The night air tore at my face as I flew toward the Academy's main building, my crimson eyes cutting through the darkness like blades. The clouds above were thick but shifting, making way for the moonlight to break through.
It was only a matter of time before the full moon revealed itself, and when it did, Gin would only grow stronger.
'I cannot let that happen before I reach Moka.'
My vampiric eyes pierced the darkness perfectly, picking out every detail below. The trees, the buildings, the shadows pooling in the corners of the campus. And more than that, the Blood Link with Moka pulled me forward, you could say I was seeing an imaginary blood trail in the air drawing me toward her. A constant pressure in my chest that grew stronger with every beat of my wings.
She was alive, I could feel that much, but the fear and confusion radiating through the link made my blood run cold.
The Blood Link led me to the rooftop of the Academy.
'The rooftop. He is taking her to the rooftop.'
The Academy's main building loomed ahead, its dark silhouette rising against the clouded sky.
Most of the windows were dark, since no one had night classes, but on the highest floor, I could see a faint glow. Torches, maybe. Or something else entirely. Whatever it was, it did not matter. I was not here for the scenery.
I pushed my wings to their limit. My Bloodline Control had improved, letting me maintain the Ghoul form for nearly forty minutes. With my stats pushed to A tier, I had never felt more powerful.
The wind rushed past me, cold and sharp, but my focus was on the rooftop, on the figure I knew was waiting there, and on Moka.
'Forty minutes should be more than enough. I hope.'
All-Black was not yet in my hand, but I could feel it waiting in my shadow, eager to be drawn. The Necrosword had grown more responsive over recent days, its consciousness brushing against my own like a hungry abyssal beast.
'Not yet. Soon you'll have your meal.'
I reached the building and climbed, my wings catching the updraft from the walls. The rooftop came into view, a wide expanse of gravel and metal surrounded by a low wall. And there, in the center, was Gin.
Before I committed to landing, I sent one of my three Vampire Familiars ahead to scout. The tiny bat slipped from my shadow without a sound, vanishing into the darkness of the rooftop. Through the bond, I activated Memory Echo, and a vision bloomed in my mind, showing me everything the Familiar had seen.
Gin had returned to his human form, or something close to it. He was still large, but the fur was gone, replaced by pale skin stretched tight over bulging muscle. His eyes, though, were still gold, still burning, and his smile was wide and cruel. He looked like a predator who had already caught his prey and was simply waiting to enjoy the kill.
Moka lay a few feet away from him, bound by two massive wolves. Their fur was black as pitch, their eyes red as embers, and their jaws were clamped around her arms, pinning her to the gravel.
But that was not all. A thick black chain of Yoki coiled around her body, restraining her completely. Gin had thought ahead. He knew she could not access Inner Moka's power without the rosary, but he was not taking any chances.
'Yoki chains. I think they have a suppressing ability that works like silver for us vampires. Clever. And cruel to chain up a young lady.'
Moka had regained consciousness. Her green eyes were wide with fear, but there was defiance there too, a stubborn spark that had not been extinguished. She was calling my name, her voice muffled by the wind, but I could read her lips.
"Tsukune! Where are you?"
'I am here. Hold on.'
Gin was crouched beside her, his hand on her cheek, his thumb tracing the line of her jaw. He was touching her, stroking her, and the casual intimacy of the gesture made my blood boil.
His fingers moved slowly, deliberately, as if he had all the time in the world.
"Don't worry," Gin said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Tsukune-kun will come soon."
"A pity. Such a beautiful woman to fall for such a boring guy." He paused, his gold eyes gleaming. "I have waited so long to have you alone. Just you and me. I have watched you for weeks, Moka-chan. Your smile, your laugh, the way your hair catches the light. You are the only one who has ever made me feel like more than a mutt."
Moka turned her head away, her jaw tight. "I would never like you," she said, her voice sharp despite her fear. "You are not even my type. I hate ecchi guys who only ogle my skirt and my body all day. You are disgusting, senpai."
"That's hurtful, but you will learn to love me too."
'That is my girl. Hold on. I am coming.'
I landed on the rooftop without a sound, my wings folding, my claws extended. The gravel crunched softly beneath my feet, but the wind masked the noise. The wolves sensed me first. Their heads snapped up, red eyes locking onto mine, and low growls rumbled in their throats.
They knew a predator when they saw one.
