The forest west of Bloodfort was silent, blanketed in heavy snow. The moonlight made every flake glitter like shards of glass, but the silence was deceptive—danger stirred beneath it.

A masked figure stood with one horn jutting from his forehead, his pointed ears twitching at every sound. He folded his arms and muttered toward the man meditating beside him.

"Hey. Why are we wasting time here? Isn't an all-out war about to start? Shouldn't we, you know, be there?"

The black-haired man slowly opened his eyes, golden irises gleaming like molten coins. His earring swayed slightly as he exhaled.

"Lord Vorthas ordered us to stay here," he replied with calm finality. "We are to observe and report the outcome. We do not interfere."

The horned demon clicked his tongue. "So that's why you dragged these mobs along?" He jerked his chin toward the twenty vampires gathered in the snow. Their eyes glowed faintly crimson, the strongest among them a Rank 4.

The golden-eyed man smirked. "Of course. If we're attacked, they'll slow the enemy. Meanwhile, we slip away."

Not far from them, two hidden figures crouched behind an enchanted veil. Mary whispered the incantation that kept them both invisible and erased their presence. Ezra, beside her, studied the scene with unblinking sharpness.

"There are three Rank 3s, one Rank 4, six Rank 2s, and ten Rank 1s," he murmured. His eyes narrowed on the horned demon and his golden-eyed companion. "Those two… aren't vampires. They're demons."

Mary nodded, but her mind was elsewhere. Her lips trembled before she finally whispered, "I'm really sorry."

Ezra turned to her with the faintest of smiles. His tone was smooth, polite—yet carried an edge that could cut.

"Miss Mary, this is your tenth apology this evening. I assure you, I don't charge interest on remorse. Unless, of course, you intend to start paying me rent with every 'sorry.'"

Mary puffed her cheeks, sulking, but his steady gaze silenced any retort.

"So," Ezra continued, tilting his head, "you're a Rank 5 magician, yes?"

"Y-yes…" she stammered.

"Splendid." He nodded, as if she had just confirmed her attendance at afternoon tea. "Then I must trouble you with the task of handling the lesser vampires."

Mary blinked. "Wait, what?! I heard vampires fight in formations. They look pretty organized—like, 'stab you in the kidney' organized. You can't just tell me to hold them off."

Ezra's expression remained utterly calm.

"Not to worry. I only require ten minutes. By then, the demons will be… otherwise occupied."

"Ten minutes?!" Mary hissed. "Do you think I'm some kind of magical meat shield?"

Ezra gave a soft chuckle, polite as ever. "Heavens, no. A shield is far more fragile. You, at least, can think."

She smacked his shoulder, nearly unraveling the invisibility spell. "I hate you."

"You'll live," he said smoothly, then added with perfect courtesy, "Well… hopefully."

Mary's glare softened just slightly. "Are you sure you can kill those two in ten minutes?"

Ezra cracked his knuckles, his eyes glittering like silver flame. "If I refrain from holding back, it would be discourteous to take longer."

Mary bit her lip. "…Don't die."

Ezra glanced at her, as though she had just wished safety upon a hurricane. "Your concern flatters me. But please, reserve your worry for yourself—it would be a shame if efficiency were lost to sentiment."

—————————

A muffled crash of snow came from the left side of the clearing. One of the Rank 1 vampires stiffened, his crimson eyes narrowing.

"I think I saw something over there," he muttered, pointing toward the shadows.

"Really? Fine, let's check it out," his companion replied.

The two trudged across the snow, their boots crunching through the frost. The forest loomed silent, and then—

A low whimper.

A snow wolf sat curled under a broken tree, its white fur stained with blood, its body shivering weakly.

One vampire clicked his tongue. "Tch. Just a wolf. Worthless." He raised his sword to finish it off.

He never got the chance.

Mary shimmered into view, her hands glowing.

"Paralysis."

Blue runes flared beneath the vampires' feet. Their eyes widened, but before their throats could form a sound, her spell locked their bodies in place.

A spear of searing magic burst from her palm, burning through their cores. The two crumpled lifelessly into the snow.

Mary exhaled, brushing frost from her gloves, her gaze cold.

—————————-

"Where are Smith and Ron?" a Rank 2 vampire demanded, crimson eyes narrowing.

"They went to check the noise," another muttered.

The Rank 2's frown deepened—until realization struck. His pupils dilated. "We're under attack!"

The two demons jerked upright.

Luke, the horned one, barked, "What happened—"

But he never finished.

A blur of silver descended.

"Luke! Behind you!" Henry shouted, panic in his voice.

Luke twisted, but too late. Ezra's blade sheared through his arm. Blood sprayed into the snow.

Ezra didn't pause. Silver light flared as he Blinked, appearing before Henry. The demon's teleportation runes shattered under one precise slash. Henry was flung back into the sky, barely stabilizing himself.

Ezra's tone remained perfectly calm.

"Gentlemen, allow me to make this brief. I do not enjoy prolonging unpleasant company."

His sword pulsed with radiance.

"Celestrian Swordsmanship—Sixth Form."

