As both disarmed opponents stared each other down, Rubin closed his eyes. The runic inscriptions on his armor flared even brighter than before, casting an eerie glow in the dim corridor.
"You are strong, vampire, but this is the end for you."
With a single, explosive step, the floor beneath his foot cracked and splintered. He dashed toward the vampire maid, a terrifying blur of green armor and unbridled force. He unleashed a punch that combined both devastating speed and raw power. The eyes of Elena widened in shock.
"Shit, I cannot move out of the way!" she cursed internally, realizing the overwhelming velocity of his attack.
She instinctively crossed her arms, bracing for the impact. A sickening crack echoed through the hall as she felt her forearms fracture under the sheer force of the blow. The strike sent her reeling backward, flung across the corridor. Rubin did not let up. He surged after her, his boosted speed closing the distance in an instant.
As he neared, he delivered a brutal kick to the face of Elena, knocking her violently to the ground. Before she could even react, he seized her left leg and, with a powerful heave, slammed her against the stone wall. The impact was immense. Deep cracks radiated from the point of contact, and the plaster shattered like fragile ice, exposing the rough brick beneath.
"You bitch," Rubin snarled, blood seeping from his mouth and nose as his right cheek swelled from Haven's earlier strike. "You're forcing me to burn through so much of this armor's energy."
The left arm of Elena, despite the fractures, was already visibly mending as her rapid regenerative ability kicked in. The swelling in her face also began to recede. However, she knew her regeneration would slow dramatically the more damage she sustained. She then felt herself being hauled upright by the mercenary, who shoved her back against the wall before delivering another wrenching punch to her stomach. He followed up by grabbing her by the neck and striking her in the face repeatedly. The head of the vampire maid bounced violently against the wall, leaving a small and distinct dent in the stone.
A short distance away, Haven was still lying amidst the debris from her own brutal impact. She struggled fiercely to get to her feet, having recovered just enough to push herself upright. Her mind raced, consumed by the memory of the children left defenseless. The sight of Elena being brutally pinned and continuously pummeled by Rubin galvanized her. She pushed through the hole in the wall he had created, bursting back into the main corridor.
Her gaze fell to her left arm, which had been cleanly severed just moments ago. Fortunately, her regenerative ability had already closed the wound, leaving only a fading scar, but she felt a profound weakness. A dizzying emptiness swept over her as a result of the immense blood loss.
She quickly scanned the floor for anything she could use as a weapon. Her eyes landed on a jagged piece of metal reflecting the dim light only a few feet away. It was a short and sharp remnant of a blade, sheared at a clean diagonal angle. Without knowing where it had come from or whose it was, she fixed her focus on that shard of steel. It was closer than her own sword. In her weakened state, it was the only weapon she had the strength to reach.
In the center of the corridor, the mercenary relentlessly continued to punch Elena in the face. The vampire children cried out, their small voices filled with anguish as they watched the vampire maid getting thrashed. Carla could not bear to watch any further as her hero was being violently assaulted. She frantically looked around from where she stood and spotted a few pieces of rubble scattered on the floor, lying not far from her reach.
Rubin, aiming to crack the skull of Elena open with his next strike, was suddenly interrupted. His attack was decisively delayed when Carla, with desperate courage, hurled a piece of rubble squarely against the side of his head. He snapped his head toward the young vampire, his face contorted in disgust.
"I am growing tired of this," he snarled.
"No, Carla, run!" Elena cried out. Her voice was raw and hoarse despite being pinned. Carla, however, ignored the desperate plea of Elena and stubbornly decided to throw another piece of rubble at the mercenary.
"Carla, come back!" Adam cried out. His fear was finally overcoming his paralysis as he rushed closer, trying to pull Carla away.
This was a tragic mistake on the part of the young vampire, but she was blinded by her desire to show bravery to her hero. As the second piece of rubble glided through the air, the mercenary Rubin stretched out his left arm. With a casual and contemptuous flick of his wrist, he sent the piece of rubble hurtling back with terrifying speed.
"No, Carla!" Elena screamed. It was a desperate and gut-wrenching cry.
The piece of rubble flew through the air, streaking back in Carla's direction. Elena, still pinned, watched in horror, thinking it would strike Carla. But with a cruel twist of fate, it flew just past her and pierced Adam directly through the chest.
