She surveyed the bloodied pavement before her. She wasn't sure whether the blood was from humans or vampires, but then again she never really learned to differentiate. Besides, these humans were cozy with vampires, so she supposed she didn't really care.
"Geez, these people are no fun!" Celestine groaned as she surveyed the carnage in her wake. "They just fell apart so easily."
"What did I say about going out of control?" Hagan sighed in her earpiece.
"Oh shush you old geezer. I'm well aware." Celestine groaned again. "Besides, this was so we could draw out somebody right?"
"Fair enough." Hagan agreed. "But remember that we are meant to save our strength for the appropriate time. But I must ask, where is Hugo?"
"Frenchie boy is currently moving past the paths of least resistance toward the castle as planned." Celestine sighed. "So relax and let me have my fun, okay?"
"So long as you don't mess up the plan." Hagan growled. "Too many times I've let you blunder my designs, but not today."
"Chill already you old coot." Celestine snarled as she walked past the dead bodies. "Now then, where are you?"
The ground cracked at her feet. Celestine arched an eyebrow at the shuddering cobblestones before a metallic vine exploded out, smacking her hard in the chin. Celestine flipped through the air before smashing into the upper window of a café.
"Ugh!" Celestine grumbled as she pushed the debris off her. Striding to the window, she grinned at who she saw. "Well, at least this makes my day more interesting."
Ren took a glance at the dead bodies all around her, both of human and vampire. A dark glare flashed across her face as she drew her sword and aimed her pistol. "If it is interesting you want, then I'm more than happy to oblige."
"Wonderful!" Celestine moaned in a disturbing tone. "I haven't had fun in ages! Show me more! Show me more!" At this, her rapier divided into hundreds of swords that floated around her.
"If you insist." Ren said coldly, her eyes burning with power.
North District
"So is Celestine going at it now?" Richard sighed.
"Celestine will be able to manage Ren, but I doubt they'd make any headway till Monsieur Hagan gets there." Hugo replied. "I am now heading to Kuran castle. Sergei just told me Giselle has been intercepted by Anju Cross, so he's heading to the palace himself."
"For the better then." Lance said.
"What!?" Cliff snarled over the comm-link. "The bitch is taking on the shrimp!? Not without me she isn't! I got a score to settle with her!"
"Cliff, focus on your mission." Hagan replied. "Anything less and you'll personally deal with me." Cliff growled, citing the end of the conversation.
Lance frowned as Richard's voice came through. "Well, at least the old man is keeping him contained. What'll you do?"
"Rodin is out there, right?" Lance replied. "I'll draw him out, ensure the others can infiltrate without worry."
"You sure that'll be ok?" Richard frowns. "That guy is a pretty tough one, despite everything that has happened. And he's got that foul-mouthed smith with him."
"Then at least we'll find out who is the better fighter." Lance nodded. "Just make sure we cover the bases, and get to the castle quickly. Sergei, Hugo and Cliff could still use backup."
"You got it." Richard replied as Lance ran toward the city.
A single swipe and immediately the entire upper floor of a boutique was shredded apart. Anju gasped, knowing that if she were just a second slower she'd be missing an arm.
"Smart…" Giselle nodded as she floated in the air. "You… Regeneration… Avoid… Conserve… Energy…"
God, it's such a pain to know what she's trying to say. Anju gritted her teeth as the other lacerations on her body healed. With the caution she had been showing, both fighters had not gotten any headway. She contemplated using Blood Drive, but even she wasn't confident she could trigger it with Giselle's multiple limbs assaulting her. She had decided it was best to remove those first, but those shawl tails were tougher than steel.
She watched as Giselle now lashed out again, two of those claws now diving at her. Anju quickly flipped backwards as the shawl stabbed into the ground. Anju flew up into the sky again as they went after her. Quickly, she swung her scythe and knocked them away before making a sharp dive as two others snapped forward, like a pair of hands attempting to swat a fly.
"Slippery…" Giselle frowned as she redoubled her attacks, two of the shawl tails keeping her aloft while the other four attacked. She didn't depend on just their destructive power; taking up cars and loose stones and throwing them at Anju.
"Shadow!" Anju cried. Immediately, her wings retracted and formed a ball of darkness around her, shielding them from the makeshift projectiles. Instantly however, Giselle snapped her tendrils in, taking hold of Anju's defensive shadow cocoon.
"Now… Die…" Giselle said coldly as she squeezed, the energy cracking around the claws.
Within the cocoon, Anju felt the raw strength as Shadow pushed back. Still, the stinging of Giselle's power struck her skin like needles. Think think! Anju's mind raged as she bit back against the pain. She now tapped into the link she shared with Shadow, similar to how Purebloods could control their shadow constructs. She could see Giselle's claws smothering her barrier, feel Shadow's own strain as it did it's best to block the damage. Then, she noticed something about Giselle's hold, and that it didn't cover the section directly above her.
