bells in the distance pulled Rage from his sleep. Faint shouts came through the walls, far but steady.
He opened his eyes to the soft light of candles. The four maids still stood beside his bed, just as before. They were quiet and still. He sat up slowly. His body felt heavy but was not hurt.
"What's going on?" His voice was rough from sleep.
As always, they only smiled.
He let out a short breath and stood. The maids moved at once. One placed his coat over his shoulders and fixed the folds. Another set his collar straight. The last two closed the buttons at his chest.
One of them held out his weapons, a longsword and a curved blade. He took the longsword first and wrapped his hand around the handle.
He adjusted its parameters back to their original state, a dagger. Then he activated Dead Circuit. The weapon changed in his hand. The blade became shorter, and its weight shifted until it was once again a dagger.
He walked toward the castle doors. The four maids followed him.
Guards stood at attention, their gazes were sharp but respectful.
"Lycans attacked the kingdom," one of them said before Rage could ask.
He looked up. The sky was clear, and the full moon hung high.
He turned his eyes back to the maids.
They were no longer wearing dresses.
They now wore dark, close-fitting clothes. They looked more like assassins than servants.
Rage had not even seen them change.
The guards took them to the courtyard, where horses waited, their breath showing in the cold air. Without speaking, he took the reins and got on his horse.
The four maids followed, climbing onto their horses.
The sound of bells still echoed in the distance.
They rode toward the gate.
***
Rage came to a scene of ruin. The streets near the kingdom gate were filled with the wounded. Some cried out in pain. Others did not move, their fate was unknown. Blood covered the stones and mixed with broken weapons and armor.
From his horse, he looked over the field as they moved forward. Among the fallen, he saw a maid kneeling beside Kieran, who lay still.
She held a dagger to her own chest. Her hands did not shake even as her breathing grew weak. Without pause, she pushed the blade in. She leaned forward and pressed her lips to Kieran's, passing her life to him in silence.
Before him, she fell to the ground and did not move again. Kieran's eyes opened.
Further ahead, more familiar faces lay hurt. Varian, his armor was crushed, tried to move but could not. Darius held his side and breathed with effort. The battle had already chosen its end.
Outside the walls, Selene lay still on the ground. Vaelith remained standing, but she was alone.
Four Lycans surrounded her, their large bodies cutting off every way out. Fenrath stood before her.
At the edge of the forest, more eyes appeared in the dark. The howls that followed were not calls for help. They were cries of victory.
Fenrath had no wounds. He stood firm as he moved closer. Vaelith, covered in blood and weak, hung in his hold, lifted by his left arm.
He raised his right claw, ready to strike.
Then he attacked.
The howls grew louder until they filled the field. His claws aimed for her throat.
Rage activated Null Veil.
Something broke.
Fenrath stepped back, his attack stopped in the air. His claws, once sharp and deadly, cracked and disappeared.
Rage stood before him.
Vaelith was no longer in Fenrath's hold. Resting on Rage's shoulder, her body was weak, her breath was slow but steady. Without speaking, he set her down carefully.
The howls went quiet.
Behind him, the maids rushed forward with their blades ready. Their strikes were clean and quick. They were not there to win. They were there to get everyone out.
Two ran past the four Lycans, moving through the chaos toward Selene and Vaelith. The other two met the beasts head-on, their daggers flashing against claws and teeth. They traded fast blows, blocking and dodging with care. They were weaker, but they used every moment well.
A blade cut across a Lycan's arm, and the creature roared. Another swung low and nearly struck a maid, but she turned aside, the claws tearing only her clothes. The maids moved with calm control, never staying close for long.
Rage did not look back. His eyes stayed on Fenrath.
[SYSTEM] Fenrath Lv.94
[SYSTEM] class : Apex Beast
[SYSTEM] Hostile
The other four Lycans rushed forward. Their attacks were fast and harsh, meant not only to bring him down but to give Fenrath time.
Rage moved.
Every strike aimed to kill. Claws cut through the air, and fangs snapped close to his neck, but none touched him. He slipped between their blows, turning and moving with control.
One Lycan swung wide. Rage moved just enough for the claws to miss. His curved sword cut once. The beast fell back, holding its neck. It tried to breathe, but only a faint sound came before it dropped to the ground.
The others attacked harder.
They traded more blows. Rage took small steps and quick turns, letting them lose their balance. Another jumped at him. He caught it by the neck, his hand closing tight.
Rage sent streams of code into its body, then activated Eclipse Convergence.
The Lycan shook, dark lines spreading across its jaw. It fell to the ground, its mouth foaming and its body was jerking before it went still.
Three remained.
