Staring uneasily out the windows, towards the direction of the front line that her eyes could not even see, Evie remained tense long after Luc had dropped her off according to Gavriel's orders. She somehow felt that the air was heavier and chillier, even though the temperature was the same as last night.

Unease and worry laid heavy on her as if there were a boulder sitting on her chest. She remembered those times in her younger years, she and her mother used to feel this way every time her father goes out to war. It was an awful feeling. Like she was holding back her breath the whole time and could only breath again when he finally come back home, alive. And this time, she could obviously feel her anxiety was more intense.

Taking a deep breath, Evie gripped the dagger Gavriel had gifted to her. Tonight, she was not going to do anything but to patiently wait and hope and fervently pray that her husband will be fine and fulfil his promise… that he will be returning to her side. She sighed with the knowledge that it would be a very long night.

…

Meanwhile, at the battlefield, swords flashed and clanged against another, roars echoed, and there was no shortage of blood and dead bodies being scattered everywhere – as far as the eye could see. Such was the sad outcome of an already large army going against another much larger army.

Gavriel's men, Samuel, Luc – who had since then re-joined his team after sending Evie off, Levy, Reed and Zolan were scattered into the areas where the fighting was fiercest, aiding the outnumbered Dacrian soldiers. They were strong, slashing mightily against the imperial armies, tearing them apart like they were nothing but feeble grasses around them. Their vigour and power had revived the fighting spirit of the soldiers and true to what Gavriel had said, it seemed that all their troops needed was to see their power unleashed upon their enemies and they would arise and fight with everything they had.

Even though there were still too many imperial armies swarming around them, the soldiers were now fighting at their full power and potential, and that was enough. Everyone must fight with everything they had to help their prince win the war and protect Dacria.

The battle between Gavriel and two half-blooded vampires were intense. These two half-blooded were beyond strong. They were among the five greatest warriors in the entire vampire empire. Their abilities and powers were simply unrivalled. That was why they were feared and regarded as national treasures of the empire. However, in reality, Gavriel knew that they were simply glorified weapons for their rulers' use.

Gavriel's blade was swift and deadly, and repeatedly crushed against the half-blooded called Gallas. Gallas physically stood much larger than Gavriel and the supernatural powers he had were as expected, nothing short of incredible. One swing from such a huge creature would send a horde of soldiers flying, dead upon impact.

The power of each single strike was too strong that there were a few times Gavriel nearly lost grip of his blade. But the prince had proved himself faster. He dodged each incoming swing and then another until he suddenly appeared behind the huge half-blood and struck him at a critical point from behind.

As expected, Gallas' skin was tough as an armour, but Gavriel still managed to inflict such a huge wound that made the half-blood roar in rage and pain.

Gavriel was still suspended in midair leap when Leon aimed a spear at him. The spear came at him fast and not unlike a huge arrow. Gavriel dodged and the spear missed him but Gallas swung his fist and came at him. The prince managed to react by blocking with his arms as he could not dodge in time and caught the blow. But that hit was so strong he was thrown many strides away and crashed against the wall.

The force of the impact was so great it created a huge depression in the wall where Gavriel landed.

The half-bloods made their way towards the wall where Gavriel had landed, all the while, swinging their deadly fists around and killing the Dacrian soldiers who tried to block their way like they were just tearing apart figures made of rice paper. None of Gavriel's five men came to his rescue even though some of them saw what had happened.

Gallas snorted as he stood there, looking at the debris of crumbled stones. "I was so looking forward to this war, thinking that we would be having some sort of challenge. But it seems that the crown prince had really overestimated this traitor prince way too much." Gallas scorned, spitting uncouthly to the ground. "I could take him down all by myself! Didn't even need to break a sweat. I don't understand why the emperor had to send the three of us."

"The war is not over yet. And the prince is not quite dead too." Leon's voice was flat.

"He might as well be as good as dead. If not for the prince's approval that I can claim prince Gavriel's wife as spoils of war if I take his head and help him win this war, I would've just stayed with prince Caius in the command tent and let Tau fight him with you." Gallas spat out in disgust once again. "This is getting so boring. I thought at least he's going to last a little longer. I'm just going to finish him off and go claim his wife. He's not worth my fucking time –"

Before Gallas could take another step in approaching the pile of debris, he halted. Leon was already on alert as if he had already sensed something off before Gallas could even halt.

"Oh, is that so?" A voice suddenly echoed. They recognised and knew it to be the traitor prince's voice but why was it that they suddenly felt a strange chill just at the sound of his voice? Half-blooded vampires do not feel intimated! Never! But if that was so, what was this then?

Gallas and Leon found themselves rooted to the ground where they stood as they saw Gavriel rose from the debris. And when the prince who was supposed to be as good as dead opened his eyes, the air around them changed. Those eyes that did not seem to belong to the mere royalty they had just fought was now glowing in fury like they belonged to some god of slaughter who had risen from the depths of hell itself.

___

AN: I said in the creator's thoughts' box in the previous chapter that the mass release will be released throughout the day. PLEASE spare a moment to read creator's thought guys before you complain. tap on it to read the rest of the message too. thank you.