Chapter 48: Imposter Revealed

*BAM*

Abraham barely stepped through the entrance when a force blasted him back, hurling him into a heap of rotten flesh.

*PFFFT*

Ricky burst into laughter as he watched Abraham sink into the rotten flesh, while Father Sebastian called out in concern.

"ABRAHAM-"

"Wait Father, he did say he would handle this after all." Ricky replied in a condescending tone as he saw the disgusted face of Abraham claw his way out of the meat pile.

"If it isn't the notorious Abraham van Helsing, the blood bag that has haunted my ignorant father for the last century." A call resounded from the entrance but Abraham's disgust wasn't on being covered in the pungent flesh, but at the being who threw him into it.

"Xarus Tepes." Abraham walked back into the entrance before Ricky and Father Sebastion followed him to see the sight of the vampire masscarding as Dracula himself, his son Xarus Tepes.

"I am very honored that you remembered me, but alas, I shouldn't be surprised since my notoriety is as vast as your reputation after all." Xarus arrogantly spoke, adorned in a shining orange pendant.

Xarus had a very thin frame as his deathly pale skin cast an eerie glow while his spiky black hair stood tall while wearing the clothes of a British noble.

"Who is he?" Ricky leaned over to ask Father Sebatison who also leaned in.

"He's one of Dracula's son though he is quite weak-"

"WEAK, A MERE HUMAN DARES TO CALL ME, XARUS TEPES THIRD SON OF DRACULA, WEAK!" Xarus roared, his eyes strained as the amulet radiated in a bright light before that familiar gord was levitated above him.

*BOOM*

*CRACK*

In a split second, Ricky felt the danger and put up his barrier right as a blood spear amplified to a frightening degree and was shot at him at unparalleled speeds.

The blood spear slammed into Ricky, creating a medium-sized crack in his barrier as Ricky let out a haggard breath, the force of the impact clearly taking its toll.

'Full counter'

*BOOOOM*

*BAM*

The blood spear was then hurled back at Xarus with doubled strength, trailing a large cloud of dust in its wake.

"Hmmmmmm, that is very troubling." The dust cleared to reveal Xarus with only a slight incision of his cheek which quickly healed up.

"I suppose I didn't see it wrong within the eyes of my minion, you can really repel magic attacks back at the user with twice the power, very interesting." Xarus brushed the dust from his clothes before hovering back above the coffin.

"What's with a sudden change in behavior-" Ricky asked, trying to assess what was happening as the atmosphere suddenly switched.

"You fool, do you think I'd be distraught by the mere words of a lowly priest?" Xarus scoffed as Ricky scrunched his eyebrows.

"I simply lured you into the train of thought that I was retaliating out of anger to assess your unique magic." Xarus admitted, looking at his fingers while Ricky suddenly became on guard.

"KID GET READY-"

"But can it redirect regular physical attacks?" Xarus curiously asked, however this time, he was right in front of Ricky shield.

*BAM*

Xarus collided his fist into the barrier with a mind numbing force, Ricky's eyebrow twitched from the strain as a slight sonic wave rippled out in result of the collision.

"Hmmmmmm." Xarus rubbed his chin while not even giving Abraham nor Father Sebastion the time of day as if them preparing for their attacks weren't a threat to him at all.

"Let's see something, shall we?" Xarus disappeared and reappeared next to the ten black men while using his magic to lift them into the air.

"RICKY, DON'T DROP THE BARRIER!" Abraham commanded while Father Sebastian controlled his spell with another agenda.

"DROP THE BARRIER RICKY, WE MUST SAVE THEM!" Father Sebastion yelled, causing Ricky to grit his teeth as he suddenly saw the ten men thrown at him.

"DAMMIT!" Ricky yelled since he still wanted to be in Father Sebastion good faith, choosing him while slightly dropping the barrier as Xarus dashed upon throwing the men at them.

Ricky then waited for the men to cross a certain threshold before creating a thin wall on the other side of them right as Xarus collided into it.

"Oh I see, you can control these barriers into different forms instead of a mere circle." Xarus nodded his head, deducing more of his powers upon seeing it firsthand for the second time. 

Xarus then backed up in the literal next second as Ricky formed mental spikes and shot them forward at Xarus who easily dodged them.

Although Xarus couldn't actually see them, his ability to perceive his surroundings was heighted to such degree's that he could sense them.

"Tsk, tsk, you still have a long way to go." Xarus easily dodged the attempts as he turned his pessimistic gaze towards Ricky who was smirking.

