The blood-soaked domain pulsed around them, an enraged heart beating in the depths of the underworld. Crimson cracks dripped down the walls, forming living rivers that shifted according to Dracula's will. The supreme vampire advanced with monstrous elegance, shadows rippling around him like serpents.
Lucy, in her monstrous form, faced him.
Her crimson eyes sliced through the air like blades.
Dracula lifted a long, claw-like nail.
"Let's see how far this borrowed power goes, little one."
And then he vanished.
A sharp crack.
Lucy only felt — not saw — his fist crushing the air beside her face. She dodged, Lycanos slicing in an arc, unleashing a cutting wave that ripped through space.
Dracula merely dissolved into shadow mist.
The mist reformed behind her, massive like a winged beast, with multiplied eyes.
"Somnus Rhapsodia."
Spheres of black fire formed around him and, in an instant, shot out like meteors.
Lucy crossed the Chiron gauntlets, which emitted blazing symbols.
The blast hurled her back several meters, dragging her across the bleeding ground.
But she growled and charged forward.
Lycanos tore the air. A colossal crimson wave burst from it, ripping through the domain.
Dracula raised his palm.
"Tenebrae Shield."
A black barrier absorbed the strike and shattered into fragments that turned into shadowy bats. They swarmed toward Lucy, biting into her arm and draining her life force.
Lucy reacted instantly, grabbing one of the bats, crushing it, and absorbing its stolen energy back into herself.
Her body glowed.
She summoned the power of the Nosferion, cloaking herself in a white-and-red spectral aura.
Dracula arched a brow.
"Oh… You learned to feed on their fear. Like your father… and like your mother refused to do."
Lucy dashed forward, Chiron blazing, striking Dracula with a rapid flurry.
Punches exploding with energy.
Kicks cracking the air.
Lycanos swirling around her like a wolf made of crimson light.
Her slashes ripped fissures across the domain.
But Dracula caught the sword with two claws.
With absurd strength.
"You still have much to learn."
He twisted Lucy and hurled her into the living ceiling.
She shattered the organic surface and crashed back to the ground.
Before she could rise, Dracula pointed a finger:
"Ignis Mortem."
A column of infernal fire engulfed her, heat so intense it made the air turn transparent.
Lucy emerged from the flames, wounded but standing — her eyes glowing even brighter.
She screamed:
"AND NYRA!? WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?!"
Dracula smiled.
A slow, cruel, satisfied smile.
"That insolent girl tried to subdue me."
He walked forward, the ground bowing beneath his feet.
"So I marked her soul. Broke her will. She served… and will continue serving, until I decide otherwise."
Lucy froze.
Then… she trembled.
Rage consumed her like a sun exploding from within.
"YOU JACKASS!!!"
The ground split apart as she charged at monstrous speed.
Lycanos exploded into three spectral blades.
Lucy attacked Dracula from all angles — horizontal slashes, vertical strikes, diagonal cuts — each generating shockwaves that destroyed pillars of the domain.
Dracula began to retreat.
But suddenly…
He stopped.
And caught the three blades with shadow hands — dozens of them rising from the ground with open palms.
Lucy howled in frustration.
Dracula murmured:
"Time to put you in your place."
He yanked her by the aura of Lycanos and, with a single motion, smashed her body into the ground.
The impact made the entire domain tremble.
Before Lucy could react, he transformed into a giant of shadows, with curved horns, four arms, and wings made of coagulated blood.
He restrained Lucy with all four hands at once.
Then he transported them to the core of his domain — a red abyss lit by lakes of lava, like the inside of a breathing volcano.
The heat scorched Lucy's skin.
Dracula hurled her into the center of the arena.
Lucy rolled across the ground, her transformation flickering, her monstrous aura losing its strength.
She pushed herself up slowly.
Breathing heavy.
Body shaking.
Her Monster Awaken began to collapse, her skin returning to normal, the crimson markings fading.
Dracula watched with absolute superiority.
"You are powerful… but still just a child."
Lucy drew a long breath.
Lifted her face.
Eyes still glowing red.
Lycanos trembling in her hand.
Even weak, even wounded, even facing the greatest supernatural predator in history…
She stared Dracula down without looking away.
"I… won't… fall."
Dracula smiled.
A satisfied, almost proud smile.
And then… the true final battle was about to begin.