The ground trembled beneath their feet as the beast horde charged through the forest. Lucas stood at the castle gates, eyes glowing faintly with the system interface open in his vision. Behind him, vampire warriors stood ready.
The traps in the forest had inflicted damage, but not enough. Now the beasts were enraged—and closing in.
"They're coming!" Mira called from the upper wall.
Lucas raised his hand. "Let them come. Everything's ready."
Earlier, under his command, the courtyard had been cleared and fortified. Chokepoints formed with sharpened logs. Hidden pits were dug and lightly covered. Crates of oil and glass bottles—makeshift explosives—were set in key areas.
The castle was no longer a ruin. It was a trap.
---
[System Activated]
New Strategy Module Online
Current Strategy: Ambush Defense
Enemy Detected: Beast Horde – 46 units
Estimated Success Rate: 74%
---
Lucas moved to the gate, his fingers twitching with anticipation. As the first Dire Beast burst through the archway, Lucas shouted, "Now!"
BOOM!
A trigger beneath the stones collapsed a pit. Six beasts dropped, impaled by spikes. Flaming arrows rained from above, lighting up the oil-soaked monsters trying to leap over the death trap.
Chaos exploded.
"Fall back to the second line!" Lucas commanded. "Let them funnel in!"
The vampires moved like shadows—silent and precise. Beasts broke through, but fell into pits, traps, or were torn apart by glass bombs Mira ignited with torch arrows from the tower.
Lucas darted into battle, activating Blood Empowerment mid-sprint.
---
[Blood Empowerment Activated]
+50% Strength and Speed for 30 seconds
---
With unnatural speed, he grabbed a beast by the jaw, drove his dagger into its skull, and leapt onto another. He moved with lethal clarity—like he could see each enemy's attack before it came.
---
[Enemy Defeated: Dire Beast – Level 10]
+10 EXP
New Skill Acquired: Blood Dash
Short-range teleport up to 10 meters. Cost: 5% Blood Energy
---
Behind him, Elder Cale and Mira held the second chokepoint, defending the inner gate.
Then, the Alpha Beast appeared—larger, faster, angrier.
Lucas used Blood Dash, teleporting to its side before it could strike. He plunged his sword into its shoulder, leapt back, and Mira hurled firebombs that exploded in the Alpha's face. The beast shrieked and fell.
---
[Enemy Defeated: Alpha Beast – Level 14]
+30 EXP
Level Up! Lucas is now Level 6
New Abilities Unlocked:
— Blood Healing (Restore minor wounds using blood energy)
— Vampiric Command (Boost coordination and morale of nearby allies)
— City Planning (Basic) (Organize labor-based construction using available materials)
---
The remaining beasts hesitated. Their leader was dead.
"Don't let them escape," Lucas growled. "Finish it!"
Mira's squad swept into the forest, eliminating the rest.
---
When silence returned, vampires gathered in the courtyard—bloodied, exhausted, but alive.
Lucas stood among them. "You fought well. But this… is just the beginning."
He turned to the shattered wall and raised his hand. The system pulsed.
---
[City Planning Activated]
Mode: Manual Construction
Resources Detected: Stone, Wood, Salvageable Metal
Labor Assigned: 12 Vampires
First Project: Outer Wall Reconstruction & Barracks
---
Instead of instant magic, the system projected a glowing grid to guide organization. Lucas issued orders. Vampires began clearing rubble, cutting wood, shaping stone.
They would build their future—not with spells, but with strength.
"We're not rebuilding a broken castle," Lucas said. "We're building a city."