Kunou and Nate arrived at the site of the explosion.
The first thing they saw was chaos.
Several Ningyo Royal Guards were scattered across the area. Some were unconscious, while others were struggling to get back onto their feet.
Coral structures had been damaged, and pieces of the underwater city floated through the water.
Across from them stood the attackers.
Several Yokai were laughing as they continued causing destruction, completely unconcerned about the royal guards surrounding them.
Nate's expression hardened.
He looked at the defeated guards.
Then at the attackers.
His Spirit Bond began glowing around his body.
Kunou stepped beside him, her ears lowering.
"They're hurting the Ningyo."
Nate nodded.
"Yeah."
He slowly drew his sword.
"That's enough."
One of the invading Yokai noticed him.
"Hey!"
Another turned around.
"Is that..."
"The Yokai King!"
The laughter immediately stopped.
Nate looked at them.
"You picked a really bad day to attack."
One of the Yokai raised his weapon.
"Get him!"
The attackers charged.
Kunou smiled.
"Finally."
Her Yokai energy flared.
"Something I can actually hit."
Nate glanced at her.
"Try not to destroy the city."
Kunou blinked.
"...Right."
She looked at the approaching attackers.
"That's going to be difficult."
Nate sighed.
"Just a little."
The first attacker swung.
CLANG!
Nate blocked the strike with his sword.
The impact sent a shockwave through the water.
He pushed the Yokai away.
Another attacker came from his left.
Kunou intercepted them.
BOOM!
The Yokai was sent flying into the water.
Nate looked around.
There were more of them than he'd expected.
'These aren't random thugs.'
'They're coordinated.'
He looked at the damaged defenses.
'Someone sent them here.'
Suddenly...
BOOOOOOM!
The entire ocean shook.
Nate froze.
Kunou's ears shot upright.
Every fish Yokai in the surrounding area suddenly scattered.
The Royal Guards looked around in panic.
"What was that?!"
Another tremor followed.
RUMBLE...
The floor beneath them cracked.
Nate slowly looked downward.
His expression changed.
'That wasn't an explosion.'
'That came from underneath us.'
Kunou grabbed his arm.
"Nate..."
"I know."
The sea itself seemed to be trembling.
Then a massive bell-like sound echoed through the depths.
DOOOOOONG.
Every Ningyo in the area stopped moving.
One of the Royal Guards dropped his weapon.
"No..."
Another guard looked toward the palace.
"The Sea Prison..."
Nate's eyes narrowed.
"What about it?"
The guard swallowed.
"...Something is waking up."
Meanwhile, deep within the Sea Prison...
The massive explosion sent dust and chunks of ancient stone raining through the dark prison.
Mangetsu stood casually in the middle of the chamber, watching as the dust slowly settled.
Then she smiled.
Something was moving inside the darkness.
Clink.
Clink.
Clink.
The sound of chains echoed through the prison.
One step.
Then another.
A tall man emerged from the dust.
He had long black hair that hung around his face, crimson-red eyes that glowed through the darkness, and an aura so oppressive that even the surrounding water seemed to tremble.
Heavy chains were wrapped around his body.
Several ancient talismans were attached to him, glowing with sealing energy as they desperately suppressed whatever power lay beneath them.
Mangetsu's grin widened.
Alucard slowly looked around the prison.
He took a deep breath.
Then immediately frowned. "You have no idea how much damage water does to a vampire."
Mangetsu stared at him for a moment.
Then she giggled.
"Well, yes."
She tilted her head.
"Vampire King."
Alucard's crimson eyes shifted toward her.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Alucard's expression became slightly amused. "I am assuming the Black Wings sent you?"
Mangetsu nodded cheerfully. "Yup."
Alucard sighed. "Of course."
He looked down at the chains wrapped around his body.
The talismans were still glowing.
But several had already begun cracking.
Crack.
Alucard's eyes narrowed. "Six hundred years..."
He slowly looked upward toward the higher levels of the prison. "Six hundred years, and they finally decided to set me free."
A faint smile appeared on his face. "How delightful."
Mangetsu watched him carefully.
There was something deeply unsettling about the way he spoke.
He wasn't screaming.
He wasn't raging.
He wasn't celebrating.
He sounded almost...
happy.
Mangetsu looked at him"You don't seem very surprised."
Alucard grinned "Surprised?"
He chuckled. "After being imprisoned for six centuries, I stopped expecting anyone to come."
He looked toward the enormous prison gates.
"But someone has finally opened the door."
His crimson eyes began glowing brighter.
"And now..."
One of the talismans suddenly burned away.
BOOM!
The entire prison shook.
Far above them, the ocean trembled.
Mangetsu's smile widened.
