Before touching the Messengers' lamp to return to the Hunter's Dream, Alex wanted to make sure one last time that he had forgotten nothing. Using his magical vision, he carefully looked around once more, examining the entire Nightmare. While Alex conducted the final check, Alucard and Maria stood calmly beside him, waiting for him to finish.
Once he was completely certain that he had missed nothing and that all traces of the Great Ones, except for one, had disappeared, Alex stopped using his magical vision. Setting a timer on the black cube to erase this dimension of the Nightmare, Alex immediately threw it into the center of the space. Having finished all his tasks, he was about to touch the Messengers' lamp. And just before his hand reached the lamp, a fleeting thought flashed through Alex's mind.
He hoped that the old fool Gehrman would decide to stay out of it and not interfere. Alex did not want to kill the man who had been like a father and teacher to Maria. Sighing as he touched the lamp, he couldn't help but glance at Maria, who at that moment was fully focused on returning to the Hunter's Dream. Feeling the Messengers pulling them downward, Alex thought only about what he should do.
"I hope that old fool doesn't decide to get stubborn because of Maria," Alex thought, hoping that Maria would be able to persuade Gehrman.
Feeling the Messengers pulling them through the passage between dimensions, Alex hoped that it would all end very quickly and he could return with a clear conscience. Even though he had brought his wife to this world with selfish thoughts, Alex still wanted to do everything properly.
He wanted to give people the chance to see the next day and no longer experience the kind of nightmares they had faced before. Feeling the sensation of being pushed out from under water, Alex stopped thinking about what he was going to do. A moment later, Alex, Alucard, and Maria were back in the Hunter's Dream.
But this time, small changes had occurred in the Hunter's Dream. The Hunter's Workshop was engulfed in bright flames that were impossible to enter. Seeing the burning workshop, Alex did not react at all — he had already known this would happen. Alucard looked at the brightly burning building with a calm gaze, showing no emotion. Only Maria felt a slight sadness for a moment at the sight of the burning workshop.
But she quickly shook her head, believing it was for the best. Maria understood that she had too many memories tied to this workshop. After all, she had spent a lot of time there. And when the Hunter's Workshop ceased to exist even in the Hunter's Dream, it would allow her to move forward peacefully.
"What a shame… If I had known it would be like this, I would have stolen all the books and tools," Alex said with a heavy sigh, looking at the workshop.
"No need to worry about that — it's already been done for you," Alucard said with a cheerful smile on her face.
Alex and Maria looked away from the burning workshop after hearing Alucard's words. Lowering his gaze, Alex looked at Doll. Next to her stood a black coffin leaning against the stone fence, and at Doll's feet lay several cloth bags completely filled with various items.
Alex couldn't help but slap himself on the forehead for forgetting about his clones, who had been exploring the Pthumerian catacombs. Exhaling, Alex approached Doll, who immediately hugged him around the neck and rested her head on his chest. Pressing her cheek against Alex's chest, Doll listened to his heartbeat, which calmed her. Alex hugged Doll back, gently running his hand along her back.
"Dear Hunter, I am glad that you found everything you were looking for in this world… Dawn will come soon… And this night and dream will end," Doll said, lifting her gaze to Alex while continuing to hug him.
"I know… But this will be the last night and the last Nightmare for everyone who saw it. It's time for everyone to see the sunrise. Including you," Alex said, placing his palm on Doll's cheek.
"Yes… Let this nightmare end with the sunrise," Doll said, pressing her cheek against Alex's palm.
Alex couldn't restrain the smile on his face as he looked at Doll, who looked truly adorable at that moment. But the most important detail remained, which Alex could not avoid. Namely — telling Maria that Gehrman was the last guardian of this place. And only by freeing Gehrman from this dream would the one who had been pulling the strings of other Hunters all this time, summoning them to this place, appear. Turning his head back, Alex looked at Maria, who had opened one of the bags left by his clones.
Alucard, meanwhile, approached her black coffin and touched it with her hand, storing it in her pocket dimension. One of the new abilities she had gained was the ability to create a pocket dimension inside her own shadow. After hiding her coffin, Alucard shifted her gaze to the side, where she sensed another presence. Knowing who it belonged to, Alucard looked at Maria.
