Kael felt overwhelmed. His mind was a storm, thoughts piling one on top of another until he could barely breathe.
[System Warning: Enemy power levels surging]
Before him stood Clementine—or at least, something wearing her face. She no longer looked like herself. Blind aggression would not be enough against this thing.
His mind flicked to Lumino, collapsed on the ground after Clementine had drained his blood. Maybe…There was still a chance he lived. After all, he had survived even the Cursed Witch's fatal strike. Why should this be any different?
That sliver of hope, coupled with the system's relentless chatter, slowly steadied Kael's fraying emotions.
"How's my attack, human? You'll regret it soon enough!" Clementine's distorted voice rattled the air.
BOOM. SLASH.
Kael darted, the slick stone rooftop cool against his worn boots as he evaded another blow. The creature effortlessly deflected each attack he launched, its movements a blur. His breath hitched, a burning ache in his lungs as he focused solely on survival.
The system's incessant buzz grated, a high-pitched whine drilling into his skull.
[Warning: MP drastically depleted.]
Certainly. Having expended a significant amount of mana on ineffective attacks, he realized his approach should have been more strategic from the start. Although his mental clarity was returning, he remained consumed by anger towards the vampire responsible for Lumino's plight.
Clementine struck again, moving with terrifying speed in her vampiric first phase. Each blow tore the air, shattering the ground with shockwaves. A faint scent of roses warned of a slashing strike. The fragrance of sage heralded a speed debuff. Every motion drained Kael's stamina further.
I didn't realize before… could it be Clementine was always stronger than I thought?
SWOOSH.
Kael's sword blurred faster, his movements sharper, tighter, wasting no energy now. Every swing carried weight.
"What's this? Finally calmed down?" Clementine's mocking tone dripped with contempt.
[System analyze; find the moves most effective against this opponent.]
[Analysis complete. 30 combo sequences available]
[Use them?]
Use them.
Kael's eyes sharpened. The surrounding air shifted, charged with intent. Clementine tensed. In the blink of an eye, he was beside her.
The man before her now controlled the battlefield completely, as if he could see three seconds into her future.
Cornered, she realized with dread that this borrowed body wasn't as agile as her true form. 'Impossible. I, Fenrir, losing to a mere human?'
"Damn you… human!" Clementine thrust her hand forward, but Kael twisted off a rooftop edge, his blade flashing in an arc, slashing across her left eye.
"ARGHHH—curse you, wretched human!"
Blood sprayed.
Blegh… cough…
But Kael staggered, blood spilling from his lips.
[Warning: using 30-combo sequence within sufficient HP trigger backslash]
[Motor function disabled 30 minutes]
So this is my limit…
His body refused to move. As a Shadow Hunter, he was already struggling to fight threats that were not shadow and facing the Vampire three times in a row would be certain death.
He knew death was near.
Clementine's—no, Fenrir's—smile twisted cruelly as one hand pressed over her ruined eye. She raised her boot and crushed Kael's hand underfoot. He grimaced, choking back a scream.
"As I thought. A human like you can never defeat me. Did you truly believe you could destroy me—the Prince of Darkness?"
Then light tore the battlefield open. A warp gate ignited nearby, spilling radiance across the ruined ground. From within stepped Ronovan, his hands clasped neatly behind his back, gaze fixed ahead.
"Enough, Fenrir. This ends now."
"Kael!" Alira's voice rang as she knelt beside him, flooding his body with healing magic.
Fenrir's lips curved into a smile, the same smile Ronovan had seen long ago. Only now, the smile twisted across Clementine's face.
"I never thought I'd see you alive, Ronovan." His voice dripped venom. "You've grown younger, haven't you? Tell me… what's your secret?"
Without hesitation, Alira and Bandi lifted Kael, dragging him through the gate. It sealed behind them, leaving only Ronovan and Fenrir facing each other.
"Tell me where Clementine is," Ronovan demanded.
Fenrir laughed. "Do you think I care? This woman's body is mine now. How should I know where her soul has gone?"
"Do you even realize whose vessel you've stolen?" Ronovan's voice was calm, yet it carried an icy edge.
"Why should I care? All that matters is I live again, after so long. Damn you, Ronovan—you killed me once. Now we'll fight again."
"Don't tell me… you truly don't remember."
"What are you implying?" Fenrir's eyes narrowed.
"You're inhabiting the body of the vampire who killed you. Don't you see it yet?"
Fenrir's expression faltered, and a stabbing pain erupted in his head. Images crashed over him: the monstrous form of this woman as she had struck him down, alongside the memory of his own brutal death. Furthermore, the fragments of countless other memories forced themselves into his mind.
His scream tore the night apart, raw and unrestrained.
Even Ronovan was startled. "What is it? Do you remember now?"
"Silence!! Don't speak another word, Ronovan!" Fenrir roared, his eyes blazing crimson.
