Author's Note:
So in a fit of not-so-infinite wisdom, I felt that to squeeze everything into one chapter would make it too long. However, as promised, the second arc of this story has concluded with a double chapter upload. I'm happy that I finally got to the end of this segment of the story and I hope you've enjoyed it as well.
As always, please read and review.
Jdbl00d
Wretchlings charged down the wall of stone only to be sliced apart by metallic vines. Those that managed to evade were then taken down by the concentrated fire of heavy weaponry, writhing flames, lightning and ice shards.
"Got another!" Ford said as he blasted a Darkcaller out of the sky with his sniper, the high calibre shells going through the creature's head easily. The Darkcallers around it screeched, diving down toward the army. Their only reward was to get sliced apart by the metal vines that now writhed all around.
Once the Darkcallers had appeared, Ai had ordered for Ganju to form a barricade for the allied army to enclose themselves in, thereby granting them additional cover against the Paragon creatures. Unfortunately, with their advance halted Ai knew that it meant more time for Mortis to escape.
"These things just don't quit…" Kidomaru huffed as he cracked the skull of a Wretchling that wandered close.
"We are already doing everything just to defend ourselves." Marcus breathed as he sliced off the arm of another Wretchling. "I don't know how long we can keep this up."
"Just focus on defence for now." Ai said. Still, even she knew that they needed something to break the ongoing assault. Nightrose may be powerful, but even Ren's vitality would not sustain it forever. If she faltered, then there would be little anyone could do to keep the Paragon monsters at bay.
"Sir!" Came one of the Hunters. "I'm receiving a message on our secure line! The caller identifies herself as Beatrice, Cassandra Kraven's personal maid!"
"What?" Marcus frowned as he stepped forward. Ai, having overheard the conversation joined Marcus to hear what it was.
"I am Marcus Corbin of the Hunter Association. Why have you contacted us?" Marcus said as soon as he reached the radio while Ai listened in.
"Is Queen Ai there as well?" Came Beatrice's voice. "I have an urgent message for all from Yuki Kuran!" The mention of her mother's name caught Ai's attention completely, making her step forward and address the maid directly.
"I am here Beatrice." She said. "What is it you have for me?"
"We are currently in the laboratories beneath the castle, the source of the Paragon creatures. Right now, Yuki Kuran and the others are engaged in combat with a Nightfiend…"
"A what?" Ford asked as he fired his weapon at another creature who approached.
"It is another of the Project Paragon creatures." Beatrice explained. "It is… Never mind that! The castle is being evacuated. Yuki Kuran needs someone to be able to capture anyone of the Kraven clan escaping now! Your highest priority is Franklin Lestat, the one who headed the development of these creatures! He holds a vast amount of information pertaining to these abominations!"
"Where was his last position?" Ai asked.
"The clan has evacuation route from behind the castle through the mountains!" Beatrice replied. "I doubt you'll be able to catch any of the clan at this time, but you could still catch Lestat! He is a vampire with an iron mask partially covering his face."
"From which part of the castle does this route extend from?" Ai asked. She was almost certain that the maid was about to reply when an inhuman roar echoed through the radio, followed by a series of explosions and clatter. "Beatrice!?" Ai called out before nothing but static echoed from the radio.
"I've lost it sir!" The Hunter communication officer replied. "I doubt I'll be able to hail them again if they were calling from some kind of lab terminal!"
"What now?" Marcus asked over the clamour of the battle. "I doubt we have the ability to split our forces at this stage…"
"We only need to track them and figure out where they have gone." Ai said. "I'm sorry Marcus, but I'll have to pull some of my knights for this job."
"Won't we be left with too few to defend ourselves?" Marcus asked. "I don't have any manpower to spare!"
"Don't worry." Ai said as she walked back to the forward command post. "I only need 3 individuals for this side request."
"Three?" Kidomarus frowned. "Isn't that pushing it a little too much?"
"You all ought to have a little more faith is us vampires." Ai smirked. "Especially those who constantly exceed expectations."
"Holy hell…" Ichigo gulped as he watched the carnage behind him. Despite seeing Lestat as nothing more than a psychopathic S.O.B, he had to admit the vampire's work on Project Paragon yielded results. Very destructive results.
