A Demon's Blade
The battlefield was eerily silent. The only sounds were the distant howls of the wind and the slow, heavy breathing of a monster—Liza, the Vampire Queen.
Her transformation was now complete. Her red eyes gleamed, full of bloodlust. Her sharp horns curved menacingly, and her black wings stretched wide, casting an enormous shadow over the ruined street.
She lifted her demonic axe, its dark aura pulsing like a heartbeat.
This weapon was no ordinary blade. It was a cursed relic—one that could devour a soul with a single cut. Even the strongest warriors had fallen to its power.
But Kai stood firm, his cold gaze locked onto her.
🔹 Liza (smirking, licking her lips): "I can smell your blood, hunter. It's different… powerful. I'll enjoy drinking you dry."
Kai didn't react. He merely adjusted his grip on his swords, his coat fluttering slightly in the night breeze.
🔹 Kai (calmly): "Then come and take it."
Liza's smirk widened into a cruel grin.
In an instant—SHE MOVED.
With a single powerful beat of her wings, she lunged at him, her axe coming down like a black meteor.
BOOM!
Kai vanished.
The ground exploded, sending chunks of stone and dust flying in all directions. The sheer force of her attack tore through the street, leaving a deep crater where he had stood just a moment ago.
But Kai was already ten steps ahead.
WHOOSH!
He reappeared a few meters away, crouched low, his golden eyes analyzing her movements.
🔹 Kai (thinking): That thing is too dangerous… Even a graze could be fatal.
Liza grinned, her sharp fangs glistening in the moonlight.
🔹 Liza (mocking): "Fast. But you can't run forever."
She raised her claws, and a sinister red mist swirled around her fingers.
🔹 Liza: "Let's see you dodge this!"
"Blood Spears: Rain of Death!"
The night sky turned crimson.
Hundreds of blood-spears formed above them, shimmering with dark energy before raining down like a storm of death.
🔹 Kai (gritting his teeth): "Tch."
He dodged, weaving through the deadly storm with inhuman reflexes.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
Each spear that hit the ground left behind a deep, smoking hole.
But he wasn't fast enough.
SCHLICK!
One spear pierced his chest.
Kai's eyes widened slightly as pain exploded through his body.
His body was thrown back, slamming against a broken stone wall. Dust and debris rose into the air as he collapsed onto one knee.
Blood dripped from his wound.
Liza laughed.
🔹 Liza (grinning, walking toward him): "Is that it? I expected more from the great Dark Knight."
She dragged her axe behind her, the blade carving a deep gash in the stone.
🔹 Kai (coughing, wiping blood from his mouth): "You're strong."
Kai took a deep breath.
🔹 Kai (eyes narrowing): "But it's over now."
Liza's smile vanished.
Something changed.
The air around Kai shifted.
A faint golden glow spread from his hands to his swords.
A presence that had been sleeping inside him… had awakened.
🔹 Liza (suddenly uneasy): "What...?"
Then—HE MOVED.
For the first time, Liza lost sight of him.
SLASH!
Kai reappeared behind her, his swords dripping with blood.
A deep gash appeared across Liza's back, cutting through her wings.
She screamed, stumbling forward as dark blood poured from the wound.
🔹 Kai (whispering): "I am the destroyer."
Liza's eyes were wide.
For the first time in centuries, Liza felt fear.
---
The Rising Sun
Liza collapsed to her knees, her wings trembling.
Kai, standing over her, didn't bother to finish her off. His golden eyes, now dull again, looked at her without interest.
🔹 Kai (coldly): "You're lucky the sun is rising."
Liza's pupils shrunk.
She turned her head—and froze.
The first light of dawn peeked over the horizon.
For a vampire, sunrise meant death.
Just then—the sound of approaching footsteps filled the air.
Kai turned his head slightly.
A group of royal guards marched into the ruined street, their armor glistening under the golden light.
At the center of the group, a young woman stepped forward.
Princess Yuhi.
She was breathtaking.
Her long silver hair flowed behind her, and her sharp blue eyes held the strength of a seasoned warrior. Unlike most princesses, she wasn't dressed in a gown—she wore a high-collared military-style coat, fitted for combat.
Her posture was perfect, her presence commanding.
🔹 Yuhi (calmly, yet firmly): "Who are you?"
Kai didn't answer. His swords were still in his hands, but his stance was relaxed.
🔹 Yuhi (to the guards): "Secure the area."
The guards moved swiftly, surrounding them.
One of them approached Liza, but—before he could strike, she suddenly moved.
"Blood Teleportation."
In a flash of dark mist, Liza vanished.
🔹 Guard (angrily): "Damn it! She got away!"
Yuhi's expression didn't change. Instead, she turned back to Kai.
🔹 Yuhi (lowering her weapon slightly): "You… You're not an ordinary hunter, are you?"
Kai sighed.
🔹 Kai (coldly): "I'm just a hunter. Nothing more."
Yuhi narrowed her eyes.
🔹 Yuhi (thinking): He's lying.
She was an expert in martial arts, trained since childhood to read people's movements and emotions. Even though Kai's expression was calm, his breathing and stance told her something different.
This man… was dangerous.
Before she could press further, the sun fully rose over the horizon, casting golden light over the battlefield.
Kai glanced at the sky and turned to leave.
🔹 Yuhi (firmly): "Wait. I have more questions."
Kai didn't stop.
🔹 Kai (without looking back): "Ask someone else."
And with that, the Dark Knight disappeared into the morning mist.
Yuhi stood still, watching him go.
For the first time in years, she felt something unfamiliar.
Curiosity.