Chapter 16 - Bloodbound Judgment (1)
They still had their confident arrogance, not thinking much apart from their initial surprise when Jeanne attacked the Vampires with the Holy Light of the Nails, and while she didn't understand what was going on, she could feel that there was something burning in her heart, not harmful, it almost felt like when Carl would bite her neck.
'Is this the Mana that Carl talked about? I have this feeling that I'm invincible and can punish those evil Vampires.'
"Hmph, you ugly bastard wants to turn me into a Thrall? Sorry to break it to you, but I'm already Carl's woman. SO PISS OFF, I'm not interested in lowly ass, vampires that can't amount even to Carl's fingernails." she spat, her voice ringing out with a fierce resolve that sent a shiver down the vampires' spines.
Jeanne's words dripped with defiance as she stood her ground against the two High-Class Vampires
"Get closer to me, and I swear, I'll blast for each of you one nail in your hearts, while the last nail would be for you fucker who killed my Arachne." her words were laced with a venomous promise for retribution.
With a scoff, Wisborg attempted to mask his growing unease with a facade of indifference, but the pain he was having from the Divine Nail still stuck into his thigh, made him uncertain about the whole situation. "You think you can threaten us, human? You're nothing but a mere speck of dust in our eyes," he retorted, though the slight quiver in his voice hinted at the doubt gnawing at his confidence.
He cursed under his breath, which made Orlok scoff a bit at his pathetic side. "How lucky is this bitch to awaken a Longinus? Divine Nails of Christ at that for fuck sake."
But Jeanne remained unfazed by Wisborg's bravado, her resolve unshaken as she continued to channel the divine power of the two Nails of Christ circling above her head akin to an Angelic Halo. "This one I'll blast it into your skull and make mush out of your rotten brain,"
Orlok's eyes narrowed into slits as he assessed the situation, weighing the risks and rewards of engaging further with Jeanne, was it a mistake to allow Jeanne to awaken her Sacred Gear? He chuckled a bit, mocking himself for even considering this as a proud Vampire Aristocrat in charge of guarding the Vampire Prince.
This time he wanted to relish the opportunity to crush the insolent human beneath his heel, even if she now had a potential chance to pose a threat to him with her Divine Nails, it only depended on that slight chance she managed to hit him.
"Enough games," Orlok declared, his voice dripping with malice as he took a step forward, his sword gleaming in the dim light of the ruined living room. "It's time to put an end to this little charade and get rid of Krassius once and for all."
With a swift motion, Wisborg followed suit, his fangs bared in a predatory snarl as he advanced towards Jeanne with a feral hunger in his eyes. But as they closed in on her, Jeanne stood her ground.
As Wisborg closed in on Jeanne with lethal intent, she stood her ground, her body tense with anticipation as she prepared to unleash the power of the Divine Nails against her vampiric adversaries.
With a flick of her wrist, she sent one of the nails hurtling towards Wisborg, aiming for his heart, while the 2nd Nail was hurled aiming for Orlok's head as he was stationary, displaying his confidence when facing her.
Orlok, however, was quick to react, his supernatural reflexes allowing him to dodge the nail with ease. With a smirk, he countered by launching himself at Jeanne, his sword poised to strike with lethal force. However, Wisborg who got affected by the nail stuck in his thigh used his sword to parry her attack.
By this point, Wisborg, with his flesh still burning from the divine energy of the nail embedded in his thigh, gritted his teeth against the pain as he lunged towards Jeanne from the other side, his eyes gleaming with a predatory hunger.
Jeanne's subconscious took over and even when Orlok attacked her with his swift slash, he used the motion of the returning Divine Nail to push her aside and dodge his slash, doing something akin to a sidestep, narrowly avoiding the deadly blade by mere inches. But before she could retaliate, Wisborg's vice-like grip closed around her wrist, his fangs bared as he prepared to sink them into her flesh.
"Let go, you monster!"
"Not happening, you annoying swine. After all the wounds you've given me."
In a desperate bid for survival, Jeanne uses the two Divine Nails to act like a shield, channeling all of her holy power in this push. With a defiant cry, she also motioned the Nail that was stuck into his thigh to pierce through his flesh, causing him agonizing pain.
Wisborg screamed in agony as the divine energy burned through him, causing his grip to falter and allowing Jeanne to break free.
Meanwhile, Orlok, seeing his partner momentarily incapacitated, while pissed that he had to do the dirty job of subduing Jeanne, seized the opportunity to launch another ferocious attack.
