This was Iris and Diego's first fight together, yet their teamwork was superb. It wasn't an easy battle, but they fought waiting for openings as Hunters should and came out on top without receiving a single injury. Diego took out two while Iris took out 24. A single vampire remained.
"Just one more."
"Look Diego, this one has a weapon."
"Oh, you're right. There's a blade on his back."
"You two fought well." The last vampire speaks.
"Oh boy. Is it just me, or…"
"Ye-Yeah, I have a bad feeling about this…"
The blonde vampire draws his blade.
"I was tasked with disposing of Ariel Ryuji, however I ought to avenge my fallen comrades whom you've stricken down first."
"He's saying something cool. Don't you think he let us kill them, like he was observing?"
"Yeah, maybe. He must be convinced he's the boss of guarding the mansion or something."
The two whisper to each other.
"May my radiant light pierce the heavens."
The vampire raises his sword upwards and a golden ray beams into the night sky.
"Shoyo.."
"Yeah. This guy is strong."
The two spectators outside the gates watch as perhaps one of the strongest vampires in Shioto has revealed himself.
"Diego, get ready to dodge!" Iris shouts as quickly as she can, she feels an attack coming. In a second, a golden slash projectile is thrust right at them spanning 15 feet which could hit them both at once. They jump out of the way in time, and the slash breaks a couple of statues that were several feet behind them. Iris realizes she has no choice but to close the distance, otherwise that ray of light will cut her down. Charging at him, her several attacks are being effortlessly parried.
Diego doesn't interfere, he can't. 'If I try to step in, I'll be killed. Iris won't be able to protect me against this guy.'
Iris's blade gets knocked out of her hands with the vampire's first swing which seemed like it was as easy as hitting a stick off a child. Iris has met her match. Her left arm gets grabbed.
"You humans here are so fragile. Look, all I have to do to immobilize you is this."
Snap.
"AAHHHHHHHHHH!"
He dislocated Iris's arm and proceeds to violently throw her at a statue, inducing great pain in her back. Falling to her right side while holding her arm, she can only continue to scream in agony.
"That girl can't win this fight." Dallas unsheathes his blade. But Shoyo stops him without looking at him or saying anything. His gaze is focused on Iris. His eyes are saying something to the girl writhing in pain, but she can't see them.
'Why… I know Mr. Shoyo is there. Why isn't he helping me?' The girl tilts her head to look at the vampire who is slowly approaching her, and fear overcomes her. Iris is scared. For the first time, she's faced with an opponent stronger than her. She believes there's nothing she can do. However, nobody has ever let her give up so easily.
"IRIS!!"
Her eyes shift to the man yelling her name. It was Shoyo, who entered the courtyard and her field of view. But it doesn't look like he intends to help, so what's the point of him doing this? The answer comes to the young girl. Last year in the parking lot, Iris didn't think she could actually beat 50 vampires by herself. Yet somehow, Shoyo knew she could. Shoyo is aware of just how much she can handle, and what she can't. Without wiping her tears away, she gets on her feet.
'I'm here to save Chifuyu. He and Mr. Shoyo have so much faith in me, I can't let them down.'
Unarmed, she rushes forward, evading the vampire's attacks.
'Push the fear to the back of my mind. I've come this far haven't I? I need to have faith… IN MYSELF!'
She successfully gets her blade back. The vampire was already aware there were a couple of Hunters outside the gate. For now, his sights are set on the girl in front of him. Only able to use one arm, Iris pushes again once more. The two have a fierce clash. No attack is landing on either side, they're deflecting each other's attacks. Even with only her right arm, Iris is keeping up more so than before. But her blade gets knocked away once more and he goes for the finishing blow. She evades at the last second rolling around him. The vampire realizes she intentionally let him disarm her this time. By the time he turned around, Iris already landed a clean slash on him. Diego tossed her his blade in the moment Iris was in his blind spot. The vampire coughs up blood. A deep gash across the chest was the best she could manage, unfortunately it wasn't enough. This can be healed in seconds if there's no following pressure being put on him.
"Your name is Iris, human?"
Breathing heavily, she tries to catch her breath but can't. Not knowing why though, she answers the vampire. "Yes.."
"Stand proud Iris, you are strong."
'What are you, the king of the curses?' Iris laughs as she collapses from exhaustion. Just before she falls to the ground, Shoyo teleports and catches her with something of a proud smile on his face.
"I believe you're who they call the strongest Hunter. Who's this with you?"
"The most handsome guy in the world, second to me of course… Hey kid, take Iris!"
Running over as fast as he can, he grabs Iris and carries her away to the side of the mansion.
"That was crazy! Are you the reincarnation of a great warrior or something?"
"Hehe… You're strong too, even though you didn't go to the Academy."
"Yeah, I must take over from my piece of shit old man."
"I-I see…"
"I'm sorry I couldn't help against that guy. I—"
As he sits Iris down, she cuts him off. "It-Its's okay. We can still help the others inside. Isn't that why you grabbed our blades?"
"Yeah, but you're injured."
"I-I can still fight."
Diego smiles unable to hide his concern.
"Alright. Let's go help the others and come back with Chifuyu in tow."
Iris grins. "In a minute, I need to catch my breath."
"For sure."
Meanwhile, it appears a big fight is about to take place.
"Let's see.. If I had to guess, your strength is probably on par with Ariel's."
"What makes you say that?"
"Just a feeling. Your vibe is off from every other vampire I've run into. I'd even go as far as to say you're a Vampire Lord."
The blonde vampire scowls without saying a word.
"Enough talk Shoyo, it doesn't matter who he is. We're taking him out."
Shoyo and Dallas unsheathe their blades.