My Players Are So Fierce

Murphy found Tris just as she had walked out of the tent where the injured were being sheltered.

As a Spirit Sovereign, although she had lost her powers and was more inclined towards the more offensive Dark Spirit, Tris was not unfamiliar with the techniques of healing spells. At the very least, she could perform a few spirit recovery spells on a single person.

She always had things to keep her busy, and Murphy never really interfered with Tris’ daily life.

However, this time Tris didn’t seem to be in a good state.

As she walked, she kept massaging her forehead, and her complexion was paler than usual.

Murphy knew the reason for this.

He went up to support Tris and asked softly:

“Has Salrokdar’s death weakened you? I know that the departure of an elder always brings unspeakable pain to the descendants through the blood pact. That damned guy is still tormenting you even after his death.”

“You’re thinking too much. I just didn’t drink tonight, and on top of that, I have a headache from overusing my mind earlier.”

“I lost all my blood essence over a hundred years ago. Apart from still having Vampire life traits, I’m no different from a fairly capable ordinary person. I think I’ve unintentionally discovered the second solution to the blood pact that has plagued Vampires for a thousand years.”

The Crimson Witch Lady played with the braid on her chest and joked with a touch of sarcasm:

“As long as you make yourself weak enough, the pain of an elder’s departure can no longer affect you. It would be even better if you experienced something more painful than this every day. This bittersweet pain tinged with liberation can serve as a delightful reprieve in one’s boring life.”

Murphy pursed his lips, helped Tris back to her tent, opened a bottle of wine for her, poured her a glass, surrounded the glass with his cold death spirit to chill the wine, and then handed it to Tris, saying:

“Don’t pretend it doesn’t hurt, does it?”

“Couldn’t you just not expose my feigned nonchalance? Little Murphy, you’re really annoying when you’re smart!”

Tris sighed, took the wineglass and drank it all down, then let out a hearty “ha” sound, and handed the glass back, tapping on the chair:

“Another one, but add some more ice cubes this time.”

“Drinking too much before bed isn’t a good habit.”

Murphy made his usual jibe, but poured her another glass regardless.

This time, he gathered more death spirit energy in his palm, causing the wine to start giving off a chill.

Tris propped her chin up and watched this spectacle. When Murphy turned back, she suddenly asked:

“Did you drink the Blood of Origins?”

“How did you know? I thought no one would know this secret.”

The handsome young Vampire did not deny it, he could never lie to Tris.

He looked at Tris curiously, awaiting her answer, while the Crimson Witch Lady let out a strange laugh and touched her lips, reminiscing:

“That ancient blood, full of spirit and power, tasted good, didn’t it? The last time I tasted it was over two hundred years ago, when the stingy Salrokdar gave us each a cup to strengthen our midnight powers when we went to steal the Seeds of Life.

Unfortunately, that bastard put something in it that took away its ability to break the blood pact.

He wouldn’t grant me freedom, he was terrified of me back then!

Now that I think about it, that scene was as ominous as a farewell drink. I didn’t even have a chance to savor its exquisite taste.

Seventeen elders went together, but only he and I came back. The decline of the Blood Vulture Clan also began that night. We exhausted the clan’s potential and high-end power, only to gain a possibility. And that seed planted over two hundred years ago finally brought about the utter destruction of the Blood Vultures this very night, as if driven by the rhythm of fate.

But it is precisely because of this that I’m quite familiar with the power boost drinking the Blood of Origins gives to Vampires.

Little Murphy, you’ve now made up for the talents and powers I couldn’t give you. Your wings are strong enough now, perhaps you can soar alone in the skies instead of being trapped in this godforsaken place, Transia.”

“I can, but that doesn’t mean I want to. I don’t want too many choices, because that means I can only choose one thing while giving up more. Choosing isn’t a good thing, and we don’t need too much.”

Murphy handed her the wine, which now had ice cubes floating in it, and said:

“You still need me here! You still need me, so we’ll talk about traveling and seeing the world later. I have a gift for you.”

He was about to take out the mechanical cipher box containing Salrokdar’s heart, but when his hand touched the spirit pouch at his waist, he suddenly stood upright and looked outside the tent.

Through the shared vision of the Blood Spirit vulture Revnor, he saw someone else approaching.

Sure enough, a few seconds later, having completed his grooming and dispelled all traces of battle, once again regaining his handsome and dashing demeanor, the first Knight Lord of the Blood Pact Knights, Lord Palanno, appeared before Murphy and Tris in a very dashing and charming manner, bathed in the purple glow of the moonlight.

This flirtatious fellow was dressed in a fitted, silver-white long robe with a large embroidered silver moon on the back, clearly an Elven-style “loungewear”, and he was holding a large bouquet of red and black intertwined roses in his hand.

Clearly, he had also come to deliver something.

