Is this really a Game?!

Minutes turned into hours as Aethion methodically extracted information. The combatant's resistance was formidable, but Aethion's persistence was greater. Gradually, the captive's defiance began to crumble, replaced by the fear and agony Aethion's methods induced.

Finally, Aethion looked up, his expression one of grim satisfaction. "I have what we need."

Reign and the team leaned in, eager to hear the results. Aethion began to relay the information. "The Shadow Serpents are planning a large-scale attack on Amelia's faction tomorrow."

"Actually, not just her faction, but all the factions that were defending themselves against them and working with her."

"They aim to cripple the defenses and force the faction into submission."

"From what this guy knows, Serpents are going to to handle this on their own to prove their worth to the vampires who are getting a bit annoyed by what is happening."

Amelia's face paled. "Tomorrow?!"

" We need to fortify our defenses and prepare for the attack."

Reign nodded, his mind racing. "We'll need to strengthen your defenses and set up traps to catch them off guard, we will

use their overconfidence against them."

"Don't forget to notify the other factions, we need to work together with them, otherwise they will be wiped out." Wolf stated as Reign nodded his head.

"We can't forget about this guy either, he will be quite important to us when it comes to breaking their spirit." Reign said as he stared at the captive whose soul was already a bit damaged from Aethion's interrogation.

The man stared at him in horror as Reign glanced at Aethion, "Do it."

"With pleasure." Aethion smirked as the captive started screaming, the others mostly glancing away, only Reign continuing to stare at him together with Shadow, Jin, Wolf, and Greenie.

"I still do not condone this." Jin told Reign who sighed and nodded his head.

"I know you don't, but we need to donsuch things from time to time, not to mention that this guy deserves no mercy."

"He has killed plenty of people, he gave up his humanity and serves the vampires because he was greedy for power, such people are scum, they deserve the worst."

Jin nodded reluctantly, understanding the necessity but still uncomfortable with the method. Aethion continued his work, drawing out every ounce of information from the captive while ensuring he could be used later to demoralize the enemy.

With the new intel, Reign and his team began immediate preparations. They divided the tasks, coordinating with Amelia and her faction members. The first priority was fortifying the defenses and setting up traps around the base and surrounding areas.

"Amelia, we need to reinforce the perimeter," Reign said, studying the map. "We'll place hidden traps here, here, and here." He pointed to strategic locations that would funnel the attackers into vulnerable spots.

"I'll work with my people to get it done," Amelia replied. "We'll use the traps we've been stockpiling and set them up according to your plan."

"Shadow, Mia, and I will handle setting up the traps," Laura said. "We've got experience with this from our previous missions."

"Good," Reign nodded. "Beast, Wolf, and I will focus on strengthening the barricades and creating choke points, we need to make it as difficult as possible for them to advance."

As the team dispersed to carry out their tasks, Reign turned to Jin and Greenie. "I need you two to coordinate with the other factions."

"Let them know about the impending attack and our plan to counter it, we need them to be ready and in position."

"It would be best if they abandon their bases and all come here, that way we can make sure the serpent won't be able to cause us any unnecessary casualties."

"We'll handle it," Jin replied, his voice resolute. Greenie nodded in agreement.

Over the next few hours, the base buzzed with activity. Traps were set, barricades were reinforced, and strategic positions were fortified. Amelia's faction members worked tirelessly alongside Reign's team, their resolve steeled by the knowledge of the imminent threat.

Of course, only a handful were working qith them and knew what was going on. Reign and the others weren't dumb and knew that the enemy has placed spies in Amelia's faction, and they weren't going to let them notify the enemy that they knew of the attack.

By nightfall, the preparations were complete. The base was a fortress, ready to withstand the Shadow Serpents' assault. Reign gathered his team and Amelia's leaders for a final briefing.

"We've done everything we can to prepare," Reign said, his voice calm but firm.

"Tomorrow, you will have to withstand the attacks of the enemy by yourselves, we will not make a move right away, your factions have to come together and fight, to form a bond and see that the enemy isn't that scary."

"We will only make a move later, I do understand that you and the other faction leaders won't like that, but it is for the best, trust me."

Amelia stared into Reign's eyes and nodded her head while bitting her lower lip. She understood why he was doing what he was doing and that it truly was for the best, but she still didn't like it.

Her people, as well as the people of the other factions, will be injured and lose their lives when they didn't need to, but it would truly bring the people of the factions together and make them lose the fear they had towards the Serpent.

As morning came, a large army was moving through New York.

The army had multiple Tier VI combatants and plenty of weaker combatants. Hundreds of men marched through the streets, and at the very front were people that held large spears on top of who were humans.

The humans on the spears were not dead. They were alive, but in agony, blood flowing down the shafts of the spears as muffled groans and screams of pain reverberated through the streets.

The serpent had used the blood of vampires, dilluted blood of course, and had fed it to the humans to keep them alive. Vampires had incredible regeneration and could heal from most wounds with great ease, forcing humans to drink it would poison them, make them feel great pain, but would give them great regenerative powers for a short period of time, after which they would die.

The humans were there to scare the factions and make the aware of what is coming to them.

"Sir, we have news, one spy was able to send a message, the factions learned of our attack and have all banded together in one base." A man told one of the leaders who was in the middle of the army.

"Good, that means it will be easier for us to beat them, we won't have to go from one base to another."

"How did they know of the attack?" Another leader said as the a third one sighed.

"It doesn't matter, it won't change a thing."

"Yes, it won't cha-"

The army suddenly stopped as the people at the very front suddenly stared at the sight in front of them. The leaders narrowed their eyes and stared as well before their eyes widened and their hands clenched into fists.

"How dare they?!"

What was in front of the army was a gruesome sight. Multiple people from the serpent were all hung on tall wooden poles, their stomachs cut open as blood dripped down to the ground.

The stench of blood was overwhelming, but that wasn't the worst of it.

At the very front of the tens of poles and people on them was the Tier VI combatant that Reign and the others had captured yesterday.

He was in a worse state than others, and his mind was broken by Aethion last night, causing him to mumble and scream.

His screams echoed through the street, his mumbling almost incoherent as the men all stared in shock.

"Demon!"

"Angel!"

"Death, death comes!"

The leaders all exchanged glances before one of them moved, taking out his sword as he appeared at the front of the army and slashed forward.

The Tier VI combatant, as well as the rest, were all killed in one strike.

But it was too late as the psychological attack already worked, the members of the army were already in shock at what they had just seen.

"The enemy wishes to scare us, to make us think they will do this to us!"

"Men, show them just how wrong they are, show them that this will be their fate, that we shall make sure they pay for this!"

"Hmmmm ... not bad." Shadow said as he observed what was going on from a building nearby.

"But we still aren't done, the walk to the nase is quite a long one after all."

The army continued marching, their spirits a bit weaker than before, but still quite high as they were certain they were going to win, after all, most of the faction was participating in this attack.