The tunnel stretched out like a long, forgotten underground path, cold and damp all around. The air felt heavy and wet, making every breath a little harder. The only sounds were the soft splashes of footsteps in the shallow water that covered the ground. The walls were rough and covered in thick layers of dirt and dark green moss that grew in patches, like the place had been left alone for years, hidden away from the sunlight and people above. A faint, unpleasant smell hung in the air, the kind of rotten odor that brought back memories of old battlefields where bodies were left behind, never buried properly. It made the stomach turn a bit, but there was no time to think about that now.
Alucard walked right beside Jacob, both of them looking worn out and exhausted from the long journey. Their clothes were dirty and torn in places, stained with spots of dried blood—some of it from their own cuts and bruises, but most of it from the enemies they had fought along the way. Their faces were pale from lack of sleep and food, and their steps were slower than usual, dragging a little in the water.
"I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel," Jacob said, lifting his head up slowly as a faint silver glow started to appear far ahead in the distance. It was like a small promise of the world outside, shining weakly through the darkness.
Alucard looked over at him with eyes that were heavy and tired, barely able to stay open wide. "It's about time. We've been down here far longer than we planned." His gaze moved slowly along the moist walls, taking in the dripping water and the slippery moss, then down to the murky water that flowed gently around their boots, soaking their feet. "This place feels endless. Like it just keeps going on and on without any stop."
Jacob let out a slow breath, the kind that comes from deep inside when you're trying to hold everything together. His hand stayed close to the hilt of his sword, fingers ready to grab it at any moment. He never lowered his guard, not even for a second, because danger could come from anywhere in a place like this. "I miscalculated. I truly believed we would pass through without trouble. I didn't expect a horde to be hiding underground as well. It was supposed to be a quick shortcut, but now look at us."
Alucard didn't respond at first. He just kept walking forward, one step at a time, listening to the water ripple and splash with each movement of their legs. His stomach ached painfully, twisting and turning from hunger, and his throat felt dry and scratchy, like he hadn't had a drop of water in days. Three days… no food at all… no real rest to speak of. They had been pushing themselves hard, fighting when they had to, hiding when they could, but sleep came in short bursts, and meals were nothing but a distant memory.
The two of them continued in silence for a while longer, the light growing brighter with every step. The tunnel seemed to narrow a bit in places, forcing them to walk closer together, their shoulders almost brushing. The moss on the walls looked thicker up ahead, and the water got a little deeper, coming up to their ankles now. Small drops fell from the ceiling, plinking into the puddles below. It was a lonely, eerie feeling, being so deep under the ground, cut off from everything familiar.
When they finally reached the exit, a sudden blast of sunlight poured in, bright and harsh after all that darkness. It forced them to squint their eyes shut, blinking hard to adjust.
Jacob raised his left arm quickly to shield his eyes from the glare. "Ah— It's too bright…" He had grown so used to the dim, shadowy light of the tunnel that the real daylight felt like sharp needles stabbing right into his vision, making his head throb a little.
Alucard stepped out beside him, emerging into the open air, and took a deep breath of fresh air. It smelled of grass and trees, so much better than the rot inside. The world outside was quiet in a way, but not peaceful at all. Not anymore, with everything that had been happening. "They must have reached Sparta by now," he said quietly, a trace of worry crossing his face, furrowing his brow as he thought about the people there and what might be waiting for them.
Jacob didn't answer immediately. Because something else suddenly demanded their full attention, pulling their eyes forward.
Ahead of them, the earth trembled lightly at first, then stronger, like something big was moving underground. Several figures emerged from the edge of the forest—a group of monstrous creatures lumbering toward the two men. Their eyes glowed with an unnatural green light, staring straight ahead without blinking even once. Their bodies looked like twisted beasts that had been corrupted by some kind of dark energy—long tails that whipped and smashed against the ground, sending dirt flying; claws that were sharp enough to cut through solid steel without much effort; and steam rising from their nostrils and mouths, like hot smoke coming from a blazing furnace. They moved with a hungry purpose, growling low in their throats.
