They did not wait.
The massive rift remained open, but the danger was no longer confined to it alone.
A new tear appeared—smaller, deeper… and far darker.
The Seventh Rift.
And from within—
they emerged.
Tall figures, crimson glowing eyes, and wings forged from condensed shadow.
The Draculian.
They descended like meteors, striking the الأرض with lethal سرعت.
"Spread out!" Marley shouted.
The first clash was brutal.
One of the Draculian lunged straight toward Violet—
but before reaching her, it slammed into Marley's barrier.
It was thrown back violently.
Marley stood firm.
"No one gets through."
From the side—
Lexia moved.
She collided with one mid-air, blades and claws clashing in rapid succession.
She evaded a lethal strike and countered, severing its wing.
It didn't fall.
It attacked again.
"Good… now this is a fight."
Above—
Maximilian dropped into a group of them.
His movements were measured, seemingly slow—but decisive.
One strike brought down two.
Another tore through a third.
"Fast…" he said calmly,
"but unstructured."
One appeared behind him—
but Shadow intervened.
He blocked the strike instantly.
Looked at the Draculian coldly.
"Wrong target."
He vanished—
reappeared behind it—
and ended it with a single precise strike.
In the back
Lenore raised her hands.
"They will not pass."
Circles of light formed and surged forward, repelling a group.
One broke through—
but before reaching her—
a crushing field dropped upon it.
Alfred.
"Speed without control… is weakness."
He pressed his hand—
and the Draculian collapsed, unable to move.
"Above!" Zack shouted.
"Three incoming—now!"
Marley turned instantly and blocked the strike at the perfect moment.
Zack smirked slightly.
"Perfect balance."
In the sky—
The Dimensional Union ships entered the battle.
"All units—engage!"
Beams fired toward the airborne Draculian.
But they dodged with unnatural speed.
One broke through—
reached a ship—
and destroyed it in a single strike.
Sid raised his hand immediately.
"Force them down!"
Energy circles formed and released waves, pushing the Draculian back to the ground.
Violet moved.
Her chains surged outward, capturing one, pulling it—
then tearing it apart.
Two appeared behind her—
before they could strike—
Maximilian landed between them.
"Not your place."
One blow—
they fell.
He glanced at Violet.
"Focus."
She nodded.
The battle intensified.
Clashing strikes.
Shouts.
Energy erupting in every direction.
The Draculian fought fiercely—
but the heroes—
stood firm.
Then—
everything stopped.
All Draculian lifted their heads—
toward the Seventh Rift.
Silence.
A heavy pause.
Then—
it widened.
Something larger began to descend.
Heavier.
Older.
Zack whispered:
"Their leader…"
Everyone prepared.
Violet tightened her chains.
Marley raised her barrier.
Maximilian stepped forward.
Shadow vanished.
Lexia smiled.
Alfred focused.
Lenore gathered energy.
Sid aligned the attack.
And the sky—
held its breath.