Using his Vampiric swiftness, he swung his longsword aiming at Jeanne's neck, as if he didn't care about what information she had regarding Carl. He wanted to wash away the humiliation he and his partner suffered, but as if karma had other plans for him, something he didn't expect stopped him,
Before his blade could make contact, a sudden burst of light illuminated the room as Xenovia and Irina burst into the room, their Excalibur's gleaming with holy power, and a long threat intertwined around his demonic blade stopping his slashing motion, and with his gaze dropped on a chestnut colored girl wearing the black combat attire of Exorcists that showed a lot of skin, even though they curves still had to mature and grow.
Xenovia wielding her two-handed sword, Excalibur Destruction swung with all her might to wound Wisborg.
"... Holy Swords? Excaliburs? The fuck is going on here? Since when has the Vatican dispatched Exorcists capable of wielding Holy Swords? Were they expecting that we would appear?"
"Is not that. They are most likely after Krassius, too. Can't you see the Holy Ward? We even had to wear the suppression artifacts to get inside as High-Class Vampires."
He tried to dampen the impact of the Exorcist strike, but the Holy Power of the Excalibur was something that had an weakening effect on his body.
"Stand back!" Xenovia commanded, her teenage voice, youthful but still filled with maturity ringing with authority as she made her presence known to the Lasombra Vampires and especially for Jeanne, who thought those girls were also her enemies.
Irina and Xenovia finally decided to strike after gauging the situation, and not wanting for those Lasombra Vampires to suppress Jeanne which was their lead into the mysterious Vampire that might have triggered the activation of the Holy Ward. This was their initial reasoning, but now that she awakened her Sacred Gear which was of the Holy Series, they had more reasons to jump into the fight.
They never expected for the blonde lady to awaken her Sacred Gear under this high-stress situation. Usually people who had latent Sacred Gears inside of them would awaken them early, and adults wouldn't be privy to this late-blooming.
This situation proved them wrong, and reinforced the miracles of God.
Orlok tried to withdraw his sword from Irina's Mimics grip as the holy sword turned into a long thread-like wire, and with his supernatural strength, the young girl was pulled, unable to wrestle the monster's might.
"I'll not let you off, you demonic beast! You shall suffer under the Wrath of God!"
Irina matched against Orlok who clearly had an Agility-Spec, but she still struggled to suppress him, strength wise.
By this point, the proud Lasombra Captain was overtaken by anger, pissed that he was dragged around by a bunch of lowly humans, and women at that. While wrestling with Irina for control over his Demonic Sword, he dodged a Holy Nail that Jeanne sent flying at him.
"Miss, you don't have to help me! I can handle this monster myself, and send him to Hell! Amen!"
"I have the power to help. Don't stop me, young sister. I shall see that those bastards are dead" Jeanne felt slight relief, as he remembered the chestnut nun who amusingly preached to her friends on religion and her beliefs on infidelity.
She didn't want to allow herself to stare like a princess in distress, at least not in the face of other women. Only in his presence would she allow herself to be weak, and fully embrace his soothing.
Orlok by now had enough, and discarded his indifference at handling this battle, and seeing how Wisborg was being suppressed by Xenovia as she was creating a mess of Jeanne's house under the monstrous power of her Excalibur.
"Wisborg, shift in your Vampiric State. Let's kill those nasty bitches, and just wait for Krassius to get his ass here, then kill him too. I've had enough entertainment for a decade."
As Orlok issued his command, Wisborg let out a guttural growl, clearly he wasn't feeling himself while facing the long blue-haired Exorcist, and as if a limiter was turned off, a jet of demonic energy was exuded by the large Vampire and with another clash of swords, Xenovia got pushed back to her slight displeasure.
Staring at the Vampire, he saw his handsome features contorting into a grotesque visage, as he allowed himself to reveal his true appearance and once more embracing his full Vampiric State.
His blonde partner was in the same picture as his once charming appearance was now replaced by beastly, monstrous features. His once smooth skin became pallid and gaunt, with elongated fangs, long claws that could shred into pieces anything, but the thing that changed the most were his blood-red eyes that glowed with a malevolent, predatory intent.
"For once in a while I agree with you, Orlok. No more messing around," Wisborg snarled, his voice now deeper and more menacing than before. "Time to show these wretched sluts the true power of the Lasombra Clan."
As his transformation completed, Wisborg lunged forward with renewed ferocity, his claws extended and ready to rend flesh, while his right hand holding solely on the two-handed demonic sword swung at Xenovia.
