Kuroka seemed calmer, but her eyes still showed curiosity and concern. Xenovia, always the more reserved, just waited patiently, trusting Kaito.
"We have Zeus's address," Kaito said, breaking the silence. "Let's get ready."
Thalia was the first to respond, determination shining in her eyes.
"I was born ready for this."
Xenovia, by her side, also showed her sword, a silent gesture that demonstrated her readiness for battle.
Kaito was pleased with their attitude. He knew he could count on Thalia and Xenovia to face any challenge that lay ahead.
Kuroka, however, was not part of Kaito's Peerage, and he ignored her at that moment, focusing on those who were officially by his side.
Cough!
"Nya, aren't you forgetting me?" Kuroka said, her voice filled with dissatisfaction.
Kaito looked at Kuroka, clearly confused. "You want to come too?"
It was natural for Kaito to have doubts about Kuroka. After all, she had never shown interest in joining his Peerage.
Kuroka crossed her arms, a slightly challenging smile appearing on her lips.
"I've decided to help you guys, nya. And if you defeat Zeus and still want me, I'll join your Peerage."
Kaito didn't know exactly the reason for Kuroka's change in attitude, but he wasn't going to reject the offer. He smiled, satisfied with her decision.
"Alright, Kuroka. It'll be good to have you by our side."
Thalia rolled her eyes, clearly impatient. "Alright, now tell me where he is."
Kaito nodded. "Transylvania. He's with a lover."
Thalia frowned, her expression becoming even more determined. "If she gets in the way, she'll die too."
Kaito found Thalia's violent attitude amusing, a smile forming on his lips as he watched the girl's relentless determination.
...
SHUUUM!
Kaito, Thalia, Xenovia, and Kuroka teleported to Transylvania, a magic circle glowing beneath their feet as they disappeared from the hideout.
They materialized in a dense and dark forest, the tall trees blocking most of the moonlight. The air was cold and damp, and the silence around them was only interrupted by the distant sounds of nocturnal animals.
"Transylvania is full of castles. He must be in one of them," Kaito said, looking around attentively.
"Let's move on."
Without hesitation, Kuroka, Thalia, and Xenovia followed Kaito through the forest. As they walked, Kaito used his senses enhanced by the divine powers he had absorbed after killing the gods. He could feel Zeus's energy and knew it wouldn't be long before they found him.
Thalia was visibly tense. Her eyes reflected determination, but also the weight of expectation. She knew the moment she had long awaited was near: finally facing her father, Zeus, and killing him. The thought made her heart beat faster, a mix of anger and anxiety taking over her.
Kaito noticed Thalia's expression and decided to speak.
"If you want to sit this one out, I won't be upset. I understand that..."
"No!" Thalia interrupted him, her voice firm. "I'm in, and don't even think about stopping me."
Kaito nodded, respecting her determination. "Alright, I trust you. But the final blow is mine."
...
As the group walked through the forest, Kuroka couldn't help but wonder about Zeus's lover. She knew they were dealing with Adelaide Van Helsing, but that was all the information she had. The lack of details made her uneasy.
"Who exactly is this lover of Zeus?" Kuroka asked, her voice filled with dissatisfaction.
"Adelaide Van Helsing. But I don't know much about her, just that she's his lover," Kaito replied, trying to stay calm.
Kuroka snorted, clearly disappointed. "So we're going in blind, nya? This isn't good, Kaito. We should know more."
Kaito wanted to scold Kuroka, but he knew she was right. The lack of information was a risk. However, he decided to stay quiet, recognizing that there wasn't much he could do at that moment.
"It doesn't matter who she is," Thalia said, her voice cold. "If she stands in our way, she'll meet the same fate as Zeus."
Xenovia, as usual, remained silent. She focused on the mission, following the group through the forest with her sword in hand, ready for whatever came their way.
