"My oh my." Ridley smiled as he heard the explosions. "They are truly having quite the time down there, aren't they?"

"I hope that at least you remember your part." Came the voice of his master in his head. "And that you accomplish it quickly."

"Of course master." Ridley nodded. "I do not intend to disappoint."

"Indeed?" Mortis replied. "Then pray tell, why haven't you begun to move?"

"Best to wait for a little bit more." Ridley smiled. "But fret not master, your wait is nearing its end."


Anju gasped as the claw nicked her stomach, drawing a bit of blood. Quickly, Shadow's claws grabbed onto the offending talon and now lodged it into the floor. Anju quickly charged at Giselle, who now retaliated with the other claws.

Shadow morphed itself again, forming three claw constructs that shielded her from the attacks as Anju raised her scythe again to strike at the Executor.

"Slow…" Giselle remarked as one of the two shawl tails that kept her afloat suddenly dropped, giving Anju a vicious backhand. Anju gasped at the force of the blow that likely threatened to take her head off as she smashed through a building, flying out the other side before she crashed into the top floor of another.

"God…" Anju coughed as she spat out blood. As she shakily got to her feet, a sudden sense of danger forced her to move out of the way. Just as she leapt to the ground, four claws lashed out from the building she had been blown through, impacting where she was just a few seconds prior. The building exploded, bricks and glass shards raining down on her.

Anju got to her feet and ran, avoiding Giselle's blind lashing from the other side as it tore apart buildings and pavements. Then, two talons went and pulled apart the second floor of another building as Giselle clambered through the wreckage.

"Run… But… Can't Escape…" Giselle said as she pursued Anju.

Anju panted as she ran, hiding herself from Giselle's view. She could feel her heartbeat skyrocket as her body grew hotter and the slight burn in her throat started. Quickly, she opened up the small container of blood tablets and put a few in her mouth, chewing on them vigorously.

Not much of an option except to use Blood Drive. She thought. But will she even give me the opportunity for it? Need to have another plan to cut that Bloodbane weapon. Peeking out from her hiding spot, she watched as Giselle floated above the ground using two of the shawl tails, keeping the other four alert for any movement.

Damn it, what do I do? Anju gritted her teeth as she tried to think up a plan.

"Where… You…?" Giselle frowned as she scanned the area.

If only I was stronger than this… Anju breathed, letting out a breath.

Four talons now exploded out of the building and poised to strike her. "Found… Now… Die…" Came Giselle's monotone voice.

Shit! Anju cursed as she attempted to fly away. However, the claws were moving too fast. Dammit! What should I d- As Anju thought this, she noticed something hit into the shawls. Instantly, sigils lit up on them, forcing Anju to surround shadows around herself. Through her barrier, she felt the explosions rock the very ground.

Once they stopped, she released the barrier and took to the sky, catching sight of who she knew had come to her aid.

"Once more you didn't bother with the fact I was in the blast zone." Anju growled as she landed beside Ichigo.

"Look, I had to act fast. And just so you know, I was utterly confident in your defensive abilities." Ichigo said as he reloaded.

"Why are you here anyway?" Anju frowned.

"The queen sent me here." Ichigo answered. "She said that you'd likely need backup against this monster of a kid." At this, he nodded to Giselle, who was now inspecting the damage done to her shawl. "Though, after what I just saw, I'm not exactly sure how much help I'll be. Brat didn't look like she took much damage from that."

Giselle's eyes flashed to him, annoyance crossing her face. "You… Call… Me… Brat…?"

"Uh, yeah." Ichigo nodded. "What else am I supposed to call a shrimp like you?"

"Ichigo, I wouldn't anger her if I were you." Anju spoke. "Rodin told me that she is cold-blooded, and is able to maintain that form for a long time…"

"C'mon. A pissy little kid throwing a tantrum?" Ichigo frowned. "Like I'm supposed to be afraid of that."

