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Wooden crates could still be seen stacked in the corners, but the space was crammed full of people. From the small entrance platforms where the players were, one could overlook the entire terrain of the area.

It had been turned into a rather cramped yet orderly refugee zone, densely packed with people. It seemed incredibly noisy, but in reality, they appeared accustomed to this cramped living condition.

Some men were using tools to dig into the corner walls, creating more usable space. Among the crowd, dismantled crate boards had been used to construct crude “shacks”, separating individual partitions and maximizing use of the limited space.

They had even hung crate-like “treehouses” from the ceiling area.

Those were designated as the “living quarters” for children, with hand-woven soft ladders for them to climb up and down.

Near Ah Yuen, Gugu Chicken even spotted an area with pots set up for cooking something.

If not for the out-of-place setting, it would have seemed like they were back in a survivor’s camp.

Just from their clothes and appearance, it was clear these people living in this massive underground warehouse were civilians from Kadman City. Just like in the outer city district where many fled into the sewers when the astral fissure attacked, the inner city residents had made the same choice.

But evidently, they were far luckier than those who escaped underground in the outer districts, likely found by that formidable vampire male who brought them here.

“Damn, just how many people are here?” Cheche asked in a low voice, somewhat startled.

The calmer Ah Yuen used elementary school math estimation skills to scan the area and said:

“Judging from the number of those shacks, at least 1,500! The situation here is really odd, this has to be some kind of super powerful hidden storyline! We must report to Lord Murphy immediately!”

——

The vampire lord had just finished dealing with that mother Astral Manticore after expending quite an effort.

In certain legends, this creature was also called the scorpion-tailed lion.

It was a fusion of lion, bat, and scorpion features, said to live deep in the Dark Mountains south of Transia, with mutant offshoots in the great deserts of the faraway Sanghai Empire.

Adult manticores were huge beast-type creatures. As they aged and grew stronger, some powerful ones would ascend to the realm of “legendary creatures” that defied conventional wisdom.

But the Astral Manticore was clearly more dangerous than its “kin” in the physical world.

Its danger came not just from its body being three times larger than a normal lion and its brute force, but also from the vicious, venomous scorpion tail that allowed it to use some spirit magic and assault enemy minds, like all its astral compatriots.

If Murphy hadn’t grown large bat wings to take to the skies, he really wouldn’t have had a good way to deal with this ferocious, dangerous creature that had taken a liking to living flesh and blood.

This thing could easily reach supersonic flight speeds. Here in the underground cavern severely limiting its performance, it couldn’t last five minutes against Murphy’s ghostly onslaught before rejoining the stars.

Like other astral beings, after its physical projection was destroyed, it began rapidly dissipating, but left behind a little “memento” for Murphy.

Its grotesquely shaped, venomous scorpion tail impaled the ground by Murphy’s feet.

Though biological, it was icy cold to the touch like an alien metal artifact, glimmering with starlight specks in the darkness – clearly prime material for crafting an exquisite short blade or dagger.

“Hm?”

Just as Murphy picked up his spoil of war, he sensed a proactive report coming from the players through his core computation bead.

Based on the computation bead architecture’s communication system, players couldn’t initiate contact with Murphy as a higher-level node. They could only submit “reports” following a fixed format like sending letters in this world.

Most players rarely used this function since it was a hassle during active dungeon raids.

But he narrowed his eyes upon opening Ah Yuen’s brief yet striking report.

Huh?

Blood Vulture Civilian Protection Officer?

At least 1,500 survivors?

A hidden refuge with the corpse of a crazed vampire? Wasn’t this connected to the young lady’s earlier speculation and reminder?

“Wait a moment!”

He gestured to the old knight Finoch who was about to press forward, then sent a communication request to the young lady’s computation bead.

Seconds later, the call connected.

The young lady’s cold voice came through from the other side:

“What is it? I’m rather busy here.”

“Who is the current Blood Vulture Clan’s Civilian Protection Officer?”

Murphy asked.

As a clan member, he should know the answer to this question.

