The castle walls trembled as the sound of the approaching beast horde grew louder. Lucas stood by the crumbling battlements, staring out into the forest. The trees swayed as if they too sensed the danger coming their way.
"Fifty beasts, at least," Mira reported as she walked up beside him, her sword already drawn. "Some are stronger than the others, but we've faced worse, my Lord."
Lucas gave her a side glance. "We've faced worse? What, do you mean before I was born or…?"
Mira smiled faintly. "Before you fell asleep, my Lord. You were a mighty warrior. But now... you're different."
"Yeah, I feel that too," Lucas muttered, rubbing his temples. "New body, new powers, and none of them come with instructions."
A shout broke through their conversation. "They're here!"
Lucas turned to see the vampires in the courtyard already scrambling into position. Some were trying to fix the broken barricades, others were rushing to sharpen their weapons.
He clenched his fists, feeling the new power surge through his veins. His vampire instincts kicked in, his senses sharpening, but his mind stayed clear. Focus on the plan, not the bloodlust.
He closed his eyes for a moment. When they opened, a strange display appeared in his mind, glowing faintly with blue letters.
---
[System Activated]
Host: Lucas, Ancestor of the Crimson Bloodline
Level: 1 (Progress: 0%)
---
Allies:
Mira (Personal Guard)
Level: 12
Power: Shadow Strike, Vampire Blade Dance, Blood Shield
Elder Cale (Clan Leader)
Level: 7
Power: Earth Manipulation, Regeneration
Enemies:
Dire Beast
Level: 9
Power: Claw Frenzy, Rage Boost
Alpha Beast
Level: 14
Power: Alpha Roar, Enhanced Strength
Lucas blinked in surprise. What the hell? His vision flickered, showing the status of his allies and enemies in real time. He could even see their powers listed in neat little boxes.
"Alright, listen up!" Lucas called out, his voice cutting through the chaos. "We've got two options: wait here and get overrun, or we take the fight to them. We'll fight, but we'll fight smart."
The vampire warriors stopped and looked at him, waiting for further instructions.
"We'll need to use the forest as cover," Lucas continued. "Divide into two teams—one will set traps along the edges, the other will draw them in. We'll use the terrain to our advantage. I'm not letting any of you die today. Got it?"
The vampires nodded, murmuring to each other as they formed teams.
Mira raised an eyebrow. "You really think this will work? With no city, no walls… only the forest?"
Lucas grinned, a spark of confidence flashing in his eyes. "I don't need walls, I need brains. And I've got a whole lot of those."
---
As the vampires dispersed to set up, Lucas moved to the edge of the castle, where the shadows were thickest. He could feel the magic in the air, a strange, unfamiliar power pulsing within him. The vampire bloodline had gifted him a power he hadn't fully unlocked yet—his senses, his strength, everything was enhanced.
But there was more. Somewhere deep inside, he felt an ancient, sleeping magic stir. His ancestor's memories were trying to wake up, but Lucas wasn't sure he was ready for that. I've got to keep control... I'm not some monster.
He steadied his breath and closed his eyes, focusing on the task at hand.
---
An hour later, the battle began.
The first wave of beasts—fierce, massive creatures with claws like daggers—charged into the forest, directly into the traps Lucas had set. Explosions of sound rang out as the traps went off, disorienting the horde.
"Now!" Lucas yelled.
The vampire warriors struck with deadly precision, catching the monsters off guard. Mira led one group, cutting down beasts left and right, while Lucas himself took the front, his newly enhanced speed allowing him to weave between the creatures, slashing and dodging.
His senses were sharper than ever, and he realized just how powerful his bloodline was. Each swing of his sword felt effortless, and each kill came with a rush of energy.
As he struck down a Dire Beast, a small blue screen appeared in his vision:
---
[Dire Beast - Level 9 - Defeated]
+10 EXP
New Skill Unlocked: Bloodlust Surge
---
Nice, Lucas thought with a smirk. This is definitely useful.
But there was a problem: the beasts were endless. For every one they took down, two more seemed to appear from the woods.
"We need to fall back," Mira shouted, her breath heavy. "They keep coming!"
"No," Lucas said, looking around. "We're not running. We're taking control."
He raised his hand high, his fingers crackling with dark energy. The air around him thickened with power.
"Everyone, fall back to the castle!" Lucas commanded, his voice booming. "But make them follow us. We're going to turn this fight around."
The vampires retreated into the castle, luring the horde after them. Lucas stood in the front, his eyes glowing as the first few monsters entered the castle courtyard.
He smiled.