PURE BLOODS

Episode 4

Then came the most shocking discovery of all — they had built a nation deep inside the Southern Heavy Forest, a place where sunlight barely touched the ground. And there, humanity learned their greatest weakness: they could not stand the sun.

To be sure, they captured two Devil's Children alive. They dragged one out into the daylight — and before their eyes, he burst instantly into flames. The war shifted from impossible to winnable.

But the creatures were not defeated yet. They gathered an army of nine hundred thousand. The witches gave humanity the weapon that would win the fight: silver. They explained that silver left to soak in sunlight absorbs the sun's own power, and they enchanted each blade to shield the soldiers from the creatures' hypnosis. Everything was ready for the final battle.

The two sides met in what became the bloodiest battle in history. Fields ran red, and the earth itself seemed to drink the dead. With the witches' magic and the silver weapons, humans pushed forward and broke the enemy lines — but the cost was terrible. Hundreds of witches fought and died alongside the soldiers. They did not stand back — they stood in the front ranks, and they fell just as fast.

In the darkest hour, a hundred witches chose to give their lives. They wove their power together, offering everything they had, to forge the God-Sword — a blade that would grant one man power equal to that of a god. Wielding it, the humans drove the enemy back, step by bloody step, all the way up the Hill of Crosses.

All the while, the kings kept up their lie. They told the witches: "We are arranging homes and welcome for you. Please bear with patience a little longer."

Pushed to the edge of destruction, the Devil's Children sent a message from their king, Valori. He had not started the war, but he would be the one to end it:

"We surrender. We admit we have been met with undeniable force, and our kind has been hunted to near extinction. For the sake of my people, I surrender. I was not the king who launched the first war against you — but I am deeply sorry. I apologise on behalf of my people. We are ready to abide by whatever terms you set, if only our people may live."

Days passed in silence while the kings debated. Finally their reply came:

"If you wish to surrender — though it is already too late — we accept. These are our three conditions:

1. Disband every colony of your people.

2. Never again shall you feed upon human or livestock.

3. We demand your head, Valori — as tribute and atonement. Send it to us, and it shall be done."

The vampire nation erupted in rage. They would have fought on — but Valori spoke quietly to his council and said, "It is done. Send what remains of me." By sunset, around half past six, his head was delivered. The war was over.

The witches rejoiced. They believed the war was truly over, and that they would finally be accepted by the people they had fought so hard to save. Thousands of them — women, children, families — packed their things and set out toward the kingdoms, singing songs of freedom as they walked. They went with open hearts, expecting to be welcomed home.

Then, from the very front of the marching line, a witch screamed in horror — "It can't be — not like this!"