(Inside Decker's mansion)
Decker sat rigidly in a lotus position within a dark, cold room. He had been using the previous days to recover and accelerate his mastery over the shadowy entity he had bonded with. Decker groaned, the sound raw and painful, as the Dark Shadow slowly consumed and devoured his very soul. "Dark Shadow, eat more of my soul," he commanded through gritted teeth, pushing past the agonizing consumption. "Eat your fill so I can use more of your power, so I can dance on the corpses of my enemies." For four grueling hours, he continued to endure the pain caused by the dark shadow until a knock echoed softly at the door.
"Enter," he commanded, his voice strained but regaining its chilling authority.
One of his vampire henchmen opened the door. He bowed instantly on one knee, his body trembling as he felt the dark, evil energy radiating throughout the room. The henchman refused to look up at Decker. "My lord, the leader of the Storming Hornets has arrived."
Decker allowed a slow, malevolent smile to stretch across his face. "Great. Take our guest to the meeting room and tell him I will be there in a few minutes."
"As you command, my lord," the henchman murmured before quickly retreating.
After half an hour, Decker entered the meeting room. Kilo stood up from the table instantly and walked toward Decker with his arms open. "You crazy bastard, you did it; you bested the great Leonidas!" Kilo was so excited that he pulled Decker into a manly, powerful hug. "I don't usually hug people, but the news of you defeating Leonidas made me really happy. Now I know that we stand a chance against the Crimson family."
"I recommend not to underestimate the other family members of the Crimson family, almost everybody can be considered monsters, especially Leonidas's wife," Decker warned, pulling away from the hug.
Kilo looked confused but intrigued. "Let's go sit by the table, my friend."
As they both settled down, Kilo retrieved a bottle of whiskey and poured them both a glass. "Now tell me more about the wife."
Decker took the glass of whiskey and lightly shook it, and the soft clinking noises of two ice cubes clashing against the glass were the only sound. "I do not know much about his wife, but I managed to pull some strings, and I found out that she was previously part of the Fulger family."
Kilo was not familiar with this name. "Who is this Fulger family? Are they well known?"
"They were once a big family, but do not mistake them for being weak, as they are still a force to be reckoned with. The family now chooses to stay down low, and if we kill the Lord's daughter, he will surely come for us," Decker warned, the danger in his voice palpable.
Kilo smiled, but there was no fear on his face—only raw excitement. Decker's victory over Leonidas had instilled in Kilo the confidence to challenge what was once considered unstoppable. "Well, my motto is that with great risks come great rewards, so we just have to deal with the consequences." Kilo took a long drink from his whiskey glass. "Now tell me, what makes her so special that you think we must be cautious of her?"
Decker smiled, a cold, predatory expression. "Well, you could say that most of the family members would inherit the ability of fire from Leonidas. However, Anna Crimson is the only lightning user."
Kilo was visibly shaken by this new information. "Fu*k… luckily we have some armour that is lightning resistant, but I am sure you will keep her preoccupied with one of your Dark Shadow clone figures."
"Of course. They all will die, every last one of the Crimson family members," Decker stated, his voice flat with absolute commitment.
Kilo chuckled, sensing the cold, focused anger radiating from his partner. "What about Leonidas?"
"We will collect his corpse after we annihilate his family. He must watch them fall before we retrieve his remains." Decker's crimson eyes narrowed. "So tell your men to prepare themselves. We will attack the castle tomorrow at midday."
Kilo threw his head back and started to laugh, the sound loud and manic. "Perfect! Then we will attack the Crimson Castle tomorrow. I will become rich and famous!"
====
In the underground section of Crimson Castle, nestled in a big, spacious room, stood a massive, imposing magical portal gate adorned with intricate, ancient carvings. The magical gate was so huge that it almost reached the room's ceiling. The room was occupied by several vampire knights who stood guard.
Suddenly, the portal began to emit a powerful magical white light, indicating a high-level arrival. An imposing figure stepped out of the magical vortex, and the moment his foot touched the concrete floor, the vampire knights immediately recognised the familiar vampire when they sensed his tremendous power. Their eyes began to glow red, and they instantly bowed their heads in unison.
"Welcome back, Master Zeno."
Zeno stepped out of the portal, exuding an aura of immense power and grace. His dark and flowing robe billowed around him. He started to walk down the steps, and with each stride, the room almost seemed to acknowledge his arrival, as if paying homage to his status. Zeno nodded his head in acknowledgement and greeted the loyal knights.