Gin stood up slowly, his smile widening. "Ah, Tsukune. I was wondering when you would arrive." He stepped back from Moka, spreading his arms wide as if welcoming an old friend.
"I heard your challenge, you know. 'If you want a fight, I am right here.' Quite dramatic. I wanted a change of scenery. The rooftop seemed appropriate, don't you think? A proper arena for a proper hunt."
Moka turned her head away, her jaw tight, but she did not scream. She did not beg for me to save her. She just stared at the darkness around me and my own Vampire form with worry, from what I can assume was the last experience she had seeing me in this form and losing control to Alucard.
'Don't worry honey, things will not be the same. I will not try to mess around with Alucard in this moment.'
I did not waste time with words. I stepped forward, and the shadows at my feet boiled.
From the darkness around me, my summons emerged.
Two Vampire Ghosts drifted out first, their translucent forms glowing with a faint crimson light. They moved in eerie silence, their hollow eyes fixed on Gin, and when one of them spoke, its voice was a fragmented whisper that seemed to come from everywhere at once. "Blood... King... shall we drain... his essence?" The words were clipped, hungry, like the ghost was struggling to hold onto coherent thought.
Next came the Vampire Sorcerer, his robes dark as night, his hands crackling with Blood Magic. He was a four star monster, one of the summons that were most versatile, and I could feel him already beginning to weave a spell, his fingers tracing intricate patterns in the air. Unlike the ghost, his voice was cold and clinical, almost bored. "My King, I shall have my Blood Chains ready for casting. He will not move as far as I see this disgusting mutt."
The Vampire Lady followed, elegant and deadly, her crimson eyes scanning the battlefield with predatory calm. She tilted her head, studying Gin like a cat watching a mouse, and her voice dripped with sarcastic amusement. "Ara, they also have Demonic wolves in this Spirit World? How quaint. Leave those dogs to me, my King. I have been craving to quench my thirst."
Two Retainers burst from my shadow, their silver and black fur bristling, their fangs bared. They had been waiting for this moment, and I could feel their excitement through the bond.
And then, the heavy hitters. Vampire Lord and Shadow Vampire, both five star monsters, materialized on either side of me. Their presence was overwhelming, their blood auras clashing with the moonlight, and I felt a surge of confidence as they turned their crimson eyes toward Gin.
The Vampire Lord spoke first, his voice deep and resonant, each word measured like a royal decree. "We are yours to command, Blood King." He bowed his head slightly, a gesture of respect that seemed almost ceremonial.
The Shadow Vampire said nothing. He simply nodded, his form flickering like a candle in the wind, the shape of a Knight remaining even in the shadow. Through the bond, I felt his eagerness, his patience. He was waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
'Blood King? I suppose that is what happens when a human with Shinso Blood starts commanding an army of vampire summons.'
[Name: Vampire Lord – Threat Level: A]
[Name: Shadow Vampire – Threat Level: A]
Gin's confident smile faltered. "What is this? How do you have so many familiars?"
I did not answer. I reached into my shadow and opened the Abyss. All-Black, the Necrosword, materialized in my right hand, its blade dark as void. The weapon pulsed with malevolent hunger, and I could feel its consciousness brushing against my own.
'Not the time to test me, All-Black. Let me focus.'
I raised the blade and pointed it at Gin's chest. Then I sent a Blood Missile in his direction. The projectile was small, barely the size of a baseball, but it moved with supernatural speed.
Gin's body began to shift, muscles swelling, fur sprouting, jaws lengthening. Seeing the blood missile closing in, he completed the transformation in an instant and leaped out of harm's way. The Blood Missile exploded against the low wall, sending shards of stone flying.
"Not bad," Gin said, his voice now a guttural growl. "But you will have to do better than that, little vampire. I have hunted plenty of your kind in Tokyo."
He stood before me as a massive black wolf, his eyes burning gold, his fangs dripping with saliva. He howled, and the sound echoed across the rooftop.
The full moon chose that moment to break through the clouds. Silver light poured down, bathing the rooftop in an eerie glow, and Gin's aura intensified. He was stronger now. Faster. More dangerous.
'Just as I expected.'
But I was already moving.
I formed two Sanguine Spears in my left hand, the blood hardening into jagged crimson projectiles. I hurled them at the demonic wolves pinning Moka.
The first wolf did not even have time to yelp. The spear pierced its skull, and its body dissolved into ash. The second wolf tried to dodge, but the spear caught it in the chest, punching through fur and bone and pinning it to the gravel. It convulsed once, twice, then crumbled into dust.
