The sky turned blood-black.
Winds howled with the screams of forgotten souls. Skeleton birds circled overhead like messed-up vultures. From the mist marched Velkar's army—ghouls, bone giants, fog wolves, and... something with too many legs and a top hat.
Lucas stood on the citadel's highest wall, staring down.
"Alright," he said, "this is where we make our last stand—or first really dramatic mistake."
[System Warcast Activated™]
Welcome to: The Crimson Siege
Enemy Numbers: Too Many
Defender Morale: Shaky but fueled by snacks
Lucas's Stress Level: Somewhere between 'mild twitch' and 'internal screaming'
Side Note: You still look great under pressure, Boss.
Lucas raised his voice. "Vampires of the Citadel! This is our home! Our blood! Our really questionably built walls!"
A cheer rose—somewhat confused but enthusiastic.
"Velkar and his overstyled bone circus want to break us. But we've got something they don't!"
Mira whispered behind him, "Strategy?"
"No. Me."
"…Oh gods."
The First Wave
The undead horde slammed into the gates.
Explosions rang out.
Fireballs flew from the towers. Blood wards lit up like fireworks. Dreg accidentally headbutted a skeleton off the rampart—and cheered like he won something.
Lucas ran along the battlements, flinging blood spears from his palms. Every hit ignited a ghoul in red fire.
One fog wolf leapt over the wall.
Lucas caught it mid-air and suplexed it off the parapet.
Mira blinked. "Was that necessary?"
Lucas grinned. "Very."
[System Battle Commentary]
Kill Count: 17 confirmed (and one very confused goat)
Style Rating: 9/10 (lost a point for unnecessary spinning kick)
MVP So Far: Dreg… somehow?
Velkar's Mood: Petty Rage Increasing
On the field, Velkar raised both arms. His robe flared dramatically. Skulls hovered around him, shrieking in harmony.
"CRIMSON REJECT!" he roared. "YOU STOLE MY POWER! MY LEGACY! MY TOOTHBRUSH!"
Lucas cupped his hands around his mouth. "You left it in a cave, man! Let it go!"
Velkar launched a volley of bone javelins in reply.
Lucas dodged, barely. One shaved off a lock of his hair.
"Alright," he muttered, "now it's personal."
Mid-Battle Chaos
Mira led a strike team through the fog, carving through ghouls like a shadow tornado.
Rook stood on a tower, channeling ancient glyphs. His beard was on fire. He didn't notice.
Lila appeared behind Velkar once, stabbed him in the butt, then disappeared again.
Velkar screamed. "SHOW YOURSELF, YOU CLOAKED NUISANCE!"
Lucas, meanwhile, activated Crimson Dominion, pulling power from the blood around him.
Vampires rallied behind him, glowing faintly red. Their movements synced. Their strikes hit harder. Their jokes got funnier.
[System Alert: Bloodlink Synced – Lucian Core Stabilized]
Passive Buff: +15% Power to Allies
Style Buff: Cloak Dramatic Flow +200%
Downside: You're glowing like a cursed lamp now
New Title Unlocked: Blood General Lucas
Still Not King Though. Yet.
The tide began to turn.
Fog wolves howled and fell. Bone giants cracked and collapsed. Velkar staggered back as Lila stabbed him again—this time in the thigh.
Lucas leapt from the wall, landed in front of Velkar, and pointed a blood-forged blade at him.
"Ready to lose?"
Velkar hissed, bleeding mist. "You... arrogant child…"
Lucas smirked. "Nope. Just charismatic and extremely tired."