Two days had passed since Violet Snow and Leona Lykos collapsed under the weight of Raghav's trial. Their bodies were still recovering, resting under the dark pulse of the contract now embedded in their souls.
Ah Ming stood at the edge of the void surrounding her house. Her golden-crimson eyes flickered with quiet calculation as dark tendrils of shadow curled at her feet. A small black sphere floated above her hand, pulsing faintly with unstable crimson light.
"Hmmm…" Ah Ming's gaze narrowed. "Getting to the vampire world or the werewolf world…"
The sphere in her hand twisted violently before dissolving into thin threads of dark crimson light. Ah Ming's expression didn't change.
"It won't be easy."
Portals between worlds weren't simple things to manipulate. Most known pathways were heavily guarded or locked behind ancient bloodline seals.
Even for me, it'll take time to break through those barriers.
Ah Ming's gaze sharpened. A flicker of energy brushed against her senses.
Her lips curled upward.
"Interesting."
---
[Meanwhile — At the Park]
Victor Alucard paced along the cobblestone path of the university park, his silver hair shifting slightly beneath the late afternoon breeze. His crimson eyes flickered with quiet tension.
"Where the hell is Leona?" Victor muttered under his breath.
Leona had always been stubborn—but not answering his calls for two days straight? That wasn't like her.
He pulled out his phone and checked the screen again.
No signal.
His jaw tightened.
"Damn it."
"Excuse me?"
Victor's gaze lifted.
A girl with vibrant red hair stood in front of him, her red eyes shimmering beneath the dim light of the setting sun. She wore a dark jacket over a school uniform, her posture relaxed but her gaze sharp.
"You're Victor, right?" the girl asked.
Victor's crimson eyes narrowed. "Who's asking?"
"Ruby Scarlet." The girl smiled faintly. "You've seen Leona or Violet?"
Victor's gaze sharpened. "Leona? You know her?"
Ruby's eyes gleamed mischievously. "Of course. We were friends in middle school. Leona and Violet were close too, but…" Her gaze darkened. "They've been missing for two days now."
Victor's brow furrowed. "Leona never mentioned a friend named Violet."
Ruby chuckled. "Leona's not exactly open about those kinds of things."
Victor's crimson gaze darkened. "I tried calling her. Her phone's off."
"Same with Violet." Ruby's expression turned serious.
Victor's gaze hardened. "Something's wrong."
Ruby's red eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Maybe… they're together."
Victor's gaze sharpened.
"Yeah." His jaw tightened. "But where?"
Ruby's gaze flicked toward the darkening horizon.
"If they're missing together…" Ruby's eyes glinted faintly. "Then maybe someone took them."
Victor's gaze darkened. "And if that's true…" His aura pulsed faintly as cold silver mist coiled at his feet. "Whoever's responsible… is going to regret it."
Ruby's smile widened faintly.
"Guess we better start searching."
Victor's gaze hardened.
"Yeah."
---
[At the Void]
Violet's crimson eyes fluttered open.
Her body ached. A dark, throbbing pulse ran beneath her skin—a quiet reminder of the contract's weight.
"Leona?"
Leona's golden eyes opened slowly beside her. Her breath steadied as her golden aura flickered faintly across her skin.
"You awake?" Leona's voice was rough, but strong.
Violet smiled faintly. "Barely."
"Good morning, sleepyheads."
Violet's crimson gaze sharpened as Ah Ming floated toward them, her golden-crimson eyes glowing softly.
Leona's gaze narrowed. "What…?"
Ah Ming's playful smile widened.
"We're not done yet."
Violet sat up slowly, her breath steadying as the lingering ache in her limbs faded.
"What are you talking about?" Violet's eyes narrowed.
"You survived the first trial." Ah Ming's golden-crimson eyes shimmered dangerously. "But surviving means nothing if you remain weak."
Violet's crimson gaze darkened. Leona's golden eyes flashed faintly with rising tension.
"What are you planning?" Leona's voice sharpened.
Ah Ming's smile widened. "Training."
Violet's breath hitched.
"You made a contract with Raghav." Ah Ming's gaze sharpened. "That bond grants you strength—but only if you survive the path ahead."
Leona's fists tightened. "And if we refuse?"
Ah Ming's smile sharpened dangerously.
"You already accepted the contract." Her gaze darkened. "Refusing isn't an option anymore."
Violet's crimson eyes narrowed. "And if we fail?"
Ah Ming's golden-crimson eyes pulsed faintly.
"Then you die."
Violet's breath steadied.
Leona's golden aura flared slightly as her jaw tightened.
"Then we don't have a choice." Leona's gaze sharpened.
"No." Ah Ming's smile widened faintly. "You don't."
Violet's crimson gaze flashed dangerously.
"Fine."
Leona's golden aura pulsed violently. "Bring it on."
Ah Ming's golden-crimson eyes gleamed dangerously.
"Good."
The dark void around them trembled as crimson and golden light flared beneath their feet. The atmosphere grew dense—almost suffocating.
"Let's see if you're truly worthy." Ah Ming's gaze sharpened.
The sigils beneath their feet ignited as dark crimson chains erupted from the ground, wrapping tightly around Violet and Leona's limbs.
"Training begins now."