He ignored the searing pain from the wound inflicted by the Divine Nail, his thirst for blood driving him forward with a single-minded direction.
Orlok, even in his Vampiric State, allowing his twisted instincts to run wild, had control unlike Wisborg, and didn't go into battle like some Berserker, liking himself to be something akin to an Exterminator, deadly and powerful.
With a sinister grin, Orlok unleashed his own vampiric powers and wielding his demonic longsword he clashed against Irina who transformed her Excalibur Mimic into the shape of a Samurai Katana ready to continue her battle against the Vampire.
For the young exorcists the fight against the High-Level Vampires who took off their humane masks to reveal their monstrous appearance, left them a bit shocked deep down considering they seemed to have the upper-hand in the initial stages of the fight.
But now? With their true power on display, those Lasombra Vampires were powerful, and by the minutes began winning their respective fights.
Regardless if Orlok was facing both Irina and Jeanne as she was firing her Holy Nails with a random tempo to grant her the best chances to hit him, his speed was otherworldly and she couldn't keep up with his movements. Fortunately for her, she was using her Sacred Gear as a Defensive Barrier that wouldn't allow Orlok to get to her so easily.
Focusing on his strength, Orlok chipped away at Irina's resolve while the marks of the sword and claw marks were imprinted on her combat attire. The chestnut colored girl began breathing labored while blood slowly dripped down on the alleyway of Jeanne's home as they eventually shifted their combat stage.
"I figured you would be at least equal to that blue-haired little swine based on the fact you're capable of wielding a shard of Excalibur. But what is this? Are you joking with me? You little girl can't even match my speed, and survived this much because of those rusty nails of Christ."
Orlok had his trademark arrogant smirk all the entire time, even in his Vampiric State, to add insult to injury for Irina he began sniffing around the blood essence that she was scattering all around the alleyway akin to a bloodthirsty beast.
Irina gritted her teeth, her violet eyes narrowed as she faced off against Orlok. "Keep talking, vampire scum," Irina retorted, her voice dripping with boldness despite her labored breathing. "You may be powerful, but you underestimate the power of faith. We will not fall so easily to the likes of you."
With a swift motion, she swung her Excalibur Mimic, the blade gleaming with holy energy as it clashed against Orlok's demonic longsword. The force of their collision sent shockwaves rippling through the air, causing nearby objects to tremble and shatter under the immense pressure.
As their swords locked in a fierce struggle, Irina's mind raced, searching for a weakness in her opponent's defense. She knew that she couldn't match Orlok's speed, but she refused to let that deter her. With each clash of their blades, she focused on conserving her energy, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Jeanne too felt her mind growing tired while that tingling sensation of mana being drained each time she would launch a Holy Nail at Orlok, and her decreased frequency of attacks was spotted by the Lasombra Vampire who flashed her a twisted grin, all-knowing of her soon to be misery, at least until her Savior would appear and end the two arrogant Vampires.
Keeping on the poker-face Jeanne channeling her holy power into one of the Holy Nails circling around her. With a flick of her wrist, she launched the nail towards Orlok, aiming for his exposed flank as he was occupied with Irina.
Orlok, sensing the incoming attack, just laughed, finding it amusing that Jeanne wouldn't stop her bluffs. His laughter echoed through the alleyway, a cruel sound that grated on Jeanne's nerves as she watched her attack approach its target.
With a steely gaze, she watched as the Holy Nail soared through the air, its trajectory aimed directly at Orlok's flank.
But just as the nail was about to strike, Orlok's celerity kicked in. With a blur of motion, he sidestepped the attack, narrowly avoiding the holy projectile as it whizzed past him and embedded itself into the wall behind him.
"Nice try, but you'll have to do better than that," Orlok sneered, his smirk widening as he advanced towards Jeanne with predatory intent. "You may have some tricks up your sleeve, but you're no match for a True Vampire. A Pureblood. Maybe that mutt Krassius would have fallen for such cheap tactics. Not me"
Jeanne's heart raced as Orlok closed in on her, his menacing presence looming over her like a dark cloud. She knew that she was outmatched in terms of physical strength and speed, her mana reserves dwindling and her consciousness being ever so murky, but she refused to back down.
With a deep breath, she steadied herself, readying her mind and body for the impending clash as she put some mana into the Holy Nails creating the barrier around herself. This eventual action of hers widened Orlok's grin as he chose to shift back on clashing against Irina.
