The wind roared atop the castle, making the torn banners whip against the sky.
The blue moon seemed so close it illuminated every drop of rain that fell — thick, cold, almost alive.
Lucy and Nyra faced each other in silence, two identical silhouettes under the lightning's glare. Only the glint of their blades broke the darkness.
Lucy raised her arm, spun her pistol on her finger, and fired.
The bullets cut through the air like thunder — but Nyra dodged with grace, every movement fluid like a dance.
The last shot grazed her face, slicing off a strand of silver hair that vanished into the rain.
Lucy smirked.
"See that? My aim's still good."
Without replying, Nyra raised her katana. Lucy holstered the gun, took a deep breath, and the metallic sound echoed as she drew her sword — the Dracallion.
The steel gleamed beneath the lightning.
And then they charged at each other.
The first clash made the ground quake.
The sound of swords slicing through the air blended with the storm, and sparks flew each time steel met steel.
Lucy attacked with brute strength — wide, violent swings. Nyra countered with supernatural precision and elegance.
The wind coiled around them, rain streaming down their faces. At one point, Nyra struck Lucy square in the chest, sending her sliding several meters back, leaving a trail of blood across the wet stone.
Nyra's hair, now soaked, clung to her face — identical to Lucy's.
The reflection of the moon revealed what they truly were: mirrored twins, divided by light and blood.
Lucy wiped the blood from her mouth and growled,
"Is that all you've got, princess?"
She lunged forward again, swinging Dracallion with force.
Nyra sidestepped and countered with a precise slash that Lucy barely managed to parry.
The vampire retreated, drew one of her pistols, and began shooting while advancing.
Nyra spun her katana in wide arcs, deflecting each bullet until they piled at her feet — then, with one sweeping motion, she sent them ricocheting back through the air like metallic rain.
Lucy, unfazed, lifted Dracallion and slashed vertically. The redirected bullets split in half midair, ringing out like tiny metal chimes beneath the storm.
Nyra paused for a moment, her voice steady.
"Why do you refuse power? The power of your father… Ulisses."
Lucy let out a short, ironic laugh.
"Huh... Father? I don't have a father. I just think you're boring, that's all."
She sprinted toward her sister. Their swords clashed again, faces inches apart as lightning flashed around them. For a few seconds, they locked in a deadly test of strength.
The impact boomed through the castle walls, rain exploding around them.
With a deft twist, Nyra redirected Lucy's strike and knocked Dracallion high into the air.
Before Lucy could react, the Kaburami's blade pierced her abdomen.
The metallic sound mingled with a stifled gasp. Warm blood slid down the blade, dripping onto the stone floor.
Nyra's cold, hollow eyes fixed on her sister as she pressed the sword deeper.
"Foolish, Lucy. So foolish…"
She pushed harder, and Lucy gasped, her eyes trembling.
"Power rules everything," Nyra continued, her voice cutting sharper than the sword.
"And without strength, you can protect nothing. Everyone you love… ends up at the edge of the abyss."
With a swift pull, Nyra yanked the blade free. Blood poured out as Lucy fell backward, gasping for air.
Nyra reached for the pendant hanging from her sister's neck — the last relic of their mother — and tore it away.
Lucy tried to grab it, but Nyra sliced her hand lightly and threw her to the ground.
For a moment, Nyra stared at the pendant in silence. Her eyes flickered with nostalgia and buried sorrow.
She ran a hand through her wet hair and turned her back.
But before she could take a step, Lucy moved. The wound on her abdomen began to close, the blood evaporating into smoke. She stood with effort, eyes fixed on Nyra.
Just as she prepared to strike, Nyra lifted Dracallion — still embedded in the ground — and charged. With a swift thrust, she drove it straight through Lucy's chest.
Her body arched, blood running down the steel, mixing with the rain.
Nyra stared at her without emotion — only silence.
Behind her, a voice echoed:
"Did you get it?"
Cletus stepped out of the shadows, his smile full of satisfaction.
Nyra nodded coldly.
"Yes. Now the spell of Ulisses will be broken."
Cletus grinned, stepping closer.
"Excellent. Let's go."
They turned and walked away, leaving Lucy's body motionless atop the tower.
The rain fell harder, turning into a curtain of water — and then something began to pulse.
Dracallion, still embedded in Lucy's chest, glowed red.
The sword's guard twisted, opening a crimson eye at its center.
Arcane symbols floated in the air around her, and a sphere of red and black energy enveloped the vampire's body.
Inside, a deep, guttural voice echoed — ancient and monstrous:
"Let it go...
Let it go...
LET IT GO!"
Lucy's eyes snapped open — glowing blood-red.
The sphere exploded into mist, and the sword flew into the air.
Lucy slowly stood, her body emanating steam and red energy.
Nyra, still nearby, turned in shock.
Lucy lunged forward, leaving a trail of crimson vapor.
Nyra crossed her katana in defense, but Lucy caught the blade with her bare hand — flesh splitting, blood dripping — without flinching.
Her eyes burned with primal fury.
Nyra smiled faintly.
"I see the monster inside you is finally awake."
Lucy grabbed her arm and hurled her through the air. Nyra spun and landed on a stone structure, ready to fight again.
But Cletus's voice cut through the storm:
"Wait!"
He appeared beside her, black robes billowing.
"For now, we have everything we need. There's no point in continuing this fight."
Lucy staggered toward them, trembling with fury.
Her eyes glowed, fangs bared, her heartbeat a slow, thunderous drum of restrained rage.
Nyra looked at her one last time.
Without a word, she turned and leapt off the tower.
Cletus gave Lucy a final, silent, malicious smile before vanishing with her.
Lucy remained standing for a few seconds, breathing heavily.
Then the ground beneath her began to glow with red symbols. Energy erupted around her, lifting the rainwater in a reverse storm.
She screamed — a monstrous, guttural roar that echoed across the skies.
For a moment, bat-like wings burst from her back, curved horns sprouted from her head, and black claws tore through the air.
Lightning flashed above the castle — revealing the silhouette of a furious, magnificent vampiric demon.
But the power faded as quickly as it came. The demonic form vanished, and Lucy collapsed to her knees. Blood dripped down, her breath shallow.
She fell to the side, unconscious, as the rain washed the blood away.
Time passed.
When the sky brightened and the storm ceased, Lucy opened her eyes, panting. Her body still ached. She tore off one sleeve of her coat and let it fall, exposing her arm. With effort, she rose again, gripping Dracallion once more.
Below the clouds, the city of Salt Blake stretched out — gray, distant, alive. Lucy gazed at it silently.
Then she raised her hand and struck a stone pillar beside her.
The explosion was instant — the impact shattered the wall, sending sparks and debris flying.
Lucy stared at her hand, eyes wide in surprise.
"So… this is what's inside me."
A thunderclap echoed.
She took a deep breath, flexed her body, and leapt from the top of the castle.
As she fell, the wind howled — and red gargoyles burst from the walls, shrieking as they dived toward her.
Lucy drew her pistols, spun in midair, and began firing as she plummeted — each shot lighting up the sky.
The creatures exploded in bursts of blood and smoke. Lucy ran along the vertical walls, sliding down, using Dracallion to propel herself and slice gargoyles in half.
Then, in a desperate move, she used the sword like a wing, channeling red energy to glide for a brief moment.
The wind tore across her face, the moon behind her — and then a colossal shadow crossed the sky.
A roar thundered.
A massive winged serpent, scales black and eyes glowing green, emerged from the clouds. Before Lucy could react, the creature swallowed her whole.
And the world turned to darkness.