Road to Eradication

Draven called all of the Vampires to the field, waking them from their sleep.

Of course, it was not a problem. He could call them at any time, and they would rise and follow him.

Such was the power that a Lord had.

Behind the Nocturnal Knights were hundreds of Eversleepers. Only a few had been left behind to watch over things.

The nature of the Silver Peaks would make travelling in large groups difficult, but Draven knew not to leave his Knights without backup.

"Good Evening, Knights and Sleepers." He said, addressing the large force.

The only person who did not stand in the crowd was Dracula, who instead stood beside Draven, unarmed.

The rest of the Knights stood in rows, facing towards him, wearing their weapons as he had ordered them to. The Eversleepers created larger lines behind them, equipped with weapons of their own, though weaker and less impressive.

However, one thing was unanimous among all.

Every vampire had an anxious look on their faces.

"Today," Draven Continued. "As some of you know, I was at a meeting with the leader of the humans. They call her 'The Mother' but her true name is Annabelle."

As Draven said the words, he looked at Vespera, but the woman shied away from him, dropping her gaze to the floor.

I will still need to ask her how such a thing came to be. How a vampire can be siblings with a human.

Draven ignored the topic for now and continued.

"Whilst the woman is certainly our enemy, she is not our immediate problem. Her and I spoke of the werewolves and their rise to new powers. They are a threat that can no longer live in this world. A people that must be abolished."

Shocked faces spread across the crowd.

They knew that battle would come soon, but they had no idea it would be so imminent.

The Noctaris Vampires had just been told that they would be setting out on a mission to eradicate an entire species.

"This may all seem abrupt, but I assure you that we have been left with no other choice. Lunaris has... She is strong."

He was going to mention that she had mingled with the other side. Made a pact with the broken god, according to Annabelle.

But he decided not to.

Lunaris was his problem, and he would deal with it.

All will end on the central island.

"Will the leaders step forward."

As Draven spoke the words, Lucian was the first to break from the line of knights.

He wore black robes, different from the common smart wear of the vampires. His katana was strapped around his waist.

His hair was now entirely white and combed back. A true pure-blooded vampire.

Next was Prudence, wearing her casual jeans jacket and shorts. Though on her back was no longer a wooden bow.

It was a red one of great size. A bow made from her blood.

Draven was impressed at her blood control. Everyone knew how hard it was to keep blood in a constantly manipulated state.

Expected of the third-ranking knight.

Last was Vespera. Wearing her mask to cover the lower half of her face. Her blonde hair showed from beneath a hooded robe, and her purple eyes glowed in the darkness.

Her weapons were hidden beneath her clothes. She looked like a true assassin.

"These are your leaders," Draven announced, we will split you into even groups. The Silver Peaks, home to the werewolves, is a complex of five mountains. Four of them surround the central mountain, which is where I will attack from. Where Lunaris should be."

"The rest of you... You will be striking a mountain each."

---

Draven split the Vampires into even forces.

The Nocturnal Knights in his group were Serena, as he had promised, and Florissa, the 18th ranked, who adored him.

He had the least knights in his group, as the others needed them more.

Draven would have been fine going by himself, but he knew Dracula would not have been happy with that.

Once pleased with the groups, Draven addressed them all once more.

"We travel fast, and silently, vampires. But when we reach the silver peaks, we strike loud and proud. We take no prisoners. No werewolf will be left alive!"

He spat the words out, an anger growing in him that he was not even aware of.

"And it doesn't end there," he said, earning nods from the nocturnal knights. Sleepers watched him with fear in their face, yet they respected him.

"After we destroy every living soul in the silver peaks, we journey through the rest of the werewolf villages in the north, and harvest the bloods of their settlers."

Even the Nocturnal Knights seemed frightened by his venom now. It had been years since the vampires had been under such a harsh yet capable ruler.

"There is no longer a single werewolf in Velhalla that has the right to live."

Draven finally calmed down, and once he had, he realised exactly where the anger had come from and who exactly it was directed to.

It was not to the werewolves or even Lunaris Ashwolf.

Not even Fenrir.

No.

His hatred brewed for Galvacaniva, the Broken God.

An immaterial being that felt threatened by Draven, who was merely flesh and blood.

Galvacaniva... I will show you that no matter which adversary you send for me, all will fall short of the goal you have set for them.

None are as strong as me. None have even seen the crust of my power.

But soon, Broken God. Soon.

And with nothing else to say, the Noctaris Vampires set out north, towards the Silver Peaks.