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21.27% Reborn Apex Predator: The Human Who Conquered Gods / Chapter 10: Fire and Sunlight

Capítulo 10: Fire and Sunlight

The sea was on fire.

Atenzi stood on the highest tower of the Sovereign Lands' defenses, his golden eyes reflecting the flames below. The harbor, covered in oil like Sir Henry Morgan suggested, had turned into a wall of fire.

But it wasn't enough.

Through the flames, they came. Vampire ships, their sides burned but still intact, pushed through the fire. The screams of their undead crews cut through the night, a sound of anger and hunger that made Atenzi's blood run cold.

"Nice opening move, lad," Morgan said, sounding impressed. "But I think we've just made them mad."

Atenzi's mind raced, looking at the situation with cold logic. The fire trick had taken out some of the vampire ships, sure, but the ones left were the strongest and most determined. And in the middle...

"There," he said, pointing to a huge ship coming out of the mist. "That must be Báthory's main ship."

Morgan looked through his spyglass, then whistled low. "Aye, and it's a scary sight. Look at the front of the ship."

Atenzi looked through the glass and felt his blood run cold. The front of the ship had a scary statue: a woman with bat wings, her mouth open in a silent scream, blood coming from her eyes.

"The Crimson Countess sure knows how to make an entrance," Atenzi muttered.

A messenger ran up to the tower, out of breath. "My lord! The east sea wall is broken! Vampire forces are landing!"

Atenzi's mind switched gears instantly, from watcher to commander. "Morgan, take half our forces and help the eastern wall. I'll handle the harbor defense from here."

The pirate nodded, a fierce grin spreading across his weathered face. "Aye, aye, captain. Try not to let them sink the whole city before I get back."

As Morgan went down the tower stairs, shouting orders, Atenzi turned his attention to the harbor. The vampire ships were getting into attack positions, ignoring their burning friends.

"Archers!" Atenzi called out. "Get ready! Wait for my command!"

Below, hundreds of bows were pulled back. Atenzi watched the lead vampire ship, timing it just right. One second too soon, and the arrows would fall short. One second too late, and the vampires would be on them.

"Fire!"

A rain of flaming arrows flew through the night sky, lit up by the burning harbor. They fell among the vampire crews like deadly rain. Screams of pain and anger rose from the ships, but they didn't slow down.

Atenzi frowned. Normal battle plans wouldn't be enough. He needed to think differently, to use every advantage he had.

"You there!" he called to a nearby soldier. "What's the biggest building near the harbor?"

The man blinked in surprise. "Uh, that'd be the Merchant's Guild hall, my lord. Five stories tall, with a copper roof."

Atenzi's eyes lit up. "Perfect. Get me every mirror you can find. Big ones, small ones, doesn't matter. And I need carts of sand, quickly!"

As the soldier hurried off, looking confused, Atenzi allowed himself a small smile. Báthory might have hundreds of years of experience, but he had knowledge she couldn't possibly have. It was time to even the odds.

The next hour was chaos. Vampire ships crashed against the harbor defenses, undead warriors climbing the walls with superhuman speed. Atenzi's archers kept shooting, but for every vampire that fell, two more took its place.

Meanwhile, confused citizens carried mirrors of all shapes and sizes to the Merchant's Guild hall. Following Atenzi's quick instructions, they were placing them on the building's roof and upper floors, angling them just right.

"My lord!" Another messenger, this one splattered with blood that Atenzi hoped wasn't his own. "Sir Morgan says there's heavy fighting on the eastern wall. He's holding, but barely. He needs more help."

Atenzi cursed under his breath. They were being stretched thin, fighting a war on two fronts. He needed more time.

Time. The word sparked something in his memory. With a jolt, he realized the eastern sky was starting to get lighter. Dawn was coming.

"Tell Morgan to hold on," Atenzi ordered. "Help is coming sooner than he thinks."

The messenger nodded and ran off. Atenzi turned back to the harbor, where things were looking bad. The vampire forces had landed and were pushing inland. He could see panic spreading among his defenders.

