"Victor… Victor…"
Leo heard a voice in the distance, faint but insistent, calling out to him.
"Victor, are you okay? Wake up."
The voice grew clearer as footsteps crunched over loose gravel. A moment later, hands gripped his shoulders and gave him a firm shake.
"Hey. Come on, get it together. We have to move."
Leo's eyes fluttered open. Klaus was crouched in front of him, his face tense with urgency.
A short distance away, Sophie's voice broke through the haze. "What the hell happened here?"
Leo squinted against the harsh sunlight blazing into his eyes. Everything was too bright, too sharp.
"Ah…" he groaned, pushing himself upright. "When did we get outside and what happened to that vampire group?"
"We didn't," Klaus said flatly.
Leo blinked. "What?"
"We're still in the mountain."
"Then where's all this light coming from?"
Klaus stepped aside and gestured forward. "See for yourself."
Leo turned his head and finally took in the scene. A vast valley stretched out before him, bathed in golden light. Then he looked behind—and his breath caught. His eyes widened in disbelief.
Half the mountain was simply gone. It looked as if a massive sphere had been pressed into the rock and carved it away in a perfect, unnatural hemisphere. The ancient ruins that had once been hidden beneath the surface were obliterated—nothing remained but shattered stone and a hollowed-out crater. Only fragments of the old structure clung to the mountain's edge, buried under the weight of collapsed rock.
"What the hell happened here?" Leo asked, his mouth still slightly open in disbelief.
"I was hoping you could tell us," Klaus replied. "We saw you from a distance and were trying to come up with a plan to get you out—but before we could do anything, another group of vampires and werewolves ambushed us."
"Another group?" Leo frowned. "How many were there?"
"Do you remember what happened?" Sophie asked, stepping closer.
"Yes, of course I remember," Leo said. "There was a vampire—Carl Dimont, he called himself. Said he was one of the noble bloodline. One of the first."
"Carl Dimont?" Klaus repeated. "Never heard that name before."
"And?" Sophie prompted.
"He said they were searching for an S-rank item—some kind of sword. They couldn't find it, but I saw it. It was right there in a room behind them."
"You saw it, but they didn't?" Sophie raised an eyebrow. "How could you see something a noble vampire couldn't?"
"How should I know?" Leo snapped, more tired than angry. "Anyway, when your explosion hit, I used the distraction to grab the sword. The second I touched it... it exploded."
"Well," Klaus said, glancing around at the massive destruction, "that explains this." He looked back at Leo. "But how did you survive?"
Leo gave a half-shrug. "I don't know. How did you?"
"The shockwave killed all of them—every vampire in range. But it didn't harm us. Not even a scratch. Was there anything else?"
"No," Leo said quickly. He chose to leave out the rest for now. Telling them what the sword really was—and what it revealed about him—could raise questions he wasn't ready to answer. About the part of him that wasn't entirely human.
He glanced around the area. "Where's the sword now?"
"There was nothing here when we found you," Sophie said.
"Do you think that noble vampire survived and took it?" Klaus asked.
"Then why leave me alive?" Leo wondered aloud.
"Maybe he was injured," Sophie offered. "Maybe he didn't have time to deal with you." She glanced around. "Where's Ivo, by the way?"
Leo hesitated, his expression tightening. "Ivo… he didn't make it. He died when we were ambushed by werewolves."
Klaus clenched his jaw. "That damn rockhead finally got himself killed," he muttered, his voice tinged with anger.
Sophie exhaled, shoulders stiff. "We need to get back and report this. Fast."
Both men nodded.
Klaus reached out and helped Leo to his feet. He was still a little unsteady, but he managed. Without another word, the three of them began making their way toward the teleportation tower, the ruins and devastation of the mountain slowly disappearing behind them.
…
Carl was on his knees, panting. The blast had hit him just as he was trying to escape. His left arm was soaked in blood, and what remained of his clothes hung in tattered strips from his frame.
"That damn kid…" he growled through clenched teeth. "I'll kill him with my own hands."
He glanced back toward the ruins. The sword—he could still feel its presence—but going back now was impossible. He had burned through nearly all his mana just to survive, and most of his enchanted gear and blood potions were destroyed in the explosion.
There was only one option left: retreat.
With trembling fingers, he sliced open his palm and drew a circle of blood on the ground. He began chanting in an old tongue, voice weak but steady. A moment later, the air shimmered around him, and he vanished.
The ritual room was dark and silent when he reappeared. Carl collapsed to one knee, too weak to stand. "Juanes!" he barked, his voice hoarse.
Moments later, the door swung open and a man rushed inside.
"Sir! What happened to you?"
Juanes was tall, sharp-featured, with skin like polished obsidian. He had served Carl loyally for over fifty years.
"Take me to my chambers," Carl gasped. "And bring blood. A lot of it."
Juanes nodded and helped him toward his chamber, the sound of their footsteps fading into the quiet of the manor.
…
After spending the night resting in the teleportation tower, Leo and his companions returned to the capital. Now, they were en route to the Covenant Citadel.
"Have you written your report?" Klaus asked, seated across from him in the carriage.
Leo leaned against the wall of the cabin, arms crossed. "Yes."
Ever since they had returned, an odd sensation lingered in the back of his mind—like a whisper calling him from afar. He wanted to retreat to his domain, but the only opportunity he'd had for solitude was the previous night, and he'd been too exhausted to attempt it then.