"Enough…" Giselle replied with a bit more force in her voice as the claws crackled with energy. "You… Now… Die…" Instantly, she attacked, the clawed shawl tails swiping at them frenetically. Anju quickly grabbed Ichigo and jumped back, her wings bearing them into the air and narrowly avoiding Giselle.

"See!?" Anju said. "Now you went and made her mad. This tantrum could kill us you know!?"

"Yeah well, then this kid's gonna have to learn to suck it up." Ichigo readied his guns. "After all, she'll see that the world doesn't always give her what she wants, like wanting us dead."

"Mercy… None…" Giselle growled. "Now… Die…"


Another building collapsed as the rounds blasted through. Katarina dashed out as another salvo devastated her hiding place.

"Really, I don't know why people are so intent on fighting." Richard sighed as his weapon glowed again. This time, he fired a massive spike projectile that almost grazed Katarina's shoulder had she been a second slower. The round kept going and then exploded as it hit a wall, devastating it and the nearby buildings.

"Seriously?" Katarina huffed as she eyed the small cuts and scrapes on her body as she took cover. "A single pistol can do even that? What the hell do I do against a damn howitzer? Granted, I would normally take it head on, but I've never fought one that could seriously kill me…"

"Come out now." Richard sighed. "I don't have all day."

Katarina gripped the sword tightly as her hair flared. Energy now coalesced around the blade. Instantly she leapt out of her hiding spot and fired another energy wave at Richard. The Executor quickly jumped to the side, the energy blast now blowing apart another building as he fired again. Katarina quickly grabbed a wall debris, holding it up and using it as a makeshift shield against him.

"Hrraaaagh!" She roared as she charged in, closing the distance between them.

"Simpleton." Richard said as he charged his weapon again. After three seconds, he fired. Katarina now threw the makeshift shield as she dropped on her bum and skidded at him, the round piercing through the debris shield as if it were paper. Now within range, Katarina propelled herself off the floor and struck. Richard immediately tilted his gun, allowing the barrel to parry the blade as energy discharged and devastated the area around them.

"Impressive." Katarina smiled grimly. "No one has actually survived that before."

"Really, I just wish you'd let this end." Richard groaned as he pushed Katarina's blade back. "I have so many important things to do right now and I honestly don't have the time."

"So you say that genocide is something important to you?" Katarina growled. "You were just about to kill a human child and her babysitter."

"A vampire babysitter." Richard corrected. "And I wouldn't have had to hit the kid if she didn't get in my way. Why'd she do something that dumb anyway?"

"I'll tell you." Katarina smirked. "She was trying to protect something important to her."

Richard frowned. "So is that what you're up to now?"

Katarina remained silent as she pushed against him, feeling the strength being expended in her arms. She tried her best not to think about what Richard just said, but it was impossible. No matter what, she couldn't get Felise out of her head since they had met. Even more so, she couldn't forget what Anju had said to her then, that Felise considered her a friend.

In all honesty, Katarina didn't know what to think. For so long, she had steeled herself to become a warrior for her clan, to ensure that vampires once more became a master race. She wondered, was that when a cold knot had formed itself inside her? Katarina didn't know. Still, she was certain of one thing…

"What I'm doing is stopping people who are nothing more than murderers." Katarina replied as her hair glowed again. "And this time, I'm not some weak little girl." Breaking the lock, Katarina swung again, the massive blast of energy obliterating the entire field before her.


"Geez, I get here and this shit hits the fan real fast!" Rodin grumbled as he dodged attacks.

"You certainly live up to your rank, previous Number four." Lance said as he crossed his curved swords together.

"Man, how the hell did you get number four so fast?" Rodin frowned as he readied his fists. "Last I checked, you were just some runt of the regular litter pack."

"Got lucky I guess." Lance said as he hefted the twin swords. "They made these and asked for volunteers to try them out. I was the only one able to hold them and not die."

"What in the hell did they pump into that thing?" Rodin growled as he readied himself.

"Well, you can ask Serenity. I heard this was the final one she made before she decided to defect with you. Jerome tried his hand in finalizing the product, but no one really knew how it'd go after all that. If it makes you happy though, Giselle was pleasantly surprised at being beaten in a fight." Lance nodded.

