"What about the people stuck down here?" Yuji brought up his concerns for the vampire victims.

"They're still alive," Ciel answered, going up the stairway with several leaps while carrying Yuji in her arms. "With the curse womb's domain gone, it should be easier to recover them now."

Yuji lets out a breath. Despite their argument earlier, Ciel really did follow through her promise to look after the civilians. "...I get that not all of them are going to be saved."

Yuji's admittance was a surprise to Ciel, enough to slow her steps and stop at a doorway, arriving at the main floor.

"I just didn't want to leave them. I can't imagine how horrible it must be, living in that darkness like that." Yuji's brows lowered to a distressed scowl. He gripped his wounds tighter. "I've seen all kinds of flicks about vampires, but what kind of monster does that to people?"

Even after Ciel explained it, he couldn't fully grasp it. There was just no reason to be that cruel. To be that inhumane despite having been human once too.

Ciel did not immediately respond. Her steps began moving once more, but this time at a leisurely pace as she recalled the path to the nearest exit.

"...There is no real reason for it. It's all senseless violence." Ciel's heels echoed the empty white hallway. Stability have returned here, freed from the dark grips of curses. "They've become so removed from humanity, they don't even remember the persons they once were. Ageless and immortal, turning others into their slaves - into more monsters. Many ordinary folk have the pleasure to not yet realize that they exist in this world, or else people would lose a lot of sleep. They're monsters that shouldn't exist."

Yuji looked at her. Despite how calm she sounded, there was a subtle detest in Ciel's tone directed towards the monsters in mention. Yuji remembered the sight of her reaction when they first came upon those victims - the anger. Even if she tried to hide it, she was repulsed by whatever and whoever put them in that state.

"...I'm sorry. I shouldn't have doubted you."

Yuji shouldn't have thought she was being dismissive of all that suffering. She cared for those people. She was just trying to focus on saving the ones she could. Being a vampire hunter herself, she must have seen a lot of horrors.

"I've been talking big from the start," Yuji acknowledged this. Accepting the reality of his ineptitude. "I couldn't do a single thing against that curse. That punch I threw, it didn't even hurt it."

"Hm. To be fair, it had some "help". That cursed finger made it abnormally strong, even for a Special Grade," Ciel said. On any other lower grade curse, that single punch from Yuji - fueled by cursed energy - would have been enough to exorcise almost completely. She appreciated the apology, though. "We're lucky that it couldn't leave its point of origin, or else there'd be more casualties."

"Is it really a good idea to leave that cursed finger behind?" Yuji blinked. "Also, what do you mean by 'point of origin'?"

"Right now, your well-being matters more." Ignoring Yuji's doe-eyed reaction to that, Ciel resumed. "My black keys will shield the cursed finger until another sorcerer arrives to collect it."

Not only preventing other curses from claiming it, but also to suppress the cursed finger's "scent" that draws curses towards it.

"Despite whatever power that cursed finger has, however, it seems it wasn't enough to free the curse womb from this facility," Ciel said. "When a curse is born, it lingers around its "birthplace", likely because it's where the source of its power derives from. There are exceptions to this, such as Sukuna, because he'd been a human once. But curses who are born from negative feelings towards a place - such as an abandoned house or a hospital, will be more or less "stuck" there."

Theoretically, if one were to give negative thoughts to something much more broad, like forest fires or the ocean, than a curse would be able to traverse a little more freely - though it's likely due to that possible scenario that a strong barrier around Japan was even made, else there'd be more and more curses everywhere, like the ones here.

"Sadly, vampires don't have that limitations." Ciel lets out a sigh at this. "Not even the myth that they can't cross running water ever really stops them."

There wouldn't be a dead apostle here if that were especially true.

"Really? What about when you don't invite them into your house?" Yuji asked curiously.

"Please don't take every myth you hear as fact... but no, not even that." Ciel heard Yuji quietly gasp as if his world view was shattered, and she amusingly pursed her lips in agreement. It's admirable how much he's kept his light-hearted attitude even after losing an arm. "It's another reason why dead apostles are considered more dangerous than curses. While curses are usually contained by their environment..."

...Dead Apostles don't have such restrictions.

