Dracula frowned, eyes burning with disbelief as he turned to the woman... Azrael.

Her bullet had managed to hurt him?

Was that a fluke?

He didn't even blink. Instead, his tongue darted like a snake, tasting his own blood.

"Delicious. But you'll pay for that, little girl," he hissed.

He moved... No! He blurred.

Leo barely saw the motion.

In an instant, Dracula was upon Azrael, one hand snapping around her wrist before she could squeeze the trigger again. His grip was like iron. With a savage jerk, he flung her through the air; her body slammed against a pillar, the stone cracking beneath the impact, before she tumbled hard to the floor.

Raphael's shout barely left her throat before Dracula's gaze locked on her next.

"Raphael—move!" Leo roared, pushing against the pressure, ignoring the pain screaming in his body. He charged, slashing desperately at Dracula, but Dracula's arm snapped out, catching the sword by its blade. He wrenched it aside as if it weighed nothing.

Then, in the next breath, he vanished again, reappearing behind Raphael with an almost bored flicker of movement.

Raphael spun, eyes wide with fear, and fired twice.

BANG!

BANG!

But Dracula batted the bullets aside, each one crumpling in midair as if squashed by invisible hands, the metallic shells twisting and folding before falling to the ground with dull, lifeless clinks.

Raphael gulped in fear, heart pounding, as she saw him stepping toward her. Dracula's eyes narrowed with cruel delight, "I should have eaten you that day… Look at you now, standing before me? It's so disgusting," he spat, his voice a chilling blend of contempt and hunger.

His smile widened, fangs bared, as he caught her neck in one hand, lifting her effortlessly off the ground. Raphael's feet kicked at empty air as she struggled, trying to aim her gun, but Dracula simply clenched the nozzle—metal groaning as it bent in his grip.

Dracula smirked, savouring the terror in her eyes, watching her wither beneath his grasp. His grip tightened, fingers cold as steel.

"Yeah, that's more like it!" he said, lips parting, voice thick with hunger as his fangs glinted, casting a shadow over Raphael's trembling face.

"RAPHAEL!!"

Both Leo and Azrael shouted in unison, panic and fury mixing in their voices. Azrael, groaning, dragged herself upright, blood running down her arm, but her grip steady as she raised her gun, ready to fire again.

Leo lunged forward, ignoring the pain that flared with every movement. But before either could act—

Raphael twisted, drawing a curved knife from her boot in a single desperate motion, and in an instant, she drove it into Dracula's neck.

Chucckk!

Dracula flinched, shock flashing across his face, eyes widening as the blade bit deep.

Leo and Azrael both froze, stunned by the sudden turn. Raphael, who just a moment ago seemed terrified and helpless, now glared at him with burning defiance.

"Don't you dare look down on us!" she spat, her voice sharp and trembling with adrenaline.

Gritting her teeth, she gripped the hand that held her neck, twisting with such force that even Dracula's eyes widened in disbelief. He was forced to release her, the hold broken by a surge of raw, unexpected strength from the human he'd underestimated.

Raphael tumbled to the ground but landed on her feet, breathing hard, a wild light in her eyes.

She dusted off her clothes, glancing up to find everyone staring at her, their expressions mixed with shock and disbelief. A flush crept up her cheeks.

"W-what? I learned how to fight, you know!" she said, voice small but proud, lips pursed in a stubborn pout, cheeks burning with a mix of embarrassment and triumph.

Dracula chuckled, a deep, furious sound, even as he yanked the knife from his neck. Blood trickled down his collar, the wound smoking faintly, as he cracked his neck with a sickening pop, eyes glowing with dangerous crimson light.

Raphael immediately dove behind Azrael for cover, fear quickening her breath as she tried to steady herself.

"YOU MONGRELS!" Dracula roared, voice reverberating through the shattered streets.

Azrael didn't hesitate. She grabbed Raphael by the collar, yanking her aside just as Dracula's hand sliced through the space where they'd been standing—his swipe so sharp it cleaved stone like butter, the force splitting the ground.

The buildings behind them exploded outward, chunks of rock scattering across the ground in a thunderous spray, dust filling the air in thick clouds.

Leo didn't wait.

He sprinted through the swirling dust cloud, sword raised, boots slipping on broken stone. Dracula pivoted, ready to smack Leo aside with a single casual backhand.

But Raphael, trembling and still half-hidden behind Azrael's coat, drew another knife from her belt. Instead of aiming for Dracula, she threw it overhand—straight at Leo, the blade spinning through the thick air.

"Leo — duck!!" she squeaked.

The knife whistled past, so close it brushed Leo's hair, missing him by less than an inch, and—

Dracula blinked.

For the briefest instant, his eyes darted toward the spinning blade, tracking its trajectory.

That one heartbeat was enough.

Leo slid low, body twisting like a shadow. With a surge of desperate strength, he carved a furious horizontal slash across Dracula's ribs, sparks and blue light trailing the arc.