The young Exorcists by now was moving only by sheer willpower as she fought to protect Jeanne and herself from the vampire's relentless assault. Despite her fatigue and the injuries she had sustained, she refused to yield, drawing upon her faith to bolster her resolve and on the Excalibur to heal her wounds.
Nevertheless, Orlok was relentless, his attacks coming fast and fierce as he sought to overpower Irina and claim victory for himself. With each strike of his sword, he pushed Irina back, slowly but surely wearing down her defenses.
Sensing his opportunity, Orlok unleashed a flurry of blows, driving Irina back with each strike until she collided against Jeanne, the force of the impact knocking them both off balance. Irina gasped as pain shot through her body, her muscles protesting against the strain of the battle.
"I'm sorry for bumping into you, miss. D-Don't worry, I got this. I will defeat this bad guy, and you'll be safe afterwards." she pushed herself upright, her grip tightening around her Excalibur Mimic as she prepared to face Orlok once more, but Jeanne, who could feel how Irina's willpower was slowly crumbling against this ruthless monster.
Not knowing how to encourage her, she just told her what she was grasping on to cope with this situation. "Young Nun, you've done more than enough to help me against these bastards. Just hang on a couple of minutes more and everything will be fine. My Lover will come here soon and take care of those bastards."
"... Miss, I'm sorry to ask you at this moment, but… Your Lover is also a Vampire, right?"
"Hmm, that's right. And from the urgency of those two bastards and the tone they spoke when mentioning Carl, they are afraid of him. He's powerful. I'm sure of this. You two girls will be fine. I promise you this. Just… Stay strong for a bit more."
"O-Okay, but miss. You know that Vampires are bad people. Not that I want to accuse you of anything…"
Jeanne couldn't help but frown a bit, but she put in perspective Irina's view as a young nun and 'Exorcist' based on Orlok and Wisborg's words, and the bias of their upbringing could be spotted. Still, seeing those Exorcist girls and with the image she painted in her mind of Carl, she knew that they wouldn't be able to hurt him.
"It's alright. If you feel that Carl is your enemy by the time you meet him, it's your choice how to approach him. But know that from the moment you choose to attack him, you'll become my enemy."
She helped Irina stand up as she also got up, and the sight of Orlok eying for the blue-haired nun clashing like there wasn't a tomorrow against Wisborg made her react by sending a Holy Nail in his direction.
'Hmph, in your dreams, you vampire scum. That young girl is winning against your bastard partner and you think you can swing the balance by joining his side now that we're exhausted?'
Orlok's attention snapped to Jeanne as her Holy Nail streaked towards him, his eyes widening in surprise at her unexpected attack. With a swift motion, he deflected the nail with his demonic sword now that there wasn't much Mana imbuing the Holy Artifact, a hint of annoyance flashing across his face.
"You little pest," Orlok snarled, his voice laced with contempt as he turned his gaze back towards Irina and Xenovia's ongoing battle. "Trying to interfere, are you?"
"Your threats mean nothing to me, scum,"
Xenovia was conscious of everything happening over on Irina's battlefield, but her hands were also tied down by Wisborg who was truly an Immortal Berserker who would even reattach missing limbs that she cut using Excalibur Destruction.
She wanted to get this fight done as fast as possible so she could assist Irina in defeating Orlok who clearly was superior to Wisborg. In this, she began pushing herself more and more, but the bloodthirsty Berserker was akin to a cockroach incapable of dying.
Her frustration reached its highest points, spilling over when he saw Irina battered, wounded and with blood dripping from her wounds as she took on her Bushido Samurai Strong Stance, ready to give her life if this meant defeating the Lasombra Vampire. With her remaining Holy Power that was flashing weakly from being exhausted
"Enough!" Xenovia's voice boomed as she unleashed a devastating strike, the holy energy of Excalibur Destruction crackling with power as it descended towards Wisborg with unstoppable force, deciding to end their clash once and for all.
Wisborg's bloodthirsty eyes widened in shock as he realized the danger too late. With a thunderous impact, Xenovia's blade struck his chest, delivering a deep wound that seemed akin to a Lumberjack doing the final blow to a tree.
Her slash sent shockwaves rippling through the air as it collided with the vampire's demonic form. The force of the blow sent Wisborg hurtling backwards, crashing into the ground with a resounding thud.
Then with enough space to maneuver, she charged at Orlok who turned to meet her Excalibur, and after some back and forth, she disengaged and reached Irina who was breathing labored.
"Are you two alright?"