"Maria…" Alex began, looking at Maria, who had closed the cloth bag.
"I know. I realized it the moment I saw him again. Gehrman is bound to this place. And he cannot leave of his own will," Maria said, nodding her head and showing that she had known everything from the very beginning.
"Since you know… Then let me do it. After all, he was like a father to you," Alex said with a heavy sigh, looking at Maria.
"There's no need. I'll do it myself. At least, I want to help him wake up. One last time… He is very tired… And I understand this feeling very well. When you want to leave, but it's impossible. And all that remains is to wait and hope that this Nightmare will end someday," Maria said, clenching her fists and looking at Alex with her gray eyes.
Alex sighed again, seeing Maria's determination. He understood that Maria simply wanted to help Gehrman one last time so that he could finally rest and leave this place, which served as an eternal cage for him. Stopping his embrace with Doll, Alex approached Maria and stood in front of her.
Maria looked directly into Alex's eyes, making it clear that she was full of determination to handle her teacher herself. And she would do it even if Alex was against it. Looking into Maria's determined eyes, Alex simply sighed again and hugged her. Feeling the warm embrace, Maria wrapped her arms around Alex's waist and rested her cheek on his shoulder. At such a moment, she wanted to tell him many things.
But she understood that she didn't need to say anything. In her ears, only Alex's phrase from their first meeting in the Clock Tower echoed. Maria couldn't restrain the smile on her face, remembering that she had been a princess in a tower whom he wanted to save. Hugging Alex tighter, Maria also wanted to save her teacher Gehrman by giving him the long-awaited peace.
Hugging Alex tightly one last time, Maria pulled away from him and placed her palms on his cheeks. Gently stroking Alex's cheeks with her thumb, Maria leaned forward and tenderly kissed him on the lips. With this kiss, she wanted to show him her feelings and gratitude for everything he had done for her.
"Thank you again…" Maria said with a gentle smile after the kiss.
"You've already said that. You know that I am a very selfish man who couldn't resist the princess in the tower," Alex said, lazily waving his hand and chuckling slightly.
"Of course… I believe you… Greedy Demon King who can't walk past a single princess," Maria said, shaking her head while continuing to smile gently.
Alex grimaced slightly at Maria's words, showing that it wasn't true. Seeing Alex's face, Maria laughed softly and shook her head. She would never have thought that her life would be connected with such a man. She had already lost count of how much time had passed since their meeting. But it seemed to Maria that they had been together for many years.
She even thought that it was connected to the memories Alex had shared with her. But right now, it didn't matter to her. All she wanted was for all of this to end so she could move forward. Removing her hands from Alex's cheeks, Maria shifted her gaze to Doll. Doll's gray eyes met Maria's gray eyes, and they smiled at the same time.
"Doll, where is Gehrman right now…" Maria said, finally gathering her thoughts.
"Master Gehrman is waiting for you at the foot of the great tree, Lady Maria… He always waits there for hunters who have completed their hunt. He is waiting for you," Doll said, pointing in the direction she needed to go.
Maria looked in the direction Doll was pointing and nodded slightly. Gripping Rakuyo in her hand, Maria looked at Alex one more time and smiled for the last time before leaving. Watching Maria walk away, Alex lit a cigarette, still hoping she would be able to persuade Gehrman. But he also understood that, unlike Maria, Gehrman was a much more broken man.
Gehrman had ended up in this place after reaching complete despair, having lost everything. First, Gehrman had lost the one he saw as a daughter, whom he had tried to bring back by all available means. And the last person Gehrman had lost was his close friend, whom he had killed with his own hands. The Hunter's Dream had become a cage for Gehrman, where every time he closed his eyes, he dreamed of nightmares.
But the greatest despair was caused by the being that had created this dimension. Being a man who had hunted monsters for many years, Gehrman understood that a human could not kill such a being. Exhaling cigarette smoke, Alex looked at Alucard, who was leaning against one of the tombstones, looking in the direction Maria had gone.