Sccchhhkk!!

Blood sprayed, hot and dark, painting the shattered floor. Dracula hissed sharply, the sound like a serpent's fury echoing off the stone.

"You insects—"

He didn't finish.

Azrael fired again, hands steady despite the pain. Two shots rang out, aimed dead-centre at the fresh wound.

BANG!

BANG!

Dracula twisted, moving too fast for human eyes, but the bullets grazed him again, tearing flesh and drawing more blood. This time, he stumbled... the impact slowing him for a split second.

His movements, always so fluid and untouchable, now had a trace of drag.

Those bullets were definitely not normal ones!

Dracula snarled, rage burning in his eyes. He stretched a hand, crimson energy flickering and writhing around his fingers. The floor surged upward, stone spears erupting from the ground like jagged fangs, each one hungry for blood.

Leo leapt, barely clearing the deadly spikes.

Raphael yelped as one zipped by her thigh. Azrael rolled behind a broken pile of rocks, cursing under her breath as debris exploded around her.

Leo approached Dracula immediately, as Dracula's fist shot forward—aiming to pierce Leo's body with nothing but brute strength, fingers curled like a lance.

But Raphael appeared at Leo's back, both hands gripping her knife, eyes wild with courage and terror. She screamed, "I'm not scared anymore!" Using Leo's back as a springboard, she launched herself at Dracula's arm, attacking like a wild animal, stabbing twice into his shoulder.

Chucckk!

Chucckk!

Leo was surprised again by Raphael's actions... she was getting daring!

Azrael blinked, 'Why is she acting nor-' but then she saw around Raphael's neck something flickering as if something on the verge of breaking out, 'I see... guess your seals aren't strong after all' she thought.

Dracula recoiled again, more blood running down his arm. His snarl was full of hatred and disbelief.

"You little—!"

Azrael stepped out from cover, silver bullet loaded, eyes cold and focused.

"Dracula," she hissed, levelling her gun, "look at me."

He turned, lips curling, anger twisting his handsome features.

BANG!

The bullet flew straight—a silver streak slicing the dust and shadows, aimed with perfect accuracy at his forehead.

Dracula caught it between two fingers, "I don't know what kind of trickery bullets you're using—Arrh!"

But then, Leo's sword swung in a clean, merciless motion, severing Dracula's hand at the wrist.

"You should focus on the fight, bloodsucker~,"

His severed hand hit the ground like a piece of wet meat, fingers twitching for a moment before lying still in a pool of crimson. Dracula's eyes widened in pure, disbelieving shock as he turned to the side and saw Leo already closing in, sword raised and aiming straight for his head.

Tsshhk!

Dracula bent backwards at an unnatural angle, spine cracking and popping as the blade sliced the air where his skull had been a heartbeat before.

For an instant, his red eyes locked on Leo's—burning with rage and something close to fear. He shifted sideways, his severed hand instantly regrowing, fingers stretching and flexing as if nothing had happened. His cloak burst into swirling black mist, shadows coiling around his body.

But Leo didn't stop.

Raphael didn't stop.

Azrael didn't let him breathe.

Leo lunged first, chest glowing with mana, each heartbeat driving more raw power into his limbs. He slashed again and again, channelling every last shred of strength and precision into his blade. His sword blurred in the air, faster and faster, tracing arcs of light that crackled against Dracula's shadowy form. Dracula weaved between each slash, stepping back with predatory grace.

His movements were still elegant... almost beautiful, despite the brutality!

Raphael lunged from the left, another knife flashing in her fist, aiming for his ribs with wild determination.

"Just how many knives do you have?" Azrael gasped, shocked to see Raphael pulling blades from everywhere—hidden sleeves, boots, even beneath her coat. "Where were you even hiding them?"

But when did this happen?

Well, it started after the fight with Camazotz... Raphael had realised how utterly helpless she was in close combat, even after learning to fight with a sword. So she collected knives from the empty stores, dozens of them, tucked all over her body.

Just in case... Just to protect herself and Ophis, if it came to it.

Anyway,

Dracula twisted, eyes gleaming, caught her wrist with icy precision, and shoved her aside with brutal force. Raphael tumbled, coughing hard as the air was knocked from her lungs, but she used the momentum to spring back up, twisting and slashing at his thigh.

It hit.

Not deep, just a glancing cut, but it tore through cloth and bit into muscle. Dracula snarled, feeling the sting.

"…Tch." He clicked his tongue in annoyance.

Before he could retaliate, three sharp gunshots cut through the chaos.

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

Azrael's bullets screamed through the dust-filled air, muzzle flashes painting ghostly blue streaks across the ruins. Dracula's form blurred, melting into a torrent of red mist. The bullets passed straight through, slamming into the far wall.

Azrael clicked her tongue in frustration, 'Tsk, wasted,' she thought, slamming a fresh magazine into her gun.