The Nightfiend was by far the toughest thing he had encountered yet. It had a good battle sense and honed instincts that tempered a bestial savagery. Worse, it had a complete idea on how to utilise its powerful gifts, using its fire breath to thoroughly incinerate and destroy the central database. It was only through instinctive observation that he was able to go in and pull Beatrice out before she met a fiery demise. Still, it also meant that any data they could potentially salvage had been completely destroyed.
"Hey, still alive there?" Ichigo asked the maid. She wasn't looking too good, with a cut on her forehead along with other small lacerations and bruises on her body. However, she appeared to be breathing, so he wasn't too concerned.
"Haaaa… Haaaa…" Beatrice breathed. "I'll manage. I tried to warm Queen Ai, but…"
"That's fine." Ichigo said. "Honestly, the fact we even got out a message is cause for celebration. This thing takes monster to a completely different level. It makes you vampires look like pussy cats…"
"Heh." Beatrice chuckled. "I suppose that is a compliment…"
Ichigo now set the maid down and resumed the battle against the Nightfiend. Already, the Kuran princess and Akira were battering down against it with shadow and steel, though it barely did anything to the beast. Akira struck at its hand, its skin keeping intact as the blade sliced into it. In response, the Nightfiend lashed out with a claw, its talons crackling with power. Akira quickly dodged as the claws struck the broken pieces of machinery, the energy now going wild and melting through steel and glass.
Yuki now descended from above, her scythe whistling through the air and landing a direct blow to the creature's head. Landing on the Nightfiend, she leaped off towards its back, spinning around as she did. Her scythe nicked the creature at least twice before it swiped at her. Yuki now conjured up innumerable butterflies that blocked against its claws. Still the resulting explosive discharge from the creature blasted her into a wall, where she crashed and faltered.
It was clear as day; the Kuran princess was weakening. Ichigo wondered exactly how much of her power she had expended after everything that had occurred. He had to admit, her power was unnatural. To have been able to fight this long despite her exhaustion was nothing short of impressive.
Shaking his thoughts clear, Ichigo loaded a few more bullets, firing his pistol at the Nightfiend's head. Though it was without doubt that the anti-vampire shells would have no effect, even the Nightfiend could not turn a blind eye to bullets striking directly at it eyes. It growled, focusing its gaze on him. It now braced its arms down on the floor. Ichigo picked up his running, knowing what was about to come.
The beast's mouth glowed as it breathed in air, fuelling the flames it was channelling within its body. He remembered seeing that attack once; when the entire central database was blown up. He was more than certain that on its own the creature could destroy whatever was left of the laboratories. Cover wouldn't help him. He needed to avoid this attack at any cost.
As it prepared to fire, Yuki now dashed it. With a yell, she swung her scythe right at the creature's wrist. This time, it caused a small nick and caused the limb to buckle slightly. With its footing lost, the creature toppled over, the flames now being discharged toward the ceiling. The resulting explosion caused part of the ceiling to give way, metal beams and rocks crashing upon the Nightfiend.
"An impressive strike." Akira nodded. "You managed to hurt it as well grandmother."
"I doubt that would affect its fighting prowess though." Yuki breathed. "If I were at my full strength, I likely would have been able to defeat this abomination already."
"Anything I can do?" Ichigo asked. "I'm almost out of rounds. Unless you are sure that my fists would work, I don't know how much use I'll be."
As he said this, a low roar was heard. The three watched as the Nightfiend rose up from the rubble. With a hiss, it flew backwards and away from them. Once it landed, it let out an ear-piercing bellow that reverberated across the room.
"Now what?" Ichigo groaned as he covered his ears. Glancing around, he saw the Brute within one of the last start to twitch. Next thing he knew, all 3 of them were writhing within their containment structures.
"I have a bad feeling about this…" Ichigo whispered.
"Touché." Akira nodded. Immediately, one of the Brutes cracked open its vat, the glass shattering and spilling green fluid across the floor. The hulking beast clambered to its feet as the Nightfiend barked. The Brute turned toward the winged creature before its eyes looked to the three of them.
"The Nightfiend is able to control it!" Akira said. "Watch out!" The Brute now reached for a sizeable rock, hefting it in its hands and now throwing it straight at them. The three of them scattered before the boulder crashed at their previous location. Ichigo looked up and now heard the distinctive growls of Wretchlings coming from the entrance to the lab.