In a private room in the upper section of the castle, Anna sat at a table, drinking blood out of a teacup and reading her favorite romance novel, outwardly calm. Anna felt a small surge of relief knowing that Richard had returned safely from his mission just hours before, bringing a much-needed sense of security to the castle. Markus and Richard, who were also present, were engrossed in a game of chess.
"Since when did you get so good at chess, son?" Markus wryly smiled, struggling against his own offspring.
Richard, feeling very pleased with himself, had his father Markus against the ropes with his last move on the chessboard. He gave his father a light chuckle. "I am sure Father is holding back."
Markus looked intently at the chessboard, desperately calculating his next move. "Shit, I can't lose against my son," he thought. He suddenly sensed the intense spiritual force of the arrival downstairs, and a genuine smile replaced his look of chess anxiety. "So Brother is finally back."
Anna also sensed her son's presence and was happy that he had returned safely. She continued to read her novel, occasionally looking up at her son and grandson playing chess. This was the kind of peaceful moment that made Anna appreciate life, though she still missed her husband, who hadn't sent any message of his safe return.
Far below, sharp clashes of steel could be heard traveling through the air as Carmilla and Thomas were vigorously practicing their swordsmanship. Carmilla thrust her sword in a quick motion, but Thomas managed to evade it and counter with his own thrust. Not expecting Thomas to counter so swiftly, she barely managed to dodge the attack by a hair's breadth. "I almost got you there, Milla," Thomas teased.
Small drips of sweat started to appear on Carmilla's forehead; her eyes started to glow red, and her fangs extended as she channeled her true power. Thomas noticed Carmilla was getting serious and responded by drawing out his own vampiric energy. Both were prepared to continue their furious attacks until a figure suddenly appeared in the middle of them.
Both immediately stopped their motion. Carmilla's eyes widened, and she dropped her sword a few seconds after recognizing the imposing figure standing in front of her.
"Daddy?"
Zeno Crimson had a subtle, weary smile on his face as he laid eyes on his only daughter. "Hello, sweety."
Carmilla ran to her father, Zeno, immediately wrapping her arms tightly around his waist. "Dad, I missed you," she whispered into his robe. Zeno embraced his only daughter, giving her a tight, reassuring hug. Carmilla knew the dangers of mission work; many young vampire parents lost their lives. She knew her father was one of the strongest vampires in the castle, but the possibility of him dying was always present. There were even stories that the great Leonidas himself had nearly died fighting a Ghoul King.
Thomas ran up to them while they were still locked in their embrace. "Welcome back, Uncle," Thomas said excitedly. Zeno looked at Thomas and affectionately gestured for him to join the family hug. Thomas didn't hesitate, smiling as he joined the heartfelt embrace.
After a few seconds, they disengaged, and Carmilla was still wiping the final tears from her eyes. Thomas, however, was more interested in his uncle's stories. "Uncle, Uncle, was the enemy strong this time?"
"Thomas!" Carmilla angrily shouted her cousin's name. She couldn't believe his lack of sensitivity, asking such a question when her father had just returned home.
Zeno smiled gently, understanding the boy's curiosity. "The enemy was very strong. He was very tall with four eyes and four arms. He also wielded four swords in each hand. His speed and power were otherworldly."
Thomas's eyes shone with fascination. "Really, Uncle, what was this powerful enemy called?"
"The people called him, Four."
"Dad, are you okay? Did you manage to kill him?" Carmilla asked, her concern now focused.
"Unfortunately, he got away. However, I did manage to cut one of his arms off before he escaped. But I was too injured to chase after him."
Thomas was amazed, immediately imagining his uncle fighting this monster. "Wait, Uncle, if you sliced one of his arms, does he have to change his name to three now?"
Carmilla couldn't help bursting out laughing when she heard Thomas's innocent comment. "Stop it, Thomas!"
Zeno lightly chuckled. "I guess so."
"I bet my dad would turn him to zero," Thomas said proudly, holding out his fist.
Carmilla smacked Thomas on the head. "Are you saying my dad is weak?"
"Ouch!" Thomas grabbed his head. "Why did you hit me?"
"Don't make fun of my dad!"
"But I didn't!"
