Terra Aeterna: The Rise of Humanity's War Machine

Kenthelion paid no mind to Selene and Amalia, who were deep in conversation. Without a word, he turned on his heel and strode toward the warship hangar. His intent was crystal clear: he wanted to test the power of Marcus Corvinus with his own hands.

With unwavering steps, the emperor boarded the Medivac dropship. Its engines rumbled low, then slowly lifted the craft from the hangar floor, carrying Kenthelion toward Marcus's last known location.

Meanwhile, in a dimly lit chamber lined wall-to-wall with ancient tomes, a vampire historian was enjoying the solitude. He was immersed in his research when the heavy door creaked open—and Marcus Corvinus stepped through.

The historian's face turned pale in an instant. He knew who was standing in the doorway. More importantly, he knew the legend that followed him.

Vampire Historian

"M-My Lord Marcus Corvinus... you've awakened."

His voice trembled. Without hesitation, he dropped to his knees, bowing his head in fear and reverence.

Marcus Corvinus

"There's only one thing I want to know. Where is the prison?"

His tone was cold, void of emotion. His eyes cut through the vampire like daggers, probing into the depths of his soul.

Vampire Historian

"My Lord... I—I can tell you. But... please, don't kill me..."

Panic seeped into his voice. His entire body quivered as if caught in a blizzard.

Marcus Corvinus

"That won't be necessary."

He stepped forward.

"I'll know what I need to know."

A sharp crack of bone echoed—KREEK—followed by a wet, sickening SQUELCH as fangs pierced flesh. The room's temperature dropped in an instant. Marcus's breath brushed against the historian's pallid skin, accompanied by a soft hiss—"Ssshhh..."—and a muffled cry of pain.

Vampire Historian

"No! My Lord, I can... ahhh..."

The words died in his throat as Marcus sank his teeth deep into the vampire's neck, draining him—memories and all.

Marcus Corvinus

"So... that's where they're keeping my brother, William."

He let the lifeless body slump to the floor, blood still dripping from the corner of his mouth.

"But I still need the key. Where's the key?"

He stood in silence for a beat, processing the flood of knowledge he had just absorbed. His eyes narrowed.

Marcus

"Looks like I'll have to find Kraven..."

Footsteps echoed behind him. Marcus whirled around, alert and ready. Standing there was a man with long black hair and sharp Middle Eastern features. He was a stranger to Marcus—unfamiliar, but not unwelcome.

Marcus

"Who are you? Speak."

His tone was sharp, wary. Fangs still bared.

Kenthelion

"Relax... I'm just checking in on a loyal son."

His voice was calm—too calm—and laced with dry sarcasm. This was Kenthelion. And his presence here was no coincidence. He had come to see for himself if Marcus Corvinus's blood was truly worth taking.

Marcus stared at the human, unblinking. He couldn't believe what he was seeing—someone standing in front of him without the slightest hint of fear. The man simply looked around the room, as if Marcus were little more than furniture.

Marcus Corvinus

"You must have a death wish, human."

His voice was low, yet it thundered through the chamber. But the man—Kenthelion—didn't even flinch. He didn't look back. His steps were light, his eyes calmly scanning the room.

Marcus's rage exploded.

In a blur, he lunged forward—claws bared, fangs out—ready to tear the human apart and drain him dry.

But before his claws could even graze Kenthelion's skin—

"BWOOSH!!"

A devastating kick slammed into Marcus's abdomen, knocking the air from his lungs.

"KRAKK!!"

His body flew backward, crashing into the damp cavern wall. Cracks spiderwebbed outward. Stones snapped loose and shards of rock exploded into the air.

"UGHAAKH!"

Marcus choked out as the wall collapsed, burying him beneath the rubble.

Kenthelion stood before the wreckage, gazing at it for a brief moment. Then, with a soft sigh—

Kenthelion

"What a waste of effort... I only came to take a look."

He stepped deeper into the subterranean chamber, lined with ancient bookcases and dust-coated glass vials. Calmly, he pulled out a small device and began extracting Marcus's blood from the body still pinned beneath the rubble.

One vial. Two. Then five—filled with dark crimson liquid.

Marcus groaned, his eyes fluttering open. When he saw the blood in the man's hands, fury erupted within him.

Marcus Corvinus

"You filthy human... I'll make you scream before I kill you!"

Suddenly, Marcus surged up from the debris—transformed. Bat-like wings burst from his back, claws grew longer, and his entire body shifted into the monstrous form that once terrorized the world.

He launched himself at Kenthelion.