But being an outcast left Murphy unclear and uncaring about such organizational structures. His sudden inquiry did catch the young lady off guard for a moment.

She replied:

“Kudel Feodoro Seville Lessenbra, my brother…nominally speaking, was once a wandering knight in the Anju region of the Silan Kingdom over a hundred years ago before becoming a clan member in the Dark Mountains.

He was personally embraced by my father.

It’s normal you’re unfamiliar with him. In fact, even after being embraced, Kudel resisted the midnight call through sheer willpower.

He never really fit in with most of the clan, and many have never even met him.

Kudel strongly opposed vampires treating humans as food sources. To better serve the clan, father appointed him as the Civilian Protection Officer until now.

Why are you asking about him?

Kudel should have died when the astral fissure opened.”

“He did not die,” Murphy stated plainly.

“My warriors unexpectedly found him in the halls and he took them in as Kadman City civilians to a ‘refuge’. That ‘brother’ of yours rounded up at least 1,500 civilians during the disaster and hid them in warehouses beneath the halls.

It can now be confirmed that the many crazed vampire deaths in the corridors were his doing.

If you’re acquainted with him, please go handle this!

I’m temporarily transferring command of my warriors to you. Announce that today’s battle is over, then send those survivors out!

Miriam will organize personnel to receive them on the outside.

But be prepared, according to my warriors’ reports, your brother seems to have had his mind corrupted by astral energies and gone completely insane.”

“This…”

The young lady fell silent upon hearing Murphy’s explanation. Several seconds passed before she said softly:

“Well, that does sound like something Kudel would do. Alright, leave it to me. How are you progressing on your end?”

“We’ve entered the underground dark river and just dealt with a manticore. Finoch and I will keep pushing forward. Once we find the correct exit, I’ll contact you.”

After a few more words of advice, Murphy cut the communication.

As he turned back, the old knight Finoch asked:

“This Civilian Protection Officer you mentioned…how did he manage that? Sheltering that many people under such a massive astral fissure doesn’t sound like something a vampire could do. It’s more akin to a religious miracle.

And Kudel…

That name, I feel like I’ve heard it before.”

“I too would like to meet this kinsman. He seems an outcast like myself in the clan. I feel we may find some common ground,” Murphy said with a shake of his head.

“But that’s for later. Sir Finoch, has your back and leg recovered? I seem to hear some strange noises ahead. You see, I just battled that manticore.”

“Hmph, so a young pup can’t even handle a single manticore?” The old knight scoffed.

“You sorely lack the vigor of your elder Tris in her prime. The Crimson Witch could slaughter a town or two in a single night with ease back when I was but a child. Tris’ name alone could terrify the lord of a principality into maintaining a curfew for years on end.

As her descendant, you’re rather lacking, wouldn’t you say?”

“I can hardly compare to you venerable elders still in your prime,” Murphy replied with a grin before following the old knight deeper into the winding dark river.

He wasn’t just saying that either.

There were indeed disturbances up ahead, and the cold, ominous spirit tremors emanating from there suggested a rather formidable group of…things.

Wraiths.

No, higher-level spectral beings!

And in astounding numbers too.

Meanwhile, the young lady, who had already neared the hall central region, doubled back through a secret passage only she knew about, following Murphy’s instructions toward the lowest warehouse area.

She knew that place.

It was where the Blood Vulture Clan stored supplies for clan members operating in the hall region, serving the same purpose as the family’s secret vault in the outer city, ensuring elite members wouldn’t be stranded without provisions if under outside attack.

Located at the very bottom of the halls nearly a hundred meters underground, it was unsurprising this area remained intact even as the astral fissure opened and poured massive spirit energies onto the surface.

Faced with Kadman City’s cataclysm, this warehouse was undoubtedly the safest place in the entire city.

As the young lady headed for the warehouse area, she used the authority granted by her computation bead to summon nearby players. They had already been battling in the halls for over four hours, with little game time remaining for the day. Murphy’s arrangements clearly accounted for this.

He intended to give the players a safe place to log out while also having them escort the survivors away from the increasingly hazardous Blood Vulture Halls.

