The Darkness Stirring / A Desperate Battle Royale

"The Pharaoh is the ruler of the earth, and all things on earth belong to the Pharaoh, such as tableware and lamps. Everything was created to serve the Pharaoh. Therefore, all things under his rule are of equal value, and there is nothing that can be distinguished as superior or inferior."

The battle for the beds has already revealed the strengths and weaknesses of the participants, but these powerful forces are only occupying one bed each and not yet engaging in direct confrontation.

At 2 a. m., all the lights in the accommodation area were turned off, and the players went to sleep to rest and recuperate for tomorrow's battle.

Wearing the silk pajamas he had brought and a nightcap to protect his hair, Gordolf lay down on the bed and fell fast asleep.

Someone used some means to quietly open the door and made a silent attempt to walk towards the bed.

All I saw were two beams of red light coming towards me.

Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that it was actually a pair of eyes, whose owner appeared to be hanging upside down from the ceiling. The way they were looking at him was as terrifying as a hungry wolf eyeing its prey.

The newcomer tried to retreat, but before he could make a sound, he was pulled into the darkness by the owner of the red eyes and remained motionless, as if he had vanished into thin air.

A strong wind swept through the sky, scattering a dark cloud. Under the clear moonlight, it was revealed that half of the dormitory room was stained with a layer of blood red. The white sheets and the bed underneath seemed to be dripping with some sticky liquid.

Camilla, or more accurately, Elizabeth Bathory in the later stages of her career, who was in the same room, had also shed her daytime attire and revealed her true self. Wearing only a red bathrobe, she was leaning against the bed on the balcony, gazing at the full moon outside the viewing window, and leisurely swirling the red liquid in her wine glass.

A subtle smile played on her lips, as if mocking ignorant humanity.

At this moment, the room, which should have been full of twenty people, now only had three people left. No, to be precise, besides Gordolf who was still fast asleep, there were only two monsters left.

Vlad the Impaler, who had been silent all day, pretending to sleep in his chair, revealed his terrifying power as the Vampire King Dracula for the first time after nightfall. Every enemy who stepped into the room was killed by him in an instant, and the lifeblood of strong humans was absorbed into his body, becoming the source of his power.

At this moment, Vlad the Impaler was hanging upside down from the ceiling, his hands and feet had grown sharp nails that seemed to have lengthened by more than ten centimeters, his body had become enormous, and a pair of black fleshy wings had grown from his back, making him a monster resembling a giant bat about two and a half meters long.

Camilla and Dracula, Elizabeth and Vlad the Impaler —these two Servant, though from different eras and countries, shared similar backgrounds because their areas of activity were surprisingly close throughout their lives.

Both women came from high-ranking military families. Elizabeth's family was the first family of the Kingdom of Hungary and had blood ties with several royal families.

Speaking of Elizabeth Báthory, she was the most beautiful woman in 16th-century Hungary. Her uncle was the Prince of Transylvania, and her maternal uncle was the King of Poland. Her family was extremely powerful at the time, and it is said that they were even wealthier than the King of Hungary. Her status was so high that she was able to have the husband of her son, the prime minister, take her surname.

Vlad the Impaler was a 14th-century Romania Grand Duke, the patron saint of Christianity, who defended the front lines against several invasions by the Ottoman Empire, which represented Islam.

Of course, besides being Christians who fought against the infidel Ottoman Empire and learning martial arts for battlefield combat, they also have a great commonality: they are both vampires.

Vlad the Impaler, whose name literally means "Child of the Dragon," is considered a vampire because he was known for his penchant for impaling prisoners and criminals and for going mad after seeing blood on the battlefield.

Elizabeth Báthory enjoyed bathing in the blood of young girls to maintain her youthful beauty. After this was exposed, she was severely punished by the King, not out of justice, but because the King of Hungary owed the Báthory family an enormous debt that he could not repay, and also because he coveted the vast lands that Elizabeth possessed.

Through the machinations of certain individuals, Elizabeth's crimes were widely publicized, and the story spread like wildfire, eventually leading to her being labeled a monster named 'Camilla.' Over time, she became the representative figure of female vampires.

In this world, vampires are generally recognized as members of the blood-sucking race, beings with a blood-sucking urge. Generally, vampires are mostly Dead Apostle. However, Dead Apostle are monsters that exist in reality, while these two Servant are Servant formed from the collective imagination of humanity.

In fact, within the Throne of Heroes, there are also Elizabeth and Vlad the Impaler who do not exist as vampires.

The existence of vampires began to spread widely in the last century through movies and TV series. Their abilities have also been continuously enhanced. From the initial image of being afraid of sunlight and turning to ash when exposed to it, they have gradually become a new species that is immortal and likes to fall in love with humans and have children.

