A banner of Blood Knights traveled through the night. They raised the war flag of the blood-red dragon, riding nightmares emitting black smoke. All of them were legendary warriors, who, after hundreds or even more years of tempering, would become the nightmare of humanity.
In the dense forest, the Blood Knights destroyed every living thing they encountered. The nightmare horses exhaled sulfuric fumes, and among the Blood Knights, a vampire lord was escorted. He was Anark, Arkhan's subordinate, a powerful assassin, under whom countless heroes had fallen.
However, the Blood Knights were intercepted within the forest.
Three towering figures in golden helmets and red crests stood in their way: "Undead, we cannot let you pass through here."
The Blood Knights let out loud laughs, with the banner's captain laughing: "You are only three, and we are fourteen. This is an unfair battle, and we will not fight you like this! You can choose three to battle against you."
"Yes, this is indeed an unfair duel!" said a giant in golden armor wielding a huge Guardian Halberd, "Or, we can let you two."
"Ugh! Kill them!" Such humiliation enraged the Blood Knights. The banner's captain shouted, and the Blood Knights charged at the enemies with their lances.
The Imperial Guard was ready too, their golden halberds shining in the darkness.
"FOR THE EMPEROR!!!"
The Guardians' halberds pierced through the Blood Knights' chests in 0.1 seconds, golden light flowing in the forest. The Imperial Guards turned into a blur of light, shouting the Emperor's name, swearing to offer victory to the lord of mankind as their highest glory.
Gunshots and the sound of metal clashing echoed in the forest.
In just a moment, the forest under the night became quiet again as if nothing had happened, leaving only the rustling sound of wind blowing through the leaves.
...
In the morning, Morgiana was still lying on the bed, her face buried in the pillow, recalling the indecent scenes from a few hours ago, feeling both humiliated and bashful.
The curse was lifted, but her body remained very weak. The lake witch knew she would maintain this state for at least a year or two, if not several years, requiring a long time to recuperate.
Feeling weak and powerless, Morgiana could do nothing but wait for others to serve her. For the proud lake witch, this was almost unbearable, but she had no choice. It was her mistake, and she must atone for it.
After some time, the dark elf Olica, dressed in a black and white maid's uniform, came in with a breakfast tray. She placed the breakfast on the bedside, bowed, and said, "Breakfast is here, Princess Morgiana. If it's not to your liking, please let me know. I'll make you something new. If you have any requests, just tell me, and I'll convey them."
With Olica's help, Morgiana managed to turn over, still feeling utterly powerless. The lake witch noticed Olica's pointed ears and the golden rings on them, first showing a hint of hostility, then sighing.
The breakfast consisted of hot sheep's milk, toast, bacon, and fruits.
Olica, silent, stood by the bedside, serving Morgiana.
Morgiana, indeed hungry, ate a bit with perfect manners, then tried to inquire about what had happened: "This is the third-floor prayer room. How did Ryan bring me here?"
"Last night, the master carried you out from the Lady of the Lake's tower. He announced that the lady had healed your injuries. Upon seeing this, Lord Francois and Miss Sulia left," Olica calmly said.
"Who changed my clothes? I wasn't wearing this yesterday!" Morgiana continued.
"I helped you change."
"Where is Ryan?"
"Last night, Blood Knights attempted to attack the master's domain. He is currently dealing with this matter and should return soon." The dark elf maintained her indifferent demeanor.
"Then, when Ryan is free, call him here."
"Yes." The dark elf left, retreating backward, closing the door behind her. Facing Morgiana, Olica always felt scrutinized, making the dark elf uncomfortable.
Similarly, Morgiana felt uneasy. Despite losing her magic, her observation skills remained sharp, immediately understanding the dark elf's situation with a glance.
After a while, Ryan arrived, dressed in baronial attire: "My princess, feeling better?"
Morgiana blushed, struggling to speak. After calming down, she tried to ask: "What happened? Blood Knights attacked your domain?"
"Yes, but the issue has been resolved." Ryan nodded, taking a seat in front of the bed: "It could be the Blood Knights searching for you or a retaliatory attack on me, or perhaps both."
"As the lady's first chosen and a sanctuary grand witch, I am a very suitable vessel for divine and magical powers. If the vampires truly intend to resurrect Nagash, targeting me is understandable," Morgiana leaned on Ryan's shoulder, sighing, "The resurrection of the Lord of the Dead requires a significant amount of magic and a vessel capable of short-term divine possession. Now that my magic has been drained, the vampires still need my body as a vessel for Nagash's return."
"But you survived, Morgiana, that's what matters most," Ryan whispered, "Magic can be slowly recovered, but without life... there's nothing left."
"Morgiana-le-Fei, that's my full name. Don't tell anyone but the lady," Morgiana whispered in Ryan's ear, "I have a question, Ryan. Can you tell me the truth?"
"I'll do my best to answer," Ryan smiled, shaking his head.
"To save someone, do you really have to... do that with me, like last night? Suppose the person was a man? Or even an animal, would you also have to... do that with them?" Morgiana blushed, asking, "I don't dislike you. I just find it so strange. My body, which I've lived with for decades, was completely given to you. I mean, if Francois or Julius were in the same situation, could you also do that to help them purify?"
"Yes," Ryan nodded helplessly, but he quickly explained: "But I definitely wouldn't do that. I chose that method because it was the quickest, most effective, and easiest."
Ryan gestured with his hands: "Normally, if the corruption isn't severe, I have many other methods to purify. Efficiency isn't a problem because if the human body is like a castle, then corruption is like a battle between invaders and defenders. No matter who wins or loses, it takes a process. I just need to keep sending reinforcements and repairmen; corruption isn't hard to defeat."
