The Last Heir of Fallen night

Six Hours Earlier – As the Sun Set

The golden glow of the dying sun seeped through the stained-glass windows of a large, dimly lit war room. At a long round table, thirteen high-ranking human commanders sat in stiff silence. Each of them wore sleek black uniforms laced with silver-threaded insignias, and on their right arms, each bore the most fearsome symbol of human evolution in the vampire war—a silver prosthetic limb, engineered not just for strength, but to kill vampires with a single blow.

Among them sat Thorfinn, newly promoted, his sharp eyes scanning the room. Unlike the others murmuring quietly to one another, Thorfinn remained silent. His presence was cold and calculating. But even he, hardened by blood and battlefield, felt an unfamiliar weight in the air.

A sound echoed through the chamber, footsteps. Instantly, the chatter died. Not from respect From fear. The door creaked open slowly, and the so-called "Leader" walked in alone. No guards, no entourage. Just him. He didn't need protection.

Thorfinn's breath caught when he saw him for the first time. He looked like... a child.

Short, pale, with golden hair and a face so young it seemed carved from innocence itself. But the way he walked—the calmness in his steps, the heavy silence that followed him told a different story.

This was no child.

This was a monster draped in the skin of youth.

The Leader didn't sit in a chair like the rest. He hopped up onto the table itself, legs dangling off the edge, and flashed a cheerful smile that felt like acid against the tension in the room.

"Well, hello fellas!" he said brightly. "How's everyone doing? Oh wow—I see some fresh faces today. This meeting is going to be so exciting!"

He scanned the room with shining eyes that saw far more than anyone wanted them to. Then he pointed lazily at one of the commanders.

"You. Why don't you start us off with your report?"

The commander stood slowly, clearly trembling. "Y-Yes, sir," he stammered. "I was in charge of the southern region of the vampire continent. I—uh—we've managed to destroy all the vampire cities assigned to my division."

The Leader tilted his head with mock surprise. "All of them? Are you sure you're not hiding anything? You know how much I hate lies..."

The man's face turned pale. Beads of sweat slid down his brow. "N-No sir. I'm not hiding i was gooing to tell you"

"Oh, I'm so sorry for interrupting," he said, placing a hand over his heart like a child caught talking in class. "Please, continue!"

The commander swallowed hard. "W-We've conquered every city in the region except one... Dracu City." That name made several heads turn. The Leader's smile faded.

"And why is that?"

The commander replied, voice trembling. "Because when we attacked Dracu City... it wasn't just one king defending it. The kings of Diabolos City and Marko City were also present. No matter how many soldiers we sent, we couldn't overpower the combined strength of the three. Every attempt... ended in failure."

The Leader's expression changed. Gone was the cheerful grin. His face was blank—eerily calm. "So let me understand this," he said. "You didn't just fail to destroy Dracu... you also confirmed that the kings of two other vampire cities are alive and fighting side by side."

The commander dropped to his knees. "Please... forgive me. I—"

BANG!

A single shot rang out from the Leader's pistol. The commander's lifeless body collapsed onto the polished floor, blood trickling onto the silver designs beneath him.

The Leader twirled his gun playfully and said, in a cold, cheerful voice, "There's no place for losers at this table."

The others didn't move. They didn't speak. They hardly dared to breathe.

"Now," he said, raising his voice, "is anyone else hiding something from me? Speak now, and you might be spared. Lie... and you'll die like this pathetic shit here."

The room stayed silent.

The Leader took a deep breath, then slowly smiled again, as if nothing had happened.

He turned his gaze toward Thorfinn.

"Ah... you must be the new one," he said, voice soft and full of intrigue. "Thorfinn, isn't it? I've heard a lot about you."

Thorfinn straightened in his seat.

"From now on, you'll handle the Dracu City situation. That means taking down the three kings. All of them. That job is yours now."

Thorfinn nodded without hesitation. "Yes, sir."

"And the rest of you," the Leader said, spinning on the table, "will begin the hunt for that mythical vampire sanctuary. The one they call the Hidden City... the City of Myths. We can't let even the idea of that place exist. I want it found. And burned."

Then his smile widened.

"Oh, and speaking of this very important mission... allow me to introduce you to your new assistants!"

He clapped his hands.

The doors opened again.

Thirteen figures entered the room, each wearing long black robes and blank silver masks. They were silent as shadows, their faces completely hidden.

"These," the Leader said, gesturing with excitement, "will be your guides, your allies... or maybe your executioners. Who knows? Each of you will receive one." He glanced around the table. "Oh wait. There are thirteen of them, but only twelve of you now..." He giggled. "Whoops! Well, I guess Thorfinn gets two! Lucky you!" And with a mischievous wave, he declared, "This meeting is over. You can all go. Go on, go, go, go! Hehehe!"

As the commanders stood and filed out, many casting anxious glances at the masked figures behind them, Thorfinn remained still—his sharp eyes focused on the two who stepped silently behind him.

Present Time

Back in the ruins of the Celeste College, Drake, Magnus, Professor Lira, and Lili stood fully prepared. Armed, disguised, and ready for the journey into the mysterious forest known as Twilight.

Their eyes met.

No words were needed.

They had survived.

They had endured.

Now... they were heading into the unknown.

To be continued...