"I thought you would want to fight Gehrman yourself," Alex said, shaking the ash from his cigarette as he looked at his wife.
"If he were human, I would gladly fight this Hunter," Alucard said, lazily blinking and shifting her gaze to Alex.
"Is Master Gehrman not human?" Doll asked, tilting her head to the side and looking at Alucard.
"Oh, little Doll. How little you know. In the past, he was human. But now he is just an old broken dog who does everything his master orders," Alucard said in a contemptuous tone, not hiding her disgust toward Gehrman.
"I still don't understand," Doll said, shaking her head.
"Let me explain, my dear Doll. Only a human is capable of killing monsters. And you saw it yourself. Thousands of Hunters who came here. They were all humans and they all killed monsters. But what became of them in the end…" Alex said, taking Doll's hand and trying to explain what Alucard meant.
"I think I understand. Maybe… It's still difficult for me to understand something like this. But I will try," Doll said, nodding slightly and squeezing Alex's hand tighter.
"There's no need to rush. We will have plenty of time in the future," Alex said with a gentle smile, softly stroking Doll's cheek with his palm.
Hearing Alex's words, Doll smiled as well and leaned against his shoulder. She understood that by Alex's side she would be able to see the world with her own eyes and understand it. Even if it would take some time, Doll wanted to spend that time with Alex and those close to him. Stopping looking at Doll, Alex shifted his gaze in the direction Maria had gone.
Meanwhile, Maria was slowly walking along the path that led to the garden with the great tree. Reaching the open iron gate, Maria stopped for a moment. Just the thought of what she would have to do made her heart ache. And the only consolation that allowed Maria to calm her heart was that in this way she would save Gehrman.
Taking a deep breath, Maria gripped Rakuyo tighter and entered the garden. Passing through the open gate, Maria saw a spacious garden where moon flowers grew, and old tombstones covered in overgrowth stood along the border. And among the field of flowers rose the rotten wooden crosses of the Healing Church, which Maria immediately recognized.
Examining the flower garden, Maria shifted her gaze to the great tree, under which Gehrman sat in his wheelchair. Gripping Rakuyo in her hands, Maria began to slowly walk through the flowers toward Gehrman.
The closer Maria got, the more determined her gaze became. She was ready to persuade Gehrman to surrender so she wouldn't have to kill him. But even if she still had to fight, Maria was prepared for such an outcome. Almost reaching Gehrman, Maria stopped a couple of steps in front of him and looked intently at his face.
Gehrman sat in his wheelchair with his head lowered. Gehrman was not sleeping, but his gaze was empty, like that of a man who had repeated the same action countless times. Raising his dull gaze, Gehrman looked at Maria, and a spark of his old life briefly lit up in his eyes. He knew that Maria had come to the Hunter's Dream, because how could he not know, since he was the gardener of this place that he was supposed to watch over.
But the spark of life in Gehrman's eyes extinguished as quickly as it had appeared. Looking into Maria's eyes, Gehrman could not recall anything good, only sad memories. And his good memories had been yet another price he had to pay for what he had done. The price had been not only his freedom and his leg, but also the good memories that could have given him hope for salvation.
The one with whom Gehrman had made a deal had taken everything, leaving only endless despair. Maria, standing opposite Gehrman, could not help but sigh upon seeing his empty, dull gaze. The Gehrman before her was no longer the man she remembered. And it only brought her bitter sorrow. Sighing once more, Maria straightened up, gripping Rakuyo tighter.
"Hello, Gehrman… It's been a long time…" Maria said quietly, wanting to talk to Gehrman properly one last time.
"Hello, Maria… Indeed, it has been a long time. Or maybe not. Time is a very cruel, cruel thing. You've noticed that, haven't you? Only the cycles remain unchanged," Gehrman said in a hoarse voice, shaking his head.
"I know… I know very well how cruel time can be. But the cycles you speak of — they have changed. And you know that," Maria said, lowering her gaze to her hands.
"Just one cycle won't change anything… But I'm glad you were able to return. And soon everything will end," Gehrman said with a faint smile on his face.