"I could be better, but that bastard is quite powerful. High-Class opponents are different from Middle-Class or Low-Class."
Xenovia nodded in response, relief flooding her senses knowing that Irina wasn't too wounded and could still hold herself up. Now that she took care of Wisborg in her own way, they could stand a fighting chance against Orlok.
"Stay back, Irina. I will finish this job in a flash."
Irina took a step forward, trying to stay strong, but the long blue-haired girl simply barred her with an extended hand. Then out of nowhere, she started chanting a prayer which sent slight trembles in the space that her extended hand could touch.
"What are you doing Xenovia? Is this your Ultimate Ability?"
"In a way. I'm still struggling to control this Sword, but only 10 seconds would be enough to kill this vampire scum. Rather suffer the consequences after I kill those Vampires instead of seeing you get hurt, Irina."
Resuming her prayer, a pocket space was opened up, revealing the handle of a sword exuding a large quantity of Holy Power.
"Petra, Basilius, Dionysus, and Mary the Holy Mother, hear my voice."
"In the name of the Saint which rests within this blade I will unleash the Holy Sword …"
While the dimension pocket that sealed the Holy Sword started to reveal its Holy figure and the Orlok was charging up his own demonic power to face off against Xenovia, from outside of the Sealing Barrier that the Lasombra Vampires put in place a powerful impact got through.
The impact was so loud that the shockwaves almost caused an instability in the pocket dimension, sealing Xenovia's Excalibur. Then before everyone's eyes, the outside world was revealing while shards of demonic energy began scattering around Graz with the background of the Holy Ward in the picture, looming omnisciently above them.
Xenovia felt a malicious demonic power that overshadowed the Lasombra Vampires presence, and just when the thought of another enemy appearing she grabbed hold of Durandal and almost withdrew it from its 'scabbard' but was stopped by a large hand who inserted the sword back.
"You've done enough, young Exorcists. Let me take care of the rest."
She looked at the newcomer, and the dread she felt couldn't be explained in proper words. She felt suffocating in the presence of this demonic power, as if she was in the presence of a Demon King, not that she ever experienced this first-hand, but the raw amount of demonic power this individual was releasing was numbing.
Right before the combatants, a man wearing an armored attire with all of its pieces being composed from blood tissues, from the deepest crimson to a murky, onyx substance that crystallizes in the shape of the armor plates.
He had medium length ink-black hair styled in a windswept manner, framing his strikingly handsome face with sharp, angular features. His eyes, a piercing shade of crimson, glowed with an otherworldly intensity as he surveyed the battlefield with a sense of calm authority.
Xenovia felt a shiver run down her spine as she locked eyes with the newcomer, her instincts screaming at her to flee. But despite the overwhelming sense of dread that washed over her, she found herself unable to tear her gaze away from him, her curiosity piqued by the enigmatic presence he exuded.
As he stepped forward, the ground beneath him seemed to tremble with each deliberate stride, blood began to surface out of nowhere making the air almost suffocating as raw power emanated from his form.
Xenovia could see how the man didn't spare a much of a glance toward the Lasombra Vampires, and instead walked toward Irina and the blonde woman, and turning alerted thinking he was an enemy, she was about to speak out but stopped when noticing Jeanne relieved expression, almost peaceful.
Similarly, Irina felt that Jeanne nolonger was tense as when facing the Lasombra Vampires, and allowed her knees to get weak, shifting into a freefall to the ground.
"You must be Carl," Irina said, her voice barely above a whisper as she addressed the newcomer. "We've been expecting you."
Yet, Carl vanished from her sight and arrived right beside Jeanne, supporting her so she wouldn't fall to the ground.
Jeanne's eyes shimmered with a mixture of relief and adoration as she looked up at Carl, her savior, her protector and the one she loved more than anything in the world. "Carl, you're here," she whispered, her voice filled with a sense of gratitude and longing.
Carl's expression softened as he gently brushed a stray strand of golden hair away from Jeanne's face, his touch tender and reassuring. "Jeanne, I'm sorry that you had to be dragged into my problems. I've seen everything, experienced everything. You've done well, and fought valiantly."
"You have nothing to fear, my dear. I will always be by your side."
Jeanne leaned into his touch, finding solace in the warmth of his embrace. "There's no need to apologize, darling," she said softly. "I would do anything to keep you safe against those Vampire Scum, no matter the cost."
"You've worried me a bit. It took you longer than I expected, and you see, those young nuns suffered a lot facing those bastards."