Today, vampires have become one of the most popular and powerful monsters in the minds of humans, and may even be considered to be on par with gods or high-ranking Dragon species.

Of course, achieving this level of power comes at a price.

When Vlad the Impaler was first summoned, he was a majestic and proud king. However, after everyone explained everything to him, he took responsibility voluntarily.

"If it's to protect this world, then I wouldn't mind sacrificing one of my lives, or a hundred."

So the Magecraft of the European Union joined forces to put Vlad the Impaler into a state of extreme Mad Enhancement. As a result, Vlad the Impaler lost his ability to speak, but in return, he gained the immense power of the Vampire King.

As Servant, all of his attributes are at an A level except for Luck, which is D. His Strength and Dexterity are A+. He can maintain infinite stamina as long as he absorbs blood, and he also has a stealth ability that is just as troublesome as Assassin.

It has the ability to vaporize, lurk in the shadows, and transform its body into a swarm of bats or other animals made of blood, among other abilities.

Darkness would be his absolute domain; blood stained the room. Driven by instinct, the crazed vampire roamed the enclosed space, reaping his prey, starting with the weakest...

In the dark corridor, within the shadows, a silent Black Mist crawled along the ground. Those who hadn't managed to get a room were lying drunk in the living room, fast asleep beneath the bodies of others.

Then, hundreds and thousands of black spear tips shot upwards from the ground. The resentment, fear, and blood of the slain were absorbed by the black mist, becoming nourishment for the monster.

A person let out a mournful cry, then was pierced through the body and hung in mid-air.

At this moment, Shirou was lying on the ceiling beam in the living room, quietly watching this scene unfold. The black mist continued to wander and linger on the floor, searching for its prey. After circling the living room, it drifted into the dormitory corridor.

The assassins lurking nearby secretly breathed a sigh of relief. They had remained vigilant, refraining from drinking alcohol, and some had even avoided touching the food provided at the event, suppressing their urge to eat. They didn't care if others mocked them as cowards; now, facts proved that their restraint was the wisest choice.

As long as I can save my life, it's all worth it.

Shirou closed his eyes and continued to rest, soon breathing softly and evenly. This was war, and the people here were all soldiers, destined to die for their lives; if not today, then tomorrow. He wouldn't try to stop it, nor could he.

He has a goal, and for that goal, he can give up everything else.

The black mist drifted away again, spreading towards the passageway where the Tower to the Sky employees were located.

"Evil spirits, begone! This is the safe haven of us Tower to the Sky employees. You are not allowed to take another step!" The newcomer was none other than the bunny girl with the frilly haircut. No, she had now dropped her disguise and was actually Qin Liangyu, the famous female general of the Ming Dynasty in China!

"Roar!" The black mist dissipated only after encountering the dazzling white light emanating from the white-handled spear.

This female general stood guard here like a angel, protecting the employees Tower to the Sky.

Chapter 470 The Restless Darkness

The horizon where the sea meets the sky has become a very common sight in this world. In urban seaside areas, all buildings with more than ten stories become sea-view properties, but if the terrain is lower, buildings with fewer than ten stories also become part of the sea view.

The cars parked in the basement and on the highway are now forever submerged tens of meters below the sea, where seaweed grows and the fish keep them company.

For the residents outside the Tower to the Sky, what they needed most for transportation was not a car, but a boat.

On the first floor, in the staff passageway, stood a black-haired female general, her slender figure leaning on a white-handled spear, her body and weapon forming a straight line. Her imposing presence was like a mountain.

The long passage, several meters wide, seemed to be solidified by piles of rocks wherever she stood. There were no gaps, and no tremor could shake it in the slightest. The silver tip of the spear emitted a faint light, radiating a solemn and sacred glow in the air, a light that no one could violate.

The light might not be particularly intense, or at least not dazzling, but anyone who saw it could not underestimate the power of the spear. This light demonstrated the female general's determination: no matter how powerful the enemy, she would hold her ground here until death.

It was this radiant belief that allowed her gun to repel the danger from the darkness and dispel the fog.

Meanwhile, in the Far East of Japan, the sun had already risen above the horizon, illuminating the land. Its golden rays were reflected in the waves of the sea. Only then did the employees on the first floor of the Tower to the Sky begin to wake up.

Inside the dormitory, after I finished washing up, someone came out from there.

First, someone walked out of the passageway and saw a woman standing there. Upon closer inspection, they realized it was their boss and exclaimed in surprise.

"Ah! Minister Qin? You've arrived so early?"

"Good morning," Qin Liangyu nodded and greeted with a smile.

Good morning! I'll go wake everyone up now.

