Chapter 48: The Blood Moon Rises

Days passed since the chaos that nearly tore Tokyo apart.
Hidden deep within an abandoned underground facility, Kanata and his allies remained in the shadows, uncertain who was still human—and who had already fallen.

The air was heavy, the city above silent. That silence was never peace—only fear.

Then, Lucy opened her eyes.

Her skin was pale, but her voice was steady. “Those who looked directly at the Red Moon… they can be controlled easily.”

Kanata frowned. “So you’re saying everyone who saw it…”

“Yes.” Lucy nodded weakly. “Anyone who looked upon that cursed light will soon become one of Vlad’s vampires. He’ll turn them all—and take this world in a single night.”

The room fell silent. Everyone felt it now—the scale of Vlad’s madness.
He wasn’t summoning an army.
He was turning the world.

Reiga stood, tossing a box across the table. Inside—rows of black sunglasses.
“These,” he said firmly. “Wear them. The light of the Red Moon manipulates the mind through direct contact. These lenses will block the effect.”

Itsuha raised an eyebrow. “You want us to fight vampires… in sunglasses?”

“Either that, or you become one,” Reiga shot back.

Kanata grinned faintly. “Guess we’ll fight in style then.”

Reiga’s tone hardened. “Whatever happens tonight, we can’t let him succeed. He was one of us once. But that mercy died centuries ago. Vlad must fall.”

That night, Tokyo drowned in red light.

The moon rose, massive and crimson, its glow spilling across skyscrapers like blood.
Moments later—screams.
Thousands of people froze mid-step. Their eyes turned scarlet. Their fangs tore through their lips as they lunged at anyone nearby.

By the time the alarms blared, it was already too late.
The Red Moon had claimed them.

From atop Tokyo Tower, Vlad watched the chaos unfold, his cloak fluttering in the infernal wind.
“Magnificent,” he murmured. “Soon, this world shall belong to me—and to my daughters.”

Downtown Tokyo had become a battlefield.

Celestine and Evelyn stood side by side, each wearing the black lenses.
Evelyn’s blood blades spun like crimson fire, slicing through the feral vampires that charged at them.

“Freeze them—don’t kill!” Evelyn shouted.

Celestine nodded, slamming her staff into the ground.
“<Cryogenic Seal>!”
A wave of frost swept forward, freezing entire streets in shimmering ice. The vampires froze mid-scream, crystalized and silent.

Elsewhere, Itsuha and Envy fought back-to-back against the swarm.
“They just keep coming!” Itsuha growled, her flames burning bright.
“Then keep swinging!” Envy replied, her holy aura bursting out in radiant waves that paralyzed several vampires.

They refused to retreat—even as exhaustion set in.

Meanwhile, at the Academy, Reiga and Kobayashi stood at the gates, fighting to hold back their own students.
The young witches and mages who had once studied there now bared fangs and glowing eyes.

“Contain them! Do not kill unless absolutely necessary!” Reiga barked.

But in his eyes—fear.
The Red Moon had already reached their walls.

Far above, Kanata and Lucy reached the base of Tokyo Tower.
The structure loomed like an obsidian fang piercing the sky—its peak glowing red beneath the moon.

Lucy’s expression hardened. “He’s up there. My father.”

Kanata tightened his grip on his sword. “Then we finish this—together.”

Lucy hesitated. “Kanata… if I lose control again… if I hurt anyone…”

“You won’t,” he said firmly. “And if you do, I’ll save you—not kill you.”

She smiled faintly. “You’re stubborn, Oni-chan.”

At the summit, Vlad waited—tall, calm, eyes glowing crimson.

“You came all this way to stop me? You’re too late.”
He spread his arms toward the city drowning in blood and screams.
“Behold, my children. The dawn of a new world.”

Kanata’s gaze sharpened. “No. This ends here.”
He bit into his right hand. Blue blood dripped, burning as it hit the air.

“<Crimson Oath>.”

From the Dragon Arm, a sword of shimmering blue materialized—alive with energy.
He raised it high, the storm answering his call.

“I’m not here to stop you, Vlad.” His voice was low. “I’m here to take your head.”

Vlad laughed, delighted. “Then come, boy. Let me show you despair!”

The sky split apart as they clashed.
Each strike sent shockwaves across the city, lightning shattering windows for miles.
Vlad moved like a shadow—his claws cutting through air and steel. Kanata met him blow for blow, the blue blade flaring brighter with each impact.

“My daughter!” Vlad roared suddenly. “Kill him!”

Lucy froze—her body trembling as she heard her father’s command.
But the blood-control mark that once bound her… no longer existed.

She looked up, tears in her eyes. “That’s over, Father.”

Vlad’s smile faded. “Impossible. That curse is eternal.”

“Evelyn removed it,” Kanata said, lunging forward. “And now, she’s free!”

Vlad’s eyes widened in rage. “You dare defy me, my creation!”

Vlad roared, the entire tower trembling beneath his fury.
“Then come forth, my other daughters—Subject-01, 03, and 04!”

Three silhouettes emerged from the darkness—beautiful and terrifying. Their crimson eyes burned like dying stars.
Their resemblance to Lucy was undeniable.

Kanata’s grip tightened. “They’re… your sisters.”

Lucy’s voice broke. “I know. But they’re no longer human. They’re gone, Kanata.”

Subject-01 lunged first—blindingly fast. Kanata deflected, sparks flying.
Meanwhile, 03 and 04 spread their wings, heading straight toward the city below—toward Evelyn and Celestine.

Celestine saw them coming.
“Incoming—two high-level Vampires!”

Evelyn spun her blade. “Then we hold the line. We can’t let them reach the civilians!”

And high above it all, Kanata and Lucy faced Vlad beneath the blood-red moon—the fate of both worlds resting on the edge of a blade.