"What are you-SHIELD!" Xarus asked only to suddenly cast out a spell upon seeing Abrahm crushing a vial.

Abraham couldn't wield magic from within, but he could manipulate any magic in the air. The vial he had just crushed released a surge of dense magic, which he quickly seized control of.

Channeling the magic into his hands, a bright light suddenly erupted as Abraham crushed the supreme holy water in his grasp to combine the two forces in a terrifying holy spell.

In response, Xarus enveloped himself in layer after layer of blood shields, preparing for the impending clash.

"PURIFYING EMBRACE!" Abraham roared as the concoction he seemingly brewed formed into a beautiful angel.

It didn't show any malice when gazing at the unholy Xarus, but instead, held out its golden arms and took the blood shields into its embrace.

No distaste could be deciphered or hatred could be seen on the angel's face but instead it wept in sorrow, tears for this being set on the wrong path as it started to purify it.

Abraham fell to his knees from the strain, the tips of his finger's peeling from the backlash since a being without any magic trying to control something with such a vast amount of magic, had no protection against the brunt of the spell.

"ABRAHAM!" Father Sebastion, after sending the last of the enslaved men out the doors, rushed to his friend's aide while immediately grabbing onto him.

The last enslaved man didn't leave immediately and instead, he glanced back at Ricky with a look of solemn gratitude before slowly limping out of the door.

Ricky on the other hand, was starting to pull out his one-time use items since his mind was still blaring signaling that this probably wasn't enough.

Father Sebastion shared in the strain as his magic pool was all but drained, yet sought in an attempt to save Abrham's life.

The light ceased in the surroundings and Father Sebastion was the one who collapsed while the exhausted Abraham tiredly caught him.

The fingers holding Father Sebastion had the tips, including his nails, completely ripped off with his bleeding flesh staining his priestly robes. 

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" The maniacal laughter of Xarus let out as burn marks littered his being but it was only smaller regions of his body, showing no fatal harm.

However much to his pain, they weren't going away as his healing factor couldn't heal something so pure without help from outside dark forces.

"Don't tell me this was what you were to use on my father?" Xarus covered his face in ridicule as Abraham's expression sank at only him having a couple burn marks.

"You only withstood it because of that amulet-"

"Oh come on Abraham, we both know that those words are false." Xarus shook his head, hovering in the air while wagging his finger as Ricky focused intently at the side while they conversed.

Alexander quickly rushed to his shoulder, Ricky squinting as if focusing on a certain area.

"Maybe twenty years ago when you actually had your core could you have killed me, but let's face it Abraham, your age has finally caught up with you." Xarus pointed at him with a smirk as Alexander whispered in Ricky's ears.

"No that's-"

"Now don't worry, after I've brutally murdered these two before your very eyes, I'll make you into my pet ghoul where you'll serve in my army against my foolish father." Xarus laughed in excitement at this project as Abraham flinched.

"You would go against your lord-" Abraham asked, knowing the hierarchical nature of the Vampire race.

"HE IS NOT MY LORD-"

*Ahem*

"Dracula merely f*cked some whore to create me along with a spell, he is not my master for it." Xarus corrected as he stuck out his hand.

*SPALT*

Then to Xarus' astonishment and Abrahram's, invisible spikes impaled his being from all sides as Ricky had been controlling his mental barrier to wholly wrap around Xarus before curling them into various spears.

*COUGH*

Xarus coughed up a large mouthful of blood as Abrham turned his head towards the already celebrating Ricky.

"YOU IDIOT, YOU-" 

"Should've gone for my head." Xarus suddenly teleported using magic in front of Ricky.

*BAM*

*COUGH*

*CRACK*

*SPLAT*

Ricky's instincts screamed danger, but before he could react, Xarus's fist slammed into his chest with a bone-crushing force. 

The impact shattered all of Ricky's ribs in an instant, sending a shockwave of pain through his body. 

Blood gushed from Ricky's mouth in a huge, crimson arc as the force of the blow hurled him backward. 

His body sailed through the air, crashing through the entrance and landing outside with a heavy thud, leaving him gasping for breath and writhing in agony.

"KID!" Abraham screeched in despair, watching the horrifying sight of Ricky's chest caving in as Xarus surprisingly didn't chase after him but arrogantly looked back at Abraham.

"Now where was I? Oh yes, I'm going to slaughter your little comrades in front of you then make you into a ghoul." Xarus elegantly walked over to Abrahm and pushed him aside while holding a drained and passed out Father Sebastion over Abraham.

