Whoosh!
Phaga beat his wings with force, dark crimson flames igniting along his palm as he slashed downward, striking first.
The monster lifted its left hand to block, then staggered backward, its scissor-legs scraping the cement and showering sparks across the ground.
Before it could regain balance, Phaga was already upon it. A sharp kick sent its jaw snapping upward, launching it into the air. With a powerful flap of his wings, the air cracked around him—the sheer force could have bent steel.
But this monster was no longer the bare-handed creature from before. Now equipped, it had clearly gained far more ways to fight.
Clang!
Suddenly, it spread its legs wide, the scissor-blades clamping tightly around Phaga's wings.
"You've got some grit."
Phaga's voice was calm and cold. Then, with one swift motion, he raised his leg above his head and swung it down like a whip. The impact struck the monster's abdomen with a thunderous crack, slamming it into the ground and leaving a half-meter crater.
But it wasn't over yet.
Peering into the dust-filled pit, Phaga quietly extended his left hand, his eyes glinting.
A tiny spark flickered to life in his palm.
"Go."
He flicked his finger, sending the spark shooting into the haze below.
Moments later, a faint red glow began to bloom within the dust.
The crimson hue deepened—then a flame burst to life, swallowing the haze whole.
In the blink of an eye, the fire roared stronger, devouring everything in its path. The dust hissed in the inferno, burning away as even the asphalt beyond the pit began to melt and shriek under the heat.
As the vampire's infernal flame—Netherfire—it embodied greed with elegance, savoring even lifeless matter with slow, deliberate hunger.
To consume steadily. To claim completely.
A gentleman wastes nothing. Therefore, he takes it all—everything, to the very last fragment.
Grace suddenly lowered her head, pulling out her buzzing data pad. Her eyes flicked across the screen, then lit up in delight.
"The Ether activity in the crater is dropping! Phaga's attack is working!"
"What? That's great—ah!!!"
Eous had just started to cheer when a violent gust suddenly swept him away. Grace reacted instantly, scooping him into her arms.
Huh—was Grace squeezing him a little too tightly?
Feeling uncomfortable, Eous wriggled free, asking hastily, "What happened?"
"It's the Ether crystals... The flames were extinguished!"
Ellen murmured under her breath, eyes narrowing as she stared at the new growth of Ether crystals rising from the pit. A chill ran through her.
"Not only that," Grace added, glancing back at her data pad, "the decline in Ether activity has stopped, too. We can't just rely on Phaga—everyone, think of something!"
BOOM!
Before she could finish, Phaga's fist smashed through the Ether crystals in the pit. The shockwave blasted outward, forcing everyone to shield their eyes.
Yet the monster emerged largely unscathed. Its right arm transformed, extending a blade that slashed toward Phaga's chest.
White phosphor fire ignited along the edge—taking that blow head-on would be disastrous.
But Phaga didn't flinch. He caught the blade bare-handed, metal creaking under his grip.
The light on the monster's head flickered erratically, its internal systems stuttering.
It couldn't comprehend why its blade couldn't pierce Phaga's flesh.
"Seems your creators never accounted for the day a vampire would be your opponent."
Phaga's voice was low, almost mournful. Then, the hand gripping the blade erupted into dark crimson fire. The white phosphor flames vanished instantly, devoured by the inferno that now raced up the weapon, igniting the monster's body.
"Gah—Ugh!"
The creature barely had time to scream before Phaga's right fist smashed into its head.
Its neck twisted to the side with a sickening crack. As it tried to wrench it back into place—click, click, click—Phaga's fist struck again, snapping it askew once more.
Through his Vampiric Sight, Phaga could see its Ether activity plummeting, thinning rapidly as the Netherfire devoured it.
He narrowed his eyes. If I keep this up, I can win—
Pfft!
A sudden sharp pain tore through his abdomen. The agony shot straight to his brain, making his eyelid twitch violently.
Looking down, he saw Ether crystals sprouting from the monster's body, their razor-sharp tips stabbing toward him.
The creature's entire form pulsed with light, its head glowing like a beacon.
Phaga broke away in a flash, barely dodging as a spike jutted out from the monster's face, stabbing a deep hole into the asphalt.
"Tsk. You're growing Ether crystals out of yourself? Whoever designed you must be a genius... not afraid of self-corruption, I see."
He bent slightly, pressing a hand over his wound. His blood surged, concentrating in that spot as flesh and muscle began to knit back together—visible to the naked eye.
Within moments, the wound was gone. Straightening his back, Phaga hovered in midair, watching silently as the monster tore the Ether crystals from its own body.
It sensed his gaze and looked up.
Then, without warning, the creature lowered its head. The parasol fused to its skull suddenly flared open—revealing a dark muzzle that gleamed with cold light.
Bang!
A single shot.
Phaga's brow twitched, but he didn't dodge. Instead, he raised his palm to block it.
Sssht!
The bullet dropped harmlessly to the ground, but a bloody hole now gaped in Phaga's palm.
The members of Belobog Heavy Industries froze in horror. None of them had expected Phaga to take the hit head-on.
Big Ben took a step forward, shouting, "Phaga! We've got a plan! Just hold it off a little longer—or get Ellen to back you up!"
With its new weaponry, the monster's strength had multiplied. It was tougher, faster—even Grace, after taking careful aim, hesitated to pull the trigger.
As for anyone else with metal weapons? Joining the fight might just mean donating their gear to the enemy.
Unless they could one-shot it.
And what could do that?
Friday suddenly spoke up. "The Mentor's Seal!"
The seal—the monument!
Everyone's eyes lit up. Koleda was the first to act, sprinting toward the prototype and climbing aboard.
Only Ellen stayed where she was, silent. She didn't move to help at all. Instead, she pulled out her stash of lollipops.
Counting them—five left.
Hmm. Whatever. Might as well eat them all.
In no time, all five were in her mouth.
"Hey, Ellen! You're not helping—and you're eating?!"
Eous gawked at her, scanning her expressionless face in disbelief.
Belle remembered Ellen being close to Phaga... so why did she seem so unconcerned?
"I am helping. If I don't eat some sugar, I'll faint from low blood sugar later."
"Huh?"
"Oh, right. What was your plan again? I'll relay it to that vampire."
...
High above, Phaga adjusted his earpiece, listening for a few seconds before lowering his hand.
He left the wound on his palm unhealed, watching blood flow freely down his arm.
But before the crimson drops could fall, they stopped—suspended midair. Slowly, the blood began to circle around him, forming a swirling orbit.
It gathered near his wings, coalescing into a flowing red veil draped across his form.
"After this move," Phaga muttered, "I wonder if I can earn back that two hundred thousand..."
He sighed quietly, offering a silent prayer for the Little Fish Snack fund he'd just spent.
Then he looked down at the monster below, his eyes cold and merciless.
"You're not human," he said softly.
"You deserve to die."