The combined area of the Slade Sea Region and Ochester was acceptable as a territory, but it was hardly enough for a nation. After settling all the humans who had flocked to her side, Susan began expanding into the surrounding lands without a moment’s rest.

Although the Lasombra clan had gained no advantage in their battle with the Elf Race, this had done little to quell the Vampires’ arrogance. Large numbers of them were still active in the regions surrounding the Slade Sea Region and Ochester.

Relying solely on Susan’s knights, the path of expansion was fraught with difficulty. But with the help of the God Race, things became much easier.

After all, the power of the God Race could no longer be underestimated.

While Cynthia sent the God Race to help Susan expand her territory, she also dispatched all the Light Believers and Light Knights. The God Race dealt with the Vampires, while the believers were responsible for rescuing humans and finding others who possessed a “Light Constitution,” persuading them to join their cause.

Leveraging the prestige of the Goddess of Light, combined with the God Race’s demonstrated strength and reliability and the kind, friendly image of the Light Believers, the God Race’s reputation among humans reached an extremely high level. More Light Believers joined their ranks. Given enough time for this new batch to mature, the power of the God Race would be enhanced even further.

Everything was on the right track. Following the establishment of the Gru Empire, the God Race’s plan to find a new territory was officially put on the agenda.

Whether they were on the run or had found stability, the God Race had never given up searching for their scattered kin. As their power grew day by day, they found and brought back many of their people. The city they inhabited had become somewhat crowded, forcing Darcy to level the most useless garden to build a new castle for housing.

The original meeting room was being used to house their people, and now the garden was gone as well. As a result, Cynthia’s rarely used bedroom became the new location for the God Race’s discussions. The square table once used for relaxing and drinking tea had been replaced with a long table that could seat more than a dozen people. A map of the Sitatul Continent was spread across it, with a few wooden cups holding down one particular area. On the yellowed paper, the words “Thacker Plain” had become somewhat faded.

“I sent Light Knights to investigate Thacker Plain, but the number of Vampires gathered there is far greater than we imagined,” Darcy said, leaning back in her chair with a frown. “I suspect a Second Generation Elder of the Lasombra clan is staying there.” As for whether the Temple of Light was buried beneath it, there was no way to know.

“It’s very dangerous there. Although our power is not what it once was, I’m still worried.” Doris sighed as she looked at the map, tentatively suggesting, “Why don’t we choose a different place for our territory for now? We can consider taking Thacker Plain once we’re stronger?”

Having survived a life-or-death escape, she cherished her current, stable life. She preferred caution over aggression.

Darcy and the other members of the God Race exchanged glances but did not voice their opinions. Instead, they looked to Cynthia, who was leaning against the long table, staring down at the map without having said a word. Her long silver hair cascaded down, partially obscuring the side of her face and making her expression difficult to read.

“Thacker Plain is neither the farthest from the Blood Domain nor the closest,” Cynthia said, picking up one of the wooden cups from the map. She tapped her finger on the area marking the plain. “Its location seems quite ordinary on the map. If not for a special reason, Talia would have no need to stay here.”

If she wanted to distance herself from the Blood Domain, Talia should have chosen the southernmost tip of the continent. If she wanted to keep an eye on the Blood Domain’s situation, then Capri Plains or Shastaya would have been better choices.

“Light is the bane of darkness. During the age of the gods, the Vampires suffered no small number of losses at the hands of the Goddess of Light. Therefore, Talia deliberately choosing to occupy Thacker Plain, beneath which the Temple of Light is buried, is perfectly in line with the Vampires’ vengeful nature.”

Cynthia was not an overly aggressive person, but sometimes the Vampires didn’t give you the luxury of caution. The elders of the Lasombra clan, including Talia, had all been injured in their battle with the Elf Race. Now, their attention was focused on the temples. This was a rare opportunity.

Choosing caution would be tantamount to giving the Vampires an opportunity as well.

Facing the Lasombra clan at its full strength, the God Race was not guaranteed to win.

“I discussed the matter of the Temple of Light with Olivia before.” Cynthia leaned against the table, toying with the wooden cup in her hand as a smile played on her lips. “She said there is a sacred river near the temple. The Goddess of Light filled it with her light, and the humans of that age called it Holy Water. Drinking it could cure all manner of illnesses and even extend their short lifespans.”

“A sacred river?” Darcy’s expression shifted as a thought struck her, and her words quickened. “If it’s a river filled with light, could it awaken Chloe?”

Chloe had been in a coma ever since overexerting her spiritual power. They had tried various methods, but she showed no signs of waking.

Darcy’s words made the worried Doris excited as well.

Seeing that they were beginning to warm to the idea of going to Thacker Plain, Cynthia smiled faintly. “We’ll know once we try.” She placed the wooden cup she had been toying with back on the map, her tone gentle. “At the very least, it’s an option.”

