‘What do you mean, Nicole?’ the soldier asked.
Before Nicole could answer, the question answered itself:24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jax2CQP7A
The commander cried out again.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DnItNKgUD
He was helpless against his foe.
The soldier’s face went pale.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlC4ZGWbPMU
Their commander was dying.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSHhE5WmYL
Their strongest warrior was losing.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDTlCTiHhF
Humanity wouldn’t make it.
Nicole, too, was speechless.
Dracule, seeing their reaction, burst into hysterical laughter.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWU2SXOFskE
He even had to clutch his stomach.
The winner was decided.
Or was it?
Yes, the sun had turned red.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqT64vGgeQC
But the sun wasn’t the only thing that visited Earth.
Behind the clouds, a silver light broke through.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn10MglAdep
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—24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgJt4NsBlP
the full moon.
‘We have not lost yet!’ Commander Nootra bellowed.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6E1OeUvy8
‘We have not lost yet! Fight! Fight and survive! My soldiers! My friends! My love!’
Silver light erupted from his body.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDHKnVlQdF
His fur shimmered. His wounds healed.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC03DtScctv
And the war cry that followed shook the heavens.
The ghouls froze.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlXCYRiofF
Even Dracule had to swallow hard.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3SVsyMSa4
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.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZN0cI92wo
Then—giant blood worms shot down from the sky.
Their fangs were forged of demon energy.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XlhDvBvwg
They came in great numbers.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcRuEbUFE4
Each fired energy blasts at the soldiers—at the commander.
But it only took one swing of Nootra’s powerful arm.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2IyLNbHDU
A wave of silver energy blasted forth, destroying all incoming attacks.
His soldiers’ morale soared.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcC8dZzQED
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.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwbnf1IACk
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.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0a2TXpD4bO
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.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFVMvUm8H1
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.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89oGgV7Pjf
Only a king candidate—or the King himself—can satisfy my hunger now.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtUVJqF2OX
Grow stronger. One day, we’ll face each other again.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHWRhHQH45
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.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP96PkZqiEH
See you then.’
In the Present
Commander Nootra had effortlessly destroyed the blood worms.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlTjy2ZQb1
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,24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkt2fwBefu
but they’d buy Dracule enough time for one final attack.
He held the energy spear in his hand.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsswkUrlh3U
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!24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMA34IlvXJ
I prepared this special gift just for you.
O cursed bone, carved by judgment—24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsYCBmyAV3
Trace the guilt in flesh and soul.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNW3O0ki5L6
Twist the heavens. Tear through fate—
Akzhareth, pierce without mercy!’
He threw the spear.
Just as the commander broke free, the spear struck—24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOZgk0qO1Y
piercing through his body.
A burst of light exploded, bathing the sky in violet.
Nicole began to cry.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLIAGU14le
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.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjj5voSWYzl
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.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QzEcFUpRx
But he was still standing.
Dracule, already pale, turned ghostly white.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHW7KEji0Kx
He had put everything into that final attack.
‘Hahaha… it seems it will be like last time.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayo4fdvTuC
I am the loser.’
The commander surged forward at terrifying speed.
Dracule didn’t move.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABCl8NRlwH
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—24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLNsA4YhT6
ripped out his heart—24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSO5B9inUio
and raised the bloodied organ in his hand.
He crushed it.
Blood spilled across his face.
The ghouls fled.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1wD3A8xSB
The soldiers cheered.
Only Nicole remained silent, watching the commander.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUEXTesgEQ
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.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvb3lun421X
‘That’s not our commander. RUN!’
The next moment—24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oM3yxu20g
the commander fired a silver energy blade at the group.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloyxyZGL0d