Another flurry of movement. Rage sidestepped, twisted past a strike, and in a single motion, his curved sword cleaved through the next Lycan's neck. The head hit the dirt before the body realized it had been killed.
Two.
The fourth attacked, rushing straight at him. It was another mistake. Rage met it in full, his palm striking its neck.
He sent codes into its body, then activated Eclipse Convergence.
The beast trembled, its spine bending in strange ways before it fell. Its body looked wrong, soft and empty, as if the bones inside were gone.
Silence settled over the battlefield.
Only Fenrath remained.
The massive Alpha stood tall and watched him with bright amber eyes. His claws had grown back, sharp and ready.
Then he spoke.
"You fight well, boy," he said, his voice deep and rough. "Even under the full moon, you fight better than Ebonwake's soldiers. Impressive."
Fenrath stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "But you do not smell like them. Your scent is from the far lands, yet there is something I know in it."
His words hung in the air, but there was no time to answer.
In the next moment, Fenrath moved. His body blurred with speed and power. He was stronger than the others. His strikes were heavy and wild, driven by raw strength. There was no pause, no wasted motion, only the drive to kill. Each swing could have broken stone. Every step carried the weight of a true predator.
Rage faced him directly. He did not fight with power but with speed and control. Each attack was avoided with smooth steps and sharp timing. Fenrath's claws missed him by inches.
Across the field, Vaelith began to move. She was weak and covered in blood. She sat against the wall, breathing hard. Her sight was blurred, but she could see him. The bodies left behind showed how easily he fought. A small smile touched her lips before she coughed blood. A maid knelt beside her and checked her wounds.
***
Fenrath kept coming.
They traded more blows. Claws cut through the air, and steel met flesh. Rage stayed just ahead, but only by a small margin. He changed his grip, set his aim, and prepared to activate Eclipse Convergence.
Nothing.
Fenrath was gone before Rage could strike. He moved too fast. Each time Rage came close, the Alpha slipped away. His movements were careful and exact. He did not try to fight with strength. He knew he would lose that way. Rage was stronger. Fenrath stayed just far enough to avoid being caught. He had seen what happened to the others and would not let it happen to him.
Then came a small chance.
Rage turned and swung his sword. The handle hit Fenrath in the throat. The Lycan gave a short cough as Rage kicked him in the chest and sent him sliding back.
Fenrath dug his claws into the ground and stopped himself from falling.
His breathing was deep and steady, but the look in his eyes grew hotter. His body tensed, and his shape began to change. Bones cracked, and his limbs bent in strange ways. His fur stood on end as he dropped to all fours. He was getting larger. He was changing.
Then, a voice cut through the battlefield.
Loud. Commanding.
The howls stopped.
The Lycans beyond the treeline stilled, ears perked, bodies rigid. Even Fenrath hesitated.
From the darkness, she stepped forward.
[SYSTEM] Serida Lv.97
[SYSTEM] class : Apex Beast
[SYSTEM] neutral
The air around her was heavy with power, a force that made even the other Lycans stop. Unlike them and unlike Fenrath, she did not fall under the full moon's control. While the others gave in to their wild forms, Serida stayed the same. Her control was complete.
She kept her human form calm against the pull that ruled her kind. It was not weakness. It showed her strength. The change belonged to her alone.
Only her arms were different.
Fur covered her forearms, and her fingers had become sharp claws. The rest of her body stayed as she chose. She was a hunter who did not need to show her teeth to show her power.
Her eyes went to Fenrath first. "You intend to kill your sister's mate?"
Rage blinked. "The hell are you talking about?"
Serida turned to him and met his eyes. "You. What are you doing in our enemy's kingdom?"
His face showed no change. "No clue what you're on about."
The matriarch tilted her head a little, watching him closely. "The next matriarch, my daughter, chose you as her mate. Yet here you are, standing with those who are our enemies."
Rage exhaled. "Politics. Great."
Her stare didn't waver. "Where did you meet her?"
Something clicked in his mind.
The resemblance. The wolf ears.
Deltia.
He remembered now. The silent assassin, her speed, the way she moved, and the moment she marked him.
Serida watched as he understood. "So, you remember," she said. "Deltia left long ago to look for a mate. She found a human instead, one who smells like nothing in this land."
She stepped closer, her eyes fixed on him. "Decide, human. Will you stand with us or against us?"
The howls in the distance stayed silent, waiting.
"We will stop the attack for now. But when the next full moon comes, we will return. We will come for you, no matter your choice."
She raised her hand once.
The Lycans followed her command.
One by one, they left. They moved back into the woods, their glowing eyes fading into the dark.
