Chapter 44: The Crimson Chains of Blood

The night split open with the echo of a desperate scream.

“Onii-chan… help me!”
Lucy’s voice trembled in agony as her small frame twisted and convulsed under an unseen force.
Kanata’s eyes widened — she wasn’t transforming of her own will. Something was forcing her to change.

“Lucy! No—stop! Snap out of it!”

But the girl’s cries dissolved into a guttural snarl. Her pupils flared crimson; her fangs gleamed under the moonlight. The air grew thick with killing intent.

Then, like a beast freed from its cage, Lucy lunged.

Kanata barely managed to dodge her first strike — her claws sliced through the wall behind him, turning concrete to dust.
“Lucy! It’s me!” he shouted, deflecting another blow.
But her attacks grew wilder, faster — each strike shaking the ground beneath them.

Then it came again — that familiar, mocking voice that crawled up from the depths of Kanata’s soul.

“Pathetic, aren’t you? Losing to a child vampire? How embarrassing…”

Kanata gritted his teeth. “Shut up.”

The black dragon’s voice purred darkly. “Tch. Fine. But listen well, boy — that girl is being controlled.”

Kanata froze mid-motion. “Controlled? By who?”

“Blood magic,” the voice hissed. “Someone nearby is pulling her strings.”

Kanata’s eyes sharpened. “Then I’ll find them.”

He rolled aside from Lucy’s next attack, his patience snapping.
“I’m sorry, Lucy… but sleep for now.”
He raised his right hand, magic flaring violently.
“<Dragon Breath>!”

A torrent of compressed air burst forth — not enough to kill, but enough to knock her unconscious.
Lucy hit the wall hard, her body falling limp.

Kanata’s senses flared. He could feel the source of the spell — like a heartbeat pulsing in the night.
He turned toward a nearby alley.

“Found you.”

In the moon’s blood-red glow stood a tall, black-haired man with crimson eyes and a cold smirk. His aura reeked of death and centuries of power.

“You found me faster than I expected,” the man said calmly. “Impressive, boy.”

Kanata’s grip tightened. “What did you do to that girl?”

The man chuckled — a sound so hollow it chilled the air.
“That girl? She’s my daughter.”

Kanata froze. “…What?”

“She was one of many — but unlike her sisters, she was weak. Defective. A broken creation.”

Kanata’s temper flared. “You call your own child broken?!”

“Of course. She refused to obey. She’s nothing but a failed vessel.”

Kanata’s aura erupted, the ground cracking beneath his feet. “You bastard—”

But before he could move, Lucy, barely conscious, stirred. Her red eyes flashed — and she attacked him.

“See?” the man sneered. “Completely useless. Can’t tell friend from foe.”

Lucy screamed, charging toward her father. Vlad’s smile faded. With casual cruelty, he kicked her aside — her small body crashed into the rubble.

“KISAMAAA!” Kanata roared, launching forward.

Their clash sent shockwaves across the street — Kanata’s cursed right arm clashed against the ancient might of the Vampire King. Every strike was faster than thought, each impact carving scars into the earth.

In the distance, Evelyn’s car screeched to a halt. She stepped out, eyes narrowing as her communicator buzzed.
“A lone mage is engaging Vlad?! …Of course it’s him.”

The fight raged until a new voice cut through the chaos.

“That’s enough.”

Evelyn appeared behind Vlad, her finger dripping with blood. She pressed it to the ground — her spell flared like molten fire.

“<Cast Spell>—<<Crimson Oath>>.”

Blood burst from the pavement, forming a blade as sharp as sin — a sword of her own lifeblood.
Kanata’s eyes widened. “You’re— a blood controller?!”

Vlad grinned wickedly. “So you’re a hybrid… disgusting.”

Evelyn leveled her sword. “Save your insults for hell.”

In an instant, she was on him. Steel and crimson collided, sparks showering the night.
Each swing drew blood — but each wound on Vlad sealed almost immediately.

“His regeneration’s insane,” Kanata growled, joining in.
He leapt beside Evelyn, their attacks synchronized — dragon flame and blood magic weaving into one furious storm.

But as the moon vanished behind thick clouds, Vlad’s silhouette blurred.

“Let’s end our little chat here, boy,” his voice echoed mockingly. “I have a ritual to prepare. Keep your crippled pet — I’ve no use for her now.”

And just like that, he was gone — his laughter fading into the wind.

Kanata fell to his knees, panting. Lucy lay unconscious beside him, her fangs retracting.
Evelyn, still gripping her crimson blade, turned sharply — and pointed it at him.

“Kanata Tendou.”

Kanata blinked. “What now?”

“You’re coming with me. You’ll explain everything — at High Elite headquarters.”
Her blade shifted toward the unconscious girl. “And she’s coming too.”

By morning, rumors had already spread across the academy.
“Did you hear? That lazy guy—Kanata—was arrested!”
“They said he attacked a High Elite officer!”
“No way! He probably did something illegal again.”

Itsuha slammed her hands on her desk. “That idiot! Why can’t he stay out of trouble for once?!”

Celestine sighed, glaring out the window. “He’s always doing things that make us worry…”

Reiga and Kobayashi stood across from Kanata in a cold, sterile room.
“Explain last night’s incident,” Reiga demanded.

Kanata didn’t hold back. He told them everything — the girl, the control, the Vampire King.
When he mentioned Vlad’s name, silence filled the room.

Kobayashi exchanged a glance with Reiga. “That name hasn’t been spoken in over a century…”

Moments later, emergency alarms blared across the building.

“Attention: Code Crimson declared. Global threat level rising.”

Reiga clenched his jaw. “Then it’s confirmed. Vlad has returned.”

Hours later, the door opened — and Naomi Kaname stepped in. Her presence silenced the room instantly.

“That’s enough,” she said firmly. “My son is no criminal.”

Reiga hesitated. “Lady Naomi—”

“He acted to save a life. You know as well as I do that the real enemy isn’t him.”

A long pause — then Reiga sighed. “…Release him.”

Kanata stepped out moments later into the afternoon light.
Outside, Itsuha and Celestine were waiting — arms crossed, brows furrowed.

“You’re late,” Celestine said coldly.
“Do you have any idea how worried we were?” Itsuha added.

Kanata scratched the back of his head, smiling weakly. “I’m… back?”

Itsuha punched his shoulder. “Idiot.”

Meanwhile, deep beneath the city, Lucy slept inside a sealed chamber — her wrists bound by glowing sigils.
Her faint whisper echoed through the silence.

“Onii-chan… help me…”

And far away, under the Blood Moon’s fading light, Vlad stood before an altar drenched in red.

“Soon, my precious daughter… you will be perfect.”