He vanished in silver lightning.

Luke barely had time to lift his spear. Ezra's sword pierced his chest, followed by a storm of relentless strikes—slashes that tore through flesh, scattering crimson across the snow. In less than a heartbeat, Luke's body was nothing but ribbons.

Ezra exhaled softly, then turned his gaze toward Henry.

"Unfortunate. He seemed the sturdier of the two."

Mary stepped into view, dragging the severed heads of Smith and Ron. Her eyes glinted cold.

Ezra's voice, though quiet, carried across the battlefield.

"Miss Mary, if you would be so kind… kill the rest."

And then he advanced toward Henry.

————————-

Henry's fury erupted. He vanished with Blink, reappearing high above. Dark mana spiraled around him, blades of shadow and air flying down in waves. They shimmered black—then turned invisible.

Ezra stood below, silver pupils dilating. Extreme Insight bloomed.

To him, every hidden blade was as clear as candlelight. His steps flowed effortlessly, avoiding each strike as though he had rehearsed the battle long before it began.

Henry's snarl echoed. "Impossible!"

Ezra raised his hand, five silver blades of pure mana forming around him.

"Five swords should suffice."

The weapons flickered and vanished into invisibility—Kael's technique, perfected in Ezra's hands.

Henry's spears of darkness shot down like meteorites. Ezra met them head-on. Silver steel and spectral blades clashed with the force of thunder. The ground split, snow vaporized, and trees shattered into splinters.

Each exchange left Henry bleeding, wounds multiplying. Ezra remained untouched.

"Surely you have more than this?" Ezra asked softly, his tone courteous, even encouraging. "It would be terribly anticlimactic otherwise."

Then Ezra leapt.

The moon crowned him in silver light. His blade, gleaming like judgment, descended.

Henry screamed, forcing a barrier of shadow.

Ezra's strike split it cleanly. The ground erupted in a crater, snow blasted into vapor.

When the dust settled, Henry staggered, blood pouring from his chest. His eyes were wide with disbelief.

Ezra stood above him, sword dripping silver light, his aura suffocating. Calmly, politely, he inclined his head.

"My apologies. You fought bravely… but I did warn you I dislike wasting time."

The forest was no longer a forest. It was ruins.

————————-

The instant Ezra's calm command fell—

"Miss Mary, if you would be so kind… kill the rest."

—eighteen pairs of crimson eyes locked on her.

The vampires didn't hesitate. Their boots struck the snow in eerie unison as they snapped into formation. Crimson mana threads linked them together like a spider's web, converging on the Rank 4 in the center.

Mary blinked.

"Oh come on, already with the formation magic? Do you all rehearse this in your coffin bunk beds or something?"

The Rank 4's voice boomed. "Circle of Blood—commence!"

The snow lit up with runes, a crimson lattice blazing outward. Blood lances shot toward Mary in synchronized volleys.

Mary's eyes widened, and her hands blurred.

"Hydro Shield!"

A dome of swirling water surged up. The first wave smashed against it, bursting into mist. The second followed. Then the third.

Her shield groaned, rippling like glass under a hammer.

Mary gritted her teeth. "I said I could stall you, not audition for target practice!"

The shield cracked. She cursed, slamming her staff into the ground.

"Fine! You want water? You get water!"

The snow beneath their feet liquefied instantly, flooding the field. With a twist of her wrist, the water surged upward in a spiral.

"Flooding Spiral!"

A column of water coiled like a snake, sweeping three vampires clean off their feet and slamming them into the trees. Their screams cut short as they hit the ground.

Mary smirked. "Hah! How do you like—"

"Stabilize!" the Rank 4 barked.

The remaining vampires reformed seamlessly, their lattice flaring brighter. The next volley wasn't lances—it was a giant orb of fused fire and blood, descending like a miniature sun.

Mary's face drained of color.

"…That is not fair."

She spun both arms, dragging every droplet of water into a towering wave.

"Torrent Breaker!"

The crash shook the entire clearing. Water and fire collided, exploding into steam. Mary was thrown back, coughing, her hair plastered to her face.

"Ugh—great. Now I look like a drowned rat." She spat out a mouthful of snow and glared at the still-advancing vampires.

The Rank 4 sneered. "Pathetic magician. You cannot hold us."

Mary's eye twitched. "Excuse you? Pathetic? Listen here, you gothic cheerleader rejects—"

She spun her staff with both hands, and the snow around her began to melt in a perfect circle. The mist thickened, blades of water forming around her in a spinning ring.

"High Art—Aqua Dominion!"

Dozens of water blades shot forward, slashing through the formation. Sparks flew as crimson barriers strained under the onslaught. Several Rank 1s stumbled, coughing blood.

Mary planted her staff into the snow, panting.

"Pathetic, huh? That was me being polite. You haven't even seen me angry yet."

The vampires hissed, reforming again. Another volley of crimson mana surged toward her. Mary groaned, rolling her shoulders.

"Ten minutes, Ezra said… Ten minutes! Does he think I'm running a daycare here?"

She braced herself, water shields spinning like whirling discs as the crimson barrage descended.

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