[Sanguine Spear has destroyed two Demonic Wolves.]
[You have gained a portion of their essence.]
[All-Black has activated 'Devourer' ability and has taken 50% of the gained essence.]
[Essence Storage has been filled (1/3)]
'Tsk, fine. You can have some.'
'Good. Now for the main course.'
Moka was free. The Yoki chains still bound her, but without the wolves to hold her down, she scrambled back against the low wall, her green eyes wide.
"Tsukune! The chains are infused with his Yoki. I cannot break them myself!"
"Hang in there, Moka-chan. I will find a window to break those chains."
I lunged at Gin, All-Black aimed at his chest, using Shadow's Edge. The blade darkened, and a wave of void energy extended from the tip, lengthening my strike.
He dodged. Not by much, just a hair's breadth. The blade passed through empty air.
But I was not done.
Gin reached Moka in two strides, his massive form blocking her from view. He raised his hand, and dark Yoki swirled. More demonic wolves materialized from the shadows, their red eyes glowing. Two of them took positions on either side of Moka, guarding her.
"Fast," Gin said. "But not fast enough."
He tilted his head back and howled, a long, mournful sound. The full moon blazed above him, and his power spiked.
[❗]
[Gin's threat level has increased. Current assessment: S-tier (Full Moon Empowered).]
[Proceed with caution.]
'I know, no need to beep too loud into my ears. I can feel the increase in power.'
Gin moved like a launched missile, closing the distance in a heartbeat. His claws raked toward my chest. I brought All-Black up to block and activated Shadow Cloak. Dark energy wrapped around me like a second skin, absorbing some of the impact. Even so, the force sent me skidding back across the gravel.
'He is strong. But if I get a clean hit with All-Black, I can drain him back to A tier.'
With my own sword attack, two Retainers leaped from my shadow, their jaws aimed at Gin's throat. They moved in perfect synchronization, one from the left, one from the right, their fangs gleaming in the moonlight.
Gin did not even look at them. He swatted them aside with a single backhanded swing, and the Retainers went flying across the rooftop, crashing into the low wall with enough force to crack the stone. They were not destroyed, but they were stunned, their bodies struggling to rise.
"You should teach your mutts not to growl at a Wolf Master," Gin said, his gold eyes gleaming. "They will only get hurt."
'He is fast, maybe faster than Moka. But I have other schemes to get you down to my level.'
I reached out through the bond to the Vampire Sorcerer. He had been weaving his spell since the moment I summoned him, and now it was complete. A circle of crimson light appeared beneath Gin's feet, and chains of blood erupted from the ground, wrapping around his legs, arms, and chest.
[Vampire Sorcerer has cast Blood Chains. Gin's mobility is reduced by 30%.]
Gin roared, struggling, but the chains held. For now.
I attacked again, utilizing everything Silent Swordsman had taught me. My footwork was precise, my strikes measured. All-Black sang in my hand, leaving trails of void in the air. I fought as a commander, leading from the front.
I was not some idiot with hero syndrome, fighting by myself and ignoring my summons. I had learned that lesson the hard way. Now, I fought as a commander, directing my army while leading from the front.
The Vampire Lord and Shadow Vampire circled Gin, looking for openings. The Lord's claws crackled with dark energy. The Shadow's two-handed sword of solidified night struck from unexpected angles.
The Vampire Sorcerer maintained the Blood Chains, sweat beading on his forehead.
Meanwhile, the Vampire Lady and the two Ghosts tried to reach Moka. The Ghosts drifted through the shadows, their hollow whispers distracting the demonic wolves. The Lady moved through the gaps, her goal clear: protect Moka and break the Yoki chains.
But Gin flexed his muscles, and the Blood Chains began to crack.
"You think these parlor tricks can hold me?" Gin laughed. "I have been looked down on my whole life. Called a mutt. Treated like trash. Not anymore. I am a chosen of the Moon Goddess. I answer to no one but Selune-sama."
He glanced at Moka, then back at me. "San-senpai never looked at me either. She just smiled and patted my head like a dog. But you, Moka... you are different. You will see me. You will adore me."
The chains shattered.
Gin blocked my attack with his Yoki-enhanced claws and threw a punch at my face.
Tendrils of darkness formed around my face, pulsing with life. That was the symbiote All Black acting to protect its new master. They formed into the enclosed helmet of a Knight, but before the attack could land on me, I used the ability Wealth of Power to turn myself into a blood mist and evade the full powered blow of the moon-drugged Werewolf.
