‘What do you mean, Nicole?’ the soldier asked.
Before Nicole could answer, the question answered itself:250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMgFpOIfld
The commander cried out again.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAcY0JkJJ8
He was helpless against his foe.
The soldier’s face went pale.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnymC7HE2m1
Their commander was dying.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oLhOLiRYE
Their strongest warrior was losing.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9xn7chvVs
Humanity wouldn’t make it.
Nicole, too, was speechless.
Dracule, seeing their reaction, burst into hysterical laughter.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBoVOBJ7Nt
He even had to clutch his stomach.
The winner was decided.
Or was it?
Yes, the sun had turned red.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYPheDI6eu
But the sun wasn’t the only thing that visited Earth.
Behind the clouds, a silver light broke through.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGmpjPrQYU
The commander smiled as his body overflowed with power.
He flexed his muscles and focused on purging the cursed blood within him.
Then it appeared—250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UQPT1obgv
the full moon.
‘We have not lost yet!’ Commander Nootra bellowed.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQmWOcjUN6
‘We have not lost yet! Fight! Fight and survive! My soldiers! My friends! My love!’
Silver light erupted from his body.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRneY9FYmZ
His fur shimmered. His wounds healed.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRR8NCUrCUI
And the war cry that followed shook the heavens.
The ghouls froze.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAwVKWf5AF
Even Dracule had to swallow hard.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8an3hVjI3
But his fear turned to joy.
‘That’s the beast I know! A king candidate—the true King of the Beasts, who once challenged the King. Let us bathe in blood and end the world while fighting!’
Dracule rose into the air. The sky turned blood-red as if drenched in gore.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSuhLewQBb
Then—giant blood worms shot down from the sky.
Their fangs were forged of demon energy.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcixPzFUk1X
They came in great numbers.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9DQSW2thg
Each fired energy blasts at the soldiers—at the commander.
But it only took one swing of Nootra’s powerful arm.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDy3jSMN8rg
A wave of silver energy blasted forth, destroying all incoming attacks.
His soldiers’ morale soared.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRauM2Wvs3
Even Nicole smiled—until her joy vanished just as quickly as it had come.
(Nicole: Will he recognize us in that state?)
She couldn’t afford to dwell on the thought.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60BsEP1CSc
The ghouls had resumed their assault.
The soldiers formed a protective circle around Nicole, who needed time to recover her strength.
‘I knew that would be enough!’ Dracule roared.
His blood worms lunged at the commander.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJUUTHFeNG
Nootra retaliated, tearing them apart with razor-sharp claws.
Meanwhile, Dracule concentrated demon energy between his hands, slowly shaping it into a spear.
In the Past
Dracule lay on the ground—defeated.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDh1wlwlZwL
No amount of growling could change that.
The King of the Beasts turned his back to him and said:
‘You were truly strong, my friend. But I fear I’ve become too powerful.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvm1Kr35ClZ
Only a king candidate—or the King himself—can satisfy my hunger now.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhN1s0ENiM
Grow stronger. One day, we’ll face each other again.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LrADURJlc
I’ll always accept your challenge.’
‘Just wait! One day, our positions will be reversed. You’ll be the one at my feet!’
‘If that day comes, Dracule, I’ll gladly train again to face you.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cQpkNML7k
See you then.’
In the Present
Commander Nootra had effortlessly destroyed the blood worms.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqNpPJqFvr
Their blood floated in the air—just as Dracule had foreseen.
The blood morphed into chains, wrapping around the commander.
They wouldn’t hold him for long,250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbMUoMHzCo
but they’d buy Dracule enough time for one final attack.
He held the energy spear in his hand.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThXnckfoB3
It was so powerful that the hand holding it was slowly falling apart.
‘I will defeat you, King of the Beasts—even if it costs me my life!250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFOxv8N5GU
I prepared this special gift just for you.
O cursed bone, carved by judgment—250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGvZTM3eR0
Trace the guilt in flesh and soul.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqP0dxIIRXp
Twist the heavens. Tear through fate—
Akzhareth, pierce without mercy!’
He threw the spear.
Just as the commander broke free, the spear struck—250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnbhNMT5Al
piercing through his body.
A burst of light exploded, bathing the sky in violet.
Nicole began to cry.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTSRx3WaZn
Dracule, on the other hand, rejoiced.
He formed a fist and thumped his chest.
‘I did it. I finally beat him! After all these years of hellish training—it paid off.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6A2cN7fbzf
My friend, who is now the loser—’
The light dimmed.
And revealed the commander.
He was alive.
The spear had pierced his chest—left a gaping hole.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXWfFq4kT2
But he was still standing.
Dracule, already pale, turned ghostly white.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyekyJ7wRgz
He had put everything into that final attack.
‘Hahaha… it seems it will be like last time.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZazRYolQq1
I am the loser.’
The commander surged forward at terrifying speed.
Dracule didn’t move.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbUnq2HTw4
What use was fighting now?
The King of the Beasts had survived his final blow.
Dracule spread his arms wide, like a father welcoming his son.
Commander Nootra drove his claws through Dracule’s chest—250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4wwF8cVUk
ripped out his heart—250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9Q1pFblI0
and raised the bloodied organ in his hand.
He crushed it.
Blood spilled across his face.
The ghouls fled.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsFzSR7NXV
The soldiers cheered.
Only Nicole remained silent, watching the commander.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsmPD8iuRO
Waiting for him to speak.
As a human.
But the commander let the heart fall—and turned to the soldiers.
Nicole’s eyes widened.
‘His eyes…’ she whispered.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTePLQqT9K
‘That’s not our commander. RUN!’
The next moment—250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hGHVmXLYC
the commander fired a silver energy blade at the group.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXghDWzleL
and then Add to home screen.