A gaping hole marked where Varin once stood.
Diana and Rebecca rushed to the edge, dropping to their knees as they peered into the dust-filled void below.
"Is Varin okay...?" they muttered, straining to see through the debris.
Suddenly
The floor beneath Rebecca cracked and gave way.
She slipped.
But before she could fall
Dracula caught her effortlessly, pulling her back.
"Do not worry," he said calmly. "Those two are not a challenge for Varin."
Mid-Level — Inside the Building
Varin lay flat against the broken floor.
One foot pressed against his chest.
Then another.
The two bounty hunters stood over him.
"And they said there were three," the larger one scoffed, gesturing arrogantly.
The smaller one smirked. "I'll handle the others."
He shot upward, launching himself toward the top floor.
"Did you really think smashing someone through concrete would be enough?"
Varin's voice echoed.
A chill ran down the smaller hunter's spine.
He leapt away instinctively.
Too late.
Varin was already in front of him—mid-air.
"I think I'll call you... Duo."
Before Duo could react
Varin grabbed his face and slammed him straight down.
The impact ripped through multiple floors.
The larger hunter caught Duo mid-crash, both of them smashing violently through the structure as the building began to tilt.
Varin landed lightly.
"And you..." he pointed lazily, "Uno."
Uno's jaw tightened.
He charged.
His arms expanded grotesquely, muscles swelling as he brought down a crushing blow.
Nothing.
Varin was gone.
He reappeared behind him.
"You're using your blood to enhance your physical strength," Varin observed.
Uno spun
His arm hung uselessly in Varin's grip.
Dangling.
Uno whispered something under his breath.
The arm trembled
Then exploded.
BOOM.
The building shook violently, fractures racing through its structure.
Above
Dracula placed a hand on the floor and murmured softly.
A crimson magic circle spread beneath them, forming a barrier that sealed Diana and Rebecca within.
Below
Varin weaved effortlessly through a barrage of slashes from Duo, who had rejoined the fight.
Each strike carved through the air with precision.
Then
Duo stepped in close.
Varin's footing slipped slightly.
"Nice one..." Varin muttered.
Duo went for the kill.
He stopped.
Mid-motion.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
He looked down.
Multiple blood spikes had pierced straight through his body.
He collapsed.
Varin smiled, closing his eyes briefly
A shadow loomed over him.
"Uno... you're finally back."
His eyes opened
And Uno was already on him.
A fully enhanced form.
Faster. Stronger.
His fists crashed down repeatedly, driving Varin into the ground.
Then
Varin placed a hand on Uno's chest.
For a split second
Uno felt it.
Death.
Cold. Absolute.
He jumped back instantly, creating distance.
Breathing heavily, he looked down at his chest.
No damage.
"...Was that... in my head?" he muttered.
His gaze shifted.
Blood stained Varin's clothes.
That's my blood...
I haven't done anything to him...
"Tell me," Uno said, voice tense, "is everything I've shown you... a joke to you?"
Varin chuckled.
"Yes."
A pause.
"But take pride... among all the vampires I've faced, you're the strongest in over a century."
Uno inhaled deeply.
His body shrank back to normal.
"I'll show you..." he muttered.
Crimson mana began leaking from his body.
Blood gathered—condensing, shaping—
Forming a massive greatsword in his grasp.
KABOOOM
His power erupted outward, disintegrating what remained of the building and shaking even the space beyond the Phantom barrier.
Varin's grin widened.
"Yes... just like that!!!!!" Varin yelled in excitement
A long blood axe formed in his hand.
In a flash
They vanished.
Reappearing face-to-face
Weapons already mid-swing.
Above — Within the Barrier
Rebecca and Diana stood frozen.
They couldn't see the fight anymore—only feel it.
Each clash sent invisible weight through the air, like the sky itself was trembling.
Awe.
Fear.
Both settled deep in their chests.
Dracula, however, remained still—watching, his expression unreadable.
Below — The Battlefield
Uno staggered to a stop.
He leaned heavily on his sword, gasping for air.
Deep cuts covered his body, blood dripping steadily.
And yet—
The fear on his face was even more visible than the wounds.
"What's wrong...?" Varin's voice echoed lightly.
"Afraid of bleeding to death?"
Uno said nothing.
Varin tilted his head, confused.
"...Sigh."
He rested the axe over his shoulder.
"Steel your resolve. Your blade hasn't shattered. You still have mana."
He grinned.
"And unlike other species... as long as we have mana, we have blood. And as long as we have blood—there's no wound that won't heal."
Uno let out a dry chuckle.
"Go fuck yourself."
Varin blinked.
"...That's not nice."
A pause.
Uno's grip tightened on his sword.
"Every swing you've made..." he muttered, voice low, "has been lackluster."
Varin's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You haven't even used your blood properly."
Silence.
"I'm sure of it."
Varin raised a brow.
"Hm?"
Uno burst into laughter.
Wild. Unhinged.
"For the first time in my life... I'm sure of something!!"
Varin watched him carefully.
Did he finally break?
Uno's laughter faded, his expression twisting.
Why did I take this mission...?
His hands trembled.
I'm going to die...
His grip tightened.
"...But I refuse to die like a coward!"
His wounds began to close.
Flesh knitting together. Blood reversing.
He yanked his sword from the ground.
Varin's grin widened.
"That's what I like to hear!"
He lowered himself into a stance.
In an instant, Uno leapt backward, creating distance.
The ground beneath Varin began to glow.
Varin glanced down.
Blood spheres—dozens of them—pulsed beneath his feet.
"...Cheeky bastard."
BOOOOM
They detonated simultaneously.
Varin was launched into the air.
Uno raised his hand.
A wave of blood surged upward, chasing him like a living tide.
Varin steadied himself mid-air, gripping his axe tightly—
And swung.
The wave split apart, scattering into droplets.
Varin hovered, grinning down at him.
Uno smiled back.
The scattered droplets froze—
Then shot toward Varin from every direction.
He moved.
Parrying.
Dodging.
Cutting through them with fluid precision.
Effortless.
Then—
A crimson magic circle formed around him.
Varin froze mid-motion.
"...Huh?"
He glanced around.
The air tightened.
Then he looked up.
Above him—
A far larger magic circle loomed, humming with power.
"Shit... I can't move" he thought to himself