---
Kiel sensed danger the instant it crept into the air.
He reacted without thinking—leaping off his horse just as Kara followed beside him. They hit the ground hard. A heartbeat later, a red-hot liquid splashed across the earth where they had been moments before.
They spun around.
Their horses lay lifeless, blood soaking deep into the soil. Standing over them was a lone figure—a vampire, long fangs bared, sword dripping crimson.
The vampire's eyes glowed an unnatural red as it studied Kiel. A slow, bloodthirsty grin crept across its face.
"Hmmm… you smell different, young boy," it hissed. "What's your name?"
"Fuck you," Kiel snapped. "You almost killed us, and now you're asking for my name?"
Does he think this is some kind of walk in the park? Kiel thought bitterly.
Rage flared inside him. His eyes burned as he drew his twin daggers and charged in a blur toward the vampire.
The creature smirked and raised an arm, blocking the first strike with ease.
But the smile vanished.
Kiel followed up instantly, stabbing the vampire in the gut. With all his strength, he dragged the dagger upward, tearing through flesh until the blade reached the vampire's chest.
The vampire barely had time to react.
Before he could even comprehend how fast Kiel was, the dagger pierced one of his arteries—straight to the heart.
He staggered back, clutching his chest. The vampire attempted to heal himself, but quickly realized it was useless.
Poison.
So this is how it ends…
The thought never finished. His body collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
Kara stood frozen, shock gripping her core as she stared at the corpse. She was certain—this was the first time Kiel had ever killed someone.
And yet… he had done it so brutally. So efficiently.
Kiel exhaled a ragged breath.
That was his first kill.
He didn't know what had come over him—whether it was rage, arrogance, or the way the vampire had treated life as meaningless—but something inside him had snapped.
There was no time to dwell on it.
They pressed forward on foot toward the main battlefield. Kiel picked up a fallen sword without slowing, its weight settling naturally into his grip. Kara kept pace beside him, her expression hard with resolve.
The next vampire that crossed their path didn't last long.
They didn't stop.
Side by side, they advanced relentlessly, cutting down every vampire foolish enough to stand in their way. By the time they reached the battlefield's edge, every enemy that had confronted them lay dead.
---
The battlefield was a sea of blood and torn flesh
The stench of blood hung thick in the air, suffocating.
Kara fought the urge to throw up. Swallowing hard, she forced herself to move, calling upon her newfound gift to heal the wounded soldiers scattered across the ground.
Meanwhile, Kiel pushed straight for the front lines.
The moment the Kalean soldiers saw him fighting beside them, their morale ignited. They surged forward with renewed strength, pressing the attack and driving deep into the vampire ranks.
Yet something felt… wrong.
The vampires were getting easier to kill.
Just as the thought crossed Kiel's mind—just as victory seemed within reach—
A shadow fell.
Cody, the Fifth Vampire Knight, descended from the sky like a falling star.
The impact shattered the ground, sending soldiers flying in every direction. The shockwave hurled Kiel backward, skidding across the blood-soaked earth.
He sprang to his feet instantly and charged, swinging his sword straight for Cody's chest.
Cody raised a single palm.
Steel met flesh.
The blade pierced through Cody's hand. A thin trickle of blood slipped from the wound—
Then stopped.
"Heh…" Cody chuckled softly. "So it is you."
Kiel tightened his grip.
"It seems you are Kiel, the last Dragon Guardian," Cody said, amusement lacing his voice. "And it appears you're going to remain the last."
Before Kiel could react—
Cody drove his fist straight into Kiel's stomach.