Lena and Marcus dispel the protection spell, causing the barrier to disintegrate and the feral vampires to cease banging. When the creatures saw this as an opportunity, they immediately rushed to the group, but they were stopped in their tracks as hail of arrows and bullets showered them, immediately killing them and disintegrate into ash. Those who survived the arrows and bullets are immediately killed by the students who are now rushing to kill them with their weapons in their hands.
"Go!" Sasha shouted.
Sephiram, Annisa, and Ryan nodded to themselves before running away while their fellow students handled the vampires. The two look away as if they are farther to the ruins where the fighting ensues while Sephiram takes the lead.
Several vampires are trying to hinder their path, but Sephiram's face indicates that enough is enough. He clenched his fist in anger as flames began to surround it.
"Inferno!" his hand raised and swung horizontally, causing the fireballs to be hurled directly at the vampires. The creature in question screeched in pain as fire began to engulf them. As the pillars of flame charred the vampires into ash, the three used this as an opportunity to get away.
*
"Ryan, can you check if there is a shortcut to the ruins where Class Beta was assigned to?" Sephiram asked as they were stopping by to catch their breath as the coats were clear. They are in the forest's open area.
"I-I will t-try," Ryan said in a stammered, scared voice as he concentrated on casting the spell.
"Big brother, are you all right?" asked Anissa worriedly as she saw her brother heavily panting, a pained expression written on his face.
"I'm fine." He replied, trying to normalize his breathing. "Casting a high-rank fire magic is harder than I thought. Luckily, my training with Big Brother has finally paid off." He looked at Anissa. "Are you okay?"
Anissa nodded. The two looked at Ryan as the spell was completed.
"View!" Ryan chanted as a projection appeared in front of him; Sephiram and Anissa approached him and looked at the projection. The projection shows the map of the forest; three blue dots are located on the map that looks like the open area, numerous blue dots and dwindling red ones are in the northern east of the map, where the fight took place, and two dots are in the far west. "The only shortcut available was to the southwest from here but these are the areas that cannot be seen in daylight," he explained. "But if we go straight from here, we can be able to reach Class Beta, but it will take us much more time before we can reach our destination."
"We have no choice but to take a long way, huh?" said Sephiram after analyzing the map. Ryan dispels the map as the projectile disappears. "We need to move out before those creatures catch us-"
"I'm afraid I won't let you go." An alluring but mysterious voice suddenly spoke causing the three to jolt and turn their heads in the direction of the voice. Anissa's face was written in shock to see its source.
A pair of red eyes hid in the surrounding darkness, looking at them with malicious intent. As the clouds dispersed and the moon's dim light illuminated the forest stood a man with long wavy ashy blond hair, red lips, and a slender body. He is wearing a white long-sleeved blouse with a black vest with a black ribbon tied on it, black pants, and high-heeled leather boots with some belts on them. His beauty is as unnatural as the mystery itself, as he is surrounded by an alluring aura.
"Oh." The man spoke in his alluring voice upon seeing the trio. "I never knew that there were humans inhabited on this island. I thought this was a desolate place, a perfect spot for those who break the Vampire God's law."
"Who are you?" Sephiram demanded angrily at the man, holding the grip of his weapon on his waist getting tighter. Ryan cowered behind him in fear while Anissa stood there in shock.
"Oh dear, where are my manners?" the man joked before he bowed in a gentlemanly manner. "The name's Piers. One of the Vampire God's Dark Stars, known as Elgafar. A pleasure to meet you."
"Vampire God's what?" Sephiram was confused. He doesn't know what the man is talking about.
"Let's get out of here!" He looked at Anissa as she shouted in fear. She knew that the man was bad news. She clutches both of her hands in her chest, trying to maintain her composure.
"Get out of here? What do you mean?" Sephiram asked his frightened adopted sister worriedly.
"The Dark Stars is the Vampire God's strongest general consists of twenty-four strongest vampires and they are directly under his command!" She explained while looking at Piers, who sadistically smiled, showing his fangs on his red lips. "This is bad! If one of them already set foot on this island, this means Libertas is in danger!"
Piers gazes his eyes at Anissa. "So, you must be the slave who successfully escaped the Capital!" He recognized her right away, eyes red and brimming with anger. "Did you know how much trouble you caused us to find you? Now that I found you, I want you to come along here as I kill your companions on the spot." He threatened, referring to Sephiram and Ryan.