"Don't worry, Jeanne. I've been slowed down by a bunch of rats who thought they could kill me. I owe you an explanation for all of this mess, and it will be up to you, if you're willing to associate with a man like myself going forward."
Jeanne looked up at Carl, her expression a mixture of relief and gratitude. Despite the chaos and danger surrounding them, she found herself strangely comforted by his presence, as if his mere touch could banish the darkness bound to consume her.
"You don't owe me anything, Carl," she replied, her voice soft but resolute. "It was my own choice. I chose to stand by your side, and I would do so again without hesitation. Whatever troubles you may face, know that I am here for you."
"You've rescued me from a dark place, multiple times. And… I couldn't let those scum hurt you."
Carl's gaze softened at her words, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "That's quite the surprise for me, Jeanne," he said, his voice filled with genuine warmth. "You showing your loyalty means more to me than you know."
Still in his embrace, Jeanne in her solace couldn't help but smile gently, empathizing with Carl who was a Vampire that most likely got betrayed by countless people and rarely showed his true colors to others. She could hear the genuineness in his tone, and seeing his handsome appearance in his armor outfit that made him a Dark Knight, he appeared like a fabled 'Knight' only that he was a Black one.
With all of those emotions colliding in her heart, she couldn't help but confess her love. "I love you, Carl. I don't know what I would do without you now that I found you."
Carl was aware that Jeanne had feelings for him, from the first night they shared together, she was compatible with him in bed, but even outside when talking, maybe she matched with his true age. Still he couldn't quite reciprocate her raw emotions.
He wasn't as indifferent to her feelings as he initially was in their first outings, and along their dates he started building a connection on a personal level, something to remind him of his human-side instead of his new Vampiric life that was filled with a path of Death and Suffering.
God forbid, he might as well be the Final Boss/Villain of this Timeline if Issei Hyoudou so decides to pick a fight with him over some lost booty and pairs of tits.
"Hearing this puts a smile on my lips." With a final, tender kiss pressed to Jeanne's forehead, "However, let's catch-up after I exterminate those annoying pests."
Finally, Carl turned his attention back to Irina, Xenovia, but mainly on Orlok and Wisborg.
With a graceful motion, Carl created a blood longsword where its crimson blade gave off a malevolent glint of sharpness. As he held the sword aloft, the air around him seemed to hum with an electric energy, charged with the power of his demonic aura.
"Now, let's put an end to this charade, shall we?" Carl said, his voice carrying a note of finality as he prepared to join the battle. "The Lasombra will learn a painful lesson that revolves around boundaries. You two dogs of Lotharius, have you made peace with Death?"
Orlok and Wisborg exchanged glances, their expressions shifting from arrogance to unease as they finally met the one they thought could be defeated. Facing the malevolent monster in human shape with raw amounts of demonic power exuding from his body, their erstwhile confident demeanor falters in the presence of his overwhelming power.
"Lotharius's lapdogs? How dare you speak to us in such a manner. You're nothing but a rebellious rabid dog who doesn't know his place, and still dares to challenge the Lasombra over the Blood Throne." Orlok spat, his voice laced with venom as he grips his demonic longsword tightly.
"You may be powerful, I give you that, but all your power was gained from preying on your Kindred. You're an abomination that shouldn't have been given birth. Now, it's our job, as Enforcers of the Lasombra Clan, to see a nuisance finally dealt with."
Wisborg, his vampiric features contorted into a snarl, added, "You think you can intimidate us with your cheap theatrics? We know you're still weak from almost entering slumbering."
Carl's lips curved into a smirk, a glint of amusement dancing in his crimson eyes. "Ah, but you see, my dear 'breatren' I just had a copious feast that you bunch of morons left for me on my way. Lotharius still thinks of himself as some Genius Intellectual for setting up a bunch of ambushes. Well, let's just say that everyone that was on my path is just dry bones."
With a swift motion, Carl unleashed a surge of demonic power, his aura radiating with an intensity that sent shivers down Orlok and Wisborg's spines, even Xenovia and Irina were forced by their instincts to step back, as if to avoid the demonic being, but Jeanne put her hand on the chestnut haired nun to reassure her that she would be fine. The air crackled with energy as Carl's presence dominated the battlefield, his eyes enveloped into an eerie layer of darkness.
"Now it's only you two dumb fucks, along with Karnstein Group waiting outside to found their maker. It will be quick, since you have humiliated yourself plenty while facing those little girls, even my woman that was not too long was just a common human who managed to taint your pride with her Sacred Gear."