"Gehrman, you can also leave this place, just as I did…" Maria began, raising her gaze to Gehrman.
Hearing Maria's words, Gehrman's eyes widened for a moment. But a moment later, a sad smile appeared on his face, and he shook his head with a hoarse laugh. He knew perfectly well who had granted Maria her freedom. Gehrman did not want to know how Maria had gained her freedom and was not going to ask.
All he knew was that if he left, someone else would simply take his place, and everything would start over. Many cycles he had wanted to wake up and escape this nightmare. And the only thing that had stopped him was that he did not want someone else to end up in his place.
Gehrman had tried to kill himself in this place many times, but every time he thought he had died, he simply opened his eyes again in this place, sitting in the wheelchair, with a clear reminder that he would never leave this place. Stopping his laughter, Gehrman raised his gaze to Maria again, whose eyes showed the full seriousness of her words.
"So, you hope to free me? Are you capable of that, my dear student? Or is the man who freed you capable of it?" Gehrman asked in a hoarse voice, looking into Maria's gray eyes.
"Yes… Gehrman, it's almost over. There is no one left," Maria said, nodding her head.
"Then I kindly agree… But forgive me, Maria," Gehrman said, gripping the armrests of his wheelchair.
"For what?" Maria asked, watching what Gehrman was doing.
"Today the old fool Gehrman will participate in the hunt once more… One last time," Gehrman said, rising from his wheelchair.
"You don't have to do this, Gehrman…" Maria said, frowning as she gripped Rakuyo tighter, realizing that Gehrman had not accepted her offer.
"Forgive me, Maria… I must and am obliged to do this. This is the only way to save you from this place. You must accept your death. Forget the dream, wake up in the morning. Be free from this night… And from this place. Only then can you leave this Dream," Gehrman said, drawing his blade from under his torn cloak.
Having drawn the blade, Gehrman connected it with the long handle on his back, turning the blade into a scythe. Standing at his full height, Gehrman no longer looked like a hunched old man broken by time. Now Gehrman was who he had once been — a Hunter. And even if his student stood before him, he was ready to help her awaken from this dream. After all, this was the last thing he could do for her.
In the past, he had not been able to save her from her nightmare. But this time he would do everything to save her. Seeing Gehrman holding his favorite weapon, Maria understood that their conversation had been useless from the very beginning. The one she was talking to had long since stopped desiring freedom and had fully accepted his fate.
Separating Rakuyo into a saber and a short sword, Maria was ready to fight Gehrman. Looking into Gehrman's eyes, Maria recognized that stubborn gaze she had seen many times. And she knew that even if Gehrman learned the truth about everything Alex had done, he would still follow what he had decided for himself.
"Since you have made your decision, Gehrman. So be it…" Maria said, gripping the saber tighter and pointing its tip at Gehrman.
"Indeed, Maria… Indeed… It is time to uphold our oaths," Gehrman said, nodding his head slowly.
Maria's gaze became serious when she heard Gehrman's words. She knew what oath he was talking about. Back in the days when the inhabitants of Yharnam and outsiders seeking healing from the miraculous blood were turning into monsters, every Hunter had sworn an oath to stop those Hunters who would eventually become monsters.
Maria had also taken this oath and was ready to fulfill it. Taking a deep breath, Maria leaned forward, assuming a combat stance and preparing for battle. Seeing Maria's behavior, Gehrman smiled slightly again.
Gripping the scythe tighter in his hands, Gehrman made a sharp dash forward, delivering a wide downward slash. Knowing how Gehrman fought, Maria reacted immediately and sharply jumped back. The scythe's blade lightly grazed Maria's hat, leaving a small cut on it. Jumping back, Maria pushed off the ground, leaving a clear mark. Jumping forward, Maria closed the distance to Gehrman and swung her saber.
Gehrman blocked the saber's strike with the handle of his scythe. The saber's blade and the scythe's handle collided, and Gehrman and Maria met each other's gazes. With a cold expression, Maria spun the short sword in her hand and delivered a wide upward slash. Seeing this strike, Gehrman raised his leg and kicked Maria in the stomach, pushing her away. Maria slid across the ground, fully feeling the force of Gehrman's kick.