"Young Ricky, YOUNG RICKY!" Alexander, who had barely hung onto Ricky's shoulder, patted his summoner's cheek.

"No, no, no, no!" Alexander yelled in immense guilt since the entire idea of attacking Xarus the way Ricky did was his idea.

Though neither of them knew that the only way to kill a noble vampire was to cut off their head or put them into an animated state with a wooden stake.

However Ricky was the one to pay the price of their foolish mistake while Alexander could only helplessly watch. 

*CRACK*

Then in the next second, Ricky's accelerated healing began to take effect. 

His shattered ribs slowly cracked back into place, each bone painfully realigning with a series of grating sounds. 

As the last rib settled, Ricky let out a small, relieved breath from his dried lips, his body still trembling from the ordeal.

"Oh god~" Ricky whined out, grabbing his caved chest which was slowly healing in such a grotesque way back to its original formation.

Though the healing process wasn't instantaneous and might take thirty minutes to an hour, Ricky didn't want to move. 

Alexander, however, was already jumping on his shoulder, not allowing for him to wallow in such a defeated state.

"Young Ricky, you must stand against the mighty foe of pain and reclaim the glory that was stolen from you!" Alexander quickly informed him though RIcky waved his hand.

"I give up." Ricky said in a painful tone, shaking his head to dissuade Alexander though he only infuriated him.

"IF YOU GIVE UP THEN YOU'LL DIE, DO WANT TO DIE!" Alexander slapped Ricky's face though it barely made a dent though they did have merit.

"Of course not, I wanted to kill that bastard but it's just really hard-OW!" Ricky slightly whined only to have Alexander poke his cheek with a small toothpick-like spear.

"If you die here, then everything you've accomplished will be for nothing." Alexander spoke to Ricky with a serious tone, causing Ricky to fall silent.

*Sigh* 

'Yeah, he's right. I've wasted too much time preparing to just give up now.' Ricky thought, as Alexander's favorability toward him subtly increased.

Alexander's Favorability: 58 (+33)

"Exactly, now get up so we can hatch our surprise attack!" Alexander, reaching above fifty, could hear Ricky's directed thoughts toward him as he sighed.

"Fine, let's get this over with already."

"ARGH!" Father Sebastion let out a pained grunt as Xarus held his neck in front of Abraham who was clawing at his feet.

"LET HIM GO YOU BASTARD!" Abraham roared, his eyes furious while scratching at the vampire's ankle.

"Not until I've tortured him for at least another ten minutes-really?" Xarus was about to make him suffer even more until he caught a flaming arrow without even looking.

Turning towards the side, Xarus saw the angered Ricky yelling at a small gerbil covered in ancient greek armor.

"You said it would work!" Ricky yelled while Alexander scratched his head since his surprise attacks always worked like that.

*BOOM*

The arrow suddenly exploded in Xarus' hand as he instantly flew back and let go of Father Sebastian as Abraham caught him.

"SEE!" Alexander pointed after the arrow conveniently exploded in Xarus' hands as Ricky scoffed, drawing his bow back once more.

"That was simply convenient, nothing more!" Ricky pulled the arrow back once the smoke cleared to a clearly furious Xarus.

"How are you alive!" Xarus said though his question was answered after seeing Ricky's chest slowly inflating up as he scoffed.

"Luck?" Ricky tilted his head, firing the arrow as Xarus dodged it only for it to suddenly turn into a sentient plant and wrap itself around him.

"What is this?!" Xarus fought to break free, but the more he struggled, the fiercer the plant's grip became. 

"What are you doing young Ricky, the plan-" Alexander, who had clearly laid out a detailed plan, saw Ricky completely take it off the tracks of reason.

"Your plans keep getting my ass kicked, we're going with my plan." Ricky grabbed the one off item, Stormcaller's Conduit, and held it up into the sky.

*BOOM*

A burst of lightning exploded into the air, forcing Xarus to halt his movements as he squinted at the sudden thunderclouds forming ominously above him.

As Xarus stopped moving, the sentient plant loosened its grip and fell off him, revealing its trap-like nature which was similar to a Chinese finger trap.

Xarus tried to lunge at Ricky, but a blast of lightning crashed down on him, sending him flying backward as a trail of lightning strikes followed his every movement.

Ricky in this time, was aiming his bow at Xarus, though he was horribly missing every shot as the vampire was too fast for him to comprehend.

"Focus young Ricky, find the trail-"

"I AM FOCUSING, BUT IT'S HARD WHEN THERE'S SOMEONE WHISPERING IN MY EAR!" Ricky yelled as he released his arrow, which burst into sparkling fireworks as the explosion created a wide area effect, striking Xarus directly.