The young boy vampire's gaze fell to his chest, where a dark, spreading stain of blood was already beginning to bloom. He looked up at Carla, his eyes wide with disbelief and pain. "Carla, it hurts," he whispered, before his small body slumped, falling to the floor with a soft, sickening thud. The little vampire girl was utterly shocked, her eyes widening, and tears immediately streamed down her cheeks. This wasn't supposed to happen.
She quickly scrambled to where Adam lay, collapsing beside him. "Adam, Adam, I... I'm sorry," she sobbed, her voice catching in her throat, a lump of grief making it hard to breathe. "I didn't mean for this to happen." Sadness gripped her heart tightly, a cold, crushing vise, as she cryingly grabbed Adam on his chest, futilely trying to stem the flow of blood.
"You monster," Elena snarled, her voice laced with an icy, deadly rage.
"You are the monster who sucks on human blood, you fucking tick!" Rubin retorted, his voice dripping with venom.
The blood that had been leaking from the mercenary's wounds, a grim testament to the earlier blows of Elena, now stanchioned abruptly, sealed by the reactive properties of his armor. The face of Elena, however, was still utterly drenched in crimson, a stark mask of blood.
"With this next punch," Rubin snarled, his voice a guttural promise of violence, "I will smash your face into pieces!"
The inscriptions on his right arm flared with a renewed and furious intensity. A surge of raw strength poured into the limb, making the muscle bulge against the metal.
Just as he was about to deliver the finishing blow, Rubin suddenly felt a presence from behind. It was Haven. She had appeared like a ghost out of nowhere, moving with an almost desperate and phantom swiftness. With her remaining right hand tightly gripping the sheared remnant of the sword she had recovered, she drove the jagged and diagonal edge directly into the right side of the neck of Rubin with a swift and fluid motion.
Rubin screamed, a raw and choked sound of pain and disbelief. Reacting instinctively, he swung his right elbow backward, striking Haven hard in the abdominal region. The broken blade remained embedded in his neck as he followed up with a brutal kick to her chest, sending the vampire hurtling violently toward the opposite wall.
Elena, who by some miracle was still standing, looked to her side. Her gaze fell upon Adam, lying on the ground, still unconscious, with Carla huddled over him, sobbing uncontrollably. She also noticed that the floor beneath him was painted a vivid and horrifying red from his wound. As the cries of Carla pierced through her daze, the mind of Elena flashed back to the time she saved John in that dark alley. She remembered how he, too, had been on the ground, crying, the blood spreading around him with primal fear in his eyes. The vulnerable form of Adam was a painful echo of John, of his death, and now, another friend was on the verge of succumbing.
A cold and fierce resolve hardened her expression. Her eyes glowed a furious and pulsing red, and her fangs revealed themselves, elongated and sharp. She was not about to let someone die on her watch, not again.
Just then, Rubin effortlessly lifted Haven off the ground.
"Why do you not just die?!" he roared, his voice thick with unadulterated rage.
Without waiting for an answer, he thrust his hand forward, his armored fingers penetrating her chest. Blood spewed from the mouth of Haven in a desperate spray. Rubin was trying to rip her heart out. His anger had reached its absolute boiling point, driving him to a frenzied and desperate final act.
Elena moved with lightning speed, appearing behind Rubin just as his hand neared the heart of Haven. She grabbed his head with her right hand and pulled it violently backward. Her left hand, without hesitation, grabbed the handle of the broken sword still impaled in his neck.
"Why do you not die!" Elena snarled.
Her voice was a low and furious growl as she pulled the broken sword sharply to the side, wrenching the jagged steel through his flesh. A torrent of blood gushed from the mouth of Rubin. His body went slack, the light in his eyes dying as the man in the runic armor collapsed to the floor, defeated and utterly lifeless.
Both vampire maids dropped to the floor, exhaustion and pain evident in their postures.
"Are you alright, Haven?" Elena gasped, her voice strained and heavy.
"Yeah, I almost died there," Haven replied. She was breathing heavily and her words were punctuated by sharp intakes of breath. She was in extreme pain. Her wounds, though slowly healing, had not yet stanchioned the flow of blood that continued to seep from her body. "By the way, how are you this strong?"
