My Blood Legacy: Reincarnated as a Vampire

The hall was brightly lit by magical lights of all kinds; in fact, the hall itself seemed like it had come straight out of a fantasy novel. Since Alice came to the Kingdom of Dante, she had modernized everything around her, enchanted by magic and nourished by the World Tree itself. The kingdom, already majestic, had become completely magical.

In the center, a long solid wood table was covered with maps and scrolls. It was here that Alice, Morgana, and Valentina tirelessly discussed how to protect the kingdom during Dante's absence.

Alice, the tireless strategist, maintained an upright posture as she analyzed the kingdom's defenses. Her eyes shone with determination, but there was a shadow of concern on her expression. "Two months," she said, breaking the silence as she ran her fingers over a map. "Two months since Dante descended to Hell. And in that time, our enemies haven't even shown their faces… this is starting to annoy me."

"He knew this would happen. Since Mary Rose made her move, Dante made it clear that our priorities were the kingdom's defenses and Albion. But..." She hesitated, slamming the book shut. "I'm starting to get nervous too… this silence..."

Valentina, the most expressive of the three, stood, looking out the large window that offered a view of the horizon. Her red dress flowed like a flame, reflecting her fierce personality. "That damn man is probably finishing what he started," she said, crossing her arms. "It's good that she's taking her time to attack here; the longer she waits, the sooner Dante will return... And considering our plans, when he comes back, it's going to be a huge bang."

Alice nodded in agreement, but the worry was still evident. "We've reinforced the walls and kept the soldiers on alert. Albion is protected by the witches we sent, but we can't predict how far Mary Rose will go to achieve her goals. Fey is also vulnerable, but it seems her Dryad is taking care of the barriers around her body."

Morgana added, "The World Tree is the key to many things she desires. If Mary Rose touches Fey, her ambitions could exceed any expectations."

Valentina turned around, her eyes glowing with restrained fury. "It's not just Fey... the virtues are also here. At any moment, she could appear, so keep everyone on alert. We need time, the more time that passes, the further Dante advances in Hell."

Before any more plans could be discussed, the door to the hall was suddenly opened. A young witch, with a pale face and covered in sweat, hurried in. Her breath was heavy, as if she had run all over the castle.

Alice was the first to speak, frowning at the interruption. "What happened? Why the rush?"

The witch hesitated, visibly nervous. Her eyes flicked quickly between the three women, as if the news she carried was impossible to say. Finally, with a trembling voice, she managed to utter the words that froze the room.

"She... is here!"

Silence fell like a blade.

Morgana was the first to react, standing up from her chair. "She? Mary Rose?"

The young witch nodded, still trying to catch her breath. "Yes... She's approaching with her army... She broke our magical barriers to the north and is marching toward the castle."

Alice clenched her fists, but her expression remained controlled. "How many soldiers? And what happened to the witches at the border?"

"The barrier was destroyed before they could react. They're all retreating to reinforce the internal defenses. The number of undead in her army is impossible to calculate, but... they're not alone."

Valentina stepped forward, her voice harsh. "Explain."

The witch hesitated again before answering, "Mary Rose is accompanied by something... something enormous. Something that seems... to consume everything in its path."

Morgana closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath to control the anger and fear that threatened to take over. "So she's finally moved. We knew this moment would come, but it's too soon. She must have found an artifact or some other power to break through our defenses."

Alice turned her attention back to the map. "We need to redirect our troops. If she's marching toward the castle, it means Fey is still safe for now. Our focus should be on protecting the kingdom. If we lose this position, Albion will be the next target."

Valentina placed her hand on the table, her voice sharp. "There's no time for elaborate tactics. We need to go straight to the battlefield. The three of us."

Morgana opened her eyes, looking at Valentina with a mix of surprise and determination. "I agree. But we can't act impulsively. Mary Rose isn't just any enemy. She's been plotting for a long time... we can't rely on our strength alone... let's keep her at bay for now, no direct fights, just counter her attacks and block."