"Ah crap…" Ichigo growled. The Nightfiend was bad enough on its own, but he wasn't sure how long they'd last against a full horde of other Paragon creatures.
Suddenly, from the gaping hole above, a huge tank collapsed down upon the Brute. The tank instantly split open, a brown and foul-smelling gas pouring out. Ichigo almost gagged; the stench being akin to a blocked toilet. As he attempted to shut the smell out from his mind, he noticed the Brute starting to act strangely. It attempted to lumber over, but then its shoulders sagged and its knees buckled, dragging it to the floor. "What in the world?" He frowned.
"Did the Nightfiend rupture through the facility to the tranquiliser storage rooms?" Lestat blinked in surprise.
"So that's it." Akira nodded. "If these monsters are as mindless as they say, their scientists would have needed something to keep them pacified. Perhaps we have just found an opening we can use." Wasting no time, Akira rushed toward the dazed Brute. With a swift stab, he put out one of the beast's eyes. The pain caused the monster to recoil and roar, thrashing about mindlessly as it registered the damage. Without pause, Akira now sent a wave of dark creatures at the creature, forcing it to the ground as Ichigo ran as fast as he could to the beast. Picking up a shattered pipe, Ichigo approached the beast and now rammed the pipe into its other eye.
Now completely blinded, the Brute lashed out wildly, smashing apart the catwalks and walls while also slamming a pile of rubble toward the Nightfiend. The Nightfiend deflected it expertly before diving toward the blinded beast. Opening its jaws wide, the Nightfiend clamped its teeth upon the Brute's neck and gave a forceful twist.
The loud crack the echoed through the room signified the death of the Brute. As its body fell, the Nightfied tore through the creature's flesh, now drinking the blood of the dead creature. The Nightfiend's body underwent spasms as the small cut on its wrist healed right before their eyes.
"Self-regeneration too huh?" Akira frowned. "I suppose we'll need to prevent him from gorging on its brethren."
As the Nightfiend finished its meal, another tank dropped from above and crashed upon its head, foul-smelling gas rupturing from it. The Nightfiend coughed and sputtered before its movements too became sluggish. Akira and Ichigo watched as Yuki flew right down to them, her butterfly wings sinking into her back as she landed. "Some breathing room for us. We have to find a way to bar the Wretchlings before we get swarmed by those things."
"Thankfully, the Nightfiend's redecoration of the place gave me an inspiration of sorts." Akira said. "Brace yourself Ichigo." Akira now summoned hordes of his creatures from the shadows and directed them toward the lab entrance. The shadows now crashed into the many vats, uprooting them from their bases and flinging them toward the door. A few Wretchlings that just made it through were crushed instantly while the others were suddenly blocked by the wreckage.
"That won't hold them for long." Yuki said. "We have to deal with the Nightfiend before they get past."
"Assuming we actually can." Ichigo said. "This thing wasn't even affected by your attacks and my gun ain't worth shit. Any other ideas?" The trio watched as the Nightfiend began to recover from the effects of the tranquiliser, shaking itself into attention as it searched for its prey.
"Afraid not." Yuki said, a frown crossing her face.
"I have no ideas either." Akira asked.
Ichigo sighed as the Nightfiend roared again. "Just another day in the office it seems…"
"So all we got is that the guy wears a mask? That's pretty weak for information…" Emi said.
"Well, we don't have much leeway right now." Shinji replied. "Our inside source will not be able to contact us to provide more information. We pretty much have to rely on Gabriella's bats to sniff them out."
"That aside, when did you get this?" Emi asked, gesturing to the motorbike Shinji now drove at breakneck speeds, evading Wretchlings and Brutes alike. She clung to him tightly as he took the bike up a slope, soaring through the air for a few moments before crashing down on the ground. Ahead, two Wretchlings charged at them. Shinji now stuck his thumb into a small spike on the handle of the bike. His blood now channelled through the vehicle and extended from the front wheel, forming a claw-like construct. With a single lash, he veered away from the beasts.
"It was something I actually put forth to your grandfather." Shinji explained. "I had a feeling it could come in handy."
"But a modified motorbike that suits your powers? I find it difficult to believe you thought this up on your own." Emi frowned.
