CHAPTER 17: ATTACK ON HIGH HOUSE'S STRONGHOLD

Back at Trefectaus's hidden fortress, Alexi's expression was resolute. "Before we do anything else, I have to free Marcus," he said, his voice brimming with purpose. He snapped his fingers, and in an instant, everyone with him was transported through a shimmering white portal.

Beyond the portal lay a pocket dimension, where Marcus was bound by chains. "I need three of you to come with me," Alexi declared.

"I'll come. I'm one of the strongest here," Simon said confidently.

"I'll join as well; I should be just as powerful," Yontin added, determination etched in his features.

"I will come too; I am more powerful than both of them," Maxwell said, a smug smile on his face.

"Then that's settled. Let's go," Alexi commanded, leading the way into the portal.

"Stay alert," Alexi warned, scanning their surroundings. "This place is fraught with danger."

They swiftly spotted Marcus and flew toward him, urgency propelling their movements. "Everyone take a position. We have to break these chains simultaneously," Alexi instructed.

"(1), (2), (3)....Now!" Alexi shouted, and they rushed toward Marcus's chains. With a resounding snap, the chains shattered, freeing Marcus.

"Thank you, old friend," Marcus said, rising to his feet and accepting the blue armor and red sword Alexi handed him. The armor fit him perfectly.

"Now, let's get out of here," Alexi urged, but suddenly the ground trembled beneath them. A massive figure emerged from swirling mists—a hulking beast, a guardian of the dimension, its scales gleaming like obsidian, eyes burning with inner fire. "Who dares enter my domain?" it bellowed, voice echoing ominously.

"I will take care of this. I need to stretch my muscles," Marcus said calmly, drawing his sword with lightning speed. Before anyone could register his movements, he struck down the guardian in a flash, moving so fast that Simon, Yontin, and Maxwell looked as though they hadn't moved at all.

Only Alexi followed Marcus's movements, admiration shining in his eyes.

"Come on, let's get out of here before the portal closes!" Alexi urged, and they rushed through just as the portal closed behind them.

Back in their world, Alexi introduced Simon, Kenif, Joss, Jamia, Yontin, Maxwell, and Tanya to Dragon Eye. "It's a pleasure to meet you all. My name is Marcus Millennium, but you can call me Mark," he said warmly.

"Alright, our next stop is the Kingdom of Lightmit," Alexi said. He snapped his fingers, and they appeared where the kingdom was supposed to be; however, what they found were ruins.

What should have been a happy moment for Simon and Joss quickly turned into a scene of devastation.

"Who could have done this?, Was it High House?" Joss cried, tears streaming down her face.

"No! This was the work of the Vampiric High Order," Simon growled, clenching his teeth in anger.

"How can you be sure it's them?" Kenif asked, concern etched on his face.

"I know because this f**king red robe I'm holding is one of theirs," Simon said, lightning crackling around him.

As the group stood amidst the ruins, the reality of their situation settled in. The ashes of Lightmit whispered tales of lives once lived, a haunting reminder of the cost of their battle against darkness.

"We need to regroup and form a plan," Tanya said, her voice steady as she anchored the group. "If they've taken Lightmit, they won't stop there. We cannot let them continue to do as they please."

"Agreed," Marcus said, his expression serious. "The vampires will seek to consolidate their power. We must act swiftly before they can fortify their position."

"What do we do?" Joss asked, her eyes still glistening with unshed tears. "How can we fight against them when they've already proven their strength?"

"Have you forgotten? I run Trefectaus, the assassin's guild," Alexi said, snapping his fingers. Suddenly, fifteen thousand assassins appeared around them.

"Alright, men! Today is the day we take down High House! When you see the enemy, do not hold back!" Alexi shouted, drawing his sword. "Trefectaus exists to crush High House, and crush them we shall! March onward!"

As they approached the High House stronghold, hesitation vanished, and the assassins attacked, cutting down vampires and magic users alike.

Alexi led Marcus, Simon, Joss, Kenif, Jamia, Yontin, Maxwell, and Tanya into the building, where they found Dracula sipping blood mixed with wine from a glass.

"Where are the council members, and who the hell are you?" Marcus demanded, drawing his sword.

Dracula turned, his sneer chilling. "The council members are gone, but they left me in charge of High House."

"Tell me where they are, or die in their place," Marcus growled, gripping his sword tightly.

Dracula frowned. "I've heard enough of your insolence! I don't know how you did it, but two of my children are working with you, but not for long. Obey my orders—kill them!" he barked to Maxwell and Yontin.

Under some unseen control, Maxwell and Yontin lunged at jamia and Simon, unleashing their abilities, then fifty more vampire's appeared and started attacking as well.

Snap out of it sir yontin. Jamia cried.

"Enough!" Marcus shouted, rushing forward in a flash. He struck down the fifty vampires with lethal precision before turning his attention back to Dracula, his expression unwavering. "If you don't tell me where the council members are, I have no further use for you."

With that, Marcus lunged at Dracula, his sword glinting in the dim light. In an instant, the vampire lord fell, lifeless, to the ground.

As Maxwell and yontin came back to their senses they started apologizing.

In the aftermath, the group stood over the fallen form of Dracula, a heavy silence settling among them. They had struck a blow against the darkness, but the battle was far from over.

"Now then we need to find the council members and kill them as well," Alexi said, his voice steady despite the chaos around them.

"Then let's get started," Marcus said, a fierce glint in his eyes. "We'll show them that we are not pawns in their game anymore."

But before they could strategize further, a vampire leaped out of the shadows, sinking its fangs into Tanya's neck. Reacting swiftly, she killed the vampire in one fluid motion, but it was too late; her body had already begun to change. Her green eyes began to flicker, now tainted with a shade of red. Her once angelic white wings transformed into crimson red, a gruesome reminder of the curse that had taken hold.

"No! Tanya!" Joss screamed, rushing to her side, but Tanya's expression was blank, her body wracked with the pain of transformation.

"I'm...I'm still me!" Tanya gasped, clutching her throat, the remnants of her humanity fighting against the dark influence. "I won't give in!"

Being a vampire himself, Maxwell stepped forward, hugging Tanya in a desperate embrace. "Don't try to fight the transformation; otherwise, it will consume you," he said, tears running down his face, his heart aching for her suffering.

As the group stood in stunned silence, the air thick with despair and uncertainty, they realized that their fight was far from over. The shadows of the fallen realm loomed larger, and every victory came at a steep price.

With resolve forged in the crucible of loss, they prepared to face whatever darkness lay ahead. "We will find the council members and stop them," Marcus vowed, his voice a steady beacon of hope amidst chaos. "Together, we'll fight—and we will not fall."

As they gathered their strength and resolved to press on, the echoes of the past lingered, whispers of the battles yet to come. They were warriors, bound by loyalty, forged by fire, and together, they would defy the shadows.

To be continued...