Murphy’s expression immediately soured.

In the middle of the night!

What is this grown man doing, coming to Tris’ tent with those flirtatious roses? Didn’t we all agree in the collapsed hallway earlier? This guy has no principles, trying to launch a sneak attack, right?

But this was actually completely Murphy overthinking it.

Lord Palanno was a very gentlemanly Vampire superior. He did not come here to express some delicate feelings towards Tris, but merely as an old friend to celebrate Tris’s “freedom”.

“Ah, the Crimson Witch, radiant as the midnight fire, my former muse goddess. I am grateful to see that you have finally, under the blessing of midnight, escaped the binding contract of an ambitious madman.

From this night onward, no one shall hinder you from enjoying the hard-earned freedom.”

Palanno reached out and brushed his golden, lion’s mane-like curled long hair, giving off a faint scent of men’s cologne. He then smiled and offered the midnight roses in his hands.

Tris held a wineglass in one hand and rather nonchalantly accepted the roses before her with the other, bringing them to her nose to smell.

“Hmm, the distinct earthy fragrance of the Dark Mountains vein underground. It seems your ill-fated rose garden is still in operation, huh?

To maintain such delicate rose growth in that godforsaken place, the Dark Mountains vein, your investment each year must be astronomical figures. Has the Blood Pact Knights’ economy become so affluent?”

Tris pursed her lips and said:

“We haven’t seen each other for over a hundred years. The last time I saw you, you told me you had 37 goddess loves in your heart. How many are there now?”

“137!”

The Vampire lord let out a hearty laugh and said proudly:

“I am indeed a gentleman so richly emotional and appreciative of beautiful things. I have always taken pride in this.”

But the next second, he became sad again. Under Murphy’s slightly disdainful gaze, he took out an exquisite black notebook, caressed it affectionately, and said:

“However, the passage of a hundred years has brought the curse of aging upon 48 of the goddesses I once admired. Human life is always as brilliant as fireworks, its astonishing charm hidden in that fleeting glimpse. When I recorded their beauty, even an instant seemed to become eternal.

Death, ah.

It cruelly takes away so much beauty, leaving only pale memories to soothe our grieving hearts.”

In a recitation befitting a wandering bard, this golden-haired knight opened his notebook and tore out a page, handing it to Tris.

Blinking his blue eyes, he said softly with full emotion:

“The Crimson Witch of infinite charm has returned from death, my dear Tris. I can finally put an unforgettable sorrow completely behind me.”

Tris took the page, on which was Palanno’s handmade drawing.

It depicted the scene of the last time he saw the Crimson Witch over a hundred years ago.

Murphy glanced sideways and was surprised to find that this unreliable philanderer actually had exquisite sketching skills.

On the small piece of paper, he had drawn Tris from back then. Even though it was only a black-and-white drawing, one could still see that Tris’s expression, demeanor, and attire at that time were completely different from now.

If one had to describe it, the Tris of that time was obviously much more aloof than the current deadbeat, with the aura of a protagonist from a dark tale.

“Thanks, little Palanno.”

For a moment, Tris fell silent.

She looked at the drawing in her hands, and after a few seconds, she thanked him with a tinge of sadness:

“Thank you for reminding me of the past I had long forgotten. But did you come here tonight for a particular reason? As you can see, I was discussing some personal matters with my descendant.”

Tris’s response brought a slight smile to Murphy’s lips.

As expected of the Crimson Witch!

Intelligent ladies always manage to consider their men’s little thoughts inadvertently.

But Palanno shook his head, brushed his golden hair in a very graceful yet flamboyant manner, and then turned his lover-like gentle gaze towards Murphy.

He smiled and explained:

“I did not come for you, Tris. I came for the handsome Murphy, to give him something important to discuss.”

“Oh?”

Now it was Tris whose expression became abnormal.

The Crimson Witch oddly shifted her gaze between Murphy, whose expression had also changed slightly, and the smiling Palanno.

Hey!

In the middle of the night!

What private matter do you two overly handsome single men need to discuss?

Although she knew Palanno was not keen on pursuing overly intimate friendships between the same sex and had confidence in Murphy’s integrity, she could not be sure the two fellows would not spark some strange flames between them.

“Just discuss it here!”

Tris set aside the wineglass and roses in her hands, saying:

“I am Murphy’s elder, and I have the right to eavesdrop on anything concerning him.”

“Of course, it’s nothing untoward.”

Palanno snapped his fingers.

Amid a unique spiritual reverberation, the light dots transformed into dancing roses, sculpting a luxurious spirit-formed chair for him. He sat on it very properly and gestured for Murphy to sit as well.

The latter shook his head and stood behind Tris, placing his hand on her shoulder.

This action allowed Tris to breathe a sigh of relief in her heart.

Good, it doesn’t seem like there will be any hellish sparks flying.