My body dispersed into a cloud of crimson vapor, flowing around his fist and reforming a few feet away. The effort cost me, draining a chunk of my mana, but I was unharmed.
So far, I could say we were evenly matched, it was true that I was using everything I had from the get-go, and Gin was just getting started.
The real fight had only just begun.
The clash became brutal and quick. I struck from every angle, All-Black cutting arcs that should have been impossible to dodge. But Gin was always one step ahead, his body flowing around my attacks. He tried to block with his claws, but the moment All-Black's edge touched his fur, he felt the danger and shifted to evasion.
'Fine. If you want to dance, I will lead.'
Even though I was A tier and he was S tier, I kept the pressure on. My summons swarmed him like a pack of wolves harassing a bear. Every time he focused on me, a Retainer snapped at his heels. Every time he raised his claws, a Ghost's hollow mental ability in the form of his whispers sapped his focus.
The Vampire Sorcerer raised his hands and chanted. "Blood Lance." A spear of condensed blood shot toward Gin's chest. He sidestepped, but the lance curved in midair. He snarled and swatted it aside, but the blood splattered across his fur, sizzling.
[Minor damage inflicted. Gin's Yoki regeneration reduced by 5%.]
The Ghosts drifted through his guard, their cold presence making his reactions slower.
Gin swung at a Ghost, but his claws passed through empty air.
"Huhu, what is wrong, werewolf? You can't touch us specters of the Old Kingdom. I can tell you're growing tired… your essence weakening…"
"Nonsense, I am only getting stronger by the second!"
The heavy hitters did real damage. The Vampire Lord waited for openings and exploited them. When Gin dodged my strike, the Lord's claws raked across Gin's side, drawing blood. Black veins spread from the wound. The Shadow Vampire moved silently, his blade cutting at Gin's legs and flank. His strikes left wounds that wept darkness, wounds that did not close.
Gin was faster and stronger, but outnumbered. Every time he pressed his advantage against me, a summon interrupted him. Every time he tried to destroy a summon, I was there, All-Black aimed at his throat.
The Vampire Lady saw her opportunity. While Gin was distracted, she darted toward Moka, her claws aimed at the Yoki chains.
'Yes. Break her free, once I remove the Rosario Cross for Inner, things will be so much easier.'
But Gin abandoned his fight with me for just a heartbeat. He crossed the distance and struck the Vampire Lady with an open palm. A wave of silver energy erupted from his body.
Touki.
The external manifestation of life force. It enhanced his offense, defense, and speed. And even the slightest touch burned.
The Vampire Lady screamed as the Touki engulfed her, her form flickering. She crashed into the low wall, stunned.
"Ara, ara~ That was unexpected. This aura energy, it burns."
Gin turned back to me, his gold eyes blazing. "You think your little army can overwhelm me? I have trained for years to master my Touki. Your vampire tricks mean nothing against it."
'Great. He has Touki. Of course he does. Nothing can ever be simple.'
Once Gin revealed his trump card, the fight shifted. Not overwhelmingly, not to the point of despair, but enough that I could feel the balance tipping away from me.
His Touki flared around him like a silver aura, pushing back my summons whenever they got too close. The Vampire Ghosts could not touch him at all; their forms dissipated the moment they came near his aura, their hollow whispers fading into silence.
The Vampire Sorcerer's blood spells splashed against his Touki and evaporated, doing no damage, the crimson energy dissolving like mist in sunlight.
The Vampire Lord and Shadow Vampire could still fight him, but even they were struggling.
Every exchange cost them. Every blow they landed was weakened by his aura, and every blow they received was amplified. The Lord's claws, once capable of tearing through steel, now left only shallow scratches on Gin's hide. The Shadow's sword, once sharp enough to cut light, now bounced off his Touki like a toy.
But I did not give up. I could not.
I pressed the attack, All Black singing in my hand, its blade leaving trails of void that even Gin's Touki could not fully negate. The Necrosword was different. It was not just a weapon; it was a symbiote, a being that existed since the creation of the universe under the careful creation of a God.
When it struck Gin's aura, the silver light dimmed, just for a moment, as if the sword was drinking the life force directly.
'If I can just land a solid hit, I can turn this around.'
The two Vampire Retainers, loyal to the end, saw an opening. While Gin was focused on parrying my strikes, they leaped from the shadows, their jaws aimed at his throat.
