CHAPTER 11: THE ULTIMATUM REJECTED

Lucas stood in front of the newly completed Death Amphitheater, watching three figures walk toward the gates of the Night Crypt. Envoys from the Alliance of Light—clearly evident by the gleaming white armor they wore and the golden sun emblems on their chests.

"Just in time," Lucas said in a flat tone, but his black eyes gleamed with terrifying anticipation. "They have come to hear my answer."

Selena emerged from behind a stone pillar, her graceful movements making no sound at all. "My King, should I prepare a... special welcoming feast?"

Lucas raised his hand, signaling Selena to wait. "Let them come closer. I want to see their expressions when they realize this is no ordinary diplomacy."

The three envoys stopped in front of the main gates of the Night Crypt. The one in the middle, a blond man with steely blue eyes, stepped forward with a confidence that was about to shatter.

"I am Sir Gareth Lightbringer, envoy of the Alliance of Light," his voice echoed with practiced power.

"I come to accept the surrender of Lucas Nightveil’s territory."

Lucas laughed—a sound that sent the birds in the surrounding forest flying away in fear.

"Submission? Have you come to the wrong place, Sir Gareth?"

Sir Gareth’s eyes narrowed as he took in the new structures surrounding the Night Crypt. The Torture Altar emanating black smoke, the Slave Graveyard with its chains vibrating on their own, and the Death Amphitheater emanating a terrifying aura.

"What have you done?" Sir Gareth said, his voice beginning to lose its composure. "These structures... these are abominations."

Lucas stepped off the platform with a casual but deadly movement. "Abominations? This is art, Sir Gareth. The art of true power."

The second envoy, a woman with piercing green eyes, raised her hand. "Lucas Nightveil, in the name of the Alliance of Light, we issue a final ultimatum. Surrender your territory, or—"

"Or what?" Lucas interrupted in a tone as cold as ice. "You will destroy the Night Crypt? You will defeat me with fifty cowering Lords?" He stopped right in front of them, his dark aura making the air around him vibrate.

Sir Gareth took a step back, instinctively realizing that they were in danger. "We come under diplomatic flags. You must not—"

"Must not what?" Lucas said, raising his hand. "Must not kill the envoys? Must not show your alliance what happens to those who oppose me?"

[System Alert]

Hostile diplomats detected

Recommended action: Eliminate witnesses

Potential gain: +Terror Reputation, +Alliance Intelligence

Lucas read the notification with a smile that made the reality around him tremble. "The system even recommends killing you. How interesting."

Selena appeared behind the three envoys at a speed that was beyond human sight. "My King, shall I begin the show?"

The third envoy, a young man with brown eyes filled with fear, reached for his weapon. "This is a violation of the laws of war! We are envoys—"

Lucas raised his index finger, and the young envoy suddenly stopped moving. His entire body was as stiff as a statue, only his eyes could still move with deep fear.

"The law of war?" Lucas said as he walked around the three envoys. "In my territory, I am the law. I am war. And you..." he stopped in front of Sir Gareth. "You are the message."

Sir Gareth tried to raise his weapon, but his hands were shaking violently. "You... you are a monster."

"Monster?" Lucas looked Sir Gareth straight in the eye, and the man immediately fell to his knees.

"No, Sir Gareth. I am the nightmares that you yourself created."

With a swift movement, Lucas grabbed Sir Gareth by the throat and lifted him into the air. Supernatural power flowed from his hand, not only strangling him, but also sucking the life force from the envoy.

"Selena," Lucas said without releasing his grip. "Prepare the Death Amphitheater. We are about to give you our first show."

Selena approached, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "My King, would you like me to make them... last longer?"

Lucas threw Sir Gareth to the ground with a force that shattered several of his ribs. "No. I want them to die with a spectacle. Something that would give Alexander Brightshield nightmares."

[System Alert]

Death Amphitheater activation available

Required: 3 victims (Available: 3 Alliance diplomats)

Estimated audience: Darkblood Sentinels, Vampire Queen

Projected outcome: +500 Dark Energy, +Terror Reputation

Lucas read the notification with deep satisfaction. "Perfect. We will be using the amphitheater for the first time."

