Chapter Eleven: The Attack

The sun had just vanished. The last rays of light were disappearing. In the alley, it felt like it was already dark. No light came in it...

Ukyo, Ranma, Akane, Ryoga, Mousse, and Shampoo, were in the alley, waiting for Wilheim to show up. Ukyo held a note on her right hand. It read:

"Dearest Ukyo:

Meet me at the alley with everyone else. I'll see you as soon as I quench my thirst for blood.

Wilheim."

On her left hand, Ukyo held her giant spatula, ready for anything. Akane wore her training Gi, and was tightening her belt. Ranma and Ryoga were standing each on one entrance to the alley. They both were standing still, with their arms crossed, and a serious look on their faces. Shampoo and Mousse stood still, each one holding their weapons tightly.

About half an hour had passed since the sun went down, and there was still no sign of Wilheim. Everyone began to grow impatient. Suddenly, Ryoga said to the rest of his friends:

"Calm down, guys. Here he comes."

Ukyo ran to Ryoga's side and saw Wilheim approaching. She smiled and let out a relieved sigh.

"It almost seemed as he wouldn't show up..." she said.

Wilheim was wearing a white shirt and some pants that were very messed up. He was also wearing tennis shoes. And on his right hand, he held a strange, powerful looking sword. He stopped right in front of Ryoga and looked at Ukyo. He smiled at her sweetly.

"Hey..." he said in a low voice.

"Hi..." answered Ukyo, blushing.

Wilheim's smile grew wider for a few seconds. Then he turned around to look at Ryoga and the rest of the guys.

"Thank you for coming." He said to them.

"Don't mention it..." said Ranma.

"Are you really gonna fight like that?" asked Akane, as she saw Wilheim's... outfit.

Wilheim took a quick look at himself and then raised his head to face Akane.

"It's a fight. There's no difference on how I dress. Besides, it's comfortable." He said.

Akane shrugged and then nodded. Wilheim took a deep breath, and then said, in a very manly voice:

"Follow me, everybody. I'll lead the way."

Wilheim opened what appeared to be a lid in one wall of the alley. There were stairs that led down to some sort of secret passage. Everyone else saw this and looked at each other, puzzled.

"...Since when secret passage in alley?" asked Shampoo, puzzled.

Everyone else, except Wilheim, shook their heads and said nothing. The all turned to face Wilheim, expecting to hear an answer from him. Wilheim kept looking down the stairs. He didn't turn his head. It took him a minute to answer.

"Let's just say..." he began, "that this passage could well be older than any of you."

The rest of the guys began to get worried by this statement. Ukyo took a deep breath and looked up to the sky, wondering if she would ever see it again. Akane just closed her eyes and kept herself from saying anything. Mousse put an arm around Shampoo's shoulder, and, for once, she went close to him. Ryoga let out a long sigh and nodded solemnly. Ranma only looked down at the floor and said in a low voice:

"...Shit..."

Wilheim turned around when he heard him.

"If anyone doesn't wish to go, then now is the time for-" he began, but got interrupted by Ranma, who quickly said:

"Hey, don't start with that now. Come on - lets go, before I change my mind."

Everyone else nodded. Wilheim smiled at them. His face reflected but one thing at the moment: courage.

"Let's go then." He said.

Ukyo, Wilheim, Ranma, Ryoga, Akane, Mousse, and Shampoo had walked for about half an hour. They were now deep under the ground. Tree routes could be seen coming out of the walls. These last ones were filled with torches, one placed after the other, making it easy to see. At every corner, there were bodies decomposing, with worms coming out of the skin they had left. The bodies were not human. They were vampire carcasses.

Ukyo held her breath. The pestilence was beginning to suffocate her. Everyone else, except Wilheim, had difficulty breathing.

"How can you not be bothered by this goddam smell?" asked Ranma.

Wilheim turned around to face Ranma.

"Me?" he asked.

