I surveyed the area, my gaze darting through the eerie stillness, but there wasn't a soul in sight.
"There's no way… right?!"
My voice echoed faintly, swallowed by the oppressive air. My gut twisted as I turned to face the throbbing gate, looming ominously before me. It was far larger than I remembered, its pulsating surface emanating a barely audible, whispering cry—like a sinister heartbeat.
"Miss Martha!" I called, desperation seeping into my voice.
No answer. Not even a whisper. The silence was deafening.
"Th-there's no way… right?"
A bead of cold sweat slid down my temple, my stomach knotting as a dreadful realization gripped me. My eyes flicked back to the grotesque gate, now larger and more sinister than ever.
"You can't be serious…"
The gate hadn't birthed any monsters this time, yet its ominous presence screamed of something far worse. My breath hitched. There was no doubt—Miss Martha had entered the gate. But why?
"Tsk!"
My fists clenched, anger and panic bubbling within me. The thought of her stepping into that hellish maw alone sent my thoughts spiraling. What fate awaited her on the other side? Nothing good.
"Abandon all hope, ye who enter here," I muttered bitterly, recalling the grim quote by Dante Alegre. Well, it seemed I had no choice but to dive in after her.
Without a second thought—and without alerting the others—I rushed toward the gate, the mushy texture of the door squelching under my palm as I pushed it open.
"Ugh, gross!" I grimaced, but there was no turning back.
The door groaned open with a long, eerie creak, releasing a blast of cold air that sent a shiver down my spine.
And then, I stepped through.
---
What greeted me beyond the door was a suffocating mist. Thick, black tendrils of fog swirled around me, clinging to my skin and obscuring my vision.
"This is… not your everyday mist," I muttered, squinting as I pressed forward. The air felt heavy, as though it was alive, brushing against my face like ghostly hands.
Finally, I emerged from the oppressive fog into a landscape that sent chills crawling down my spine.
"What the hell…?"
A vast, barren desert stretched endlessly before me, its ground cracked and lifeless. Dead trees jutted from the earth like skeletal fingers, their twisted forms reaching toward the crimson sky. In the distance, vulture-like creatures circled ominously, their silhouettes blotting out the dim, blood-red sun.
"This isn't Earth… not by a long shot."
I glanced around, searching desperately for any sign of Martha.
"Miss Martha! Where are you?"
Nothing. Not even a hint of her presence or Mana signature.
"This isn't natural," I muttered, narrowing my eyes. "I followed her through the gate, but there's no trace of her here…"
As if on cue, a shimmering distortion appeared before me, warping the air like a heat mirage. My instincts screamed at me to back away, but I stood my ground, bracing for whatever was coming.
Slowly, the figure solidified, taking on a humanoid shape. But its appearance was anything but reassuring.
Creepy as heck.
"What's this, what's this?"
The figure's deep, monstrous voice sent a chill down my spine. It swayed as it spoke, its singsong tone oddly disconcerting.
"Wow, wow! Wow, wow, wow! A human! A human!"
I blinked, incredulous. Was this thing seriously… singing?
"You can talk?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. I must admit, I was mildly impressed. Up until now, every demon I'd faced was a groaning, brainless brute.
"Of course, I can!" it boomed, feigning offense. "To lump me with those mindless beasts—oh, the indignity! I'm hurt, I'm hurt!"
This guy was enjoying himself.
"Yeah, well, good for you," I replied, folding my arms. "But enough small talk. I've got a question."
"Hm? Ask away, ask away! I'll answer if I can!" it chirped, practically vibrating with enthusiasm.
"A woman," I said, my voice firm. "Have you seen a human woman wander through here?"
"Ohhhh," it drawled, its tone shifting to bemusement. "Yes, yes, indeed! A human woman! I've seen one!"
My heart leaped. "Really? Where is she? Where did she go?"
But at my question, the creature's jovial demeanor soured. Its form began to distort, rippling like a mirage as a low, guttural growl escaped it.
"Ohhh! So, you'll leave? For her? For that woman?!"
My gut churned. I should've known better than to trust anything in this realm. This thing wasn't just some bystander—it was a demon.
"Envy! I envy that woman!" it roared, its voice deepening into a thunderous bellow. "I envy her for having someone to save her! ENVY!"
The distortion intensified, and with a violent burst, the figure transformed. What stood before me now was a monstrous serpent, its massive body coiling across the desert sands.
Fifty meters long—at least. Its jet-black scales gleamed like polished obsidian, and its draconic head bore a sinister crown of horns.
"Oh, come on," I muttered, my voice tinged with exasperation. "A snake? Really? Out of all the creatures in hell, it had to be a snake? I hate snakes!"