The rain continued to fell over the vampire's entire figure, but not a single drop bounced off from him. His dull white hair and black coat remained completely dry. It was as if the raindrops evaporated as soon as they get close, disappearing like he wore some kind of invisible barrier that swallowed them whole.

They invade like parasites in the human body, eating away and infecting all those around them, spreading their influence to take over an entire town.

Nobara's nervous sweat blended into the rain, eyeing at the enemy as if a second of lost focus would have her instantly killed. However, she intentionally did not linger to that one specific trait Ciel had warned her and her class about. What most vampires were likely to possess.

Even if you know how to make a barrier that would impede the vampire's movements, it takes a lot of work to keep one dead apostle trapped for so long.

"...Интересный. The moment you saw me, you instinctively avoid meeting my gaze."

His language switched from Russian to Japanese with ease. A slow voice as if each word was heavy and dry. Normally, he would not waste such words with the ordinary, but this was beyond the realm of "ordinary". His tomb was invaded, and now this area reeked with an absolutely foul residue, even from where he stood, even under this weather.

The vampire could detect Nobara's shielding in her head, protecting herself from mind reading, or the effects of hypnotism - the abruptness of it indicated she never expected to do so, but was adept to know how to anyway. His intuition was on point then. This was a mage.

Not that it mattered. For Vlov, when it came to what he desired, he will pursue it on the forefront. Doing so, he will burn everything in his way, even this city infested with souls that were rotten to the core.

"Then... I shall come to you."

After a moment of stillness, the vampire started to walk.

Nobara pulled one heel back. Her hand clutched her hammer tightly. Here it was, a beast in the shape of a man she only heard horror stories about. Of course, she was a little nervous. This overwhelming pressure akin to her journey through the curse womb's domain.

This guy is on a different level... She determined this after only catching a glimpse of his eyes - those empty, bottomless pits of his. A walking dead in every sense. He's not even looking at me. He wants to get into the detention center!

Of course she had to fight. She had to move. She needed to get a hold of herself while this vampire was heading straight towards her. Yet, there was barely any rush. The vampire was calm, like he had all the time in the world. Not even raising his guard as he attempted to close the distance. This was someone who, although acknowledged Nobara's level of control, still recognized her as inexperienced - someone who wouldn't put up much of a fight. Easy prey, in other words.

She didn't care to be underestimated, but in this case, maybe that was a good thing. She could get the jump on him when he least expected it.

"Arf-!"

The black divine dog launched itself from her side and dashed for the vampire, much to Nobara's surprise. Recognizing a threat, the familiar acted upon its instincts and its summoner's command: Assist Kugisaki.

Although the black divine dog was quick, the dead apostle's response was immediate. A flicker of flame from the edges of his fingers, and upon raising his hand, the flames erupted from his palm. A claw-shaped orange ball of fire, like the open mouth of a dragon.

"-!" Nobara found her grit at the threat of her life, and she rushed to the side.

There was the sound of a dog's whine, and it faded into the flames. The fiery claw shot past Nobara and crashed into the side of the detention center building. The raindrops instantly evaporated at the attack, like a tunnel of pocket air freed from the cold.

Embedded on the side of the building, in a circle of flames and cracked stone, was the charred body of Megumi's divine dog, unmoving.

Recovering, Nobara did not waste another second. She pulled out several iron nails in between her fingers and slammed her hammer at the ends of them, firing five of them in one hit.

The dead apostle was unphased. A wall of blue fire enveloped his body, and it expanded. The area was coated in an intense glow - a captivating light spectacle of flickering flames.

Nobara's iron nails didn't get very far. As soon as they were close to the vampire's body, his arm moved from under his coat. A long, hatchet-like sword was unveiled, and he swung once. The iron nails were instantly decimated, completely crushed to bits at his single motion, and the cursed energy the nails carried melted into his flames.

It wasn't even a contest. Although Vlov had never encountered a jujutsu sorcerer before, he had dealt with mages in his lifespan as a dead apostle. He knew exactly how to defend himself against such craft, even one as unfamiliar and not-as-worldly as cursed energy.

"...Is this all this country's sorcerers amount to?"

How pitiful.