"Young Ricky, fly up!" Alexander yelled, and Ricky swiftly used his psychic powers to control a pillar, launching himself upward just as Xarus's fist crashed down where he had been standing.

Ricky's eyes gleamed as he swiftly drew back his bow as the arrow shot through the air with lightning speed, striking Xarus in the shoulder.

"You coward, fight me like a man!" Xarus yelled in frustration as Ricky's tactics grew increasingly irksome. 

Ricky began forming invisible walkways and sprinted away along them, further aggravating the noble vampire.

"No!" Ricky yelled back, pulling back his bow and arrow then shooting it at Xarus.

Meanwhile, Abraham carried the unconscious Father Sebastian on his shoulder as he glanced at the chaotic scene, then turned his gaze to his only true friend in the world, feeling the weight of the moment.

Abraham thought it was a high-class vampire, but he never would have guessed it was one of Dracula's children as he knew Dracula kept them all on a tight leash.

Xarus needed his entire focus which he couldn't give with his friend in this state, deciding to make a decision that might forever haunt him.

"Kid, I know it's a lot but it's up to you." Abraham shamelessly called out as he retreated from the temple, while Ricky readied his bow and took another shot.

In essence, Ricky was pushing himself to the limit, transforming the room into a labyrinth. 

He filled it with various walls and psychic constructs, all designed to frustrate and disorient Xarus.

*DINK*

Xarus tried to dodge to the side, only to smack his face into an invisible wall as the arrow morphed into a flaming net that covered him.

"Wait, what do you mean-" Ricky just registered Abraham's words, realizing that the man was completely ditching him.

*BOOM*

"That's it." Xarus's deadly voice rang out, causing Ricky's head to throb as he winced as the structures surrounding Xarus were completely eviscerated.

Abraham saw this state, seeing Xarus use the power of the amulet to forcefully propel himself to a higher level though Abraham merely turned away from the scene.

Biting his lip before shamelessly limping out of the entrance with Father Sebastian in his arms while leaving parting words.

"Sorry kid."

"YOU BASTARD-'' Ricky's eyes reddened as he watched Abraham flee. 

But just as he prepared to drag him back, a sharp pain blared through his head once more.

"You will fall here, but you've proven useful so I'll reanimate you into my servant." Xarus spoke as the gourd hovering next to him started pouring out blood from it.

Ricky readied himself, every muscle tensed for the inevitable clash, but Xarus shifted tactics, his eyes narrowing with malevolent intent. 

The blood swirling around him, a dark and ominous tide, surged with newfound aggression. 

It lashed out violently though not directly at Ricky, slamming into the surrounding barriers within the room with a relentless fury. 

The barriers trembled under the assault, their protective sheen cracking and warping as the blood's vicious strikes sought to break through. 

Ricky watched, his head pounding, as Xarus's new strategy unfolded with a dangerous elegance.

"Argh." Ricky stumbled, reeling from the psychic backlash as Xarus methodically dismantled the weaker barriers. 

He struggled to mount a full counter, his focus fractured by the intensity of the assault but before he could fully react, Xarus appeared suddenly before him.

Xarus's arm, suddenly brimming with explosive power, hurled itself toward Ricky as he managed to raise his barrier in time, but the impact was so forceful that a sonic boom resonated through the room, shaking the very air around them.

*BOOM*

*CRACK*

Ricky's nose and mouth bled out, though he forced himself to draw the bow back as the vampire suddenly dodged left only to go into his foot.

*BAM*

Ricky, who had been attacking solely with his bow, seized a moment of opportunity and with a swift motion, he drove his foot into Xarus's chin as the force of the kick sent the vampire's face snapping to the side.

"Did you really think-" Xarus chuckled, slowly turning back to Ricky with a sinister grin. 

But before he could fully refocus, Ricky hurled the vial he had stolen from Abraham at him. 

The vial shattered upon impact, releasing a highly potent holy water that caused Xarus to screech in pain

"AHHHHHHHHH!" Xarus screeched in agony, desperately covering his face as the substance caused his features to slowly melt away. 

Ricky, still coughing up blood, grimaced in pain but steadied himself, drawing his bow once more as he prepared for the next move.

"JUST F*CKING DIE!" Ricky yelled at Xarus, his voice filled with fury as he unleashed a flurry of arrows. 

One by one, the arrows struck the vampire, each impact driving him back and intensifying the battle's chaos.

"ENOUGH!"