"Yeah, you." Ranma growled. "You're the only one that doesn't have any trouble inhaling this goddam scent."

Wilheim turned around again to face in the direction he was walking.

"...I've gotten used to it." He said, with indifference.

Ranma coughed and nearly puked.

"I don't see how anybody could become used to this smell..." he said.

Wilheim smiled and shook his head. Ukyo smiled as well and went to Wilheim's side.

"...Wilheim?" she said.

Wilheim didn't turn around to face her.

"Yeah?" he said.

"There's just one last thing I want to ask you..." Ukyo said.

"I'm all ears." Replied Wilheim.

"Why aren't you a Nosferatu?" she asked.

Wilheim turn around to face her, with a puzzled look on his face.

"...Ugly... I mean" added Ukyo.

Wilheim chuckled.

"The first days I did start loosing my hear and everything... but I fought the power of Magnus..." he said. And then he concluded: "That's the only thing I've ever beat him in..."

Ukyo nodded and stayed at Wilheim's side. Ryoga caught up with them.

"Hey, Wilheim..." he began.

"What is it?" said Wilheim.

"How come there are vampire bodies rotting in here?" he asked.

Wilheim took a deep breath, and then said:

"There are many vampire communities. This was a vampire's hideout. A hideout for Nosferatus, that is..." he made a short pause and then continued: "Nosferatus live mainly underground and in the sewers. You'd be surprised if I told you how many vampire communities there are in Nerima, alone."

Mousse heard this and went beside Wilheim.

"Then how come we don't see vampires around here?" he asked.

"They rarely go out." Wilheim said, as he turned around to face Mousse. And then added: "And when they do, they do it only to feed. And they... generally feed on the 'Mole People'.... You know? The people that live in sewers, and in the subway... those people... the homeless people."

Mousse nodded quietly and returned to Shampoo's side.

Ryoga walked silently for a few moments, and then he asked:

"How come they are all dead?"

Wilheim took a few moments to answer.

"Magnus doesn't like to be disturbed." That's all he said.

Everyone else just kept on walking quietly, and raised their sights, praying that they would make it alive out of there.

They all kept walking for another fifteen minutes, when they finally filled a large room, filled with torches. And in the center of the room, there was a very old - looking coffin. Wilheim took a deep breath and said in a low voice:

"Here we are..."

Everyone else nodded and assumed a fighting stance. Wilheim stood still for a few minutes, waiting for the coffin lid to open. All that could be heard in the room, was their breathing... they were all terrified... but there was no way back now. Everyone was determined to fight.

Soon, it began to get cold. And wind started to blow. Wind? From where...? Everyone in the room knew the answer. It came from the coffin. Suddenly, the most powerful and evil presence filled the room. The heart beats of the guys began to sped up. Their fear started to grow as well. Their chests started to hurt.

All of a sudden, as an unexpected explosion, the lid of the coffin was thrown into the air, and it fell near Wilheim's feet. A strange mist came out of the coffin, and it started to cross the room from one side to the other. It passed through the guys several times, and when it touched them, they felt the most chilling air that they had ever felt in their lives. Suddenly, the mist stopped in the center of the room, and started to condense itself. Wilheim took a deep breath and assumed a defensive stance. When the mist was fully condensed, it was suddenly replaced by Magnus' body. He was not in his usual gargoyle shape... however, everyone else in the room felt his evil power... it was immense. They all wondered if Magnus could be beaten.

"Well, well..." Magnus said in a loud and frightening voice. He took a few steps towards Wilheim.

Wilheim pointed the edge of his sword directly at Magnus' heart. This made Magnus stop. Wilheim was very afraid, but he wasn't petrified. If Magnus took even one step closer, Wilheim would bury his sword in his chest. Magnus stood still and showed a his fangs as he twisted his mouth into a malevolent smile.

"I see you have brought me some victims. Good work, lad." He said.

Wilheim's eyes burned with anger now.