Alucard looked toward the ceiling.
"I wonder what the world looks like now."
Mangetsu laughed softly.
"Oh, you'll love it."
Alucard looked back at her.
"There's a new Yokai King."
A pause.
"A new king?"
Mangetsu nodded. "And he's currently trying to unite all the Yokai clans."
Alucard's expression became interested.
"Unite them?"
"Yep."
She grinned. "And he's really, really determined."
Alucard stared at her for several seconds.
Then his smile slowly returned. "How interesting."
Another chain snapped.
CRACK!
The entire Sea Prison shook violently.
And somewhere far above...
Nate suddenly felt something.
He stopped in the middle of the battlefield.
Kunou noticed immediately. "Nate?"
Nate's eyes widened.
'What... was that?'
He looked toward the depths beneath Ryūgū.
His Spirit Bond began reacting on its own.
"Something just woke up."
Kunou's ears lowered.
"What?"
Nate slowly tightened his grip around his sword. "I don't know."
Another tremor shook the underwater kingdom.
BOOOOOOM!
Nate looked toward the deepest part of the ocean.
'But whatever it is...'
His expression became serious.
'It's powerful.'
And deep beneath them...
Alucard smiled.
The Vampire King had returned.
Nate then shook his head. "Okay, but first, we need to deal with the Yokai causing problems."
Kunou nodded in agreement. "Yes."
Nate tightened his grip around his sword as another group of Yokai rushed toward them.
The first one swung a massive club.
Nate ducked underneath the attack.
"Too slow."
He drove the hilt of his sword into the Yokai's stomach, sending it flying backward through the water.
Kunou immediately followed.
She raised her hand, and a burst of golden Yokai energy shot forward, striking another attacker and knocking it into the ground.
Nate glanced around.
More Yokai were appearing from the surrounding streets.
Some were attacking the royal guards.
Others were destroying buildings.
A few were deliberately targeting civilians.
Nate's expression hardened.
'They're not fighting like they want to conquer the city.'
He blocked another attack.
'They're creating panic.'
Nate kicked the attacker away and looked toward the palace.
'Which means this is probably a distraction.'
Kunou noticed his expression.
"Husband?"
Nate looked at her.
"I think we're missing something."
Kunou's ears perked up.
"Something?"
Nate nodded.
"These Yokai are too organized."
He pointed toward several groups moving through the city.
"Look at them. They're not randomly attacking anything. Each group has a different target."
Kunou watched carefully.
One group was attacking the military barracks.
Another was damaging the city's defensive barriers.
Another was attacking the palace's outer defenses.
And another was deliberately causing destruction in civilian areas.
Kunou's expression became serious.
"You're right."
Nate sheathed his sword for a moment.
"Someone planned this."
Kunou looked toward the palace.
"Then what are they trying to accomplish?"
Nate's eyes narrowed.
"I don't know yet."
A massive roar suddenly echoed through the underwater kingdom.
ROOOOOOOAR!
The entire city shook.
Nate and Kunou froze.
Several buildings rattled from the force.
Water currents suddenly became violent.
Nate slowly looked downward.
'That again.'
Kunou grabbed his arm.
"Husband..."
"I felt it too."
Another tremor followed.
BOOM!
This time, cracks appeared along the ground.
The attacking Yokai stopped.
Even they looked frightened.
One of the royal guards stared toward the depths.
"The Sea Prison..."
Another guard swallowed nervously.
"Something is happening down there."
Nate looked at them.
"What exactly is inside that prison?"
The guard hesitated.
Kunou's expression changed.
"Answer him."
The guard immediately bowed.
"My King, the Sea Prison was constructed centuries ago."
Nate waited.
"What was it built to contain?"
The guard's face became pale.
"We were never told the full details."
Nate frowned.
"You weren't told?"
"The prison is older than our current royal family. Only the highest members of the royal court are permitted to know what lies within."
Kunou's eyes narrowed.
"Then who does know?"
The guard hesitated again.
"The Queen."
Nate immediately looked toward the palace.
"Mermadonna."
Kunou nodded.
"We need to find her."
Before they could move, a violent shockwave swept through the city.
KRAAAAAK!
The ground split open.
Several guards were thrown into the water.
Nate immediately raised his hand.
"Spirit Bond!"
Golden energy spread outward.
The falling guards suddenly stopped as the energy caught them.
Nate gently lowered them back onto the ground.
"Everyone stay together!"
The guards recovered and immediately regrouped.
Kunou looked at Nate.
"You saved them without hesitation."
Nate gave her a confused look.
"Of course I did."
Kunou smiled.
"That is why you are my King."
Nate smiled back.
"Come on."
The two began moving toward the palace.
But then Nate stopped.