"You still haven't lost your skill, Gehrman," Maria said, straightening up after the kick to the stomach.
"You too, my dear student… But you shouldn't forget that I taught you everything," Gehrman said in a calm tone, separating his scythe and drawing his musket.
Maria only narrowed her eyes and sharply rolled to the side when the shot rang out. During the roll, Maria stabbed the short sword into the ground to stop herself and quickly drew her own musket. Aiming the barrel at Gehrman, Maria fired back. Gehrman only slightly turned his body, dodging the shot.
Not letting go of the musket, Maria struck the handle of the short sword with the musket's butt, combining them into one weapon. Gripping Rakuyo in one hand and the musket in the other, Maria made a quick dash forward, spinning Rakuyo in her hand. Maria moved with sharp dashes from side to side to close the distance to Gehrman.
Once close, Maria began delivering fast strikes with both blades, trying to throw Gehrman off balance. Gehrman continued to deflect Maria's strikes, gradually retreating backward. He fully felt how much strength Maria was putting into each of her blows.
Gehrman continued to block Maria's strikes, looking for an opening for his own attack. Seeing another wide slash, Gehrman used his musket to deflect Maria's strike. Rakuyo's blade slid along the musket's barrel and stabbed into the ground. When Rakuyo's blade stabbed into the ground, Gehrman immediately stepped on it, preventing Maria from lifting her weapon.
Gehrman swung his arm sharply, the one holding the saber, aiming for Maria's neck. Reacting quickly, Maria grabbed the handle of Rakuyo with her other hand and detached the short sword. Using the short sword, Maria blocked Gehrman's strike and looked him in the eyes.
And before Gehrman could deliver another strike, Maria raised her leg and kicked him in the stomach, returning his previous blow. Maria's foot sank into Gehrman's stomach, throwing him backward.
Having thrown Gehrman back, Maria sharply jumped forward. Leaping up, Maria began spinning in the air. Gehrman instantly raised his blade in front of himself, blocking Maria's strikes. Landing, Maria made a sharp thrust forward, delivering a piercing strike.
Before the saber's blade could pierce his chest, Gehrman jerked to the side. And the saber pierced his torn cloak. Gehrman put the blade behind his back, combining it with the handle, turning his weapon into a scythe again. Grabbing the end of the scythe's handle with his other hand, Gehrman delivered a wide slash.
Maria ducked, and the scythe's blade pierced her hat. Losing her hat, Maria planted her hands on the ground and delivered a low spinning kick. With her kick, Maria aimed at Gehrman's wooden prosthetic leg, wanting to knock him off his feet.
Understanding what Maria was trying to do, Gehrman struck the scythe's handle against the ground, blocking Maria's kick. Kicking the scythe's handle, Maria pushed off the ground with her hands, jumping backward. Landing gracefully on the ground, Maria rushed forward, gripping the saber and short sword in her hands. Seeing Maria approaching, Gehrman gripped the scythe's handle and delivered a downward strike, aiming the tip directly at Maria's head, not giving her a chance to dodge.
At the very last moment, Maria sharply moved her head out of the strike's path, and Gehrman's blow lightly grazed her shoulder. A clear cut mark appeared on Maria's shoulder, from which blood immediately began to flow. But Maria ignored the wound and stepped on the scythe, using it as support. Seeing that Maria had stepped on his scythe, Gehrman sharply jerked the weapon upward, which helped Maria.
Using Gehrman's action as support, Maria jumped into the air. Spinning in the air, Maria landed behind Gehrman and delivered a cross-shaped slash across his back. Gehrman barely managed to react at the last moment but still received a wound.
After Maria's strike, a clear cross-shaped mark appeared on Gehrman's back, from which blood began to seep. Gehrman immediately jumped back, breaking the distance from Maria after receiving the wound. After jumping back, Gehrman stood several meters away from Maria, staring at her intently.
"Enough, Gehrman. Just stop," Maria said, gripping Rakuyo, along whose blade Gehrman's blood was dripping.
