A few hours ago [Dance Hall]
“This…… What happened here……?”
Arriving a little bit earlier than Curtis and Michelle was a monster wearing rotten robes----- Death
When Death awoke, he noticed that he did not exist inside the castle.
The castle appeared in a state without a master and this time is different from the summoning of cults----- That he is completely awake.
Vividly waking up between the moon and the sun, the monster had one thought-----
-----Why, have I awoken?
The emergence of Dracula’s castle
That was the most possible thing, but why did I not awoke inside the castle?
Although this was not the first time that this happened, he understood that perhaps this time is similar to that time when only the castle was resurrected while waiting for Dracula to rise.
“What could have happened…… I must investigate……”
And first of all, Death----- went to the source of the [soul] whom he swore eternal allegiance.
Even if his master was reborn and he was bound to obey, but he had remembered that there was something different.
If he had awoken, then the castle ought to have emerged. However, he could not feel the sign.
Death silently started moving towards the center of darkness.
He swore allegiance to his master in the distant past.
Now, he has to carry out his allegiance and in preparation for that, he allowed himself to fill up with darkness.
And after Death met with Soma Cruz in Japan----- He was confident that his existence had nothing to do with him, yet he still had suspicions on the emergence of the [castle].
Without wasting time, he diffused his magic across the world, following the traces of magical current; he finally arrived at the castle.
However, what he saw there are-----
Humans
Dozens, no, hundreds of human beings are climbing. He then stalked the monster infested [castle].
He already knows the story of what will happen but ----- mysteriously, the castle’s zombies and skeletons and even other monsters are not showing any behavior of attacking those humans.
It is as if they did not see each other. The monsters are just prowling the castle and the humans are just slipping by in between.
Death briefly watched the situation but, suddenly, he saw some monsters that he knew in the dance hall.
One of them is a demon knight with the head of a bird and a body of a man----- Slogra. The other one is said to be the king of gargoyles, a stern winged demon knight----- Gaibon.
“Slogra, Gaibon, what happened……”
He showed himself in front of his subordinates, planning on doing some questioning but-----
Death immediately noticed something odd from the 2 monsters.
Their bodies are certainly theirs, but, inside them is just distorted magic and he could not feel their souls.
Moving by magic, these monsters resembled dolls----- That was the impression that Death got.
“What is this……”
Then, [something] appeared in Slogra and it faced Death thrusting the spear in its hand. Joining that, another [something] appeared in Gaibon and from its mouth a fireball was expelled.
“…… Insolent!”
Death did not move from his place and numerous scythes appeared around him.
A scythe was able to catch Slogra’s spear, another violently revolving scythe was able to snuff out the incoming raging flame.
The remaining scythes flew out to the 4 corners and with their momentum; they were able to surround the 2 monsters.
He drew out his unfailing death scythe ----- instantly slashing those soulless dolls.
They burned out without shrieking, those [things] that resembled his subordinates.
“……What ever happened here? ……”
At that instant he said that, the surrounding air buzzed -----
Together with the sign of a much darker soul, a dry clapping sound rang out the dance hall.
“As expected of the castle’s guard, the devil’s confidant, born from chaos as a god of death while being undead.”
Standing behind him, wearing purple nobleman’s clothes, is a tall man with an unusually pale skin.
Those nobleman’s clothes were a cross between a military uniform and a majestic design. Recognizing that, Death spoke his name with a small astonished voice.
“The master…… Olrox? ……”
Once serving under Dracula, this noble vampire was appointed one part of the castle.
Personifying the dead seafloor and existing to overwhelm the surrounding light. It would not be strange if just by looking at him, an ordinary person’s heart would be devoured.
Seeing Death in front of him, he emotionlessly said.
“It was within my assumption that you would be resurrected but…… I wasn’t expecting that you would be like your old self. Now that the castle has lost its dark lord, I thought that your soul was driven out of chaos as a magical beast, but, was it because of my haste that this happened?”
Olrox spoke with a tinge of admiration. He walked up without a sound in his steps towards Death.
With those words, Death once again understood.
With the emergence of the castle, he had deep concerns regarding the vampire in front of him.
----- The reason why he woke up still knowing himself was this.
Death was convinced of this fact and he asked about those [somethings].
----- Must evaluate that
“I see, the master now, the one that controls the castle’s magic, the one who intends to inherit Lord Dracula’s name is ……”
Hearing those hoarse words coming from Death, Olrox’s expression dimmed a little and then foolishly preached to Death.
“…… Speaking the losing dog’s name is unnecessary now.”
“……What……?”
With Olrox’s arrogant answer, Death’s voice flowed with a tinge of darkness.
Wanting to know the reason of the change in emotion, Olrox dared to continue speaking.
“The magic I received from the castle will not be used to bind humans to chaos and other similar things. I would like to equally gain control over both humans and chaos.”
“You…… did nothing but to insult Lord Dracula…… Are you denying the existence of the [castle]?”
