Her blood aura flared, crimson light spilling like fire. "Then I'll push you until you do."
The storm howled as her power surged. The air thickened, heavy with blood energy so dense it felt alive. She stretched out her hand, and a dark sigil ignited beneath her feet—a circle carved from crimson lightning and shadow. The scent of iron filled the air.
From the circle, a voice echoed—low, feral, ancient.
A vast shape tore through the storm clouds above, wings blotting out what little light remained. The creature landed behind her with a deafening crash—a monstrous bat with scales like obsidian armor, veins glowing faintly red beneath its skin. Its eyes burned like dying suns as it hissed, its breath reeking of blood and ozone.
"My familiar," she whispered proudly, her voice both sultry and commanding. "Verrath, my bloodshade. Feed."
The beast let out a shriek that rattled the ocean below, then lunged toward Alex, its wings cutting through the storm. Bloodlight gathered in its maw, forming a beam of raw crimson energy that scorched through the rain like a blade.
Alex didn't move at first. His eyes narrowed, assessing. Then, almost lazily, he lifted a hand.
The shadows around him pulsed once—and something stirred in the darkness behind him.
A serpentine hiss echoed through the storm as black tendrils rippled across the deck. The darkness bent and coiled, taking form—slender at first, then vast, with glimmering eyes of silver light. A colossal serpent rose from the shadows themselves, scales rippling like liquid void, each movement smooth and deliberate.
"Nyx," Alex said softly, his voice calm amid the chaos. "It's been a while."
The snake's head lowered slightly in acknowledgment, her tongue flickering as sparks of void energy danced across her scales. Then, without another sound, she lunged forward—meeting the blood bat head-on.
When the two familiars collided, the world seemed to shake.
Nyx's coils wrapped around Verrath's body, constricting with crushing force. The bat screeched, slashing its wings outward, sending arcs of blood energy slicing through the storm. Nyx twisted midair, her body flowing like smoke, dodging each slash before slamming Verrath down into the steel deck hard enough to bend the platform.
Lightning struck the sea below. The ocean itself seemed to recoil from their power.
The vampire smirked. "A serpent? How fitting for a master of shadow."
Alex stepped forward, his gaze sharp. "And yours bleeds too easily."
"Careful," she purred. "He's only warming up."
Verrath roared, its form warping and splitting into smaller shadows that darted around Nyx. Each fragment attacked from a different direction, wings cutting like blades. Nyx hissed, her eyes glowing brighter. Her body dispersed into mist for a split second, letting the attacks pass through, then reformed behind them—her fangs sinking into one of the fragments, devouring it whole.
The vampire's eyes widened slightly. "She feeds on shadow essence?"
Alex's grin returned. "She's learned from me."
Their familiars continued their brutal struggle—Nyx constricting, Verrath thrashing, each strike shaking the deck. Sparks of bloodlight and darkness splattered the air like ink and flame.
Then both masters moved again.
The vampire darted in, her claws drenched in bloodlight. Alex met her mid-charge, their hands clashing, power rippling out like shockwaves.
Their familiars mirrored their masters—Verrath's wings flaring with crimson fire as Nyx's coils pulsed with black light. It was as if two duels were happening in perfect symmetry—both grounded and ethereal, human and monstrous.
"You fight with such control, as if you are afriad to harm me," she said between strikes, her tone still teasing despite the intensity. "But your heart… it burns like mine."
Alex ducked beneath her slash, shadows trailing behind him like smoke. "Then you should understand—I can easily defeat you, but I am enjoying having an fight like this."
He snapped his fingers.
Nyx's eyes glowed pure white. The serpent exploded into a storm of tendrils, wrapping around Verrath from every direction. The vampire tried to pull her familiar back—but Alex was already there, standing before her, his hand raised, palm glowing faintly with dark fire.
"Yield," he said simply.
She smiled, fangs glinting. "Never."
She thrust her hand forward—and Verrath roared, bursting into a wave of bloodlight that engulfed both Nyx and Alex. The platform shattered beneath their feet, steel and lightning torn apart as energy detonated across the sky.
For a moment, there was nothing but red and black—a whirlpool of blood and shadow, spiraling high above the ocean.
When the storm light finally dimmed, two figures stood at the heart of the chaos.
Alex, his coat in tatters, darkness coiling faintly around his hands.
And her—kneeling, panting, crimson mist swirling around her, her eyes still burning with stubborn fire.
"You're… strong," she whispered, half-laughing. "Stronger than I thought."
Alex approached her slowly, the rain sliding off the invisible barrier of his aura. "You lasted longer than most."
"Most?" She smirked weakly. "You make a habit of breaking monsters?"
"Only those who try to take me," he said softly.
She laughed again, breathless but amused. "Then I suppose… I'll have to stay close. To try again."
Alex paused, meeting her gaze. Her eyes were no longer purely crimson—they shimmered faintly, the same way Nyx's eyes once had when she first submitted to him.
The vampire smiled faintly. "You may have won, but this bond won't end with defeat. I am yours, Alexander… and which is same as you being mine."
He chuckled but stopped midway when she suddenly closed the distance between them — and kissed him.
A dark chain shot out from Alex's hand, wrapping tightly around her neck as she gasped against his lips. The mark of submission flared between them.
[Course on Subduing a Count-Class Demon — Completed.]
[Your rank has increased to Earl Rank.]
[ Due to increase in rank, your demoinc energy resrev have increased by 100%]
[ Due to increase in Rank, you unlocked the skill Demon's Haki ]
[ Due to increase in Rank, You now have the Authority to take an land for yourself in the Hell ]
[ Due to increase in Rank, the number of people you can share your power with have increased from 5 to 10 ]
Alex lowered her gently, his arm still around the soft, trembling body of his new demon — a vampire.
Wait… how is she a demon then? he thought, his breath still uneven.
[Vampires are Demonkin — they also dwell within the realms of Hell.]
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