A black tide of skeletons, ghouls, and decayed horrors surged toward the Imperial fortress. Their hollow eyes burned with eerie blue fire, and their rusted weapons clattered as they moved in unholy unison. At their center, a vampire, draped in shadowed robes, stood atop a floating slab of bone, arcane power crackling around him.
The Imperial soldiers on the walls were already fighting, their gunpowder weapons blasting away at the undead ranks. The dwarves were moving into position, barking orders and loading up the landship's cannons.
I cracked my neck, rolling my shoulders.
[Grey]: Let's see how well this thing handles the undead.
The dwarves let out a battle cheer as the massive drill at the front of the landship roared to life.
[Dwarf Captain]: Lads, FIRE UP THE RUNES! LET'S SHOW THESE BONE-BOYS WHAT DWARVEN ENGINEERING CAN DO!
The landship lurched forward, cannons blazing, as we charged into the undead horde.
it didn't take long until the undead were laid to rest, I looked at the dead body of the vampire that I had just ripped his heart out and at the half-frozen and burned battlefield and then I turned my head and looked at the dwarf near me
[Grey]: why are the undead attacking this fort?
The dwarf spat onto the frozen ground, wiping soot from his beard.
[Dwarf]: Well, lad, ye best brace yerself for a long tale.
I crossed my arms, standing over the half-frozen, scorched battlefield littered with shattered skeletons and smoldering ghouls. The landship's cannons still smoked, and the drill at the front dripped with bone dust and ichor.
[Dwarf]: This here is close to Sylvania—cursed land of the dead, home to vampires, necromancers, an' all sorts of nasties that shouldn't be walkin' about.
He gestured toward the fallen vampire, his body already crumbling to ash as the unnatural magic left it.
[Dwarf]: Every few years, these bloodsuckers get bold. They test the borders, clawing for more land. Normally, the Empire keeps them in check, but sometimes… the bastards get ambitious.
I nodded slowly, my gaze drifting toward the distant fortress. Imperial reinforcements were marching out, banners high, their black-powder weapons gleaming under the sunlight.
[Grey]: Hope we don't have to go anywhere near that place.
[Dwarf]: Well, too bad. We've got to reach the Moot, then push on to Altdorf. The Emperor's waiting, and we need to strike a deal—those weapons could turn the tide against the Chaos horde up north.
I groaned, rubbing my temples.
[Grey]: Of course we do. Because why would anything be simple?
The dwarf chuckled, slapping my back hard enough to nearly knock me forward.
[Dwarf]: Aye, lad, welcome to the Empire. Where every road leads to war and every deal comes with a blade in the back—sometimes literal.
I sighed, staring at the distant fortress, and then at the vast landscape beyond.
The Moot—home to the Halflings. Peaceful folk, known for their cooking, beer, and an uncanny ability to stay out of the worst of the world's madness. Then Altdorf, the seat of the Emperor, the heart of the Empire. If we could get those weapons into the right hands, they'd be able to hold back Chaos.
Well, that was the plan but...,
I sighed, staring at the Emperor of Man himself, Karl Franz, resplendent in his gilded armor, his piercing gaze locked onto me. His massive griffin, Deathclaw, stood beside him, feathers bristling, its predatory eyes filled with suspicion.
This was not the plan.
[Grey]: Let me get this straight… You want us—me, the dwarves, and this oversized iron wagon—to go and exterminate the vampires?
[Karl Franz]: You have already proven yourself against the undead. Your weapons and war machines are unlike anything the Empire has ever seen. With you at our side, we can strike at the heart of Sylvania and rid the world of these monsters.
The dwarves around me were already muttering among themselves. Some were grinning—vampire hunting meant a lot of grudges settled. Others, particularly the engineers, looked less thrilled at the idea of marching straight into the cursed lands of the undead.
I crossed my arms.
[Grey]: And what do we get out of this?
The Emperor smirked, already expecting the question.
[Karl Franz]: Gold, land, full access to the royal archives and the Colleges of Magic, unrestricted use of Imperial forges and craftsmen to further develop your weapons… And, most importantly, recognition. The Empire rewards its allies.
That was a damn tempting offer. Magic knowledge, advanced blacksmiths, and a permanent foothold in one of the most powerful nations in the world? That was more than just a reward—it was a path to power.
I glanced at the Dwarf Lord standing beside me. His thick beard twitched as he considered the Emperor's words.
[Dwarf Lord]: Lad, if we do this, it'll be a tale sung for generations. But fightin' vampires ain't like fightin' orks or ratmen. It'll be a war of attrition. A nightmare…
He paused, then grinned, his eyes gleaming with grudge-fueled hatred.
[Dwarf Lord]: A fun nightmare. Finally, I can avenge our ancestors and settle some personal grudges with the bloodsucking bastards.
I exhaled through my nose.
[Grey]: Fine. But I lead my forces. No Imperial officer trying to get me killed for 'honor' or some nonsense. And I want full access to anything we capture—artifacts, relics, knowledge.
Karl Franz nodded, his expression serious.
[Karl Franz]: Agreed. Then from this moment forth, you and your forces are part of the Imperial War Effort. We march at dawn.
The deal was struck.
[One Week Later – The March on Sylvania]
The land around us had changed.
Gone were the rolling green fields and bustling towns of the Empire. Now, withered trees clawed at the sky, and the ground was blackened and lifeless. A thick, unnatural fog clung to the land, swirling unnaturally against the wind.
The road ahead led to Castle Drakenhof, the ancient stronghold of the Von Carstein bloodline—the heart of vampire power in Sylvania.
[Gray]: I can't believe we've made it this far in just a week. Thought it would take longer to get to Castle Drakenhof.
[Dwarf Lord]: All thanks to you, lad. You've carved a path through this cursed land, and even killed many leeches on your own. Not to mention the hunters you brought along. They've been a blessing.
He gestured toward the group of veteran vampire hunters and warriors I bought from the system, their faces grim and weathered. They were fully geared and prepared for whatever vampiric horrors we were about to face.
The Emperor, who had initially been skeptical of the hunters' unusual origins, was now impressed with their efficiency. They had been instrumental in thinning the ranks of the undead, using everything from silvered blades to sunlight bombs—they knew exactly how to deal with vampires.
I looked over at the vampire hunters standing at the ready. Clad in leather armor and armed with silvered weapons, they were a mix of seasoned warriors and hardened survivors. Their eyes burned with determination, and their presence sent a shiver through the undead-infested land. The Emperor himself had given them his blessing after hearing about their successes in hunting down stragglers from Von Carstein's army
[Chapter end]