"Stay close," I said, my voice low but firm. I didn't look at her, my eyes scanning the trees, the shadows, the slightest movements in the underbrush. My hand rested on the hilt of Lostvayne, the familiar weight grounding me. "Whatever happens, don't hesitate."

  She nodded, her voice barely a whisper. "I won't."

  The first sign of their arrival was the sound of footsteps—soft, deliberate, and far too many to count. Then, they emerged from the shadows, their crimson eyes glowing like embers in the dark. Vampires. Pure-blooded, by the looks of them. And at their head was a man who could only be Marius Tepes.

  He was tall, with slick bck hair that fell perfectly into pce, as if even the chaos of battle wouldn't dare disturb it. His crimson eyes gleamed with arrogance, and his lips curled into a smug smile as he stepped forward. His coat, bck with red accents, billowed slightly in the cool evening air, the fabric catching the faint light like liquid shadow. He looked every bit the noble vampire lord, and he knew it.

  "Valerie," he said, his voice smooth and dripping with condescension. "What a disappointment you've turned out to be. A traitor to your own blood, siding with… this." He gestured toward me, his lip curling in disdain. "A mere human. How pathetic."

  I didn't react. His words were meaningless, just noise meant to provoke. But Valerie stiffened beside me, her hands trembling slightly. I could feel the anger radiating off her, but she stayed silent, her gaze fixed on her brother.

  Marius tilted his head, his smile widening. "What's the matter, sister? Cat got your tongue? Or are you finally realizing the mistake you've made?"

  "Enough," I said, my voice cutting through the tension like a bde. My icy blue eyes locked onto his, and for a moment, the smugness in his expression faltered. "If you've come to talk, you're wasting your time. If you've come to fight, then let's get this over with."

  Marius chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "Oh, I've come to fight, human. But don't worry—I'll make sure your death is quick. Consider it a mercy."

  I didn't respond. Instead, I shifted my stance slightly, my grip tightening on Lostvayne. The vampires around us began to move, circling like predators closing in on their prey. There were at least thirty of them, maybe more. It didn't matter. Numbers meant nothing if they couldn't nd a hit.

  "Valerie," I said quietly, my eyes never leaving Marius. "Stay close. And be ready."

  She nodded, her hands glowing faintly as she summoned her Sephirath Graal. "I'm ready."

  The first vampire lunged, his movements a blur of speed and precision. I sidestepped, my bde fshing as Lostvayne sliced through the air. The vampire crumpled to the ground, his body disintegrating into ash before he even hit the dirt. The others hesitated for a fraction of a second, and that was all I needed.

  I activated my Shadow Extraction skill, and the forest seemed to come alive. Dark, shadowy figures emerged from the ground, their forms shifting and twisting as they took shape. They moved with a purpose, engaging the vampires and evening the odds. The forest erupted into chaos, the air filled with the csh of steel, the crackle of ice, and the snarls of vampires.

  I moved through the battlefield with practiced ease, my movements fluid and precise. Lostvayne gleamed in the dim light, its bde cutting through vampires like they were nothing more than paper. Ice shards formed in my free hand, and I sent them hurtling toward my enemies, each one finding its mark with deadly accuracy. My Compress Quirk allowed me to store and release attacks unpredictably, keeping the vampires off bance.

  Valerie stayed close, her healing abilities keeping me in peak condition. I could feel the warmth of her power as it flowed through me, boosting my strength and speed. She was learning, adapting, and for the first time, I felt a flicker of something resembling pride.

  Marius watched from the sidelines, his expression growing darker with each vampire that fell. His smug confidence was starting to crack, and I could see the frustration in his eyes. He hadn't expected this. He hadn't expected me.

  Finally, he stepped forward, his crimson eyes bzing with anger. "Enough of this!" he snarled, his voice cutting through the chaos. "You think you can defy me? A human? You're nothing!"

  I didn't respond. Instead, I met his charge head-on, our bdes cshing with a force that sent a shockwave through the forest. He was strong, I'd give him that. But strength alone wasn't enough.

  We exchanged blows, each one faster and more brutal than the st. He was skilled, but he was also arrogant, and that was his downfall. I feinted left, then struck right, my bde slicing through his coat and drawing blood. He stumbled back, his eyes wide with shock.

  "You—" he began, but I didn't let him finish. I pressed the attack, my movements relentless. He was on the defensive now, his confidence shaken.

  Finally, he retreated, his vampires closing ranks around him. His eyes burned with hatred, but there was something else there too—fear. He hadn't expected this. He hadn't expected me.

  "This isn't over," he spat, his voice trembling with rage. "You'll regret crossing me, human."

  I didn't respond. I just watched as he and his vampires melted back into the shadows, the forest growing quiet once more. The tension in the air began to dissipate, but I knew this was only the beginning.

  Valerie stepped up beside me, her breathing heavy but her eyes filled with determination. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice soft.

  I nodded, my gaze still fixed on the spot where Marius had disappeared. "I'm fine. But this isn't over. He'll be back."

  She nodded, her expression grim. "I know. But we'll be ready."

  I gnced at her, a faint flicker of approval in my eyes. "We will."

  The forest was quiet again, but the shadows seemed deeper, darker. The fight had only just begun. He will be back again and it will be the st time he would be here