Turmoil in the City

The last city of the Lakman Duchy, North Wind Fortress.

At this time, the people of North Wind Fortress were in a state of panic. News of the fall of the Ember Nest in various places was strictly blocked by the "Eagle Shield," but people still guessed more or less, or received rumors.

"I... I'll tell you a secret..."

"Mesk City, Troluo City, Akan City..."

"They've all fallen."

Someone in the tavern said that he was drunk and seemed to have drunk too much.

But the drunkard was quickly taken away by plainclothes agents, and the tavern fell silent; no one dared to utter a sound.

In this atmosphere, everyone felt a sense of impending doom, and the air in the city was heavy and almost stagnant.

The city was heavily guarded, with several "Eagle Shield" checking the entrances to each important area. Anyone acting suspiciously would be arrested as a traitor.

Every household kept their doors and windows tightly shut, but Gray Robe Spy still broke into each house to search. Any unusual activity would result in a severe interrogation, or even being taken away directly.

No one knows where those so-called "traitors" were taken, and there are even rumors that they were all executed.

This created a strange atmosphere of fear throughout the city, not only the fear of the Ember Nest's attack, but also the fear of the City Guard ' rigorous searches and the fear of the unknown future.

"Damn it, where did he go?"

"It should be going that way, keep going!"

"Capture him, regardless of whether he lives or dies!"

In the dark alley, the Lang Li Bai Tiao hid in the shadows, once again evading the pursuers' search.

He wiped non-existent sweat from his forehead—as Vampire Spawn, a creature with immortality, he didn't seem to have the ability to sweat; it was just a habit.

"Has that old man gone mad? Why is he arresting people like this?"

"But this guy's time is almost up. Once my Heavenly Soldiers from the Ember Nest arrive, this vampire old man will surely be brought to justice!"

The thought of the Ember Nest crushing the Allied Forces' formidable military strength fills every Leeks player with pride.

Yeno also hid next to the trash can.

As the saying goes, "One who stays near vermilion gets stained red, and one who stays near ink gets stained black." After spending a long time with the Lang Li Bai Tiao, this former Earl has completely abandoned his so-called aristocratic reserve and become a cunning old fox lurking in the shadows.

Hearing what Lang Li Bai Tiao said, he asked with some curiosity, "You've been staying in the bunker the whole time, how do you know what's going on outside?"

Lang Li Bai Tiao chuckled, "I have a brilliant plan."

"I also know that the coalition forces sent by Old Deng were completely wiped out, and more than 30,000 of them were all turned into barbecue."

Thinking of the Battle of Trier, Lang Li Bai Tiao felt a pang of pain in his heart. He hadn't participated in such an important faction battleground mission! Many players had amassed thousands of Faction Contribution in one go, displaying their prowess on the battlefield and even building armor, while he could only crawl in the shadows of the dungeon, silently browsing the forums.

"This time I'm determined to show my skills!"

The Lang Li Bai Tiao secretly made a vow in his heart.

Yeno warned, "Don't stand here in a daze. The pursuers will find us sooner or later, and then we won't be able to escape."

"And if the situation is really as you say, Father would never have just surrendered."

"I know my father very well. He will stop at nothing to achieve his goals, to the point of being obsessive. And he has been planning this for a full century. In the past century, thousands of people have been forced to give their lives."

Lang Li Bai Tiao was taken aback, then asked:

"You mean this old man wants to pull off something big?"

"That's exactly right."

"I suspect that the citizens who were labeled as traitors were captured and made into Blood Slave in the bunker. Father must have realized that his time was running out, so he stopped hiding it and instead openly used the entire city's resources to complete his so-called great ascension."

The Lang Li Bai Tiao suddenly became eager to try. "It seems I'm going to become the hero who saves this city."

"Don't be too happy yet. Although you have faced your father directly, you do not understand his power."

Seemingly recalling some lost memories, a hint of fear appeared on Yeno's pale face.

"Lang Li Bai Tiao" said nonchalantly, "Why are you chickening out again? Is your PTSD acting up? We've been on the run for so long, do you think that old Deng can control me? Besides, I have this—"

He pulled out an exquisite metal emblem, stained with mottled blood.

[Rebellious Crest]

Quality: Special

"There was once a mage who was transformed into Vampire Spawn. He attempted to rebel against his master, so he devoted all his efforts to creating this emblem."

Unfortunately, he failed, turning into a pool of blood, and the emblem now sits quietly in the Duke's collection room, awaiting the arrival of the next rebel.

Effect: Temporarily makes the Vampire Spawn immune to its master's control.

This was found by the Lang Li Bai Tiao in the Vampire Duke's collection room with Yeno, and this piece of equipment gave him great confidence.

Yeno shook his head, a hint of helplessness appearing on his bloodless, pale face.

Do you really think you can succeed?

"I know the creator of this emblem. His name is Tris. He is the most talented mage I have ever met. He is always full of hope and passion. Even after being transformed into Vampire Spawn, he never gave up and continued to search for any way to Contend Against the Duke."

But in the end, he still failed.

A flicker of nostalgia and regret crossed Yeno Lakman's eyes, but a fleeting hint of despair also appeared.

"No, just because he can't do it doesn't mean I can't. I'm Lang Li Bai Tiao, for goodness' sake."

Lang Li Bai Tiao was speaking fluently, his tone suddenly faltered, and he only managed to utter two words.

"Holy crap—"

Suddenly, Yeno's pupils were filled with a dark crimson, his eyes devoid of any reason, and his whole body exuded a cold aura of death.

"Ascension."

"For the Great Ascension"

"All the sacrifices are worthwhile."

"Give everything—"

Yeno murmured softly, an expression of fervent joy appearing on his pale face.

At this moment, he seemed like a devout believer, about to be bathed in the blessings of the gods, unlike the rather awkward NPC he knew from the Lang Li Bai Tiao".

His body was stiff, his posture strange, as he walked toward the Duke's castle in the shadows.

The sky seemed to be stained with blood.

To his surprise, Lang Li Bai Tiao discovered that his "Rebellious Crest" was emitting a faint light, as if it were struggling to resist some powerful force.

"Did Old Deng go too far?"

"However, this seems like a good opportunity."

He hesitated for a moment, then hid the emblem in his pocket.

"Uh, for the great ascension?"

Following Yeno's strange manner, Lang Li Bai Tiao pretended to be a controlled Vampire Spawn and followed closely behind.