"Hehe, Warrior's Rage potion," Elena chuckled weakly. Her arms slumped to the ground beside her, completely drained of energy.
"Hehehe, really?" Haven managed a weak smile that touched her lips despite the agony. "Did those guys back there give you a hard time?"
"They were pretty strong, alright. Without the Warrior's Rage potion, I would have died a long time ago," Elena admitted. A grimace flickered across her face as the adrenaline began to fade. "But this bastard probably takes the cake. My face would probably be mush after three of his strikes. That potion is really something else."
"If you were not strong yourself, Elena, then the potion would not be of much help," Haven countered. Her voice was softer now, carrying a note of genuine admiration. "But you are strong, Elena."
"Thank you, Haven." The gaze of Elena then flickered toward the children. "We forgot about the kids!" she exclaimed. A jolt of concern overrode her pain. She pushed herself up and hurriedly went to the vampire children.
"Are you guys okay?" she asked while kneeling beside them.
Carla looked up with her small face streaked with tears and her eyes wide and wet. "Miss Elena, is Adam dead?" she whispered with a trembling voice.
Elena quickly leaned over Adam, checking precisely where the pebble had penetrated his chest. A wave of relief washed over her as she concluded that the projectile had not pierced his heart. The pebble was still lodged in his chest, appearing as a dark and protruding lump. Without hesitation, the hand of the maid shifted. Her nails extended and elongated into sharp obsidian points. She then gently but firmly dipped her fingers into his chest wound, carefully removing the pebble.
Elena turned her attention back to Carla, whose small face was still contorted with grief. "Carla, dear, you did great, okay?" she said. Her voice was soft but firm. "Do not be sad. Adam is still alive. He is just unconscious for the moment."
"Really? Adam is going to live?" Carla asked. A flicker of hope appeared in her tear filled eyes and her words were punctuated by sniffles.
"Come, let us go to Haven." Elena then gently picked up the unconscious Adam and went to sit beside Haven.
They waited for about ten minutes, allowing Haven time to recover her ability to walk properly. They knew they could not afford to linger in the corridor because another enemy mercenary was likely to enter their vicinity at any moment. Their top priority was to get the children to the escape tunnel as soon as possible. Haven and Elena understood clearly that they would not be able to fight at their fullest with the children near them. While they were waiting, they immediately decided to strip the fallen mercenary of his armor.
Elena then took the lifeless arm of Rubin. Her fangs extended and glistened sharply in the dim light. She bit deeply into his wrist and began to drink his blood. Haven, still struggling with her own wounds and weakness, did the same. They both knew this would be their fastest way to recover.
After ten minutes, Haven felt her strength return enough to walk properly. With Adam cradled carefully by Elena, the four vampires moved swiftly down the corridor and through the door leading to the stairs.
.====
As the flying ship surged through the sky, Tony, the pilot, hummed a light tune to himself with a faint smile playing on his lips. They entered a section where rain began to fall heavily. Without missing a beat, Tony quickly pushed a button among a cluster of others next to the steering wheel. With a quick press, the ship shuddered slightly and a burst of shimmering light energy erupted from its underside. The magical barrier expanded, forming a protective dome that perfectly shielded the vessel from the downpour. This was a unique magical shield, specifically designed to keep rain out, yet it allowed anyone to pass in and out without harm.
Tony glanced to his left. Just a couple of meters away, he noticed two white birds flying effortlessly alongside his ship. The birds then flew closer, settling gently onto some cargo boxes.
"Are you hitching a ride, huh?" he chuckled, addressing the birds.
"My lord, we are nearing Carmine Town. Where should I drop you off?" Tony asked, his voice respectful.
Leonidas, seated comfortably, answered in a calm and measured tone. "You can take us to the road that leads up to my castle. We will take it from there."
"As you wish, my lord," Tony affirmed.
"If we manage to survive today, then I will compensate you handsomely," Leonidas stated, his voice firm and certain.
"Oh no, my lord. There is no need to reward me. Young Master John saved my life. This is the least I can do to repay him," Tony insisted with a hint of genuine gratitude in his voice.
"Nonsense. You think my family got this far because we owe people?" Leonidas retorted, a hint of his authority bleeding into his tone.