It was time. Atenzi closed his eyes, gathering his strength. When he opened them again, they blazed with inner fire. He walked to the edge of the tower, his voice ringing out with the power of Lashon Kesef.

"People of the Sovereign Lands! Listen to me!"

All across the battlefield, heads turned. Even the vampires paused in their attack, caught by the commanding presence high above.

"I see fear in your eyes," Atenzi continued, his words reaching every corner of the city. "I see despair. You look at these monsters, these leftovers from an old age, and you think: how can we fight against such power?"

He paused, letting the silence stretch. When he spoke again, his voice was low, intense.

"But I tell you this: we are not just fighting against them. We are the start of a new age. An age where humans take back their rightful place in this world!"

A murmur ran through the defenders. Atenzi could feel their attention, their very souls, hanging on his every word.

"Look around you," he thundered. "These streets, these buildings, they are more than just stone and mortar. They are the last stronghold of human achievement in a world that has forgotten us. Will you let them fall to these bloodsuckers?"

A chorus of "No!" rose from the defenders, their voices getting stronger.

"For too long, humans have hidden in the shadows, happy just to survive. But I say, it's time we did more than survive. It's time we thrived!"

Atenzi's voice got harder, filled with the full power of Lashon Kesef. "Each of you carries the legacy of countless generations. Your ancestors crossed oceans, built empires, reached for the stars themselves! And now, in this darkest hour, their strength flows through your veins."

He swept his arm out, taking in the entire city. "This is our home. Our fortress. Our line in the sand. And I swear to you, as long as one human heart beats within these walls, we will not fall!"

A roar went up from the defenders, a sound of defiance that shook the very foundations of the city. Atenzi could see the change in how they stood, the fire rekindled in their eyes. 

"Now, my brothers and sisters, show these night creatures what human toughness really means! Show them why we are the rightful owners of this world! For the Sovereign Lands! For humanity!"

"For humanity!" The cry was taken up by thousands of voices, echoing across the battlefield. Atenzi saw his soldiers throw themselves back into the fight with new energy, pushing back the vampire forces through sheer determination.

As the speech ended, Atenzi felt dizzy. Using Lashon Kesef so strongly had taken its toll. But there was no time for weakness now. The real test was yet to come.

He turned to his helper. "How's the mirror setup going?"

"Almost done, my lord," the helper replied, still looking a bit dazed from the speech. "But I don't understand—"

"You will," Atenzi assured him. "Now, are the sand carts in place like I said?"

"Yes, my lord. Though the men think you've gone crazy, ordering sand brought to a sea battle."

Atenzi allowed himself a grim smile. "Sometimes, craziness is our best weapon. Especially against an enemy who thinks they've seen it all."

A commotion from the harbor caught their attention. The massive vampire flagship had finally reached the shore. As they watched, a figure appeared on its deck, her presence so strong that the very air seemed to get colder.

Elizabeth Báthory, the Crimson Countess, had entered the fight.

She was beautiful in a terrifying way, like a snow-covered mountain or a raging storm. Her pale skin seemed to glow in the pre-dawn light, and her eyes burned with an unholy red fire.

When she spoke, her voice carried across the battlefield with unnatural clarity.

"Is this the best the great Sovereign Lands can offer?" she mocked. "A rabble led by a fake king? I had hoped for more of a challenge."

Báthory raised her arms, and the vampire forces surged forward with new ferocity. Atenzi's defenders, despite their newfound courage, began to falter under the attack.

"My lord," his helper whispered, fear clear in his voice, "what do we do?"

Atenzi's eyes were fixed on the eastern horizon, where the sky was getting lighter by the minute. "We hold," he said firmly. "We hold, and we wait for dawn."

The next few minutes were the longest of Atenzi's life. He watched as the vampire forces pushed deeper into the city, as brave defenders fell to inhuman strength and speed. But he held his position, counting down the seconds.

Just when it seemed the line would break, the first rays of the sun peeked over the horizon.

"Now!" Atenzi roared. "Light the sand carts!"

All along the shoreline, barrels of sand that had been soaked in oil burst into flame. The vampires closest to them screamed in agony as the burning sand clung to their flesh.

