The interior of the Sanctuary was quieter than before.
The air carried a metallic smell, as if ancient blood had dried on the walls centuries ago.
Lucy walked with firm steps, but her eyes moved from shadow to shadow. Dracula was close. She could feel it.
She crossed a narrow corridor, illuminated only by bluish candles that flickered as if they were breathing. The Sanctuary seemed to twist, changing paths, closing doors, opening others — all as if a consciousness were observing her movements.
After a series of spiral stairs, Lucy stopped when she saw a wide arched window at the end of a large hall.
The purple light of the moon that hovered above that world reflected off the walls.
There, with her back turned, stood the Silver Samurai.
Motionless. Silent. Watching the purple moon beyond the window.
An intense purple aura emanated from her, rippling like poisonous vapor.
Lucy took a deep breath.
"You're truly an honorable warrior. I have to admit."
The Silver Samurai turned her face slightly, but said nothing. Then she raised her hand and traced a circular gesture in the air. A purple runic circle lit up on the ground, burning like arcane embers.
The Samurai drove her sword into the center of the circle.
The ground vibrated.
Then she reached for her helmet… and removed it slowly.
Beneath it was a beautiful and austere feminine face — pale skin, short white hair, and intense purple eyes glowing like cursed crystals.
She lifted her sword again and pointed it directly at Lucy.
Without a word.
Without hesitation.
An invitation.
A challenge.
Lucy smiled sideways, gripping Lycanos.
"Let's finish this."
Both advanced at the same time.
The initial clash produced a wave of purple and blue energy that cracked the floor. The Samurai moved with surgical precision; every strike was a straight, clean, lethal line.
Lucy dodged by mere millimeters, alternating between dance-like movements and raw brutality. She spun Lycanos, switching to Nosferion whenever the Samurai shifted her rhythm.
The silver warrior attacked with phantom thrusts, each leaving a purple trail that multiplied into illusionary clones. Lucy raised the Chiron Gauntlet, absorbing a strike and countering with an explosion of black fire that sent the Samurai sliding back.
The Samurai then changed her stance —
A more aggressive, fast, almost desperate style.
Lucy felt the pressure. The purple blade sliced a strand of her hair as it passed dangerously close.
"Fast…" Lucy muttered, excited.
With an agile spin, Lucy combined Lycanos and Chiron into a descending strike coated in black fire. The Samurai blocked — but the impact hurled her against the wall, cracking the stone.
She still tried to advance, even while bleeding.
Lucy then leaped, landed behind her, and unleashed a sequence of rapid blows with Nosferion, finishing with a knee strike that brought the Samurai to her knees.
The Samurai panted.
Struggled to rise.
But had no strength left.
Lucy pointed Lycanos at her in silence…
But the warrior only pressed her fist against the floor, fighting until the end, like a true fallen honor.
And then…
The Samurai screamed.
A piercing scream of agony, grabbing both sides of her head.
A purple flash exploded around her, and her body began to levitate, contorting as if something were being violently torn out of her.
"Hey!" Lucy stepped forward, but the light pushed her back.
The Samurai looked at Lucy one last time…
Something human flickered in her purple eyes.
And then she shot upward, crashing through the ceiling in a streak of violet light.
A small object hit the ground with a metallic chime.
Lucy breathed deeply and approached slowly.
It was a pendant.
Silver, with a blue center that pulsed faintly. When she touched it, a memory struck her like lightning:
A gentle voice.
Feminine.
Warm.
"Lucy… Nyra. Happy birthday!"
Lucy froze.
Her eyes trembled.
She pressed the pendant to her forehead, tears falling silently.
"So… it was you."
The Silver Samurai…
The honorable warrior…
The silent enemy…
Was Nyra.
Her sister.
Manipulated.
Corrupted.
Used by Dracula as a puppet with no will of her own.
Lucy clenched her teeth.
Her heart burned with fury and pain.
On the other side of the Sanctuary, in a chamber enveloped in infinite shadows, Dracula's statue glowed with red eyes.
The imposing figure smiled coldly.
"Drayven… Nyra has been defeated."
He raised his hand.
"You know what to do. Now go."
From the shadows behind him, soft footsteps echoed.
Drayven emerged — silent, expression burdened yet resolute.
She bowed her head with respect.
"Yes, master."
And vanished into the darkness with her bats.