Alucard's tired expression darkened even more, his face tightening with frustration and weariness. "Of course… they're here too. Just when we thought we could catch a break."
Jacob gave a humorless smile, the kind that doesn't reach the eyes, more like a grimace. "They never get tired, do they? No matter how many we take down, more just keep coming."
He reached over his shoulder with one hand and drew the long blue sword that was strapped securely to his back. The blade made a soft humming sound as it came free, like it was filled with some kind of energy and awakening from a long sleep, ready for action.
"We end this quickly," Alucard said, his tone weak from exhaustion but still determined, pushing through the fatigue. "I'm tired. We haven't eaten in three days. At this point… I might even eat monster meat if I have to. Anything to get some strength back."
Jacob nodded in agreement, his grip tightening on the sword. "You take the right side. I'll handle the left. Let's not waste any more time."
They didn't need more discussion or planning. They had fought together enough to know each other's moves. They moved forward as one, splitting up slightly to face the incoming threats.
Jacob charged first, running straight at a large red-skinned monster that was leading the pack on his side. It roared loudly and swung its massive claw downward in a brutal, powerful strike, aiming to crush him flat. But Jacob was quick—he slid to the side on the wet grass, moving with swift precision that came from years of training. His sword flashed through the air in a blue arc, cutting clean through the monster's thick neck in one smooth motion.
A heavy thud followed as the body hit the ground hard. Dark blood burst out in a spray, mixing with the dirt and grass, turning the earth muddy and black. The severed head rolled across the ground, bouncing a couple of times before stopping near a large stone, its green eyes still glowing faintly even in death.
Alucard, on his side, closed his eyes for a brief moment, gathering what little energy remained deep inside him. His body was shaking from hunger and tiredness, but he pushed it aside. Then he whispered the words: "Blade Arts… One Thousand Blade Strikes."
In an instant, his body moved like a fierce storm of steel and speed. He became a blur, slashes cutting through the monsters on his side faster than the human eye could possibly track or follow. Limbs fell to the ground with wet thumps—arms, legs, tails severed cleanly. Bodies were sliced into multiple pieces, falling apart like chopped wood. Black blood filled the air like a thick mist, splattering everywhere and covering Alucard from head to toe.
When the last one on his side dropped to the ground with a final groan, Alucard staggered backward, his legs wobbling. His breathing came out rough and uneven, like he was gasping for air after running for miles.
"A-ah…" He placed a hand on his knee to keep himself steady and from falling over. My vision… it's blurring at the edges. My legs… they're shaking so much I can barely stand.
His stomach growled so loudly that it echoed across the open field, a deep, empty rumble that reminded him just how starving he was.
Using Blade Arts while starving is suicide… he thought to himself, wiping sweat from his forehead. But I had no choice. There were too many, and we couldn't let them get close.
Without wasting another second, he knelt down beside one of the fresh corpses and used his blade to cut into its tough flesh. The meat was still warm from the creature's body heat. Without any hesitation or second thoughts, he tore off a piece and ate it raw. Warm blood smeared across his lips and chin, dripping down.
"…It's not too bad," he muttered to himself after swallowing another chunky piece, chewing slowly to make it last. "Could be worse. At least it's something in my stomach."
Meanwhile, on the other side, Jacob was blocking a powerful strike from the last remaining monster in the group. Their weapons clashed together with a loud metallic ring that echoed across the open field, vibrating through the air.
Jacob narrowed his eyes, studying the creature closely as they pushed against each other. "Hmmm. That's strange. You're different from the others… There's something off about you."
The monster had a single horn protruding from its forehead, gleaming faintly with a swirling dark energy. It was about the same height as Jacob, standing tall and menacing, but the pressure coming from it was far stronger than any of the normal ones they had just fought. Its movements were faster, more calculated and smart—almost like it was thinking ahead, not just attacking wildly like a dumb beast.