They moved in perfect synchronization, one from the left, one from the right, their fangs gleaming in the moonlight. They were not powerful, not compared to the Lord or the Shadow, but they were fast, and they were fearless.
Gin swatted the first Retainer aside with a backhanded swing, sending it crashing into the gravel. But the second one latched onto his arm. Its teeth sank into his flesh, drawing blood, and for a moment, Gin roared in pain.
The Retainer's jaws locked, its body thrashing, and I saw the golden aura flicker around the wound.
I did not waste the opportunity.
I lunged. All-Black drove into Gin's side, piercing his Touki. The blade sank deep, and the symbiote pulsed with hunger, drinking deeply from the wound.
[All-Black the Necrosword has wounded Gin. Devourer ability activated.]
[All-Black is draining Gin's Touki and Yoki.]
[Essence Storage has been recharged: (2/3)]
Gin howled in fury, a sound that echoed across the rooftop, loud enough to wake the entire Campus.
He backhanded me across the face, and the blow sent me flying. I crashed into the gravel, my vision swimming, my ears ringing. The Retainers, both of them, dissolved into ash. I felt their presence vanish through the bond, two points of light snuffed out. Their sacrifice had not been in vain, but the emptiness they left behind was cold.
[Your summons, Vampire Retainer (2x) have been destroyed.]
[You have lost two summons.]
'Damn it. Those two were my best distractions. They gave me the opening I needed.'
I pushed myself to my feet, my body trembling, my mana reserves dipping dangerously low.
The draining ability of All Black had worked, but not enough. Gin's class had not degraded to A tier. He was still S tier, still empowered by the moon, still burning with Touki. But he was bleeding now, and the wound in his side was not closing anytime soon thanks to the corrupting and dark energy of All-Black preventing his regeneration.
I could see the frustration in his gold eyes when he found out his wound couldn't regenerate like the rest.
Angered by the wound, Gin went all out.
He figured out the easiest way to get to me was to destroy my summons first, and he did exactly that.
He moved like a whirlwind of silver light and black fur, his claws tearing through the Vampire Ghosts, now that his claws were reinforced with Touki. They tried to drift away, to phase through his attacks, but his Touki burned them on contact.
Their forms dissolved into mist, their whispers fading into silence, and I felt their loss through the bond like a cold emptiness.
[Vampire Ghost (2x) has been destroyed.]
He turned on the Vampire Sorcerer next. The sorcerer tried to cast another spell to CC him, his hands weaving crimson light, but Gin was too fast. His fist slammed into the sorcerer's chest, and the Touki burned through his robes, his flesh, his very essence. The sorcerer crumbled into ash, his final spell dying on his lips.
[Vampire Sorcerer has been destroyed.]
The Vampire Lord and Shadow Vampire fought back, but even they could not hold him forever.
The Lord's claws raked across Gin's back, drawing blood, and for a moment, Gin staggered. But he spun and drove his elbow into the Lord's skull with a crack that echoed across the rooftop.
The Lord staggered, his form flickering, and Gin followed up with a kick that sent him crashing into the gravel. The Lord struggled to rise, but his movements were slow, damaged.
[Vampire Lord has taken significant damage. Status: Stunned.]
The Shadow Vampire, silent as ever, saw his chance. He drove his two handed sword into Gin's shoulder, the blade piercing through Touki and flesh and bone.
Gin roared, the sound raw and animalistic. But he grabbed the blade with his bare hand, ignoring the pain, and yanked the Shadow Vampire close. His other hand slammed into the Knight's chest, and the Touki exploded outward in a wave of golden light.
[Shadow Vampire has been destroyed.]
I stood alone now, my army reduced to ash and the mana rebound I was suffering from losing my Sacred Gear creations. The Vampire Lady was still alive, still trying to break the chains that held Moka, but she was wounded and it was clear that Gin had his eyes on her.
The Vampire Lord was struggling to rise, his form flickering with blood reshaping his body. He was not destroyed, at least, not yet.
'It is just you and me now, Gin. The way it should be.'
"Impressive weapon," Gin said, his gold eyes burning as he looked at All Black in my hand.
Blood dripped from the wound in his side, the one left by this abyssal weapon, and his breathing was heavier than before. "But it will not save you."
