Celestia moved gracefully to stand next to Han, her presence bringing a sense of calm and determination. She gently clasped his hand with her own, her touch light but firm. The warmth of her grip conveyed reassurance as she squeezed his hand, initiating their combined power.
A radiant shield materialized around them, encasing them both from head to toe in a protective aura that shimmered with an ethereal light. In an instant, a sword manifested in their free hands, the blades gleaming with a sharp, silvery edge.
Together, they pointed their swords toward the vampire, who bared his teeth in a menacing snarl, his eyes glowing with unbridled fury. The air around them crackled with energy, the impending clash promising to be a battle of unparalleled intensity.
"Hey! I can't believe you left me behind!"
The two teenagers turned around abruptly, their faces reflecting surprise as they saw Zerro stomping towards them, his face flushed with anger and his eyes blazing.
"Prince Zerro?" The vampire, his usually composed demeanor shattered, questioned in shock. Celestia could see the genuine surprise etched on the demon's face, his mouth slightly agape and his eyes wide.
"Vernon?" Zerro called back, his tone matching his expression of disbelief and recognition.
"You know him?" Han enquired, suspicion lacing his voice. He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing both Zerro and Vernon. Zerro nodded, his irritation evident as he cast an exasperated look towards his allies, silently demanding an explanation for their abandonment.
"Remember when I told you I had met a vampire before? That's him. The obsessed one," the demon mentioned in a bitter tone, his words dripping with disdain. Vernon, standing a few feet away, rolled his eyes dramatically as he pulled off his hoodie, revealing a smirk that only added to the tension.
"When I like something, I can't help it," the vampire retorted, his smirk widening. Celestia bit her lower lip harshly, trying to hold back the surge of anger threatening to spill over.
"If you think you're going to get away with what you did..." Han trailed off, his voice trembling with rage. His fist clenched at his side, and his mind swirled with too many angry thoughts to articulate a coherent threat.
"I will get away with it since you three will die, and nobody else will know. Sorry, Prince Zerro, you're going to have to go too," Vernon said, his tone making it clear he wasn't actually sorry at all.
Astonia, standing off to the side, knew the truth of Vernon's threat but decided to keep that information to herself. She braced herself for Vernon's next attack, her muscles tensing in anticipation. In an instant, he was in front of her, moving faster than she could follow, and her eyes widened in shock. She clenched her fist, focusing her energy to harden her shield just as Vernon struck with his fists, the force reverberating through her defenses. Han joined in, their combined efforts forming a crack in the shield.
"Get ready, Han," Celestia warned, gripping her sword tightly, her knuckles turning white with the pressure.
Despite the imminent danger, Celestia kept her eyes open, even as their shield shattered into countless fragments. She gritted her teeth, swinging her sword with precision and managing to slice a wound into the vampire's arm. Vernon stepped back, glancing down at the blood seeping from the cut. A smirk painted his lips, a chilling expression that hinted at the sadistic pleasure he took in the fight.
"That was cute but try again," Vernon taunted, swiping his hand over his wound. The injury vanished as if it had never been there.
"How are we supposed to win if he can do that?" Han whispered in disbelief, his eyes wide. Celestia shared his astonishment, her mind racing for a solution.
"He can only lose against a demon," Zerro interjected. The two turned to see him stepping forward, his expression serious and determined.
"The fire a demon can emit is the only power that could take down a vampire," Zerro recited, recalling the many times his father had forced him and his brother to study the weaknesses of different species.
"But your power is gone," Han blurted out, the realization hitting him hard. Zerro groaned, running a hand over his face in frustration as Vernon began to laugh, a sinister sound that echoed through the air.
"This is definitely going to be fun now!" Vernon exclaimed, his eyes glinting with evil intent.
Han knew he had to act quickly. The situation was dire, and Vernon's malevolent joy only intensified the urgency. The weight of their predicament settled heavily on his shoulders as he readied himself for whatever came next.
His shield was a power unique to his angel clan, known as Protegir, the Catalan word for "protect." This was just one of the abilities he possessed, but the other he was born with was on another level entirely.
"Celestia, stay by Zerro," Han ordered in a tone that brooked no argument.
She obliged, taking two large steps backward to stand by Zerro, who wore a look of frustration. Zerro held his arms up as if surrendering to Vernon, who snickered and shot the blue-haired angel a mocking smile.
"Already giving up?" Vernon asked, tilting his head in derision.
Han spread his hands open and began twisting them in intricate motions. His brown irises glowed a lighter shade as he gazed upward. The clouds above them began to gather and swirl ominously, a low rumble of thunder growing louder with each passing second. Celestia watched in awe as her friend manipulated the weather with mere movements of his hands.
"Take cover!" Han exclaimed to Celestia and Zerro as he brought his hands down. A massive bolt of lightning struck Vernon, who cried out in pain, his back arching violently. The electricity coursed through him, and for a moment, his malevolent smile vanished, replaced by a grimace of agony.
Celestia peeked out from behind a trash can, Zerro beside her, both of them checking to see if Vernon was truly defeated. The vampire lay still on the ground, unmoving.
"Is he dead?" Zerro asked, his disbelief evident. He had assumed his demonic powers would be necessary to finish the job.
"Yeah—"
"I'm still alive, you idiots!" Vernon interrupted, sitting up with a groan. He patted the dust off his cloak and stood, his eyes gleaming with renewed malice.
Han gasped, watching in horror as Vernon rose. That lightning bolt had been his strongest move, yet it hadn't been enough. A sense of fear gripped him as he contemplated the bleak outcome of this battle. How were they going to win now?
Vernon laughed, a chilling sound that echoed in the alley. He saw how disheartened the three had become and knew it was time to finish them off. They were clearly reaching their limits.
"I don't care if I'm weak, I still have to do something!" Zerro growled in frustration, stepping forward. Determination burned in his eyes despite his weakened state. He knew they couldn't give up, no matter how dire the situation seemed.
Celestia moved forward to grab Zerro's hand, intending to stop him. As soon as their hands made contact, Zerro gasped, feeling a new surge of energy coursing through his body. Celestia, however, felt instantly drained. The moment she let go, a wave of dizziness struck her. She leaned against the wall, placing a hand over her head and closing her eyes as nausea washed over her.
"What's wrong?" Han asked, rushing to her side. Zerro, meanwhile, stared down at his own hands, noticing a faint glow surrounding them.
His power was back—not all of it, but enough to deal with the annoyance before him. Summoning a flame that hovered above his open hand, he looked towards Vernon, who paled at the sight.
"Time to end this," Zerro declared, his voice filled with newfound determination and strength. Vernon, seeing the fire, took an instinctive step back, fear replacing his earlier confidence.
"Oh, Vernon~!" Zerro cooed, his voice dripping with malicious glee as an evil smile spread across his lips.
"Oh no," Vernon mumbled, taking a cautious step back. His expression turned to sheer terror as Zerro rushed toward him, the flame in his hand growing larger with each passing second.
"Come here, you little shit!" Zerro hissed, closing the distance rapidly.
With one final leap, he closed the gap and slammed the massive flame against Vernon's back. The fire spread instantly, engulfing the vampire's body.
Vernon shrieked in agony, his form writhing as the flames consumed him, his skin beginning to melt away.
Han, preoccupied with Celestia, didn't notice the horrific scene unfolding behind him. His attention was entirely on her, her face pale and skin burning with fever.
"Good riddance," Zerro muttered, watching as Vernon continued to scream and writhe, the flames ensuring there would be no recovery this time.