Jade was in the laboratory, deeply engrossed in completing her report, when Xylon's unexpected arrival disrupted her concentration. Instantly, memories of their shared moment flooded her mind, causing her to blush as she instinctively averted her gaze.
Xylon couldn't help but chuckle at Jade's bashful reaction as he approached her with a lighthearted grin.
"Hey, don't be shy," Xylon reassured her, his voice warm.
Jade stammered, struggling to find the right words to articulate her feelings.
"It's just that... what happened..." she began, her words trailing off into uncertainty.
Xylon gently lifted Jade's chin, guiding her gaze to meet his own.
"Look at me, Jade. You have nothing to be ashamed of," Xylon declared earnestly, his eyes filled with a mixture of affection and sincerity. "And don't be afraid, because I love you... do you realize how overjoyed I am that something happened between us? I would gladly shoulder any responsibility for you, even if it meant I could impregnate you to ensure you never leave my side."
Jade's blush deepened at Xylon's heartfelt confession, her heart racing with a flurry of emotions, particularly at the mention of the word "pregnant." As Xylon tenderly pressed his lips against hers, she couldn't help but succumb to the moment, her eyes shut in response to his affectionate gesture.
However, their intimate exchange was abruptly interrupted by the sudden arrival of Blake, whose urgent proclamation shattered the tender atmosphere.
"Xylon, chaos is erupting in the town!!!" Blake's voice rang out, laden with urgency.
"What?" Startled, Xylon turned to Jade, a flicker of concern passing through his eyes as he prepared to depart.
"I'll be back..." he assured her.
"Take care," Jade responded softly, her voice laced with worry as she bid him farewell.
With a brief embrace, Xylon and Blake left. Alone in the laboratory, Jade's thoughts raced, her mind consumed with worry for the safety of her family outside.
....
"Open the gate!" Xylon's command reverberated, prompting an immediate response. With a resounding creak, the gate swung open, allowing them to dash out.
"Heberlin!" Sheryl's voice cut through the urgency, drawing Heberlin's attention with an expression etched with concern.
"What's happening?" Sheryl's confusion mirrored in her questioning gaze.
"I'll explain later. For now, find Jade and ensure neither of you leaves the safety of the mansion," Heberlin's instructions carried a sense of urgency.
Sheryl nodded in acknowledgement, though her mind swirled with questions. Her bewilderment only heightened as Heberlin suddenly vanished before her eyes, leaving her standing in stunned silence.
What in the world just happened?
.
....
In the town, Cedrick and Stephen raced through the streets with urgency.
"Damn it! What are those creatures?" Cedrick shouted as they ran.
They hid in an abandoned building.
"Undead, they are beings who have long been dead but remain alive and their bodies move. They no longer have souls or minds, and they can't see, but their senses of smell and hearing are sharp. They carry a potent virus, and anyone they bite will be infected and become one of them," Stephen explained.
"Like zombies? But why are they here?" Cedrick asked again.
Stephen pulled him down when he noticed the passing undead.
"I don't know either," Stephen whispered.
....
From the top of a tall building, two figures wearing masks watched.
"It's a good thing you decided to do this, Phoenix," Fall said.
Phoenix removed his mask.
"There's no reason to pretend anymore. I want darkness to reign and turn people's lives into hell, and make the greedy vampires suffer," Phoenix said.
Fall smirked. They just watched the undead attacking people.
....
Xylon and the others quickly reached the town, seeing countless undead spreading throughout the entire town.
"Let's split up!" Xylon ordered.
Everyone nodded. Aria quickly headed to Cedrick's apartment but failed to find them. She became worried and began to search for them.
.
.
The undead breached Cedrick and Stephen's hiding place, encircling them in a menacing horde.
"What... What do we do?" Cedrick's voice trembled with fear.
"Tsk. I have no other choice," Stephen's tone was grim, his resolve evident.
"Huh?" Confusion clouded Cedrick's mind as he turned to Stephen, only to witness his transformation.
Stephen's eyes suddenly turned red, his elongated fangs bared in the dim light. Cedrick stood frozen, grappling with the realization that his friend was a vampire.
With a swift motion, Stephen manipulated the metal objects around them, forging them into a deadly blade to fend off the encroaching undead.
Cedrick hid to the side. Suddenly, the ceiling collapsed, sending Xenon, Blake, and Kan crashing down amidst the fight.
Cedrick's shock deepened as he realized that even Stephen's friends were vampires. They joined forces with Stephen in the desperate battle against the relentless undead.
"These creatures don't die!" Blake complained.
Cedrick didn't notice an undead approaching him. Fortunately, Aria arrived and killed the undead.
Cedrick felt even more disheartened when he saw Aria...
"You're... You're one of them too," Cedrick's voice quivered with disbelief.
Aria's expression faltered, her intent to approach Cedrick stifled when he backed away with fear.