"Can't believe we had a monster like you running around us this whole time as some low rank operative." Rodin grunted as he charged in again, his gloved fist clashing against the flat of the swords. Lance twisted away, the blades flashing as he countered. Rodin immediately ducked to avoid one while his hand caught the other, sparks flying between his gloved fingers and the blade.

"Well, I suppose that might have been a latent thing." Lance frowned. "But you know me right? I'm not the type to be remiss in testing my skills. So let's see exactly how I match up with you, former number four."

Rodin sighed. "Well, I guess I don't have a choice, if I want to survive this mess." Immediately, he fueled the power of his Bloodbane weapon, the claws now extending as red lines flashed across the blackened skin like blood veins. Instantly, he struck into the ground, uprooting a sizeable chunk of rock and stone that he now hurled at Lance.

Lance crossed his blades again, delivering a slash that cut through the rock like it was paper as he charged in. Rodin now reached for a car, crunching into its body as he threw it at Lance again. Lance sliced it apart again, only this time leaving himself open to a straight punch from Rodin, who had closed in instantly. Rodin felt the crunch of his fist into Lance's face as the Executor now flew and blasted through a few buildings.

"Whoo!" Rodin shook his gloved hand. "Damn, what is that guy made of, steel? Guess he wasn't just an Executor for show. Well, so long as I keep him at range…" As Rodin said this, something in him alerted him to danger. He immediately dashed right as something flew right through the holes in the buildings, impacting on the wall behind him. He turned to see the dent, along with the massive arrow in its center.

"What the hell…" Rodin breathed as he stared down Lance, who now had a bit of blood smeared on his face and a massive longbow in his hand, readying another arrow.


Akira grunted as he parried each of Cliff's blows, already feeling his sword creaking against the strain. The Executor was already pressuring him with his violent and reckless attacks, destroying many sections of the courtyard in the process.

"Gah! Cut it out you annoying son of a bitch!" Cliff roared as he was pummeled from all sides. Akira paid the strain no heed as he continued attacking.

"I said, KNOCK IT OFF!" Cliff screamed in rage as power exploded around him. Akira braced himself as he was lifted off his feet and crashed into a wall. The young Pureblood now looked up toward his opponent who now had black lines running down his face.

Cliff lifted a claw to his lips, licking it as his various wounds and bruises healed. "Well, I suppose it's my fault and all. Can't fight a Pureblood without going all out after all. Now, why don't we kick this up a notch?"

Immediately, Cliff dashed in, faster than before. Akira barely avoided the claws that now destroyed the wall of the courtyard as he opened his shadow wings and flew backward.

"get this kiddo, I ain't like that lame-brain Jerome!" Cliff snarled as he attacked again.

Mother isn't going to be happy about this. Akira frowned as he focused again on the battle, pushing the distracting attempt at humor out of his mind.

"What's wrong huh!?" Cliff sneered as he continued to slash at Akira with his claws. "And here I thought a Pureblood was supposed to be tough? Or what, you a pushover? Maybe you should go get that kid over and help you out!"

Akira stayed silent as he stepped to the side, Cliff's claw missing him barely as he swung his blade at his opponent's head. Cliff cackled as he dropped to the floor and rolled away, getting up on his feet before rushing at him again. It seemed like they were evenly matched, but Akira felt it was different.

He was experienced at dealing with Level E vampires, rabid creatures with naught but an unquenchable thirst for blood. The look in their eyes was always something he could never forget; ferocious, feral, crazed especially. The Executor before him exemplified those characteristics, perhaps even magnified it extremely.

"C'mon c'mon c'mon!" Cliff sneered gleefully. "Show me some more!" The Executor hammered blow after blow into Akira, who was being forced on the defensive. Akira's eyes now flashed red as he summoned a swarm of shadow raven familiars toward the Executor, the creatures now forming into chains that bound Cliff's body.

