CHAPTER 12: FIRST NIGHT RAID

Lucas stared at the formation of flying units approaching from the west with the glint of a predator’s eye that had found its prey. The Fifty Lords of the Alliance of Light had sent out an advance scout—fifty Griffin Riders flying in a perfect V-formation, their white armor gleaming even in the moonlight.

"They’ve sent out reconnaissance," Lucas said in a calculating tone. "They want to gauge the Night Crypt’s strength before the main assault."

Selena stood next to Lucas, her red eyes tracking the Griffin Riders’ movements with terrifying precision. "My King, should I finish them off now?"

Lucas held up a hand, signaling to wait. "No. Let them see what they want. And then..." he smiled in a way that made the air tremble. "We’ll show them that reconnaissance can be a suicide mission."

The Griffin Riders began to circle around the Night Crypt, clearly mapping the new defenses and structures. Lucas could see their leader—a man with more elaborate armor and a golden griffin—pointing to various locations as he spoke to his subordinates.

[System Alert]

Enemy reconnaissance detected

Recommended action: Eliminate or mislead

Current threat assessment: Low (Scout units only)

Projected enemy intelligence gain: High

Lucas read the notification with a dark satisfaction. "They will gain intelligence. But not the one they were hoping for."

He turned to Selena, eyes shining like the abyss. "Selena, I want you to give the Alliance of Light a demonstration. Show them what terror truly means."

Selena approached with graceful yet deadly movements. "My King, would you like me to let a few of them live to tell the tale?"

"Of course," Lucas said, looking at the Griffin Riders still flying around the Night Crypt. "But make sure they carry a trauma that will give the entire Alliance nightmares."

Selena bowed with perfect respect. "It will be my pleasure, My King."

Lucas retreated into a shadow structure that rose from the ground, giving Selena the perfect stage for her performance. "Show them why you are called the Vampire Queen."

Without warning, Selena disappeared. There was no sound, no visible movement—she simply vanished from where she stood.

The Griffin Riders continued to fly in formation, completely unaware that the ultimate predator was already hunting them. Their leader, Captain Marcus Goldwing, pointed to the Death Amphitheater as he shouted instructions to his subordinates.

"Map every structure!" Captain Marcus shouted. "Alliance Command needs to know—"

His words were cut off as the griffin to his right suddenly dropped from the sky. There was no sound of battle, no screams—rider and griffin simply dropped like stones.

"What the hell?" Captain Marcus shouted as he pulled on his griffin’s reins. "Formation defensive! We’re under attack!"

But it was too late. Selena appeared behind the second griffin, moving at a speed that was beyond the eye. Her elegant hand pierced through the rider’s armor with terrifying ease, and griffin and rider fell in a spectacular fountain of blood.

[System Alert]

Vampire Queen combat mode activated

Current targets: 50 Griffin Riders

Estimated elimination time: 8 minutes

Collateral damage: Minimal (Precision strikes)

Lucas read the notification with deep appreciation. "Eight minutes. Selena is even more efficient than I expected."

Captain Marcus tried to organize the remaining riders for a counter-attack, but Selena was already moving through their formation like death incarnate. Every movement was art—elegant, precise, and absolutely devastating.

"It’s a vampire!" one of the riders shouted as he saw Selena feeding from the throat of the rider she had just killed. "Holy water! Use holy water!"

Several riders tried to pour holy water on Selena, but the liquid evaporated before it touched her skin. Vampire Queen level was not affected by ordinary blessings.

"Foolish," Selena said in a voice that could be heard from all directions. "Did you think your God could protect you in the domain of darkness?"

She appeared in the middle of the formation, and with a single movement, she sliced through three griffins at once. Blood and feathers fell like rain, creating a beautiful and horrifying spectacle.

Captain Marcus retreated on his griffin, trying to reach the communication crystal to send an emergency signal. "This is Captain Marcus! We need immediate reinforcement! It’s not a normal vampire—it’s something else!"

Selena appeared in front of Captain Marcus’ griffin with a smile that made the Captain scream in fear. "Something else? How perceptive."

With a casual movement, she grabbed the griffin by the neck and twisted it until it snapped.

Captain Marcus fell off the dead griffin, but Selena caught him before he hit the ground.

"Please," Captain Marcus said in a trembling voice. "I have a family."