Alice nodded. "Valentina is right about one thing: we don't have time. Let's reinforce the walls, send messages to the soldiers, and gather all available forces. And we'll lead the attack."

The three women exchanged glances, and for a brief moment, the weight of Dante's absence was even more felt. But each of them knew that he trusted them, and that trust was more than enough to motivate them to fight with everything they had.

Alice lifted her head, taking command. "Send orders for all citizens to be evacuated to shelters. Mobilize all available forces, including the witches still in the castle. I want everyone ready for battle in an hour."

Morgana added, "Prepare the emergency magical artifacts. We don't know what kind of spells Mary Rose can use, so we need to be ready to counterattack."

Valentina, with a fierce smile on her face, concluded, "And prepare your weapons. I want to see her face when she realizes we're not just Dante's wives. We're warriors, and she'll regret coming here."

"Y-Yes!" The young witch gave a quick bow and ran out to carry out the orders.

When they were alone again, there was a brief silence.

"Dante," Alice said, almost in a whisper. "I hope wherever you are, you know we won't let the kingdom fall. We'll protect what you built."

Morgana placed a hand on Alice's shoulder, a rare gesture of comfort. "He knows. And he trusted us for a reason. We won't disappoint him."

Valentina turned toward the door, determination shining in her eyes. "Enough words. It's time to show what we're capable of."

...

[Third Circle]

Dante walked slowly through the entrance of the third circle of Hell. The air was heavy and damp, with a nauseating smell that made the very environment feel diseased. The ground was covered in thick, filthy mud, mixed with rotten food scraps, broken bones, and decomposing flesh. A cold, incessant rain fell from the dark sky, creating puddles of viscous liquid that seemed alive, pulsing with a sickly energy. Explore more at empire

He stopped, observing the surroundings with a look of disdain. "Gluttony," he murmured, recalling the words told to him about the third circle. "Here are those who, in life, gave in to the excesses of appetite, ignoring everything that truly mattered. Now, they live in the mud, slaves to their own desires."

As he walked, Dante noticed the tormented souls crawling along the ground. Covered in mud and filth, they desperately tried to escape the rain or find some relief for their eternal hunger and thirst. Each movement was a futile effort; their bodies were too weak to resist the weight of their punishment.

A deep roar echoed through the darkness, interrupting his thoughts. Dante raised his eyes and saw a colossal figure emerging from the shadows. It was a grotesque monster, titanic in proportions. Its skin was deformed and covered in warts, and three huge heads sprouted from its body: the middle one was the largest, with eyes glowing a sickly yellow and sharp teeth dripping with acidic saliva.

"Cerberus," Dante said, recognizing the beast guarding this circle. "So the one I killed was just a toy... how amusing," he joked.

Cerberus roared again, the sound reverberating like thunder through the black sky. The creature advanced, crushing souls under its giant paws as it moved, without the slightest care. Its presence was overwhelming, as if the very air around it became heavier.

Dante sighed, adjusting his sword in his hand. "Why do all the guardians of Hell have to be so noisy?" he muttered before advancing.

Cerberus wasted no time. All three heads lunged at once, trying to devour Dante in a single motion. He jumped to the side, dodging the bite that left a crater in the mud where he had been just seconds before. The rain mixed with the mud made it difficult to move, but Dante held his ground.

"You're big, I admit," he said, a cold smile forming on his lips. "But I've dealt with bigger things."

Cerberus attacked again, swinging its paw toward Dante. The impact sent a wave of mud crashing through the surroundings. But Dante was quick; he ran along the side of the creature, his sword gleaming as he cut through one of its front paws.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

The beast howled in pain, momentarily retreating. But instead of weakening, it seemed to grow even more furious. The heads began to attack in unison, biting and spitting a viscous substance that corroded everything it touched.

Dante leaped, dodging one of its charges, and landed directly on the creature's back. "Time to silence you," he said, plunging his sword deep into the neck of the central head.

Cerberus roared again, shaking violently to try and throw Dante off. He held firm, his expression a mix of concentration and disdain. "Stay still, you useless dog!"