Chapter 51: Dracula

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The two humans didn't take long to reach the throne room, led by the vampire guard. The insides of the castle were as gloomy as the outside, everything was barely lit as vampires had a great night vision, so they only needed the bare minimum for light.

As for the throne room, it was grand. Forming a line that divided the room in two, was a red carpet, and both sides were in perfect symmetry.

And of course, at the end of the red carpet, was a flight of stairs, on top of which stood the tall throne.

On the throne, was a tall old man, clean shaven with long white hair falling freely in his back, not a speck of color on him.

The man had a disinterested expression as he sat there, playing with a glass filled with a red liquid, too thick to be wine.

The guard reached the bottom of the stairs, and kneeled down as he announced "Count, your Sorcerer Guest has arrived, alongside… another guest."

"You can leave." The Count replied, any trace of boredom having disappeared from his persona as he looked at Edward with interest.

Facing the legendary vampire, Edward finally understood what was the second emotion he had been feeling within the vampires, it was hunger, and he didn't even need his Chi Sense to sense it. For some reason, the other vampires were all too scared to even think of drinking his blood, but Dracula didn't have such restraints.

With the way the Count was staring at Edward, his red eyes going up and down, but often staying on his neck, even Stephen understood something was going on and tried to diffuse the situation "Lord Dracula, we have come for the exchange."

With a wave of his hand, a vial appeared in his hand, within which was a blue liquid. Dracula's gaze finally left Edward as he looked at the blue vial.

"Good, give it to me." Dracula's voice was deep and commanding. The only words he said were orders.

Stephen frowned and refuted "What about your part of the deal?"

Dracula regained, or rather started feigning boredom as he said nonchalantly "Don't worry, I will give it you once you give me the vial."

"Won't you even take it out?"

Hearing the question, Dracula suddenly exploded "Are you implying I am untrustworthy?!"

Stephen was shocked at the outburst and intended to defend himself, but before he could say anything Dracula got up from his throne.

Stephen's expression was grim as he create several shields around himself, just in time to see Dracula disappear from the spot. However, he was shocked to see Dracula having appeared next to Edward.

Same as Stephen, Edward thought Dracula would have attacked Stephen as he was the most vulnerable in close combat, so he had been guarding in his direction. Since Dracula was more than five meters away, he couldn't feel his intentions either.

So Edward was taken off guard when Dracula appeared behind him, and was kicked away. He flew into a wall with great force, stunning him for a moment. Without a moment of hesitation, he took out the Ebony Blade and made a large swipe before him before even regaining his senses.

And as he shook himself out of the stun he saw he had done well as Dracula had indeed continued his assault.

Circulating his Chi to the injured part of his body, and rushed at the Count. Dracula was faster than him, but Edward was stronger, he could feel it from the hit he just took.

Arriving in the Count's proximity, Edward slashed diagonally, and the vampire easily dodged backwards. However, a flying slash exited the sword and hit Dracula in the middle of the chest.

His black coat was slashed open, alongside his skin and his muscles as dark blood gushed out of the wound.

Dracula did not show any sign of pain though, and only licked his lips as he stared at Edward. Edward didn't wait for him though and once again got in close quarters with him, hacking his sword erratically.

Although the Count was dodging his blows, he was quickly being cornered down, and before long another cut was made on the Count. Nearly at the same time, several ropes of Eldritch Magic tied around the Count, trying to contain him.

Dracula wasn't to be so easily outdone though as he turned into an army of bats, before reforming a distance away. He turned toward Stephen and extended his palm toward him. A dark red rune appeared in the air in front of him, and a bloody bolt flew toward Stephen.

It exploded against his shield, but Dracula crossed his arms, his fists clenched. Several portals appeared all around the room, out of which came several beings. Some were similar to Dracula as they were vampires, but there were also big bats, wolves, rats and undeads.

As they appeared, Dracula commanded with an ethereal voice "Attack the intruders!" They started swarming the two right as they were given the command, not even caring about their lives as they were bound by the blood and soul to obey the order given to them by their master.

Edward didn't have much problem taking care of them, but they were blocking his path.

The rats and the bats were the most annoying because of their size and great number, but a flying slash could kill several of them so he mostly used those attacks against them. As for the undead and the vampires, the first had a great vitality and the second great strength, but they were all far below Edward and were thus easily taken care of.

Meanwhile, Stephen had a much easier time than him as he floated in the air with his Cloak of Levitation, and he had even used the Images of Ikkon, creating numerous illusory clones to split up the summoned army.

