Two years had passed since the sisters' reunion in New Salem.
Salt Blake awoke gray, but no one there cared about sunrises. In this city, the sun seemed like an old legend.
In Brazil, in Santa Catarina, the strong sun reflected off the windows of a small hospital. Roberto adjusted his glasses, gazing at the horizon while the coastal wind brushed through the balcony.
His mother, now much better, laughed in the next room, watching an old soap opera.
"You should rest, love," said the woman with gray hair, leaning on the hospital bed.
He smiled.
"I'm fine, mom. I'll stay until you're discharged."
But deep down, Roberto knew: he still carried concern for her and for Kimberly and the gang at the Bar in Salt Blake.
Since then, he had trained alone, using his time in Brazil to rebuild himself… and prepare for the day he would return to fight alongside Kimberly.
In Eastern Europe, on an abandoned highway between Prague and Vienna, Tory wiped dried blood from her blade. The demon's body dissolved into dust beside the old van, riddled with bullet holes.
She was still working with Kimberly, even from a distance. Independent missions, minor hunts, cleansing cursed zones. But she always sent reports and exchanged messages with her friend.
The van's dashboard vibrated.
Kim: "If you're alive, bring me a coffee. I'm remodeling the office."
Tory laughed, typing back:
Tory: "If you're paying me in bad jokes, forget it."
Even apart, their bond remained strong.
In New Salem, the air was hot but heavy, as if the city kept a secret in every shadow.
Inside a hotel, Mandy sipped tea with Aunt Valentine, observing an ancient book filled with runes.
"You seem calmer here," Valentine remarked, crossing her legs.
"Away from the war, missions, bullets."
Mandy smiled, but her gaze faltered.
"Yeah… but sometimes I catch myself thinking about what Kimberly must be up to right now."
Valentine let out a hoarse laugh.
"If it's the same girl I remember, it surely involves explosions and sarcasm."
The two clinked their teacups. Mandy glanced out the window; dark clouds rolling in from the west seemed to herald a new storm.
The Blood's Bar had been closed for months. Preston sold the place and disappeared, and Kimberly — as always — found another way to keep standing.
Now, she worked in a new space: an old, refurbished building downtown, adapted as her private hunter's office.
It was simple but functional. Walls covered in maps, weapons hanging, an old jukebox, and a minibar stocked with synthetic blood bottles and iced coffee.
Kim sat on the desk, feet crossed, wearing a black crop top with a low neckline, black pants, fingerless gloves, boots, and the crimson pendant around her neck — the same one that pulsed softly when she focused.
Her hair was now shorter, a reddish-brown that gleamed under the industrial light.
Roshi entered the door carrying two shopping bags.
"Brought the basics: coffee, toilet paper, and… donuts." He placed everything on the desk, his calm expression betraying someone used to chaos.
Kim smiled.
"Donuts? Are you trying to win me over?"
"Just trying to stop you from eating the chair again," Roshi replied, adjusting his glasses.
She laughed.
"It was ONCE, Roshi. I was hungry."
He shook his head, chuckling softly.
"If another contract comes, I'll let you know."
Kim nodded, grabbing one of the bags.
"Thanks, master. But hey… if it's another crazy client wanting me to hunt garden fairies, just refuse it."
Roshi sighed and gave a faint smile, opening the door.
"Take care, girl."
And he left.
Later, she stepped out to shower. Steam spilled into the corridor as she tossed a towel over her shoulder and stretched as if readying herself for another ordinary day of chaos and overdue bills.
The landline rang.
Kim glanced at the chair knocked over on the floor. With a sharp kick, she lifted it into the air and spun perfectly onto it. Then another kick slid the phone across the desk into her hand.
"Sorry, not open for business yet," she muttered, returning to the box of donuts.
"Just opened this dump, and I already have to answer a call."
But the air shifted.
Lights flickered, wind blew through closed windows, and then…
A deep, commanding voice echoed through the room:
"Are you Kimberly? Daughter of Alyra… and Christopher?"
Kim turned slowly, drawing a pistol by reflex. Her eyes widened as the figure stepped into view.
Nyra's mentor of darkness… Cletus.
His amber gaze seemed to pierce her soul.
"Where did you hear that?" Kim asked, placing the donut on the desk.
He remained serious.
"From your sister…"
The name froze the air.
He stared intently at the pendant around her neck.
Kim frowned.
"Are you looking at my pendant or my chest?"
He gave a half-smile.
"She has a proposal for you. Please, accept it."
Before she could respond, he grabbed the entire desk in front of her… and hurled it with brutal force.
Kim flipped backward, quickly drawing a pistol from her hip — catching the donut that nearly fell.
Before she could fire, Cletus simply vanished.
"A proposal, huh?" she muttered, lifting the donut to her mouth.
And then the air vibrated. Windows shattered.
Suddenly, vampires surrounded her — pale, deformed, eyes covered in black marks. One drove a blade into her abdomen, another pierced her shoulder, and another seized her arms and legs.
Kim looked down, impassive, blood pooling around her feet.
"Seriously? I just cleaned up."
Then she tore the first vampire's head off with a punch, spun it like a basketball, and slammed it into another.
She strode across the desk and jukebox, impaling one on her arm and leg, hitting play.
"This party just got way crazier… Let's dance!"
The office became a battlefield.
Kim slid across the table, grabbing a bottle and smashing it into an enemy's face. She twirled the pistol, firing silver stakes into two more.
She pulled a lamp from the ceiling and shoved it into a third attacker's chest. Her movements were swift, brutal — and stylish.
"This is for my new wall!" she yelled, kicking a vampire through the window.
When the last body fell, she wiped blood from her face with the back of her hand. The pendant glowed briefly.
Then the floor trembled.
Outside, a roar echoed. The sky opened in red light, and a colossal tower began rising at the city's center, ripping through buildings, siphoning energy, leaving destruction in its wake.
Kim ran to the window. The air was heavy. Monsters poured from the fissures at the tower's base — vampires, demons, werewolves, all twisted and enraged.
And atop the tower… a female silhouette.
Wind swept through, clearing part of the mist. Silver hair, silver coat, katana at her waist.
It was Nyra.
Kim froze for a second. Their eyes met — even from afar.
Time seemed to stop. Memories of their last fight returned: blood, falls, pain.
Kim smirked.
"So this is how you say 'I missed you,' little sis?"
The tower pulsed a second time, and the sky turned completely red.
Kim grabbed her red coat, pistols, and the Sanguirion sword resting against the wall. The eye at the center of the blade opened, glowing crimson.
"Okay… looks like the party's starting earlier than I thought."