"No need, you can just do what you usually do. I'm just taking a walk here a little earlier than usual. I still have some troublesome work to do afterwards, so please go and have your meal," Qin Liangyu said, stopping them from leaving.

"Yes!" the other person replied, and walked towards the staff canteen.

"Little Liangyu, you are such a good person. You stayed here until dawn so that others could sleep peacefully," Jing Ke said with a sigh, putting his arm around Qin Liangyu's shoulder.

Perhaps she wasn't a first-rate military general, but as a leader, her spirit of loyalty and righteousness made her fearless of any demons or monsters.

"This is my duty. All I have ever pursued in my life is loyalty and righteousness. Once I have sworn allegiance to someone and received their recognition, it is a debt I must repay with my whole life. No matter who it is, once the contract between a subject and his servant is fulfilled, that person can never betray me for all eternity," Qin Liangyu said.

"I'm telling you," Jing Ke said, "While what you do is respectable, don't you find it a bit strange that you follow orders so blindly? We've already died once, so there's no need to follow the same rules as before, is there? After all, you weren't loyal to the guys at the top of this tower, were you? How about living a little easier? After work, we should enjoy life more." Jing Ke spread his hands.

"Shut up, Jing Ke! Such treasonous words! If you were alive, I would have already cut off your head. But if you continue, I can't guarantee that I won't disobey the lord's orders and execute you on the spot!" Qin Liangyu said angrily.

The carefree and chivalrous Jing Ke and the meticulous and serious Qin Liangyu, though from the same country, have vastly different, even opposite, personalities.

Just as Qin Liangyu could not persuade Jing Ke, perhaps the free-spirited Jing Ke would never understand Qin Liangyu's loyalty and righteousness.

There is a kind of death called "when the ruler commands the subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die." There is a kind of loyalty called "unwavering until death."

If the lord or Emperor you serve is right, then you should carry it out to the utmost without any sacrifice. If the emperor does something wrong, then you should offer honest advice.

If the emperor does not listen, leading to the decline of the dynasty, unrest, or even its destruction, then they will fight to the death to defend the city and suppress the rebellion, even if they are powerless to do so.

If this angers the emperor and he orders me to die, then I will die; what harm is there in that?

Whether the emperor is a wise ruler or not, or whether he is worth serving, once the decision to pledge allegiance to him is made, none of that matters anymore.

This unwavering loyalty remained unchanged even when she was Servant. If she swore an oath to serve her Master, she would maintain the same loyalty and devotion.

The only regret is that this kind of selfless loyalty often doesn't yield good results.

For various reasons, she is not very famous in China now. On the one hand, as a national hero, even someone as famous as Yue Fei was censored for the sake of the unity of the Chinese nation. On the other hand, she fought against several peasant uprisings against the Ming Dynasty, and at a certain special period, she was considered an enemy of the people.

Therefore, in the face of the prevailing trend, we have no choice but to make concessions.

Although she is now forgotten due to historical reasons, this is similar to the principle of avoiding certain topics in different dynasties. History will eventually give her justice in the future.

However, this does not mean she was not strong. She was the only female hero in Chinese history to be recorded in the biographies of generals and ministers, with detailed accounts. She rose to the rank of Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent, lived to the age of 75, fought for her country without ever retreating, and was posthumously granted the title of Marquis.

The Sichuan White Pole Soldiers, which she commanded, were a special force that had repeatedly defeated Nurhaci and was proficient in mountain warfare. Even after Zhang Xianzhong, who created the Seven Killings Song, rose to power, he still had to avoid her. In the Late Ming Dynasty, they were a powerful army comparable to the Qi Family Army left behind by Qi Jiguang.

For a woman to maintain a respectable record in an environment rife with rebels, collaborators, and incompetent allies, ranking at least among the top ten generals of the Late Ming Dynasty, is truly remarkable.

In fact, her integrity as a soldier ranks among the best of the many loyal ministers and generals in Chinese history. Her loyalty and righteousness moved heaven and earth. Of the five poems that Emperor Chongzhen left behind, four were written for Qin Liangyu.

His title of Marquis of Loyalty was truly well-deserved.

Therefore, she would not allow Jing Ke to say anything bad about the lord she served.

"What? What are you two ladies talking about?" At this moment, someone came over and interrupted their conversation. Yan Qing, who had been drinking and spending the night with King Lanling, walked over with his arm around him.

"No, it's just a trivial matter," Qin Liangyu said.

However, Jing Ke didn't seem to want it to end like this. She smiled and said, "Ah~! We were actually arguing about whose personality is more likable."

"I actually prefer Sister Jing Ke's forthright and generous style. We drank and ate heartily together, living a life of unbridled joy and sorrow. The days I spent on the mountain before I died were the most enjoyable. I can't even bear to think about the days after I was granted amnesty," Yan Qing said with a bitter smile.

