The Crimson Streets

The streets of Umbra smelled of damp stone and spilled blood. Viole was used to it. He had fought and killed more than his share of vampires in places just like this. He knew the smell of their bodies turning to dust. He knew the way their red eyes burned in the dark. He knew the sound of their claws scraping against the walls before they struck.

This wasn't new.

But something was different tonight.

The city was too quiet. The usual background noise—the drunken chatter, the distant horses, the creaking of wooden signs in the wind—was gone.

Viole walked beside Ha-eun, his hand resting on the hilt of his katana. He had killed vampires before. Dozens. Maybe hundreds. And he had learned one thing—they always hunted in silence.

If the city was this quiet, that meant only one thing.

They were already surrounded.

Then, the first scream tore through the night.

Viole's grip tightened.

A dark shape dropped from a rooftop, landing in a crouch in front of them. Then another. And another. Too many.

Their pale faces gleamed under the moonlight, red eyes glowing with hunger.

Viole felt Ha-eun tense beside him.

"How many?" she murmured.

Viole counted fast. "At least twelve that I can see. Probably more watching."

Ha-eun exhaled sharply. "Damn."

The lead vampire stepped forward, a slow, graceful movement. Elegant. Controlled. The others twitched and shifted restlessly, their fingers curling into claws, but this one… he was different.

His fangs glinted as he smiled. "You smell of old blood, swordsman."

Viole didn't respond. He just slid his katana from its sheath.

The vampire chuckled. "Good. I like my prey when they fight back."

Then, they attacked.

Viole moved first.

His katana sang through the air, slicing through the first vampire's throat before it could land its strike. The creature hissed, stumbling back, but Viole was already moving.

He spun, driving his blade into another's chest. He twisted it, knowing exactly where the heart was, and the vampire let out a choked snarl before collapsing into dust.

"Two down," he muttered.

Ha-eun was just as fast, cutting through them like a storm. Her blade struck clean, taking heads off shoulders. Three vampires collapsed in quick succession, their bodies crumbling to ash.

Viole dodged left, his katana deflecting razor-sharp claws. He cut low, slicing through tendons, then followed up with a killing stroke—another pile of dust.

Five down.

They could win this.

Then—it happened.

Viole's katana met something unnatural. A vampire's bare hand caught the blade mid-swing, stopping it completely.

His eyes widened.

The vampire grinned.

With a sharp, inhuman twist—SNAP.

Viole's katana broke in two.

The upper half of the blade clattered onto the stone, its edge catching the moonlight.

For the first time that night, a chill crept up Viole's spine.

The vampire let out a laugh, tossing the broken tip of the blade aside. "Not so strong without your sword, are you?"

The others took the opportunity.

Viole moved on instinct, dodging back as multiple vampires swarmed him at once. He punched one across the face, felt the bones crunch, but another caught his arm, claws digging into his skin.

Too many.

Ha-eun was still fighting, but she was being pushed back. Even she couldn't handle this many.

Viole barely managed to elbow a vampire in the throat before another tackled him to the ground.

He gasped as his back hit the stone.

Cold fingers wrapped around his throat.

The lead vampire loomed over him, fangs bared. "I'll savor this," he whispered.

Viole struggled, but his strength was fading. His katana was broken. The darkness inside him stirred, but it wasn't enough.

Then—light.

A brilliant silver light exploded through the street, searing through the vampires like fire.

They screamed, recoiling. The ones closest to the light burned instantly, their bodies disintegrating before they could even flee.

The weight on Viole's chest vanished.

A calm voice cut through the chaos.

"Enough."

Viole gasped for air. He turned his head and saw a figure standing in the center of the silver glow. Their cloak shimmered like liquid moonlight.

Azael.

The remaining vampires shrank back. Some tried to run.

Azael raised a hand.

The silver light expanded outward, swallowing everything in its glow. The vampires didn't even have time to scream—they simply ceased to exist.

Then, silence.

Viole lay on the ground, breathing hard.

Ha-eun stood beside him, her sword still gripped tightly, her body covered in dust and blood.

From the rooftops, Kairos arrived. He let out a low whistle. "Well, damn. You could've jumped in earlier, Azael."

Azael ignored him, stepping toward Viole. Their face remained shadowed beneath their hood, but their presence was undeniable.

"You are not ready to face them yet," They said.

Viole clenches his fists. His katana was broken. His body ached.

And worse—How many more were coming?