“Oh Death, there is no need to be so loyal and respectful to that dead human, right? …… Oops, that guy was not human, he was somehow a vampire.”
With Olrox’s provocation, Death just kept silent and asked about his attitude.
“If …… you become Lord Dracula’s successor, do you not have any intention of inheriting his power……?”
Depending on the next answer, there is a possibility that Death would have an absolute intention to kill him.
On top of understanding that condition, Olrox still calmly answered.
“I had said it before. I do not intend to bind the world with chaos.”
“…… If so, why did you take power away from the crack in the eclipse’s seal? If you just intend to imitate like a monkey, isn’t your own power enough?”
Those were the emotionless words of Death.
In response, Olrox laughed his bold answer.
“As I’ve said, I would equally gain control over the human world and the source of Dracula’s power, chaos. I do not intend to obey someone else’s mind aside from my own. That includes you who were born out of chaos.”
“……”
“You should be glad though to know yourself. Just by stealing power, my shameful monotonous time is over…… Even before Alucard appeared, just because I showed up and declared war on him.”
Olrox’s voice was mixed with a tinge of thin delight. He respectfully bowed to Death who completely killed his emotions.
“I would end the reincarnation cycle of this demon castle. I who understood and was spun out of the stains of chaos, swear to rob that power with my hands. Now, yield.”
With Death’s reply, an explosive murderous intent rose.
Two bronze colored scythes much larger than usual appeared; it advanced to the space in between the two men with an intention to cut off Olrox’s head.
Kill the distance-----
Kill the sound-----
Just, faster, soon, die.
It can be seen that the blades have certainly caught Olrox’s neck, but----- that is only an after image and the vampire is already at Death’s back.
“……die.”
That was said by the enemy who called on his servants.
From the surrounding space, a group of purple bats rose, passed by Olrox’s arm with the speed of a bullet, attacking Death.
However, Death did not show any gesture of avoiding them. He simply faced Olrox and sprayed out numerous scythes.
The bats and scythes cancelled each other out and the entire dance hall sparkled with blood.
Some rebounding scythes broke the window and moonlight softly lit the bloody castle interior.
Olrox, without changing his expression, shook his head a little, floated up in the air, went out the window without a sound and fled.
“If only I could meet you in a better place, but unfortunately, I’m very busy.”
“…… don’t flee.”
Death just crushed the emotions that rose up inside him and flew outside the castle in pursuit of Olrox.
However-----
When he was near the castle’s entrance, Death noticed another unusual incident.
He saw a gathering of humans in the center of the garden.
“……?”
A question formed in his mind, and a few minutes later -----
[That] formed
A huge magic pattern is spread in the center of the garden. Its interior has human beings drawing out something.
“His being busy was a lie. It was unexpected and he was bored.”
Olrox gave a slight smile----- Sensing the presence of dozens of humans located in the center of the magic pattern, he went there.
“Thanks to you humans”
In the center of the magic pattern are men and women of all ages and even combatants are gathered there.
And their hands are grasping black colored knives-----
At the next instant, all of them pierced their throats at the same time.
“……tch!”
At the same time, there is a black light that wrapped the magic pattern----- The blood that flowed out of the humans’ throat gathered in the air creating a giant red arm.
“This is …… !?”
From a part of the giant hand, numerous arms extended like tendrils, expanding and swallowing the body of Death.
Then----- convergence
“Cough…… Olrox…… you!”
Death who was wrapped in the giant bloody hand felt the blood of humans eroding his body.
Olrox stayed floating in the air while looking at Death whose movement was sealed----- then in a calm voice said.
“You who were referred to as the undying symbol of death, it might as well be said that death has extended his arm on you.”
Death whose body was being eroded by human blood, confirmed that the blood was magical and had also absorbed other servants----- he shouted.
“Aha……! You, including other monsters……!”
Not answering his question, Olrox just told his goodbye.
“Having your magic, I do not intend to control your soul. Crumble and fall into nothingness.”
“Ol……ro……x!”
Death’s magic completely flowed into the [castle]. When that thing that was inside the giant blood sphere was confirmed to disappear ----- It then landed on the ground.
At the same time, the floating blood arm sank into the ground and disappeared, even those dozens of corpses that ought to roll in the ground also disappeared as if nothing happened.
“With this, the castle is nearing its completed state.”
With Olrox’s words, the people that are outside the magic pattern gave out an expression of joy.
Then----- suddenly, the atmosphere settled, and his eyes turned towards the humans at the front gate with guns on their waists.
Olrox gazed behind them and he saw one human being.
“This…… What is this……”
By the looks of his clothes and the whip he is carrying on his waist, he is probably the church’s advance party. The whip’s holy powers can be felt but its threat was not the same as the Vampire Killer.
“Death and vampire, why did they fight……and also…… why are humans here……?”
In front of the confused youth, Olrox said in his expressionless voice.
“The timing is bad, church person.”
Then, numerous gunshots rang in the garden.
XX