Warm up Banter

The two terrifying auras clash in the castle's main hall and create a loud piercing sound while stirring up strong winds.

Everyone but the two sources are forced to their knees as the room seems to shake from the collision of the two invisible forces of will fighting for supremacy over the other.

Juniper's flames filling the entrance shrink and cower from the pressure generated by the conflicting forces colliding in the hall.

Taking the opportunity, the shadows who have grown even darker encroach upon the weakened fire and drown it out till it is completely extinguish.

Feeling the opposing force pushing back against his released aura, Dracula had to admit that this foe could pose a problem to the current him, after all he is far from his peak.

He hasn't fed in months and in turn grown steadily weaker.

That combined with his less than healthy state of mind is impacting his strength greatly.

But despite that, he can't help but feel relieved.

'I don't feel the suppression of rank. So, she definitely isn't a high-rank demon but a middle or low-rank instead…' The old vampire thinks to himself.

The moth on the other hand felt her heart jump in surprise and excitement when the dark aura washed over her and pushed down on both her body and mind.

Only when she rose to the challenge and released her conquerors haki, pushing back the pressure weighting down on her did she remember that this foe is currently not even at his peak.

'Bloody hell, if he's this terrifying in his current state already, how fucking strong is going to be at his peak?' Eager to see how this confrontation will evolve, she lowers her spear and smacks the butt end onto the ground.

*Thumb!*

"I am Juniper Actias. I have come here to challenge you, king of vampires, and claim your castle as my own." Introducing herself and her goal, the moth observes the old vampire's reaction while still grinning widely.

Scowling at her words, Dracula feels anger rising in his chest.

"Oh, is that so? You came here? Into my home, to fight ME! And just TAKE! What is MINE?!" Uttering the words with barely contained rage, the king of vampires, infuriated by the demonesses audacity to spout such disrespectful claims right to his face, balls his fists tightly enough to draw blood.

Staring her down with clenched jaw, he takes a moment before releasing a deep breath, calming himself and unclenching his hands.

"Those are some bold claims, especially coming from a mere low-rank demon." His words gain a raised eyebrow from Juniper.

Indeed, he had confirmed that the creature currently facing him is in fact a low-rank demon… despite the strength she had displayed that seems to be quite disproportionated to her supposed rank.

The reason why he was sure of her rank is her smell.

Not the smell of all the gore and human remains stuck to her, but the smell of multiple corrupt and dark bloodlines mixing and mingling with each other as they flow through her veins.

He knew for a fact that one of the core requirements for a demon of the abyss to reach middle-rank is to purify their bloodline till only one remained and then awaken it.

But this demon in front of him had the smell of multiple different one, meaning that she's still a low rank demon despite her apparent power.

"Oh? You can tell? That is rather unusual…" She asks back curious before a look of realization flashed across her face and quickly turns into a smug smirk.

"So that's how you became a vampire." Using her free pair of limbs, she smacks her palm with a fist before pointing a finger at him.

"You used the blood of an abyss demon for the transformation, didn't you? He had to be at least middle-rank, maybe even high-rank in order to turn you into what you are right now. You probably also fished for some more information about the abyss and its inhabitants while at it, right?" The demonic moth says, confident in her deduction.

Snorting at this, Dracula speaks up with a voice that had a thick undertone of mockery.

"Your guess is close. I indeed used the blood of your kin for my transformation centuries ago, but that blood wasn't given willingly or under the effects of a contract. Your kind tends to be quite arrogant, which makes it easy enough to trap them if you are smart and knowledgeable enough." Accepting his words with a simple nod, the moth smirks before shaking her head.

"True true, the number of demons with some actual brains in their thick skulls is shockingly low compared to the overall massive population." Chuckling at her own word, Juniper fixes her gaze back on the tall dark figure in front of the throne.

"But, unluckily for you, not only are you currently dealing with one of them, but you also have the misfortune of facing something that should not be compared to all those common fuckers skulking about in that shithole of embers and brimstone." Raising the index finger of each free hand and the one holding the whip, she channels her magic power to create a representation of each element she could currently control at their tips.