"Don't underestimate us, Magnus!" he yelled. "Together, we'll rip you apart!"

Magnus laughed when he heard this.

"You? Kill me? Are you out of your mind, boy?" he roared, between laughs.

Wilheim took this moment and threw his body against Magnus. This last one, reacted very quickly and got out of the sword's way and threw Wilheim to the other side of the room. Wilheim hit the wall and fell to the ground. The rest of the guy took a menacing step towards Magnus. Magnus turned around to face them and they all stopped their advance. Wilheim quickly got up. He was not hurt. With a slow movement, he grasped his sword tightly with both hands and pointed it at Magnus. Magnus had now twisted his smiling face into a horrible and menacing one.

"So be it. I'll make you all mine, right here, and RIGHT NOW!!!" he roared.

And when everybody else heard this, they took off as quickly and swiftly as they could to attack Magnus.

The first one to start the Attack was Wilheim. He swung his sword, attempting to cut off Magnus' head, but this last one simply ducked under the blow and punched Wilheim in the stomach, making him fly across the room again. He hit the wall, and fell to the ground, and didn't get up.

Next was Mousse. With amazing speed, he took out form his sleeves two giant spiked balls and swung them at Magnus' legs. Magnus' simply floated for a moment up in the air and when Mousse got close enough, Magnus touched his head. And with just that, Mousse went flying in the air, and hit the ceiling. When he fell to the ground, he was nearly unconscious.

Shampoo began her attack. She threw herself with a flying kick at Magnus' face. Magnus simply turned into mist, and Shampoo's kick went through him. Magnus reappeared only to grab Shampoo by the neck and slam her against the floor. Shampoo tried to get up, but the hit had been so hard, that it made her very dizzy.

Akane threw herself with a punch at Magnus' stomach. Magnus jumped with great ease and kicked Akane in the back of her head.

"Ugh..." she muttered, right before she hit the floor.

Ranma and Ryoga attacked together. Magnus was still in the air, so the boys had the advantage. Ryoga threw a punch at Magnus' face and Ranma threw a kick at his stomach. It seemed that they had Magnus cornered. But they were wrong. Magnus was suddenly covered by a bright light, and disappeared. Ranma and Ryoga ceased their attack when they saw their target went out of sight. Suddenly, they both felt a powerful blow in their backs, that nearly bent them, and fell to their knees. Behind them, Magnus had his arms crossed and grinned to himself.

"Is that the best you can do?" he said, between chuckles.

Ukyo was the last one to attack. She swung her spatula, attempting to cut Magnus in half. Magnus disappeared again. The spatula hit nothing but thin air. Magnus appeared right behind Ukyo. She knew he would do this and threw a kick at his face. Magnus grabbed her leg without any trouble at all, and with his long fingernails, took a swing and Ukyo's back and cut her.

"OWWW!!" screamed Ukyo in pain, as she fell to the ground.

The creature roared in laughter as he reached for Ukyo and grabbed her by her hair. Ukyo groaned, filled with pain.

"Now you'll be mine..." said Magnus, as he opened is mouth and showed his huge fangs.

With a swift movement, Magnus bit Ukyo's neck. His fangs went deep inside her throat. Ukyo screamed, terrified. The pain was too much for her to bear. It was the most horrible pain she had ever felt. Magnus quickly drank her blood. Ukyo's scream faded away. She was loosing all of her strength.

Magnus thought victory was his. But suddenly, a big flash of light made him stop. He let go of Ukyo, and turned around, only to receive a powerful energy blast. Magnus was sent to the other side of the room, and hit the wall. However, he didn't fall to the ground. When he raised his sight, he saw Wilheim, who had lifted his arm up and had thrown a powerful energy blast.

"It's not over yet, bastard." Wilheim said, angrily.

Magnus growled.

"It may be so... but it will be over soon." He threatened.

