Chapter 24 Bloody Halloween XI

Before the Bloody Halloween

Crimson Vanguard - An Empty Classroom

Zara's back pressed gently against the cool wall, her breath slow but steady as Landon stood before her. His arm rested smoothly on the wall beside her, while the other hand was securely placed around her waist, pulling her closer.

"How d'you feel?" Landon whispered, his voice a soothing presence in the quiet room.

Zara took a soft breath, her eyes momentarily drifting. "I don't know... a bit nervous, I think. This mission's gonna be huge."

Landon's gaze softened, his grip tightening around her waist in reassurance. "It's okay. I'll protect you, no matter what. I promise."

Zara's lips parted into a gentle smile, her eyes filled with warmth. "I know you will."

The moment hung between them, charged with the unspoken bond they shared. Landon's expression softened, and with a quiet confidence, he leaned in. Slowly, they kissed, the world outside the classroom fading away.

The love story between Landon and Zara was something only the both of them knew, even Briar, Zara's best friend didn't know about it, they were so uptight and confident no one actually thought they were capable of loving, but deep down they were both deeply in love.

****

Landon hung mid-air, his body twisted with both hands gripping his shattered sword tightly, his gaze locked onto Kagetsu. Pure demonic rage blazed in his eyes.

Kagetsu had seen that look before—eyes filled with bloodlust, the kind seen in Dante's, and countless others who thrived on bloodshed. Those who had witnessed death so many times it no longer phased them, their minds numb to the violence, as natural as eating.

But Landon's eyes… they were unlike anything Kagetsu had encountered. They were a raw, unfiltered rage, a fury so intense it sent a cold shiver down his spine. For the first time in his life, Kagetsu felt his body react—his muscles stiffening against his will. Usually, he controlled every movement with effortless precision, but not now. He didn't know what this emotion was, but he was certain it was the first time he had ever experienced it.

Without warning, Landon surged forward, his hands shooting out with his half-broken blade still clenched tightly. His body twisted in a single fluid motion, the blade aiming directly for Kagetsu.

Kagetsu reacted swiftly, raising both arms. A dark veil erupted from his forearms, edges glowing black, a protective shield forming just in time.

Landon's blade slammed into Kagetsu's shield with brutal force, the impact rattling Kagetsu to his core. Despite the protection, Kagetsu felt the sting of the blow, the sheer strength of Landon's strike sending a jolt of pain through his arm. The remains of Landon's blade splintered further, leaving only the hilt and the largest shard of the sword.

Dante's eyes narrowed in surprise. For the first time since he'd known Kagetsu, he saw a flicker of fear in his eyes . "This guy… somehow managed to push Kagetsu to the edge," Dante mused, a smirk tugging at his lips.

"I think I'll let him handle this one." Dante folded his arms, waiting for the show to commence.

The force of the strike sent Kagetsu down on his back. Landon reappeared behind him, his breath sharp, already past his target.

Instinct took over. He twisted his body backward, his broken blade held high above his head, about to slam what was left of it onto Kagetsu's face.

"Or maybe not." Dante said, realizing the situation.

With a stomp of his foot, he appeared between Landon and Kagetsu, who was still laid out on the floor.

He bent forward, hands on his knees.

CLANG!

A loud metallic clang thundered through the streets as the remaining shard of Landon's blade struck Dante's back.

Dante locked eyes with Kagetsu as he bent lower. "Need a hand?" he asked, his body shielding Kagetsu's view from Landon.

"What? No." Kagetsu shrugged. "I got this," he muttered.

Landon, not even acknowledging Dante, shifted his position, adjusting to get a better aim at his true target—Kagetsu.

He moved to the left, swinging the remaining shard of his sword like a golf club, with Kagetsu as the ball.

A sharp black line tore right through Landon's chest, his entire body coming to a sudden halt. Kagetsu's arm was stretched out, his palm open wide, black smoke swirling from it.

Landon fought against the pain, trying to hold his ground, but it was too much. His entire body collapsed onto both knees.

A fine circular wound was carved clean through his chest, from front to back. Not a single drop of blood dripped out—only faint wisps of black smoke oozed from the opening.

Dante's eyes narrowed slightly as he observed Kagetsu, who for the first time, had been forced into urgency.

"It's not only Kagetsu, but you also managed to surprise me today." Dante walked up to Landon. "Somehow, you kept up with my speed in a futile attempt to save your friend. And for the first time, I saw an expression on Kagetsu's face that I've never seen before."

He stopped just in front of Landon, smirking.

"You deserve to keep your head."

Without hesitation, Dante thrust his sword forward.

The blade tore through Landon's gut, piercing out of his back in a gruesome spray of blood.

"Hold your head high. You are strong."

Those were the last words Landon heard before he died.

Dante wrenched his blade free, draining the last remnants of life from Landon's body.

THUD.

Landon's lifeless form hit the ground.

"That kid was something else, man." Kagetsu exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "He gave me chills. Urgh. I think I'm going to have nightmares."

With slow, confident strides, Dante and Kagetsu walked toward the school gate—a massive, towering wall.

Dante placed his palm against it.

A deep, mechanical groan rumbled through the air as the enormous slabs of the gate shifted apart, smoothly parting without even a trail of dust.

Kagetsu whistled. "Now that's what I'm talking about."

Together, they stepped through.

---

Inside the City of Ashford

"Hey guys, I can't get a reading on the third-years. What's going on?" Valeria's voice crackled through the comms.

"It doesn't matter. They're third-years, it must be the signal or something. Just focus on the task at hand," Zaheer yelled over his comm.

Then, Everything froze.

All first and second-years paused mid-battle, as if time itself had stopped.

Through their comms, the Principal's grave voice echoed.

"If you're hearing my voice now, I want you to listen carefully."

The chaos around them faded into silence.

"The entire third-year Alpha Squad has been massacred. Every last one of them lies dead outside our school gate."

Shock gripped them. Bodies froze. Eyes widened.

"Impossible!" A voice called out.

"But their sacrifices weren't in vain." The Principal's voice remained steady. "Calling out the rest of the students would be reckless and lead to a bloodbath. So, I've relocated the last seal, and I am protecting it with my life."

A heavy pause.

"The city still needs help. I can't ask all of you to come at once, but First-Year Alpha Squad… I urge you to come down—"

Aiden interrupted.

"We're on our way." His voice was grave. Cold. Final.

Without hesitation, every member of First-Year Alpha Squad stopped what they were doing.

Almost automatically, they moved as one, walking straight through the chaos surrounding them as if it had ceased to exist.

All headed in the same direction.

Crimson Vanguard.