"The heck is this?" Cliff grunted as he attempted to break free, but Akira focused his strength on the makeshift chains. As the Executor tried harder to break free, Akira tapped into his telekinetic powers, uprooting cobblestones all around him. Once enough were gathered, he sent all of them flying at high speed toward the Executor.

Akira did not stop there, reusing the makeshift projectiles even after they had collided with and bounced off the Executor despite the strain burning through his body. Cliff grunted in pain as one struck him square in the face. He attempted to retort, but couldn't under the hail of projectiles Akira sent his way. He focused harder, taking other projectiles from the walls all around and assaulting the Executor.

"Oh, KNOCK IT OFF!" Cliff screamed as a powerful burst of power exploded from him, blowing away all the projectiles and causing Akira to be blasted off his feet and into a wall. Akira grunted as he stood up and beheld the Executor who now had black lines running down his face.

"Well, guess it's my fault." Cliff snickered. "Should've known I couldn't go easy on a damn Pureblood." He now lifted a claw to his lips, licking it as he slowly strode forward. "Get this straight, I ain't like Jerome. I don't go willy nilly with my brain. I just go all out!" Instantly, he dashed forward, claw raised to strike at Akira.

Akira quickly rolled to the side, putting his feet under him and jumping backwards as Cliff demolished the wall. Akira then conjured shadow wings to gain some more distance, but Cliff moved in even faster, dishing out a roundhouse kick to his abdomen that he could not avoid in time. Akira coughed up blood as he smashed through another wall and through into his mother's garden. As he got up, he groaned in dismay at the ruined rose flower bed.

A sense of danger immediately snapped him back to reality as Cliff charged at him, claws outstretched. Akira raised his sword to parry. However, the steel cracked as soon as the impact hit. Cliff, noticing this, swiped again, instantly breaking the sword apart before he stabbed into Akira's shoulder.

"ARGH!" Akira gasped as the claws sliced into him. He gritted his teeth as the pain spread through his body, no doubt the effect of the Bloodbane weapon now attacking his cells directly. Akira focused into countering the effects, but even he knew he wasn't going to last long.

"Hmmm…" Cliff frowned. "Damn, as I thought. Cutting up a chick is waaaay more enticing. Well, I suppose once I'm done with you no one's stopping me for going after that little girl who humiliated me then."

Akira snarled as his eyes flashed red. His left hand shakily reached up and grabbed Cliff's hand tightly. "Huh?" The Executor frowned. "What, is that look supposed to scare me? Sorry buddy, but I've seen way scarier shit." Cliff now reached up with his free hand, twisting Akira's hand away. The vampire grunted as he fought the strain, though of course the loss was inevitable.

"Well, dibs on the first Pureblood of the day!" Cliff licked his lips. "Man, if only vengeance was this good. Still though, wonder how that girl of yours will handle getting destroyed by power I took from you?"

"You will not touch Anju!" Akira growled, his fangs lengthening in a threatening display as he poured more strength into his arm.

"Geez, give up." Cliff groaned as he twisted Akira's hand, more violently this time. The resounding crack of the bone echoed through the night along with Akira's cry of pain.

"Well, I'm actually getting tired of bullying you." Cliff frowned as he raised his free hand, the claws outstretched to strike. "Now then, time to die. Kiehehehehehe!"

Akira stared at what appeared to be his demise. Is this it? He thought. Is this truly my end? Anju…

NO! IT CANNOT END LIKE THIS!

"Kuran! Cover your eyes!" Came a harsh voice. Akira did so immediately as he heard clattering all around him. Suddenly, loud explosions sounded all around as Cliff suddenly screamed. Akira felt himself hit the ground, signaling that Cliff had withdrawn his claws. "Don't open your eyes till I say so!" Akira heard the voice again as someone now came forward and pulled him back. "Ok, you're good." Akira opened his eyes now to see Cliff covering his face. "Tear gas I designed to affect vampires, more than enough for this son of a bitch."

"Ms. Serenity?" Akira frowned as he looked at her. He now noticed the slight scratches on her face that had drawn blood. More than that even, he noticed a trickle coming down from the side of her head. "You are injured!"