And then, Magnus ran at an incredible speed at Wilheim, with his long fingernails ready to cut through him. Wilheim didn't move. He only went back to his defensive stance. Magnus raised an arm and got ready to cut Wilheim's stomach. But before he could pull another move, he felt a powerful blow on his legs, and fell to the ground.

It had been Mousse, who, with his remaining strength, had thrown Magnus a heavy iron ball. Magnus turned around to see Mousse, out of energy, already on his knees.

Magnus roared and threw himself against Mousse. Or at least he tried. Because at that very moment, his armed was grasped by Wilheim, who threw Magnus over his shoulder, and slammed him right into the ground.

Magnus growled and turned himself into mist as soon as he recovered from the impact. When he reappeared, he did it over Mousses head and kicked him on his face. Mousse rolled over the ground and didn't stop until he hit the wall. And just when Magnus was about to attack Wilheim, he felt how his arm was twisted.

Shampoo held tightly to Magnus' arm, and bent it. She did this so hardly, that Magnus' arm suddenly cracked, and he screeched in pain. With his other arm, he hit Shampoo on her face. Shampoo didn't fly over the room, but she simply fell on her knees, unconscious.

Magnus' arm was now broke, and he couldn't use it anymore.

"Damn girl!!" he roared. "I'll tear you apart as soon as this is over!!"

Taking advantage of Magnus' distraction, Akane threw her body against Magnus. Unaware of this, Magnus received a powerful blow in the stomach, which left him out of air. Akane then threw a roundhouse at Magnus face, which sent him flying up in the air. But before he fell to the ground, he twisted his body in a way that was impossible to achieve by a human, and threw a blast of energy directly into Akane's stomach. Her mind blanked out and she fell to the ground.

This time, there was no stopping Magnus from attacking Wilheim. Magnus threw himself against Wilheim, attempting to cut through his chest. Wilheim used Magnus' strategy, and turned himself to mist. However, this strategy backfired, because the minute Wilheim materialized himself, Magnus dug his fingernails right in Wilheim's stomach.

"Ugh..." he muttered, full of pain.

Magnus grinned and he opened his mouth, revealing his sharp fangs, and bit Wilheim in his neck. Wilheim kept himself from screaming, and growling, he tried to push away Magnus' face. Magnus wouldn't yield. And when Magnus was convinced that Wilheim had no hope left, he heard to screams that made him froze.

"MOKO TAKABISHA!!"

"SHISHI HOKOUDAN!!"

And when he turned around, he received two extremely powerful energy blasts, which came from Ranma and Ryoga. Magnus dropped Wilheim to the floor and flew across the room, and slammed the wall. He hit it so hard, that a few cracks were made on it, and then Magnus fell to the ground. It took him a while to get up.

Ranma and Ryoga had used all of their power. Magnus was hurt, but not defeated. With amazing speed, a speed that was even blind to the human eye, he kicked both of his heads with a roundhouse. Ranma and Ryoga fell to the ground, without any strength left to fight back. Magnus lifted his good arm, and both of the boys floated up in the air.

"Your power is beyond belief..." he growled. Then, with an evil grin on his face, he added: "I think I'll make you my new servants. It's time to dispose of that good - for - nothing..."

When he said this, Wilheim also started floating up in the air. And then, Manus' hand started to fire bolts of energy at Wilheim. They hit him again, and again. And with each blow, Wilheim let out a horrible scream. A scream which reflected his dark nature.

Magnus laughed as he fired again and again. Wilheim had lost most of his strength and couldn't break free from Magnus' grasp.

*...Magnus has won...* thought Wilheim. Then, with all his strength left, he yelled: "Ukyo!! Get out of-"

He stopped short, as he suddenly fell to the ground, and the same happened to Ranma and Ryoga. Wilheim looked up at Magnus, and he saw something he wouldn't had ever imagined.

Magnus' face was twisted, revealing... an immense pain. A pain that was so strong, that he couldn't bear it. The wound that he had taken was so serious, that it would be impossible for him to regenerate, unless he drained someone from his blood. And Wilheim knew why.