*THOOM*

A wave of red shot out around Xarus, the arrows breaking and dismantling into nothing as the hateful vampire looked back at Ricky.

*BAM*

Ricky's eyes widened as he saw Xarus's fist slam into his own jaw, the vampire's speed having increased dramatically. 

*BAM* 

The force of the punch resonated through Ricky, causing the impact to register painfully in his ears as his jaw dislocated from the sheer force, almost tearing away from his face.

Skidding across the ground, Ricky struggled to regain his footing but before he could recover, the vampire appeared on the other side and delivered a powerful kick to Ricky's stomach, sending him flying upwards.

*BOOM*

*COUGH*

Ricky was propelled upward, crashing into the ceiling with a jarring impact as the force expelled all the air from his lungs, leaving him gasping. 

His jaw wobbled with the force of the blow, adding to the disorienting agony as his body peeled off the ceiling and fell flat against the ground.

*Huff*

*Huff*

*Huff*

"I apologize for my uncouth behavior, but you're immensely frustrating." Xarus adjusted himself, confiding in Ricky who ground.

*Crack*

"I get that a lot." Ricky, cracking his jaw in place, looked up at the vampire regaining his previous deminor of elegance.

"Focus young Ricky, we can still claim victory!" Alexander, unlike Abraham, stood by Ricky and faced death with a warrior's honor while tucked into his shirt pocket.

"You say that, but he's really kicking my ass." Ricky sighed, trying to get up only to stumble onto the floor as Xarus chuckled.

"You're a surprising fellow, I never expected to find such an unpolished jewel here, but it seems a lot of treasures lay within America." Xarus strolled around, Ricky trying to regain his footing as the vampire hovered above him.

*DINK*

*SIGH*

Xarus sighed in irritation at Ricky's persistent resistance, watching as the human below him coughed up blood. 

With renewed resolve, Xarus struck the barrier around Ricky again, shattering it with force. 

As the barrier crumbled, he saw Ricky pouring every ounce of his remaining energy into his defense, desperately striving to stave off imminent death.

"Really, what happened to turning me into a ghoul?" Ricky breathlessly coughed up a mouthful of blood, asking Xarus who shrugged at him.

"You frustrate me on par with my father, what can I say?" Xarus wanted to kill him as of now, flicking the barrier before walking backwards. 

"Any last words before I wipe you from existence itself?" Xarus curiously asked, Ricky letting out a sigh before managing to stand up.

"One question before I kill you." Ricky boldly proclaimed, pulling out a thimble and a vial from his inventory.

Xarus scoffed at this arrogance only seen in noble vampires, crossing his arms as the blood turned into thousands of weapons.

"Did you-"

*Whoosh*

Just as Ricky attempted to speak, Xarus took the opportunity to test him as he fired a small sliver of blood, no larger than a toothpick, striking dangerously close to Ricky's head. 

Xarus watched with a cold nod, assessing his opponent's reaction, seeing how Ricky didn't even comprehend it.

"I apologize." Xarus chuckled, seeing Ricky's frown and gesturing to him.

"I wanted to test whether you could reflect magical attacks beyond your comprehension. It seems I was correct in my thoughts. Now, feel free to continue." Xarus spoke and as he did, he began rising into the air, the swirling blood around him forming an ominous aura.

"Did you kill Rocco?" Ricky demanded, his voice edged with desperation as he tightened his resolve.

"Oh, humans. Such an unruly herd of sheep," Xarus responded with a boisterous laugh, dismissing Ricky's question with contempt as his tone dripped with disdain. 

His hands moved gracefully, orchestrating the blood into blades that began to cover the sky, a hauntingly beautiful display. 

Ricky, meanwhile, was fixated on a blue screen visible only to him as his eyes locked with a certain item.

"I've watched your kind build and destroy countless marvels with their own hands. The cycle is endless." Xarus' words trailed off point, seemingly forgetting Ricky's question entirely as the swords of pure, shimmering energy danced through the air, their movements both mesmerizing and deadly.

"It is only right that vampires should rule in this new age." Xarus declared, his voice filled with conviction. 

"My father clings to a world that has passed him by, expecting everything to fit neatly into place alongside him. But—"

"F*CKING HELL, DID YOU KILL ROCCO!" Ricky's roar cut through Xarus's monologue, his frustration boiling over as Xarus sighed, feigning ignorance. 

"Who are you referring to? Ah, yes, Rocco. He was a delightful dessert after my main course. A sweet treat for such an exquisite meal." Xarus finally finished his taunt as the blood fully formed into thousands of deadly weapons, each one a testament to his power and cruelty.

