The peaceful hum of the onsen shattered in an instant.
A low roar trembled through the earth, like a beast growling beneath the village. Then—
CRACK!
A burst of red energy split the sky, and from the distant forest, dragon-shaped blood surged into the air, their wings made of liquid crimson, their eyes glowing with hatred.
"Blood dragons?" Thea gasped, yanking Twinlight from her hip. "That's Blood Manipulation."
Ryle stood at the edge of the hot spring, towel falling from his shoulders. He barely had time to reach for his coat before the sky blazed red with sigils and burning blood.
"I don't do ranged combat," Ryle said, slipping his gloves on. "Tobin. Cover me."
Tobin stepped forward, eyes narrowing. He held out one hand, summoning fire into his palm, then twisted it forward.
"Let the lion hunt."
A massive lion-shaped fireball burst forth, roaring as it intercepted a blood dragon mid-flight. The explosion lit up the forest, scattering embers and cinders across the treetops.
Thea rushed ahead, blades flashing with radiant light. She danced between incoming tendrils of blood, slashing them in midair with precise, holy-infused arcs.
Suddenly, from the smoke and mist, shadowy figures emerged.
They were vampires—but not like those from the Astoria clan. These wore black leather armor, their skin paler, their fangs longer. And their eyes… ancient.
"These ones are stronger," Thea muttered. "Middle-class vampires."
A dozen of them stepped into view, surrounding the steaming onsen. Then a tall figure stepped out from the shadows. His eyes were gold, and his aura made the ground feel colder.
He had no crest on his armor. No signet ring. Just a sword carved from blood crystal.
"I am Kyle," he said with disdain. "I renounce my clan. And I give you one warning—Leave, before the Awakening."
Ryle narrowed his eyes. "The Awakening?"
Kyle didn't flinch. "The new Demon King will be born. When he awakens, we—the evolved races—shall rise. Vampires, incubi, succubi, others, No more shadows. We become kings."
"And what? You just kill everyone who isn't one of you?" Ryle said, already jotting notes in his journal. "Because I gotta say, the branding needs work."
The first blood lance launched at him, but Thea blocked it with a flash of Twinlight. "Less talking, more fighting, Ryle!"
Kessia stood behind Tobin, shaking.
Tobin raised his sword. "Get behind me."
Another wave of vampires attacked.
Tobin surged forward, fire erupting from his blade. He slashed through two with a blaze of flames, his body catching stray cuts and claws. One vampire bit into his arm—and was incinerated by a pulse of Tobin's magic.
Kessia screamed. "TOBIN!"
He stumbled, bleeding badly, until Thea grabbed him and slammed glowing palms into his chest. "You're not dying, idiot."
Ryle vanished into the chaos, punching through two vampires with purple-draconic claws, flames erupting from his legs. "This is why I hate large parties."
As Kyle stood silently, commanding his troops with flicks of his finger, Tobin locked eyes with him.
"You and me," he growled. "Now."
The two clashed—sword versus blood weapon. Flames clashed with crimson magic. Tobin moved like a man possessed, ducking under lances, cutting through vampires, and unleashing fire like a sun gone rogue.
Kyle caught his blade once—but Tobin forced a fire burst into his hand, melting the vampire's fingers.
Nearby, Thea pinned a vampire to a tree with Twinlight, her blade searing into its chest. "Talk."
The vampire screamed under the holy light, but gave nothing.
Ryle dropped in, killing the other vampires cleanly. One struggled, barely alive.
"When is the Awakening?" Ryle asked, crouching.
"Why… should I tell you?" the vampire spat.
"I'll let you live."
"…Seven months," he said, coughing up blood.
Ryle nodded. "Nice. Thea, can I keep him?"
Thea didn't blink. "No."
Ryle roasted the vampire with a flick of dragon flame.
Suddenly, Kyle's body convulsed. His eyes rolled back, and blood seeped from his mouth and nose.
"Bloodlust," Thea gasped. "He's losing his mind."
Kyle screamed, his body swelling with blood magic. Wings of blood tore from his back, his sword crumbling into red mist.
But Ryle had had enough.
"I'm tired."
He closed his eyes, inhaled—and let out a wave of dragon fire from his mouth. The blaze engulfed Kyle entirely. When it vanished, so did the rogue vampire.
Nothing remained.
Later, After the Battle
The battlefield was quiet. Burned bodies, seared trees, scorched soil.
Ryle patched up Tobin, who grunted with every stitch.
"You're lucky Thea stabilized you."
"Tell my liver that."
Kessia walked toward them, tears in her eyes.
Behind her stood a woman—graceful, cat-eared, her clothes bloodstained. Her eyes held sorrow.
"Kessia," she whispered. "Your father… he didn't make it."
Kessia stopped.
Then she turned to Tobin, stepping closer. Her hands trembled. She leaned in, lips almost touching his.
Tobin gently pressed a finger to her lips.
"If I kissed you… my girlfriend in the afterlife would be pissed."
Kessia blinked, stunned, then blushed hard. "You—idiot!"
She kicked him with a splash straight into the onsen behind them.
"OW! Hot, hot, hot!"
Ryle chuckled and sat down beside Thea with a cup of tea.
"You know," he said, sipping, "this was supposed to be a quiet soak."
Thea took a sip too. "It was quiet—for five minutes."
Then she added, "…Worth it though."
Elsewhere
A shadowed hall, candlelight flickering.
Three figures stood in the dark.
A man's voice spoke with cold authority.
"Our next master will be born in seven months."
A woman replied, giggling.
"I'm so excited. This time, we'll win."
The third voice, smooth and curious, muttered:
"…Master, huh?"