Rage stood still and watched them go, his hand was tight around his sword. That was it. No last fight, no final strike. In the stories he knew from the modern world, wars never ended like this. There was always more. A twist. A second attack.
But this time, it ended.
His thoughts were short. Vaelith was still bleeding.
He ran to her without saying a word.
Rage knelt in front of Vaelith and looked over her wounds. She was still breathing, but weak. Her skin was pale, and the cuts on her body were deep.
Kieran moved closer. His voice was calm but heavy. "We can't perform a sacrificial ritual fully if she's still alive."
Rage did not answer. His thoughts were fast.
He remembered the skill. Eclipse Requiem. He learned it after clearing the Endless Tower, right before he passed out. But he had never used it yet.
He placed his hand on Vaelith's chest. She didn't move. She was too weak to speak or react.
He opened the interface and set the value to one hundred percent, the highest possible HP. Then he activated Eclipse Requiem.
Nothing happened. Vaelith was still weak, her wounds unchanged.
He tried again. This time, he set Vitality to the max value of ninety-nine and used Eclipse Requiem once more.
Still nothing.
He realized the problem. One hundred percent of the same HP was still the same HP. Increasing Vitality raised the limit, but it did not heal the current state.
What she really needed was regeneration. But there was no regeneration value anywhere in the parameters, and even the console gave no result.
"Dammit."
There had to be something.
"Hang on."
Before he could think further, movement caught his eye. Viviane, one of the maids, stepped forward, her expression was unreadable as she prepared for the sacrifice.
"No need for that. There's got to be another way."
His mind raced, searching for anything that could work. Then a thought came to him.
Blade.
In those movies, vampires recovered when they drank blood.
Without delay, he grabbed his dagger and cut his forearm. Blood rose to the surface.
He held it out to Vaelith. "Here. Drink."
Her eyes opened slightly, unfocused. A weak smirk crossed her face. "Bold of you."
"Just drink."
Kieran stepped closer, his tone was filled with disbelief. "You have no idea what you just did, do you?"
Rage didn't look at him. "Whatever. I'm not watching another maid die for this."
Vaelith's breathing grew steady as she drank his blood. Her strength slowly returned. Color came back to her face, and her wounds began to close.
When she finished, she let out a sharp breath and wiped her lips. Then she stood, no longer weak.
The battlefield went quiet.
One by one, the remaining soldiers and the townsfolk who could still move knelt.
Rage barely reacted. He looked at the four maids. "We're leaving. Before you four find another way to get yourselves killed."
He turned to go, but Vaelith's voice stopped him.
"You are more surprising than expected... and naive, too."
Rage lifted a brow. "Yeah, whatever."
Her smirk grew.
Around them, the people watched. Not with anger. Not with fear. But with something else.
Respect.
Rage ignored them. Without a word, he walked to his horse and climbed on.
The four maids bowed to Vaelith, then followed Rage without question.
***
Back in his quarters, the candlelight flickered softly against the stone walls. Three maids stood beside his bed, silent as ever. One, however, was seated on the mattress, topless, because why not.
Rage barely paid it any mind. His hand rested against her back, eyes fixed on the interface in front of him.
The screen showed her parameters. Strength, Agility, Dexterity, Intelligence, and Vitality. Each had different values.
He started experimenting.
One by one, he adjusted the numbers, setting everything to ninety-nine. When he tried to go higher, the input boxes refused to take more digits. Two was the limit.
That should be it. Ninety-nine across the board. Strong enough. That might be the value this world accepts as overpowered.
He confirmed the change and activated Eclipse Convergence.
The command took effect.
For a moment, she stayed still. Then her breath hitched, a quiet gasp barely heard. Her body tensed, as if something unseen had moved through her. Slowly, she looked at her hands and flexed her fingers. A small shiver ran through her, but her eyes showed no fear.
Instead, she smiled.
Then, he moved on to the others, repeating the process for each one.
Once finished, a thought crossed his mind.
"What about me?"
His curiosity got the better of him.
"I wonder what my level actually is," he muttered, thinking of the system's displays, with question marks, levels, loyalty, hostility, and ridiculous numbers. He had been fine not knowing.
There was a certain peace in ignorance. Without numbers to define him, there was no limit. Every enemy, no matter how strong, was just another fight. He had nothing to compare himself to. No reason to fear being weaker. No arrogance in being stronger.
But now, curiosity gnawed at the back of his mind.
Just once.
He placed a hand on his chest and tried to pull up his stats.
A message flashed in front of him. Insufficient admin privileges.
Rage stared at the message for a moment. Then scoffed.
"Right. I half expected that."
[SYSTEM] Queen Vaelith : Loyalty 88%
[SYSTEM] Corruption : 31.0%