"If you really know as much as you claim to, then you should be aware that normal low-rank demons rely on their powerful bodies and innate abilities, with only the oldest and most powerful ones really smart enough to be seen as anything but beasts." Pointing all three fingers at the king of vampires, Juniper's grin turns smug.

"But here I am, wielding magic. Something my peers only manage to get into contact with once they purify their bloodline and acquire a magic circuit. So, a word of warning before I'm going to kick your ass old man. Do not lump me together with the rest of the abyss, they can't even begin to measure up to what I am to become!" She declares before twisting her magic power output to a hundred.

The little flame, icicle and tornado in front of her pointing fingers explode forth, rushing at Dracula before his throne and transforming into a blazing inferno, shower of frosty spears and cutting winds that increase the flames heat even more and accelerate the spears to truly terrifying degrees.

Isaac and the other vampires in the hall could only watch in awe and fear as the moth's showcase of magical prowess rush over their lowered heads.

*ROOOOOOAAARR!* *BANG! BANG! BANG!*

The area where Dracula and his throne stood gets flooded by fire before thick ice spears slam through the flames into their target.

"Kekekeke *clack* *clack* Come on~, let's stop this nonsensical chatter and get down to real business." Juniper says crackling to the smoke cloud that formed around the throne.

"Fine." Came the raspy voice from within before a strong gust of wind disperses the dust, revealing the cocoon of inky shadows punctured with ice spears.

Curiously sizing up the black mass that managed to block her attacks, the moth discreetly fires up [Focus] and uses her sense for magic power honed over the battle against the trio and her studies of magic to try and get an understanding of it.

Without a sound the solid looking black material seems to liquify and collapse onto the ground like ink, seeping back into the shadows on the floor and letting the spears that were stuck in it clatter onto the ground.

Standing in the exact same location as before, the king of vampires meets his foes gaze with a frown on his face.

He begrudgingly accepts that what this demoness said was indeed truthful.

She might be a low-rank demon the standards of her kin, but if it comes to power, she can easily compete with most mid-ranks going by the attack just now.

"Everyone, leave." He orders without averting his eyes from Juniper.

Straining his aura a bit more, the old vampire shields the people between him and the moth from the effects of the clashing wills that haven't ceased to fight for supremacy since they were released.

This allowed the cowering vampires, Forgemaster and his creations, to stand up again.

Looking uncertain at their king and master, the lot hesitates.

After a few second, Isaac speaks up.

"No, I will stand with you!" He says and the gathered night-creatures shakily growl and hiss in agreement, following their creators will despite the fear that the demoness had stricken into them with her haki.

The frown on the face of the ancient creature of the night lessens slightly before growing cold and hard like stone again.

"I appreciate your loyalty my friend, but this isn't a fight you will be able to participate in." Dracula says as his eyes stay unblinkingly fixed.

Gritting his teeth, the Forgemaster turns to look at the vampire soldiers and council members around him.

None of them had stepped up and offered the same support to their supposed master and king, instead they have already begun to retreat to the base of the stairs leading up to the corridor behind the throne.

'God damn cowards.' He thinks angrily, despising how little backbone all these century old monsters displayed in the face of danger.

"Isaac, go. I will be alright." Dracula's voice reached the humans ears, and with grim resolution, the Forgemaster decides to trust his old friend's decision.

Making his way over to the stairs, he joins the others in their retreat.

Having ignored the entire exchange in favour of studying the unfamiliar form of shadow magic that the old vampire has used, Juniper blinks a couple of times before glancing at the retreating bunch and debating in her mind.

'Hm, should I let them leave? … … It really doesn't matter, the only person of interest other than Dracula is Isaac, and even if he decides to flee, I can just use my transmission mirrors to find him again.' Deciding to leave the addons be, the moth instead raises the spear in her hand again and lowers herself into a crouch.

"Good~, with them out of the way, let's get this started!? Laughing excitedly, she kicks off the ground and leaps at the looming creature of the night standing tall in front of his throne.