The serpent hissed, its forked tongue flickering as it loomed over me.
"A battle it is, then?" I said coolly, though my legs felt like jelly. Inwardly, I was screaming. "Alright, big guy. Let's dance."
The serpent lunged, its jaws wide enough to swallow me whole. I barely managed to teleport away, the ground where I'd stood shattering under its massive fangs.
"Whoa! Easy there, noodle boy!" I shouted, trying to mask my panic with bravado.
This was going to be one hell of a fight.
***
Back at the makeshift Headquarters;
The headquarters trembled as an oppressive force surged through the air, smothering every corner of the room. Monitors flickered wildly, their screens scrambling with static before shattering in unison, shards scattering across the floor.
Maria, who had been silent moments before, now floated above the ground, her body radiating a crimson glow. Her silver hair billowed unnaturally, streaks of red spreading through it like blood dripping into water. The once-sterile white of her garments tore as an immense power burst from within her, revealing pale, flawless skin that shimmered like moonlight under the crimson hue.
"What… is this?" Reina whispered, her voice trembling.
Maria's eyes snapped open, twin pools of glowing scarlet, their intensity enough to make even the bravest avert their gaze. She looked down at the room as though surveying a kingdom, her lips curling into a smirk that exuded regal dominance.
"Where is he?" she asked, her voice smooth and bewitching, dripping with an otherworldly allure.
The air grew colder with every word she spoke. Frost crept along the walls, curling over the ceiling, and spidering across the floor. The remaining lights flickered, dimming until the only illumination came from the crimson aura blazing around Maria.
Her transformation continued with a sudden, horrifying crack. From her back, two massive bat-like wings tore through her flesh, spreading wide and casting a shadow that swallowed the room. Dark veins pulsed along their surface, glowing faintly red like molten lava. Each movement of the wings released a gust of frigid air, chilling everyone to the bone.
The once-unassuming girl now stood—or rather, floated—like a monarch risen from the grave, her presence both enchanting and terrifying.
Reina fell to her knees, her face pale and drenched in sweat. "What… are you?"
Maria's gaze snapped to her, silencing any further words. Her head tilted slightly, her expression one of mild curiosity, though her glowing eyes betrayed her hunger.
"Who I am is unimportant," Maria replied, her tone regal, commanding. "The one who called me awake—where is he?"
Her voice echoed unnaturally, resonating in their very bones. None dared to answer, each paralyzed by the sheer magnitude of her presence.
Maria's lips curled further, revealing glistening fangs. "So silent," she said, almost teasingly. "But no matter. I will find him myself."
She extended a hand, her pale fingers delicate yet filled with a deadly grace. A crimson mist coiled around her arm, forming into a jagged scepter-like weapon topped with a blood-red crystal. Its surface pulsed like a beating heart, and with a flick of her wrist, the mist spread, consuming the room.
Varvara, usually unshaken, stepped forward despite the suffocating pressure. "Maria—stop this! Whatever you're doing… it's not you!"
Maria turned her gaze to Varvara, her expression softening, if only slightly. "Not me?" she repeated, her tone almost amused. "You're mistaken. This is who I've always been."
Her wings stretched wide, their span dominating the room. Shadows danced and writhed as though alive, and her aura grew darker, colder, more suffocating. The frost on the walls thickened, turning to jagged ice.
"I am awake now," Maria said, her voice dropping to a whisper that still carried the weight of a thunderclap. "And I hunger."
Reina gasped, clutching her chest as though Maria's words alone drained her life force. The others backed away, their survival instincts screaming at them to flee, though their legs refused to move.
Maria floated higher, surveying them with detached disinterest. "You're fortunate," she said softly, her tone almost mocking. "You are not the one I seek."
She extended her wings again, and with a single powerful beat, the room erupted into chaos. Winds howled, papers and debris flying in all directions as the walls cracked under the force. Maria vanished into the darkness, leaving the room in silence save for the sound of distant screams—whether real or imagined, none could tell.
And for those who remained, one thing was clear:
The last Vampire queen had awakened.
***
The moment the serpent demon lunged, I barely dodged, its monstrous tail whipping the air where I'd stood. The impact split the ground wide open, a jagged fissure that seemed to gape like the abyss itself.
"Whoa, whoa! Watch it! You could've killed me!" I shouted, my voice dripping with mock indignation. My heart raced in my chest, but I wasn't about to let this oversized lizard know that.
The demon hissed, its head rising high above me. It towered like a dark obelisk, the crimson sky framing its massive, diamond-hard scales. Its eyes glowed an unholy yellow, narrowed in clear disdain for my very existence.