"You speak boldly, Krassius," Orlok retorted, his voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty. "However, we only messed with those lowly swines waiting for the moment you'll finally get out from your rat hole. Since you appeared there's no point of holding back.
"Let's see if you can back up your boasts with action."
"Huhuhu, pathetic maggots. You're still barking in my direction. This is why I kind of hate this Vampiric Society, it's only filled with prideful morons who don't know better. Since you continue to underestimate me, I'll make sure you suffer in the process."
With that, Carl condensed the demonic power in the air, his aura engulfing the battlefield in a sea of blood-red energy as particles of blood coagulated in the shape of ten large Blood Spears ready to impale them.
As the ten Blood Spears materialized, their jagged edges gleaming with an ominous crimson hue, Orlok and Wisborg exchanged a wary glance since the abilities displayed by Carl were something only a Vampire Lord would pose with their authority.
Facing those ten Blood Spears that loomed above them like executioner's blade, their bravado slowly eroded in the face of Carl's overwhelming power.
"Hmpth! Petty parlor tricks!" Wisborg sneered, his body fully regenerated from the wound Xenovia inflicted him, his voice laced with defiance as he tightened his grip on his demonic two-handed sword "You are nothing but a mere nuisance, a thorn in our side that needs to be eradicated."
"Enough talk, Wisborg," Orlok interjected, his tone tinged with a hint of apprehension. "Let's show this upstart what happens when you cross the Lasombra."
With a swift motion, Wisborg lunged forward, his fangs bared in a feral snarl as he attempted to evade the incoming Blood Spears. But Carl was one step ahead, using another of his Blood Manipulation he turned his body in blood and vanished in the dark alley, leaving the two Vampires empty-handed and stumbling for responses.
The Blood Spears moved onward with deadly accuracy aiming directly at their vital points, but in hindsight this was just a distraction that Carl employed to cause greater damage.
"Show yourself, rat!" Wisborg's voice echoed through the alleyway, filled with frustration and anger as he scanned the surroundings for any sign of Carl's presence, his vampiric senses strained against the oppressive darkness.
Orlok, meanwhile, remained on guard, his eyes darting warily from one shadow to the next as he gripped his sword tightly, ready to strike at a moment's notice. Despite Wisborg's outburst, he knew better than to underestimate their opponent, especially after witnessing the display of Carl's newfound powers that were nothing like in the past.
Suddenly, Wisborg's keen senses picked up on a faint disturbance in the air, a subtle shift in the currents that hinted at Carl's presence. With a growl of anticipation, he lunged forward, swinging his sword with all his might at the source of the disturbance.
But to his surprise, his blade met only empty air, as Carl materialized behind him in a swirl of dark mist, his crimson eyes gleaming with malicious intent. Before Wisborg could react, Carl thrust his hand forward, a sigil with the crest of the Leviathan House appeared in empty-air, sending a torrent of black water crashing into the vampire with bone-shattering force.
"What is this? This feels like Devil Magic. You! You already joined the Devil's side?"
Wisborg staggered back, his body wracked with pain as the dark water engulfed him, seeping into every crevice and pore like a malevolent tide. Desperate to break free, he struggled against the suffocating grip of the abyss, but it was no use.
The black water seemed to seep into his very being, filling him with a cold dread that chilled him to the core.
Carl shifted back into an intangible state as he transformed into blood, returning to the blood pool encroaching the battlefield like a living demonic creature.
Hearing Wisborg's remark, and watching his futile attempts to break free, Xenovia who was stunned by the sight of those Blood Spears plunging upward and downward toward the Lasombra Vampires like executioner's blades, looked down at the blood at her feet, and she spotted a pair of crimson eyes gleaming with contempt.
'What is this? I heard only Vampire Lords, Elders and the Vampire Monarchs are capable of wielding Blood Magic. Can I defeat this guy if I use Durandal?'
'He might not be someone that we should antagonize even if he was the one who triggered the Holy Ward. We might just give some excuses saying that we cleared the misunderstanding and we're good.'
'Vatican rules don't say that all Devils and Demons are inherently Evil, and they can be reasoned with, especially the Higher Class who have their own aspirations and desires.'
Engrossed in her own thoughts just like the other two girls, Orlok and Wisborg on another hand continued on dodging and parrying the first few spears with supernatural agility, but the onslaught continued, finding themselves overwhelmed by the sheer force of Carl's demonic power.
"Come fight me, you devil slave! Let me see the brand they engraved on your rotten soul."
