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Chapter 234 – The Hunt Begins
Chapter 234 – The Hunt Begins
The air was heavy with tension.
Azrael stood at the edge of the ruined castle, his crimson cloak billowing in the cold night wind. The scent of blood still clung to the air, remnants of the fallen Azareth Nocturne. His death had sent shockwaves through the vampire aristocracy, and the Elders of Valefor would not sit idly by.
But Azrael wasn’t waiting for them.
He was coming for them.
His next target: Elder Varian Nightbane—one of the deadliest of the Five Elders, a warlord whose name alone made vampires tremble.
Azrael’s silver eyes glowed under the moonlight.
Tonight, the hunt continued.
A Fortress of Shadows
Varian Nightbane resided in Blackthorn Keep, an ancient citadel deep within the Ashen Highlands.
It was a fortress of horrors, surrounded by mist-choked valleys and towering obsidian walls laced with forbidden magic.
Only the most elite warriors of Valefor’s vampire clans guarded this stronghold.
To reach Varian, Azrael would have to cut through an army.
He welcomed the challenge.
A Lone Hunter Against an Army
Azrael moved like a phantom, weaving through the towering black trees that lined the road to Blackthorn Keep.
Ahead, dozens of vampire sentries patrolled the outer perimeter, their golden eyes scanning the darkness for intruders.
They never saw him coming.
Azrael appeared behind the first guard, his dagger slitting the man’s throat in a single, fluid motion.
Before the others could react, he vanished into the shadows.
A flicker of movement—
Another throat cut.
Then another.
The vampires barely had time to scream before their bodies hit the ground.
Azrael’s daggers dripped red.
The alarm had not yet sounded.
But the real fight was about to begin.
Breaking the Gates
Azrael emerged from the treeline, standing before the massive, iron-forged gates of Blackthorn Keep.
The guards atop the walls finally noticed him.
"Intruder!" one shouted.
The air buzzed with tension.
A second later, the entire fortress erupted into chaos.
The gates creaked open, and out poured dozens of vampire warriors, armed with enchanted weapons and clad in obsidian-black armor.
Their leader, a towering vampire with glowing crimson eyes, sneered at Azrael.
"You should have stayed in the shadows, assassin."
Azrael grinned.
"You should have stayed asleep."
And then—
He attacked.
The First Clash
Azrael darted forward, his movements a blur of speed and precision.
His daggers flashed in the moonlight, slicing through armor and flesh alike.
The first warrior lunged—
Azrael sidestepped, driving a dagger into his heart before twisting it with brutal efficiency.
A second warrior swung a broadsword—
Azrael caught it between his daggers, twisting the blade aside before severing the man's throat.
Blood sprayed across the stone courtyard.
The rest charged.
And the true battle began.
A Storm of Blades
The warriors attacked in waves, their weapons cutting through the cold night air.
Azrael moved like a shadow, weaving between strikes, his daggers striking like viper fangs.
One opponent aimed for his back—
Azrael twisted, catching the blade between his fingers before plunging his dagger into the man’s gut.
Another warrior rushed from the left—
Azrael ducked, slicing across the knees, bringing the enemy crashing down before finishing him with a single, brutal stab.
The battle raged across the courtyard.
Steel clashed.
Sparks flew.
Blood painted the ground.
But Azrael was unstoppable.
The once-mighty defenders of Blackthorn Keep fell like insects.
And soon—
Only one enemy remained.
The Executioner Appears
A figure stepped forward, pushing past the bodies of his fallen comrades.
This vampire was different.
He was massive, clad in obsidian-plated armor, his gauntlets etched with crimson runes.
On his back, he carried a greatsword as large as a man.
His eyes burned with ancient fury.
"So you are the one who killed Azareth Nocturne," the warrior growled.
Azrael narrowed his eyes.
"And who are you supposed to be?"
The vampire smirked.
"My name is Lucian Nightfang. Captain of Elder Varian’s guard. And your executioner."
Azrael chuckled.
"You can try."
Lucian’s greatsword ignited with black flames.
He lunged—
And the battle exploded.
A Duel of Monsters
Lucian’s sword crashed down, shattering the stone beneath Azrael as he narrowly dodged sideways.
The impact alone sent shockwaves through the battlefield.
Azrael countered, his daggers flashing toward Lucian’s throat—
But the vampire blocked with unnatural speed, twisting his massive sword mid-swing.
The sheer force sent Azrael skidding back.
Lucian grinned.
"You’re fast. But not fast enough."
Azrael wiped a drop of blood from his lip.
"I’ve barely started."
And then—
They clashed again.
Unrelenting Fury
Lucian fought like a beast unleashed, his greatsword carving through the air with deadly precision.
Each swing was devastating, shaking the ground with its sheer power.
Azrael dodged, his reflexes barely keeping up.
One mistake—
One misstep—
And he’d be split in half.
But Azrael had fought monsters before.
And he wasn't losing here.
He sidestepped another brutal swing, leaping onto a broken column before diving down with his daggers aimed for Lucian’s exposed neck.
Lucian blocked just in time, but Azrael twisted mid-air, landing behind him—
And sliced deep into his back.
Lucian roared in pain.
But he did not fall.
Instead—
He laughed.
"Not bad. But you’ll need more than that."
Azrael's eyes narrowed.
And then—
Lucian’s body began to change.
The Monster Awakens
Lucian’s form expanded, his muscles twisting, bones snapping as dark energy consumed him.
His armor melted into his skin, transforming into a monstrous exoskeleton.
His fingers lengthened into claws.
His greatsword merged with his arm.
His eyes—
Burned like a dying sun.
"Now, assassin," Lucian snarled, his voice distorted and inhuman.
"Let’s see how long you last against the real me."
Azrael gripped his daggers.
This was no longer a duel.
This was a battle against a monster.
And the real fight was just beginning.