The Grand Speaker's announcement left the leaders of every faction momentarily stunned. They were not ignorant of the vampire threat—but now, it seemed far graver than they had imagined.
"Damn it all! What's really going on? Weren't there only scattered vampires near Dusk Moon City in the southern continent? How could a Vampire Duke appear?!"The Crimson Moon City's lord couldn't help but curse aloud.
Murmurs erupted as others exchanged uneasy whispers.
"Your Eminence, this intelligence… surely it isn't mistaken?" An elder adorned with the Crystal Tower's emblem stepped forward, his voice laced with doubt.
The Grand Speaker's gaze swept over him, sharp enough to make the man feel as if blades were scraping his skin. A palpable discomfort settled in the air.
"This matter has been verified," the Grand Speaker replied coolly. "Three thousand elite warriors of the Sacred Council's Divine Martial Legion perished at Dusk Moon City. Bloodshadow, deputy commander of the Divine Martial Knights, returned gravely wounded with this news."
"What?!" The crowd gasped again, unable to suppress their shock. The Divine Martial Knights' prowess was well-known—they were among the finest forces across the three continents. With Bloodshadow leading them, such a force should have been invincible. Yet three thousand knights had been annihilated, and even Bloodshadow barely escaped with his life!
"Not a single survivor…" The Crimson Moon City's lord paled, the gravity of the situation dawning on him. This was far worse than anyone had anticipated.
"Your Eminence, what course of action do you propose?" he asked urgently.
Nearly every eye turned to the Grand Speaker. After all, the Sacred Council now stood as the Human Alliance's nominal leader—and this threat had been uncovered by their hand.
The Grand Speaker laughed, a sound both bold and chilling. "I intend to eradicate the vampires. Who among you will stand with me?"
The Crimson Moon City's lord, long aligned with the Sacred Council, was the first to pledge. "Nothing could be better. Under your command, my Crimson Moon City's elite guard is at your disposal!"
Faced with the vampire menace, the factions wavered uneasily. The bloodkin's strength was undeniable—but with the Sacred Council taking the lead, they had a chance.
"The Emerald Spire awaits your orders, Your Eminence!"
...The vampire threat left no room for complacency. Under the Sacred Council's leadership, a confrontation with the bloodkin had become inevitable—though it would follow the conclusion of the Thousand Moon Lake gathering.
Kael narrowed his eyes. The Grand Speaker is truly formidable. By shifting focus to the vampires, he had not only diverted attention but also solidified the Sacred Council's command. At least nominally, all factions now acknowledged its authority.
He noticed the Pope's face darken with barely suppressed fury. Since Kael's arrival at the gathering, the Temple's initial advantage had evaporated entirely. The Pope let out a cold snort, his expression stormy.
Seeing unanimous agreement on eradicating the vampires, the Grand Speaker immediately began formulating plans. The urgency of the bloodkin menace left no room for delay, and all factions participated actively. It was decided that after the gathering, a decisive strike would be launched against the vampires at Dusk Moon City.
With this announcement, disputes over the ancient palace temporarily subsided.
Soon, the leaders of the major factions convened to discuss both the vampire crisis and the palace. Given the pressing nature of the bloodkin threat, postponing action until tomorrow was unthinkable—the two matters would be addressed simultaneously.
Inside the command tent, arguments raged incessantly. Kael and Zorath the Silent stood among the crowd, their heads throbbing from the chaos.
"Damn it all! These bastards are insufferable," Zorath the Silent grumbled, rubbing his temples. "Why doesn't the boss just send Lie Shou and thirty thousand Divine Martial Knights to wipe out those bloodsuckers? Quick and clean!"
Straightforward by nature, Zorath seethed at the sight of these leaders bickering over petty interests.
Kael sighed. "If only it were that simple. Right now, everyone's scrambling for advantages regarding both the vampires and the palace. Reaching a consensus will be... difficult."
Especially since the Sacred Council and the Temple are evenly matched, he added silently. Had the Council held overwhelming dominance, a single decree would have sufficed. But with power balanced between the two, the struggle promised to be endless.
The quarrels dragged on late into the night.
Yet Kael found solace in one outcome: a resolution was finally reached. The Sacred Council and allied factions agreed that after the gathering, each would dispatch elite forces to Dusk Moon City in the southern continent. Simultaneously, news of the vampire resurgence would spread across the land, rallying all experts to exterminate the bloodkin menace.
As for the ancient palace, the factions ultimately agreed that each would send a delegation to explore it jointly. Should treasures lie within, they would be claimed by merit and skill.
Fortunately, the palace was not overly large, making the expedition relatively straightforward.
Representatives from all major factions were selected to participate. Kael, as a key figure under the Sacred Council's tutelage, naturally secured a spot. The remaining factions also received several slots each.
Dawn broke—just as Kael had predicted, the faction leaders had argued all night before finalizing the arrangement.
"Damn these old fools and their endless squabbling!" Zorath the Silent grumbled. He, too, was among those chosen to explore the palace.
In total, over twenty individuals were selected for the expedition. The Sacred Council's delegation consisted of three: Kael, Zorath the Silent, and Mia—the sole female among the Twelve Senators, who had previously aided Kael in the Earthfire Cavern.
The Temple's group was led by Einar, joined by several others. Alongside representatives from other factions, these twenty-odd individuals formed the entirety of the exploration party.
Without exception, all were powerhouses at the 10th tier or above.
But Kael remained unfazed. With the little cat by his side, he trusted its keen senses would give him an edge in locating any hidden treasures.
The ancient palace loomed before them. Kael and the others stood at its entrance, hovering midair as the dried lakebed below had turned into a swampy mire of softened earth.
From this vantage, the palace's grandeur was undeniable—soaring over a hundred meters tall, its outer walls adorned with intricate carvings and ancient magical arrays. The patterns were exquisite and weathered, stirring a faint sense of awe in Kael's heart.
"Truly a palace from the ancient era—extraordinary indeed." The black stone composing the structure was of a peculiar quality. Though not inherently magical, its durability was exceptional.
Half-collapsed and heavily damaged, the ruin demanded caution from all who entered.
Kael led the way, his footsteps echoing crisply against the age-worn flagstones.
"Kael, be careful. This place reeks of secrets," the little cat murmured from his shoulder, its voice low and wary.
The others advanced with equal vigilance—save for Einar, who scoffed and began his own inspection with two Temple followers in tow.
Zorath the Silent chuckled, nudging Kael. "Look at these cowards creeping around. Only Einar's got any spine!"
Kael nodded. Though bested by him, Einar remained the most formidable young talent he'd encountered—peerless in both strength and intellect. Were it not for Kael's rise, Einar would undoubtedly be hailed as the younger generation's foremost prodigy.
Naturally, Kael, Zorath, and Mia—all Sacred Council affiliates—stuck together. The rest of the expedition likewise grouped by faction, scattering to explore separately.
The palace's compact size meant a thorough sweep would take no more than a day.
"Huh? Skeletons up ahead!" Deeper into the ruin, Kael's sharp eyes caught a cluster of bones.
Dozens of human remains lay strewn about, their jet-black hue stark and unnerving—as if dipped in ink.
"These are Darkwing Mages' corpses!" Zorath the Silent blurted out.