Five more minutes passed before the carriage rolled to a stop. The trio stepped out and made their way toward the same chamber Leo and Klaus had visited previously. Once inside, they handed over their written reports. Then, one by one, they presented their verbal reports, reiterating the contents of their written statements.
When they finished, the room was still for a moment. Finally, one of the women seated behind the desk broke the silence.
"All three Grand Magisters must receive this information as soon as possible. I trust you will inform your respective masters?"
Leo and Sophie nodded.
"Then go—deliver the message quickly. We will inform the third Magister ourselves."
They gave respectful nods and exited the chamber. Outside, Sophie parted ways with them, heading toward her own destination. Leo and Klaus turned back toward Alexia's estate.
"Want to tell her yourself, or should I?" Klaus asked as they walked.
"I'll do it," Leo replied.
Klaus nodded, and once they arrived at the mansion and were shown to Alexia's study, he quietly excused himself.
Alexia looked up from her paperwork. "Well? What happened?"
Leo had known Alexia for a year and had come to trust her—but this time, he decided to trust her completely. He told her everything about their mission, the sword, and the writings—everything except the details about why he could open the door, the truth about being half-vampire, and the nature of his domain.
When he finished, Alexia leaned back in her chair, steepling her fingers as she stared off in thought.
"Thorn. Heart of Nemesis…" she murmured, almost to herself. "Why didn't you report all of this to the Council?" she asked eventually.
"I wasn't sure who I could trust. You know what it is?" Leo asked.
"It's the sword of the first vampire."
Leo blinked. "The noble family?"
"They weren't the first. Long ago, there was a vampire named Nemesis, champion of the Moon Goddess. When the Goddess was betrayed and attacked by the Mad God, he stole her secret of vampirism and passed it to a mortal bloodline—now known fully as the Dimont family. Using his power, they reshaped themselves into a new kind of vampire. Together, they defeated Nemesis in battle. I suspect that sword was forged from what remained of her."
"So what happened to it?"
"From what you've described, it seems the sword accepted you. It's now a part of you."
"What?" Leo's voice rose slightly.
Alexia's gaze sharpened. "The real question is, how can someone who's not a vampire wield a weapon like that?" She studied him for a moment. "You must not speak of this to anyone. If word gets out, and if there's a traitor in the city, they'll come for you—and the sword. You're safest here, under my watch."
Leo's expression darkened. "Actually… I may need to leave soon."
"Why?"
"I need to find someone."
"Stay for at least another month. If someone is watching you, it'll be easier for them to strike outside this city. You can't find anyone if you're dead."
"So… you're allowing it?"
Alexia gave a tired smile. "The last student who overstayed got himself killed. The one after him? I had to throw him out myself."
"Ryan?" Leo asked. "Why?"
"Ask him."
He considered pressing her for details, but thought better of it. Instead, he rose from his seat. "Then, if you'll excuse me."
Alexia nodded, already turning back to her notes.
Leo left the room and made his way to his quarters with purpose. Once inside, he ensured he was alone, then lay down on his bed. Eyes closed, mind focused—he entered his domain.
The white void greeted him. Floating directly in front of the throne in the center of the room was the sword—silent and waiting.
"So you were here all this time?"
Leo stepped forward, his eyes locked on the sword. Without the swirling red aura that surrounded it the last time, he could finally see it for what it truly was. The blade was beautiful—elegant in design, dark and gleaming with a subtle sheen, as if forged from metal and shadow. Intricate runes ran down its hilt, pulsing faintly, as though the weapon was alive.
He hesitated, then slowly reached out and wrapped his hand around the hilt.
The moment his fingers made contact, something shifted. A rush of sensation flooded his mind—images, instincts, knowledge—all flowing directly into him as if the sword itself were speaking. Not in words, but in feeling, in purpose. It wasn't just a weapon; it was a legacy. A relic of something ancient. Something powerful.
Thorn, Heart of Nemesis.
He understood now—it was a living artifact, one that grew stronger alongside its wielder. At its current state, it could draw blood from any enemy it cut, siphoning their life essence into the blade. Part of that stolen blood would be passed to Leo, temporarily healing him and enhancing his strength, much like how a vampire fed. But there was a risk. Taking too much could overwhelm him, driving him into a frenzied state where thought and restraint gave way to hunger and rage.
That wasn't all. The blood the sword absorbed could be used to heal wounds directly, though doing so made the Frenzy even more likely. It could also be shaped and thrown. With focus, he could unleash the blood in a sweeping arc that struck from a distance, or worse, when the sword was fully saturated, release it in a violent burst—an explosion that would destroy anything in its radius.
Leo's brow furrowed.
"This is a powerful sword," he murmured. "But just how dangerous is this Frenzy?"
To test it, he pricked his fingertip and let a drop of his own blood fall onto the blade. Instantly, the sword responded. A deep pulse of energy rippled outward, shaking the ground beneath his feet. The air itself vibrated, as if the domain were reacting—no, reverberating—with the sword's awakening power.
Leo stood still for a moment, then let out a breath. "Now... how do I use you out there?"
He pulled himself out of the domain, opening his eyes in the real world. Holding the image of the sword firmly in his mind, he focused, calling to it—not with words, but with will. He reached out mentally, letting the connection guide him.
A moment later, a swirl of blood materialized in his palm. It spiraled rapidly, taking shape. From within the crimson flow, the sword slowly emerged, forming inch by inch until it rested fully in his hand—solid, cold, and real.
Leo stared at it, turning the hilt slightly to catch the light. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
He now was one step closer to his goal.