Jacob pushed himself back with a strong shove, jumping a few steps to put some distance between them. He landed lightly, sword ready. This one is not ordinary… I must stay sharp and watch every move it makes. No room for mistakes here.
"Jacob!" Alucard shouted from across the field, his mouth half-full of the raw meat he was still chewing. "This one tastes good! You should try it after you're done!"
Jacob exhaled sharply through his nose, a quick burst of air that showed his focus. "I will— after I kill this one! Just hold on and stay back!"
He leapt high into the air, twisting his body to narrowly avoid a flurry of claw strikes that came at him like a storm. The claws dug deep trenches into the ground, tearing up chunks of earth and grass. Trees nearby cracked and shattered from the sheer force of the missed blows, wood splintering and falling with loud crashes. The earth shook with each powerful impact, sending small vibrations through the ground that Jacob could feel in his boots even mid-air.
Jacob landed on his feet, breathing heavily now, his chest rising and falling quickly. "Monsters this strong normally have multiple horns… but this one has only one… and yet its strength matches those with three or four…" His eyes narrowed further, piecing together the puzzle in his mind. "Something about this is very wrong. This isn't how it's supposed to be."
The battlefield around them was completely empty of any human life or signs of people. Only tall trees standing silently, patches of dirt and grass, and the heavy smell of blood and sweat filled the air. But each clash between Jacob and the creature caused massive destruction beyond what the land should be able to withstand—deep gashes in the soil, broken branches scattered everywhere, and the ground cracking in places from the pressure.
The battle had dragged on long enough now, minutes feeling like hours as they circled and struck at each other. Jacob could feel his muscles burning with fatigue, every swing of his sword taking more effort, and his breath grew heavier and more labored with every movement he made. The monster stood across from him, its single horn glowing brighter with a thick, swirling dark aura, as if it was feeding on the chaos and destruction around them, growing stronger from it.
Jacob tightened his grip on his sword handle, his knuckles turning white. His eyes turned sharp and filled with determination, pushing away the tiredness.
"Time to end this," he whispered to himself under his breath, steadying his stance.
Then he raised his voice louder, calling out the technique: "Swordsman Style: God Strike!"
A bright, powerful light suddenly burst high into the sky from where Jacob stood. The light spread out across the entire battlefield like a holy command coming down from the heavens above, pure and blinding. Everything the light touched became frozen in place—locked solid as if the world itself had stopped moving completely. Even the air around them felt stiff and unmoving, like time had paused for everyone except Jacob.
Jacob's eyes glowed with an intense blue power, shining brightly. He lifted his sword high above his head, the blade now shining with a divine, golden glow that hummed with energy.
"Now die!" he shouted at the top of his lungs, swinging his sword downward with all his strength and focus poured into that one attack.
But the monster did not fall silently or without a fight. It roared back in defiance.
"Monster Style: Demonic Chains!" the creature bellowed, its voice deep and guttural, shaking the ground.
The earth cracked open wide right beneath it as thick, black chains shot upward like angry snakes coming out of their holes. They were huge and heavy, covered in a dark, pulsing aura that looked like pure curse energy, twisting and writhing. The chains wrapped tightly around Jacob's incoming attack, clashing violently against the holy light of God Strike, sparks flying everywhere.
The impact shook the entire land around them, a massive tremor that rippled outward.
The battlefield quaked violently as if the world was about to split right in two from the force. Trees were sliced apart cleanly in the crossfire as the pressure of their powers tore through the forest like invisible blades. Deep cracks opened up across the earth, zigzagging in all directions, and large stones shattered into dust under the overwhelming force. The sky itself seemed to tremble and rumble as Jacob's holy aura and the monster's demonic energy shot upward like two raging storms colliding head-on, clashing with thunderous booms.
Alucard, still breathing hard and heavy from his earlier massive attack, watched the whole thing with wide eyes full of shock. The power Jacob was releasing was unlike anything he had seen or felt in a long time—it was immense, filling the air with heat and light.
