Read Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren) Novel by Only For You Updated 2025 -26 - Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren) Chapter 3408

Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren) Chapter 3408

The next day, Andrew led Holtrien’s expedition force out of Throne City. Their next destination was the dark stronghold itself.

Early that morning, Iridessa had already arrived at the city gates with thirty elite warriors from Eastonia, standing in formation.

The moment she saw Andrew, she ran straight toward him.

“Andrew, no matter what, I’m going.”

Andrew replied calmly, “As long as you’re not afraid to die, then fall in. By the way, one last question—is Ezekiel working with the Dark Clans now?”

Iridessa clenched her teeth. “Ezekiel wants the entire Outlands. So he sold himself out and became a lapdog for the Dark Clans. Ragnar promised him that if he obeyed, they’d conquer the whole Outlands and make him its king.”

Andrew answered coldly, “Then killing him will suit me just fine.”

With 1,500 top fighters from Holtrien, along with Iridessa and her warriors, the force headed straight for the Blood Sanctum.

Their route would take them across the entire Outlands.

As they pushed deeper into the western frontier, an eerie landscape slowly unfolded before them.

Everything looked pale and lifeless, as if death itself had settled there.

Dark clouds hung low overhead year-round, pressing down like a suffocating ceiling.

Philip lowered his voice. “I haven’t stepped into this restricted zone in years. If the Vampire Queen hadn’t awakened, no one would risk going this deep into the darkness.”

Elio replied calmly, “Don’t overthink it. We keep moving forward. In this battle, either they die or we do. The sacrifices we make now are for a bigger, brighter future for Holtrien.”

As they advanced, the oppressive atmosphere grew heavier with every mile.

Even proud figures like Alfredo and Orson fell silent, moving cautiously.

Andrew strode at the very front of the expedition, moving at incredible speed.

Vehicles were useless for people like them. Not one among them was ordinary, and relying on their own bodies, they could outrun anything short of fighter jets or artillery.

Iridessa caught up to Andrew and spoke quickly.

“The first ones we’ll run into are Ezekiel and the Sorya lackeys who follow him. They volunteered to act as guard dogs for the Blood Sanctum.”

Andrew replied flatly, “Then we’ll tear them out at the roots. It won’t take much effort.”

After Shiloh arrived in Throne City, she disappeard without a trace.

At first, Andrew had worried she might take a reckless risk. If she attacked too early and Holtrien couldn’t support her in time, the entire campaign would lose its advantage.

Fortunately, Shiloh had left a message before she vanished.

She said she would wait in the depths of the darkness for Andrew and the main Holtrien force.

At the end, she added one more line.

Stay safe.

Andrew felt a faint warmth in his chest.

Even though Shiloh had regained her memories, she was slowly beginning to accept him again.

A sharp, freezing wind, thick with a dark aura, rushed toward them.

Although it was broad daylight, the sky suddenly dimmed as if someone had switched off the sun.

Andrew looked ahead. Through the black mist in the distance, he saw a massive mountain range rising from the ground.

High above, almost level with the clouds, stood a gigantic crimson palace.

Even from far away, they could feel the suffocating pressure and raw fear radiating from it.

“That’s the Blood Sanctum,” Bridget said, her voice trembling. “The source of darkness, the first progenitor of the West… the Creator’s first living being. The Vampire Queen herself lives there.”

Andrew took a deep breath and turned to look at everyone behind him.

Finally, he growled in a low voice, “Attack!”

The others answered in unison.

“Attack!”

Their speed surged instantly.

Andrew took the lead and charged toward the mountain.

As soon as they reached the base, the first checkpoint appeared—an abandoned, shadowy castle.

On its walls, transformed werewolves and vampires patrolled back and forth, watching every corner.

Inside the castle, Ezekiel’s eyes glowed with a blood-red light. In his hand, he held a goblet filled with fresh blood.

“Andrew… back at Holtrien’s Martial Tower, you destroyed my martial foundation. But you never expected that my master would transform me into a vampire, making me one of Her Majesty the Queen’s progeny.

“Since you’ve come to my territory, death is your only outcome!”

Through the eyes of the vampire soldiers outside, Ezekiel easily spotted Andrew standing before the castle.

With a cruel grin, he drained the crimson blood in his cup in a single gulp.

Two massive fangs slid from the corners of his mouth.

Ezekiel shot up from his chair.

His body exploded into countless bats, bursting through the shattered ceiling of the hall and swarming into the sky.

In midair, the bats gathered and reformed into his body as he let out a chilling laugh.

“Andrew, I’ve been waiting for you! Come on. You and I will settle this one-on-one and end our old grudges once and for all!”

In front of the castle, Andrew signaled for everyone else to fall back.

He didn’t draw Godslayer. Instead, he handed it to Nyx beside him.

“Give me one minute. I’ll kill him. The rest of you—wipe out the remaining dark trash.”

After issuing the order calmly, Andrew’s body shot straight into the air.

Then he dove forward, slamming directly toward Ezekiel.

Ezekiel threw his head back and roared.