"Such nonsense. Me? On the Devil's side? Oh, you give the Devils too much credit. Just because I enslaved a Leviathan Princess and learned their exclusive Devil Magic, this makes me a betrayer?" he replied, his voice dripping with disdain.
"Don't forget who is the true Blood Monarch of Lasombra."
Appearing not far from Wisborg who continued to taunt him just so he would reveal himself, materializing from the blood particles and swiftly with a flick of his wrist, Carl intensified the flow of dark water, causing Wisborg to cry out in pain as the pressure mounted.
The vampire's struggles grew more frantic, his movements becoming increasingly desperate as he fought against the suffocating embrace of the abyss.
Meanwhile, Orlok watched in horror as his comrade was slowly consumed by Carl's demonic powers, a cold knot of fear tightening in the pit of his stomach. Despite his bravado, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at him, this amount of power wasn't what he remembered Krassius to wield.
As Carl stood amidst the swirling maelstrom of dark energy and blood-red mist, his eyes narrowed with focused intensity. With a deep breath, he murmured under his breath.
'Bloodbound Domain: Awaken'
'Blood Burst.'
The core of his armor resting on his heart began shining with crimson light, he called forth the power of his Longinus Sacred Gear, tapping into the primordial forces that coursed through his veins, and he could feel that the deeper he was grasping over this force, the more drunk on this power he was growing.
At first, there was only a faint shimmer in the air, like the flicker of a candle flame in the darkness. But as Carl concentrated, the shimmer grew brighter and more intense, casting eerie shadows that danced across the alleyway walls.
Then, with a sudden surge of power, the shimmer exploded into a burst of crimson light, bathing the entire battlefield in a blood-red glow. The air crackled with raw energy as tendrils of crimson mist coiled around Carl's outstretched hands, weaving together to form intricate patterns that pulsed with an otherworldly force.
This ability allows him to harness and manipulate the blood within his own body, as well as the blood of others, to devastating effect as long as their magical resistance was lower than his own capability.
The surge of blood energy began enveloping around Wisborg in a swirling vortex of crimson mist. Obviously, the blood mist was infused with his demonic power, allowing him to constrict and crush his victim's body from within.
'If this works as I imagine it. I'll be damned, since it was inspired by those Marvel superpowers. Heck, I might actually be capable of building a Symbiote if I grow to master both the Blood and Devil Magic.'
The mist acted akin to a living entity, responding to Carl's commands and tightening its grip with bone-crushing force all around Wisborg who screamed in pain, grabbing into his chest. Wisborg's screams echoed through the alleyway as the tendrils of blood mist tightened their grip, constricting around his body.
He trashed and struggled, but it was futile as the Blood Spell already jeopardize all of his system,
As Wisborg's struggles grew weaker with each passing second, his body began to convulse as if wracked by invisible tendrils of agony. His skin grew pale and clammy, his eyes wide with terror as he realized the full extent of his impending doom.
"Please! Mercy!" Wisborg gasped, his voice choked with desperation as he pleaded for his life. "I beg of you, spare me! I will serve you, I swear it! Just... just don't let me die like this!"
But Carl's expression remained impassive, his crimson eyes cold and unyielding as he watched Wisborg's futile struggles. The tendrils of blood mist continued to tighten their grip, crushing the vampire's body with relentless force.
"Your pleas fall on deaf ears, maggot," Carl replied, his voice echoing with a chilling finality. "You laid your bed when you chose to serve Lotharius and to attack those around me."
"Now in your twilight hour, grow a spine and learn accountability for your actions."
With a final, desperate gasp, Wisborg's body went limp, the light fading from his eyes as the last vestiges of life were snuffed out by Carl's Blood Burst. The alleyway fell silent, save for the soft rustle of the wind and the faint echoes of Wisborg's final screams.
Carl stood amidst the aftermath of his spell, his breathing even as if he didn't even exert himself in taking care of Wisborg. Xenovia and Irina watched in stunned horror, their eyes wide with disbelief at the sight unfolding before them. They struggled so much against those Lasombra Vampires but the black-haired man took care of them with such ease.
The alleyway fell silent, save for the sound of Carl's steady breathing as he surveyed his handiwork with cold detachment. He directed his attention back to the remaining Lasombra vampire, Orlok, who watched the scene unfold with a mixture of fear and trepidation.
There was a predatory gleam in his eyes, and his words creeped over the Vampire's spine. "I consider this the price of unfounded arrogance. Have you made peace with whatever divinity you're believing in, maggot?"
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