The hall went quiet for a few seconds after Akio fell again. Terrakula stared at him — the teenage boy trying to get up from the rubble. His breathing was heavy, but he didn't give up. Sparks of electricity grew stronger around his body, and his eyes now had a new fire in them.
Terrakula (with a mocking smile):
"Oh? Still trying to stand up? Impressive. But let me tell you a little secret… no one in this castle can touch me. And you're no exception."
Akio (wiping blood from his mouth and smiling despite the pain):
"Oh really? Then how about this time?"
In a flash, Akio vanished! The guests' eyes widened — he was faster than ever before. He moved so fast, no one could follow. He seemed to appear and disappear all around Terrakula, like he was circling her from every direction.
Nyoro (watching with excitement, arms crossed):
"Oh? This kid's more interesting than I thought."
Terrakula didn't move. Her red eyes quickly scanned the area, trying to follow Akio. Suddenly, Akio appeared above her, seemingly out of nowhere!
Akio (shouting):
"This time, I won't waste the chance!"
He raised his glowing hand, ready to punch her straight in the face with lightning power — but Terrakula vanished just before he could hit her.
Akio (shocked):
"What?!"
She reappeared on a balcony, sitting casually with her legs crossed, looking completely relaxed.
Terrakula (smirking):
"Very cute, little one. You're faster than before. But… still way too slow for me."
Akio (closing his eyes for a second, then smiling confidently):
"Alright then. Let's see if you'll still act this confident… after this."
In a sudden move, Akio dashed forward — not to attack, but to pull something from his clothes: a sword! Terrakula looked surprised, then gave a small smile.
Terrakula (curious):
"Oh? You're hiding a few secrets, Akio. Don't you know swords are forbidden here?"
Akio (twirling the sword in his hand):
"Forbidden? What a strange rule… How can swords be banned in the land of Makia, while you own one of the most dangerous swords of all?"
Terrakula (narrowing her eyes, then slowly smiling):
"Hah… so you know about the Sanguinis Sword?"
Akio raised his sword, sparks of lightning dancing across it. He stared her down, then pointed the blade at her.
Akio:
"Of course I do. I wouldn't come all the way here to deal with some arrogant vampire unless I had a good reason. I'm here for two things:
1. To steal Sanguinis from you.
2. To save Akira, you monster!"
Silence fell for a moment… then Terrakula laughed softly, her voice growing louder and more wicked.
Terrakula (covering her mouth with her hand, laughing):
"Oh, you're such fun… You really think you can steal something from me?"
Slowly, she turned toward the wall behind her, where Sanguinis hung inside a protective glass case. It had a black handle marked with ancient runes. Its blade was dark and glowed faintly red.
Suddenly, Terrakula jumped into the air, and without hesitation, smashed through the glass and pulled the sword free! As soon as her hand touched it, the red symbols on the blade began to glow — beating like a living heart.
Terrakula (staring at it, eyes shining):
"Oh… I've missed you."
Akio felt a chill down his spine. He gripped his sword tighter, his eyes glowing with excitement.
Akio (smiling with challenge):
"Hello there, new sword. You'll be mine soon enough."
Terrakula (raising her sword and laughing softly):
"Let's see if you can manage that."
Suddenly, Terrakula disappeared again! Her sword clashed with Akio's — but this time, Akio blocked her attack!
Terrakula (slightly surprised):
"Oh?"
Akio (smirking):
"You said I was slow, right?
Well then… try stopping me now!"
A burst of lightning exploded from Akio's blade, pushing Terrakula back! But she spun in the air and landed gracefully, still balanced.
Terrakula (voice darker now):
"Alright, little Akio… let's play a game of blood and lightning."
In a shocking move, she stabbed the tip of her sword into her own palm.
Akio (eyes widening):
"What are you doing?!"
She smiled more as her blood didn't fall — the sword absorbed it! Then a powerful pressure burst from her body. Sanguinis glowed a deeper red. But Akio had no time to worry. In the next moment, Terrakula was gone again!
She reappeared instantly — charging at Akio with her blade ready to strike.
Akio (raising his sword):
"Come on… show me what you've got!"
Their swords clashed, sending sparks flying. The floor trembled with each hit. Terrakula wasn't holding back — she attacked relentlessly, each strike faster and more dangerous.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Akio blocked as best he could, but the pressure was growing. Terrakula was adjusting to his speed — her moves were getting deadlier.
Then suddenly —
Slash!!
Terrakula scratched his shoulder.
Akio (crying out as he jumped back):
"Damn it!!"
Terrakula (licking her lips as the sword drank the blood):
"Oh… the first drop."
