Prologue: The Noble with the Cross
Despite his opponent desperately running under the cover of darkness, trying to escape the pursuit behind him, the figure remained clearly visible in the eyes of his tracker. Although the alley was dimly lit, and vampires were known for their speed, there was no escape—his pursuer, Chen Ye, was also a vampire.
Watching the stumbling figure ahead, Chen Ye casually followed, taking note that the silver powder seemed to be working well. The prey would probably last only another couple of minutes before collapsing. Sure enough, just as the thought crossed his mind, the figure staggered and collapsed to the ground like a pile of mush.
Carefully staying at a distance, Chen Ye waited until he was sure the man could no longer struggle. He grinned, stepping forward to crush the man’s hand underfoot, sending the glinting handgun skidding away.
"Not running anymore?" Chen Ye smiled, eyeing him with amusement. The capillaries in his face had turned completely blue, now raised above the skin’s surface—the unmistakable sign of silver poisoning in action. Once silver entered the bloodstream, even a seventh-generation elder vampire would crawl like a worm.
"You’re despicable... using poison!"
"At least you should thank me." Chen Ye crouched down, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it. He offered it to the vampire. "I used the top-shelf stuff—100 bucks per ounce, not that cheap rat poison."
"F*ck you!" His opponent struggled to lash out, knocking the cigarette from Chen Ye''s hand. It fell to the ground and extinguished in a puddle.
Even the so-called "nobles of the night" were prone to cursing when pushed too far. Chen Ye chuckled to himself as he shrugged off his expensive coat, rifling through a stack of letters. Finally, he found the damn map. Mission accomplished. He proudly drew out a short sword with a silver cross inlaid on the hilt, waving it in front of the man.
"You’re using a cross! Are you even a vampire?!" The opponent’s eyes widened with terror as he realized Chen Ye''s intention. He frantically tried to crawl away, his sharp fangs catching the faint light of the streetlamps.
"Relax. Getting too worked up isn''t good for your health."
With a swift motion, Chen Ye plunged the short sword into the man’s chest. His eyes went blank, his body writhing in agony, emitting a deep, tortured scream that echoed through the night.
Job well done. Watching the man convulse violently, Chen Ye stood up and lit another cigarette, savoring the sharp, bitter pleasure it brought.
Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
"Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you..." Turning to look at the man, who was now dissipating into ash in the wind, Chen Ye smiled briefly. "I’m a Buddhist."
He slid the short sword back into its sheath, then left the alley, stepping into the neon-lit streets of the city. Returning to the mundane world, Chen Ye leaned against a wall, taking a deep drag from his cigarette, letting the tension that had built up in his body slowly dissipate.
Countless men and women passed by him, none of them noticing the ordinary, plain-looking man in black standing in the shadows. These unsuspecting people were unaware that, each night, a dark war raged around them—vampires, werewolves, humans, and other strange beings. Countless dark monarchs were watching the world, the balance of power in the shadows shifting.
He flicked the cigarette away, then pulled out another one, pondering when he had become so accustomed to smoking. He chuckled bitterly. "Why think about that? I should be asking myself how I got involved in this dark war."
<hr>
Chapter 1: The Origin of Nightmares
Surrounded by twisted, barren trees, their black, rigid branches writhing like serpents, Chen Ye trudged barefoot through the mud and water, stumbling occasionally, his mouth filled with the stench of decay.
Above, the leaden sky was dark and thick, dotted with unfamiliar black creatures circling through the air. Their shrill cries sounded like the wailing of infants.
Everything was both clear and yet fuzzy, as though he had been walking for ages, until he collapsed into the swamp, exhausted. Lying there, he stared up at the sky—a strange funnel-shaped cloud spiraled above, a blood-red vortex slowly consuming the thick clouds.
Suddenly, a burst of silver flame shot out from the funnel, coming to a halt just in front of him. She appeared again, her fair face half-covered with a torn bandage, the left side stained with blood. Her long, beautiful yet scarred body was shackled by dark iron chains, her red hair fluttering in the wind. She held the sword—a cross-shaped blade that was her signature weapon.
She hovered in mid-air, her cold red eyes gazing down at Chen Ye. Without a word, she raised the blade and thrust it straight into his chest.
The cold steel pierced his heart, inch by inch, and the excruciating suffocating pain spread throughout his entire body.
In the agony, Chen Ye suddenly jerked awake, gasping for air. The lingering sensation of pain clung to his nerves, refusing to fade. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with a napkin, taking deep breaths to calm himself. This nightmare had been haunting him since he was 16—it had become as regular as his monthly cycle. The suffocating feeling of dying was more terrifying than any real danger.
"Chen Ye! What the hell’s wrong with you?"
A familiar voice snapped him out of his stupor. He looked up to see the administrative director standing by, her face twisted with annoyance.
"Sorry, I was working on some copy last night and got a bit tired," Chen Ye quickly threw on a smile, secretly flipping her the bird in his mind. Lady, just because you’re all dried up doesn’t mean you need to take it out on me!
"You''re paid to work, not sleep on the job!"
The director glared at him, and Chen Ye gave her the sweetest, most insincere smile. I’m a master at pretending—you''re not sharp enough to see through me.
"Ugh, you lazy bum, your pay’s probably getting cut again!"
"Go to hell!" Chen Ye muttered under his breath, staring at the depressing messages on his QQ.