Author: Chen Qingyang
[Chapter 20] General White Wolf Faces a Dilemma
The Black Bat Unit’s minions returned to a secret chamber in the sewers—White Wolf’s command post.
Soldier A reported: “General, our squads were attacked by young priests. Many of our comrades were killed; losses are heavy.”
White Wolf worried: “The Roman Vatican has intervened! Now we’re attacked from both sides, facing the Vatican and Princess Maria’s forces.”
Soldier A asked: “General, should we retreat to preserve strength?”
White Wolf hesitated: “The Mage wants us to distract Maria’s group. If we retreat, we ruin the plan. I fear the leader will blame me.”
Soldier B said: “General, these priests call themselves the Demon-Slaying Army. Their leader, Strong, is one of the top three opponents in the human world.”
White Wolf: “I’ve faced Strong before. I know his strength.”
Soldier C anxiously asked: “Do you want us to waste time here against Strong until we’re all dead? General, please reconsider.”
White Wolf hesitated: “I know Strong is tough. But if we don’t restrain him, he will unite with Maria’s group in Switzerland. Then our leader and the Mage will be caught in a pincer. Let me think this through…”
At night, Dragon Knight led the Iron-Blood Guard to the western entrance of Florence. The Marine sentry squad spotted them and radioed Colonel Rinaldo: “Sir, an unusual unit is approaching.”
Rinaldo asked: “Could it be vampire reinforcements?”
Squad Leader A: “Colonel, they carry spears and shields, in tight formation, like medieval Roman troops.”
Rinaldo puzzled: “That’s strange. Vatican forces wouldn’t carry spears and shields… Check and report.”
“Yes, Colonel,” Squad Leader A replied.
Major Fesch, the staff officer, suggested: “Colonel, could this be the rumored Iron-Blood Guard?”
Rinaldo asked, surprised: “Iron-Blood Guard? What’s that?”
Fesch explained: “An old priest told me Princess Maria rules a group of good-hearted vampires in the Dark World.”
Rinaldo laughed: “Good-hearted vampires? That’s a joke!”
Fesch insisted: “I trust the priest. If they were vampire reinforcements, they wouldn’t dare enter the city openly; all exits are heavily guarded.”
Rinaldo: “Better to be cautious. Alert the troops. If they’re hostile, we strike first.”
Fesch suggested: “Let me meet them and clarify their intentions.”
Rinaldo: “Fine. Be careful.”
Soon, the Iron-Blood Guard arrived. Major Fesch stepped into the road, troops ready behind him.
Fesch called out: “Are you the Iron-Blood Guard? I’m Major Fesch of the Marines.”
Vanguard Soldier C: “Yes! We’re dispatched from headquarters to assist the Italian government in purging Anderson’s terrorist group.”
“Welcome,” Fesch signaled, guiding them toward the cover position. Colonel Rinaldo and officers advanced to greet them.
Dragon Knight jumped down from his long-winged dragon mount, drawing all eyes.
Rinaldo extended his hand: “I’m Colonel Rinaldo, Marine Alpha Unit commander. On behalf of General Duccio, welcome.”
Dragon Knight shook hands: “Colonel, I am Dragon Knight, Captain of Princess Maria’s Guard. By her order, I lead elite forces to support the Italian government and eliminate Anderson’s monsters.”
Rinaldo smiled: “With your support, we have a better chance against these elusive vampires.”
Dragon Knight: “My unit will be the main force. You hold your positions; don’t let them escape.”
Rinaldo: “Understood. I’ll report to the General.”
The Dragon Knight’s forces split into four groups to cover assigned sectors.
Rinaldo admired: “They are disciplined and well-trained. Impressive.”
Fesch said: “With them as the main force, we can relax a little.”
The Black Bear and White Wolf-led Black Bat Units were intercepted by Father Strong’s Demon-Slaying Army and Dragon Knight’s Iron-Blood Guard. After several nights of battles, many minions were killed. Though stressed, White Wolf and Black Bear had yet to receive withdrawal orders from Grand Mage Ruf, and dared not retreat prematurely.
[Chapter 21] The Plan to Turn Defense into Offense
In Room 504 of the Paradise Hotel, John Chen, Wilson, Adorno, Lin Xiaoyang, and Huang Lihua gathered around a round table to discuss the enemy situation.