Zeno faintly smiled as he looked at the two cousins, thinking about the time he and Markus also used to argue like this when they were their age. "Hey, stop it, you two. Where is your grandfather? I don't sense his energy."
"Grandpa went on a business trip," Thomas said, rubbing the area on his head where Carmilla had smacked him. "And John also tagged along."
Carmilla pouted her lips. "Grandpa did not even ask me to come with him."
Zeno put his hands on Carmilla's head. "Hey now, I'm sure your grandfather will take you on his next trip. Remember, John is a new member of the family, so give him a chance to get to know your grandfather, okay?"
"Okay, Daddy."
Zeno then went to the private dining room where his mother, Anna, was situated. He opened the door and saw his mother standing up from the table. He walked slowly toward her and gave her a light bow. "Mother, your son has returned."
Anna did not care for formalities when it came to her family members and quickly enveloped her oldest son in a heartfelt embrace. "I am glad you returned safely. I heard stories about this 'Four' being extremely powerful."
"He was. I did not manage to kill him, and he escaped, so the family did not pay us the full amount."
"It is fine, the contract did state that he has to be killed."
Markus also walked up to his brother Zeno right after he disengaged from the hug with his mother. Markus was physically bigger than Zeno and looked down at his older brother. "Welcome back, brother. I sense your spiritual force has yet to fully recover. Do you think you can defend yourself against me in your feeble state?" Markus smiled, a hint of genuine challenge in his eyes.
Zeno looked up and stared his brother straight in the eyes. "If you think you can beat me, then go ahead."
They stared at each other for a few moments until the playful tension broke.
"Come here," Markus grinned, pulling him into a hug.
"Welcome back, brother."
"It's good to be back."
"How have you been?" Zeno asked.
"I'm fine. I also recently returned from my mission, but it was boring. The mage I fought couldn't even take a single punch from me. Guess I am too strong, hahahaha," Markus chuckled.
Not long after Richard welcomed his uncle back, they heard a knock on the door. Two familiar faces came through the door, and Zeno immediately turned, moving swiftly to embrace both familiar figures. "Husband," Reina whispered. "Father," Caden added.
"When did you wake up, son?" Zeno asked Caden, resting his hand on Caden's shoulder.
Caden smiled. "It's a long story, Father."
"We have a lot to talk about then, do we, son?"
"Yes, Father."
"You look good. I hope you didn't neglect your training."
Caden had a light laugh. "Of course not, Father. I have been a little rusty when I woke up, but I'm feeling better than ever."
"Good, good," Zeno said, patting Caden on the shoulder with pride.
Zeno then turned his full attention to his wife. "How have you been, my love?"
Reina felt so happy that she wanted to cry. She stared deep into her husband's black eyes. "My beloved, I missed you more than words can express. I have been longing for your return. When we are separated, I always feel that a part of my heart is missing, and now that you are back, my heart feels complete again."
Zeno gazed at his wife with profound affection; his voice was filled with warmth and gratitude. "My love, your kind words fill my heart with joy, and every time I go out on dangerous missions, the thought of you always gives me the energy to push further and beyond."
Anna, seeing the two so clearly in love, couldn't help but think about Leonidas.
Markus then interjected, putting his large arms around Zeno and Reina. "Come now, stop this lovey-dovey sh*t. Let's get something to drink, we have much to talk about." Reina pouted slightly, playfully angry at Markus for spoiling the lovely reunion.
====
After a couple of hours, John woke up. He heard Leonidas's voice, now clearer and stronger. "Perfect. I hope you are well rested. We have to leave. Tomorrow is the day he will attack the castle. My guess is he will attack the castle in the middle of the day when the sun is up. It wouldn't make sense to attack a vampire during the night," Leonidas explained to John.
John was still slightly confused. He noticed the boulder was indeed pushed away, and there was a slight opening—just enough to leave the cave. "What happened? Did I do that?"
Leonidas looked at John with astonishment. "You don't remember pushing the boulder out to create an exit?"
John shook his head. "Nope. I only remember getting really angry and passing out."
John took out a bottle of blood from his storage ring, drinking it until the bottle was half empty. He could feel energy slowly returning to his body. "Grandpa, wait here, I'm going to check if it's safe outside."
"Boy, wait!" Leonidas reached out with his hand, but John had already left the cave.