King Lanling said, "I am a soldier. If we consider the principles of military campaigns, having a loyal and reliable ally like General Qin is the most reassuring thing."

"What? Are you going to judge me and Xiao Liangyu? Should we give them a score or something? It seems all men are the same, really?" Jing Ke didn't say this before he died, but just teased the two of them.

"No, Lan-chan means a woman of respect, like one's mother in the family," Yan Qing said with a smile, waving his hand.

"No! I'm truly sorry, that was absolutely not what I meant," said King Lanling, clasping his hands in a fist salute.

Although Qin Liangyu was dressed as a young girl with a bun hairstyle, she possessed the broad-mindedness of a commander.

"It's alright. I treat all the soldiers around me like my own sons. Although I arrived here when I was young, I also have memories of being a mother. Although I wasn't able to take good care of my son, and he had to travel with me to the battlefield when he was very young, the days we spent together still feel very warm whenever I think about them."

"Being a mother... giving birth to Monkey, I've never tried that. I died before I found a good man." Jing Ke tapped his chin with his right finger, rolled his eyes, and suddenly became quiet, speaking thoughtfully.

Qin Liangyu's husband's family was a military family that could be traced back to Ma Yuan, Ma Yuan hero of the Eastern Han General Fubo. Her own brothers all died on the battlefield. She lived her whole life, and even in death, she died. However, she lived to the age of 75, which was considered a long life at that time.

Jing Ke, a wanderer who went abroad and never returned, was still very young.

"Ake..." Qin Liangyu looked at the carefree woman, never expecting her to have such an expression.

"I heard the Holy Grail can create a real physical body, how about we find an opportunity? By the way, does childbirth hurt? How about we have one to play with, Little Liangyu?" At this moment, Jing Ke hugged Qin Liangyu from behind, touching her slender belly, and asked curiously.

Smack!

Qin Liangyu felt all her previous worries had been wasted. She slapped Jing Ke's hand away and said, "Alright! It's almost time for us to get to work. The outside is almost ready; it's time for the contestants to enter."

"Tsk..." Jing Ke waved his hand, which had been slapped red, and curled his lip.

"Oh, that big Western monster from last night, although it was quite bloody when it ate people, it was surprisingly clean. Just like in the legends, it became much more well-behaved after sunrise," Yan Qing said with a smile. As the person in charge of intelligence work, he had actually seen everything.

After that, Qin Liangyu and Jing Ke changed back into their bunny girl business attire and arrived at the high platform in the center of the venue. The people who had been summoned there seemed to have noticed something amiss.

Compared to last night, the number of people standing here has decreased significantly, by a third. However, there is no time left for them to investigate this mystery.

The bunny girls announced directly, "Everyone sees this door, right? Inside is a staircase leading straight to the top of the tower. As long as you go through this door and reach the top of the tower, you'll pass."

"To answer everyone's questions, I can only tell you that the competition actually began the moment the doors closed last night. The contestants only need to reach the top of the tower to win. There's not much time left, so please get moving!"

The door was narrow, leading to a single spiral staircase that led upwards. One side had a black iron railing, and the walls appeared to be enclosed by a special type of steel.

"Alright! Let's begin! Any method, any means, whether it's a brutal fight or a race to escape. The thrilling and exciting performance is sure to be a hit with the guests! The battle royale begins! Let's set off with the goal of reaching the top of the tower!"

Is this an attempt to incite us to kill each other?

"This is getting a bit bad, isn't it? There are experts here who are particularly skilled in this kind of combat?" A member of the aristocratic faction looked at the group of assassins who had their heads covered.

With a whoosh, the assassins all started running simultaneously, sprinting towards the open door.

"Huh? Why did they all run away?" the nobleman asked, puzzled.

"Anna, Sakura, this way." Shirou quietly met up with the girls and led them through the crowd towards the gate.

"Yes... but where did my sisters go? This morning, they went out bickering together." Sakura looked around in confusion and said helplessly.

At that moment, strange, shifting sounds emanated from around the venue.

Creak, creak, click, click—the mechanisms on the first floor of the Tower to the Sky were in motion, shifting and changing everywhere. The glass walls on all sides of the hall were either drawn with curtains or closed, making the surrounding space increasingly dark.

"Shirou, do you want to fight?! Let me freeze this door right now! Let us lead the people and fight to the death with that dark ghost of Romania who was once a German lackey! Now is the time to start the defense of Saint Petersburg!" Anastasia released cold air from her hands and slapped the wall by the door. Wherever her small hand touched, a layer of ice immediately appeared.

She looked eager to try, which befits a girl who once had the opportunity to become the Tsarina of a warrior nation.

Chapter 471 The Great Battle