Selena stared at Captain Marcus with eyes that glinted with an ancient hunger. "And they will join you soon."

But instead of killing him immediately, Selena decided to put on a more memorable show. She threw Captain Marcus to the ground with a force that shattered several bones, but did not kill him.

"Watch," Selena said to Captain Marcus. "Watch how your comrades die."

What followed was an artistic massacre. Selena moved through the remaining Griffin Riders with a combination of speed, power, and sadistic creativity. She killed some riders with a single strike, others she tortured briefly before finishing them off.

[System Alert]

Vampire Queen elimination streak: 35/50

Time elapsed: 6 minutes

Enemy morale: Broken

Recommendation: Capture survivors for intelligence

Lucas observed from his shadow structure with deep satisfaction. "Magnificent. Selena didn’t just kill them—she created a masterpiece of psychological warfare."

The remaining riders tried to flee, but Selena had anticipated their retreat. She appeared on escape routes, blocking every attempt to flee.

"There’s no escape," Selena announced in a voice that echoed from the darkness. "Your Alliance sent you to reconnaissance. Consider this... comprehensive education."

Captain Marcus, alive but broken, tried to crawl away while shouting into his communication crystal.

"It’s not a Queen! It’s not a Queen! It’s a demon! A fucking demon!"

Selena approached Captain Marcus with measured steps. "Demon? How insulting. I am something far more ancient than your simple understanding of evil."

She lifted Captain Marcus from the ground with a single hand, her grip crushing his ribs slowly. "Tell me, Captain. What did your Alliance hope to achieve with this reconnaissance?"

Captain Marcus tried to resist, but the pain from his broken ribs made him unable to resist. "We... we were mapping... mapping your defenses... for the main assault..."

"Main assault?" Selena said in a tone that suddenly became interested. "How many Lords? What kind of units?"

"Fifty... fifty Lords..." Captain Marcus gasped. "Ten thousand units... Dragons... Phoenixes... Everything..."

Selena smiled with an expression that made reality tremble. "Ten thousand. How delightful."

She threw Captain Marcus to the ground and turned to the few remaining riders who were still hiding. "You five. Yes, you five behind those clouds. Come down."

The remaining riders, realizing they were discovered, slowly descended on griffins that were shaking with fear. Selena stared at them with eyes that sparkled with amusement.

"You will carry a message to the Alliance of Light," Selena said in a voice that commanded absolute obedience. "Tell them that the Night Crypt is ready for their main assault."

One of the riders, a young woman in blood-stained armor, trembled as she said, "What... what message?"

Selena smiled in a way that made the air tremble. "Tell them that Lucas Nightveil invites them to a festival. A festival of blood, death, and entertainment."

She turned to Captain Marcus who was still lying on the ground, broken but alive. "And you, Captain, will be a special guest. A demonstration of what happens to those who dare to spy on My King."

[System Alert]

Night Raid complete

Griffin Riders eliminated: 45/50

Survivors: 5 (For message delivery)

Psychological impact: Maximum

Terror Reputation: +1000

Lucas emerged from the shadow structure with an expression filled with pride. "Selena, a spectacular performance. The Alliance of Light will receive a very clear message."

Selena approached Lucas with blood still dripping from her elegant fingers. "My King, they will come in full force. Ten thousand units is a significant threat."

Lucas looked at Captain Marcus who was still conscious but broken. "Ten thousand? Good. I’m tired of small skirmishes."

He turned to the remaining riders who would be messengers. "Go. Take Selena’s message to your Alliance. And make sure they know..." he smiled in a way that made reality crack.

"The Night Crypt is waiting."

The five riders flew away at desperate speed, carrying Captain Marcus and a message that would change the entire nature of the coming conflict.

Lucas stared out into the northern forest with eyes that gleamed with anticipation. "Now, Selena. Time to awaken the ancient power that has been sleeping."

Selena approached with eyes that gleamed dangerously. "My King, are you sure? Ancient powers usually come with... prices."

Lucas laughed in a voice that made the ground tremble. "Prices? Selena, I am a living nightmare. What could be more valuable than my soul?"

But as they walked into the northern forest, neither Lucas nor Selena realized that something in the ancient power was watching them. Something that had been waiting for centuries for an opportunity like this.

And in the distance, a whisper began to come from the forest—a voice older than civilization, saying in tones filled with ancient hunger:

"Finally... someone worthy of my attention."