Nobara stared in disbelief, her eyes dried doing so, and she blinked rapidly to regain their moisture. That was it. She gave it her all with that swing. If not even her nails could reach the dead apostle, then no physical attacks would.

Can I use his flames against him? I've done it with a curse's limb, but nothing as intangible as an element.

Another problem was that the flames were too hot to approach. The attack that took out Megumi's shikigami, Nobara wasn't sure she'd be able to survive that even if she protected herself with cursed energy. And if that didn't work...

At Nobara's halt, the vampire moved once more, seeing her lack of movement as a silent admittance of defeat.

I can run to the detention center, but I have a feeling he'd catch up to me easily. To turn her back towards the enemy was the worst possible move. She was sure her neck would get bit. No other choice then.

Plucking one iron nail from her pouch, Nobara held out her hammer ready. "You haven't seen nothing yet."

She'll just have to face his fire head on. If she survives long enough - or stay conscious, she could perform Soul Resonance on his flame claw. It was a stretch, an insane one, but it was all or nothing.

Nobara was certain she'll die after that, but with a monster like this, a monster who did that to all those people in the facility, she couldn't let him get past her without a fight. She didn't want to imagine what he'd do to someone like Yuji or Megumi, as little as she's come to know them - having only shared classes and assignments for two weeks. That happy imbecile especially didn't deserve a fate like that.

She wasn't doing this to be a hero. She just refused to back down anymore. She refused to let this monster proceed without a little scratch on him. And, most of all, she refused to let this bloodsucker get away unscathed after his blood-ridden lair got her uniform dirty that no wash would ever clean - she wouldn't be able to get the stench off for weeks. Nobara won't be satisfied until she delivered at least one good blow as payback.

Vlov gauge the sorcerer with an unreadable look, then he raised his hand. Though his nature as a vampire would savor this chance to devour the blood of a young maiden, against a mage, he would first ensure she was defenseless.

Orange flame swarmed his palm, and he threw another large, flaming claw.

"-gisaki!"

Over the whirring fire, Yuji's voice reached Nobara's ears.

Ciel rushed past Nobara. With a single wave of her hand, the executor repelled the incoming attack. The flames spread out from her outstretch. This time, the executor was fully prepared. "Apologies, Kugisaki. I've kept you waiting."

"Damn right you did." Nobara raised her arms to defend herself from the heat. "I figured you'd be out right away. I'll be honest, I didn't do much to stall him."

This was Nobara's plan all along. On the chance that she couldn't do much against this unfamiliar opponent, she would simply have to wait for the vampire expert to get here. This was the third - no, the fourth time Ciel shielded her. Nobara really owed that girl a latte and curry after this.

"You did well," Ciel said as the flames died out, and she lowered her uninjured hand. "Although, I would have preferred you left with the others, this actually works best for me."

Ciel glanced over her shoulder. "I'll need someone to help me with Yuji-kun, while I deal with this new enemy."

"Kugisaki! Are you alright?!" Yuji ran up to them from behind. He caught up quickly after he was abruptly set down in the facility hall by Ciel when the nun sensed something was wrong. Although this was done to keep Yuji safe, and he was aware of that, he came anyway.

Nobara turned around. "Itadori!"

She took one look at him and was shocked. "Holy shit! Your arm! What did that curse womb do to you?!"

"Oh. I nearly got bodied, but Ciel saved me." Yuji's answer was simple and to the point. He stopped beside Nobara. "Did Fushiguro get out too?"

"Y-Yeah." It stumped Nobara why that was Yuji's only worry, when his state was even worse than Megumi's. That broody guy suffered a serious head trauma, but Yuji - he was mutilated.

"An executor...?"

The dreary, deep voice of the enemy ceased their chatter. Yuji looked upon the lone man covered in blue flames, taken aback by his appearance - the hunger in those eyes.

It was the same feeling as Yuji's confrontation with the curse womb. A haunting air from the pale figure in dark clothes, the distance so far between humanity, and that which stood there. Is that...?

"So you've already appeared." Vlov's eyes remained sullen despite this minor surprise. "Your nose is sharp, as befits a dog of the Church."

A vein popped at the vampire's temple. His cold expression cracked. The sight of it sends a chill down the sorcerers spines.