John exited through the small opening, noticing it was still morning. He moved cautiously, scanning the area. He found no one guarding the entrance. "I guess Decker really thought we had no hope of surviving. That's why there's no one guarding the cave," he thought, the cold realization settling in his mind.
John retrieved his knife and the half-drunk bottle of blood from his storage ring. With great difficulty, he used the knife to cut open his wrist and carefully poured some of his own hybrid blood into the bottle, ensuring the Clan Lord would receive a final, necessary boost of healing power.
"Shit, time is ticking; we have to hurry back," he thought. Seeing the area was clear, he quickly returned to the cave.
Leonidas was still sitting against the wall, a slight expression of anger on his face. "Where did you run off to? You left me here alone, defenseless."
"Sorry, old man, I went to see if there was no one to ambush us; we are clear though," John said.
"Then pick me up; I still can't walk, and stop calling me old man," Leonidas said while looking at John. He was still angry and irritated because John left him on his own. He had a little thought in the back of his head that the boy would leave him for dead after opening the entrance to the cave.
John thrust the bottle of blood toward Leonidas. "Quickly drink the rest of the blood in the bottle before we leave."
Leonidas fixed his gaze on John for a few seconds, then refused. "No, you should save the blood for yourself; it is useless for me to drink that blood."
John's temper flared. "Old geezer, do you want me to kick your ass again and force this sh*t down your throat, or are you going to drink this so we can return to the castle as quickly as possible?"
"You dare," Leonidas burst out, his eyes glowing red as he stared at John. However, John did not back down; his left eye also turned red as he stared back at Leonidas, matching the challenge. They locked gazes for a few minutes. John's jaw tightened. He suddenly dropped the bottle on the ground, his hands now free and clenched into fists. He was preparing to strike.
"Fine," Leonidas said in a low tone, his voice laced with defeat.
"What did you say?" John pressed, his body ready to explode.
"I said fine! Give me the fu*king bottle so we can leave."
John retrieved the bottle and handed the half-drunk blood to Leonidas. Leonidas grabbed the bottle with both hands. When he poured the blood into his mouth, he felt a cold sensation on his tongue, but the potent, delicious taste was undeniable. "What is this blood, boy?"
"Don't worry 'bout it, just drink the blood so we can leave," John replied.
Hmph. He could feel the delicious blood running down his throat. The liquid later spread throughout his body, and he felt instantly rejuvenated. Leonidas was not yet aware, but the werewolf venom inside his body was slowly being killed off.
After drinking the half bottle of blood empty, John took the bottle and stored it in his storage ring. He picked Leonidas up, hoisting him onto his back, and they exited the cave. Once they got out, Leonidas noticed that they were located on top of a hill.
John and Leonidas quickly headed for higher ground.
"Do you know where we are?" Leonidas then used his eyes to zoom in on where they were standing, and he saw a road trail. He also noticed that they were far away from any town or city.
"I am not exactly sure where we are, but if we head down this hill, we will reach a road trail." John then carried Leonidas on his back as they went down the hill.
As John carried Leonidas down the steep hill, he could feel a slight increase in strain on his legs due to the added weight of his grandfather. In this kind of situation, John was very grateful for Reina's intense training. Furthermore, walking downhill with someone on his back was much easier than if it were uphill.
There was an awkward silence between the two men. It took thirty minutes for John to break the tension. "So, what are you going to do when we get there? You're still not in the best condition to fight, you know."
"I know, boy, but as the leader of the Crimson Clan, I have to be present at all costs... For me, I have to be there for moral support, and if Decker destroys my clan, then I have to be there to die beside them."
"Now that I know the story, why couldn't you guys just talk this out? I mean, you didn't mean to kill his daughter, right?" John looked back at Leonidas as they were walking down the steep hill.
"That train already has left the station, boy; the time for talking is over; either he dies or I die; simple as that, that is the cruel reality of the world. The moment he attacked me or my family was the moment he signed his death certificate."
John sighed. "We still have a long way to go; we don't even know where we are."
"We just need to find someone to give us directions. Now enough talking and start running, time is of the essence."
It took an hour for John to reach the road trail. Leonidas then used his nose to smell the air. "Just keep running down this road trail; I smell something; I think it's a group of people; my smelling senses are a little dull."
Leonidas gritted his teeth. "I just hope we can make it in time."
John continued to run. "A little dull? Are you even sure there are any people nearby?"
Leonidas got a little irritated. "Just keep running, boy."