The sword glowed brighter after tasting his blood.
Nyoro (laughing, arms still crossed):
"Heh. Looks like you can't dodge forever, Akio."
Akio (glaring at him):
"You think this is funny?!"
Nyoro (winking):
"Totally. I mean, Terrakula-sama is playing with you like a toy."
Before Akio could respond, Terrakula disappeared again. And before he could move—
Slash!!
Akio froze, his eyes wide.
She had stabbed him in the chest. Not deep enough to kill, but on purpose. He staggered back, biting his lip to stop a scream. Blood poured from the wound.
Terrakula (lifting the sword, watching the blood):
"Perfect… now the sword is even hungrier."
The sword's red glow intensified. But the danger wasn't just the wound—
Akio (panting, confused):
"What… what is this feeling…?"
Something strange was happening inside his body. It wasn't just pain.
Terrakula (softly, but with deadly intent):
"You're starting to understand now, aren't you, little Akio?"
His whole body trembled. The pain in his chest was growing fast — not normal pain. Something more.
Akio (gasping):
"W-What… did you do to me?!"
She slowly raised her hand… and suddenly, blood gushed from his wound!
Akio (screaming):
"Aaaaagh!!"
Akira (eyes wide, heart racing):
"No… No… Damn it! Please stop… stop the bleeding… STOP FIGHTING!"
But it didn't end.
Tiny cuts began appearing on Akio's arms, legs, chest. From each one, blood sprayed out, unnaturally fast. Ken and Ann stared in horror. It looked like Akio was a fountain of blood.
Terrakula (laughing):
"Oh you poor thing… Do you feel empty inside?"
It was worse than anyone thought. Terrakula wasn't just draining his blood — she was controlling it.
She raised her right hand, and immediately, the blood in the air began to move — shaping itself, like it was alive!
Ann (screaming in panic):
"K-Ken-san! Akio's going to die!!"
Akio's body was collapsing. His strength was fading with every drop of blood he lost. His eyes were losing their shine, and he couldn't move. He was about to fall… but he fought to stay standing.
Akio (weakly, barely able to speak):
"Damn it… this isn't the time to die…"
Terrakula watched him with amusement. She walked toward him slowly, then raised her hand. The blood she stole from him began spinning around her like a crimson tornado.
Terrakula:
"You were fun… but now, it's time to end this."
In a flash, she appeared right in front of Akio, her sword pointed straight at him.
Ann (screaming, voice shaking):
"AAAKIOOO!!!"
She wanted to run to him, but before she could move — and before Terrakula could strike — a massive wave of fire rushed between them! Ken stepped in, his flaming sword clashing with Terrakula's. Sparks exploded from their blades, but her sword wasn't harmed. Still, Ken pushed her back with force, forcing her to leap away, surprised but smiling.
Ken (deep voice, his grey eyes glowing with fire):
"I didn't want to step in… but you've gone too far, Terrakula."
Terrakula (eyeing the flames on his sword):
"Hah… I didn't expect you to interfere so soon, Yukaji Ken…"
Ken (low voice, full of quiet fury):
"I'm done with your games, witch."
Terrakula began to slowly circle around him.
Terrakula (smirking):
"Mmm… Yukaji Ken, I've always wanted to meet the brave heir of your clan. You're quite handsome… I wonder how your blood tastes?"
Ken (coldly, eyes narrowing):
"Shut up."
Suddenly, Terrakula vanished — then reappeared above Ken, slashing downward fast! But Ken was faster. He raised his sword and unleashed a wave of fire!
Terrakula (spinning in the air to dodge):
"Oh! That's hot! But can you handle this?"
She landed in a deadly stance, aiming her blade at his side.
CLANG!
Their swords clashed again, but this time Ken's fire pushed her back a few steps.
Terrakula (laughing, excited):
"How fun! You're stronger than I thought!"
Then she vanished again — Ken didn't see where she went!
Suddenly, she appeared behind him, grabbing his left wrist with force.
Ken (struggling):
"What?!"
Terrakula (eyes glowing red, grinning):
"Got you!"
She sank her fangs into his wrist. Ken shouted and tried to pull away, but she bit down hard, draining his blood.
Ann (horrified):
"Ken-saaaan!!!"
Akio, still trying to stand despite the pain, felt rage building inside him.
Akio (yelling with fury):
"Get your filthy fangs off him!!!"
Akira, chained and watching everything, began to tremble — with fear, with anger.
Akira (screaming, shaking the chains violently):
"STOP!!! Stop fighting!! Just… just get out of here!!!"
His voice was raw, desperate. He didn't want anyone to get hurt — especially not people he'd just met yesterday.