A magic dual started between the Master Sorcerer and the Vampire Lord, but the centuries old monster showed a greater expertise of the mystical arts as he slowly but surely overwhelmed Strange.

Stephen Strange knew he wouldn't win by himself, so he decided to go for another tactic. First summoning the Mists of Munnopor, hiding himself from sight, he started chanting a spell.

After five seconds, as Dracula managed to erase the smog, Stephen finished his spell, and seven giant fireballs appeared in the air. This was one of the most advanced spells a Sorcerer could learn, the Seven Suns of Cinnibus, a spell filled with the attribute of holiness, light and fire.

As the light of the seven suns shone on the creatures of darkness below, they all started screeching as they scalded, the smaller ones being even turned into ashes directly.

Even Dracula was wincing in pain, and a veil of darkness extended out of him, aiming to snuff out the seven fireballs. However, as the darkness approached the suns, six of the forces smashed down into the ground below, creating a large explosion which enveloped all the summoned soldiers.

As for Edward, Stephen had come within five meters of him before the attack, so he knew what he was going to do and jumped to a nearby wall, his hands digging into the hard metal of the castle to stay in place.

As the bright light faded away, a ravaged throne room was revealed, not even ashes of the summoned creatures left behind in the six giant craters. Moreover, there was still a sun hanging in the room, and the darkness that tried to snuff it out had been destroyed by the explosion.

Although the single sun wasn't hurting Dracula as much as the seven combined, it still felt extremely uncomfortable, but Stephen wouldn't let him destroy it.

The Winds of Watoomb and the Flames of the Faltines were combined to create three fire tornadoes around Dracula, constantly embarrassing him while Stephen used Eldritch Magic to attack the Count.

And while this was happening, Edward approached Dracula, sword in hand. Dracula focused his magic on dealing with Stephen, and could only use his body to deal with Edward.

Inwardly, Dracula felt like cursing as the duo were annoying him to no end. If it was any of the two on their own, he could kill them with ease, the Sorcerer with close combat and the fighter with magic.

But unfortunately for him, the two were fighting together, and they were great at it. Edward's sword was like a brush as it used Count Dracula's blood to form a painting, which name could only be doom.

As the pale body of Dracula was getting covered in more and more of his cold blood, he suddenly turned into a mist and flew toward Edward. However, this had no effect on him as Edward was covered by the Armor of the Ancient, which covered him from head to toe.

Moreover, one of the fire tornadoes appeared right behind Edward, and sucked the mist into it. Dracula was forced to take his vampire form if he didn't want to become fuel for the fire tornado.

But right as he turned, a sword pierced through his heart. The Count looked at Edward in shock, he tried grabbing the sword, but only cut his fingers with the extremely sharp sword.

Edward twisted the sword, and said "Gluttony was your doom."

The Ebony Sword left his body, and the Count retreated a few steps, before stumbling on the steps in front of his throne. He fell, his cold blood covering the steps with dark red as his eyes didn't leave Edward.

Looking into his eyes, Edward felt something try to penetrate his mind, making him sneer as he released a burst of his Royal Will.

Dracula, who tried to bewitch Edward, was knocked down by his Royal Will, his spirit crushed as his red eyes turned black, and life left his body, if there ever was any left.

As the vampire king was killed, Edward didn't grow complacent, and looked at the vampires left with cautiousness. They had been watching the fight, and he was worried they would try to swarm them.

But Stephen, who was trying to regain his breath, yelled "Your king is dead, bring us what we came here for and we will leave you his body. And the castle."

Edward smiled at the threat, but was surprised to see a vampire actually come with a box in his hands, and present it to Stephen with a bow. It seemed Stephen didn't expect it either as he only took it after an awkward second of the vampire bowing, gift presented toward Stephen.

Mysterious box in hand, Stephen looked at Edward and said "Shall we head back then?"

Edward nodded and created a portal to the New York Sanctum.

Once the two arrived, Edward wanted to ask what was in the box, but before he could his phone rung. Seeing the number, Edward excused himself and answered the phone.

Stephen didn't hear what was being said on the phone, but seeing Edward's face was enough to tell him something funny had happened. Funny for him, not for Edward. And he enjoyed it. Very much. Actually, it made his day.

As he finished his call, Edward saw Stephen looking at him with a large grin, and only rolled his eyes as he left in a portal.