'What do you mean, Nicole?' the soldier asked.
Before Nicole could answer, the question answered itself:
The commander cried out again.
He was helpless against his foe.
The soldier's face went pale.
Their commander was dying.
Their strongest warrior was losing.
Humanity wouldn't make it.
Nicole, too, was speechless.
Dracule, seeing their reaction, burst into hysterical laughter.
He even had to clutch his stomach.
The winner was decided.
Or was it?
Yes, the sun had turned red.
But the sun wasn't the only thing that visited Earth.
Behind the clouds, a silver light broke through.
The commander smiled as his body overflowed with power.
He flexed his muscles and focused on purging the cursed blood within him.
Then it appeared—
the full moon.
'We have not lost yet!' Commander Nootra bellowed.
'We have not lost yet! Fight! Fight and survive! My soldiers! My friends! My love!'
Silver light erupted from his body.
His fur shimmered. His wounds healed.
And the war cry that followed shook the heavens.
The ghouls froze.
Even Dracule had to swallow hard.
But his fear turned to joy.
'That's the beast I know! A king candidate—the true King of the Beasts, who once challenged the King. Let us bathe in blood and end the world while fighting!'
Dracule rose into the air. The sky turned blood-red as if drenched in gore.
Then—giant blood worms shot down from the sky.
Their fangs were forged of demon energy.
They came in great numbers.
Each fired energy blasts at the soldiers—at the commander.
But it only took one swing of Nootra's powerful arm.
A wave of silver energy blasted forth, destroying all incoming attacks.
His soldiers' morale soared.
Even Nicole smiled—until her joy vanished just as quickly as it had come.
(Nicole: Will he recognize us in that state?)
She couldn't afford to dwell on the thought.
The ghouls had resumed their assault.
The soldiers formed a protective circle around Nicole, who needed time to recover her strength.
'I knew that would be enough!' Dracule roared.
His blood worms lunged at the commander.
Nootra retaliated, tearing them apart with razor-sharp claws.
Meanwhile, Dracule concentrated demon energy between his hands, slowly shaping it into a spear.
In the Past
Dracule lay on the ground—defeated.
No amount of growling could change that.
The King of the Beasts turned his back to him and said:
'You were truly strong, my friend. But I fear I've become too powerful.
Only a king candidate—or the King himself—can satisfy my hunger now.
Grow stronger. One day, we'll face each other again.
I'll always accept your challenge.'
'Just wait! One day, our positions will be reversed. You'll be the one at my feet!'
'If that day comes, Dracule, I'll gladly train again to face you.
See you then.'
In the Present
Commander Nootra had effortlessly destroyed the blood worms.
Their blood floated in the air—just as Dracule had foreseen.
The blood morphed into chains, wrapping around the commander.
They wouldn't hold him for long,
but they'd buy Dracule enough time for one final attack.
He held the energy spear in his hand.
It was so powerful that the hand holding it was slowly falling apart.
'I will defeat you, King of the Beasts—even if it costs me my life!
I prepared this special gift just for you.
O cursed bone, carved by judgment—
Trace the guilt in flesh and soul.
Twist the heavens. Tear through fate—
Akzhareth, pierce without mercy!'
He threw the spear.
Just as the commander broke free, the spear struck—
piercing through his body.
A burst of light exploded, bathing the sky in violet.
Nicole began to cry.
Dracule, on the other hand, rejoiced.
He formed a fist and thumped his chest.
'I did it. I finally beat him! After all these years of hellish training—it paid off.
My friend, who is now the loser—'
The light dimmed.
And revealed the commander.
He was alive.
The spear had pierced his chest—left a gaping hole.
But he was still standing.
Dracule, already pale, turned ghostly white.
He had put everything into that final attack.
'Hahaha… it seems it will be like last time.
I am the loser.'
The commander surged forward at terrifying speed.
Dracule didn't move.
What use was fighting now?
The King of the Beasts had survived his final blow.
Dracule spread his arms wide, like a father welcoming his son.
Commander Nootra drove his claws through Dracule's chest—
ripped out his heart—
and raised the bloodied organ in his hand.
He crushed it.
Blood spilled across his face.
The ghouls fled.
The soldiers cheered.
Only Nicole remained silent, watching the commander.
Waiting for him to speak.
As a human.
But the commander let the heart fall—and turned to the soldiers.
Nicole's eyes widened.
'His eyes…' she whispered.
'That's not our commander. RUN!'
The next moment—
the commander fired a silver energy blade at the group.