But this was just a distraction. The real plan was about to unfold.

As the sun rose higher, its light hit the carefully positioned mirrors atop the Merchant's Guild hall. The reflected beams, made stronger and focused, swept across the battlefield like the finger of an angry god.

Vampires caught in the concentrated sunlight didn't just burn—they exploded into ash.

The Crimson Countess's triumphant laughter turned to a scream of rage as her forces were decimated by this unexpected weapon.

"Impossible!" Báthory shrieked. "What kind of magic is this?"

Atenzi walked to the edge of the tower, his voice carrying over the chaos. "Not magic, Countess. Just good old human cleverness. Something you and your kind have forgotten in your long undeath."

He turned to his forces. "Press the advantage! Drive them back into the sea!"

The defenders surged forward, their spirits soaring at this miraculous turn of events. The vampire forces, caught between burning sand, focused sunlight, and reinvigorated human warriors, began a chaotic retreat.

Báthory, her face twisted with fury, locked eyes with Atenzi across the battlefield. "This isn't over, little king," she snarled. "You've won a battle, not the war. We will return, and when we do, all the mirrors in the world won't save you."

With that, she vanished in a swirl of mist, leaving her remaining forces to fend for themselves. 

As the last of the vampires were driven from the shores of the Sovereign Lands, a cheer went up from the defenders. It started small but quickly grew, until the entire city echoed with cries of victory.

Atenzi sagged against the tower's wall, exhaustion finally catching up with him. But as he looked out over the city—battered but unbroken—he felt a surge of pride. They had done it. Against all odds, they had won.

A hand clapped him on the shoulder. He turned to see Morgan, battered and bloody but grinning from ear to ear.

"Not bad for your first big battle, lad," the pirate said. "Though I have to say, that mirror trick was brilliant. Where'd you come up with that?"

Atenzi managed a tired smile. "Let's just say I had a hunch about vampire weaknesses. Sometimes, the old stories have a bit of truth."

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, casting its healing light over the war-torn city, Atenzi heard a new chant rising from the streets below. His blood ran cold as he made out the words:

"Hail the Messiah! Hail Atenzi, savior of humanity!"

He exchanged a worried glance with Morgan. This worship, this blind faith—it was a double-edged sword. One that could either cement his rule or destroy everything he'd built.

The battle was over, but Atenzi knew that his biggest challenges still lay ahead...


Capítulo 11: After the Storm

As people in the streets chanted "Messiah," Atenzi felt a heavy weight on his shoulders, heavier than any crown.

He turned to Morgan, looking serious. "We need to talk to the people," he said. "This... excitement. It could be dangerous if we don't control it."

Morgan nodded, his weathered face serious. "Yeah, lad. Faith can be a sharp knife that cuts both ways. We'd better shape it before it shapes us."

They walked down from the tower, through halls filled with hurt and shocked survivors. Atenzi stopped often, saying kind words or praise, his mind racing all the while. How could he use this new devotion without letting it take over?

As they came out into the main square, everyone got quiet. Thousands of eyes turned to Atenzi, filled with awe, hope, and desperate need.

He took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts, then spoke without using Lashon Kesef. This moment needed real connection, not magical influence.

"People of the Sovereign Lands," he began, his voice carrying across the square. "Today, we did the impossible. We stood against the darkness and won."

A cheer went up, but Atenzi raised his hand for quiet.

"But let's be clear: this win belongs to all of us. Every defender who held the line, every citizen who carried water or helped the wounded – you are the real heroes today."

He paused, letting his words sink in. "I'm not a messiah. I'm not a god. I'm just a man who believes in the unbeatable spirit of humanity. And today, you've proven that belief right."

Whispers spread through the crowd. Atenzi could see confusion and even disappointment on some faces. He kept going.

"The road ahead is long and dangerous. Báthory will come back, and she won't be alone. The other Harbingers will have noticed our defiance. But I say this: let them come."

