Chapter 4560: Conflicting Plans (Part 2)

Baba Yaga’s Harmonizer had turned an Upyr into a Vurdalak in front of many witnesses, but nobody could be certain whether that was the Upyrs’ hidden potential or just the consequence of the Red Mother’s schemes.

The Treant-Upyr going apparently mad had only muddled the waters further.

Once the story of Althika and Orpal’s other lovers became public, however, it had confirmed the wildest dream of everyone still on the fence about becoming one of the Dead King’s thralls.

Lotho had unwittingly confirmed the rumors Orpal had spread to bring more people to his side and recruit people with useful bloodline abilities he wanted to acquire through Feast Soul.

Many Awakened driven by their hunger for the power of the Vurdalak ignored Lotho’s and Lith’s warning, considering it a convenient lie.

Once an Upyr became a Vurdalak, they would become capable of producing Upyrs of their own, on top of having children who would inherit the abilities of a Divine Beast. It was great news for humans, since they had no bloodline abilities and no idea whether their race would ever find its path to evolution.

Moreover, all the members of species who found their own bloodline abilities lacking showed up in droves at Orpal’s recruiters once he revealed that the transformation into a Vurdalak would preserve and enhance their abilities.

The Dead King lied through his teeth, of course, but he assumed that by the time the truth came out, most of his cannon fodder would be dead or he would have already achieved his goal.

Orpal had no interest in recruiting humans and wouldn’t consume anyone without a first-rate bloodline ability, but beggars couldn’t be choosers.

’Quantity has a quality of its own.’ He thought. ’Even if the new batches of Upyrs are mediocre at best, with these numbers I can rack up enough victories to turn the tide of public opinion in my favor.

’After I deal a few good blows to the Undead Courts and the Council, the members of powerful bloodlines will flock to me, and I’ll have my pick of the litter. I can’t afford Soul Feasting on shit.

’I hoped I could collect an infinite number of bloodline abilities, but the scans on my life force beg to differ. I have only six empty slots left after wasting one on that gods-damned Treant, and I don’t even get to choose which bloodline ability I take with Feast Soul. I must make them count.’

’Are you okay with the plan?’ Jorl asked with a mind link.

’I need to suppress Light Soul, and Uragar must activate it as soon as he can and become a full-blooded Vurdalak.’ Akhton replied. ’Sounds easy enough.’

’If we play this well, we’ll all benefit from my transformation.’ The Book of Knowledge smiled from ear to ear. ’Once other Upyrs turn into Vurdalaks, I can claim resisting the madness is just a matter of willpower and get close to the Vurdalaks with powerful bloodline abilities with the excuse of helping them.

’I’ll feed on them, gaining their powers while also keeping them from falling into Orpal’s hands. On top of that, Jorl and the Black Throne can freely study my Vurdalak body and find a way to cure our feathered friend, or at least keep his condition under control until Orpal is dead.’

’What about me?’ Akhton grunted.

’You get to keep your sanity and body intact, boy.’ Uragar replied. ’That’s more than even our indomitable leader can say. Also, you get to play the general in Jorl’s absence and build your own faction.

’When this is over, and you go back to Verendi, an army of Divine Beasts loyal to you is going to make a big difference in unifying your homeland.’

’Assuming that Upyrs can be called loyal and don’t go insane the moment Light Soul turns into Feast Soul.’ The Bastet said. ’Still, it’s better than nothing.’

"Enough wasting time! Get a move on!" Orpal’s Chosen donned the armor of the dead Upyr-Treant and wielded his mace coated in black crystals. "Follow your unit leaders and don’t stray from your assigned flying course. We’ll assemble at the meeting point in seven hours!"

The Upyrs travelled in small groups of humanoid-sized people to avoid detection, and Moonlight opened long-distance Warp Steps leading to different points to keep anyone from triangulating Nareka’s position based on their flight path.

The trip to Garlen was long and exhausting, forcing the Upyrs to take several breaks to retain Invigoration’s full effects for the fight. Only the team leaders knew where they were going and kept the information to themselves.

"Okay, soldiers." Orpal’s clone tried his best to sound commanding, but his terrible reputation and lack of skill made him sound arrogant. "Our target is Drenghen, a city of the Gorgon Empire under the rule of Rusta the Banshee, an old friend of mine."

He snarled at the memory of the betrayal.

"This time, we’re going to raze the city to the ground before moving on to the Undead Court branch. We’re not going to split our forces and fall into another trap. We’ll play on our terms and lure the bloodsuckers in the open.

"I expect Vladion or another of Baba Yaga’s Firstborns to butt in. Don’t fight them and leave them to me. Focus on destroying Drenghen and keep your eyes peeled for the Awakened Council and Leech.

"If you spot them, sound the alarm and run. We’ve not come here to start a war, only to teach the bloodsuckers a lesson and let the rookies among you put your Divine Beast bodies to the test."

’Also, I don’t want to be forced to relocate again so soon.’ He inwardly added amid the cheers of his underlings. ’It makes me look weak, and many potential recruits might change their mind. I need a win, and a big one at that!’

The clone spread a thin layer of darkness magic as they approached Drenghen, hiding himself and the Upyrs following him from sight. That and a touch of air magic made the Corrupted Divine Beasts resemble a large passing cloud until it was too late.

This time, the Dead King’s army made no grand entrance and remained silent, letting their Source Magic spells do the talking.

Ripper Fire used fire and earth magic to conjure spires of magma that air magic turned into high-speed drills, and water magic could cool them down at any moment.

Stone lances the size of a train pierced through Drenghen’s defensive barriers before turning into magma.

A sea of fire flooded the streets, killing the passersby and setting the homes ablaze. At the same time, Shadow Hunt broke the debris of the collapsed buildings into fine grains of dust that darkness magic filled to the brim.

Air magic carried them around in a black mist that sealed both regular sight and mystical senses, while water magic allowed the small fragments to clump together and suffocate their victims.

Those who remained inside their houses burned alive, while those who escaped the expanding rivers of magma found themselves lost in the unnatural darkness of Shadow Hunt. Nobody saw them die or heard their agonizing screams.

The people of Drenghen left the burning building to escape death and found it waiting for them on their doorstep with its arms open.