His eyes widened.
Something was wrong.
He could feel it.
Not through his ears.
Not through his eyes.
Through his Spirit Bond.
Something ancient was sending a presence through the water.
Something that didn't feel like a normal Yokai.
Something that felt...
hungry.
Nate's smile disappeared.
'What is that?'
Kunou noticed immediately.
"Husband?"
Nate slowly looked toward the deepest part of the ocean.
"I think..."
He paused.
"I think whatever is inside that prison just realized we're here."
Kunou's expression became serious.
"Can you tell what it is?"
Nate shook his head.
"No."
Another tremor.
This one was stronger.
The palace itself shook.
Far beneath Ryūgū, enormous chains began snapping one after another.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
Deep inside the Sea Prison, Mangetsu watched with excitement.
Alucard stood in the center of the chamber.
One of the final talismans covering his body slowly burned away.
Mangetsu's grin grew wider.
"So..."
She tilted her head.
"Are you ready to see the outside world again, Vampire King?"
Alucard looked toward the prison entrance.
His crimson eyes gleamed.
"After six hundred years?"
He smiled.
"More than ready."
Another chain snapped.
BOOOOOOM!
The shockwave traveled through the prison.
Alucard slowly stretched his arms.
"For six hundred years, I have listened to the ocean."
He looked upward.
"Now..."
His smile widened.
"I believe it is time the ocean listened to me."
Mangetsu laughed.
"Oh, this is going to be fun."
Back above, Nate suddenly felt the pressure increase.
His Spirit Bond flared violently.
Nate's eyes widened.
"Everyone, get back!"
Kunou immediately understood.
"Move!"
The royal guards retreated.
Nate stepped forward and raised his sword.
Golden energy gathered around him.
The ocean became completely still.
For one second...
Everything was silent.
Then the deepest part of the Sea Prison erupted.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
A column of water blasted upward.
The entire underwater kingdom shook.
Nate stood against the rushing current, his coat whipping behind him.
Kunou stood beside him.
And somewhere beneath them...
something ancient had finally been released.
Nate stared into the darkness.
'Whoever you are...'
His grip tightened around his sword.
'If you're here to hurt my people...'
His eyes began glowing with golden energy.
'Then I'll stop you.'
Nate saw the person coming out of the darkness.
It was Alucard.
Beside him stood Mangetsu, looking far too pleased with herself.
Alucard slowly walked forward.
The remaining talismans covering his body had completely burned away, while the ancient chains fell from him one by one and crashed against the stone floor.
Clang.
Clang.
Clang.
For the first time in six hundred years, Alucard stood completely free.
He slowly looked around.
The underwater kingdom.
The ancient prison.
The unfamiliar architecture.
The energy flowing through the air.
He closed his eyes for a moment, sensing the supernatural power surrounding him.
His expression became thoughtful.
"So..."
His voice carried an unmistakably old-fashioned tone.
"This is the world that hath continued without me."
Nate blinked.
'...Hath?'
Mangetsu looked at Nate.
Nate looked at Mangetsu.
Mangetsu simply shrugged.
Nate then looked back at Alucard.
Alucard opened his crimson eyes.
His gaze immediately landed on Nate.
"I see."
He studied Nate from head to toe.
"Thou must be the new King."
Nate raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah. I'm Nate."
Alucard stared at him.
"Thou speakest rather casually for a monarch."
Nate paused.
"...I'm sixteen."
Alucard's expression didn't change.
"Ah."
He nodded slowly.
"A child upon the throne."
Nate's eyebrow twitched.
"I'm not a child."
Kunou stepped forward.
"He is the Yokai King."
Alucard turned toward her.
"And thou art?"
Kunou stood proudly.
"I am Kunou, Queen of the Yokai."
Alucard's eyes widened slightly.
"Queen?"
Kunou nodded.
Alucard looked between Nate and Kunou.
"The King and Queen together..."
He placed a hand beneath his chin.
"How curious."
Mangetsu grinned.
"They're married too."
Alucard looked at Nate.
Then Kunou.
Then Nate again.
"Married?"
Nate nodded.
"Yes."
Alucard's expression became strangely nostalgic.
"Ah."
He looked away.
"Young love."
Nate stared at him.
'Why does that somehow sound like something my grandfather would say?'
Kunou smiled politely.
"It's good to meet you."
Alucard gave her a small bow.
"The pleasure is mine, Your Majesty."
Then he turned back toward Nate.
"But I must confess..."
His crimson eyes narrowed.
"I am perplexed."
Nate tilted his head.
"About what?"
Alucard gestured toward the city.
"When I was last awake, the world was a very different place."
He slowly looked toward the massive underwater structures.