His voice got stronger, filled with belief. "We've shown that humanity isn't a leftover from the past, but a force to be reckoned with. We'll take back our world, not through divine help, but through our own strength, our own cleverness, our own unbreakable will!"

The crowd roared its approval, the chant changing from "Messiah" to "Humanity! Humanity!"

As Atenzi stepped back, Morgan leaned in close. "Well done, lad. You've given them something to believe in besides just you. That's a rare gift in a leader."

Atenzi nodded, though he still looked worried. "It's a start. But we have a lot of work to do."

The next few hours were a blur of activity. Atenzi moved through the city, organizing help efforts, strengthening defenses, and planning for the next attack that was sure to come. All the while, his mind worked on longer-term plans.

As night fell, he found himself in the war room with Morgan, looking over maps of the surrounding areas.

"Báthory's defeat will have effects beyond just Bloodmire," Atenzi mused, tracing the borders of the vampire realm. "The other Harbingers will see it as a sign of weakness. They might move against her... or against us."

Morgan stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Yeah, it's a tricky balance. We've made ourselves a target, but we've also shown we're not to be messed with. The question is, how do we use this win?"

Atenzi's eyes roamed the map, taking in the various realms controlled by the Harbingers. "We need allies," he said finally. "Not just among the remaining human groups, but maybe among the other races too. Not all of them are happy under Harbinger rule, I bet."

"A risky move," Morgan warned. "Many of those races don't like humans. They might see us as just another would-be conqueror."

"True," Atenzi agreed. "But need makes for strange friends. And right now, we need all the friends we can get."

He pointed to a region next to Bloodmire. "The Fae Wilds. Not ruled by humans or Harbingers. If we could get an alliance there, or even just a promise not to attack, it would give us a buffer against Báthory's next attack."

Morgan raised an eyebrow. "The Fae are known for changing their minds, lad. Their promises are worth less than a pirate's oath, no offense."

Atenzi allowed himself a small smile. "Then we'll have to offer them something they can't refuse. Something that ties them to us more surely than any treaty."

As they bent over the maps, plotting and planning, a messenger came in, bowing low. "My lord, I bring news from our scouts."

Atenzi looked up, alert. "Go on."

"There's no sign of immediate threats, sir. But there's been more activity along our borders. It seems news of our win has spread quickly."

Atenzi and Morgan exchanged glances. "What kind of activity?" Morgan asked.

The messenger shifted uncomfortably. "It's hard to say, sir. Some seem to be refugees, humans looking for safety after our big win. Others... well, our scouts report seeing messengers from various realms, including some of the Harbinger territories."

Atenzi's eyebrows rose. This was interesting news indeed. "Thank you," he said, dismissing the messenger with a nod.

Once they were alone again, he turned to Morgan.

"It seems our little win has stirred things up," Atenzi mused, his mind already racing with possibilities.

Morgan stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Yeah, it has. The question is, do we see trouble or opportunity in our future?"

Atenzi returned his gaze to the map, his fingers tracing the borders of the surrounding territories. "Both, I'd bet. We've shown the world that the Harbingers can be beaten. That's bound to attract attention – both good and bad."

"What's our next move, then?" Morgan asked.

Atenzi was quiet for a moment, thinking. "We need to strengthen our position. Build up our defenses, yes, but also set up ways to talk with other realms. If messengers are coming, we need to be ready to negotiate from a position of strength."

He pointed to several locations on the map. "We'll set up refugee camps here, here, and here. Not only is it the right thing to do, but it will also give us a potential group of new citizens and soldiers."

Morgan nodded approvingly. "Smart. And the messengers?"

A small, clever smile played across Atenzi's lips. "We'll welcome them politely, of course. But we'll also use the chance to gather information. Every realm that sends a messenger is a realm that's rethinking its position after our win."

"Playing them against each other?" Morgan's eyes twinkled with appreciation for the plan.

"Exactly," Atenzi confirmed. "The Harbingers have ruled through fear and division. We'll unite through hope and common purpose. Every ally we gain is a blow to their power structure."

The game was set. The pieces were moving. And Atenzi was determined to see this game through to its end – whatever that might be.


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