"Okay, buddy," I muttered, cracking my neck dramatically. "You wanna play? Fine. But let me warn you, I don't lose to overgrown noodles."
With a flourish, I extended my hand. Shadows erupted around me, swirling like a vortex. The ground beneath my feet blackened as tendrils of darkness snaked outward, feeding on the faint light of this hellish desert.
"{Shadow Reproduction}!" I declared. Instantly, the shadows multiplied, spreading out like a living sea.
The serpent lunged again, its jaws wide enough to swallow a carriage whole. I teleported just as its fangs clamped down, trading places with a shadow a few feet away. The sound of its bite echoed like thunder, sending shockwaves rippling through the air.
"Close, but no cigar!" I called out, grinning despite the sweat beading on my forehead.
The serpent snapped its head toward me, clearly unamused by my antics. "Oh, come on, don't give me that look," I added, wagging a finger at it. "You started this. I'm just being polite and finishing it."
The serpent hissed louder, steam rising from its nostrils. Its tail whipped around like a wrecking ball, tearing through the brittle trees and sending splinters flying.
I leaped back, somersaulting in the air before landing gracefully on a nearby shadow. "Gotta admit, you've got moves. Ever thought about joining the circus? They'd love a flashy act like you!"
Before the serpent could respond—because, yes, I half-expected it to—I raised my hand again. The shadows around me twisted and surged upward, forming a massive cage that slammed shut around the beast.
"{Void Imprisonment: Shadow Cage!}" I intoned, my voice carrying an edge of authority.
The serpent thrashed inside the cage, its tail crashing against the walls of darkness. Each strike sent shockwaves rippling through the shadows, but the cage held firm.
"Oh, no, no, no," I teased, shaking my head. "Stay put. We're not done yet."
Raising my other hand, I summoned spikes from the cage's interior walls. The shadows coalesced into jagged, spear-like blades, each one gleaming with an eerie, obsidian sheen.
"{Shadow Cage: Shadow Blade Stakes!}" I shouted.
The spikes launched inward, impaling the serpent from every direction. It let out a blood-curdling screech, a sound that rattled my very bones. Black ichor sprayed across the cage, sizzling as it hit the ground.
"Ewwww," I muttered, grimacing. "I hope that isn't toxic. I just got these boots polished."
The serpent writhed, its massive body convulsing. For a moment, I thought I had won. But then—
BOOM!
The cage exploded outward, shards of shadow scattering like shattered glass. I shielded my face with my arm, cursing under my breath.
When the dust cleared, the serpent stood tall once more, its wounds gone as if they'd never existed. Its body glowed faintly, steam rising from its scales.
"Oh, come on!" I groaned. "Regeneration? Seriously? What are you, some kind of cheat code?"
The serpent hissed, its voice low and guttural. "You cannot defeat me," it growled, its tone dripping with smugness.
"Tsk! Now you're just rubbing it in," I shot back. "But you know what? Fine. Let's kick this up a notch."
I summoned the shadows again, but this time they spiraled inward, coiling around my arms like living armor. My vision sharpened, the world narrowing to just me and the serpent.
"No more Mr. Nice Guy," I muttered. "Time to bring the pain."
The serpent lunged once more, and this time, I met its charge head-on. Shadows erupted around me, forming twin blades that gleamed with an otherworldly light. I dashed forward, teleporting in rapid bursts, each movement leaving afterimages that danced around the beast.
"Catch me if you can!" I taunted, slashing at its sides as I zipped past.
The serpent roared, thrashing wildly, but my speed kept me just out of reach. Each cut I landed sent more of its black blood spraying into the air.
"Not so tough now, huh?" I called out, smirking.
But my confidence wavered as the serpent suddenly halted, its body glowing brighter than before. The temperature around it skyrocketed, the very air shimmering with heat.
"Oh, you've gotta be kidding me," I muttered, backing away.
With a deafening roar, the serpent's body erupted in flames. The heat was so intense that parts of my clothing melted away, leaving my upper body exposed.
"Hey! I liked this outfit!" I shouted, genuinely offended.
The flames subsided, revealing the serpent completely unscathed. It glared at me, its glowing eyes filled with smug triumph.
"Great. A fireproof, regenerating demon snake," I said, rolling my eyes. "What's next? You gonna start flying?"
The serpent didn't respond, but the way it coiled its massive body made it clear this fight was far from over. I clenched my fists, shadows swirling around me once more.
"Fine," I said, cracking my knuckles. "Round two it is. But let me tell you, scaly—when I'm done, you're gonna wish you stayed in whatever hellhole you crawled out of."