He lunged, and I raised the Necrosword to block. Our weapons clashed, the impact sending shockwaves through my arms. The symbiote pulsed, but I could feel my mana draining with every second. I reached for the sword with my will, trying to pull more power from the darkness, but the effort cost me. My reserves were depleting fast, even my own Yoki was flickering like a dying candle.
[❗]
[The user's mana has dropped to 30%.]
But Gin was not unscathed. He was slowing down. The wound in his side was still bleeding, the dark energy from All Black preventing it from closing. His Touki flickered, no longer the solid silver aura it had been at the start of the fight. It was thinner now, patchy, like a flame struggling against the wind.
The full moon was still bright above us, but even its power had limits. He had been fighting for minutes, expending energy, and it was taking its toll.
"You have teeth, little bloodsucker," Gin said, his voice ragged. "Sharper than I expected. But I am the alpha here. You should just fuck off and let me and Moka-chan get closer with one another!"
He looked at Moka, still bound by the Yoki chains, then looked back at me.
"I will give you a choice. Tuck your tail and run, and I might let her go. Or keep fighting, and I will take her anyway. And you will watch."
'He is lying. He will never let her go. He is too deep into his own mess and cannot afford to abandon his plans.'
'She is his only leverage.'
I pushed myself to my feet. All Black materialized in my hand again, its blade pulsing with dark energy, hungrier than ever. But this time, the symbiote did not stop at my hand. It spread, tendrils of darkness crawling up my arm, across my shoulder, over my chest.
The Necrosword was enveloping me, reinforcing my body, knitting together the wounds that Gin had inflicted. The symbiote pulsed against my skin, cold and warm at the same time, and I felt a surge of power outside of what I had gained in my Vampire form.
[All-Black Symbiote has activated the ability Reinforced Form.]
[The user's Physical defense has increased by 20%. Mana drain increased by 15%.]
'I can feel the weight of the symbiote. The hunger. But I do not have time to worry about the cost.'
"I choose option three," I said, my voice raw, barely human, edged with the cold fury of a cornered predator. "I kill you and take her home."
Gin laughed, hollow and cold. "Then come at me, little bloodsucker. Let me show you why wolves hunt in packs and vampires hide in castles."
I charged.
The full moon blazed above us, indifferent to the battle below. My mana was nearly gone. My summons were destroyed or dying. But I was not done. Not yet. Moka was still watching, still believing in me.
And I would not let her down.
The distance between us vanished in a heartbeat.
All Black led the way, its blade hungry for more of Gin's blood. The symbiote clung to my body like a second skin, reinforcing my muscles, sharpening my reflexes, pushing my exhausted frame beyond its natural limits.
I could feel the cost with every breath, the steady drain on my mana, but I did not slow down. I could not afford to.
Gin met me head on, his claws wrapped in silver Touki. The impact of our collision sent a shockwave across the rooftop, rattling the stones beneath our feet. We locked together for a moment, his strength pushing against mine, and I felt the pressure in my bones, the strain in my joints.
He was still stronger, still faster, but the gap had narrowed. The wound in his side was bleeding freely now, and his Touki flickered with every movement.
'To think I would reach this moment.'
'But I can't afford an war of attrition even if he is hurting. My Vampire form will reach the point where Alucard can backstab me when I expect the least.'
I disengaged and circled left, forcing him to turn.
Gin's gold eyes tracked my movement, and a low growl rumbled in his throat. "You are persistent, I will give you that. Most opponents would have collapsed by now."
"I am not most opponents." I lunged again, feinting high then striking low. All Black's tip carved a line across his thigh, and the symbiote drank deeply from the wound. Gin hissed and stumbled back, his Touki flaring to push me away.
[All-Black has drained additional essence. Gin's Yoki regeneration has been reduced by 10%.]
[Essence Storage: (3/3) – Full.]
The Necrosword pulsed with satisfaction, and I felt a surge of power flow back into me, stolen from Gin's own life force. My mana reserves, which had been hovering near empty, ticked upward. Not much, but enough to sustain me at least until my control over the Vampire form drifted apart.
Gin noticed. His eyes widened, and for the first time, I saw something other than arrogance in his expression. Confusion. Fear, maybe. "What is that sword? It is drinking my power."
"You don't need to know much about my sword." I raised the blade, letting the moonlight catch its void-dark edge. "Just that it is very, very hungry. Not picky about what it eats."
I attacked again, pressing my advantage. The Vampire Lord joined me, his claws raking at Gin's back. Together, we drove Gin back across the rooftop, step by step, forcing him toward the edge.
