As John ran towards the castle with Leonidas still on his back, they both took in the grim scene around them. The grounds were littered with dead bodies, their blood washing away into the earth with the heavy rain. Leonidas closed his eyes for a moment, a wave of profound sadness wrapping itself around his heart with each fallen vampire knight he saw. Among the bodies were even children and teenagers who hadn't managed to escape. Their lifeless faces were now etched into his heart, fueling him with an unyielding strength and motivation for revenge. He swore to himself then and there that he wouldn't live another day with Decker still alive; blood must be repaid with blood.
"Go through the kitchen," Leonidas instructed, his voice low but firm. "There's a flight of stairs neaby that will quickly take us to our destination."
John didn't say a word, his expression grim and serious. He did as he was told, heading straight for the kitchen door on the lower floor of the castle. The vampire knights still fighting against the Storm Hornets quickly noticed their Lord's return. One of them immediately shouted, announcing their Lord's improbable survival.
"Lord Leonidas has returned! Our Lord is still alive! Long live Lord Leonidas!"
Soon the other vampire knights followed suit and started chanting his name.
"Leonidas!"
"Leonidas!"
"Long live the Fire Lord, Leonidas!"
The whole mountain seemed to erupt with their cries. Relief and joy could be felt in the sheer power of their voices as they chanted their Lord's name. Hope and strength surged back into the defenders. They fought even harder against the Storm Hornets, especially against those possessed by the demon creatures. Even the vampire knights deeper inside the castle heard the rising roar; they heard the chants, confirming their Lord was alive, that he had finally returned. A renewed fire ignited within them. Even those who were injured felt their healing accelerate, albeit slightly, despite their regenerative abilities being low. Their spirits shot through the roof as Leonidas's name echoed through the very stones of the castle.
John kept running, and some of the vampire knights who recognized him also shouted, "Welcome back, Young Master John! We're glad you're safe!"
"Enough chit-chat!" Leonidas roared from John's back, his voice cutting through the noise. "Go help the other knights! Tell everyone your Lord has returned!"
"Grandpa," John started, his voice laced with worry. "They're chanting your name! Is this a good thing? That bastard Decker is going to know we're still alive!"
"Fuck him," Leonidas retorted, a grim satisfaction in his tone. "When he sees the reinforcements arrive, whether it's my vassal clan, the King of Vampires, or the Fulgers, he's going to piss his pants. Listen, first we have to see who answers our call. Whoever answers, we'll ask for reinforcements. After that, we have to go to the teleportation room and make sure it's turned on."
"Teleportation room? Where's that?" John asked, confused.
"Below the castle"
"So, let me get this straight, old man," John said, a note of exasperation in his voice. "First, we have to go upstairs and get the magic 'whateva' mirror. Then we have to go down the castle to get to the 'whateva' room, all while avoiding Decker's men who now know we're here and are most likely going to try and kill us. Am I right?"
"correct"
"Oh my god, we are so dead," John groaned, slumping slightly.
"We are not going to die," Leonidas declared, his voice firm and absolute. "However, Decker will be the one heading to the afterlife."
====
Markus walked through the castle, his eyes scanning every broken structure and ruined floor. He was searching for the one he believed had killed his father: Decker. "Decker will pay for this," he seethed, his gaze hardening. A strange unease settled over him. "The strange thing is I can't seem to sense Mother. Wasn't she supposed to be in battle with Decker?" Cold sweat trickled down his back. "Is it possible for Decker to kill Mother? Impossible."
He started further down the hallway when a flying, dark, eel-like creature darted towards him. "What the hell is this shit?" The creature also noticed the vampire and lunged, attempting to bite Markus in the face. A grim grin spread across Markus's face as he effortlessly caught the creature five centimetres from his skin. He pulled his hand back, taking a good look at the strange, dark being. "You're an ugly little fucker. Where is your master?"
"Don't worry about Decker, you have bigger fish to fry."
Markus crushed the creature in his palm without a second thought. He then slowly turned around and saw Raven, the human he had effortlessly defeated before, standing behind him. This time, Raven looked different; a tangible dark energy seeped from his body, swirling around him.
"What the fuck happened to you?" Markus snarled, a challenge in his voice. "You want me to beat you down again?" He threw the mangled creature he'd just crushed to the ground. "So, human, are you ready for round two?"
Raven glared at Markus, fury blazing in his eyes. He ground his teeth, and with a low growl, he threw a straight punch at the vampire. Markus managed to block the blow, but the sheer force was enough to send the vampire flying like a paper plane. He slammed into the wall, a shocked expression on his face. "What the hell? His punches weren't this strong!"
"Die, Markus!" Raven roared, his voice distorted by the dark energy.
Raven then conjured a dark energy ball in his palm and fired it towards Markus. However, the vampire, still recovering from the previous blow, managed to swat the dark energy ball aside. The vampire retaliated, rushing towards the mercenary and unleashing a powerful blood punch to Raven's chest. Black blood sprayed from the human's mouth. "Let me return the favor," Markus snarled. Raven's hand then became covered with dark energy, and he unleashed a devastating punch to Markus's face, fracturing a couple of bones in the process.
While Markus was momentarily stunned and laying on the ground, Raven quickly grabbed the vampire by his neck and threw him against the wall. Spider cracks immediately spread across the stone from the impact.
The mercenary advanced, lifting Markus further up and unleashing multiple rapid body shots into the vampire's torso. Each punch sank into the vampire's body, and a couple of ribs snapped and fractured with sickening cracks. Raven was relentless in his assault, punching the vampire until the cracks in the wall behind Markus expanded further. Markus slumped against the wall, blood oozing from his mouth, a defeated look on his face.
Raven then took a couple of steps back, feeling his power still growing. He looked at his fist, sensing his body brimming with raw energy. He then looked down at Markus, who was slumped to the floor. "You humiliated me like no one before," Raven hissed, his voice filled with venom. "I will make sure to make this painful and send you to your dead daddy."
Suddenly, the whole castle began chanting Leonidas's name. Markus and Raven both looked around, their battle momentarily forgotten as the Fire Lord's name echoed powerfully through the walls.
"Leonidas!"
"Leonidas!"
"Our Lord has returned!"
A slow smile spread across Markus's bloodied face as he heard the triumphant shouts from the castle. Hearing his father's return instantly lifted his spirits, and he slowly, defiantly, got back to his feet. "I knew my father did not die by some scum," he declared, his voice gaining strength. "But this war is really fun for me. I don't want this to end just yet. Let us continue, Raven."
"Hehehe," Raven chuckled, a sinister edge to his voice. "If Decker couldn't finish the job, then I'll have to do it for him after I'm finished with you."