"To think it was your stench that has infiltrated my domain, and to even aid mages. When did dogs decide to run with crows?" An intensity in the dead apostle's speech, his glare full of hate against the mortal enemy of his kind.

There's no mistake. Yuji's teeth gritted. Fear and anger coiled his heart at his remembrance of the victims in that lair, and the numerous living dead that were of someone's loved ones. That place was this guy's doing. A real vampire!

Ciel contemplated as she observed the dead apostle. It seemed all the commotion finally caught his attention. This weather also provided excellent cover for him, so there was no issue of travelling, and therefore, he came much quicker than Ciel anticipated. She would have preferred to confront him alone after waiting for him in the detention center, but it couldn't be helped now.

The fact that he didn't try to cloak his presence, simply revealing himself, he did not care for discretion - not much anyway. This was a vampire who would loudly ravage this city dry, the most dangerous sort of being - a monster who had lost all sanity.

"I should ask you the same question," Ciel threw back in an even tone, securing her position between the dead apostle and the sorcerers. "You've set up your lair in a place filled with curses. A ripe ground, no doubt, with all the inmates and staff you can feed off of easily, but I'm surprised you would affiliate yourself with those entities."

The dead apostle's expression cooled as the executor continued.

"I've also heard of a shipwreck that was discovered off coast the other day. A small, empty vessel, but signs indicate that it had been carrying only one cargo. Did that belong to you?"

Due to the timing and the location of the shipwreck - miles away from Tokyo, no one could immediately verify the nature of the boat, just that it'd been there for some time. Ciel only heard of the news this morning, and although she had her suspicions, she could not abandon her duties to investigate, and by then, Satoru had already left the city.

"Yes... That was my vessel," the vampire admitted. "I have crossed seas seeking treatment for my state, and as of recent... revenge."

After discovering essences of that man's presence, Vlov shifted his goals somewhat. It was where he'd been the other night, searching. He had made a detour after feeling lethargic - his state not yet adjusted to this country's air, and only awoke once the sun was completely obscured.

"It's true that this place once harbored these spirits you call "curses"." Vlov closed his eyes as if recalling his first impression upon arrival. "I've eradicated them upon settling here. I could not bear the stink of their wretched existence - these annoyances I see everywhere. A truly deplorable city, this is."

Is this for real...? Yuji was stunned as he listened to the exchange. They're actually having a conversation.

It was nothing like what happened with the curse womb. The cursed spirit wanted a fight. To torture. To sadistically pleasure itself before killing. There was no words given. Just chuckles and shrills.

It was that of a savage beast - simple as that. But here, Ciel and the dead apostle - they almost sounded cordial with each other. Even someone like Sukuna did nothing but curse all day.

That only pissed off Yuji more. If a vampire could talk, could think, could act like a human, then Yuji had to believe they were capable of reason. And yet this thing willingly did that to all those innocent people?!

"What happened here..." Vlov re-opened his eyes. "As if a rotten fruit was left for flies and rats to gather... that was not my doing."

"I see... I suppose not."

The idea of a dead apostle being responsible for bringing in an unsealed cursed finger, causing everything to happen, was rather peculiar.

"It wouldn't really make any sense, even if you are just another run-of-the-mill dead apostle who craved nothing but blood." Despite holding the conversation with an ancient being, Ciel was overall unimpressed. There was no diplomacy with such creatures, not ones that turn humans into meat bags. "I won't bother asking for your name. I'll fill in the blanks in my reports somehow. Your quest to have your fill that will never come, it ends here."

Nobara heard the inciting action in Ciel's words and readied herself, stepping a little further in front of Yuji. Yuji saw Nobara adjust her stance and footing, and he followed in suit. Even though he was in no condition to fight, he couldn't let himself be a burden to his comrades.

The air around the vampire grew hotter, and he spat out, baring his rows of fangs, "Filthy executor... Aren't you cold? Do you not understand my suffering?"

To feed again, and again, all to ease what was hollow - unstable, inside.

"I do not. The heat, the cold... I left them both long ago." There was no understanding between them, nor would it justify anything if there was. It all ultimately amounts to will power. One that this dead apostle so evidently lacked.

