Lucian Valkar stood at the heart of the Cathedral of the Silver Dawn, his gleaming silver sword resting lightly in his grip. The stained-glass windows behind him cast eerie patterns of light across the grand hall, making the Order's sacred space feel almost surreal.
Mary held her ground, gripping her saber tightly. Lela, Loosie, and Eris flanked her, weapons ready, as the elite hunters of the Order formed a semicircle around them.
The tension was suffocating.
Then, Lucian smiled.
"Tell me, Mary," he said, his voice dripping with amusement, "do you truly believe you can walk away from this? That you can stand against the might of the Order?"
Mary's eyes burned with cold fury. "I don't plan to walk away, Lucian. I plan to end you."
Lucian sighed, almost disappointed. "So be it."
He vanished.
No, not vanished—moved.
Before Mary could react, he was already in front of her, his blade streaking toward her chest.
She barely dodged.
The force of the swing sent a shockwave through the air, and Mary was thrown backward, skidding across the marble floor. Lela lunged to intercept Lucian, her spear flashing like lightning.
Lucian parried effortlessly, twisting his blade and knocking Lela's weapon aside. He countered with a powerful kick to her stomach, sending her flying into a nearby pillar.
Loosie and Eris sprang into action.
Loosie's daggers were a blur as she darted around Lucian, slashing at his blind spots. Eris struck from the other side, twin swords carving a deadly arc.
Lucian moved like a specter, dodging and blocking with inhuman grace.
With a flick of his wrist, he disarmed Eris, sending one of her swords clattering across the floor. Before she could react, he grabbed her by the throat and hurled her into Loosie.
Both crashed to the ground in a heap.
Mary forced herself to her feet. Pain radiated through her body, but she refused to fall.
Lucian turned to her, still eerily calm. "You are powerful, Mary, but you lack discipline. You lack the will to control your nature."
Mary gritted her teeth. "I don't need control to kill you."
She rushed him, her saber igniting with mist-like energy. Lucian met her head-on, their blades clashing in a flurry of steel and sparks.
Blow after blow, they matched each other.
Lucian was stronger—his strikes carried the weight of years of training. But Mary was faster, her vampire reflexes allowing her to slip past his defenses.
She feinted left, then twisted right, her blade cutting across his side.
For the first time, Lucian bled.
A thin red line appeared on his pristine armor.
Lucian's expression darkened.
"So, you are evolving," he muttered. "Good."
Then he unleashed his true strength.
A blinding shockwave erupted from his body, sending Mary hurtling backward. She crashed against the cathedral doors, coughing as she struggled to rise.
Lucian raised his sword. Divine energy gathered along its edge, forming a golden glow.
"Enough games," he said. "Die."
He swung.
A wave of holy energy exploded toward Mary, cutting through the air like a blade of light.
She barely had time to react.
With sheer instinct, she raised her saber and unleashed Mist Blade.
Three phantom slashes converged, colliding with Lucian's attack. The clash sent out a violent shockwave, shattering the nearby stained-glass windows and shaking the entire cathedral.
Lucian staggered back.
Mary gasped for breath, her limbs burning. She wouldn't last long at this rate.
But she wasn't alone.
Lela was back on her feet, her spear glowing with divine lightning.
Loosie had regained her footing, daggers pulsing with raw energy.
Eris, despite the blood trickling down her temple, stood ready.
Together, they attacked as one.
Lela's spear thrust forced Lucian on the defensive. Loosie moved like a shadow, her blades cutting at every exposed point. Eris reclaimed her sword, driving Lucian back step by step.
Mary joined them, her saber striking in perfect rhythm with the others.
For the first time, Lucian struggled.
His once-flawless defense broke under the relentless assault.
Lela feinted high.
Loosie struck low.
Eris slashed across his side.
And Mary drove her saber through his chest.
Lucian gasped.
For a brief moment, the entire battlefield froze.
Then, he smiled.
Blood dripped from his lips as he whispered, "Well done."
A moment later, a blinding light exploded from his body, engulfing everything.
The Aftermath
When the light faded, Lucian was gone.
Only the shattered remains of his armor remained.
Mary fell to one knee, exhaustion threatening to overtake her. Lela panted beside her, using her spear for support.
Loosie wiped the blood from her face. "Did we… win?"
Eris frowned, scanning the remains of the battlefield. "No."
Mary's heart sank.
Lucian had vanished.
His death should have left a body—something. But there was nothing.
Lela swore under her breath. "He's still out there."
Mary's grip tightened around her saber. She knew, deep in her bones, that this wasn't over.
Lucian Valkar was alive.
And next time, he wouldn't hold back.
She exhaled sharply and stood. "Then we finish what we started."
No more running. No more hiding.
The war wasn't over.
It was just beginning.