Once the first vampire was within reach, a Void Tendril lashed out
instantaneous
faster than thought.
The vampire didn't even have time to scream.
The tendril snatched him up like a ragdoll
then, with a casual flick, hurled him backward.
His body arced midair—
only to be cleaved clean in half, perfectly symmetrical, by a second tendril that sliced through him with surgical cruelty.
Both halves twisted
then were devoured by the swirling Blackhole,
swallowed whole—without resistance, without a trace.
Three more vampires surged forward. Howling, fangs bared, claws igniting with blood-imbued energy.
It was pointless.
The Void Tendrils met them.
One tendril spiraled low, hooked a vampire's leg, and whipped him into the marble floor, cracking it like glass.
Another impaled a second vampire clean through the skull, lifting him into the air like a grotesque banner.
The third leapt high—
only to be caught midair, crushed in coils of darkness, his muffled scream the last sound he made before being fed to the abyss.
Key didn't speak.
Didn't flinch.
He simply watched,
his glowing purple eyes locked on the King and Queen.
Unmoving.
The royal couple stood still—
unshaken.
Cold smirks curled across their lips like serpents basking in the heat of arrogance.
Their confidence oozed like rot
thick, clinging, foul.
But then
a slow smile curved across Key's own face.
Inevitable.
Measured.
He raised his hand—unhurried, unbothered
like someone absolutely certain of what came next.
The King and Queen's expressions faltered.
Their gazes flicked to his hand.
Cautious.
Intrigued.
"Kobe."
The word left Key's lips like a quiet prophecy
soft, but thunderous in the soul.
He snapped his arm forward.
The Blackhole launched, roaring like a rogue star unbound by gravity.
[Blackhole has leveled up!]
[Blackhole LV. 2 Unlocked!]
Reality buckled.
The void doubled in size, its pull intensifying as the very air screamed.
The throne room trembled, walls fracturing under the gravitational pressure.
It was chaos.
The remaining vampires didn't even scream before they were ripped from the ground, limbs flailing
devoured in an instant.
The Blackhole shrieked, a banshee wail of cosmic hunger.
And then
it collapsed.
Imploding like a satisfied beast, vanishing just inches before reaching the throne.
Not out of mercy.
But restraint.
The Void Tendrils that had been protecting Speedy curled back, slithering into the void like loyal wolves returning to their master.
She blinked.
She heard footsteps.
Key stood above her, hand outstretched. Still glowing. Still facing forward. Still calm.
His eyes never left the throne.
But she caught it.
The subtle nod.
He remembered.
They'd finish this together.
A quiet smile tugged at her lips.
No words needed.
She took his hand
and rose.
"That was a mistake."
King de San said with a cold gleam in his eye.
"It was the only chance you two had at defeating us. How… underwhelming."
"Agreed, dear."
Queen Gianna added with a casual shrug.
"You know what? I actually like them. We haven't been this entertained in years. How about we make them an offer?"
Key and Speedy glanced at each other with synchronized "you can't be serious" expressions.
"Hmm. I'm listening.."
the King replied.
The Queen turned her full attention to them, eyes glinting.
"If you surrender now, we'll give you a mino—"
WHOOSH.
"Shut up, bitch."
SMACK.
Speedy appeared behind Queen Gianna, slapping her with a palm strike so hard it echoed.
The Queen flew sideways
and before the King could react, his fist lashed toward Speedy.
But it never landed.
Key was there, gripping it mid-air with a crushing hold.
His eyes glared into crimson ones.
"Why the fuck would we accept a deal from predators?"
King de San smirked and added pressure to his punch, slowly forcing Key back with effort.
"We offered you a chance. Now, we'll just kill you, and prey on the one behind you."
He roared and pushed harder, unleashing his full strength.
But then
he froze.
His hand didn't move.
Not an inch.
Key's voice was cold as ice.
"Speedy. Take her and do what's necessary."
Speedy gave him one quick glance
then disappeared in a slice of wind, vanishing with Queen Gianna.
Key exhaled through his nose.
No more stalling.
Enough talk.
He raised his hand
and the Void Tendrils burst forth behind him, flaring like a lion's mane, a black crown of moving death.
Across from him, King de San stood tall, recovering his balance.
He extended one arm, bloody Abyssal energy swirling up to his shoulder, and from it, a regal longsword formed. White, gold, and scarlet, glowing with divine essence.
"Be honored," the King said.
"Being killed by a God doesn't happen every day. Treasure it."
Key didn't answer.
He simply gestured
and the Void Tendrils struck.
They shot forward like bolts of night lightning.
But the King smirked coldly
and blocked them. Effortlessly.
He twisted, spun, sidestepped, parried.
His blade dancing like poetry soaked in murder.
"Is this it?" he said as he deflected each attack.
"I feel ashamed. My soldiers died to these disgraceful excuses for hands."
Key's voice broke through the rhythm.
"Ever watched Elfen Lied?"
"Wha—?"
SLICE.
The King's head split cleanly in half, down the center.
The tendrils surged
and devoured his blood, consuming it like the scarabs from The Mummy.
Silence.
.
.
Key narrowed his eyes.
The Void Tendrils coiled into a massive brass-knuckle shape around his hand.
He twisted his hips,
and threw a brutal hook.
CRACK.
The King's reforming body vibrated
and his head popped clean off his shoulders, the force lined with purple Abyssal energy rippling through the marble.
The severed head slammed against the far wall with a meaty thud.
"Too obvious.." Key muttered.
"The ole 'behind the back attack'? How unoriginal even for you."
He walked toward the embedded head.
The King's lips still twitched, regenerating slowly.
But Key knelt.
"It's pointless." he said calmly.
"I made sure my tendrils devoured every last drop of you..except just enough to keep your head alive."
He stood
"And for a specific reason."
"Tch… if you think this'll stop a God…"
King de San's voice hissed from his half-formed lips.
"You should look behind you."
Key's brow furrowed.
Wha-
STAB.
The divine longsword from earlier,
pierced straight through Key's gut.
Blood sprayed.
His body jerked.