"It was self-inflicted." Serenity replied. "At least, that's the best I can describe."

"Whatever for?" Akira asked.

"For this." Serenity now placed something on the ground. Akira now saw it was a sword, though it looked different. The steel on one hand seemed to have intricate runes drawn upon it; he recognized them as Hunter sigils. However, it was the intricate array of red lines upon the weapon that drew his attention. Just like the Bloodbane weapons, it was akin to blood veins.

"What is this?" Akira frowned.

"If it works the way I hope it will…" Serenity answered. "Your solution to evening the odds." She now took out a few more capsules of what he assumed was more tear gas. "I'll buy you a few seconds. Take that sword and let its magic work! Also, don't fuck this up!"

Serenity now charged at Cliff, throwing tear gas grenades at the Executor. Akira pushed himself to the weapon and grasped it with his good hand. Instantly, the red veins on the handle lit up. Akira now felt some of his strength being drained away, frowning as the glow intensified.

"Geez you are annoying as hell!" Cliff snarled as he dodged another volley of tear gas capsules. Serenity now pulled out a pistol and fired at him, the rounds punching through the stone walls like a hot knife through butter. Serenity through another capsule as she took aim at the Executor, the bullet she fired now hitting him in the shoulder the instant he moved to dodge.

"You're pissing me off!" Cliff roared as he charged at Serenity and delivered a roundhouse kick to her abdomen. Serenity flew and collided into the wall of the manor. She slid to the ground and coughed up blood as she looked to the Executor again.

"Man, I never did like you." Cliff breathed. "Always giving lip at everyone and just being a plain old bitch of an eyesore."

"Takes one to know one you fucking sick freak." Serenity spat. "Seriously, looking at you always makes me wanna puke and gouge out my eyeballs. I'd rather be blind than see you stupid, smug and sadist mess of an existence."

"Well, I can help with that." Cliff smiled. "Oh, and I'll do everyone in the world a favour and cut your tongue out, see if you can keep cussing then."

"Yeah well, you might have a problem with that." Serenity smiled as she looked to the left. Cliff followed her eyes as a flash of black obscured his vision.

Cliff now stared at the cut upon his arm. As soon as the first droplet of blood formed, the wound suddenly spurted like a constricted hose.

"The shit!?" Cliff snarled as he backed away, the fountain of blood in his arm not yet stopping. He now looked up to see the Kuran prince who he had wounded heavily now standing as if nothing had happened.

Akira looked at the blade in his arm, his eyes widening as it seemed to pulse with power, like a heartbeat. Of course, he was also surprised at the black coating that now covered his own Knight robes like a layer of oil, even going as far as to form a cape behind him that scattered the feathers of ravens, his envision familiars.

"Well, would you look at that." Serenity smiled. "Worked like a fucking charm. How do you feel Kuran?"

"Good." Akira breathed as his eyes flashed red. "Rather, like I could take on an army." He now lifted the sword examining the edge. "It's as if this weapon was always a part of me. What is this?"

"Details can wait." Serenity sighed as she stood up. "For now, do me a favour and help me collect some data."

"How?" Akira frowned.

"Easy." Serenity now pointed to Cliff, whose wound was no longer bleeding profusely yet remaining unhealed. "Kick that fucker's ass."

Akira's gaze became like steel as he readied his blade. "Alright. I can do that."


Apologies for the late update. Lots of work going on and I have been quite into Genshin Impact lately. I found it really fun and kinda got absorbed.

Still, if it weren't for Genshin I never could have come up with the idea of Lance's weapon. I wanted something a bit different from the rest of the Executors so far and while twin swords were nice, it didn't really feel that interesting. And then the Tartaglia banner dropped and finally I found my inspiration. Still miffed that I didn't get him though. He was so damn good.

Anyways, I'll be wrapping up the Kuran town battle soon, so stay tuned!

Here's wishing everyone a safe and Merry Christmas!

Jdbl00d