This analogy was apt, and Morgiana nodded in understanding.
"But your case was different. Your 'castle' not only had its gates wide open but also had no defenders. So, I needed the most direct, quickest, and most effective method..." Ryan didn't continue because it wasn't necessary. Morgiana was smart; many things only needed to be said halfway.
There was another method
Ryan didn't mention: he could purify with his father, the Emperor, acting as an intermediary. The Emperor could use his supreme power to extract all life energy, and Ryan could use his purifying power to reshape a new vessel.
This was something the Lady of the Lake couldn't do. Her divine power leaned towards life, while Ryan's power was purification—when necessary, it could purify everything, including life.
"So, have you done this with several men?" Morgiana's tone was indiscernibly strange.
"Not even one!" Ryan said, frustrated, his expression twisted.
"Then, how many women have you done this with?" Morgiana continued.
"I don't understand what you're asking. If you're referring to purifying corruption and detoxifying, then you're the third. If you're talking about women I've had relations with, there are several." Ryan didn't want to continue the topic and stood up, walking to the statue of the Lady of the Lake.
"Is that dark elf also one?" Morgiana raised her golden eyebrows.
"Correct… Now, it's undoubtedly clear. The vampires intend to resurrect the Lord of the Dead, Nagash. They're trying to retrieve all of Nagash's Nine Scrolls and enough sacrifices. Based on your experience, Princess Morgiana, aside from the Nine Scrolls, the sacrifices needed for Nagash's resurrection must be like you, the first chosen of a deity or archbishops, capable of enduring short-term divine possession." Ryan turned, looking at Morgiana in a white dress leaning against the pillow: "I think, the archbishop of the Merciful Goddess must have disappeared this way, surely turned into a vampire and sacrificed to Nagash."
"Uh!" Morgiana tried to get off the bed, but a tearing pain made her involuntarily frown and almost fall. Ryan quickly supported her: "My princess, you should rest."
"Nagash's resurrection requires more than just sacrifices like the archbishop of the Merciful Goddess. At his strongest, Nagash single-handedly destroyed the Kingdoms of Nehekhara. After his first resurrection, he once faced the Empire of Charlemagne and temporarily gained the upper hand." Morgiana gestured for Ryan to pick her up, her wisdom unaffected despite losing her power.
Ryan carried her to a wooden bench and placed her down, cushioning her with two seat pads.
Morgiana's complexion was pale as she leaned weakly against the soft bench back, continuing: "For Nagash to be reborn in a powerful vessel, even the archbishop of the Merciful Goddess's body couldn't contain his corrupt and vast soul. Only the first chosen of a chief deity, with vast magical or divine power, capable of casting spells and serving as a deity's vessel for an extended period, would be the ideal sacrifice for vampires. For example… me, or the archbishop of the Church of Justice, Vikmar-Beckman, or the avatar of the Hunt God, the King of the Forest, Orion, or the 'High Ulric' Pope Matak of the War God of the White Wolf, or the first chosen of the Goddess of Life, Isha, the Eternal Queen of the High Elves, Alarielle. Their common trait is having vast magical or divine power, capable of casting spells, and serving as a deity's vessel for a longer time."
"Then, we can first exclude 'High Ulric' Pope Matak." Ryan shook his head first: "The God of the White Wolf dislikes magic. His followers almost exclusively choose melee combat. Matak indeed has Ulric's permission to summon White Wolf sacred fire to attack enemies, but he himself does not use magic, won't leave the White Wolf City, and... my princess, regardless of the target, capturing them would be extremely difficult."
"Don't underestimate vampires, Ryan." Morgiana lightly tapped Ryan with her bare foot under the dress, seemingly dissatisfied: "Vampires infiltrate the upper echelons of human nobility en masse, and the infiltration of Chaos cults is everywhere. Many times, such impossible alliances are formed, like the vampires forming an alliance with some tree spirits I encountered this time. If life and death can ally, what can't these undead do?"
"…You're not wrong, my princess. It seems we need to find a way to warn the Empire and the wood elves." Ryan pondered, standing up: "However, Morgiana, our first priority now is to ensure your safety. The vampires are definitely searching for you. You're very weak now, and if you fall into the vampires' hands again… my suggestion is for you to recuperate in my castle."
Morgiana wanted to retort, is your castle safer than the Lady of the Lake's Grand Cathedral? It's garrisoned by two hundred Grail Knights.
But after considering various factors, the lake witch nodded, agreeing. She sighed deeply: "It's best not to let too many people know about my situation, otherwise the kingdom will surely fall into turmoil. Retrieving the Potion Holy Grail must be left to you and the other Grail Knights."
"Please leave that to me." Ryan nodded, standing up: "Rest well, my princess. If you need anything, you can directly tell me, or tell Olica, she will arrange it for you."
Ryan placed his hands on Morgiana's shoulders: "Last time, you protected me. Now, it's my turn to protect you."
Morgiana's azure eyes sparkled, and she kissed Ryan's face: "Be prepared. The vampires won't give up searching for me."
"I understand."
...
When Ryan returned to the first floor, Angron had also arrived, the World Eater Gene Primarch carrying a large sack filled with Blood Knights' heads, including a vampire lord's head: "These guys were definitely targeting you."
Ryan examined the vampire lord's pointed fangs, his expression solemn: "The vampires haven't given up searching for Morgiana."
"Karsonberg! Immediately send for reinforcements from Lord Francois! Also, mobilize the troops, prepare for war!"
"Yes!"
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PS: I've seen complaints about the plot being oppressive. I want to say that in history, the vampires succeeded, the lake witch died miserably and was sacrificed.
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