Raphael lunged again, sweat running down her face, breath ragged.

Dracula blocked her knife with his forearm, the metal scraping uselessly across his skin. He drew back and rammed his knee hard into her stomach. Raphael gagged, spitting saliva as pain exploded through her core.

She flew backwards!

Just backwards?

Dracula frowned... that attack would have shattered his body into pieces.

Just what's wrong with these humans?

Leo intercepted her midair, catching her by the arm before she crashed to the ground. His grip was strong, eyes meeting hers for a brief.

Dracula rushed and appeared between them in a blur of supernatural speed, claws outstretched, fingers splayed wide, ready to tear both of them open...

BANG!

Azrael's bullet tore through the chaos, clipping his head with a burst of blood and strands of hair.

Dracula staggered back, surprise and pain twisting his pale, elegant features. He blinked, and suddenly his whole body jolted with an unnatural stiffness, muscles seizing, his movements sluggish and heavy.

It was as if something inside him resisted every command. Then, with a sickening, unnatural jerk, the bullet oozed out from his forehead, dropping to the floor with a wet plop.

"What…?" he hissed, pupils narrowing into inhuman slits as he reached up, fingers brushing the wound. His eyes fell on the bullet—its surface etched with strange, glowing runes that burned with a pale blue fire. The symbols shimmered, their magic searing his flesh even after they left his skin.

He didn't have time to think about it. Leo surged forward, slicing upward in a harsh, ruthless diagonal, aiming to take Dracula's head clean off his shoulders.

Dracula blocked with his stump, hand twisting at an impossible angle, deflecting the blade with a spray of blood and a grunt of effort.

Raphael darted beneath Leo's arm. She stabbed for Dracula's knee.

Dracula groaned, leapt, cloak swirling, but this time—

He jumped too slowly.

Raphael's blade scraped his calf, slicing a bright, fresh line of blood across pale skin.

"You worms…" Dracula growled, voice trembling with frustration and pain. The polished arrogance was gone from his tone, replaced by a raw, animal fury.

He swung his remaining arm, a wild, savage backhand filled with monstrous, desperate strength... motion meant to break bones, to end the fight in one blow.

Leo ducked under it, feeling the rush of air and the chill of death pass within inches of his face. Raphael slid past, rolling over broken stone, barely keeping her footing—

And Azrael, unwavering, fired again. She stood just meters away, gun fired on her target with the discipline of a hunter who has nothing left to lose.

BANG!!!

BANG!!!

This time, the bullet struck home, punching deep into Dracula's chest, embedding itself near his collarbone with a violent impact. Dracula stumbled, a raw, guttural sound escaping his lips as he fought to draw breath. For the first time, his legs nearly gave out beneath him—knees buckling as pain radiated through his body.

Slowly… painfully slowly… Dracula lifted his head, crimson eyes jittering, flickering in the gloom.

For a terrifying instant, his gaze went unfocused, confusion and disbelief fighting for dominance... like something inside him had broken, a system failing for the first time.

"You… what… did you do…?" he rasped, voice hoarse, as if his own throat betrayed him.

Azrael blinked, lowering her smoking gun, a sly, almost taunting smirk curling at the edge of her lips. "I… don't know," she lied, a glint of satisfaction in her eyes.

He lunged for her, snarling, rage contorting his features, claws flashing toward her throat—

But Raphael dashed across his path, blade glinting, slashing his thigh again, deeper this time, the knife tearing flesh!

Leo's sword followed an instant later, a horizontal swing smashing into Dracula's side with a force that sent shockwaves up the blade... bone cracked!

Dracula staggered, stumbling sideways, his balance faltering. He looked drunk, his speed shattered, his reflexes lost—no longer the invincible predator. Each movement lagged behind his intention.

Azrael's bullets… They weren't simply hurting him.

They were slowing him... Weakening him!

Dragging him down, chaining him to human limits he had never tasted before—sapping his supernatural strength, making him vulnerable, almost… mortal.

'Though it only works for a few minutes,' Azrael thought, glancing down as she slammed a new magazine into her gun.

Dracula blankly stared at Azrael... something about her made him remember his forgotten and dead previous child!

"Hah…" Leo exhaled, sweat rolling down his face as he finally felt the tide turning in their favour. He sensed the shift, "He's slower. Azrael—keep shooting!"

"I am!!" she shouted back, snapping the silver magazine into place with shaking hands.

Dracula roared... a sound both beast and nightmare, furious and wounded. His fangs glistened, eyes blazing as he lunged at them with everything he had left, every ounce of strength and fury.

Raphael dodged left.

Leo dodged right, rolling over shattered stone.

And Azrael pressed the trigger,

BANG!!

The silver round streaked across the space, hitting Dracula's shoulder with a dull, brutal impact. For a heartbeat, nothing happened.

And then, Dracula didn't flinch.

Instead—

His body flickered, crackling with crimson sparks, the wound glowing red-hot.

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