With a grunt of effort, Anju commanded Shadow to launch her upwards and out of Giselle's hold, breaking free of the black bubble. As soon as she was out, Shadow melted away and twined itself around the claws. Giselle looked up in surprise as Anju now dove at her, scythe blade swinging. The weapon struck the smaller girl and blasted her into a building, smashing apart the walls. Shadow quickly flew back to Anju and bore her aloft.
"Stay alert." Anju breathed. "I doubt we have taken her out right yet."
Something rumbled on the ground. Anju braced herself as a surge of power erupted from the dust and shape shot upwards. She readied her scythe as she observed Giselle, whose shawl tail weapons now looked larger and had sharper talons. Two of the shawls also looked wider, as if the fabric itself stretched so as to widen the claw tips apart so that the resembled mock wings. The red eye in the middle of each tail also looked more menacing as Giselle removed a claw from her side, revealing the gash in her clothing and the blood.
Giselle now turned up to her, blackened lines running down her eyes akin to black tears. "Impressive… Hurt… Now… I… All Out…" Giselle now lashed out again, the claws moving faster this time and smashing Anju toward the floor.
"It's ok…" Greta panted as she ran as fast as she could. When that woman had attacked, Greta had shielded Felise from wayward shrapnel caused by a truck exploding. While she was still able to bear the pain, her vampiric lineage meant her healing wasn't as quick. "We'll be at the castle soon…" She pressed forward, carrying Felise all the while. She was still thankful that their attacker had spent more time fighting the vampire knights than chasing after them.
"Greta…" Felise spoke as they ran past the deserted streets.
"Don't worry." Greta smiled despite the cut on her forehead. "Just stay quiet and we'll get through this. And look after Mr. Scruffy alright?"
"O-Okay." The girl replied, obviously still scared. Yet, she clutched the teddy bear tightly, as if comforting herself.
Suddenly, a whistling noise cut through the air before a sickening, wet sound broke the silence. Greta suddenly tumbled to the ground, dropping Felise. The girl cried out as her knee scrapped on the cobblestone floor as Greta began to scream in pain due to the horrendous bony spike now protruding from her shoulder.
"Now that's something you don't see everyday." Richard said as he walked up, his pistol drawn and feeding off him. "To think a human girl can get so cosy with a vampire. I swear this whole city is insane." Richard now raised his foot and stabbed the spike in deeper, causing Greta to scream in agony.
"No!" Felise cried. "Let Greta go!"
"Listen little one. The faster this one dies, the better it will be for you." Richard now raised his foot and planted it one Greta's back, now aiming the gun at her head. As he attempted to pull the trigger, something charged at him and a stinging pain shot through his other hand. Richard grunted as Felise bit him.
"Oh come on…" He groaned as he forcefully brushed the girl aside, causing her to fall on the ground again. "Seriously, you lot are nuts. How you humans and vampires even coexist are beyond me."
"Don't hurt Greta!" Felise cried again as she ran at him, hitting him as hard as possible with her balled fists.
"Geez." Richard sighed, his annoyance now peaking. "Fine, guess I have no choice." He now lashed out, his leg kicking the girl away. Felise now hit the floor and did not move.
"Well, at least that's one problem done with." Richard nodded as he aimed at Greta's head once more. As he begun to squeeze the trigger, a flash at the corner of his vision caught his eyes. Richard now turned to see a large energy wave collide into him, blasting him into a building, which then collapsed down on him.
Felise woke toward the commotion as a pair of hands scooped her up. She looked to see a mass of flaming red hair, smiling as she found the blood red eyes. "Ms. Katarina…"
"Hey." Katarina said. "You alright?"
"I knew it…" Felise smiled. "You are a good person."
Katarina sighed, wondering how the little girl still thought that way despite everything. In the end however, it didn't matter. She now strode over to Greta, observing the wound. Already it was starting to decay the girl's flesh. With no other option, Katarina forcibly removed the decaying section along with the spike. Greta cried as she did so until Katarina bit her own wrist open and forced Greta to drink.
"Feeling better?" Katarina asked as Greta drank, her wounds healing up. Greta now looked at Katarina, her eyes widening.
"You're a Pureblood…" Greta gasped as the pain receded. Katarina paid no heed as she stared at the devastated building.
"Hurry and get that girl to the castle. If you go down the way I came and take the fourth alley on the right, it should be a safe shot there. And mind the girl's eyes. There is plenty of blood along the way." Katarina said as she hefted her sword.
"Yes milady, understood." Greta groaned as she sat up, reaching for the girl.
