The air was thick with tension, the scent of blood and decay lingering like an uninvited guest. Raiden stood on the outskirts of a ruined city, the towering spires of the vampire stronghold visible in the distance. He had ventured farther than he was allowed, a reckless decision fueled by the gnawing anger that had taken root in his soul. His left arm was still a phantom ache, the missing limb a constant reminder of his failure to protect the others.
Tonight, he wasn't running. Tonight, he was hunting.
The ground beneath his feet was cracked and uneven, blackened by the fires of battles long past. In the distance, he could hear the guttural roars of the Four Horsemen of John—a twisted amalgamation of beasts and curses that haunted this shattered world. They were drawn to him, their senses attuned to his newfound vampiric nature.
Raiden flexed his remaining hand, the claws extending from his fingers gleaming in the moonlight. His body still felt foreign, but the strength coursing through his veins was undeniable. For the first time since his transformation, he felt like he could fight back.
The first Horseman appeared from the shadows, its hulking form silhouetted against the pale moonlight. It was massive, its body covered in matted fur and grotesque bone protrusions. Its head was that of a snarling wolf, its eyes glowing an unnatural red.
Raiden didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, his speed catching even the monstrous creature off guard. His claws slashed across its chest, the impact sending a spray of blackened blood into the air. The beast howled, its massive paw swiping at him, but Raiden ducked beneath the blow, his movements fluid and precise.
"You're not taking me down," Raiden growled, his voice low and dangerous.
The beast charged, its jaws snapping at him, but Raiden met it head-on. He drove his claws deep into its throat, twisting until he felt the sickening crunch of bone. The Horseman collapsed, its body convulsing before finally going still.
Before he could catch his breath, the second and third Horsemen emerged. One was a serpent-like creature, its body coiled and writhing, its fangs dripping with venom. The other was a skeletal figure cloaked in tattered black robes, its hollow eyes glowing with a malevolent light.
Raiden gritted his teeth, his gaze darting between the two. The serpent struck first, its movements too fast for him to dodge completely. Its fangs grazed his shoulder, the venom burning like fire as it seeped into his flesh. Raiden hissed in pain, but he didn't falter.
He grabbed the serpent by its neck, his claws digging into its scales as he wrenched it aside. The skeletal figure took advantage of the distraction, its bony fingers forming a deadly claw aimed at Raiden's chest. At the last moment, Raiden spun, using the serpent as a shield. The skeletal Horseman's attack pierced through the serpent's body, and Raiden used the momentum to drive the dying creature into its companion.
The two collapsed in a heap, and Raiden wasted no time. He tore into the skeletal Horseman with a ferocity that surprised even himself, the sound of cracking bones echoing in the night.
By the time the final Horseman appeared, Raiden was drenched in blood, his chest heaving. This one was different. Its form was smaller, almost human, but its presence was suffocating. Its eyes were empty voids, and its hands clutched a pair of jagged scythes that dripped with a dark, viscous liquid.
"You're different," Raiden muttered, his voice steady despite the exhaustion creeping into his limbs.
The Horseman didn't respond. It moved with blinding speed, the scythes cutting through the air with a high-pitched whistle. Raiden dodged the first strike, but the second caught him across the chest, the blade carving a deep gash. He stumbled, but his resolve didn't waver.
He lunged forward, his claws aiming for its throat, but the Horseman twisted away, its movements eerily graceful. They clashed again and again, each strike and counterstrike sending shockwaves through the air.
Raiden knew he couldn't keep this up. The venom from the serpent was slowing him down, and the blood loss was taking its toll. But he refused to give in.
With a roar, he feigned a stumble, baiting the Horseman into lunging for the kill. At the last second, Raiden drove his claws into its chest, his strength fueled by sheer willpower. The Horseman's scythes fell from its hands as it crumpled to the ground, its body disintegrating into ash.
Raiden fell to his knees, his vision swimming. The battle had taken everything he had, but he had won.
As he knelt there, surrounded by the remains of the Four Horsemen, a strange sense of calm washed over him. For the first time since his transformation, he felt like he had reclaimed a piece of himself.
But as he looked up at the moonlit sky, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The war wasn't over—not by a long shot.
And Raiden Hyakuya was ready to fight.