But the body he inhabited betrayed him—Clementine's vampiric phase two power surged wildly, drowning him in its fury.
Ronovan sighed, lips curling in weary resignation. "Of course... I was just healed, and now I'm being forced into another deathmatch. Perfect "
----
Breathe in, breathe out. Don't panic, Alira.
Damn it, how could she not panic? She had been trying to heal Kael this whole time, yet his wounds refused to close. Blood kept pouring out of him, endlessly.
What do I do… what do I do… what should I do… what should I do…?!
"Lady Alira!" Bandi's hand shook her shoulder, snapping her out of her spiral. "Lay Kael down here."
She nodded quickly, lowering Kael to the ground. From the direction of the mansion, she caught sight of Rodeo and Terasvari sprinting toward them.
"I saw Kael fighting Clementine earlier," Rodeo said, breathless. "Then that rooftop battle—it was so destructive we had no choice but to get out."
"W-whoa… why is his condition like this…"
Alira ignored Rodeo's comment, already busy crafting a potion, anything that could stabilize Kael for now.
"That Clementine… is Fenrir."
Terasvari's words froze Alira's hands, her entire body trembling. She had seen him once before, back when her coven still existed—Fenrir, the Prince of Darkness. That very figure had been a nightmare to her kind. At the time, not a single woman of her age dared step outside at night.
He loves women's blood. Especially virgins.
Come to think of it, Van had called him that too. Perhaps she was too caught up in Kael's condition to process it until now.
"Ronovan is facing him right now," Bandi said, making Terasvari and Rodeo's eyes widen.
"What do you mean? That man is already fighting? He's healed?" Terasvari clenched her fist in delight. "Alira, you really—wait, what are you doing—"
Her hand hovered again and again over Kael, tears spilling down her cheeks. Terasvari finally questioned her actions.
"K-Kael… his body keeps getting paler and paler. Although he didn't cough blood anymore, I felt a growing sense of unease."
"Leave him be. My precious pupil is only exhausted—that's why no healing spell works. It's a dormant state. He just needs rest." Terasvari's calm explanation carried weight.
"Rosalina."
The voice came from Rosaria, just arriving after fulfilling Ronovan's orders to inspect the vampire forces and ensure there were no more casualties.
"Sis… I heard Ronovan's healed." Beside Rosaria stood Tivulin, whose presence Alira hadn't noticed until now.
"That's right, Rosalina. I knew Alira wouldn't disappoint. In short, under Ronovan's orders, we're to end the war."
"You can't just decide that! We've already lost too many on our side; Orcha, Derelia. And now you expect us simply to retrea—"
Rosaria's piercing glare silenced Tivulin instantly. She lowered her head, too afraid to continue.
"Don't ever question Ronovan's decisions. Do I need to remind you of the hierarchy?" Her words lashed like a whip.
"Besides, I minimized casualties," Terasvari interjected, jerking her thumb over her shoulder. "If I wanted, I could've killed Agusta and Oscar. Instead, I only knocked them unconscious."
"Er… guys, so the ones fighting on the rooftop…" Rodeo pointed upward. Instinctively, everyone looked.
Ronovan versus Clementine.
That's what it seemed. But Clementine's form was grotesque, warped beyond recognition. Bandi trembled as he watched, memories of old trauma bubbling up.
'The real problem… Fenrir is inside that body. If he goes wild, the destruction could be far worse.'
Rodeo stared in disbelief. 'So that's the true power of the vampire elders… Ronovan.'
And yet, Ronovan didn't look overwhelmed at all. His movements read every shift of his opponent as though the battle were already decided.
"…Sigh. I'll never get used to that form. Monster—you'll always be a monster, Fenrir." Terasvari muttered.
"Uurgh…"
Alira spun her head. A groan—it was Kael. He had opened his eyes, struggling to sit up.
"K-Kael! Don't move yet, stay calm."
"Let go, Alira… I have to go back to that mansion. Lumino—Lumino's still there."
"Lumino?" Alira reflexively looked at Rodeo.
"He was, but then he teleported away with Clementine and Claudius," Rodeo explained, glancing at Terasvari. "So if he teleported back there, then yes, he should still be inside."
"But earlier, you looked so furious." Rodeo's words made Kael freeze.
"Clementine… no, Fenrir. I'll kill him. How dare he… how dare he drink Lumino's blood."
Kael's voice dropped, trembling with rage, his body in no state to even stand.
"What… what did you just say?" Alira's eyes widened, still restraining him.
Wait… isn't Fenrir only drawn to women's blood? Realization struck Alira, and the shock faded into a grim understanding. It's Lumino anyway.
"If that's true, then his chances of survival are slim. Fenrir never leaves a meal unfinished," Rosalina added grimly.