Darcy met Cynthia’s gaze for a moment. In those golden eyes, so like her own, she saw no trace of anxiety or unease, which gradually calmed her own heart. Her unconsciously stiff posture slowly relaxed. She lowered her gaze, pondered for a moment, and finally nodded, stating her position. “If we want to restore peace to the Sitatul Continent, we will have to drive out the Vampires sooner or later. Right now, all the Second Generation Elders of the Lasombra clan are injured. This battle may be incredibly perilous, but if we continue to delay, we won’t find a more suitable opportunity.”

In truth, she had always been in favor of Cynthia’s decisions. She shared Doris’s worries, but in this situation, she was more inclined to take a chance. And then there was Chloe… If they couldn’t find a way to wake her soon, she feared Chloe wouldn’t be able to hold on much longer.

The God Race discussed how to attack Thacker Plain late into the night. By the time Cynthia emerged from the room, brilliant stars already filled the night sky. A gentle night breeze brushed across her face, smoothing her slightly furrowed brow. She stretched her limbs, then turned and walked down the steps.

A large white wolf was sleeping soundly at the castle entrance. Its snow-white fur was still eye-catching under the cover of night, and Cynthia spotted it the moment she came down.

“Hanni,” Cynthia said as she walked over and stroked the large white wolf’s head. “Why are you sleeping out here?”

Hanni had heard the moment Cynthia came out of the room. She got to her feet, stretching as she mumbled, “I’m here to protect you.”

Cynthia couldn’t help but laugh. “This is Manden City. With so many of our people around, what danger could I possibly be in?”

The large white wolf sat obediently before Cynthia, but her eyes darted away as she stammered, “I just… wanted to find something to do.” She had been helping Susan’s knights fight and expand their territory, but Avira had whisked her away just before the full moon. Now that she was back, she had no idea where Susan and the others had gone.

Cynthia raised an eyebrow and glanced behind Hanni. “Where’s Avira?” she asked with a smile. “How come she hasn’t come to find you?”

At the mention of Avira, Hanni grew a little angry. “She and that stupid cat went off somewhere.”

While the Wolf Race wasn’t as monogamous as the Elves when it came to partners, they weren’t nearly as casual as the Vampires, either. That cat’s suggestion the other day had truly infuriated Hanni.

Not that her relationship with Avira was that of partners, either.

But she wasn’t Avira’s toy.

“You mean Kate?” Cynthia was surprised. She glanced up at the night sky, her tone one of astonishment. “It’s been three days since the full moon, and Avira hasn’t come back at all?”

Hanni nodded blankly. “I guess so.”

Kate must have come to find Avira with news about the Lasombra destroying another temple. But after receiving the information, Avira hadn’t come to tell her. Instead, she had left with Kate.

What kind of news would make her choose to act personally, rather than leveraging the power of the God Race as she had before?

As Cynthia stood there, lost in thought, Olivia emerged from the darkness. Having waited for Cynthia on the bridge for some time, she had come to find her. She glanced at the large, seated white wolf, then at Cynthia’s furrowed brow. “What is it?” she asked.

Hearing Olivia’s voice, Cynthia looked up, her brow unconsciously relaxing. The smile that touched her lips was a little more genuine. “You came to get me?”

Olivia reached out and smoothed a nonexistent wrinkle on Cynthia’s shoulder. “Did something happen?” she asked, her voice cool.

Cynthia took Olivia’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze, and explained softly, “Avira’s disappeared.”

“I already know,” Olivia said. She glanced behind her, and Polly, hidden in the shadows, nodded at the unspoken signal before turning to leave. Olivia’s gaze returned to Cynthia. “I’ve had people watching her.”

Avira’s castle was near the Slade Sea Region. Olivia had never trusted the Vampires, so she always had Elf warriors monitoring their movements.

Polly was not gone long. She returned holding something that looked like a leaf.

She handed the leaf to Olivia, her expression grave. “The Elf warriors lost their trail.”

If Avira couldn’t shake the Elf warriors’ pursuit, she wouldn’t be a Second Generation Vampire. Olivia merely nodded calmly at the news. She glanced at the message on the leaf and said in a low voice, “They lost the trail near Pegel.”

Pegel… Cynthia took the map from her Space Gem and spread it on the ground. She scanned it, her gaze focusing on the region. “The Lasombra failed to destroy the Temple of the Giant God last time. Are they going to try again?”

But if that were the case, Avira would have had no reason to leave without saying a word.

Cynthia’s gaze shifted upward, scanning the areas near Pegel before finally settling on the Mentos Desert. Her eyes narrowed. “Or,” she said thoughtfully, “is their target the temple of the Earth Mother?”

Those were the only two temples whose locations they knew in that region.

“We’ll know if we go and see,” Olivia said, crushing the leaf in her hand. Her expression was icy. “The Second Generation Vampires are insidious and cunning. We cannot let our guard down.”