Chapter 784: The Voyage to Nosferatu

The journey towards the southern coast passed almost too quickly.

Nikolai sat in the rear of the black armoured vehicle, watching the occasional streetlight flash past his window. Beside him, several armed guards sat in silence while the driver followed the convoy moving towards the harbour.

’It’s finally happening...’

He’d spent so much time worrying about Nosferatu that the thought of actually invading the place felt rather strange. There was no longer anything to organise, nor an emergency meeting that needed his attention.

Everything had been prepared.

The troops.

The transports.

Even the city’s defence.

And yet...

’Haa... I feel like I’ve forgotten something.’

Nikolai scratched his head before glancing towards the front.

"How much longer?"

"Five minutes, Patriarch."

"Alright."

His eyes returned to the window.

The distant buildings gradually disappeared, replaced by enormous warehouses, storage facilities and the occasional military checkpoint. Several armed vehicles followed along the same road, carrying the last few members of the assault team.

It was strange seeing so many people following his orders. Only a few years ago, Nikolai couldn’t have imagined commanding an operation like this.

’Well, back then I was more worried about paying the fucking bills.’

He couldn’t help but chuckle at that reality.

"Sir?"

"Nothing."

The driver looked confused but didn’t question him.

A few minutes later, the vehicles slowed as the enormous gates surrounding the southern harbour came into view.

Beyond them...

Two massive black transports waited beneath the orange glow of the floodlights.

"Whoa..."

Nikolai leaned forward.

He’d already seen these vessels during the raid, but now that the surrounding chaos had disappeared, he could finally appreciate their size and strange design.

Both ships resembled modern military transports, although their hulls were thicker and covered with unusual reinforcements. Several defensive turrets remained folded along their sides, while the decks were large enough to transport vehicles and dozens of armed soldiers.

’No wonder the bastards were difficult to steal.’

Nikolai stepped out of the vehicle.

The cold wind immediately swept across his face, carrying the familiar scent of seawater, fuel and wet metal.

However, the sound of someone shouting caught his attention.

"OI! NIKOLAI!"

"..."

He looked towards the first transport.

Ryan stood beside the gangway, waving both arms like some idiot trying to attract attention from a passing aircraft.

Beside him stood Alexei and Vernan.

’Those three...’

Nikolai smiled before approaching.

"Everything ready?"

"Almost," Alexei replied. "The engineers are performing their final checks. We’ve already loaded the equipment and supplies."

"And the assault team?"

"Seventy-two fighters, including those who passed the final selection."

Nikolai nodded and waved back. "Good, keep going."

That amount was more than enough, thanks to his wives coming too, it became the last thing on his mind.

He didn’t need hundreds of warriors charging through Nosferatu’s corridors, especially when most of the enemies inside would probably be vampires with far greater strength than an ordinary supernatural soldier.

"What about the three hundred?"

"Stationed along the southern coast," Ryan answered. "They’ll secure the docks and maintain our withdrawal route. A small communication detachment is travelling with us."

"Right," Nikolai muttered, glancing towards the distant transport. "Let’s get moving."

"Already?"

Vernan blinked at the instant response as if never expecting it. "Brother, aren’t you going to give some kind of speech?"

"...Speech?"

"Mhm."

Nikolai stared at the huge bear and tilted his head to the side with a frown.

"Why?"

"Well... we’re going into battle."

"And?"

"..."

Vernan scratched his cheek with a bitter smile on his face.

Ryan began laughing.

"Hahaha! I told you he wouldn’t bother!"

Nikolai sighed.

"Look, if anyone needs me to stand on a fucking box and tell them how amazing they are before going into battle, they shouldn’t have volunteered. We all know they’re going to die, and that’s why I just want to get it over with."

Alexei shook his head.

"Don’t be so negative, boss..."

"I just don’t want to give people too much hope, Alex." Nikolai glanced towards the warriors waiting near the transports. Most of them stood with their weapons, eagerly checking them, while others quietly joked with their companions.

Several werewolves had partially transformed, revealing sharp claws and elongated ears, while the vampires remained unusually calm beneath the pale evening sky.

"Everyone knows why we’re here." Nikolai smiled faintly. "Let’s not waste their time, and do our best to keep those foolish guys alive."

The trio watched Nikolai’s broad shoulders, each of them grinning at the other.

"He’ll definitely save them."

"Of course, Brother is weak to that kind of shit."

Ryan and Vernan hooked arms and rushed after him with smiles on their faces.

Meanwhile, Alexei slowed his pace and watched Nikolai for longer. His smile long faded into a strange expression.

"Yeah. But what if that kind of kindness means we lose him?"

With no one listening, Alexei’s words drifted off into the silent night like cigarette smoke as neither of them rushed ahead, even looking back once.

***

"Nikolai!"

A familiar voice interrupted him before he could approach the gangway.

He turned around and immediately smiled.

"Ah, there you are."

Nikita approached first, her short white hair tied into a small bun while her golden eyes sparkled beneath the harbour lights. She wore the same black bodysuit and tactical equipment from earlier, although several weapons now hung around her waist.

Selene followed a few steps behind, the blond still wearing his favourite coat but now sporting several guns and blades tucked into the various straps and pockets.

’Tsk... she really isn’t giving that back.’

Nikolai’s gaze lingered on her for a moment before he shook his head and returned to Nikita, who started pouting when he looked away.

"Oh? Darling, do you want something?"

"...My jacket."