"I may have had a little brainstorming with my cousin from time to time." Shinji said. "Still, this is the first test run, so there may be some speed bumps."
"Seriously? You didn't think of telling me that first?" Emi asked.
"What? Don't you trust me?" Shinji asked back another question. Emi now blushed slightly as he hit a tender spot in her heart.
"Is it really a good idea to be bringing up this topic in a warzone?" Emi questioned.
"I've learned that some things need to be said when they must." Shinji answered as he deftly avoided a rocky projectile.
"You're so unfair…" Emi said as she hugged him tighter.
"Well, romance aside, Gabriella what do you see?" Shinji asked through his communication link.
"I've found the supposed entrance." Came the vampire's voice. "It doesn't have a lot of open space though, the road almost immediately enters a tunnel. I'll keep marking it, but I am not confident that my bat will last."
"Do what you can." Shinji said as he now approached the main gates that swarmed with Paragon creatures. "Emi, hang on tight. This could get crazy…" Shinji once more pierced his thumbs upon the bike handles, channelling more blood through the vehicle that now formed hooks upon the wheels. He then hit the nitro switch on the bike as he sent an electric charge through the vehicle that now activated the electro-magnetic locks that anchored their boots upon the vehicle.
Shinji now steered full speed toward the castle wall, driving his bike toward the stony battlements above that swarmed with monsters.
"Rrgh… This Nightfiend really doesn't make it easy..." Ichigo complained as he grabbed another piece of shrapnel and threw it at the Nightfiend's eye. It merely glanced off the creature's brow, but it did attract its attention to him. It turned to face Ichigo, its mouth glowing as it did. Ichigo quickly ducked behind another vat as flames spat out of its mouth. He winced as the flames licked across the glass, slight cracks running across the surface as the heat pelted its surface.
Akira now charged at the Nightfiend, throwing blades of shadow at the monster's hide with as much of his power as he could manage. His assault left small cuts upon the creature's skin, but he doubted that the creature felt any pain. He landed quickly as the Nightfiend broke its assault on Ichigo to focus on him.
Ichigo now stepped out and fired his remaining rounds at the Nightfiend, doing his utmost to distract it from Akira as the Pureblood avoided a swipe of its claws. The Nightfiend snarled as it picked up a collapsed catwalk and hurled it at Ichigo. Ichigo dove just as the catwalk crashed nearby, rolling out of the way before it toppled over. He quickly got to his feet and ran for cover as the Nightfiend breathed fire again, ducking behind another vat that was coincidentally a hiding spot for Akira as well.
"My, you lot are certainly giving a good demonstration now!" Lestat said gleefully as he observed the carnage. "I'm getting a lot of information from this…"
"God, I'd wish that bastard would just shut up…" Ichigo growled. "He keeps pissing me off."
"Can't you shoot the monitor he is watching us from?" Akira asked.
"No bullets left." Ichigo sighed. "I used it all in trying to distract big and ugly over there." Ichigo now looked around, realising that Yuki had vanished. "Hey, where is that grandmother of yours?"
Akira frowned as he too looked around and realised she was missing. "Good question…"
His line of thought was cut short as the Nightfiend bore down on them, forcing them to move before its energised claws cut right through the vat, the glass shattering into hundreds of fragments. The Nightfiend reared itself to breathe fire again before a massive tank dropped down on it from above, spilling out foul gases all around. The Nightfiend coughed as the tranquiliser hit it full force.
Yuki now descended from above, black butterfly wings flapping wildly as her scythe coalesced with dark energy. With a scream of effort, Yuki sliced her weapon with full force into the back of its neck, causing a slight wound. She landed before flying back upwards, her scythe glancing against its throat before she made her way to cover. However, her body slowly went limp mid-air, prompting Akira to rush forward and catch her.
"You've strained yourself too much…" Akira said. Yuki was barely standing now, her breathing getting heavier and heavier.
"I can still manage…" Yuki said. "I have to…"
The Nightfiend shook itself of the tranquiliser effects, growling as it turned its gaze back to its enemies. Once more, it roared and this time the remaining Brutes and the Darkcaller burst out of their tanks, flocking to the Nightfiend's side.
