The afternoon sun blazed over the town.
Yet Heberlin and the others walked through the streets without the slightest discomfort.
The vampire rings they wore protected them from the deadly rays of the sun, allowing them to move about freely during the day.
They carefully surveyed their surroundings.
The town had grown eerily quiet.
Only a handful of people remained in the marketplace.
Many of the residents had already fled to neighboring towns, hoping to escape the mysterious monster attacks.
Wanted posters fluttered everywhere—pasted on walls, wrapped around lamp posts, and carried away by the wind.
Stephen pulled one from a wall and examined it. "They managed to capture the monster on a security camera."
Blake looked over his shoulder. "Could it be the same monster we fought? The one with the masked man?"
Heberlin shook his head. "But monsters had already attacked the town before those two appeared."
Xenon folded his arms. "If that's true... then we're dealing with more than one enemy."
Blake sighed heavily. "I wish Zander were here."
Everyone immediately looked at him.
"He's been asleep for so long," Blake continued. "I think he's grown too attached to that coffin of his. Isn't it about time he woke up?"
Yvess smiled faintly. "Only Zander can decide when he's ready to awaken."
Blake let out another disappointed sigh.
Without another word, they resumed their investigation.
.
.
.....
"AAAAAHHH!!"
Akuma's scream echoed through the dormitory.
Viel, Mist, and Lucas immediately rushed into the kitchen.
"What happened?" Viel asked.
Akuma turned toward them in panic before pointing at his school uniform.
It had caught fire.
"I-I don't know... I didn't mean to!"
"Akuma... what's happening?" Viel asked again.
He stepped forward, but Akuma quickly stopped him.
"D-Don't come any closer! I'm afraid I'll hurt you!"
Suddenly...
Flames erupted from Akuma's hands.
Fear filled his eyes.
"...A fire user," Mist whispered.
"His power has finally awakened," Lucas said calmly.
"What is this?!" Akuma stared helplessly at the blazing flames. "I can't control it! They won't go away!"
Mist remained composed. "Take a deep breath. Focus. Picture the flames disappearing."
Akuma nodded.
Closing his eyes, he concentrated as hard as he could.
After several tense moments...
The flames slowly faded until they vanished completely.
Viel immediately hurried over. "Thank goodness. You're not burned."
Akuma looked at his hands. "...Maybe I should keep them wrapped in bandages. That way the flames won't accidentally appear."
Viel nodded in agreement.
.
.
.
The next day...
The four of them were walking through one of the academy hallways when they passed three students.
The boys noticed the bandages wrapped around Akuma's hands.
They burst into laughter.
"Hey, look at him! He's wearing bandages!" one of them laughed loudly.
"What kind of vampire gets injured?" another student smirked.
"Maybe he's just some low-ranking vampire."
The three of them laughed even harder.
Viel immediately clenched his fists.
His eyes narrowed with anger.
He was about to charge at them—
But Akuma grabbed his arm.
"Just ignore them," Akuma smiled gently. "They're not worth it."
Viel reluctantly calmed himself.
Together, the four of them continued walking.
.
.
That night...
Everyone prepared for bed.
"Are you taking those bandages off?" Viel asked.
Akuma shook his head. "I think I'll leave them on."
The four boys climbed into their beds.
Mist reached over and switched off the bedside lamp.
Darkness filled the room.
.
.
Viel couldn't sleep.
An unbearable heat spread throughout his body.
It felt as though something deep inside him was desperately trying to break free.
His crimson eyes slowly opened.
Sharp fangs extended from his mouth.
Akuma slept peacefully beside him.
Mist and Lucas...
As always...
Had mysteriously disappeared somewhere during the night.
Viel squeezed his eyes shut.
He wanted to scream.
But he was afraid of waking Akuma.
Moments later...
Everything went black.
He lost consciousness.
.
.
Meanwhile...
The three students who had mocked Akuma earlier were making their way back to their dormitory.
"I still can't get over Akuma's face earlier."
One of them laughed.
"Bandages?"
"What a pathetic vampire."
The three of them burst into laughter again.
Then...
They suddenly stopped.
Someone was following them.
"W-Who's there?" one of them asked nervously.
A figure slowly emerged from the darkness at the end of the hallway.
The moment they recognized him...
Their faces turned pale.
"I-It... it's you..."
The three students immediately lowered their heads in fear.
"Did you really think..." the young man's voice was cold. "...that I would simply ignore what you did to him today?"
Something about him felt different.
His voice carried an overwhelming aura that sent chills down their spines.
"P-Please forgive us!"
"We didn't mean any harm!"
One of the students desperately pleaded.
The young man remained silent.
Then—
Crack!
Brilliant arcs of lightning burst from his hands.
The three students opened their mouths to scream—
But no sound escaped.
In an instant...
Their bodies were consumed by electricity.
Moments later...
Nothing remained but piles of ash.
A faint smile appeared on the young man's face.
He calmly turned around and walked away.
.
.
From a distance...
Xerxes watched everything unfold.
He let out a long, weary sigh.
"...I'm too late."
The one he had been trying to protect...
Had already awakened.