Alpha and High-Class Vampires

Von gulped then vanished in a blur of superspeed, the air splitting with a sharp crack. A gust of wind trailed in his wake, kicking up dust and mist as if the world itself recoiled from his fear.

Speedy didn't blink.

She stared in the direction he fled, unimpressed.

Her tone was calm, but laced with something heavy.

"Key… you know how important this is to me, right?"

Key turned to face her fully. The humor he often wore like armor had vanished.

He didn't speak right away.

He just looked—at her clenched fists trembling at her sides, at the way her eyes flickered not with rage, but something older. Deeper.

Something raw.

Something carved into her soul long before he arrived.

Finally, he nodded.

"Yeah..I know."

A beat passed. The mist swirled low around their shoes, like the Abyss itself was listening.

Then he added, his voice firm, grounded.

"And I've got your back. No matter what we find in that palace..we end it. Together."

Speedy's gaze softened slightly. Just slightly.

But the fire in her eyes?

It didn't fade.

Suddenly, they heard creaks of shifting stone, footsteps.

From the doorways and windows of cracked gothic buildings, vampire villagers slowly emerged.

All women.

Pale-skinned. Beautiful, even under the weight of exhaustion and trauma. Most appeared middle-aged, others older, but all wore the same expression: suspicion veiled with desperate hope.

Their eyes locked on Key and Speedy.

"W-who are you two?"

"Why are they here?"

"H-have they come to save us?!"

The voices layered together, fragile and trembling like glass on the edge of shattering.

Key raised a hand, palm forward.

Silence fell instantly.

Speedy stepped forward, glowing faintly with residual energy.

"Trust us. By the end of this, you'll all be freed."

She pointed toward the distant crimson-lit palace that loomed like a bleeding monolith at the end of the street.

"Are the King and Queen located in that palace?"

One of the women opened her mouth to speak—

But she didn't have to.

Five shadows descended from the rooftops.

They landed without sound, but their presence made the ground feel heavier.

In the center stood a tall pale vampire, clad in black armor laced with blood-red glyphs. His short, pitch-black hair was slicked back. A long obsidian greatsword rested over his shoulder like it weighed nothing.

To his left, another figure—a blond-haired vampire, similarly pale, stood with a smug grin, white armor gleaming under the moonlight. A pristine katana hung from his back.

The other three were clad head to toe in black armor, their faces hidden behind helms. But their bloodthirst was obvious in the way their blades twitched in anticipation.

[Alpha Vampires – LV. 59] (x2)

[High-Class Vampires – LV. 35] (x3)

The villagers gasped in unison and fled back into their homes, doors slamming behind them.

The black-haired Alpha's red eyes honed in on Speedy, and a slow, sick grin stretched across his face.

"Well, well, well… so this is where that Abyssal Energy was coming from."

His gaze traced her form.

"And my, am I not disappointed."

The blond one scoffed.

"Indeed, Lucien. She'll be a perfect addition to the entourage. But I'm curious, who's the guy next to her? Did he come to cockblock or hand himself over?"

'This went from Underworld to Twilight in a matter of minutes..the hell?' Key thought dryly.

But as the words reached him, his expression hardened.

He stepped forward, hands loose at his sides.

"The name's Key. Honestly? I'm not really the talking type, so if we're not about to throw hands…"

Lucien and the blond, Riven, burst into laughter.

Key blinked.

Speedy? Still a statue.

"At least he's funny." Riven said, gesturing at Key.

"Think King de San will let us keep him as a jester, Lucien?"

"Maybe.." Lucien replied.

"Might take some persuading. You know how one-track he gets. But anyway—"

He vanished in a blink—

And suddenly reappeared inches in front of Speedy.

Key's breath caught, still not used to people flash stepping like it's another Tuesday. The speed was something else—clean, sudden, like a cut through reality.

Lucien smiled warmly, too warmly.

"Unlike him, I'm supremely interested in you…"

He leaned in closer. His breath was cold.

"Nothing turns me on more than strength wrapped in beauty. So tell me, what's your name?"

Speedy blinked.

Then smiled.

It was not a kind smile.

"So sweet…" she cooed in a sultry voice.

"Of course I'll give you my name. It's—"

She leaned in close to his ear.

"Throat."

Lucien blinked.

"What, beloved? What was that about a throat?"

Speedy grinned.

"You mean the one you don't have?"

"Huh?"

SQUELCH.

Golden-white energy erupted from her arm as her glowing hand ripped clean through Lucien's neck. Blood sprayed in a crimson arc, sizzling against the stone as her fingers tore through undead muscle and sinew.

Lucien's red eyes bulged in shock. His head lolled sideways, hanging on by a thread of ruined flesh.

Then—

Thud.

Lucien collapsed in a crumpled heap.

No applause.

Just silence.

Speedy turned to Key, flicking gore off her hand like it was dirt.

"Handle them. Then catch up."

They locked eyes.

Then a slice of wind.

She was gone.

.

.

"LUCIEN!!"

Riven's scream was part rage, part pain, part raw, primal loss.

His aura detonated. White armor cracked as violet-black energy surged from his core, cracking the earth beneath him. The air around him twisted and pulsed like it was alive.

"Game…" Key muttered.

[On it, Key!]

[SSS Skill Abyssal Ascension: 'Wrath of the Void' has activated!]

[New Active Skill Acquired!]

[Carnivorous Void Tendrils LV. 1]

You can now summon semi-sentient void tendrils that devour matter and pierce through space time.

Key chuckled under his breath.

'Damn… that's overpowered.'

He cracked his knuckles.

'Guess I get to kick ass like Venom and Alex Mercer now. I'm not complaining.'

After all he definitely couldn't use Blackhole because innocents would be killed, so this-

This would do nicely.

Riven snarled, venom dripping from his words.

"Kill him. I'll find that bitch and make her wish she never touched Lucien."

He turned to leave—

BURST.

A purple wave of royal Abyssal Energy exploded through the street. It cracked stone and blew dust into the air like a bomb had gone off.

A figure stepped through the smoke.

Purple light flared behind his eyes.

"You won't lay a damn finger on her."

Key stepped forward, Void Tendrils already forming behind his back like shadows given shape.