Terskavia used to be a bustling place; they had problems related to food but never this bad. Almost one-tenth of the survivors of the Great War were located in a stronghold ruled by two vampire women.
Lord Ainz's undead were used to recreate the improvised stronghold made by bandits. Lord Ainz provided food for the surviving bandits. Most of the bandits were crippled, with only a portion of them keeping their bodies intact. They were waiting for the remaining 98 teams to converge upon this place.
Inside a simple garrison, the Imperial Knights converged. The previous bandits that were conquered during the siege were also there.
The scent of blood and sweat clung to the air. The Imperial Knights gathered around a long wooden table, their armor still stained with the remnants of battle. The siege had been won, but none of them could deny the oddity of their situation—two vampire women had led them to victory. The realization was both exhilarating and unsettling.
Sir Havel, a grizzled knight with a jagged scar running down his cheek, leaned forward, his gauntleted hands pressed against the table. "We've fought under many banners, but never have I seen the likes of this. Two creatures of the night leading an army of men—and winning."
A younger knight, Sir Aldric, still catching his breath from the battle, shook his head. "It's unnatural. Vampires guiding Imperial Centurions? It makes my skin crawl."
Sir Roderic, the only one still wearing his dented helmet, chuckled darkly. "Crawl if you must, but you can't deny their tactics were sound. We breached the gates in half the time it would have taken a normal commander."
Sir Cedric, a nobleman-turned-knight, crossed his arms. "They commanded without hesitation, striking at the enemy's weaknesses like they could smell fear itself. It's no wonder the siege ended as quickly as it did."
Sir Havel nodded slowly. "That's exactly what troubles me. They see war as something more... primal. Efficient, yes, but brutal."
A hush fell over the room as they all recalled the sight of the vampires in battle. The centurions, their fangs bared, led from the front, tearing through enemy lines with superhuman speed. The way they moved, the way they fed—some of the knights shuddered involuntarily.
Then came a voice from the corner. Sir Gareth, the youngest among them, a man known as much for his purity as for his swordsmanship. "And yet, we won."
The knights turned toward him. His face was pale, but his expression was firm.
"They brought us victory," Gareth continued. "Yes, they are unnatural, but in the end, we are alive. The stronghold stands. The enemy is dead. Tell me, who else could have led us through this hell?"
Silence. Then a sigh from Sir Aldric. "Perhaps. But what of the cost?"
Before anyone could answer, the heavy doors of the garrison creaked open. In stepped one of their vampire commanders. Lady Selene, clad in a flowing black cloak, her silver hair draped over her pauldrons. Her crimson eyes gleamed as she surveyed the room.
The knights straightened, but she barely acknowledged them. Instead, her gaze swept across the bandits—men who had once terrorized the roads, now reduced to broken survivors huddled together in their tattered clothing.
"You fought well," she said, her voice smooth as silk. "And you wonder if your service to us is worth the price."
No one spoke.
She stepped forward, placing a gloved hand on the table near the bandits. "Your empire has fallen. Your people are starving. Without us, without Lord Ainz's benevolence, you would be nothing more than corpses rotting in the mud. Do not question your fortune."
One of the former bandit leaders, a scarred man missing an eye, spat on the ground. "We were free men once. Now we fight like slaves for creatures who drink blood."
Selene smirked, unfazed. "Slaves? No. You are warriors of the new order. And if you wish to see another sunrise, you will fight for us."
A murmur ran through the bandits. Some looked away, others clenched their fists.
A younger bandit, barely more than a boy, hesitated before speaking. "And if we refuse?"
Selene's smile widened, revealing sharp fangs. "Then you can join the dead outside."
Another silence, then the scarred leader exhaled through his nose. "We fight because we must. Not because we trust."
Selene chuckled. "Trust is a luxury. Survival is a necessity."
With that, she turned and strode toward the door, pausing only once. "Rest while you can."
As the door closed behind her, the bandits exchanged weary glances. They had survived. They had won. But at what cost?
The garrison fell into uneasy silence.
There were two garrisons one for the bandits which was watched by 20 knights or so and the other was another garrison which ha the remaining 180 Imperial Knights present.
The knights were discussing.
"Sir Henry I hear that you are Selene's boy-toy,right?"
"Quit it ,it's so embarrassing."
"Why ,it's not like you were practically outstanding before and now you can be said to be having an achievement."
"Haha I am dying of laughter,to think that was how I distinguished myself,but I have you know I was even invited to the vampire kingdom in the black woods,they said my blood tasted especially good so they wanted me as a blood slave,that said I will still retain most of my rights and I will even have a higher pay."
(Note :you know shalltear stuff)
"Oy did you hear ,apparently we will be required to worship the sorcerer king AOG."
"Ah that much is going to still be fine but will we be required to worship his creations too."
"I can't imagine revering a skeletal dragon though"
"Me neither, though the VB brides might be an exception"
"Agreed,but you know what's scary ,it's the faceless one ,she can make someone a devout believer of AOG even if they weren't previously?"
"What ,that woman is coming here to preach to the bandits."
"Right,we are going to be also influenced by her prayers ,though we are gold rank so the influence on us is lesser."
"Alright ,does anyone know what's gonna happen next?"
"Right,I heard that the remaining 98 VB are going to converge in this place and only around 10 or so will remain actively stationed in this stronghold,commanding all of the lesser vampires that they have created though."
"How many is that,40 k lesser vampires right?That's way too overkill,isn't a city only supposed to have like 100 soldiers."
"RIght,it was overkill,but we won't be staying here for long ,probably around 3-4 months until everything calms down."
Note:Vampire Bride fanfiction story end,I hope you liked it,wanted to wrtie more of shalltear's territory and the lewd shit going on there but doesn't matter anymore since I am not allowed to do so,anyway shalltear is so cute though,she was all haughty and arrogant at first hardly likable at all and now she become this full of life hardworking stupid servant that keeps making some random scriblbes that make no sense on a piece of paper,the dumbness is also cute I guess...
Also I think I am going to try to write more about Ainz cult ,a little bit about his cult spreading in the new continent,and there is still a little bit about will overtake as the main god of the continent ,will offer eternal lifespan to some folk with power who are also loyal,he will also sell weapons to most surviving nations though after their population was culled no one wants war anymore,they will just pay for Ainz undead to protect them.
That's the plot I this was it.