As expected of little Murphy, smart enough and considerate enough to know what to do to prevent the lady of the house from overthinking.

“It’s about the Black Disaster!”

The knight lord’s expression became serious.

He said:

“This is actually the main purpose of my coming to Transia. Theoretically, helping you get rid of the fallen Salrokdar was just a casual act.

Next, I will go to the capital of the Kingdom of Nordtov, North Wind Fortress, on behalf of Lord Payne and the Blood Pact Knights. Then I’ll pass through the Ice Bay and the Saxony forests to reach White Cliffs, finally crossing the Greenleaf Strait to enter the Mist City of the Goldflower Kingdom.

Under Lord Payne’s instructions, I will inform the leaders of every power on the continent that the Fifth Black Disaster is about to occur, and according to the ancient ‘Brass Pact’, I will demand that they send elite troops to the Dark Mountains vein to support the defense line from Brass Citadel to the Desolate Mountains.

Transia is my first stop, but Salrokdar is already dead, so this command must be accepted by the new lord of these lands.

Revnor Murphy Lessenbra!

As the lord of the region near Kadman City, I demand that you prepare to face the Black Disaster in the coming months!

Due to Transia’s unique terrain and special positioning during the past Black Disasters, you do not need to send soldiers to support Brass Citadel, but you must defend locally to prevent the Black Disaster from spreading to the continental core regions.”

As Palanno described, Tris’s expression became increasingly grave and serious, and Murphy also revealed a solemn look.

Although he only had a vague concept of the word “Black Disaster”.

This was normal.

After all, the last Black Disaster occurred 111 years ago, which for humans was as distant as a tale from legend and myth.

“The Blood Vulture Clan has just suffered a devastating blow! And the damned Ten Year War has already dismembered the Portia Federation, with the Goldflower Kingdom and the Kingdom of Nordtov about to devour what remains from the east and west! Little Palanno! You are well aware of what has happened here over the past few hundred years. The Second Night War and the Ten Year War severely weakened the Blood Vulture Clan.

The Fourth Black Disaster’s scars on these lands have not even completely faded, with Gnoll bandits roaming everywhere in the remote areas.

We are no longer glorious.

Transia has now reached its weakest point in the past 400 years. We alone cannot possibly defend the Foul Swamp line.

We need help!”

Tris was straightforward about major issues. She sat up straight and said seriously to Palanno:

“This is not even a request! You must convey my opinion to Lord Payne. If he does not care, then this Black Disaster breaking through the Transia region is a foregone conclusion.”

“I understand, and the Lord has already made adjustments for this.”

Palanno raised his hand, signaling Tris not to worry, and explained:

“The Lord’s instructions to me require that when I meet the ‘Wolf Queen’ and King Louis, I demand that the Kingdom of Nordtov and the Goldflower Kingdom send troops into southern Transia to help you defend against the Black Disaster. And they must release the 26,000 armed Blood Servants and Blood Vulture Vampires captured in the previous war.

Since they have devoured the essence of the Portia Federation, which was originally tasked with defense, they must assume the responsibilities the Portia Federation bore for hundreds of years!”

Tris breathed a sigh of relief.

But Murphy questioned:

“Will the human kings really obey Lord Payne’s orders? I’m not questioning the Lord’s authority, but we are Vampires, and they are humans!”

“They will listen when it comes to matters of the Black Disaster,” Palanno shook his head and said:

“Even without the Lord’s request, the two kings would definitely send forces to support you. The reason is simple: if Transia, which faces the Black Disaster directly, falls, then their kingdoms will be the next place to suffer!

No one can remain unscathed in such a disaster!

There is not a single country or power on this continent that can face the Black Disaster alone, not even the Castilia Kingdom of the Elves or the Sanghai Empire from the thousand-year desert!

Of course, if they could learn from the powerful and mysterious Ancient Calum Kingdom to build wondrous dragon-spine ridges along the borders, and muster armies of millions to fill the frontier defenses, then perhaps there would be a chance.

But I am curious, Murphy.

Why do you doubt the Lord’s influence in this matter?

The past four Black Disasters were only overcome with difficulty under the leadership of Lord Payne and other racial leaders.”

The First Lord looked at Murphy with puzzlement, while Tris waved her hand and explained:

“Murphy was only embraced by me a year ago. Before that, he was just an 18-year-old young man who knew nothing. Back then, he would have even regarded the Black Disaster as a story from legend. Humans are inherently shortsighted, you cannot blame him for this.”

“Oh, I see.”

Palanno nodded, and his gaze towards Murphy became even more brilliant.

He marveled:

“To achieve such power in just one year! What a beautiful talent, and what an exceptional will! It seems our Vampire lineage will give birth to another transcendent genius like the Crimson Witch.

To witness this moment myself, I am truly fortunate!”