Xarus had been studying Ricky's counter very closely however when he observed Ricky deflecting those attacks, it was when he was visibly conscious that he was able to counter them by swinging at the attack.

"Ha~" Ricky let out a cynical laugh, wiping away the blood and gazing at the spell hovering above him.

"What is this anyways, why don't you face me down here like a man or whatever thing you are." Ricky asked, wanting to get him closer to use his last card but Xarus merely shrugged.

"I want to test my future cards against my father, you've frustrated me enough that I've decided to wipe you from existence itself." Xarus' actions were genuine since in the vampire's mind, he won.

Ricky's mind was pushed to its limits, and though the pain was excruciating, the bow's damage wasn't enough to finish Xarus off. 

The psychic attacks, while effective, couldn't deliver a killing blow fast enough because Xarus's barriers consistently intercepted them. 

Frustrated, Xarus decided to deploy one of his trump cards, the very ones he had been saving for his father as he resolved to use this devastating power to finally destroy Ricky.

"Now, give into death and be the stepping stone towards my future conquest." Xarus laughed, intoxicated by the surge of power he felt as the levels of strength he had never experienced before. 

The sheer intensity of the power exhilarated Xarus, amplifying his ruthless determination.

A thousand blood swords swirled around him, each one glowing with a menacing red plasma. 

They encircled Ricky, forming a deadly constellation. As they aligned, they poised to strike from all sides simultaneously, a relentless assault that promised no escape.

"THOUSAND BLOOD BARRAGE!" Xarus commanded as the weapon thrust themselves towards Ricky at unparalleled speeds.

Xarus's face lit up with pure ecstasy at the sight of the lone man standing in his way of complete and utter domination. 

He could already envision himself sitting on his father's throne, basking in the suffering of those he considered mere blood bags. 

As a thousand weapons descended upon Ricky, he looked up at Xarus with a calm smile and with a resolute grip, he crushed the vial in his hands.

"F-o-o-l." Xarus commented, but it seemed to be in slow motion as a colorful aurora borealis suddenly burst forth, creating an illusionary landscape of northern lights. 

The thousand blood projectiles hurtled toward Ricky at speeds that defied comprehension. 

Despite his perception of them in slow motion, their velocity remained astonishing as they slammed into his last line of defense, a final, fragile barrier encircling him. 

Each impact was a jarring shockwave, reverberating through his mind as he steeled himself against the relentless onslaught.

*COUGH*

*SPLAT*

However Ricky endured, feeling the impact of the thousand weapons piercing his mind, the strain causing him to vomit another mouthful of blood as he waited. 

Then upon registering the final projectile, he tiredly swiped his bow across his body as Xarus's eyes slowly widened in shock.

'N-No, how can this mere human have something that slows the flow of time?' Xarus thought, feeling a pang of helplessness as although his mind raced in real time, his body was unable to keep up with the relentless pace, trapped in a state of unyielding inertia.

"Full counter." 

Suddenly, a blinding flash erupted, engulfing the surroundings in a blinding light that seemed to consume all other colors. 

The brilliance was so intense that it temporarily blinded everyone present and when the light subsided, the air crackled with magic energy, and the thousand blood projectiles were seen shooting back towards Xarus with a ferocity that defied comprehension. 

The projectiles moved with double the speed and force, pushing Xarus's mind into overdrive as he frantically searched for a way to counter this imminent threat.

As time resumed its normal flow, the projectiles struck Xarus with a deafening impact as each projectile tore through his flesh yet his gaze remained firm.

*BOOOM*

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Xarus's body erupted with every ounce of magical power he could muster. 

A blinding red light surged forth, cutting through the chaos as it battled against the relentless onslaught of the thousand blood swords.

Then in another second, Xarus' burning body fell to the ground with a loud thud yet instead of eviscerating into dust, he slowly gazed up at Ricky.

*HUFF*

*HUFF*

*HUFF*

Both of them let out ragged breaths as the ground around them rumbled, and the tomb's ancient structure began to crack and groan. 

Ricky, barely conscious, bled from his eyes, mouth, nose, and ears, his vision locked on the charred form of Xarus. 

The vampire had been forced to unleash the full extent of his power, exploding outward from within his own body to prevent his spell from tearing him into thousands of pieces.

Each of them had reached their limit, yet both of them slowly managed to stumble to their feet.

"Why won't you JUST DIE!" Xarus yelled out at Ricky, black blood coughed up in the process.