Yuji perked his head up at that, wondering about the context of that question and response. It almost sounded like the vampire recognized Ciel, though it was a sentiment not shared by her.

But more importantly, what did she mean by that?

"I see..." Perhaps disappointed that he could not find kinship in this "familiar" opponent, Vlov raised his hand once more. "What a difficult woman."

There was nothing more to be said, and he released his blue-hot fury. It was a massive river of inferno. Simply running from it would not be enough.

Yuji and Nobara ducked behind Ciel. The executor, unphased, braced the rushing element with her body, shielding the sorcerers behind her. Unlike the flaming hand from before, the blue flames were purely constructed out of Magecraft. As someone of her condition and abilities, it had no effect on her.

He's clearly not of the usual dead apostle variety. Ciel fathomed as she stood firm, slipping her fingers through the slits of her habit and gripping the handles of three black keys. I could engage immediately, but getting any closer would leave Itadori and Kugisaki exposed to these flames.

She could bide her time and let the dead apostle unleash his power, have him use up his blood until he ran out, then kill him when he's weak. However, Yuji needed to be brought to a hospital right away. His state could worsen at any moment and his life would forfeit. Waiting around was not an option either.

That only leaves me with one other choice. Seeking course for immediate action as her best approach, Ciel readied her black keys. She'll have to set up another barrier for the sorcerers, then simultaneously attack the dead apostle. Refocusing her power would momentarily leave her exposed and thus, have her suffer the "burn". But that was not an issue, as long as she could remain conscious long enough to end it in one go.

THUNK-!

There was an abrupt noise and a flicker of movement in the corner of Ciel's eye. Surprised, she glanced over. "-?! Yuji-kun?!"

A door that was once attached to the detention center slammed upright into the ground. Yuji stood behind it, having ripped it off its hinges and holding it up with his half fingers and limb. Nobara was there beside him, helping him with his grip by placing her hand over his on top of the handle. The pair strained against the flames, the door the only thing protecting them, instead of Ciel.

"What are you doing-?!" Before Ciel would tell them to get back, Yuji spoke.

"His fire. It doesn't affect objects." Yuji had been watching the vampire's surroundings, noticing a peculiarity under the blue fire's existence - the grass dying but not necessarily burning. He decided to use the door as his proof. "Look. It isn't leaving any burn marks or smoke. The rain isn't doing anything to it either. That means his fire only affects something that's alive."

Ciel was taken aback by his astute observation. Of course, she knew the nature of the blue flames already. She just didn't expect Yuji to come to that conclusion as well, especially one as new as him. To be able to think and comprehend so quickly while likely in severe pain and under pressure. Ciel was admittedly amazed.

"Go! We'll be fine here!" Yuji said. "Don't worry about us! Just take him out now!"

They need to finish him off fast. They had to exorcise this monster and prevent anymore deaths, right here and now.

Ciel looked at Yuji a little longer, once more surprised by his perceptiveness of her intentions, and then she shifted her attention onto the dead apostle. She adjusted her stance and hold of her black keys accordingly, perceiving this window of opportunity.

He might have made a good sorcerer after all. Her impression on Yuji changed at this moment.

Ciel launched herself with a single push of her foot. Like a cannon firing, she pierced through the blue sea of flames.

Vlov looked slightly alarmed by her change of approach. Though he had counted on her arrogance, he did not consider those two mages to be her support in that manner, even if not as powerful as the girl before him.

He relinquished his attack and held out his sword. Come, Executor.

Recognizing the threat before him, he readied himself like a knight being charged by a bull.

It was a clash of blades, sparks flying in the dancing fire - where only two out of the select could stand in it. Vlov destroyed several black keys with his sword, each silver blade shattered like fragile glass, no matter their dexterity stronger than steel. His speed was inhuman, capable of deflecting bullets from a gatling gun without exerting himself.

The executor continued with her onslaught as she drew close. Direct battle would be unwise, but what she was aiming for was an instant kill. If she infused most of her magical power into one blade, she could end this right away.

Vlov sensed her plan, his instincts warning him of impending doom, and he gestured his hand behind himself. "Defend me."