"You remember, Maria… How we always said we would put an end to this… We always thought that one day all the monsters would disappear… And we wouldn't have to hunt anymore. It was such a beautiful dream… But what has become of it. All of us… In the end, became these monsters," Gehrman said, raising his gaze to the cloud-covered sky.
"I remember, Gehrman… But isn't this a chance to end it all?! Why do you continue to be so stubborn!" Maria shouted, looking at Gehrman with a heavy gaze.
"You don't understand, Maria… It's all because the hunt must continue… And this night will begin again. It always has. Countless times," Gehrman said, slowly shaking his head and looking at Maria with a tired gaze.
"So you're not going to stop, Gehrman? Even if I say there's a chance to end it all?" Maria said in a gloomy tone, trying to persuade Gehrman one last time.
"It's impossible to end this night… If I die, you will be next, Maria… What do you want from this terrible nightmare? Do you want to be trapped in a nightmare again? Let me wake you. Let me help you one last time. At least you will escape the captivity of this night," Gehrman said, gripping his scythe tighter and beginning to walk toward Maria.
Looking at Gehrman, Maria no longer tried to persuade him. She understood that it was all useless. Gripping Rakuyo tighter, Maria pressed the indentations on the handles of the saber and short sword. Maria felt a sharp spike pierce her palm and begin to absorb her blood.
She was ready to fight Gehrman seriously and would no longer try to persuade him. The blades of Maria's weapons became covered in blood and grew longer thanks to her blood. Leaning forward, Maria made a sharp dash toward Gehrman. Appearing in front of Gehrman, Maria sharply rolled forward, avoiding the wide slash of the scythe.
Using her knee as support, Maria spun on the ground, delivering spinning strikes. Gehrman jumped back and quickly drew his musket, firing at Maria. Rolling to the side and dodging the shot, Maria pushed off the ground and rushed forward. Once beside Gehrman, Maria began delivering fast strikes with both blades, trying to throw Gehrman off balance.
Gehrman spun his scythe in his hands, deflecting every one of Maria's strikes while retreating backward. Narrowing her eyes, Maria saw an opportunity for an attack and swung her blade sharply, stabbing it into Gehrman's shoulder. When the blade stabbed into Gehrman's shoulder, he flinched and was about to jump back.
But Maria immediately delivered the next strike with her other blade. Maria put all her strength into the final blow and pierced Gehrman's chest. The blade passed through Gehrman's chest and came out of his back. Blood sprayed from Gehrman's mouth, and he dropped his scythe, falling to his knees.
"Cough… Cough… You really have become better, Maria…" Gehrman said, coughing up blood and raising his gaze to Maria.
"I'm sorry, Gehrman… None of us wanted it to end like this…" Maria said, looking at Gehrman with reddened eyes.
"No… This is how it was supposed to end… Only my death will make him come out… If your words were true… Then the dawn we so wished to see will truly come…" Gehrman said in a weak tone, barely keeping his eyes open.
"Then sleep, Gehrman… It's time for you to see your dawn without monsters and nightmares," Maria said, wiping the tears flowing from her eyes and supporting the dying Gehrman.
"Don't cry, Maria… I'm just an old fool who made a stupid mistake. Don't repeat my mistakes. And live a new life. And be free…" Gehrman said, finally closing his eyes.
Maria looked at Gehrman, who had died in her arms. Tears continued to flow from Maria's eyes, refusing to stop. She had thought her determination would be enough to handle what she had to do. But it turned out it wasn't.
Experiencing grief, Maria carefully laid Gehrman on the ground. Wiping away her tears, Maria raised her gaze to the sky. Feeling deep sadness, Maria felt warm arms that she needed right now. Turning around, Maria buried her face in Alex's chest and cried loudly.
To be continued...
(I was thinking about finishing it all in one chapter. But I figured Maria should be the one to fight Herman. After all, they share a certain relationship. And that's the right way to end it all. Anyway, there should be an ending next. And I'm going to go eat. Peace, love, and the moon—that's cheese.)
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