But—DUAR!! Another blow connected squarely with his face, sending him crashing to the ground.

Kenthelion stepped forward, pressing a boot firmly against Marcus's chest, pinning him down with casual strength.

Kenthelion

"You're pathetic, Marcus."

His gaze was cold. Disgusted. To him, Marcus was no threat—just a faded shadow of the great name Alexander Corvinus, his father, whose legacy still echoed through time.

Marcus hissed, slashing desperately at Kenthelion's leg.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Metallic rings echoed through the chamber. Not a single strike pierced the man's skin—it was like slashing at steel.

Kenthelion

"Don't test me... or I will kill you. I'm letting you live this time—for his sake."

Then—DOOM!!—one final kick hurled Marcus back into the wall. His body slumped to the ground, unconscious.

---

When Marcus regained consciousness, the chamber was silent.

There was no sign of the man.

Only the stillness remained.

His eyes widened. Kenthelion was gone—along with five full vials of his blood.

But what unsettled him the most was that the man never once revealed his name. And yet… he clearly knew Marcus. Knew him too well.

Far above, Kenthelion boarded a Medivac transport. The engines hummed quietly. Within seconds, the aircraft lifted off and ascended into the skies, heading toward a colossal Battlecruiser floating silently in orbit.

His mission was complete.

For now.

---

Central Military Command Headquarters – Government Barracks

General Ferenc Veér watched his troops exterminate the remaining vampires on the main screen. Only a small number had escaped. The operation was, by all accounts, a success—and it pleased him.

General Ferenc Veér

"Did you locate that helicopter?" he asked the officer standing beside him.

Government Officer

"General, nothing was found... aside from a few eyewitness reports."

General Ferenc Veér

"Then check again. Use the satellites, deploy everyone—we need to find that chopper and figure out who interfered with our operation."

Veér's temples twitched with fury. That helicopter had disrupted the precision of the vampire capture mission.

Government forces launched another round of investigations—but still, nothing. Under the shadow of the Red Queen and the protection of a Battlecruiser in orbit, it was impossible for them to trace its origin.

News of the failure reached Defense Minister János Szabó. He was deeply disappointed to learn that while most of the vampires had been eliminated, the ancient one—the Elder—remained at large. Doubting the capabilities of the military, he made a decision and issued a direct order to Intelligence.

Defense Minister János Szabó

"Inform Intelligence. The police will now work in full cooperation with the military. We must find that monster. And make it clear—this is a direct order from the President."

The message spread quickly.

Across Hungary, a full-scale search began. Military and police swept through cities and countryside alike, scouring every corner for signs of the monster. Civilians didn't know the full story—they only knew something terrifying was being hunted. Most people chose to remain indoors, too frightened to ask questions.

Then came the report.

A flying monster had been sighted at a remote farm.

Within moments, strike teams were mobilized. Fighter jets and military helicopters scrambled to the location.

Marcus, who had taken temporary refuge at the farm, saw the aircraft approaching. Without hesitation, he took to the air, hoping to escape into the darkness of the surrounding forest.

But he didn't go unseen.

A spotlight from a chopper locked onto him. More aircraft joined in, lighting up the night. Gunfire erupted in a deafening chorus.

The sound of rotor blades grew louder—WUUUM-WUUUM-WUUUM!

Then came the staccato of machine gun fire from above.

BRRRTTT! BRRRTTT!

Bullets rained down on Marcus. The spotlight never left him, and more bursts followed—

TAK-TAK-TAK-TAK!

WHUUMP-WHUUMP—BRRRRRRRRT!

Despite his desperate maneuvers, the sheer number of helicopters and the power of their weapons overwhelmed him. He was shot down—badly wounded—and finally captured by the military.

---

Battlecruiser Warship – Private Quarters

The air inside Kenthelion's private chamber was warm and tranquil, a stark contrast to the chaos unfolding beyond the steel hull of the warship. Selene lay nestled in Kenthelion's arms, both of them silently contemplating the rapidly evolving situation outside. News had already spread—Marcus had been captured by the government. And yet, Kenthelion had made no move to intervene. As far as he was concerned, that was Alexander Corvinus's problem—the father of Marcus and likely the only one who still cared.

Selene:

"Marcus has been taken. Do you think Alexander will get involved to save him?" she asked softly, her gaze fixed on Kenthelion as he stared out the large observation window at the stars beyond.

Kenthelion:

"I don't know," he replied flatly. "I honestly have no idea what that old man is thinking anymore."

A brief silence settled between them before Selene changed the subject.