"Kingdoms rose and fell."
"Men waged wars over lands and crowns."
"Great lords held dominion over their subjects."
"And the very thought of a Yokai kingdom openly standing beside humanity would have been considered madness."
Nate crossed his arms.
"Things changed."
Alucard smiled faintly.
"Indeed."
He looked at Nate again.
"And apparently, the Yokai now have a king who speaketh like a commoner."
Nate stared at him.
"Okay, first of all, why are you talking like that?"
Mangetsu immediately started laughing.
Alucard looked genuinely confused.
"Like what?"
"Like you walked out of a history book."
Mangetsu covered her mouth.
"He's got a point."
Alucard frowned.
"I have been imprisoned for six hundred years."
Nate nodded.
"Yeah."
Alucard gestured toward himself.
"How else ought I speak?"
Nate opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
"...Fair."
Kunou giggled.
Alucard looked toward her.
"At least the Queen understandeth proper decorum."
Kunou smiled.
"I do."
Nate sighed.
"Great. Now there's two of you."
Mangetsu laughed even harder.
Alucard looked genuinely perplexed by the conversation.
Yet beneath the humor, Nate could still feel it.
That enormous presence.
The sheer supernatural energy radiating from Alucard was unlike anything Nate had encountered during the battle.
It was ancient.
Heavy.
And deeply unsettling.
Nate's instincts were screaming at him.
'This guy is insanely powerful.'
Alucard suddenly looked directly at him.
Nate froze.
For a moment, the two kings simply stared at one another.
Alucard smiled.
"Thou hast grown wary."
Nate narrowed his eyes.
"You're powerful."
"Naturally."
Alucard said it with such complete confidence that Nate almost laughed.
Then Alucard continued.
"I am Alucard."
His crimson eyes glowed faintly.
"Once Dracula, King of Vampires."
Nate's expression changed.
'Dracula?'
He knew exactly who he was.
But he couldn't reveal that.
Not yet.
Alucard continued.
"I ruled a kingdom long before these waters became my prison."
His expression darkened slightly.
"Then came betrayal, war, and the folly of mankind."
He looked toward the distant city.
"And now I awaken to discover that six centuries have passed."
Mangetsu smiled.
"Pretty crazy, huh?"
Alucard slowly looked at her.
"Your manner of speech is most peculiar."
Mangetsu blinked.
"What?"
"Thou speakest as though thou wert but a village girl."
Mangetsu grinned.
"I am a village girl."
Alucard stared at her.
"...Thou art most strange."
Mangetsu laughed.
Nate couldn't help it.
He chuckled.
Alucard looked at him.
"Something amuseth thee?"
Nate shook his head.
"No."
Alucard narrowed his eyes.
"Thou liest poorly."
Nate sighed.
"Okay, maybe a little."
Kunou covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Alucard looked between the three of them.
For the first time since his awakening, a genuine smile appeared on his face.
"Perhaps..."
He looked toward the world beyond the prison.
"...six centuries have changed more than I expected."
Then his smile disappeared.
His eyes shifted toward the palace.
"Yet something troubles me."
Nate immediately became serious.
"What?"
Alucard looked downward.
"The seal that held me."
He slowly raised his hand.
"I felt another presence."
Nate's eyes widened.
"Another presence?"
Alucard nodded.
"Something ancient."
His expression became grim.
"And something that did not belong to me."
Mangetsu's grin returned.
"Looks like you noticed."
Alucard looked at her.
"Thou knewest?"
"Of course."
Mangetsu tilted her head.
"That's part of why we woke you up."
Alucard's eyes narrowed.
"Then speak."
Mangetsu pointed toward the deeper waters.
"There are people down there who don't want the Yokai King to unite everyone."
Nate immediately looked at her.
"So you admit this whole attack was a distraction."
Mangetsu smiled.
"Yep."
Nate's expression hardened.
"And the Sea Prison?"
Mangetsu pointed toward Alucard.
"That was the real objective."
Alucard smiled.
"Then I suppose I ought to thank thee."
Mangetsu blinked.
"For what?"
Alucard spread his arms slightly.
"For releasing me."
He looked toward the vast underwater kingdom.
"After six hundred years of darkness..."
His crimson eyes gleamed.
"...I should very much like to see what hath become of the world."
Nate tightened his grip around his sword.
"You're not planning on attacking my people, are you?"
Alucard looked at him.
Then smiled.
"That, young King..."
He turned toward the city.
"...shall depend entirely upon what sort of king thou art."
Nate's eyes narrowed.
Kunou stepped closer to him.
And Mangetsu simply grinned.
The Vampire King had awakened.
And now he wanted to see what kind of world had replaced the one he had lost.
To be continue
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