As they continued to advance, the sounds of the forest began to change. Branches snapping and heavy footsteps mixed with the sounds of nocturnal animals. Kaito felt a different presence, something that wasn't human.
"We're being watched," he murmured, his eyes scanning the darkness around them.
Xenovia tightened her grip on her sword, her senses sharpening. "Vampires? Werewolves?"
"Maybe both," Kaito replied. "Transylvania is famous for these creatures. And with Zeus here, I wouldn't be surprised if he's made alliances with them."
Kuroka looked around, her ears moving restlessly. "So we're going to have some extra fun, nya? I hope they're more challenging than they look."
Kaito stopped for a moment, closing his eyes and concentrating on his sensory abilities. The energies around them were distinct — some hostile, others just curious. He opened his eyes, his expression becoming serious.
"Get ready. Something's coming."
As soon as Kaito spoke, figures began emerging from the darkness of the forest. Fierce-looking vampires and werewolves with glowing eyes slowly approached, surrounding the group. There was a tension in the air, as if each side was waiting for the other to make the first move.
"I'll take care of them, Kaito. You and Thalia save your energy for Zeus," Kuroka said, advancing without hesitation toward the approaching werewolves.
WHAM!
Kuroka delivered a kick to the face of the first werewolf that approached, the impact sending the creature flying backward with a furious growl.
"Come here, puppy," she taunted, a mischievous smile forming on her lips as more werewolves surrounded her, growling and baring their teeth.
Grrrr!
Auuuuu!
Kaito watched the scene with a mix of disdain and curiosity. The werewolves' lack of rationality was something that bothered him. They acted purely on instinct, without any strategy or planning. To Kaito, such creatures were just minor obstacles in his mission.
Four werewolves surrounded Kuroka, advancing simultaneously. She moved with agility, dodging their claws and teeth, her precise strikes easily tearing the enemies' flesh.
SLASH!
THUD!
Kuroka struck one of the werewolves, slashing its chest with her sharp claws. Blood splattered as the creature fell to the ground, letting out a final growl before losing its life.
"Too weak, nya," she muttered, her expression showing boredom as she watched the remaining werewolves hesitate before attacking again.
Xenovia watched Kuroka fight and then turned to Kaito.
"Can I handle the vampires?"
Kaito nodded, allowing Xenovia to take the lead against the approaching vampires.
Xenovia unsheathed Excalibur, its blade glowing intensely in the darkness of the forest. The vampires growled at the sight of the sacred sword, their red eyes fixed on the warrior who advanced against them.
WHOOSH!
Xenovia moved quickly, Excalibur's blade cutting through the air in a powerful arc. The first vampire tried to dodge, but was hit on the shoulder, crying out in pain as the sacred glow of the sword burned his flesh.
SHINK!
Another vampire tried to attack Xenovia from behind, but she spun quickly, blocking the attack with her blade and then countering with a fatal blow that pierced the creature's heart. **THUD!** The vampire fell to the ground, turning to ashes almost instantly.
Xenovia continued advancing, her movements precise and lethal. She showed no mercy, each strike delivered with the intent of eliminating her enemies quickly. The vampires, though fierce, couldn't match Xenovia's strength and skill, especially with Excalibur in her hands.
CLANG!
SLASH!
The battle continued for a few more minutes, until all the vampires surrounding the group were defeated. Xenovia took a deep breath, sheathing her sword as she looked at Kaito, indicating that the path was clear.
Kaito nodded, satisfied with the performance of both. He turned to Thalia, who watched everything with an even stronger expression of determination.
"Let's go. Zeus awaits us."
Kaito led the group toward the castle, guided by the divine energy he felt coming from a specific direction. As they approached, the dense trees of the forest began to clear, revealing a large castle on top of a hill. The castle was imposing, its tall towers standing out against the night sky, while the moonlight bathed its stone walls.
Kaito stopped in front of the castle, his eyes fixed on the imposing structure.
"This is it. I can feel the divine power. Zeus is inside."