Jack was still reeling from everything that had just happened.
The feeling of power surged through his body, the brilliant golden energy from the sword coursing through his veins, making him feel more like himself than ever before.
But—
He suddenly remembered the moment John plunged the sword into his chest. A painful moment… but also a moment of liberation.
What had truly happened? Jack frowned, but there was no time to ponder further.
CRASH!
The Vampire leader—the one in the aristocratic vest—raised his hand, chanting.
"Lightning Bind!"
From his hand, a chain of lightning shot out, wrapping tightly around Jack's body!
Zzzzt! Zzzzt!
Electricity surged through his muscles, trying to restrain him.
The support Vampire raised his magic staff, a burst of magical energy shooting straight towards the archer.
"Flaming Arrow Boost!"
The arrow in the archer's hand suddenly burst into flames, blazing with heat, capable of piercing steel in an instant.
The axe-wielder leaped into the air, muscles tensed, gathering strength for a terrifying overhead strike!
All four attacked simultaneously!
They had fought together for a long time, understanding each other's rhythm and how to provide support.
This time, they were sure to take Jack down!
But—
Jack felt everything slowing down. His senses were enhanced, every minute detail of the battle appearing clearly in his mind.
Where the axe would strike. The angle the arrow was flying. How the electricity of the chain moved.
Jack… was now like a completely different person!
Hmph.
Jack tensed, flexing his muscles, TEARING APART the lightning chain in a flash!
SWISH!
Sparks flew, blown away like mere threads. The axe-wielder brought down a blow, but—
WHOOSH!
Jack effortlessly dodged the strike, light and graceful as the wind. At that very moment—the flaming arrow hurtled towards him!
"Too slow."
Jack smiled, swinging Last Light!
SWISH!
With a light, almost ethereal swing, the colossal Flaming Arrow collided with Last Light and was instantly stopped.
"Impossible…!" The Vampires were horrified, but before they could react—
Jack streaked forward like a golden flash of light! His speed was too immense—the support hadn't even had time to raise his staff when—
SLASH!
His head flew into the air. His body ignited, burning to ash in an instant! The entire corridor plunged into deadly silence.
Jack raised the sword, his eyes sharp.
"Anyone else want to try?"
Mira's eyes widened. She couldn't believe what she was witnessing. Jack—a Vampire—had saved her?
He, the one known as the Butcher, who had killed countless people, now stood before her… protecting her from his own kind? She felt the brilliant golden light enveloping him.
No… this wasn't ordinary light.
It was warm, powerful, strangely beautiful.
Mira had never seen a Vampire carry such light.
Before, she thought all Vampires were simply the black of darkness.
But Jack—he was like the sun.
John slowly approached, his eyes reflecting complex emotions.
He looked at Jack, at the sword in his hand, then mumbled as if to himself:
"That light… it's so beautiful… I've never seen Last Light shine like this…"
"Mira, do you see? That is humanity's last hope."
"The sword has chosen him."
Mira frowned.
"Last hope…?"
Those words echoed in her mind, making her unable to stop thinking.
Before, she would certainly not have believed it. But now, standing before Jack, seeing that light with her own eyes, she felt something very different.
She lowered her voice, speaking softly:
"…So the legend about you is true?"
"The one who carries the cursed weapon, wandering through the apocalypse…?"
"…And then your daughter… and the apocalypse?"
John subtly closed his eyes, his face contemplative as if recalling something very distant.
"…You wouldn't understand, Mira."
"…But there will be a day, you will understand everything."
"…Soon, we will have a new dawn."
Mira said no more.
She merely watched in silence, a glimmer of hope in her eyes that she herself didn't recognize.
Having lost two comrades, the Vampires roared with hatred.
"He… he killed him!"
"Impossible! What is that demonic weapon?"
"Silver shouldn't kill Vampires that quickly…"
But Jack didn't care about the shouts. He gripped the sword, his muscles tensed, his amber eyes sharp as blades. He felt something.
An extremely potent killing intent.
The Vampire mage began to sweat.
He couldn't understand.
Why… why could a Vampire wield such a terrifying weapon?
Why did he feel that light incinerating his soul?
This feeling… was exactly what Jack had felt when he stood before John back in the bunker.
Absolute fear. A primal, instinctive fear of the Vampire race.
He was the team leader, a higher-ranking Vampire than the rest. He had lived long enough to understand the situation at hand….
He was smarter, more cunning, and most importantly—
He wasn't stupid.
Stay here and face Jack? And whatever that thing was he didn't understand… No way….
Without thinking, the Vampire mage intertwined his fingers, continuously muttering… Arcs of lightning began to flash from his fingertips…
BOOM!
A terrifying explosion. He channeled all his remaining magical power to unleash a colossal Shock Bolt.
The powerful surge of electricity, like a raging storm, swept everything in its path.
So fast that the remaining Vampires didn't even have time to react—
Two unfortunate ones were struck by the lightning, their bodies charred, convulsing for a moment before collapsing—dead instantly.
In a mere instant, the Vampire mage decided to act on pure survival instinct, so quickly that even his own comrades couldn't react. Typically, higher-ranking Vampires are aware of dangers that could threaten their lives and formulate specific strategies… and this was his decision!
Jack immediately sensed the danger.
John and Mira were right nearby. If they were hit by this attack, they would surely die.
Without thinking—
Jack lunged towards them at high speed. He plunged the sword into the ground, bracing himself against the incoming attack.
"OLD MAN! MIRA! HIDE BEHIND ME NOW!!!"
John and Mira saw the colossal lightning surge approaching.
There was no other choice. They ran towards Jack, seeking the only remaining protection.
A situation of life and death.