John Chen pointed at a map on the table and said, “The Dragon Knight and my junior disciple, Shitron, sent word that they are each being held up in several cities by Anderson’s subordinates—the Black Bear and White Wolf—who lead the Black Bat Army. From this, we can infer that Anderson may personally lead the main force of the Black Bat Army across the border into Switzerland.”
Wilson asked anxiously, “Father, will our headquarters be able to withstand an attack from Anderson’s main force?”
“With Lin Xiaoyang stationed here, even if the Ghost King Anderson and Archmage Rufus join forces, they may still not be able to defeat Xiaoyang,” John Chen said confidently. Lin Xiaoyang, however, was less optimistic.
Feeling uneasy, Lin Xiaoyang asked, “I’ve never faced these vampires before. Father, how can you be so confident?”
John Chen replied, “It’s not that I underestimate them. These vampires can hardly harm you. You have a pure yang body, and you’ve recently mastered a refined Chinese martial art. Your chances against Ghost King Anderson and Archmage Rufus are very high.”
Lin Xiaoyang forced a wry smile. “Father, hearing you say that, I feel the weight of responsibility pressing down on my shoulders…”
John Chen spoke mysteriously, “I’ve devised a surprise attack tactic that requires Adorno to accompany me.”
Adorno clasped his fists and said, “Father, please tell us.”
John Chen said, “The two of us will wait at the border checkpoint for Anderson’s main force to arrive.
Huang Lihua asked worriedly, “Just the two of you? How could you possibly stop Anderson and Rufus with over a thousand Black Bat Army troops?”
John Chen smiled, “Of course we can’t stop the entire Black Bat Army. My plan is twofold: on one hand, organize and strengthen the border police to confront the Black Bat Army and strike them hard; on the other, we will infiltrate the enemy ranks and eliminate several commanding officers to sow chaos and demoralize them.”
Wilson asked anxiously, “What if your actions are discovered and Anderson and his subordinates surround you?”
“That’s why I’ll bring Adorno with me,” John Chen said, glancing at Adorno with a mysterious smile.
Adorno immediately understood and smiled, “Father, although this is a risky maneuver, I am ready to go through fire and water for it!”
Huang Lihua looked at Adorno curiously and asked, “Adorno, has the princess taught you the Illusion Technique?”
Adorno replied, “Yes. The princess also taught me telepathy, saying these two skills will be useful in the future.”
John Chen continued, “The main purpose of this interception mission is to weaken the enemy. During this time, all preparations and battle operations within the hotel must follow Wilson’s command and coordination…” Afterward, John Chen explained the subsequent tasks and responsibilities in detail.
In the grand hall of the Sky Castle, Princess Maria received the human-ghost couple, Rona and Kace.
Rona bowed. “Thank you, Princess, for giving us a chance to live again in the sunlight.”
Maria spoke earnestly, “You truly are starting anew—treasure this opportunity.”
Kace bowed respectfully. “We will cherish the grace the Princess has given. Should you need us in the future, we are always ready to serve.”
Maria said, “There is a task that requires both of your assistance.”
Rona said, “Princess, please give us your orders.”
Maria explained, “Father John Chen plans to wait at the border for Anderson’s main Black Bat Army force and launch a surprise attack to disrupt them. But he is outnumbered, so he requests your assistance.”
Kace said, “We will give our all to accomplish the mission entrusted by the Princess!”
“Good. Please wait at the hotel entrance and meet Father John Chen. Here are two powerful tools for you to carry—use them only in extreme danger.” A guard handed Rona and Kace two strange items: an invisibility cloak and a teleportation ring.
Father John Chen and Adorno packed their backpacks, and Xiaoyang saw them off at the hotel entrance. They noticed Rona and Kace under a tree’s shade, waving and coming toward them.
Rona bowed. “The Princess has instructed us to accompany Father John on this mission.”
John Chen reminded them, “It is commendable that you’ve turned away from darkness, but this mission is extremely dangerous!”
Kace said, “We are mentally prepared. The Princess has granted us rebirth—serving her even at the cost of our lives is our will.”
