The mana began to press down on them as Dracula's aura raged on.
"What terrifying power…" Akira thought, bracing himself as the shockwave forced them back.
Varin sighed softly. Is this Dracula operating at full capacity? They would have been eviscerated by the power you once wielded, master. That coffin drained not just your mana, but your very life force—yet you stand firm. Are you hiding something from us?
Dracula raised his sword skyward, black mana swirling and condensing at the blade's tip. Yukiko's eyes widened—she leapt in front of the others.
"Crux Tenebris!" Dracula roared, slashing downward in the shape of a crucifix.
"X-Jiku!" Yukiko countered, crossing her blades in an X.
Both attacks collided, erupting into a towering wall of black ice.
"Black ice…" Dracula's voice came from behind her, low and amused. "Isn't it beautiful?"
Yukiko spun, swinging her blade, but a crimson hand formed from blood caught it mid-swing.
"For years, they've said light and dark mana cores can't mix—that it's an abomination. But I disagree. Look at that black ice—it's art."
He raised a finger toward her abdomen. A blood sphere bloomed at its tip.
My ice hide won't withstand this, Yukiko realized. She released one hand and summoned an ice shield.
The blood sphere tore through it with ease, slamming into her stomach and sending her flying.
"Kōrishya!" Yukiko cried out, launching two spinning ice rings toward him.
Dracula sidestepped effortlessly. The rings struck the ground behind him—and two blood serpents burst upward, lunging after her.
The air grew colder. A faint crackling sound reached his ears. Dracula turned just in time to see twin ice spikes erupt from beneath him, aimed for his throat. He shattered them with a flick of his blade.
"She's quite the warrior," he mused. "To endure that pain and still adapt her magic… impressive."
Boom.
Edward fired another round, but Dracula caught it with his bare palm skin unscathed.
"Shit," Edward thought, teeth gritted. "My attacks aren't even scratching him anymore."
"Abandon that technique," Dracula said calmly, appearing behind him. "Its disadvantages outweigh its charm."
His blade descended. Edward raised a dark-forged sword just in time only for it to shatter upon impact. The edge bit into his shoulder, but he shadow-stepped away before it could cleave deeper.
In that instant, Morvain and Sigvard appeared, striking from both sides. Their blades froze mid-motion—locked by the weight of Dracula's mana.
"You're all talented," Dracula murmured, eyes glowing crimson. "Tell me why do you side with Val Hellsing?"
A red light pulsed beneath his chest, flaring brighter with every heartbeat.
"I don't know that person," Akira said, clenching his fist.
"Don't try to feign ignorance." Dracula's tone darkened, his crimson eyes glowing faintly. "You will not be remembered."
In an instant, Dracula appeared before him—towering, his hand resting where Akira's heart beat beneath his chest. He leaned close, voice a whisper that carried the weight of dread.
"You managed to condense your mana and release it as sonic booms… tell me, boy—can your heart endure the same?"
Akira's eyes widened. A cold sweat broke across his face. His shadow rippled outward, dark tendrils unfurling as his soldiers emerged to shield him.
BOOM!
The shadow soldiers vanished in a heartbeat as Akira was hurled across the field, crashing into the rubble.
"Kh—" Blood spilled from his lips. All my soldiers were erased instantly… and I still felt the full impact. If I summon them again, I'll drain my mana completely.
He staggered to his knees. We need to retreat.
Dracula stood over him, expression unreadable yet mocking. "Your life… wasted chasing the wrong cause." He raised his blade, the tip resting over Akira's heart.
Before it could strike, Morvain's form replaced Akira's in a burst of shadow. A dagger of darkness met Dracula's blade, parrying it aside. Morvain's second dagger swung toward Dracula's neck—swift, precise.
Dracula caught it with ease. "You're of my kind… yet you command no blood. Is it because you lack a true body?"
Morvain stayed silent, his movements sharp and fluid as he slashed toward Dracula's eyes. Dracula dodged, countering with a wide arc. Morvain ducked beneath it, hurling one dagger forward—Dracula swatted it away, and blood spikes erupted from the ground. Morvain leapt aside, landing with a roll before reclaiming his weapon.
Both began circling each other, their mana flaring like opposing storms.
KABOOM!
The air cracked as their energies collided, each struggling for dominance.
"Since he no longer has a body, his mana should be useless," Lilith muttered.
"I wouldn't say that," Varin replied.
"Oh? Then enlighten me."
Varin smiled faintly. "Mana isn't just for strengthening the body—it empowers the element one commands. Morvain's body is gone, yes, but his soul is encased in darkness, which itself is an element."
Lilith's eyes narrowed. "He's using mana to fortify his new form."
"Exactly," Varin said. "Most would see that as a curse. But for those forged in battle—it's a gift."
"Sânge Táios!"
Dracula's voice echoed as blades of blood surged forward. Morvain spun into the attack, parrying and weaving through the crimson storm until he closed the distance. Their blades met in a violent clash, the shockwaves rippling outward.
Meanwhile, Akira gasped for air in Sigvard's arms.
"Sigvard… let's use it—now."
"It's not ready," Sigvard protested. "If it fails, you'll be completely drained. You won't even be able to summon me back—and you'll be easy prey."
Akira sighed, frustration flashing in his eyes. "Then let's regroup. Find Yukiko and Edward while he's distracted."
"We're already here," Yukiko's voice called out from behind.
Akira turned, scanning them quickly. "It could've been worse," he said.
"You're one to talk," Edward muttered. "You don't even look hurt."
Akira lifted his shirt, revealing a dark bruise spreading across his abdomen. "Still alive—thanks to my soldiers."
In the distance, Morvain and Dracula's duel reached a fever pitch. Dracula's body began radiating heat, steam rising from his wounds.
"This is new…" Varin murmured.
Dracula seized Morvain by the face and slammed him into the blood spikes below, impaling him. Morvain's form dissipated into smoke.
Moments later, he reformed beside Akira, kneeling. "I couldn't hold him off," he said quietly.
"You've done well," Akira replied.
Suddenly, a dozen blood serpents burst from the ground, lunging at them. Yukiko stepped forward, extending her hand.
"Kōri no Uzu!"
A sphere of icy mana spun in her palm before she hurled it forward. The vortex erupted into a tornado of frost, freezing the serpents solid. It surged onward toward Dracula—but massive blood hands erupted from the ground, intercepting it.
As they reached out again, Yukiko dashed forward, leaping onto the first hand as it froze beneath her feet.
"Yukiko Onna!"
Frost surged from her body, taking her ethereal form as Akira, Sigvard, Morvain, and Edward followed close behind.