"Hm? This one, but... I’m not wearing anything proper underneath, fufufu."

"That’s mine."

Selene smiled sweetly and flashed the front open, revealing her tight-fitting bodysuit.

"Really? I thought everything belonging to my husband also belonged to his wife."

"..."

Nikita burst out in laughter, pointing at him. "Hahaha! You should probably give up, Nikolai, that bitch is so petty when it comes to things like this."

"Excuse me?" Selene whipped out a snub-barreled shotgun, placing it against Nikita’s temple. "Does this filthy dog wish to be put down?"

"Haaah? You damn bitch, wanna go?"

The two women glared at each other, one with a shotgun pressed against her temple, the other with her sharp claws slowly emerging from her fingertips.

Nikolai stared at them.

"..."

’Are these two seriously going to start fighting before we even leave?!’

He sighed before reaching between them and pushing the barrel of Selene’s shotgun towards the ground.

"Alright, that’s enough. If you two want to fight, save it for those fucking vampires waiting on the island."

"Hmph!"

Selene turned her face away.

Nikita merely stuck out her tongue, causing the blonde vampire’s eyebrow to twitch.

"Stupid dog..."

"Bloodsucking bitch!"

"OI!"

Nikolai raised his voice.

Both women immediately stopped.

"Seriously, did you two forget we’re about to fight a bloody war? You’re both on the same side now... you’re even family, so fucking act like it!"

"..."

"..."

Nikolai ignored their pathetic expression and turned away.

Then Nikita suddenly giggled.

"Hehe, sorry, babe."

Selene lowered her shotgun before slipping it into the holster hidden beneath Nikolai’s coat. "Forgive me, darling. I couldn’t resist teasing this foolish dog."

"You’re doing it again!"

"Hahaha!"

Nikolai couldn’t help laughing at their ridiculous behaviour. Although the two constantly bickered, he knew neither would hesitate to risk her life for the other.

Honestly, it wasn’t that bad.

’They’ve been like this since I met them, maybe that’s their charm...’

He turned back and reached out, wrapping an arm around each woman’s waist before pulling them against his chest.

"Come on, girls. Let’s go home after we finish this shit, alright?"

Nikita’s golden eyes softened.

"Mhm!"

Selene smiled before placing a gentle kiss against his cheek.

"Of course, darling."

For a few moments, Nikolai enjoyed the warmth of their bodies before releasing them and turning towards the enormous vessel.

"Alright, enough flirting. Let’s get aboard!"

***

Less than thirty minutes later, the final preparations were complete.

Nikolai stood near the railing of the first transport, observing the dozens of warriors gathered across the deck. Most had already disappeared into their assigned compartments, while several officers continued checking supplies and communicating with the engineers.

The second vessel waited a short distance behind them.

"Boss!"

Alexei approached, holding a communication device.

"Everyone’s accounted for. The engineers are ready whenever you give the order."

Nikolai nodded.

"Any problems?"

"Nothing serious. Ryan’s already inside the navigation cabin bothering the crew."

"...Of course he is."

Vernan laughed from behind them.

"That little bastard’s been asking whether the ships have enough firepower to destroy Nosferatu!"

Nikolai raised an eyebrow.

"...Do they?"

Alexei sighed.

"Don’t you start, Boss."

"Hahaha!"

The three men shared a brief laugh before Nikolai turned towards the distant harbour.

Hundreds of warriors remained along the coastline, their vehicles and defensive positions illuminated beneath the floodlights.

The three hundred men he’d selected would remain there, protecting the supply depot and waiting for instructions.

’We’re really leaving them behind.’

Nikolai’s gaze lingered on the distant figures.

He hoped they wouldn’t be needed.

However, if everything went wrong, those people might become their only chance of returning home.

"Alright."

He took a deep breath.

"Tell the captain we’re departing."

Alexei nodded before speaking into his communication device.

A few moments later and...

WOOOOOO!

The ship’s horn echoed across the harbour.

Nikolai felt the enormous vessel tremble beneath his boots as the engines roared to life. Slowly, the transport began moving away from the docks, its enormous hull cutting through the dark seawater.

The second ship followed shortly afterwards.

Nikita approached his side, wrapping both arms around his waist while resting her cheek against his shoulder.

"Feeling nervous, babe?"

"...A little."

"Hehe, don’t worry. I’ll protect you."

Nikolai glanced down at her.

"Oh? My little wolf is going to protect me?"

"Of course!"

Selene joined them, her long blonde hair fluttering in the cold sea breeze.

"Then I suppose I’ll have to protect both of you idiots."

"Hahaha!"

Nikolai laughed before turning towards the distant lights of S-City.

Gradually, the harbour became smaller, and those enormous buildings that loomed over them faded into the darkness, until only a faint orange glow remained along the coastline. Somewhere beyond those lights, his children were sleeping peacefully.

His mother, father, children, Madoka, Kumiko, Anya, Leona, Amphitrite, Lunaria, Rika and Clara...

Everyone waiting for him.

’I’ll be back.’

Nikolai tightened his arm around Nikita before glancing towards the dark ocean stretching ahead. The Blood Moon hung above the horizon, its light reflecting across the restless waves.

Beyond the darkness waited the heavily armed floating island of Nosferatu.

And the bastards responsible for everything.

Nikolai’s golden eyes narrowed.

’Alucard... Franz...’

A cold smile appeared on his lips.

’We’re coming for you.’