Rona added, “Kace and I will go ahead to infiltrate Anderson’s camp and support you when the opportunity arises.”
Lin Xiaoyang cautioned, “Then take care of yourselves!”
“We will. We’ll communicate by text if anything happens,” Rona and Kace said, setting off. John Chen and Adorno watched them leave.
John Chen asked, “Adorno, can these two friends be trusted?”
Adorno replied confidently, “Father, they are sincere in serving the Princess. I know them well.”
Rona and Kace donned human skin masks, disguising themselves as an elderly couple. At the station, they supported each other and boarded a long-distance bus to Italy.
As the bus approached the border checkpoint, the driver stopped at the barrier. An officer led a soldier armed with a short-barrel submachine gun and wearing a bulletproof vest onto the bus. The driver handed passenger manifests to Officer Bass.
Bass said, “All passengers, please show your passports or ID cards.”
The driver asked, “Bass, what’s going on? There hasn’t been a check before.”
Bass replied, “We received orders from higher-ups to verify passengers’ identities.”
The passengers presented their documents. The officer checked Kace and Rona’s passports and returned them. After the inspection, the bus proceeded.
Rona whispered to Kace, “Judging by this, the Italian and Swiss governments must have intelligence that Anderson’s main force will cross the border in the next few days.”
Kace said, “Then we’ll wait in the nearest town for Anderson.”
Kace and Rona disembarked in a small town called Da Vinci, close to the border. The town was eerily quiet; the only presence was pairs of armed police patrolling the streets.
Sensing the unusual tension, they checked into a small inn. An elderly attendant advised, “Stay indoors after dark and avoid going out. Things have been unsettled recently.”
Inside their room, they deliberately left the bathroom tap running while discussing quietly.
Rona analyzed, “It seems the towns along the route are on high alert. Anderson’s main force likely won’t march openly; they might avoid confrontation to preserve strength.”
Kace said, “Then John Chen and Adorno, waiting at the border checkpoint, could be in danger…”
“We must inform the Father immediately.” Rona took out her phone and sent a message.
On the bus, John Chen received Rona’s message and looked grave. Adorno hesitated to ask questions due to many eyes on the bus. Upon reaching the border checkpoint, John Chen and Adorno requested to use the restroom from the inspecting officers.
Inside the checkpoint, John Chen approached Station Chief Marlin. “Are you the station chief here?”
“Yes, I’m Marlin. How can I help?”
John Chen showed official credentials, explaining his identity and mission. “I am Father John Chen of the Vatican Security Department. We have received intelligence that within days, a vampire army of over a thousand will cross the border from Italy into Switzerland. I am here to organize the border police and militias to resist them.”
Marlin, visibly worried, said, “Our station has fewer than twenty personnel, including military support. How could we possibly withstand over a thousand vampires?”
John Chen said firmly, “I have a plan to resist the enemy.”
Marlin asked, “Please explain.”
John Chen spread a map on the table. “We will first concentrate forces in the nearby border towns, evacuate civilians, and use the treacherous terrain to our advantage.”
Marlin asked, “What if the vampires attack civilians? We can’t just let them die.”
John Chen assessed, “From the intelligence, the vampires’ movement is stealthy, aiming to preserve their strength. Their goal is to cross the border quickly, so they are unlikely to harm civilians and alert the authorities.”
Marlin nodded. “Then I’ll immediately notify the town mayors and police chiefs to hold an emergency meeting here.”
John Chen reminded, “The notifications and the meeting must remain confidential to prevent enemy scouts from learning of it.”
“Of course!” Marlin called each official personally.
The town mayors and police chiefs arrived at the border checkpoint. Marlin opened, “This is urgent. We need to discuss how to resist these vampires.”
John Chen continued passionately, “No one can remain neutral. We will hold the passes, strike decisively, and defeat these vampires!”
Mayor Paul of Da Vinci looked doubtful. “I heard vampires are immune to weapons. We might not stand a chance.”
John Chen said, “Their weakness is the head and neck. Aim for those areas with firearms. If they breach our lines, we fight them in close combat with swords.”
The meeting concluded:
- Evacuate all civilians from the towns.
- Organize the able-bodied men into defense units, equipped with firearms and explosives, and assign strict responsibility areas.