With all her strength, Ukyo had driven her giant weapon right through Magnus' stomach. Ranma and Ryoga, looked up from the floor, and saw this. Magnus spitted blood again and again.

"How...?" he muttered. "...How...?"

"...Stay on focus..." said Ukyo to herself.

Wilheim's eyes shined with hope now. A new wave of vigor made Wilheim regain his lost power.

"I told you... Magnus... don't underestimate us." He said, as his lips formed a smile.

Wilheim then pointed his sword at Magnus, and prepared himself to deliver the final blow. His sword suddenly started shinning. Molecules of energy were driven to the edge of the sword. A wind of energy began to flow from Wilheim. The energy was so powerful, that it not only made the torches' fire burn more brightly, but it brought Mousse, Shampoo, and Akane back to consciousness. Wilheim started to growl and grit his teeth. His sword was now filled with energy.

Magnus started screaming, terrified. It was too late for him now. Ukyo retrieved her weapon from inside of Magnus' body, and took a few steps away from him. Magnus tried to morph into mist, but he couldn't. He was too weak.

"It's over, Magnus!!" yelled Wilheim, as his sword turned the darkness of the room into pure light.

"This one is for you, Sigfried..." said Wilheim in a low voice.

Wilheim then opened his eyes widely, and let crossed sights with Magnus. This last one didn't move... for the first time in his immortal life, he was frightened. He couldn't move. Wilheim's eyes shined furiously. Magnus felt intimidated by Wilheim's look. His eyes told Magnus that he would now pay for all of his doings... they told him that he would send him to hell.

"Die Magnus!!" screamed Wilheim, and then he screamed again, but this time at the top of his lungs: "DIVINE RAY OF SPECTRAL LIGHT!!!!"

And with that, his sword fired an enormously powerful blast. A blast which went right through Magnus' body. When the energy blast hit the wall, a low rumbling began, and the wall cracked into two. The ceiling began to fall into pieces. Meanwhile, Magnus' body was being consumed by the light that remained in his wound. Slowly, his flesh was incinerated by the light flowing out of him, revealing his gloomy skeleton. He fell to the ground, and finally was consumed by the energy blast. Magnus was nothing more than a skeleton now. He had gone for good.

But there was no time to celebrate. Wilheim's blast had been so powerful, that the whole place was now breaking apart. They all needed to get out of there, fast.

Ukyo was laying on the ground, unconscious. She had used all her strength to wound Magnus. Wilheim quickly ran by her side and put her over her shoulder.

"We have to go, now!!" he yelled, desperate.

The others nodded and quickly followed Wilheim, as the ceiling fell behind them. They ran and ran, all the way up to the surface. They bearly managed to reach the entrance. Wilheim opened the lid with a strong kick, and then led everybody out. Out in the alley, it was still dark. Everyone was out of breath and fell to their knees, exhausted. While Wilheim knelt and put Ukyo on his knees, Ranma raised his head and opened his mouth in awe.

"Wow..." he said. "Look at that..." he added, as he pointed away from the alley.

There was a huge trail of smoke coming from far, far away. It easily had started about two miles away and was getting closer to the alley.

"It... it must be because of what happened..." said Ryoga.

Everyone else nodded solemnly.

Ukyo started to shake and opened her eyes slowly. She saw Wilheim and smiled.

"...Hi..." she said, in a very low voice.

Wilheim heard her and turned around to face her. He smiled happily and let out a relieved chuckle.

"Hey..." he said.

Ukyo reached for Wilheim's hand and held it tightly.

"...Did we make it?" she asked.

Wilheim nodded as he kissed her forehead.

"Yeah..." he said.

"...Good..." murmured Ukyo. She let out a long sigh, and then added: "I'm very tired... I'd like to go to sleep now."

"Sleep, then, my dear Ukyo." Said Wilheim gently. "Sleep well."

And then, Ukyo fell into a deep sleep.