Akira (crying out):
"I don't need your protection!! Just… just run, before you all die because of me!!!"
There was a brief silence.
Terrakula stepped back, a strange look of disgust on her face. She wiped her mouth — she was confused by what she'd just tasted.
Terrakula (spitting on the ground):
"What… what is this?!"
She touched her lips like she wanted to get rid of the awful flavor. The blood she drank was bitter. Not just bitter — it burned. Like poison.
Ken (raising an eyebrow, lighting a cigarette slowly):
"Huh… didn't like the taste?"
He blew smoke with a cold smirk.
Ken (calmly):
"Can't blame you. My blood tastes bad, right?"
Terrakula stared at him, disgusted and furious. She had never tasted blood so awful.
Terrakula (wiping her mouth):
"How… how can your blood taste this terrible?!"
Ken took a drag, then exhaled the smoke slowly.
Ken (mocking):
"Ever heard of nicotine?"
She stared at him, eyes suddenly wide as she realized the truth. It wasn't just bad blood — it was full of toxins.
Terrakula (stepping back):
"That cigarette…!!"
Ken (lazy grin):
"Looks like you picked the wrong victim, Terrakula. I'm not sweet like those kids. I'm just a bad-tasting smoker."
Ann couldn't help but laugh. Even Akio let out a weak chuckle despite the pain.
Akio (laughing through clenched teeth):
"Hah… Terrakula hates smoker blood?"
Ann (laughing hard):
"Oh my god… best thing I've seen all day!"
Terrakula's face twisted with real rage — not because of the taste, but because Ken humiliated her in front of everyone.
Terrakula (low voice, dangerous):
"I'm going to rip you apart…"
Ken calmly took another puff.
Ken (smirking):
"Go ahead… but don't expect to enjoy the meal."
Everything turned serious again. The air grew tense. The fight was about to explode—
but suddenly, a voice broke the tension.
Nyoro (calmly, hands in his pockets):
"Terrakula-sama, I think it's time you took a break… I'll handle this."
Terrakula looked at him slowly, still furious, but said nothing. Ken turned to Nyoro with a curious look.
Ken (raising an eyebrow):
"Oh? Decided to stop watching?"
Nyoro (stretching his arms):
"To be honest, I was enjoying the show… especially watching you annoy Terrakula-sama. But things got boring. So why not make this fun?"
He turned to Terrakula, voice calm but serious.
Nyoro:
"I want this fight to be mine alone. You know I've dreamed of facing Yukaji Ken."
Terrakula (grinning, lowering her sword):
"Hehe… so you want him all to yourself? Fine. Go play. I'll go deal with that blue-haired brat."
She stepped away, giving Nyoro space. Ken looked at him, then dropped his cigarette and crushed it under his boot.
Ken (sighing):
"So… what do you want exactly?"
Nyoro (smiling):
"Oh, nothing complicated. I just want to see… if you can beat me."
He raised his hand, and suddenly a strange power erupted — a mix of fire and ice. The air around him felt hot and cold at the same time.
Nyoro (grinning):
"Let's play, Yukaji Ken."
Ken felt the unnatural energy pull at him. Meanwhile, Terrakula walked back toward Akio, who was still on the ground. But before she reached him, another voice rang out — loud, furious, filled with pain.
Akira (screaming, his voice breaking, tears in his eyes):
"AKIO!!! I told you that's ENOUGH! I won't let you fight anymore because of someone like ME!!"
The shout echoed through the hall — raw, powerful, heartbreaking. It wasn't just anger. It was grief. Real fear for Ken… for Akio…
Akira (shouting, eyes burning with emotion):
"Why… WHY are you all still here?! Why don't you run?! I don't want to lose anyone else because of me!!!"
His body shook, his breathing grew fast. His emotions were exploding. Akio, despite his wounds, looked up at him.
This wasn't the Akira he knew — not the cocky, joking guy. This was someone broken inside.
Akio (soft but strong):
"Idiot… We didn't come here to die.
We came to get you out."
Akira froze, shocked by those words.
Akira (shaky whisper):
"But… you'll all be killed… This place… it's a trap. Terrakula-sama won't let you leave."
Ann (pulling out her weapons):
"Akira, you're not alone anymore.
So stop trying to push us away."
Those words hit Akira hard. For the first time in a long time…
he realized —
he didn't have to fight alone anymore.
But that moment didn't last.
Terrakula (mocking, smiling at him):
"Oh, how dramatic. It's been a while since I saw you fall apart like this, Akira. But like you said… I'm not letting any of you leave."
To be continued…