Chapter 255: Annihilation of the Entire Army

As June approaches, summer descends upon Brittany, specifically within the Chalon Forest.

An undead army moves through the forest, led by a massive number of terrifying wolves, followed by squares of Grave Guard, then Blood Knights and spectral knights.

Bringing up the rear is the Lichemaster's chariot, flanked by the most elite Blood Knights and Blood Wolves. These repugnant creatures surround Arkhan at the center of the army.

Normally, a vampire army would include Corpse Carts and even the mighty Mortis Engine—a colossal war machine. However, due to Arkhan's hasty movement and the severe damage inflicted on Mousillon, there was no capacity to produce such behemoths for this war.

Arkhan, riding on his chariot, listens to the scout's report: "The domain of Baron Jean is a tough nut to crack. Intelligence suggests there are about twenty Grail Knights stationed within the Baron's vineyard, and it's highly likely that the Lady of the Lake is hiding among them."

The Lichemaster's eyes, aflame with eerie blue fire, hesitates on whether to raid Ryan's domain. Arkhan's interest in slaughtering Ryan's land is minimal; his primary concern is the whereabouts of Morgiana.

The resurrection of Nagash requires the first chosen of such a deity, making Morgiana the perfect magical conduit. With few options available, Morgiana, due to her solitary nature, lack of close combat prowess, and the willingness of the treemen to cooperate, is Arkhan's most accessible target.

Other ideal targets, like the Everqueen Alarielle of the High Elves, mostly reside in the sanctuary of Avalon in Azyr, a secure haven. Arkhan has brainstormed various methods, all nearly impossible to execute.

The situation with Archbishop Volkmar the Grim is different. If the previous targets are considered non-combatants in terms of close combat prowess, Volkmar is a melee maniac. His combat strength rivals that of a mighty champion of Chaos. Additionally, each generation's Grand Theogonist automatically becomes Sigmar's first chosen, capable of summoning the Twin-Tailed Comet to smite his foes.

Arkhan feels a headache coming on just thinking about it. Hence, he's inclined to try one more time to catch Ryan off guard and recapture Morgiana. The idea of a massacre is secondary.

How to deceive the stationed Grail Knights and achieve his goal?

At that moment, the Lichemaster experiences a sudden premonition of dread.

This inexplicable feeling of bone-deep fear is something Arkhan swears he has never felt before, not even in the most challenging battles against Settra the Imperishable or facing his master, Nagash.

Looking up, Arkhan notices the army halting.

"What's happening? Why have we stopped?" Before he could finish, Arkhan senses danger. His millennia of battle experience instinctively makes him raise his staff and cast a teleportation spell. Arkhan's magical prowess is unquestionable; he vanishes in an instant.

His instincts save him. As he disappears, golden arcs of light appear where his chariot stood.

The Master of Mankind, without his helmet and only wearing a golden laurel, his black hair flowing with the summer breeze of the forest, dons golden armor. His towering figure, over three meters tall, descends like a deity among men. His divine features seem to perform miracles, every move declaring his supremacy.

He is the Master of Mankind, the lord of all.

To his left stands the Primarch of the XIII Legion, Roboute Guilliman, radiating with vibrant life, his presence unparalleled, intimidating the undead army.

On his right, the Primarch of the World Eaters, Angron, stands proudly with his axe, his aura blood-red, like a hound ready for the hunt.

Three Custodes and the Archmagos of the Mechanicum, who are already legends in their own right, seem insignificant in the light of these three figures.

A spell of silence falls over the forest, the undead army in a daze, witnessing the arrival of these formidable beings.

The battle cry of a Blood Knight, filled with zeal and madness, breaks the silence: "For the Emperor, this enemy is worthy of battle!"

With that, the veteran Blood Knight charges at the Emperor.

The Emperor moves, his arm a blur, his sword, burning with undying holy flames, slices the knight in two. The knight's last thoughts are of honor and battle, but his body betrays him, falling apart.

The Emperor, with a roar, declares his arrival: "We are here, crush them!"

"FOR THE EMPEROR!"

"FOR THE OMNISSIAH!"

Despite the overwhelming numbers, no fear is present among the Emperor's Custodes as they raise their Guardian Spears, answering the Emperor's call. The undead army immediately faces their wrath, hundreds of Grave Guards and spectral knights falling in an instant. The Archmagos, with his meltaguns, accurately eliminates the enemy leaders, while Guilliman's sword and Angron's axe wreak havoc, not just on the army, but on their morale and control over the undead.

Yet, it's the golden figure who truly dominates the battlefield, moving through the undead ranks like a bolt of golden lightning, bringing endless destruction and judgment.

In one moment, he cleaves through ranks of Blood Knights; in the next, he carves a swath through the forest floor, dispersing an entire army formation.

As the dust settles, no words can describe the horror of this being's presence, not even the ancient tomes of vampires or the forbidden spells of dark sorcerers.

The Emperor, alone, charges through the undead, leaving nothing but devastation in his wake.

Until nothing stands before him.