Jacob planted his foot firmly into the ground, digging in with his boot to refuse being pushed back even an inch. His muscles strained, veins popping on his arms. His voice rose again, stronger this time.
"This ends here! Swordsman Style: God Eater!"
A massive spiritual dragon head suddenly formed from pure light, materializing right behind Jacob. It was enormous, with shining teeth that stretched wide and sharp like blades made of divine steel, gleaming in the sunlight. The dragon launched forward with an earth-shaking roar that made the ground vibrate, moving faster than the monster could even react or dodge.
Before the creature even realized what was happening or could try to counter, the dragon's jaws crushed down on its body with incredible force, clamping shut like a vice.
"BOOM!"
A huge, deafening explosion tore through the battlefield in an instant. The holy field created by God Strike shattered completely, breaking apart in a massive flash of bright light that lit up everything. Jacob was thrown back like a ragdoll in a storm, his body flung high into the air, tumbling end over end.
"Jac—!" Alucard didn't hesitate for a single moment. He pushed himself off the ground with a grunt, ignoring his own shaking legs, sprinted forward across the torn-up field, and reached out to catch Jacob's arm just before he could crash hard into the ground.
"Hold on tight!" Alucard yelled, gripping as hard as he could.
He quickly formed a special hand sign with his free hand, gathering the very last bits of his strength and energy that he had left inside him.
"Blade Arts: Ultimate Barrier!"
A red sphere of energy burst out around both of them suddenly, forming a strong protective barrier just in the nick of time before the full explosion wave hit them like a wall. The barrier trembled violently under the pressure, cracking in places and glowing hot, but it held firm long enough to shield them and keep them alive through the blast.
Thick dust filled the air everywhere, making it hard to see. Heavy smoke covered the land, swirling in clouds. Broken trees lay toppled and splintered, the earth was crushed and gouged with huge craters, and pieces of the monster's remains were scattered all over—chunks of flesh, bone, and dark blood mixed into the mess.
When the dust finally settled after what felt like forever, and the smoke started to clear a bit, the barrier faded away with a soft hiss. Alucard and Jacob lay sprawled on the ground, coughing harshly from the dust in their lungs and exhausted beyond words. Fresh blood covered their clothes now—some cuts were theirs from the force of the blast, some belonged to the monster's remnants that had splattered.
Jacob let out a shaky laugh, one filled with pure relief and a bit of disbelief that they were still breathing.
"I really thought I was going to die there for sure… Thank you, Alucard. You saved me."
Alucard stood up slowly, one hand on his side where it hurt, wiping blood off his face with the back of his sleeve. "Yeah… You almost did. That was too close." He breathed heavily, chest heaving, then frowned deeply as he looked around at the destruction. "Still, that was the first time I've ever seen or heard of a monster using **Talents** like that. Monsters shouldn't be able to do that at all. What in the world is going on? This changes everything."
Jacob pushed himself up with effort until he was standing beside Alucard again. His face was serious and tense, all traces of laughter gone, replaced by worry lines.
"I don't know the answer to that. But we must reach Sparta as fast as possible now. Nowhere is safe anymore, not even the places we thought were protected. If monsters, demons, and beasts start gaining powers like this… copying human talents and using them against us… it won't be long before we meet our end. The whole world could fall into darkness."
The two of them stood there for a moment, staring out at the destroyed battlefield—trees torn apart and lying in heaps, the land sliced open with massive cracks that looked like wounds in the earth, and the air still shaking with leftover pressure and energy that hummed faintly. It was a clear and terrifying warning of the darkness that was spreading through the world, growing stronger every day.
Alucard let out a tired breath, long and slow, and sheathed his blade back into its holder with a click.
"First… we eat and rest properly. If we don't recover our strength, we won't even make it halfway to Sparta. We need food, real food if we can find it, and some sleep to heal up. Then we push on."