The three envoys were dragged into the Death Amphitheater by the Darkblood Sentinels. The circular structure began to tremble, and from its walls began to emerge an audience—shadow figures who would witness the spectacle of death.

"Please," the female envoy said in a broken voice. "We were just following orders."

Lucas sat down in a chair that rose from the ground, positioned like a throne on the highest stand of the amphitheater. "And I, too, am following orders. The orders of my own nature."

Selena stood beside Lucas, her hand on the Lord’s shoulder with a gentleness that contrasted with the cruelty that was about to occur. "My King, how do you want them to die?"

Lucas stared down at the arena where the three envoys were placed. "Slowly. Very slowly. I want every second of their death perfectly recorded."

The arena began to change. From the ground rose various self-propelled torture devices—spinning blades, spiked chains, and platforms that could lift victims to varying heights.

"Start with the young one," Lucas ordered. "Let his two companions see what is about to happen to them."

The young envoy was dragged to the center of the arena. His screams of agony began to echo throughout the amphitheater, creating a horrific symphony. Blood began to flow, not only from his body, but also began to form patterns on the arena floor.

[System Alert]

Death Amphitheater first performance initiated

Audience satisfaction: Rising

Dark Energy generation: +150 per victim

Terror Reputation: +200

Sir Gareth tried to close his eyes, but a supernatural force forced him to continue watching. "You sick bastard! The Alliance will destroy you for this!"

Lucas laughed in a voice that made the walls of the amphitheater tremble. "Alliance? Once they see what I did to their envoys, they’ll be too afraid to approach the Night Crypt."

The show continued with systematic cruelty. Each death was designed to maximize suffering and spectacle. The blood of the three envoys was not only absorbed by the arena, but also began to flow throughout the Night Crypt, strengthening its structures and units.

[System Alert]

Death Amphitheater performance complete

Total Dark Energy gained: +450

Terror Reputation: +600

New ability unlocked: Psychological Warfare

Bonus: Alliance Intelligence obtained

Lucas read the notification with deep satisfaction. "Psychological Warfare. Very apt."

Selena approached with a satisfied glint in her eyes. "My King, a magnificent display. But how do we send a message to the Alliance?"

Lucas stood from his throne, gazing at the remains of the three envoys in the arena. "We will send something more impactful than just their bodies."

He raised his hand, and from the blood that flowed across the arena, three heads of frozen blood began to form. The heads were perfect replicas of the three envoys, but with expressions of perpetual fear.

"Send these to Alexander Brightshield," Lucas said to the owl that had approached. "Along with the message: ’This is the answer to your ultimatum.’"

The owl took the package containing the three frozen blood heads and flew off toward the west. Lucas stared out toward the horizon with a smile that made the air tremble.

"Now," Lucas said, turning to Selena. "We prepare for the real war."

Selena approached with a dangerous glint in her eyes. "My King, they will come in full force. Fifty Lords are no small threat."

Lucas walked toward the newly constructed Torture Altar. "Then we need more units. More power. And..." he stared out into the dark forest north of the Night Crypt.

"There’s something in that forest," Lucas said with anticipation in his voice. "Something that’s been waiting to be awakened."

Selena followed Lucas’ gaze. "My King, what do you feel?"

Lucas closed his eyes, letting his supernatural senses flow. "Ancient power. Something that’s been dormant for centuries. And now..." he opened them with a horrifying gleam. "It’s time to awaken it."

Suddenly, a booming sound could be heard in the distance. A sound that came not from the ground, but from the air. Lucas and Selena looked up at the sky, and they saw a large formation of flying units approaching from the west.

"They’re coming sooner than I thought," Lucas said with amusement in his voice. "The Alliance of Light doesn’t wait 24 hours."

Selena prepared herself for battle, but Lucas held up his hand. "No. We won’t fight here."

He stared out into the northern forest with a smile that made reality tremble. "We will awaken the sleepers. And then..." he turned to Selena with eyes that shone like the abyss.

"Send their screams next."