For a brief moment after that realization settled, the world seemed to hold its breath.

The three of them stood there, surrounded by the remnants of their own power, the shattered traces of spells that should have dominated the battlefield, the lingering pressure of techniques that once commanded fear and obedience, now broken apart like fragile glass in the face of something they could no longer suppress.

It was as if they have no more energy left and they couldn’t get up in the night in the new day.

If this continues, they would truly die.

The reddened Moonshade family—

Were still coming.

Their steps were no longer slow.

No longer dragging.

No longer strained.

They had pushed past that.

Now they moved with a terrifying steadiness, their bodies no longer trembling as violently, their movements smoother, more controlled, as if they had finally crossed a threshold where the pressure itself had become something they could bear without struggle.

And they were closer.

Far closer than before.

"...This... is not enough..."

Lord Vord’s voice trembled, barely above a whisper, his hands still raised though his spells had already collapsed, his breath uneven as he stared at the advancing figures.

Elder Achilor did not respond immediately.

His gaze remained fixed, his mind racing, trying to understand, trying to find something that could still be done, something that had not yet been tried, something that could still stop what was happening.

But every path he traced—

Ended the same way.

"...We can’t hold them..."

He finally said, his voice low, strained.

GrandLord Dreath remained silent.

His eyes did not move.

They did not flicker.

They remained locked on the approaching storm of red, watching every movement, every step, every shift in their bodies, analyzing even now, even at this point.

And then—

Vord turned.

Not toward Dreath.

Not toward Achilor.

But toward the others.

The vampires that surrounded the arena.

Those who had been spectators.

Those who had been suppressed.

Those who had watched everything unfold with growing horror.

"Help us!"

His voice broke the silence, louder than before, filled with urgency, with desperation that could no longer be hidden.

"You all saw it! If this continues, none of us will be able to stop them!"

His words echoed.

Carried.

Reached every corner of the broken arena.

"Move!"

He pointed.

His voice rising further.

"Stand up and assist! Use everything you have!"

For a moment—

There was no response.

Not because they did not hear.

But because they did.

And what they heard—

Terrified them.

Their eyes flickered.

Their bodies trembled.

Some tried to push themselves up.

Some managed to lift their heads.

But none—

Stepped forward.

"...Did you not hear me?!"

Vord shouted again, his voice sharper now, edged with frustration.

"We need all of you! Now!"

Still—

Nothing.

The silence stretched.

Heavy.

Uncomfortable.

Filled with tension.

Then—

One of them spoke.

A voice from the side.

Weak.

Hesitant.

"My... My Lord..."

His body shook as he struggled to kneel, his head lowered, his voice strained.

"...We... we cannot..."

Vord’s eyes snapped toward him.

"What do you mean you cannot?!"

The vampire swallowed hard.

"...That is GrandLord Dreath..."

The name alone seemed to carry weight.

"...We cannot... interfere..."

Another voice followed.

"...We would be... disrespecting him..."

"...We would be... opposing him..."

"...We... we do not dare..."

More voices joined.

Not loud.

Not confident.

But filled with the same fear.

"...We cannot act against the GrandLord..."

"...Even if it is to help..."

"...We would be punished..."

"...We would be destroyed..."

Their words overlapped, forming a chorus of hesitation, of fear, of unwillingness to step into something that could cost them everything.

Because to them—

This was not just a battle.

This was a matter of hierarchy.

Of authority.

Of existence.

And GrandLord Dreath—

Stood above them all.

To act without his command—

Was to challenge him.

And none of them—

Dared.

"...You fools!"

Vord’s voice cracked, anger mixing with desperation.

"Do you not see what is happening?!"

He pointed again, his hand trembling.

"They are not stopping! They are not weakening! They are getting stronger!"

His words struck.

But not enough.

Because fear—

Held them in place.

Not fear of the Moonshade family.

But fear of Dreath.

Elder Achilor closed his eyes briefly.

"...They won’t move..."

He exhaled slowly.

"...Their fear of him is greater than their fear of this..."

Dreath finally spoke.

"...Correct."

His voice was calm again.

Controlled.

As if the earlier crack had sealed itself.

His gaze remained forward.

"They will not act without my command."

He did not turn.

He did not look at them.

But his presence alone—

Was enough to confirm it.

The surrounding vampires lowered their heads further.

None stepped forward.

None dared.

And in that moment—

The truth became clear.

They were alone.

The three of them.

Against something that could not be suppressed.

Could not be controlled.

Could not be stopped—

By what they had used so far. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"...They’re still coming..."

Vord whispered.

Because they were.

Closer now.

Much closer.

Their steps steady.

Their bodies stronger.

Their presence overwhelming.

Each step carried weight.

Each movement felt heavier.

More real.

More dangerous.

The distance between them shrank rapidly.

"...We’re out of options..."

Achilor said quietly.

Not in defeat.

But in recognition.

Dreath did not respond immediately.

He simply watched.

For one more moment.

One more breath.

One more step—

As the reddened Moonshade family continued forward, their eyes locked onto him, their bodies ready to strike, their existence pressing closer with every second.

And then—

He moved.

Not forward.

Not to attack.

But slightly—

Back.

His hand rose again.

But this time—

There was no hesitation.

No testing.

No restraint.

"...It seems..."

His voice carried clearly.

Calm.

Cold.

Certain.

"...I need to use my Ultimate Blood Magic."

Suddenly, Grandlord would lif his hand.

Opened his palm to up above.

And soon, a blood came out of his finger.

And then it became bigger. And bigger and bigger.

"You all leave me no choice." He said.