The scarlet blade comes swinging down toward Hakuto—aimed straight at his chest, when...
—CLANG!
...a sharp metallic sound cuts through the night.
«What the...?!» Itzu mutters, eyes wide with disbelief.
The rapier stops mid-air—blocked by a sword.
But not just any sword.
It's massive.
Golden hilt, slightly curved blade forged from crystal-like material that looks like diamond.
Wrapped in glowing white flames.
That sword—now in Hakuto's right hand—wasn't there a second ago.
It just appeared.
Even his arm is armored in the same crystal-like material, wrist to shoulder.
His right eye—hazel before—is now pure white and glowing, like fire burns inside it too.
Rika and Yuzu snap out of their daze, staring shocked.
Not even Itzu can believe what he's seeing—he jumps back.
A nervous grin spreads on his face.
«I never imagined you possessed the Sacred Flame. I thought I'd be the one surprising you—but you flipped the whole thing!»
Hakuto doesn't respond.
His face is dead serious, his eyes locked on Itzu.
White flames burst from his body, trailing behind like a comet as he charges.
Itzu counters, unleashing a surge of crimson energy.
Hakuto's sword crashes down—fast, powerful.
Itzu barely intercepts the strike.
He blocks it with great effort—his feet sink into the floor from the impact.
The blade stops inches from his head.
Itzu counters with a direct thrust, but Hakuto dodges with a quick sidestep.
A split second later, Hakuto's flying kick hits Itzu in the stomach and sends him flying back.
The fight explodes into the garden.
They move so fast it's hard to follow.
Blades clash again and again, white and red light bursting with each strike.
Trees are ripped up.
The noise is deafening—but no one outside the massive garden hears it.
«Unlike your stepsisters, you did a great job hiding that power—seriously. I didn't suspect a thing! Still, I'm glad… it's been forever since I had this much fun!» Itzu shouts, launching rapid thrusts.
Hakuto stays silent, surrounded by white flames.
He dodges and parries every strike with insane agility—the diamond-like armor doesn't slow him down one bit.
The battle rages on.
Evenly matched.
Itzu's fast—but Hakuto's faster.
The vampire stretches out his left arm.
His palm faces Hakuto.
A wound opens on it and solid blood shoots out.
Thin, sharp shards, like a rain of scarlet needles.
Hakuto swings his sword.
The air blast that follows cuts forward like a blade of wind.
It shreds the red, needle-like rain instantly.
Itzu dodges the wind blade by a hair, but Hakuto is already on him.
Then, Hakuto finds an opening—a deep diagonal slash from thigh to shoulder.
«D-Damn it…» Itzu growls, clutching his side as blood pours out.
The red sword in his hand dissolves into crimson smoke, just like the aura that used to surround him.
Hakuto dashes forward, sword raised to finish it.
When...
—FLASH!
A blinding red burst of energy.
When the light fades, only a few drops of blood remain where Itzu stood.
He's gone.
Completely vanished.
♡♡♡
«We need to talk,» Hakuto says, his voice sharp and serious.
The flames are gone, but the sword remains—pointed at Yuzu and Rika.
They're still on the floor, frozen in shock.
«So... you're demons.»
«H-Half-demons, actually...» Rika says.
She tries to sound confident—but it doesn't hide her fear.
«Our mom, Kagura, is a demon—a succubus. And our dad was a vampire. He died fourteen years ago.»
«A vampire and a succubus...» Hakuto repeats. «Didn't know that combo could even have kids.»
«It's not,» Rika says. «That's why we ran from N'raeth—our world. That's why that vampire tried to capture us. Yuzu and I... we're anomalies. We shouldn't even exist. We carry both vampire and succubus power. To them, we're lab rats. Tools. Nothing else.»
Hakuto sighs.
He lowers the sword.
It vanishes into thin air, just like he summoned it.
Rika gets up on shaky legs and steps back from Hakuto.
Then she points at him with an accusing finger.
«Y-You... that power—the Sacred Flame. It's dormant magic in humans. If you can use it... you're a Monster Reaper from HESPARC?!»
As soon as she speaks, Rika jumps back—and Yuzu does the same.
Bat-like black wings burst from their backs.
Their eyes glow red.
A faint aura wraps around them—Yuzu's is blood red, like Itzu's.
Rika's is purple.
Both drop into fighting stances.
They look ready to attack.
«My dad and I are out of that stuff. No need to freak out,» Hakuto says, raising his hands. «If I wanted you dead, I wouldn't have saved you from Itzu. Right? Honestly, if that's your best, I could still take you both out in a second—without even trying. Right now, I'm stronger than that vampire—and he's way above you two.»
«Y-Yeah... you're probably right...» Rika mumbles. Her body shifts back to normal. Yuzu changes right after.
«W-Wait... you and your dad?! Shin's a Monster Reaper too?! And he's out there—alone—with my mom?!» Yuzu yells, panic all over her face.
«Like I said, we're not with HESPARC anymore. Technically, I never was. My dad got kicked out when I was still a baby. He never told me why. Back then, he was the strongest Monster Reaper in the world. Now we're just two regular guys living in a tiny apartment on the edge of Tokyo. At least... we were. Until last week,» Hakuto says.
He doesn't even sound convinced himself.
He can't believe this is all just a coincidence. No way Shin knows nothing.
No. By now, he's sure his dad's behind all of it.
That marriage with Kagura it's no love story. If it's even real.
He's doubting that too.
Rika picks up on the same thing—right away.
«I'm sure Mom had her reasons for hiding things. Probably why they got married so suddenly without telling us... Honestly, I'm almost glad it's just a cover. I never understood why she'd marry someone like him. Or at least, that's what I want to believe. It'd be crazy if all this was just a coincidence...»
«Sweet as always...» Hakuto mutters.
~She couldn't even say thanks... right after I saved her life.~
«So now what...? Do we call Mom and Shin and ask what's going on...?» Yuzu asks, dropping onto the couch.
She's just starting to calm down.
«No,» Hakuto replies. «My idiot dad kept me in the dark—even with how serious this all is. We were lucky only one guy showed up. I'll return the favor for his little surprise.»