"BECAUSE YOU KILLED MY FRIEND YOU D*CK!" Ricky yelled back, also coughing up some blood while limping towards the vampire.

Xarus didn't remain still; he limped forward, each step signaling new cracks to splinter through the crumbling tomb. 

The abandoned temple began to rumble violently, its structural integrity shattered by the spell Ricky had repelled. 

The damage not only left Xarus in a state of near destruction but also threatened to collapse the very surroundings that had once been a sanctuary.

However, even when the debris fell from the ceiling and came crashing into the ground, both these men were focused on finishing the fight they started.

Xarus swung a fist across his body, but Ricky ducked and retaliated by driving his own fist into Xarus's charred side. 

The force of the blow sent Xarus' body jerking to the side as Ricky immediately seized the opportunity.

Ricky followed up with a powerful punch to Xarus's jaw, causing the vampire to stumble back slightly.

Trying to capitalize on the opening, Xarus suddenly turned and drove his clawed hand into Ricky's stomach. 

His sharp nails dug deep into Ricky's flesh, tearing through muscle and sinew with brutal efficiency which made Ricky let out a pain groan.

"A human could never defeat a vampire, we are the supreme race-" Xarus hissed at Ricky, trying to grab his heart only for the supposed human to smash his forehead into his nose.

"Jesus f*cking christ, do you ever shut up!" Ricky yelled, kicking Xarus leg causing him to fall to one knee.

Ricky seized Xarus's spiky hair and yanked it downward into his knee as the force of the impact not only fractured Ricky's own knee but also shattered Xarus's teeth.

An arc of black blood shot out of Xarus' nose as he fell to the ground, feeling dizzy as Ricky pulled out a dagger.

This was one of the daggers of Tel Megiddo, the very same one he borrowed from Abraham that is said to be able to kill the antichrist.

"S-Stop-" Xarus covered his face with one hand, outstretching his other but Ricky only sneered.

*BAM*

Without hesitation, Ricky delivered a powerful kick to Xarus's face, the impact jarring the vampire, plunging him back into a hazy state. 

Ricky, reeling from the exhaustion and pain, stumbled over Xarus's crumpled form.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Xarus screeched out in pain, feeling the sacred dagger plunge in very specific spots all across his body.

"Young Ricky, what are you doing, cut off his head-"

"THIS IS FOR EDDY YOU F*CKING BASTARD!" Ricky, who had memorized Edward's hospital report at this point, started stabbing Xarus in all the places that made Edward paralyzed.

Edward was shot five times, each bullet striking him with brutal precision. 

In a relentless fury, Ricky drove the dagger into Xarus at each location where Edward had been hit, targeting every wound with cold determination.

"AHHHHHHHH!" Xarus screeched out, never feeling such pain in his life as Ricky flipped the vampire on his back.

*CRACK*

Xarus' screeches were breathless upon Ricky driving the dagger into his spine, fracturing his vertebrae.

Grabbing a fistful of Xarus's spiky hair once more, Ricky yanked him upright as he pressed the dagger firmly against the vampire's neck, the blade poised to deliver a lethal strike.

"And this is for Rocco." Ricky hatefully whispered but instead of cutting it in one fell swoop, Ricky started slowly cutting his head off.

Xarus flailed like a fish out of water, choking on his own black blood as his blood red pupils shrunk.

Trying to halt Ricky's advances, the effects of the dagger left him too weak to even overpower Ricky physically as he could only wait for his own death.

In a final, brutal gesture, Ricky placed his foot on Xarus's shoulder and yanked back with all his might. 

With a grotesque, wrenching motion, he tore the vampire's head from his body as the horrifying sound of blood splattering erupted, echoing through the crumbling tomb like a macabre symphony.

*Huff*

*Huff*

*Huff*

Ricky then turned Xarus to him, wanting this vampire's last sight to be the face of the man who had killed him.

Xarus's eyes, wide with shock and disbelief, locked onto Ricky, the source of his undoing while trying to comprehend how a mere human could have killed him.

Xarus could do nothing but watch helplessly as his entire body slowly turned into ash, until nothing remained.

*Dink*

The sun pendant dropped from where Xarus' body stood from before, rolling right beneath his feet as Ricky collapsed onto the ground.

*RUMBLE*

"Young Ricky, you are victorious-"

*COUGH*

*COUGH*

*SPLAT*

Mouthfuls of blood were coughed up by Ricky as his eyes were completely bloodshot, the heavy strain from the entire fight putting him into a near death state, barely clinging to life. 

