‘What do you mean, Nicole?’ the soldier asked.
Before Nicole could answer, the question answered itself:25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Nyf3ptQKU
The commander cried out again.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHycXi0eUK
He was helpless against his foe.
The soldier’s face went pale.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCstFu3FAbk
Their commander was dying.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxIYW9C1jB
Their strongest warrior was losing.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAICsGrx1Sh
Humanity wouldn’t make it.
Nicole, too, was speechless.
Dracule, seeing their reaction, burst into hysterical laughter.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0beHRJOjP
He even had to clutch his stomach.
The winner was decided.
Or was it?
Yes, the sun had turned red.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZpJXZuhVC
But the sun wasn’t the only thing that visited Earth.
Behind the clouds, a silver light broke through.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HmUqOFf7v
The commander smiled as his body overflowed with power.
He flexed his muscles and focused on purging the cursed blood within him.
Then it appeared—25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRIrZICDZy
the full moon.
‘We have not lost yet!’ Commander Nootra bellowed.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasn0tocVwm
‘We have not lost yet! Fight! Fight and survive! My soldiers! My friends! My love!’
Silver light erupted from his body.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2Z4igqai3
His fur shimmered. His wounds healed.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaEZsAbO0R
And the war cry that followed shook the heavens.
The ghouls froze.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlex8IzxrtV
Even Dracule had to swallow hard.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4oyYja7wI
But his fear turned to joy.
‘That’s the beast I know! A king candidate—the true King of the Beasts, who once challenged the King. Let us bathe in blood and end the world while fighting!’
Dracule rose into the air. The sky turned blood-red as if drenched in gore.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2nJsp5nTK
Then—giant blood worms shot down from the sky.
Their fangs were forged of demon energy.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3mGqdhIYP
They came in great numbers.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrtF0SLOjQ
Each fired energy blasts at the soldiers—at the commander.
But it only took one swing of Nootra’s powerful arm.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38p0A1lEmU
A wave of silver energy blasted forth, destroying all incoming attacks.
His soldiers’ morale soared.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKg0sCb2Hm
Even Nicole smiled—until her joy vanished just as quickly as it had come.
(Nicole: Will he recognize us in that state?)
She couldn’t afford to dwell on the thought.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSyArWZ18Q
The ghouls had resumed their assault.
The soldiers formed a protective circle around Nicole, who needed time to recover her strength.
‘I knew that would be enough!’ Dracule roared.
His blood worms lunged at the commander.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpmq4M2jfC
Nootra retaliated, tearing them apart with razor-sharp claws.
Meanwhile, Dracule concentrated demon energy between his hands, slowly shaping it into a spear.
In the Past
Dracule lay on the ground—defeated.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGmQuem2yy
No amount of growling could change that.
The King of the Beasts turned his back to him and said:
‘You were truly strong, my friend. But I fear I’ve become too powerful.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3atx4qH8O
Only a king candidate—or the King himself—can satisfy my hunger now.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4n0AKifptR
Grow stronger. One day, we’ll face each other again.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYfKJ7Lntb
I’ll always accept your challenge.’
‘Just wait! One day, our positions will be reversed. You’ll be the one at my feet!’
‘If that day comes, Dracule, I’ll gladly train again to face you.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6DQWYKxGZ
See you then.’
In the Present
Commander Nootra had effortlessly destroyed the blood worms.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirdaaJ0SdH
Their blood floated in the air—just as Dracule had foreseen.
The blood morphed into chains, wrapping around the commander.
They wouldn’t hold him for long,25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaoiOnHo5o
but they’d buy Dracule enough time for one final attack.
He held the energy spear in his hand.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRb11OQ6x8
It was so powerful that the hand holding it was slowly falling apart.
‘I will defeat you, King of the Beasts—even if it costs me my life!25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJYoXPKctz
I prepared this special gift just for you.
O cursed bone, carved by judgment—25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJUe4h4fzQ
Trace the guilt in flesh and soul.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWkW8sLZUq
Twist the heavens. Tear through fate—
Akzhareth, pierce without mercy!’
He threw the spear.
Just as the commander broke free, the spear struck—25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qEL5iknZu
piercing through his body.
A burst of light exploded, bathing the sky in violet.
Nicole began to cry.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oK1qRHEPR
Dracule, on the other hand, rejoiced.
He formed a fist and thumped his chest.
‘I did it. I finally beat him! After all these years of hellish training—it paid off.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Vho9MJJQK
My friend, who is now the loser—’
The light dimmed.
And revealed the commander.
He was alive.
The spear had pierced his chest—left a gaping hole.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ829LhJH3w
But he was still standing.
Dracule, already pale, turned ghostly white.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuNYWO45Pm
He had put everything into that final attack.
‘Hahaha… it seems it will be like last time.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPIIGdbFoJ
I am the loser.’
The commander surged forward at terrifying speed.
Dracule didn’t move.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7d57iCZsFz
What use was fighting now?
The King of the Beasts had survived his final blow.
Dracule spread his arms wide, like a father welcoming his son.
Commander Nootra drove his claws through Dracule’s chest—25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDCh4IlnXz
ripped out his heart—25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYapKnGnH4
and raised the bloodied organ in his hand.
He crushed it.
Blood spilled across his face.
The ghouls fled.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyga8QcOQ14
The soldiers cheered.
Only Nicole remained silent, watching the commander.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUqT2OKLNj
Waiting for him to speak.
As a human.
But the commander let the heart fall—and turned to the soldiers.
Nicole’s eyes widened.
‘His eyes…’ she whispered.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xcNpuiLKb
‘That’s not our commander. RUN!’
The next moment—25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8TmYhjwcu
the commander fired a silver energy blade at the group.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWfuRwGr4W