Selene:

"By the way, Lucian contacted me today. He's requesting firearms. But... they're running low on logistics too."

Kenthelion frowned. That name—familiar, yet distasteful—lingered in his memory.

Kenthelion:

"Lucian? That mutt still around and already starving?" he scoffed. "I thought they were just hiding. Seems like things are worse than I thought."

He exhaled sharply, clearly uninterested in dwelling on the matter.

Kenthelion:

"Take what you need from the military stockpile. If you want to help them, go ahead."

Selene:

"So, you're really allowing it?"

Kenthelion:

"Handle it yourself. Give them whatever you think is necessary. We've got more than enough supplies. Those weapons aren't exactly doing much good just sitting around," he said indifferently, as if the matter wasn't worth another second of his time.

Selene gave a faint smile. She appreciated that Kenthelion didn't micromanage things outside his priorities, yet still granted permission in his own way.

Selene:

"Alright. I'll send them the supplies. Lucian might be stubborn, but he's still reliable."

Kenthelion:

"Do what you have to. I'm going to find out where Kraven's hiding."

Selene nodded. Rising from the bed, she slipped back into her signature black leather combat attire and prepared to leave.

Selene:

"Then I'll handle the shipment now."

Minutes later, six Medivac transport ships launched from the belly of the massive Battlecruiser, soaring toward the surface. Each carried containers filled with weapons, ammunition, and survival supplies—delivered to coordinates Lucian had sent earlier. For the werewolf faction, this drop was more than just gear.

It was a flicker of hope.

Werewolf Refuge – Underground Bunker

The condition of the werewolves had grown increasingly dire. With their food supplies dwindling and the near extinction of the vampire clans, the pressure on their faction had only intensified. They no longer dared to set foot in the cities, fearing that their presence would attract the attention of a far greater threat—humans.

Inside a cold underground bunker, Lucian stood before a narrow window slit, eyes scanning the desolate landscape beyond. The wind howled faintly outside, carrying with it a chill that seeped into the bones of their crumbling sanctuary.

Lucian (inner monologue):

Kraven's gone off the grid… If the government unleashes its full military strength, do we even stand a chance of surviving?

His thoughts were interrupted by the creak of a door opening.

Raze:

"Boss. Selene's here."

Lucian turned sharply.

Lucian:

"Let's go."

He and Raze quickly made their way to the surface. In the distance, six Medivac transport ships descended from the sky, engines humming low and steady. They landed in perfect formation in the clearing just beyond the bunker's entrance.

As the bay doors opened, Selene emerged—graceful and composed in her signature black combat gear. Lucian approached her at a brisk pace.

Lucian:

"Selene. Welcome."

Selene:

"Lucian, I brought you some supplies. Just a heads-up—this is standard-issue government military gear. Nothing fancy from Kenthelion's personal arsenal."

She gestured to the massive containers being offloaded by Terran troops.

"Tell your people to move them underground immediately."

Lucian's expression shifted from cautious surprise to visible relief.

Lucian:

"Thank you, Selene."

His gaze lingered on the crates.

"I didn't expect this much. It's… more than we hoped for."

He quickly signaled to his men. The werewolves scrambled to unload the supplies, working with the urgency of a starving pack.

Selene:

"Lucian, you all need to be careful now. The vampires are nearly gone. If humans catch you out in the open… it could mean the end of your kind."

Her tone was firm, even cold—but underneath it, a quiet concern lingered.

Lucian:

"I know. We'll be more cautious."

Selene didn't linger. Once she confirmed the cargo was secured, she turned back and boarded the Medivac. Moments later, the engines roared to life, shattering the silence of the valley as the aircraft lifted off, bound for the battlecruiser.

---

Aboard the Flagship – Alexander Corvinus's Strategy Room

High above Earth, on one of the main ships orbiting the planet, Alexander Corvinus stood before a glowing tactical display. Satellite imaging revealed Marcus's location—locked away in a heavily fortified military compound guarded by thousands of soldiers.

He didn't move. His face was impassive, sharpened by thought and calculation.

Alexander Corvinus (whispering to himself):

"Marcus… I know you're waiting for me. But I can't afford a reckless move. Their air patrols are too dense."

Then—an idea. His expression shifted subtly. Drawing a long breath, he turned from the console, eyes narrowing with purpose.

Alexander Corvinus:

"It's time to bring Kenthelion into this. The transaction must be fulfilled."

The decision was made. If he couldn't rescue Marcus personally, then Kenthelion—armed with unparalleled technology and firepower—would be his final card to play.

The war was inevitable.

The world was holding its breath.