"Not on my watch." Sephiram stepped in as he shielded Anissa, weapons drawn and pointing towards Piers. "You're the one who is going to die."
"Are you insane?" Ryan cried in fear as he tugged the sleeve of Sephiram's blouse, prompting him to escape. (Anissa still wore his blazer) "Anissa said that guy is strong."
"I'll stay here," Sephiram said in a serious tone. He felt something inside him that the man in front of him was dangerous and must be eliminated immediately. "I'll take care of him while you two rescue Class Beta."
"But-"
"Do I have to repeat myself?!" Sephiram shouted as Ryan cowered in fear, releasing his sleeve. Anissa looked at him with a worried look for a minute before deciding to grab Ryan's arm. "Don't die, big brother!" she said as both Anissa and Ryan ran towards the other side and they passed by the vampire, who turned around to see them entering the other side of the forest.
"Don't you ever dare to escape!" Piers shouted, trying to follow them but a wall of fire blocks in his way. He turned around and snarled at Sephiram who put his hand down after casting the spell. "You are either a fool to challenge me or want to die early!" He sneered as a pair of large fans materialized in front of him. He grabbed the weapon and formed a battle stance. "I want to know the name of the fool who dares to challenge me!"
"The name's Sephiram Davis!"
"Well then, Sephiram," he said, a sadistic smile wore on his face. "Shall we dance?"
Sephiram grips the hilt of his weapon while he looks at his opponent with murderous intent. He felt both fear and anxiety as he looked at the vampire. This is his first time fighting a real one and it is a high-rank vampire, and it is different from the vampire that he fought in the training room two weeks ago. He doesn't know if he will survive this fight.
But Piers suddenly charged at him, arms formed in an x-position as he prepared to slash Sephiram's throat but was blocked by the latter's rapier. Sephiram was able to parry the vampire's attack, but the vampire leaped back, able to dodge in time. Piers was able to balance out and he swung the fan in his left hand, producing a strong gust of wind.
The trees violently rustled, and leaves began to scatter to the strong wind, as Sephiram tried to block the attack by raising his arm, acting as a shield. The strong gust somehow ripped the sleeves of his blouse and slashed his arm, as he bit his mouth to resist screaming in pain.
The gust of wind somehow stopped and Sephiram examined his slashed arm. The red liquid oozes out of his arm and some of it dripped on the unstained grass; its scent wafted into the air and the vampire snarled in excitement as the sweet smell of blood entered his system.
"Oh my!" Piers cried in excitement, face blushed with lust and ecstasy. "I wonder what your blood will taste like?! Oh, it will be so delicious! Judging by the smell, you are very young and healthy!" he added as he licked his weapon with his tongue.
"This bastard!" Sephiram snarled in anger. If there is only one thing that he hates, it's people who are treating others like trash. "Is this how you view us humans?"
"That's the truth of this world." Piers mocked as he stretched out his arms outward. "We vampires are the most superior beings in the world; our beauty and strength are beyond supreme. You humans, along with other races, are nothing but livestock!"
"Livestock, huh?" Sephiram whispered angrily as he outstretched his left arm, casting a spell with a faint glow beneath his feet, indicating the activation of the magic circle. Anger was written on his face.
"Now you piss me off! Hellfire!" He shouted as large fireballs emerged from the magic circle and hurled towards the vampire. Then he cast fire enchantment on his rapier and swung vertically, a wave of fire vastly approaching with the huge fireballs, which caused it to form into a bigger wave of flames.
Piers saw the incoming fire, but he only stood still, not afraid of being burned alive. Instead, he swings his fan vertically, forming a slash of wind that colludes with the incoming flames, causing an explosion in the process.
When the smoke began to dissipate, a ball of light suddenly appeared in front of him. Piers closed one of his fans and cast a barrier spell to shield himself from the ongoing attack.
"You're good." He commented as the smoke disappeared and saw Sephiram catching his breath after casting consecutive spells. "How long can you keep up?"
'This is bad, I can't scratch him.' Sephiram thought to himself while he saw the enemy unscathed after unleashing consecutive spells. 'He also blocks my magic as well. What should I do?'
"Well, not unless I beat you to it."
"Well," his enemy placed his fan on his mouth as if he was mocking him. "I like to see you try."