Howling Cavern.
Located several kilometers outside Lucas Village, nestled within a valley surrounded by towering mountains, it was a near-inaccessible deathtrap.
Yet now, under Thomas's leadership, Old John, Benjamin, and more than a dozen awakeners had arrived here.
Only Eric and four other awakeners remained behind in the village to guard Deus Initium's statue, ensuring that no harm came to it.
At this moment, behind Thomas and his group followed several young men from Colmar Village and Reinham Village.
Upon hearing that Thomas was leading a group of awakeners deep into Howling Cavern, their village chiefs had ordered them to follow from behind, to see for themselves whether Thomas truly intended to enter the depths of the cavern and confront the Vampire Baron.
Even as they trailed behind Thomas's group, fear gripped their hearts.
After all, this was the outer region of Howling Cavern. If they went any deeper, they would reach the cavern itself.
This place had long been considered a forbidden zone by the surrounding villages.
Not only did people fear to approach it, but even speaking of it was enough to make them shudder.
Children who heard the mere mention of vampires immediately stopped crying in fear.
Some of the more cowardly villagers took deep breaths, ready to turn and flee at the first sign of danger.
"Stay behind me. Today, we will wipe out the vampires once and for all and bring peace to our villages!"
Thomas swept his gaze over the awakeners behind him before leading the charge up a steep slope towards the cavern entrance.
The other awakeners followed closely behind, their spirits high.
Unlike before, they were now awakeners—no longer ordinary villagers. The elemental power coursing through their bodies filled them with endless courage.
This was also their first time facing a spellbeast head-on, making them both nervous and excited.
These vampires had slaughtered countless villagers. Today, they would finally have their revenge.
Watching as Thomas and his group climbed the cliffs and ventured down into the cavern, the villagers from Colmar Village and Reinham Village swallowed hard, their faces unusually grave.
"They… they really went in. How could they dare?!"
"Did you notice? Blacksmith Thomas looks completely different from before! He looks decades younger! And Benjamin—his build seems stronger, and there's a faint heat radiating from his body…"
"They've all changed. I'm starting to think the rumors aren't false after all…"
The young villagers exchanged nervous glances.
They particularly focused their attention on Thomas and Benjamin.
The more they observed, the more they felt that the rumors about Deus Initium descending and blessing them might actually be true.
Thomas had undergone a remarkable transformation.
The villagers following him had also become significantly stronger!
If it wasn't because of Deus Initium's blessings, then what else could explain this?
But… did gods really exist in this world?
At that moment, their faith wavered.
"Let's wait and see. These vampires aren't ordinary—especially the Vampire Baron. If they truly manage to eliminate this threat, then the rumors about Deus Initium must be true!"
The speaker, David, scanned the gathered villagers with a serious expression.
He was the most outstanding youth in Colmar Village, standing at the brink of awakening. He was considered the village's greatest hope.
Given one more year, he would undoubtedly become a tier-1 awakener.
His reputation among the villagers was high.
Hearing his words, the other villagers nodded.
Even Black Iron's awakeners had once ventured into Howling Cavern but had never returned.
If Thomas truly had the power to eliminate the vampires, then it had to be due to Deus Initium's aid and blessings.
"If they dare to go in, then we have no reason to cower. Some of us will follow while others stay here to stand by as reinforcements."
David quickly made his decision, then led a few of the bolder young men in secretly following Thomas's group.
Howling Cavern was encircled by mountains, forming a natural barrier.
The entrance to the inner cavern was pitch-black and deep, resembling the gaping maw of a demon.
Just one glance was enough to send chills down one's spine.
The moment Thomas and his team stepped inside, they felt an eerie chill wash over them—as if they had entered a frozen abyss.
As they ventured deeper, the light around them dimmed significantly.
Only the stalactites hanging from the cavern's ceiling were faintly visible.
Water dripped from above, producing an eerie drip-drip sound.
Not long into their journey, the sudden flap of wings echoed ahead.
A moment later, a bat-like creature covered in dark fur, resembling a humanoid vampire, emerged from the cavern depths and flew toward them.
It was about the size of an adult human, with massive wings radiating bone-chilling cold.
Its grotesque, wrinkled face alone was enough to send shivers down one's spine.
As soon as the creature appeared, Thomas and the others tensed in alertness.
And with its arrival, more vampires soon emerged from all directions, swarming in the air above them.
Countless crimson eyes, glowing like burning embers, fixated on them hungrily.
"Kill!"
"Leave no survivors!"
Thomas's voice was cold and commanding.
At his command, Benjamin stepped forward, his body surging with blazing fire elemental energy.
A brilliant flare of heat erupted from him, illuminating the cavern and dispelling its damp darkness.
The vampires, already mid-dive, shrieking in pain as the sudden burst of firelight bathed their pale, clammy skin.
Their flight patterns grew erratic as they struggled against the burning brightness.
Their sharp, needle-like fangs clicked together, producing ear-piercing screeches.
BOOM!
A massive fireball blasted into the chest of one vampire, exploding on impact.
The cavern filled with the sizzling stench of burning flesh, reminiscent of charred meat.
Seeing Benjamin injure the first vampire, the other awakeners quickly overcame their initial fear.
Each of them activated their Fire Ball skill.
One by one, fireballs ignited the darkness.
The vampires, lunging down like moths to a flame, were engulfed in the fiery onslaught.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Explosions resounded throughout the cavern as the spellbeasts burst into flames.
The vampires' charred, blackened corpses rained from above, lifeless and smoldering.
With the outer cavern secured, Thomas and his group pressed onward without encountering further resistance.
After an hour of continuous advancement, they reached the cavern depths.
Here, there was no light at all.
Darkness swallowed everything.
The air itself felt oppressive, and the lack of visibility made navigation almost impossible.
However, the awakeners quickly conjured small floating fireballs, illuminating their surroundings.
Then they saw it.
Bones. Skulls.
The cavern floor was littered with remains—the skeletal remnants of past victims.
Judging by the tattered linen clothing, these were people from nearby villages.
Seeing this, Old John, Benjamin, and the others clenched their fists.
Fear mingled with boiling hatred.
Thomas's face darkened.
"Be on guard. We've reached the deepest part of the cavern. The Vampire Baron… has noticed us."
At his words, Old John and the others quickly positioned themselves behind him, wary of what lay ahead.
The Vampire Baron's power was immense—far beyond their capability to fight alone.
"I, Thomas, missionary under Deus Initium, have come by divine command to eradicate the vampire scourge!"
His thunderous voice echoed through the cavern.
The sheer force of it rippled outward like shockwaves, spreading across the entire mountain range.
Even those waiting outside—the villagers of Colmar Village and Reinham Village—heard his declaration of divine will.
At that moment, their faces filled with shock and awe.
"That's Thomas's voice!"
"He actually went inside… Has he really been blessed by Deus Initium?!"
Suddenly, an ear-piercing shriek erupted from the darkness.
A massive, blood-red figure lunged forward at terrifying speed.
Thomas's pupils shrank.
"Foolish spellbeast, how dare you defy Deus Initium?!"
Without hesitation, he activated Divine Descent!