In Murphy’s plan, the entire hall was meant to be destroyed in the end. For these survivors to remain was a dead end.

“So many faded stone statues! Just how many Blood Vulture vampires died here?”

The gathered players followed silently behind the young lady through the spirit-camouflaged passages, quickly discovering the bizarrely posed dead vampires along the way.

These had their hearts removed, turning them into statues.

According to Lady Tris, as long as the statues weren’t shattered, there was a small chance of “reviving” the vampires by reinserting their hearts within a certain timeframe.

Commotion broke out among the group.

The players had personally witnessed the destructive power of these crazed vampires today, yet these feared elites had been slaughtered here like cattle.

This was clear proof of the presence of someone extremely formidable.

“Stop, don’t go any further,” the young lady warned, sensing the killing intent and familiar aura ahead. She signaled the players to halt as she strode forward, leaning on her crimson spirit staff.

“Halt!” A rebuke came from ahead, and Femis immediately stopped in her tracks.

Then, in view of the scene transition watched by the players, a tall heavily-armored knight emerged from the shadows before them.

Clad in a crimson vampire-styled heavy armor with a vulture-like face mask and wide cloak, the once-splendid armor and mask were now drenched in horrific blood, the crimson cloak in tattered ruins like shattered, powerless wings drooping down.

Yet this was not a pitiful sight.

For the armor’s owner stood ramrod straight like an unwavering pillar after countless battles, grasping a blood-red greatsword just like theirs.

Clearly a hardcore badass character.

“Brother…” Femis looked at the man before her.

She lowered her hood and addressed the one coldly appraising her:

“It’s me, Femis. I’ve returned with reinforcements! I know what has happened here. I need to send the survivors you’ve sheltered to safety now…”

“CLANG!”

The heavy greatsword slammed violently into the ground, cracking visible fissures.

“The citizens cannot leave! It’s too dangerous out there! I must protect them, it’s my duty!” The Blood Vulture Civilian Protection Officer rasped.

“The sky has shattered, the Astral Realm is invading! Monsters howl in the darkness. Salrokdar went mad, said he heard the call. The vampires went mad too, trying to escape only to be ensnared by the whispers in the dark.

Up ahead!

Unimaginable evils are unfolding!

But I must hold this ground.

I was given this duty, I must protect the citizens! None shall pass!

You shall not harm them!

You shall not harm those under my protection!

Begone!

Vampire!

You are not welcome here!”

Rebuked, Femis bit her lip, tasting the former wandering knight’s true feelings towards the Blood Vulture Clan in his rebuke, even after over a hundred years, he still referred to them as “vampires.”

This proved Kudel himself did not consider himself a Blood Vulture member, despite becoming one of the undying midnight creatures himself.

“The astral fissure is closed, Murphy has established a survivor camp outside! Father is doing dangerous work, Kudel. I know how strong your will to protect the people is, but you must lead them out now!”

Femis gripped her arcane staff tightly.

Though Kudel strove to maintain his imposing presence, the young lady could keenly discern the officer’s underlying weakness.

He may have been deliriously fighting nonstop for nearly 10 days now. Even as a high-ranking Silver-tier vampire, he was likely running on fumes.

“I’ll say this one last time!” The young lady raised her voice.

“Kudel! I did not come to harm your people, but to aid them. Please regain your senses!”

“You! Shameless vampire!”

Kudel gripped the monstrously large crimson greatsword, his entire being radiating murderous cold intent as he rebuked:

“Leave the place I have sworn to protect! Final warning!”

Completely unable to communicate!

Only his obsession with protection kept him going.

Perhaps it was this very obsession that helped him resist the corrosive foul energies assaulting his mind, sparing him from descending into total madness like the other vampires.

The young lady shook her head.

She gripped her computation bead, issuing orders to prepare for an assault to the players behind her. Then, raising the crimson spirit staff, she said softly:

“I know I was unqualified to say this before, but now, I too wish to rescue these people we once viewed as mere sustenance, so…”

“Forgive my impudence, Protection Officer.”