"Perfect…" Ichigo grumbled. "More of those things to deal with…"
"And this time I doubt it will be so willing to let us just kill them so quickly." Akira said. "This fight seems less ideal by the minute…"
The Brutes charged while the Nightcaller swooped in from above. Yuki sprouted her wings again and flew into the air, picking the Darkcaller as her opponent while Akira and Ichigo proceeded to handle the Brutes.
"How marvellous…" Lestat smiled as their small skirmishes began. "The Nightfiend is everything I could have hoped for! Lord Mortis will truly be pleased! Keep running little lab rats! Show me how pointless your struggle is!"
Akira grunted as the Brute swung its massive claws down upon him, rolling forward beneath the monster's legs and giving a slash at one of them. A small nick was all that formed as the beast now reached down and grabbed him. Akira strained against the monster, but its grip was too strong. From the corner of his vision, he could see Ichigo also getting caught by the other monster. Akira watched as the Brute moved him toward its mouth, the mandibles opening as it got ready to devour him.
Then, something else struck the Brute from behind. Akira watched as the Brute let go of him, causing him to fall onto the floor. Seconds later, more tanks crashed down from above, releasing the tranquiliser that temporarily pacified the monsters, causing the other to release Ichigo in the process.
Akira looked up to see Yuki commanding swarms of shadowy butterflies, directing them everywhere and binding the monsters, while at the same time having swarms of them rise into the holes in the ceiling and returning with tranquiliser tanks that she threw at the Paragon monsters to pacify them.
"While the assistance of that gas is an annoyance, how long do you intend to keep them at bay?" Lestat taunted as Yuki strained more and more of her remaining power. "If all you are doing is buying time, I regret to inform you that none will be coming. Project Paragon will be the death of the Vampire Knights and the Hunter Association armies. Nothing will be left of them when they are through."
Yuki turned to face Lestat, surprising him with a faint smile. "You're right… Help isn't coming from outside. But thankfully, I have one more card to play against you…"
She raced upward to the astronomy tower. That place was where she made some of the fondest memories in this castle. She remembered being there with her mother as a young child, gazing at the stars and being enraptured by the pristine beauty of it all. It was among the few memories she had of her. That this place was where it would end seemed almost poetic, as if her mother herself had led her back here to put an end to the madness that had infected her family.
Cassandra pushed open the heavy wooden doors, beholding the entire landscape. The last time she was here, the air was quiet and still, with only the occasional whistling of the wind to keep her company. Now, the scenery she beheld was one of carnage, destruction and chaos. The true nature of this place that had been hidden all these years was now brought to life before her.
Cassandra tightly clutched the jewel that she wore around her neck. It had belonged to her mother before her and when she died, her mother had willed the necklace to her. It was always her source of strength and comfort when she needed it most. Slowly, she walked to the edge of the parapet, her white clothes standing out amongst the night and the bleakness of the stone walls around her.
"Not exactly ideal for a first live performance…" Cassandra mused. Her mind now returned to the first time she expressed her decision to learn how to sing to her mother. She remembered that her mother had been apprehensive about it, but soon enough agreed with her decision. It was only now that she knew why; both the hesitation and subsequent agreement.
I want you to be happy Cassandra, always. So go and do what makes you happy; what makes you free. Those were her mother's words as given to her from the memories Yuki Kuran had taken from her own blood. Cassandra now closed her eyes, conjuring the power deep within herself that had and always was her birth right. Her hair turned scarlet and her violet eyes changed.
The Blood Siren observed the malady all around her. Whether they had seen her or not, she was sure of one thing. Today, her voice would be heard.
Remembering the first song she had sung in her life, she opened her mouth and began to sing.
"Fall back!" The Hunters cried as the Wretchlings finally went right through Ren's thorn barrier. The Knight grandmaster was finally beginning to falter, her blood almost used up completely and causing the defences to weaken.
"Hold fast!" Marcus yelled as he stabbed another Wretchling. "If we fall today, we fall as Hunters!"
"Haa… Haa…" Akatsuki breathed. "Such a shame. I was hoping to have a good sleep when this was all over…"
"You sound like an old man Akatsuki…" Rima said. "Soooo uncool…"
"Give me a break…" Akatsuki sighed as he conjured more flames, though they flickered uncontrollably, a sign of fatigue. The allied forces watched as the entire horde of the Paragon monsters bore down on them, ready to penetrate their defences and put an end to the battle.
