Warhammer Divine Throne

Before leaving, Desiree gave a subtle glance at Mogiana, who was covered in dirt and leaves, a hint of sorrow flickered across the twisted and malicious face of the female tree spirit, who felt guilty about her actions.

But thinking of her plan, the female tree spirit felt it was worth betraying Mogiana, all because of those damned Wood Elves, their existence severely disrupted the balance of Aisloron. Over thousands of years, the female tree spirit had witnessed the savage acts and provocative behaviors of Wood Elves towards external enemies. Even if Wood Elves fought bloodily to protect the forest, the ravaging and sorrowful Desiree could no longer comprehend and empathize with such feelings.

Now, all she wants is to eliminate all the Wood Elves in Aisloron and return the forest to the dominion of the tree spirits. For this purpose, she is willing to sacrifice everything.

After the tree spirit left, only Mogiana and Manfred remained in the clearing of the woods.

Mogiana’s beautiful golden hair, shining under the light, was matted with dirt. Between the trees was an altar tainted with filth and Undead Energy, framed with white bones, adorned with assorted treasures, embroidered cushions, and other lavish decorations displaying the gaudy luxury of vampires.

”Is this your goal, Manfred von Castain? I curse you!” Mogiana uttered a vile curse, but Manfred remained unfazed: ”If you had cursed me at your prime, it might have mattered.”

The formidable Vampire Count, Manfred von Castain, hailed from the empire during the infamous ”Three Emperors’ Chaos” when vampire families rose from Hilvanian, notably the von Castain Clan led by Vlad, who seized the Hilvanian Prince-Elector title, transforming the entire Prince-Elector’s Territory into a haunting realm, a homeland for the Undead.

Among them, the most renowned vampire leader was Vlad von Castain. He nearly defeated the empire completely, but the Prince-Electors realized the threat, and Vlad was defeated by their united efforts, leading to Hilvanian being purged by the army.

During an internal conflict within the Castain family over dominance, Manfred kept a low profile, refraining from vying for power, focusing instead on studying Undead Magic and masquerading as a human noble traveling the world.

To seek deeper necromantic knowledge, he traveled alone to the distant, ancient land of Nikohara, the origin of necromancy. In this ominous place, through arduous research, Manfred mastered all secrets of Necromancy, returning to Hilvanian to become the new leader of vampires.

During the Battle of Helven, the empire defeated Manfred and his Undying Legion again, but vampires are notoriously hard to kill. Mogiana’s green eyes fixed on Manfred’s hairless head; the Lake Witch knew this formidable vampire had returned once again.

The Lake God Witch was placed on the altar, her wrists and ankles securely bound. She contemplated escape while attempting to understand what had transpired: ”Capturing me serves no purpose. Historically, Lake God Witches have died in battle, but as long as the Lady remains, a new Lake God Witch will be reborn from the new Lake God Prophet. Your plan cannot succeed!”

”Perhaps you’re trying to learn more truths from me, but unfortunately, I must tell you, you’re merely a piece to resurrect the Master, specific details unknown to me. Akhan, the Master’s loyal hound, has told me nothing more.” Manfred casually replied to Mogiana’s words, then took out the sixth volume of Nagash’s Nine Volumes, aiming it at Mogiana, and began casting spells.

Even captured, the Lake God Witch still possessed Mana infused and blessed by the Lake Fairy, making it impossible for Manfred to directly grant her a ”Blood Kiss” to turn her into a vampire. Attempting this would cause immense harm to Manfred himself.

He must first extract the magical power from Mogiana, so the Vampire Count unleashed the Sixth-Ring Magic, Life Siphon.

”Ugh~ ah!” Mogiana’s Mana uncontrollably surged out, and the Lake God Witch couldn’t control her body as a substantial amount of Mana was extracted from her, causing her to scream uncontrollably out of extreme pain. Her exquisitely beautiful face twisted in agony, the torment of magical power being stripped away nearly driving her insane.

Emerald green Mana partially dissipated into the air, some transformed into dreadful Undead Magic, while Manfred accepted the gift from the Lake God Witch with growing power.

What to do? What to do? Pain forced Mogiana to maintain clear consciousness, as the Lake God Witch diligently thought of escape routes. She had little time left; as soon as her magical power was drained entirely, it would be the moment she succumbed to the Blood Kiss and transformed into a vampire!

The Mana dwindled until depleted, the situation grew more precarious, with dawn breaking and a hint of day light creeping in.

The despairing Lake God Witch suddenly felt a scorching sensation on her lower abdomen.

It was the seal left by Laine, a silver heart with spread wings, and a longsword emblem shining brightly.

An overwhelming wave of emotions surged through Mogiana as she closed her eyes, striving to sense the fiery energy within the seal. Inside the seal, Laine’s light blue Spiritual Energy continued to operate, inexplicably unaffected even by the female tree spirit’s Ancient Tree Spirit Liquid.

The Vampire Count’s Life Siphon triggered the seal’s defensive mechanism, causing the seal to activate!

Mogiana gathered her last remaining strength, attempting to channel the magical power within Laine’s seal.

Laine! Lend me your power.

I need you!

Miraculously, the seal opened, and the energy within it flowed into Mogiana’s body. Although minuscule, it was sufficient for the Holy Sanctuary tier Lake God Witch to cast spells!

Thus, Mogiana struggled to lift her wrist and quietly chanted a Fourth Ring spell.

”Fury of the Forest!”

Brambles and branches erupted from the ground, binding Manfred and his body tightly. The Life Siphon was broken, and the spell backlash caused intense pain in the Vampire Count’s head, making him clutch it in agony: ”Ahhhh!”

Instinctively, the Vampire Count hurled the longsword, the Blade of Profanity, at Mogiana.

”Ugh!” The Lake God Witch’s grunt of pain followed.

The dissipating emerald energy in the air exploded, forming thick smoke.

”Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! This damn woman actually managed to hide even a last bit of Mana!” Manfred roared in fury, his formidable Undead Magic Power flashed, causing the branches and brambles binding him to crumble into fragments and ashes under the corrosive force of Undead Magic, dispersing the thick smoke completely.

Looking up, the altar was left with just a trace of blood, no sign of Mogiana anywhere.

”Ahhhh!” Manfred raged furiously, having let the Lake God Witch escape?

The Vampire Count was a powerful Undead Grand Mage; with a moment’s sensing, he knew the direction Mogiana used the teleportation technique to flee. The Lake God Witch had been injected with threefold Ancient Tree Spirit Liquid and got struck by his Blade of Profanity. Even normal movement was a challenge; her teleportation technique couldn’t have gone far.

Chase!

Manfred picked up the Blade of Profanity and pursued the direction Mogiana used the teleportation technique.

......

In truth, Mogiana hadn’t escaped far, only about twelve hundred meters from the altar. The Lake God Witch emerged from the void, falling headlong onto the roots of a large tree, her Mana exhausted.

An overwhelming sense of fatigue and weakness prevented Mogiana from standing, her body devoid of any strength due to the effects of the potion. The Lake God Witch clutched her left side, with threads of fresh blood seeping through her fingers; she had narrowly avoided a vital point, but her left waist suffered a long slash.

”Lady, my Lady, I... Mogiana may no longer be able to serve you.” The Lake God Witch struggled to stand, muttering: ”Laine... perhaps I should have listened to you...”