Then, with a raise of his hand, platinum flames burn on his fist, his eyes sparkling with golden psychic light. A psychic storm envelops the battlefield, turning any undead into dust under its lightning. The Emperor's wrath is terrifying, a mere thought from him renders the necromancers' efforts to nothing, spells disappearing into the ether.

Until the undead army is utterly dispersed, until the vampire forces summoned over months are slaughtered, until peace returns to the forest, until silence once again reigns.

The battle ends shortly after.

Over ten thousand undead, with only the Lichemaster Arkhan narrowly escaping. Arkhan's choice not to bring Manfred, severely wounded, proved wise.

The Emperor's gaze shifts as if contemplating pursuit but ultimately decides against it. Pursuing Arkhan wouldn't be difficult, but the Master of Mankind does not wish to draw unnecessary attention. Utilizing vast amounts of warp energy might alert the Chaos Gods.

Guilliman pulls his sword from a vampire lord, the silver energy ceaselessly flowing. His Bolter, the Executioner, takes down groups of foes. The Regent carefully aims, ensuring no living thing, dead or alive, remains before lowering his weapon: "Angron, you seem weaker."

"I've only just been reborn; I'm still weak," Angron shakes his head, discarding his notched axe: "I lack a proper weapon."

"That's something you'll have to figure out yourself," the Emperor responds, "This is also a test for you."

"Yes, yes, Ryan gets a finely crafted psychic power armor from you, a prototype sword of the Av

enging Son blessed and modified by you, and I have to fend for myself. What can I say? I'm used to it," Angron's tone is full of sarcasm.

"You butchered your own homeworld after ascending, and now you complain about no one making weapons for you?" the Emperor retorts, his psychic storm obliterating any trace of the undead army. Angron is left speechless, seeking help from the Archmagos, who, under the Emperor's gaze, can only offer sympathy.

"I must have been adopted," Angron grumbles in frustration.

"Enough, Father, Angron. What should we do next?" Guilliman, seeing the situation, tries to defuse the tension and shift the topic. The Archmagos, interested in analyzing and scanning the Lichemaster's abandoned chariot and magical items, seems eager to take them all.

"Wait for Ryan to arrive, then we have other tasks, Guilliman." The Emperor sheathes his sword, indicating it's time to return. Suddenly, as if sensing something, he glances towards a point in the void, then acts as if nothing happened, leading the group back to the safehouse in the valley: "By the way, I heard Ryan is getting engaged?"

"Yes, Father," Angron casually responds, "She's a beautiful noblewoman, very kind and polite. At least I'm satisfied."

"Heh~ That's good news. If Magnus knew, he'd be very happy. Let me think of what to give her."

In the void, a figure in a white silk chiffon dress, drenched in sweat with disheveled golden hair down to her ankles, whispers to herself: "That's Ryan's real father..."

"Some kind of, supreme being."

"I need to hold on tight to Ryan!"

...

Two days later, the reinforcements for Bordeaux, having seen the end of the battle, begin their journey home.

In Ryan's third year in Brittany, the war between the kingdom and the vampires ends in victory for Brittany. After weeks of fierce battles, the vampire army fails to breach the stronghold of Turris Castle on the Grismerie Riverbank, ultimately defeated by Ryan, who circumvents the enemy, burns their siege weapons, and successfully kills the Red Duke, marking the end of the war.

As for the vampire army, after entering the Chalon Forest, their whereabouts remain unknown, never to be seen again.

The dwarf engineer Dugan boasts loudly of their contribution to the war, claiming the dwarven cannons played a decisive role, how a single shot could topple a siege tower or kill hundreds of zombies.

Bordeaux deeply appreciates the dwarves' help, gifting them ten large barrels of malt beer, much to their delight.

Francois says little, as Ryan's forces indeed played a significant role in the battle. Though he only led about two hundred men, their crossbows and combat prowess impressed the Duke, especially Rangers Hex and Olivier. Hex's tactical command and Olivier's bravery stood out, with Olivier alone killing more than a dozen Grave Guards and even two Blood Knights.

"Where's Ryan?" Francois asks Alfred as the army begins its return journey. Ryan mentioned he had to leave for a while after the battle.

"His brother needed him for something," Alfred, now in casual clothes, replies. His Paladin armor is destroyed, and his shield is broken: "He'll return to his domain after handling it."

"Hmm, this battle truly exhausted Ryan. As long as we have the Red Duke's head, the king's orders will soon follow." Francois is pleased with Ryan's potential elevation. The higher his son-in-law's status, the better.

The army moves on.

Meanwhile, in the Chalon Forest, deep within a cavern, a purification ritual nears completion.

A beautiful man with silver hair, pale skin, and a muscular physique lies on a stone bed, sobbing uncontrollably. He dares not look directly at the few standing before him.

His cries echo throughout the cavern.

"Whimpering~"

"Oh, Father, what have I done~"

"Sobbing~"

The towering man, naked except for a blanket covering him, weeps bitterly, inconsolable.

"Sobbing~ Father, I've failed you, sobbing~"

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