Then, they heard a strange sound. It sounded like a choir had entered the battlefield, the soprano running through the air like smooth silk. In that moment, the clamour of battle ceased. Everyone paused as they attempted to figure out where this song was coming from. The Paragon monsters had also stopped in their tracks, their bloodlust and ferocity now giving way to what could only be interpreted as confusion. Slowly, the song picked up, getting louder and louder.
"Hey, hey look!" A Vampire Knight said, gesturing to the Paragon monsters. Everyone turned to see the creatures now beginning to turn on each other. Wretchlings devoured each other or swarmed over Brutes. The giant ones in turn flattened as many of the Wretchlings as they could while fighting off the Darkcallers that flew around attempting to kill any of the creatures below. Despite this, the allied forces could barely hear the screams and snarls of the creatures, the song overpowering any other sounds that were present.
"Hold on…" Henry breathed. "This feels like…"
"Cassandra Kraven…" Ganju said. "She must be making those things kill each other! But why, and why aren't we affected?"
"Answers can come later." Ai said. "For now, we have our opportunity! Slay them all! To the castle!"
Cries of acknowledgement came from all around as the combined army regrouped, attacking the mindless beasts and charging straight to Castle Kraven.
"What the…?" Ichigo blinked as he now heard the song. Even Akira and Lestat appeared confused for a moment.
"Wait…" Lestat frowned. "Is that Lady Cassandra?"
"Right on cue…" Yuki let out a strained smile smiled as she released the Paragon creatures. At once, the Brutes pounced on each other, viciously clawing themselves to bits. The Darkcaller dove straight at the frenetic pair before a stray blow smacked it away and impaled it upon a broken pipe.
"Grandmother, what is going on?" Akira asked as the Nightfiend now joined the fray, spitting fire at one of the Brutes. The other then retaliated by grabbing its eyes and gouging them out. The Nightfiend roared in pain as it sustained a notable injury for the first time, lashing out with claws that sliced right through the Brute's thick hide.
"I managed to convince Cassandra during my time here." Yuki explained as she gestured toward Beatrice, who had seemed to recover adequately to stand on her own. "Despite my power, we could never have hoped to hold our own without her. She was the true key to our victory today."
"Impossible!" Lestat stammered. "T-This cannot be! How dare you turn our Blood Siren against us!"
"I've simply turned her against those who would have used her for their own benefit." Yuki explained. "Cassandra is truly free now that she has shaken off her own shackles to this place. Where she decides to go now is for her to decide." Lestat responded with a strained growl before he cut the monitor feed on his end.
"At last he shuts up." Ichigo said before turning to face the berserking creatures. "So Cassandra is controlling these monsters now right? Why aren't we being affected? Last I checked her power did not discriminate."
Yuki blinked sheepishly. "I... might have something to do with that."
Akira, Ichigo and Beatrice looked at her incredulously. "Grandmother, don't mind me saying…" Akira chuckled. "But you are a very devious person."
"You give me too much credit." Yuki replied. "I had to learn that all on my own."
"Anyways what do we do with them?" Ichigo nodded as the Nightfiend dispatched both Brutes, though the battle had cost it a limb. "Doesn't seem smart to leave something like that alive."
"I have just the thing for it." Yuki said as a scythe materialised in her hands. As soon as the Nightfiend's mouth opened into a flaming maw, she hurled the weapon in. The scythe spun a full circle before lodging itself into the creature's mouth. Once it was there, it instantly spread into a black ball that obstructed the creature's mouth. Without an outlet for the flames, the creature cooked itself alive, fire bursting from every orifice in its skull. It lasted for a few seconds before the flames disappeared and the creature slumped to the floor in a lifeless heap.
"Alright then…" Ichigo said just as Yuki gasped, collapsing to the ground completely.
"Grandmother!" Akira yelled, kneeling down to check on her.
"Sorry." Yuki panted. "That took more concentration than I hoped. I barely have enough energy to walk at this stage…"
"I'll carry her." Beatrice said. "We should leave as soon as possible."
"Agreed." Akira nodded. "Our main objectives are complete. Let's get out of here."
"No argument here." Ichigo agreed.
"But first…" Yuki said as Beatrice leaned in to help. "We must find Cassandra. I fear she could be in mortal danger now…