The shadow behind his feet extended, and two hounds jumped out. One immediately took a hit from Ciel's black key that aimed for Vlov's heart, its savage noise dwindled into a whimper before dying. The hound fell in front of Vlov, where its flesh was consumed by the fire.

Ciel did not stagger. She resumed even as a second hound went for her with its maw open, looking to tear her throat out. Ciel simply prepared another black key. A familiar of this caliber was easy picking for her.

Snap.

At the sound of Vlov's fingers, the lines in the dog's cracked flesh glowed a bright orange. Ciel's eyes widened, and she watched as the hound's body ignited. An explosive, orange blast engulfed her fully before she could react. The heat so intense a dome of air was created all around them, the rain instantly turning into vapor.

"Ciel!" Yuji heard the explosion. The bright orange glow mixed with blue streaked across the ground next to his feet, the door's shadow growing longer over him and Nobara. Yuji felt the metal door handle get hotter. Even with his fingers wrapped, it was like putting his hand in a frying pan.

"Itadori!" Nobara could feel the heat increase through Yuji's hand, and she called his name out of worry.

"Don't let go!" Yuji only said, refusing to bend even as his hand felt like it was on fire. The door suffered under the orange flames, leaving burn marks at its edges unlike the blue. If he lets go, they'd be burned alive.

This wasn't a problem for him. He practically faced the same thing against the curse womb's energy blast. This was nothing!

From the orange blast, Ciel pushed through. The ends of her nun habit had singes, but Ciel merely pressed on, successfully pushing one black key into Vlov's stomach.

"Gnh-!" Vlov bared his fangs and swung his weapon. The force behind his swing was strong enough to part the sea of flames into two. The shockwave reached Yuji and Nobara, and they barely hung onto the door that trembled under the rushing wind.

This was their indication that Vlov was still fighting Ciel, meaning she was alright. That gave Yuji the strength to keep the door up and shield his classmate. Come on! We can do this!

Ciel leapt back a few times. With a snap of her own fingers, her Cremation Rite - at full power - was ignited.

A huge chunk of Vlov's stomach was blown apart. Red fire swarmed his center, incinerating his internal organs.

"Haaaa...!" Vlov gasped out, ashes fell from his mouth. The pain ate away his blood as he used it to immediately douse the burning sacraments and restore himself. "This fire... Even with this..."

He turned back for the executor. The frustration in his tone entirely separate from his current predicament. He was not angry that the executor inflicted damage onto him, but rather...

"I still feel the cold."

He said it as if he was irritated that Ciel could not deliver a better attack than this.

Ciel's feet skidded to a stop. Her eyes narrowed at the foe.

He survived that... She was hoping, at least, that that would cripple him completely, before finishing him off with her Baptism Rite. The dead apostle was much tougher than Ciel expected. This was becoming far too strange now, enough to bring a sense of unease in Ciel.

The vampire had his focus on her. His mid-section was still healing, but without waiting to catch his breath - or whatever semblance of life he had for himself, he rushed for the executor. Like a streak of black and blue, he met Ciel with his sword, intending to gut her through.

Ciel foresaw the action and pulled out more black keys. As of this point, she used up over fifty - the majority of them spent in her venture through the curse womb's domain. She was confident, however, that even a few black keys would be enough to defeat this enemy. But before that, she would need to sacrifice some first.

Vlov's sword came for her head. Ciel raised her blades and they took the brunt of his attack, all shattering in one blow under the dead apostle's strength. Their shards impeding the dead apostle's vision somewhat.

One black key was spared, and she ducked under Vlov's sword with it. She prepared to insert it into Vlov's side, confident that this would surely do the trick.

"ARF-!"

A vicious noise broke through the flame. Ciel was caught off guard by the presence of another familiar and she quickly jumped back to avoid its teeth. She felt the rush of wind from it akin to a motorcycle speeding by.

"That's-!" Ciel was shocked. A large, wolf-like beast with charred black fur that bled fire from its shoulders, eyes, and mouth. It glared with an intense hunger in its red eyes, standing between her and its new master.

Fushiguro's Divine Dog!

Megumi must have left it here to aid Nobara in case something went wrong. Ciel's intuition of the dead apostle's flame was correct then. There was an infectious nature to it, turning those who endured the vampiric flames into more dead foot soldiers. It's even able to effect curses - including someone else's familiars.