But Gin was not finished.
He roared and unleashed a wave of Touki that blasted outward in all directions. The silver energy slammed into me like a freight train, sending me skidding back across the gravel. The Vampire Lord was thrown aside, crashing into the low wall with enough force to crack his armored form. The demonic wolves howled and scattered, retreating from the blast.
Gin stood in the center of the rooftop, his chest heaving, his fur matted with blood and sweat. The full moon blazed above him, and for a moment, his aura surged, the golden light burning brighter than before. He was drawing on the last reserves of his power, the final gift of the moon.
"I have had enough of this," he snarled. "You want her so badly? Then come and take her."
He lunged not at me, but at Moka.
'No!'
I moved before I could think, my body reacting on pure instinct. All-Black extended, the symbiote stretching the blade beyond its natural length, and I threw myself between Gin and Moka. The Necrosword met his claws, and the impact drove me to my knees. The gravel bit into my skin, and I felt something crack in my shoulder. But I held.
'I will not let him touch her. I promised Moka that I will keep Outer safe.'
Gin pressed down, his strength overwhelming, and I could feel the symbiote screaming in protest. The tendrils of darkness wrapped around my arms, my chest, my legs, trying to reinforce me, but even All Black had limits. The silver Touki burned against the dark energy, and I could smell ozone, blood, and something else.
'Not yet. I am not done yet.'
"Tsukune!" Moka's voice cut through the chaos. "The rosary! Take it!"
I glanced at her. She was straining against the Yoki chains, her wrists bleeding. Her green eyes held no fear, only determination.
'She is right. If I can release Inner Moka, this fight changes.'
But Gin was between us, and he was not moving.
I made a decision.
I poured every last drop of my mana into All Black, and the symbiote exploded outward. Tendrils of darkness shot from my body in all directions, lashing at Gin, forcing him back. He stumbled, caught off guard by the sudden expansion, and that was all the opening I needed.
I rolled to the side, ignoring the pain in my shoulder, and scrambled toward Moka. Gin recovered quickly, his claws reaching for me, but the Vampire Lord intercepted him. The Lord's damaged form slammed into Gin, wrapping his arms around the werewolf's torso, holding him in place.
"Go, Blood King!" the Lord roared, his voice strained. "I will hold him!"
I did not look back.
I slid across the gravel, my hand outstretched, and grabbed Moka's arm. The Yoki chains burned my fingers, but I did not let go. I pulled her toward me, and with my other hand, I reached for the rosary.
The metal was warm beneath my fingers, pulsing with crimson light. I could feel Inner Moka's presence pressing against the seal, waiting, watching and also furious. She had been aware the entire time, trapped inside the rosary, unable to act. But now, she was about to be released from her seal.
"Do it. Only she can help you now." Moka whispered. "Please."
I pulled the rosary from her chest, and her eyes fluttered closed as Inner took the reins.
The effect was instantaneous.
A wave of crimson energy erupted from Moka's body, throwing Gin back and shattering the remaining clouds above. The moonlight poured down, but it did not matter. Inner Moka was awake.
Her pink hair bleached to silver, her green eyes bled to crimson, and her body grew more voluptuous and enchanting yet dangerous. The Yoki chains that had bound her shattered like glass, the dark energy dissolving in the face of her power. She rose to her feet slowly, her movements fluid and predatory, and her gaze fixed on Gin with cold, murderous intent.
Then she looked down at me. Her crimson eyes swept over my body, taking in the bruises, the cuts, the symbiote still clinging to my arm. For a heartbeat, the cold mask cracked. Something soft flickered across her face.
"You are a mess," she said.
I managed a bloody grin. "You should see the other guy."
Her lips twitched, almost a smile. Then her expression hardened, and she glanced at the spot where Outer Moka's consciousness lingered. 'The weakling held on strong and didn't embarrass me.'
She turned back to Gin.
"You," she said, her voice like ice. "You dared to touch what is mine."
Gin's eyes widened. He had felt her power before when staring at the Rosario Cross, but this was different. This was the full force of a Shinso Vampire, unleashed and unsealed.
"Impossible," he breathed.
Inner Moka did not wait for him to finish, having enough of Gin's nonsense. She moved. One moment she was beside me. The next, she was in front of Gin, her leg already rising. He barely had time to blink before her foot connected with his jaw while also not forgetting about her iconic catch-phrase.
"Learn your place, scum!"