- All personnel must be ready for combat at night.
[Chapter 22] The Fierce Battle at the Border
Anderson personally led the main Black Bat Army force to Da Vinci town late at night. Scouts returned with Rona and Kace to meet the vanguard general, Ghost Night Hound.
Hound asked, “We feared you were killed by John Chen. You’ve returned safely?”
Rona calmly explained, “General, we encountered John Chen at Milan station. Knowing we couldn’t match him, we evaded and escaped safely.”
Hound asked, “Why are the border towns empty?”
Kace pretended ignorance, “We just arrived; it’s puzzling to us as well.”
Hound wondered, “Could our movements have been leaked?” He brought them to Anderson’s mansion, where they reported the situation.
Rufus noted, “The towns are deserted; the authorities clearly know our route.”
Anderson worried, “What should we do? Retreat isn’t an option…”
Rufus said seriously, “The enemy prepared defenses and left no retreat. We will likely face strong resistance and planned ambushes, but we have no choice but to press forward and cross into Switzerland.”
Anderson asked, “Do you mean the enemy will deploy forces at the checkpoint?”
Rufus said, “Yes, we must prepare for the worst. Rest up tonight; tomorrow we face a frontal clash.”
The next day, just after sunset, all border forces were in position. In the command post, John Chen, Adorno, Chief Marlin, and several mayors discussed mountain paths on the map.
Marlin said, “Each path has a defense team. When the enemy attacks, we’ll roll flaming oil barrels down to burn them.”
Mayor Paul worried, “We have fewer than twenty on the main road. If discovered, we may be overrun.”
John Chen said, “Rufus is cautious. He’ll split forces into several columns along the paths. Once they attack, Adorno and I will infiltrate and eliminate their officers to create chaos.”
Marlin confidently said, “Even if the enemy attacks the main road, our trained personnel can handle it.”
At 8:15, enemy columns appeared on the mountain paths. The defending teams waited silently. Soon, fire erupted; the Black Bat vanguard troops were hit by rolling oil barrels, some turning into fireballs, screaming as they tumbled down the mountain.
Officers shouted, “Don’t panic! Push forward!”
Amid the chaos, John Chen and Adorno infiltrated two enemy columns. Adorno used illusions to appear as the Dragon Knight, causing the troops to panic. John Chen, wearing a human mask, ambushed a leading officer.
With their commander dead, the enemy was thrown into chaos. Gunfire erupted; soldiers were shot in the head, collapsing. Rona and Kace killed stragglers from another column.
Rufus, seeing the heavy losses, ordered, “Sound the ghost whistle! Columns converge on the checkpoint and break through!”
The enemy columns advanced, but the station’s defenders resisted fiercely. Chief Marlin, surrounded and low on ammunition, shouted, “I’ll send you to hell with me!” He activated a self-destruct device, causing explosions that killed dozens of enemy soldiers and shook half the mountain.
Rufus, seeing Rona and Kace killing from behind, rushed to confront them. “You two traitors won’t survive tonight!”
He prepared magic attacks, but Rona quickly pulled out the invisibility cloak, covering Kace and herself, disappearing before Rufus’ eyes. They ran, leaving only footprints. Rufus noticed but had to attend to Anderson’s orders. “Keep your lives for now,” he muttered.
Anderson, with Rufus and remnants of his troops, fled past the checkpoint into Switzerland, regrouping near Lake Lucerne.
Anderson asked, “How many troops remain?”
Ghost Night Hound reported, “Only about sixty are still combat-ready.”
Anderson, frustrated, said, “As expected, the enemy used the terrain and ambushes. Worse, there were traitors behind us.”
Rufus said, “I suspect the Dragon Knight and Ghost Jianzou orchestrated this attack. But one thing puzzles me…”
Anderson asked, “What is it?”
Rufus asked, “If the Dragon Knight led the army, why haven’t we seen his elite Iron-Blood Guard?”
Anderson guessed, “Perhaps they are deployed around Lake Lucerne.”
Rufus nodded. “That’s likely. If we encounter them now, we may be annihilated. Ghost Night Hound, scout near Lake Lucerne and report immediately.”
“Understood, Archmage!” Ghost Night Hound vanished into the night.