Ricky had strained himself to the point where every movement felt agonizing as his muscles were literally torn with exhaustion, and he gasped for breath, pushing through the searing pain and fatigue that coursed through his body.

At this point, what kept him alive was his newfound healing ability, which worked to mitigate the rapid deterioration of his being.

However, while he would eventually heal, it would take time, time he didn't have at this current moment.

"Just go." Ricky defeatedly muttered out, gazing at the crumbling ceiling with blood and saliva dripping from the ends of his mouth.

"NEVER!" Alexander roared in defiance as cracks spiraled all across the ceiling.

"If you perish, then so shall I." Alexander stood firm on Ricky's shoulder, showing that he wouldn't let Ricky perish alone in his glorious moment.

The surroundings convulsed and he flashed a smile towards Alexander which showed the blood sticking to his pearly white teeth. 

"Well at least I have my trophy." Ricky whispered condescending words as he picked up the amulet.

Holding it in his shaky hands, he saw the bright orange jewel convulsing with a mysterious power as the chain that held it firm had a dead language encrypted onto it.

However even when it was over, the grief never faded but twisted the hatred in his heart even more when looking at the pile of dust that became Xarus.

Deep down, in the layers of his heart, Ricky truly thought he would feel better after killing Xarus after all he had done to him.

But now, with everything said and done, Ricky felt a profound emptiness. 

Having slain Dracula's son, he found himself more isolated than ever, his quest for revenge having done little to soothe the grief that enveloped him. 

The victory felt hollow, leaving him alone with his sorrow, without even the solace of vengeance to ease his pain.

*Huff*

*Huff*

*Huff*

"You did it!" A baffled yell rang out, Ricky side-eyeing the shout to the entrance though instead of a familiar sight of his friends or Abraham, it was the shopkeeper Elijah.

"A SAVIOR, YOUR TIME HAS NOT COME YET! SAVIOR YOU MUST HELP HIM!" Alexander quickly rejoiced before pointing Elijah to Ricky and even though he didn't understand Alexander, he limped towards Ricky.

"Do I know you?" Ricky asked in a tired voice, raising an eyebrow as Elijah stumbled right before him while picking him up.

"No, I'm just some random cat you saved back there." Elijah said with a chuckle, slinging Ricky's arm over his shoulder and started to help him out.

Unlike the other nine men who had been helped by Father Sebastian, Elijah, a shopkeeper and father, gazed back at the commotion with a growing resolve. 

To Ricky, Elijah was just a passing scene, an insignificant moment, but to Elijah, Ricky was someone who he couldn't help but hold respect for.

Madden, Dutch, and McGee had terrorized Elijah and his shop for years, yet no one had ever lifted a finger to help him. 

The madame had assisted occasionally, but when it came time to cough up bogus collections, no one had supported him, until Ricky had changed everything.

To Ricky, it was a simple way to change the club's ownership and increase revenue by letting everyone in. 

But to Elijah and the other residents of Harlem, it was like night and day. 

The change to Ricky was miniscule, but he had affected the community to such a degree that almost everyone in the neighborhood knew of his deeds.

Even when he was reduced to nothing more than a mere slave, Ricky had somehow come to his rescue. 

The depth of that gesture weighed heavily on him; he couldn't simply ignore such an act of salvation. 

He felt a profound sense of obligation, knowing that he had to acknowledge and repay the help that had been so freely given.

So when he saw Abraham carrying Father Sebastian away from the fight and Ricky standing alone, Elijah sprang forward.

To his awe, Elijah witnessed Ricky destroy the being that had enslaved him that he never thought possible from human hands.

In that moment, Elijah saw in Ricky the very thing he desired most, he saw a man who wasn't afraid to sacrifice himself for his own freedom.

*COUGH*

*SPLAT*

Ricky coughed up another heaping of blood, the toll of the battle evident on his body. 

As the tomb began collapsing behind them, Ricky felt a wave of despair wash over him, believing all hope was lost. 

However, just as he was about to succumb to the overwhelming odds, he noticed three figures appearing in the distance.

"CHORES GRAB THEM QUICKLY!" Jake yelled as Chores barreled forward towards the two.

Rushing forward, he scooped them up as if they were mere children and started running back towards the entrance.

"MOVE TO THE LEFT, THE STRUCTURE WILL COLLAPSE ON THE RIGHT!" Barko yelled as right as they all moved to the left side of the hall, the right side had started to completely cave in.

They were running against time as Chores, Jake, and Barko all started their last ditch effort to save the man that had saved them all those times before.

'God I need a drink.'