The sky still bled through the moon as a man in black walked beneath it, heading toward an abandoned castle
A massive coffin hung from his shoulder, and his long coat dragged across the dirt like a shadow.
A black hunter hat sat low over his eyes — like death was watching through him, just waiting to speak.
"Just gotta catch the devil vamp and get paid. Don't get to fight one of these every day. Two birds on one Blade."
He'd been walking the rotten halls of the medieval castle for a while now.
"Come onnn, where the hell is he? I don't have all night. Gotta be back before 3 a.m.," he grumbled.
Crack… crack… crack…
The sound echoed through stone — slow, heavy, steady.
A vampire woke from his slumber and stared down from the upper walkway.
"Hallo, guest," he said, voice calm and sharp.
The vampire stood tall in a velvet suit, silver hair falling to his shoulders. His crimson eyes gleamed with hunger.
"My name is Jater. I own this castle. What's your name, human?"
The young man didn't blink.
"My name is Blade…
And I was born to kill the unkilled."
He muttered it like a promise. Cold. Calm. Killer.
"Quite the name for a human," Jater said, amused.
Blade shrugged off the heavy coffin. It hit the ground with a thud — rough wood, cracked leather, and chains sealed with ancient markings wrapped around something ugly and holy.
With a flick of his fingers, the seals hissed and unlocked.
Five silver rings gleamed on his hands, catching the firelight — chrome, cursed, and sharp.
"I think this one'll fit you just right, vampire."
The coffin cracked open.
From the outside, it looked like a masterpiece.
Inside? Chaos — smashed weapons, scorched steel, blades stained with dried black blood.
A war chest dragged straight from the nether.
He pulled out the Silversong Katars — twin daggers curved like serpent fangs, beautiful and cracked along the edge.
"Beauty kills," Blade whispered, flexing his fingers. "And so do I."
Jater tilted his head.
"You're cocky, boy. You barge into my castle like you own it?"
He smiled thinly.
"Fine. At least let me offer tea before your death."
He clenched his fists. The crimson suit fluttered, and the walls bled — thick veins pulsing like the castle was alive.
"Take a seat, anywhere," Jater said mockingly. "You're welcome to stay the night.
Just… leave before 3:00 a.m.
Or you'll be the one left behind."
Blade didn't flinch. Didn't blink. Just stared.
Cold. Empty. Dangerous.
Oh well… I wanted to catch him,
but yeah… that's it.
He muttered it under his breath — cocky, quiet, just enough to keep the mask cool.
Blade glanced at his pocket watch.
2:45 a.m.
He looked up.
"Y'know… I was gonna wait 'til 3:00.
But whatever.
Let's start the dance."
Jater grinned.
The bleeding walls split open. Spears formed from bone and oil. The castle doors burst behind him.
"You don't get it, do you?" the vampire hissed.
"You're not fighting a man. I know where you're from — that little country… what was it…?"
He grinned cruelly.
"Vailhom. The only ones dumb enough to fight us.
And they send you — a kid with a coffin on his back."
He laughed.
"You trespass in my castle. You'll pay before I finish my nap."
He hurled the spears.
Blade stepped sideways, calm and fast. The spears scraped stone.
Snap — Blade pulled out the Whispercoil Blades, then flung them.
One slammed into Jater's shoulder.
"Ha! Nailed it," Blade muttered.
The vampire hissed.
"What… what is this?!"
"It's silver. Holy silver.
I hear freaks like you don't like it."
Blade cracked his neck, smirked.
"Let's wrap this up. The clock's ticking."
He looked again.
2:59 a.m.
One breath.
One second.
Jater stepped back, eyes wide.
He realized what time it was.
And then…
3:00 a.m.
His body tensed. Cracked. Steam hissed from his skin.
His flesh split open like something was breaking loose from inside.
Blade sighed.
"Oh well. Guess he was one of those…"
He muttered to himself.
The Awakened Ones