"Eh…" Terasvari smirked. "I don't buy it. You expect me to believe Seraphine's favorite boy toy is dead? Impossible."
"Enough, Terasvari. Now's not the time for speculation," Bandi cut in, unwilling to let her stir chaos, especially mentioning Lady Seraphine would darken the situation even worse.
Then Rodeo's eyes widened. Something clicked. "Wait. When we landed at the mansion… Lumino no longer carried Lady Seraphine's scent."
"You're right." Terasvari flinched, equally startled.
"I don't know about scents, but ever since Clementine and Lumino spoke in her chambers… that overwhelming fragrance of Lady Seraphine vanished."
Stayed overnight? Alira's face turned red.
'Chatted?' Rodeo blinked, confused.
Slept together?! Bandi's face went crimson.
"Wouldn't that make things worse?" Alira rocked her head, chasing away the thought. "If that's true, then she's no longer his precious one. Which means Lumino really is… dead."
Her cheeks, dry just moments ago, were wet again.
"I'll go to him…" Kael's vacant eyes stared ahead. "At the very least, he deserves a proper burial… a final respect."
'This is bad. He's already resigned himself.'
The realization shattered Alira, her grief twisting into a sob.
"Lumino… huwaaah!!"
"Both of you, calm down," Bandi begged. One weeping uncontrollably, the other spiraling into despair—it was too much. Their pain pressed down on him until even he felt like crying.
Terasvari rubbed her temples in frustration. Rosaria gently stroked Alira's back, trying to soothe her. Meanwhile, Bandi braced Kael, who was still forcing himself upright.
"Easy now… slow down," Bandi whispered.
"You don't understand. I'd have to go back. I abandoned his body there… because I let my emotions get swept away by Fenrir. I went away from him. I'm useless." Kael's voice, thick with guilt, echoed in the close air. Bandi felt the weight of his words, a heavy pressure in his chest.
Damn it. What should I do…
"Fine!" Bandi suddenly shouted. "I'll help you walk. Let's go back to the mansion together."
"Bandi, don't be reckless," Rodeo warned sharply.
"Relax. We'll just go in briefly, then come out. No need to overdo it." Bandi forced a thin smile.
"Check on Claudius and Lullaby too. They might still be inside," Rosalina added.
"Lullaby, huh… maybe she can help heal Kael," Bandi muttered.
And so, Bandi slung Kael's arm over his shoulder, supporting him step by step as they moved back toward the mansion.
Alira and Rodeo could only watch their retreating figures.
"I'm going too. There's something I need to confirm," Terasvari announced.
"Eh? Wait—"
But before Alira could stop her, Terasvari was already gone—vanishing as swiftly as the wind.
---
Meanwhile, Lullaby sat against the cold stone wall outside the chamber where the ritual had just taken place, still stunned that Clementine's summoning had succeeded—Fenrir had truly taken possession of that body.
Beside her, Claudius sat slumped, clutching his side, his face twisted with lingering pain from his wounds.
"I never expected him to rise and immediately drain that man dry… killing him as if it were nothing," Claudius whispered, his voice barely audible.
"Indeed. No one survives once they become Fenrir's prey. In the end, that man too met his demise," Lullaby murmured, pressing her palms together as though in prayer.
But Claudius froze. A chill prickled his skin, and he instantly clamped his hand over Lullaby's mouth. The air grew heavy—something monstrous was here.
From the floor near Lumino's limp body, a shadow rose, towering and distorted, its gaze fixed on the boy sprawled helplessly across the stone.
"Damn," the figure rasped, its voice like shattered crystal. "I was ordered to watch him. Never expected to find him like this."
It leaned closer, towering over Lumino, and reached a hand out, fingers brushing his neck. Suddenly, a hand clamped down on its wrist. Lumino's eyes flew open, and a slow, pleased grin stretched across his face.
"Finally... I've got you."
The shadow recoiled, stumbling back. Claudius and Lullaby gaped, their breath caught in their throats, as Lumino rose to his feet.
"Impossible… you were dead. Your heart had stopped. Your body carried no warmth," the figure stammered.
"Call it part of the plan. Did you really think I'd perish just from having my blood drained? Besides…" Lumino's gaze sharpened, the faintest curve of amusement tugging at his lips, "for just luring one of Lady Seraphine's lackeys straight to me, that strategy was well worth it."
That stare—it crawled beneath the shadow's skin, cold and merciless, as though invisible claws were dragging across its spine.
Lumino stepped forward, his voice low and commanding, and asked, "Who do you think you're fooling?" He then challenged, "Let's see what you're capable of… servant."
The shadow responded with a guttural snarl, baring its teeth as its form warped hideously. Skin melted into pitch-black sinew, eight gleaming eyes sprouted, and its hair writhed like tangled vines.
"How dare you!!" it roared, hurling itself at Lumino.