"Don't come any closer!" Cedrick said.
Aria's tears fell quickly.
.
....
Jade peered pensively out the window, the darkness of the night sky mirroring the uncertainty in her thoughts. Turning her gaze towards Sheryl, who sat quietly on the bed, she couldn't help but sense the weight of unspoken questions hanging in the air.
"Hey, you've seemed a bit off lately. Is something on your mind?" Jade inquired, her voice soft with concern.
"Jade, do you really know Heberlin well?" Sheryl's question cut through the silence, her tone tinged with curiosity.
Drawing closer to Sheryl, Jade settled beside her. "Of course, I know them inside out. They're close friends with my boyfriend," she replied.
"Boyfriend?" Sheryl's eyebrows shot up in surprise, her interest piqued.
Jade nodded with a gentle smile. "Remember the guy I used to vent about all the time? Well, he's my boyfriend now," she revealed, a flicker of happiness dancing in her eyes.
Sheryl's eyes widened with delight. "Oh my gosh! Really?" she exclaimed, her excitement contagious.
Jade smiled back.
But a shadow of concern crossed Sheryl's features. "But there's something odd about Heberlin," she confessed, her brows furrowing with uncertainty.
"Odd?" Jade echoed, her curiosity piqued.
"He suddenly vanished earlier," Sheryl explained.
Jade sighed softly. "Sheryl, please tell me the truth. Do you have feelings for Heberlin?" she gently asked.
With a hesitant nod, Sheryl acknowledged, "Yes..."
"And do you love him?" Jade pressed, her voice gentle yet firm.
Sheryl's response came in a whisper, filled with vulnerability. "Y-Yes..."
"If you truly love him, you should accept him for who he is..." Jade advised.
"What do you mean?" Sheryl asked.
Jade looked out the window. Should she tell Sheryl, or leave it to Heberlin to reveal?
.
.
Xylon's swift kick sent an undead creature reeling.
"Damn it! They're relentless," Yvess cursed.
"Xylon, it's time to leave. There's little more we can do here. Almost everyone in this area is infected," Heberlin declared, his tone grim with resignation.
Xylon's expression tightened in frustration.
His attention was drawn to two figures perched atop a nearby building. When they realized they were being watched, they vanished into thin air, leaving Xylon puzzled.
Meanwhile, inside the old building.
"Let's get out of here! Their numbers are increasing," Xenon urged.
Aria quickly grabbed Cedrick's trembling hand.
"Come with us, it's safer at the Academy," Aria said.
Cedrick remained silent, lost in his own thoughts.
With urgency, they fled the building, only to encounter Xylon waiting outside.
"Are you all okay?" Xylon inquired, his concern evident.
"Yes," Kan replied tersely.
"Let's go," Xylon said.
They all held onto Xenon and teleported away to safety together.
.
....
Lilith lay on a coffin, her resting place. She suddenly woke up, her eyes snapping open as she witnessed a foreboding vision. Peering out the window, she uttered, "A catastrophe is about to happen very soon."
.
Meanwhile, Maddison was wiping a cup in the kitchen while Zake sat, sipping blood. Maddison paused in her task, sensing something unusual.
"Zake, stay here," she instructed.
Zake nodded in response. Maddison headed towards Rebeus' room, her shock evident when she found it empty. The window was left wide open.
"This can't be..." she whispered.
.
.
Xylon and his friends had finally returned to the Academy, where he was immediately enveloped in a warm embrace by Jade.
"I was so worried about you. Are you alright?" Jade's concern was palpable.
"Don't worry about me. I'm alright," Xylon reassured her.
"Such a sweetheart," Blake remarked with a grin as he walked on ahead, leaving the couple to their reunion.
Meanwhile, Sheryl caught Heberlin's gaze. He approached her with a gentle concern etched on his features.
"You seem a bit down. Is everything alright?" Heberlin inquired, his tone gentle.
Sheryl shook her head slightly.
"I'm just glad you're back. Can you tell me what happened?" Sheryl's curiosity was evident as she searched Heberlin's face for answers.
"Come with me, Sheryl. I'll explain everything," Heberlin offered, extending his hand to her as he guided her away from the group.
As they walked, Cedrick found himself gazing around the expansive grounds of Serolf Academy. Aria gently took his hand.
"You should stay here at the Academy for now, Cedrick. It's safer," Aria suggested, her voice filled with concern.
Cedrick quickly withdrew his hand and looked away. He couldn't accept that the woman he loved was a vampire.
"Trouble!" Maddison's voice rang out as she hurried towards them, her expression fraught with concern.
"What's wrong?" Xylon's voice was laced with worry as he approached Maddison.
"Rebeus... he's missing!" Maddison announced, her words sending shockwaves through the group.
"WHAT?" They all exclaimed in unison.