As the dark purple mist dissipated, the group materialized before the castle, their footsteps echoing up the stairs. The guards, taken aback by their sudden arrival, hastily pointed their spears and drew their swords.
Ares' eyes transformed into their twisted form. Black and silver mist poured out of his body, coalescing into shadowy duplicates of the guards. These dark echoes merged into the guards bodies. And they immediately let out blood-curdling screams as they were consumed from within.
Suddenly, their bodies exploded, scattering blood and flesh everywhere.
The castle doors creaked open. And the group walked through the entrance, their faces impassive, seemingly unmoved by the carnage they had just witnessed.
Lysander and Atlan vanished into the shadows, leaving Ares, Eleanor, Kaito, and Thea to face the castle's interior. As soon as they stepped inside, the doors closed behind them, and they were surrounded by a swarm of vampire guards.