"I... I... did not mean that, my lord," Tony stammered nervously, realizing his misstep.
"I will send one of my sons to personally deliver your reward," Leonidas insisted, unwavering. He was determined that Tony must be compensated for transporting them, especially in this dire situation where his castle and family were under attack.
"Old man, look!" John exclaimed while pointing. "We are nearing, flying right above Carmine Town!"
"Indeed, we are almost near the castle," Leonidas confirmed, a flicker of concern appearing in his eyes.
"Did you think of a plan, old man, on what we can do to help?" John pressed, his youthful impatience showing.
"Yes. We should head to my office," Leonidas replied. "In my table's drawer, there is a magic crystal ball and a magic mirror we can use to contact the Vampire King, one of my vassal clans, or, I hate to say it, the Fulger family for help. However, I do not like to call for other people's help. I am one hundred percent confident that my family can handle Decker and his henchmen."
"Wait, hold up for a second, old man, did you just say the Vampire King?" John interjected, his voice laced with disbelief.
"Yes, that is what I said. Why are you acting strange, boy?" Leonidas asked while an amused eyebrow raised.
"Acting strange? How?! How can you call the Vampire King so casually?" John exploded, incredulous. "I mean, he is the King, and you talk about calling him like you are friends or something!"
For John, this was sheer madness. He had always seen vampire kings in movies worshipped and feared by other vampires, but now his grandpa just casually talked about calling him for help.
"Well, me and the King are friends. We have known each other since we were teenagers, and I also saved his life once," Leonidas explained with a shrug, dismissing the astonishment of John. "And even if we were not friends, he must come to my aid because I am one of the Vampire Lords."
"You know, old man, since I got here and all the things I have gone through these past couple of months, I always think that I am in a dream," John sighed while running a hand through his hair. "Do you know how hard it is to keep myself together? I went from a normal teenager to suddenly finding out I am a hybrid, then I come into a world with vampires and werewolves, elves and shit..."
"Manners, boy," Leonidas grumbled with a hint of rebuke in his tone.
"Manners?" The voice of John escalated, bordering on a shout. "I was kidnapped! I fought a troll and almost died! And now I am finding out we are calling a freaking Vampire King to come help us?"
He threw his hands up in exasperation, feeling his head might genuinely explode.
"Understandable, boy," Leonidas conceded, his expression unreadable.
"Well, if you understand so much," John shot back, his frustration boiling over, "then why did you treat me like shit?!"
Leonidas stiffened, startled by the raw accusation. He and John locked gazes. An intense and silent standoff hung in the air between them.
A nervous cough broke the tension. "Ahem, Your Lordship," Tony interjected while clearing his throat awkwardly. "May I inquire where you would like to be dropped off?"
Leonidas looked up, snapping out of his staredown with John. He noticed they had already flown past Carmine Town. Turning their attention toward the castle, they could distinctly hear explosions and the distant clamor of men's voices. A plume of dark smoke was also clearly visible, rising ominously toward the sky.
"We are too late, old man," John muttered. The previous anger drained from his face and was replaced by a grim realization.
"Drop us by the base of the mountain that heads up to my castle," Leonidas commanded. His voice was now devoid of any casualness and was entirely focused. "The boy and I will take it from there."
"As you command, Your Lordship," Tony replied, his tone subdued.
The flying ship smoothly descended and landed gently at the base of the mountain. John quickly positioned himself before Leonidas, turning his back and crouching down.
"Are you ready, old man?" he asked. His voice was low but firm as he prepared for the climb.
"Yes. We must hurry," Leonidas urged while clambering onto the back of John.
John then approached Tony and bowed his head lightly. "Thank you, Mr. Bricksman. Please drive back safely."
"Please be careful, Young Master John," Tony replied with a genuine warmth in his voice. "I will pray for your victory."
Tony then pulled the lever and the sturdy flying ship began to rise steadily into the air. He looked down at the two vampires below. John was waving at him with a faint smile on his face, though Tony could detect a distinct tinge of sadness in his eyes. Tony waved back before steering the ship off into the vast sky.
John turned and his gaze fixed on the castle looming above.
"Hold on tight," he stated, a new resolve in his voice. "We are taking back our home."