"Cold..."

Ciel looked on confused at the dead apostle. The blue fire around him seemed to be acting strange too, steadily receding towards him.

"It's... so cold here...!" The dead apostle gritted his fangs tightly. The stress in between them threatening to crack. "Will this storm never cease... in the depths of my soul?!... This horrid element!"

He wanted to vomit it all out. This disgusting essence in his system...

Something's happening... Ciel clenched her fists, a faint sweat at her temple. By this point, he should have exhausted himself already. But his blue inferno hasn't fizzled out yet. He could not have this much blood left.

She felt an unusual built-up energy within the dead apostle. The instability in his form and the flames all around them becoming more and more apparent, so much so, there was not a hint of purity. The opposite, in fact.

Negative energy? Ciel's brows furrowed. Was it possible?

Had he been feeding off of cursed spirits? No, rather, he'd been feeding off of people in this city who carried cursed energy. Those that were not sorcerers but have the potential. If he was containing both negative and positive energy, but his body was struggling to utilize one of them. There's a chance he could expel both powers all at once.

What would come out of that would likely be similar to the aftermath of a nuke being dropped. The entire compound would be irradiated, luring in cursed spirits here by the mile. They'll be overwhelmed.

I have to end this now!

However, the familiar before her was no mere dead animal, unlike those other hounds. The flaming shikigami moved with such ferocity, forcing Ciel to deflect its quick attacks with her black keys. As much as she did not wish to exorcise what was Megumi's, she had no choice.

She thrusted her black key, but the black divine dog bit her blade and shatter it with its fangs. Its reaction and timing almost unparalleled to the average familiar. The evolution in its strength so jarring once an experienced and powerful handler held its leash.

The black, flaming divine dog reared its head for Ciel and opened its maw. Its fangs coated with saliva as its hot breath hits her face. A single bite from this creature would boil her insides, she was certain of this.

The divine dog's body was slammed aside by a metal door. Its body bounced across the ground as the pair of sorcerers stopped in front of Ciel.

"Are you okay?!" Yuji asked from over Nobara's head, shifting the door towards the blue flames.

"What the hell? Was that Fushiguro's dog?" Nobara looked over at the mutt who recovered from the attack quickly. "Did that vampire turned it into a zombie? I didn't realize he can do that!"

Ciel was a little stunned by their - yet again - intervention. She did not respond to Yuji's question but did consider Nobara's. Indeed, it was such an abnormal accomplishment. Such as which no mere dead apostle could just achieve.

Unless... Ciel's brows rose. Realization crept in her face. It can't be...

"Cold..."

The trio looked back at the dead apostle who uttered. Vlov's body trembled with unrestrained agony. His expression tightened into a deep grimace.

"Cold...!"

It's not possible! The window of opportunity was closing. Ciel's face broke into a panic. Why? Why here of all places?!

They were out of time. Despite all their efforts, the abnormality of this dead apostle's state and abilities - his condition which only hasten his instability, had prevented them from immediately slaying the vampire, what would have been the best method.

What's happening to him? Yuji looked on in bewilderment. He's in pain?

Not that he had any sympathy, but it definitely didn't look comfortable.

"Yuji-kun! Kugisaki!" Ciel shouted at the duo who quickly looked back at her, startled by the urgency in her voice. "You need to get out of here now!"

The flames gathered and crowded all around Vlov. The ashes in his breath turned into white steam.

"I made a mistake! This isn't a normal dead apostle!"

Above Yuji's right cheek, Sukuna's eye parted open to gaze at the writhing dead apostle. His ability...

Vlov clutched his chest, the excruciating pain reaching its peak. "It's so cold here...!"

"-He's an Ancestor!" Ciel, at last, revealed.

Erupting from the deepest well of Vlov's chest, his true power was unleashed.

Author's Note: I forgot whether Vlov could use Mystic Eyes to mind control people. It's apparently a standard for dead apostles but I don't recall if he ever uses it. If he has, I'll change that part about it in this chapter.

Got a lot of work to do for the next part. I hope you guys will like what I have in store. Until then!