The sun hung high, painfully bright for a day that felt wrong from the start.
Food and supplies had finally reached them. Packs were tightened, weapons checked, and the march resumed toward the Death God's castle. Three more months. That was all that remained.
Arin walked ahead of the group, faster than usual.
"Move," he urged, glancing back. "We're wasting time."
Before anyone could answer, the air twisted.
A presence dropped behind him—heavy, suffocating.
Blue armor gleamed like polished sapphire, veins of crimson-white light running across its surface. In the monster's hand rested a massive axe, its edge humming with restrained violence.
"Arin—get away!" Byukoten shouted.
Too late.
The figure stepped forward, voice calm, ancient, and absolute.
"I am Shiyeko Nufokreta," it said. "The last pureblooded vampire. Emperor of my kind."
In a blink, the axe moved.
Arin felt the world snap sideways as he was hurled through a crumbling building, stone exploding around him. He hit the ground hard, breath torn from his lungs.
"Arin!" Hanase ran to him, hands already glowing as she dropped to her knees.
Byukoten turned sharply. "Neblaheim. Protect her."
Neblaheim hesitated. "Then what about you?"
Byukoten smiled—not wide, not confident. Just steady.
"Don't worry. I won't die here."
Another presence landed.
Shetako stepped out of the shadows, eyes narrowing as he took in the scene.
Shiyeko tilted his head slightly. "Ah. You arrived at the perfect time. Watch closely. You may learn something."
Shetako lunged.
His kick never landed.
Shiyeko caught his leg effortlessly and spun, hurling Shetako straight into Byukoten.
"Do not interfere," Shiyeko said calmly. "If you do, you will die as well."
Byukoten didn't answer.
He stepped forward and punched.
Shiyeko caught his arm.
Shetako appeared behind Shiyeko in the same instant and drove a kick into his back. The emperor slid forward, boots carving lines through stone, then straightened as if nothing had happened.
He vanished.
Reappeared behind them.
Byukoten was kicked hard, sent skidding across the ground. Shetako swung, but Shiyeko caught his arm, twisted, and slammed him down with crushing force.
Byukoten rushed back in and struck again.
Elbow met fist.
Impact thundered.
Shetako hooked Shiyeko's leg, wrenching his balance just enough. Byukoten capitalized, driving a kick into Shiyeko's side—but the emperor caught his arm mid-motion and brought his foot down.
Shetako screamed as the stomp cracked the ground beneath him.
Byukoten grabbed him and leapt back.
"Every vampire in your lineage a bastard like you?" Byukoten spat.
Shiyeko's eyes flickered. "Focus on the fight."
Byukoten threw Shetako.
Shiyeko blocked with his elbow, twisted to counter—
—and Byukoten came down from above, foot crashing into Shiyeko's shoulder.
Shiyeko seized his leg and hurled him away.
Shetako struck next, fist smashing into Shiyeko's face, sending him flying. Byukoten followed, launching him skyward with a brutal kick.
Shetako leapt after him, flames bursting from his fist as he drove an inferno-enhanced punch into Shiyeko midair.
For a moment—just a moment—it looked like it worked.
Then Shiyeko appeared.
His fist buried itself into Shetako's chest and sent him crashing into a wall.
He turned.
Stood in front of Byukoten.