"Oh yeah." Katarina said as she bent over and picked up something from the floor. The two of them watched as Katarina held out Mr. Scruffy, who had now lost one arm. "Make sure Mr. Scruffy doesn't get torn up anymore, alright?"
Felise reached out and grabbed what was left of the teddy bear, hugging it tightly as she said. "Ms. Katarina, please come back."
Katarina sighed as she turned her head back and nodded slightly. The two of them now ran off, leaving Katarina alone with her adversary.
"Okay, I know you're still alive." Katarina growled. "So stop hiding and get out here already. Let's finish this."
Within the dust cloud that rose from the remains of the building, a figure now emerged. Katarina raised her sword as she saw him saunter out, wiping the blood from his forehead. Whether he had any bones broken from her attack wasn't clear since he was all healed up, black lines spreading across his body as the pistol attached to his right arm lengthened, reddish lines encasing its metal surface.
"So you are the Kraven daughter I heard so much about." Richard grunted as his wounds healed, the black marks now forming splotches on his face. "The last Kraven lackey I fought was so annoying. He just kept talking on and on about matters I didn't really care about. At least you are pretty direct about things."
Katarina readied her sword, her hair flaring with power as Richard raised his pistol, murderous intent swirling as they readied themselves for their clash.
"So Katarina is out there fighting the one we've identified as Richard Dwight." Ai said. "And now Anju is sparring with Giselle. But an assault of this size, I don't see how it's just those two plus Celestine. I wouldn't be surprised if all the Executors are here."
"Your majesty, we have confirmed reports of two more Executors! Sending camera images to you now!" At this, the man at the console typed on a few keys, bringing up the images of an old man with greying hair and a sandy-haired man.
"Hagan and Lance." Ai frowned. "Have we confirmed their locations?"
"We are uncertain about the second Executor. But the fourth was spotted in the North district." Came the reply.
"Get Rodin over there as soon as possible." Ai said. "We have to buy more time! Any more updates?"
"Katarina has gone to engage the sixth Executor!" Came another report.
"How did she…" Ai blinked before she pulled together. "No, that is for the best. Keep me updated on the situation." Ai now frowned. That's four Executors being handled. Number Two is wandering but One, Seven, Eight and Ten are unaccounted. Where could they be?
Suddenly, an alarm blared, snapping Ai back to the present. "What happened!?"
"Proximity alert on the west wall of the castle! Like a battering ram just smashed through!" Came the report.
"Mobilise the guards now!" Ai ordered. "Ensure the citizens are protected at all costs! Get Akatsuki and Senri down there!"
"We have confirmed three Executors! Tenth through Seventh!"
"Hrragh!" Cliff roared as he charged through the knights, barreling through them and smashing through the building.
"As always, he just bites off his leash." Hugo sighed as he turned to Sergei. "Well done by the way. Now nothing can stop us. I hope now you realise the benefits of covert operations."
"Silence!" Sergei bellowed. "Enough sneaking! Now we fight!"
"Yes yes." Hugo nodded. "But let's not forget our mission, alright? The Kraven vampires must come first. Otherwise, we have nothing to go on."
Sergei merely growled in response as he hefted his hammer and moved forward. Suddenly, as they did, a massive wave of fire surrounded them.
"Well, this sure brings back memories." The two Executors turned to see four vampires behind them.
"Akatsuki, try not to look uncool, okay?" Rima Toya sighed as electricity crackled up and down her arm.
"You really have to bring that up?" Akatsuki Kain grumbled.
"The same applies to you all as well." Hanabusa Aidou breathed as ice formed by his feet. "We are fighting Executors after all. So be on your toes."
"Of course Aidou." Senri replied as he bit his own finger, drawing a whip of blood. "But still, who will handle the one who just went into the castle?"
"Who else?" Aidou answered. "After all, it is only natural that those who rule from the castle be the staunchest of its defenders."
"C'mon c'mon!" Cliff cackled sadistically. "This ain't enough!" With all his might, he threw the knight towards a wall, sneering as it crumbled apart.
"This ain't enough at all! I'm already pissed that Giselle is going after my prey! That little bitch was supposed to be mine!" He snarled as his claws darkened. "And these scraps aren't enough!"
"Then perhaps, I shall take you on?" Cliff now watched as a shape rushed at him, slamming into him and blasting him out into the main courtyard. Cliff grunted as he landed on his feet before looking at his assailant. As soon as he recognized who it was, his smile widened.
"Oooh. Wondered what'd get you out here. Maybe this day won't be so bad after all." Cliff licked his lips in anticipation.
"You hurt Anju before." Akira stated coldly. "For that and your other crimes, I will see you stopped here and now."
At last, the chapter is out! Please read and review, and look forward to the next one!