The streets of Lumeris grew quieter the deeper they went. Lanterns Flick , laughter died, and the air grew heavy with incense whispers of magic. Oban walked close behind Allisa, eyes darting to every rune glowing on walls and doors.
It didn't feel like a city anymore. It felt like a cage.
Kael stopped suddenly. "Here," he whispered. He tilted his head, nostrils flaring. "Three strong pulses. All vampires. Two weaker, one steady but fading. North wall sector."
Oban's chest tightened. The prisoners.
Allisa's eyes narrowed. "Good. But walls this deep will be covered in spells. Mira, you're up."
The illusionist stepped forward without a word. She raised her hands, her fingers weaving like threads in the air. Slowly, her body shimmered until she vanished. Then the wall ahead rippled faintly, its glow dimming. A hole appeared, no larger than a door.
"Not long," Mira said, her voice echoing strangely from nowhere. "Go."
They slipped through one by one, stepping into silence.
The prison was not stone and iron—it was made of runes. Every wall glowed with shifting letters, humming with energy. The air itself felt heavy, pressing down on them. Oban's throat dried.
Darius muttered, "This whole place reeks of mage arrogance."
"Quiet," Allisa snapped softly. "They'll hear us."
The hallway curved like a serpent. Shadows pooled thick between the glowing runes, giving them cover. Oban's eyes flicked to the side—through a rune-barred cell he saw a glimpse of pale skin, fangs bared weakly. One of their kind. The prisoner's eyes widened at the sight of them, hope flickering for the first time.
Oban Tight his fist.
"Allisa," he whispered. "We have to free them now."
"Not yet," she replied firmly. "First we find the lock. These prisons aren't simple metal. If we break one carelessly, the others collapse into ash."
Oban bit back his words. He didn't like it, but he understood. One wrong move and they could lose them all.
They moved deeper. Seren crouched ahead, studying the runes. He traced them with a gloved hand, eyes narrowing.
"Complex," he muttered. "Triple-layer seal. Blood, sound, and light woven together. If I push wrong, we'll light up the whole sector."
"Can you do it?" Allisa asked.
He smirked faintly. "Can I? Of course."
He knelt, pulling a small black dagger. With careful motions, he cut his finger, letting a drop fall on the nearest rune. The glow flickered. He whispered a chant in old tongue, his voice lower than a breath. The runes dimmed one by one, fading until the bars dissolved like smoke.
The vampire inside stumbled forward. He was gaunt, bloodless, but alive.
"Quiet," Allisa ordered, catching him before he fell. She studied him quickly, then gave a short nod. "We'll get you out. Kael, guide him."
Kael stepped forward, steadying the weakened man. "One down. Two more."
Oban's heart pounded harder. Every second they lingered felt like fire on his skin. He could almost hear footsteps, though none came.
The second prisoner was worse. A woman this time, her wrists bound by glowing chains. The runes bit into her skin, leaving burns. Oban's stomach twisted at the sight.
"We can't wait," he said sharply. "She's dying."
"Allisa," Darius muttered, "he's right."
Allisa's jaw tightened. She motioned to Seren again.
"Fast."
Seren worked, quicker this time, his blood seeping into the runes. The glow fought back, sparking violently, but he pressed harder. The chains snapped with a flash, and the woman collapsed forward into Oban's arms.
Her eyes fluttered open weakly. She whispered, "Who…?"
"Friends," Oban said firmly. "Stay quiet."
She nodded faintly, her fangs showing just enough to remind him what she was—family, not stranger.
Two freed. One left.
The final cell was different. Its runes burned brighter, pulsing like a heartbeat. Even Allisa paused.
"This one's special," she muttered.
Inside, a tall vampire sat cross-legged, his eyes closed. His body bore scars but no fear. When he opened his eyes, Oban shivered—cold silver, sharp as blades.
"You came," the prisoner said softly. His voice carried calm power. "I wondered how long before the Dark Dimension remembered us."
"Who are you?" Allisa asked.
He smiled faintly. "A name forgotten. But strength enough to survive."
Seren stepped forward, but Allisa held up a hand. "Not yet. Breaking this one will trigger alarms. We need a diversion first."
As if on cue, the ground shook. A loud voice rang from the far end of the prison.
"So," it said, playful, smooth. "Vampires in my city."
Every heart in the group froze.
Oban turned slowly. A man stood at the end of the corridor, staff in hand, cloak of midnight blue trailing behind him. His black hair fell over one eye, and his smile was wide, sharp.
Yuji.
He clapped once, the sound echoing like thunder. "I was getting bored. And here you are, sneaking around in my little playground."
Oban's body locked. The air itself seemed to freeze around Yuji.
"You shouldn't be here," Yuji said lightly. His eyes burned with cruel amusement. "But since you are, entertain me."
Allisa stepped forward, shielding the others. "Keep him busy. Seren, finish the lock."
Yuji chuckled. "Oh, brave leader. Very well. Let's play."
He raised his hand. Ice formed instantly, crawling along the walls. The runes themselves cracked under the frost. A wave of cold burst forward, racing toward them.
"Barrier!" Allisa snapped.
Oban's body moved without thought. Blood burned in his veins, pulling outward. His hands glowed crimson as he spread them wide. A shield of blood rose in front of them, catching the frost with a hiss. Cracks split the surface, but it held.
His knees shook. His skin turned pale. But he gritted his teeth and forced it wider.
Darius roared, slamming his fist into the ice. Shards exploded, clearing the path. "Go!"
Seren cursed under his breath, his dagger bleeding into the final lock. The runes screamed, light flaring, but one by one they snapped. The silver-eyed prisoner stood as the bars vanished.
Yuji's grin widened. "Oh, this is fun."
He slammed his staff down. A shockwave of frost exploded through the hall. Oban threw himself forward, blade flashing. The Nightblade struck against Yuji's ice, sparks flying. For a moment, their eyes met—Oban's burning red against Yuji's cold dark.
Then Allisa grabbed his arm, pulling him back. "Not now!"
She shouted, "Retreat!"
The freed vampires stumbled forward, guided by Kael and Mira. Seren finished the seal, and Allisa raised the Shadow Key again. The air split open, shadows swirling.
Yuji laughed as they vanished into the darkness. His voice echoed behind them, chilling and sharp.
"Run, little bats. Run while you can. The game has only begun."
Oban stumbled out the other side, collapsing on stone. His chest heaved, blood dripping from his nose. The others panted heavily, the freed prisoners weak but alive.
Allisa stood tall, her violet eyes glowing. She looked at them all, then finally at Oban.
"You held the barrier," she said quietly. "Without it, we'd be ash."
Oban swallowed hard. "It nearly killed me."
"But it didn't," she replied. "And next time, it will be stronger."
The silver-eyed prisoner stepped forward, his presence filling the air. "That mage will not forget this night. Neither should we."
Silence hangg over them. For the first time, Oban realized this wasn't just a mission. It was the start of war.