The death of the Alien Species did not register the slightest emotional tremor in Zhou Yi's heart. He felt no sympathy for the Vampires being slaughtered, nor did he mourn the Alien Species turning to ash.
In fact, as a detached observer, this sudden counter-measure finally gave the macabre performance a touch of dramatic tension. Earlier, the Alien Species' power had been overwhelmingly decisive, particularly catching the Vampires by surprise. They threatened to sweep the castle unimpeded.
This was precisely what Zhou Yi did not want. His preferred outcome was for both sides to engage in a mutually destructive, fight-to-the-death scenario. That would save him the trouble of a final confrontation.
The current situation, thankfully, had achieved an uneasy balance. Chadnomah had lost most of his shock troops, but still commanded over a hundred entrenched Alien Species soldiers. The Vampires were now armed with large-caliber weaponry designed to pierce the Alien Species' chest plates, and they had installed ultraviolet defense lights.
Only the fortified walls separated them now. This defense line was Chadnomah's main worry. He had no idea how many more defensive traps lay between him and the underground lair, and he could not afford another devastating loss.
The Alien Species' hesitation was exactly what the Vampires were counting on. If the confrontation could be delayed until dawn, the monsters would be forced to retreat. Once fully prepared, the Vampires were confident they could annihilate the remnants.
Chadnomah understood the stakes. Any delay, any wasted moment, meant losing his only chance at revenge. The Dawn Knight's deadline—before tomorrow's sunrise—was his only window. He had paid too high a price for this single night.
In this desperate situation, Chadnomah decided to gamble, testing if the "spectator" would finally step into the arena.
"Dawn Knight! I know you're here! Come out, please! Help me finish my revenge! I promise you'll get everything you want to see!" he roared. His voice was not only perceived by Zhou Yi but was broadcast directly to Machinos via the camera systems.
Machinos's face was livid. "Damn human," he spat.
Machinos would never comprehend the depth of his own odious existence. Had he possessed even a shred of the ancient grace described in the Vampire myths, Zhou Yi might have stayed neutral. But Machinos was a decaying monster clinging to life through cruelty. Zhou Yi decided to align with Chadnomah.
He recognized the raw justice in Chadnomah's desire. When the Prince appealed, Zhou Yi decided to lend a hand and ensure the flame of revenge burned brightly.
Without needing further explanation, Zhou Yi began his demolition work. His objective was simple: open the path to the main battleground, then step back and let the two sides fight their fair battle.
He charged directly at the main cargo elevator in the hall. The steel-forged door was no match for his impact; it crumpled instantly. Zhou Yi plunged into the shaft, activating his X-ray vision and heat rays to sever every integrated circuit device and energy cable along the way. Without power, modern machinery was just scrap metal.
Watching the Dawn Knight forcibly open the route, Chadnomah waved his hand, leading his remaining Alien Species to climb down the open elevator shaft.
However, their descent was cautious. The recent devastation had restored Chadnomah's tactical mind; he needed a steady approach now to prevent further unexpected losses to his vital force.
Zhou Yi ignored Chadnomah's movements, continuing to dismantle his way to the final defensive gate. He stopped there. Beyond that door lay the prepared Vampires, the Alien Species' problem, not his.
More crucially, he found Blade.
Blade was affixed to a strange operating table. Spiked clamps were driven into his wrists and ankles, tearing muscles and blood vessels, allowing his blood to flow directly into a collection apparatus beneath him. The blood was then sealed into refrigerated canisters.
Zhou Yi realized the reason for Blade's absence: the Vampires had captured him.
His doubt cleared, Zhou Yi immediately moved. He still owed Blade a car, and he certainly couldn't let him die like this.
Taking a quick detour, Zhou Yi broke through several thick walls and reached Blade's location.
Blade was alarmingly close to death. Zhou Yi rushed to his side. Medusa's quick scan indicated catastrophic blood loss—according to standard medical protocol, he was unsalvageable. The near-infallible diagnosis brought a wave of regret over Zhou Yi.
He gently slapped Blade's face. "Pal, any last wishes? I'll make sure they're fulfilled."
Blade, despite his condition, was irritated by the hero's eulogizing. He knew he could still be saved.
"Blood. I need blood!" Blade, exhausted from the loss, could only whisper his desperate need. It was a humiliating reliance on others, but he had no choice.
"Alright, I hope this works!" Zhou Yi was confused, unaware of Blade's half-Vampire lineage, but he trusted the man. If blood was the answer, he would provide it. If you die, it won't be on me, he thought pragmatically.
He quickly detached Blade from the table and headed toward the door. He recalled this was a Vampire operation—the factory's raw material was blood.
"Father, I'm here!"
Chadnomah led his subordinates to the final barrier. The tightly sealed metal door would not stop the fire of his revenge. He charged first, slamming into the door without hesitation.
The impact was like a high-speed vehicle hitting bedrock. The door shuddered violently, dust exploded from the surrounding frame, but the steel held fast.
Chadnomah retreated, accelerated, and slammed into it again. The door shook, and this time, another Alien Species, imitating its leader, crashed into the door. Then another, and another. The continuous, concentrated impacts overwhelmed the mechanical door's integrity. It began to fail, inch by inch, slowly forced open by the unrelenting force of Chadnomah and his horde.
The Alien Species surged in like a tide. The fully prepared Vampires raised their weapons and opened fire. Both sides engaged in a fierce, brutal fight.
The Grand Duke Machinos, who hadn't seen true combat in centuries, watched the carnage and felt a wave of fear. He watched Chadnomah and his monsters temporarily stalled, then quietly retreated to the rear, planning his escape. As long as he survived this night, he could regroup and hunt the Alien Species later.
Nysha silently followed her father. Her eyes betrayed confusion and burgeoning doubt about her father's actions. Machinos ignored her; to him, offspring were merely tools, only marginally more important than any other resource.
He whispered an order to Snow Man, then stepped into a private elevator, Nysha following close behind.
Snow Man stood guard outside the elevator. Machinos was the lord he served, and for a warrior, sacrifice was never a difficult concept.
Chadnomah's offense grew increasingly savage. The absence of his father fueled his anxiety and fear. If Machinos escaped, Chadnomah might never find him again. This unbearable thought drove him into a frenzy.
Bullets barely scratched his armored body, and the weak UV radiation had little effect. He tore into the Vampires like a demon from Hell, drinking their fresh blood, striking terror into the defenders.
Under this frenzied assault, the Vampires began to falter. Their casualties far exceeded those of the Alien Species. Defeat was inevitable if the tide wasn't stemmed.
Rehart, seeing the collapse, desperately called for his teammates. He needed the firepower of the Vampire's last defensive measures.
But his calls went unanswered.
In a large armory room, the air was thick with the scent of blood.
A massive Alien Species stood over Chuba's body, half of which had been smashed to pulp, an injury only heavy kinetic force could inflict. Beside Chuba, Weilian's legs were reduced to a bloody mess, yet she desperately struggled to crawl away, her face contorted in fear and despair.
The large Alien Species heard the movement and slowly stood up, walking toward Weilian.
In the faint light, the monster bore an uncanny, seven-tenths resemblance to Light Axe.
Or rather, he used to be called Light Axe. Now, he was just a monster.