BOOM!
A terrifying explosion roared, engulfing the entire corridor in electric fire, the ground shaking as if about to collapse. But—Jack still stood there. The Last Light Blade was plunged firmly into the stone floor, radiating a protective aura that enveloped all three. A dazzling wall of light blocked the immense lightning surge from the Vampire Mage…
In that moment, John desperately held Mira close… they prayed… waiting for their fate. She looked up, her eyes wide with panic, at Jack's back shielding them. His body took the full brunt of the lightning storm. Light flashed, thunder exploded around him, every bolt seeming to devour him…
Mira stiffened. A memory suddenly flooded back—her father, all those years ago, had also used his own body to shield her from Vampires. It was a scene no child ever wanted to remember… But he hadn't made it. His blood stained her face… His eyes slowly lost their light… His hand grew cold…
"NO!!!" She instinctively squeezed her eyes shut, bowing her head, clutching it in panic.
Jack gritted his teeth, enduring. The electrical storm ravaged his body, searing his skin, tearing apart every muscle fiber. He realized one thing—no matter how strong he was, if hit by powerful enough attacks, he could still be wounded and even killed…. But his body was still regenerating. An astonishing rate of recovery. If he were a normal Vampire, he would surely have been reduced to dust long ago.
Jack looked down at the Last Light Blade—its light still blazed fiercely. Faint golden energy currents still flowed along his arm. Perhaps… this very sword amplified his regeneration.
CRASH!!! The final lightning surge exploded. The entire corridor was scorched black, rocks tumbled down, smoke and dust filled the air. But—Jack still stood there. He had successfully protected John and Mira.
But—the aura from the Last Light Blade was weakening… As if the sword itself needed to rest. Jack exhaled sharply, a wave of exhaustion flooding his body. Although he wasn't fatally wounded, the pain from the last attack still gnawed at him. He wasn't immortal. He still had limits.
Jack loosened his grip on the sword, his body swaying slightly from fatigue. He turned, moving towards John and Mira.
"Phew… Are you two alright?"
John nodded. But Mira still had her head bowed, clutching her clothes, trembling all over. Jack frowned, bending down to place a hand on her shoulder.
"Mira… are you okay?"
She flinched, opening her eyes wide. Jack could see—fear in her gaze. But—beneath that fear, he also saw a flicker of emotion… She stared at him, then bit her lip and turned away, saying nothing. Jack didn't understand, but didn't press further. He smiled faintly, then stood up, his eyes sharp as he faced the remaining enemy.
"One left. Let's play."
Jack glanced around. "Huh, where is he???"
The corridor was charred black, dust motes hung in the air, but… the Vampire Mage had vanished. John sighed, shaking his head.
"That fool…"
SMACK! He lightly slapped Jack on the head.
Jack grimaced: "Hey, what was that!?"
John crossed his arms, smirking: "What else! Of course, he fled! No Vampire would expend all their magic on one attack without a reason!"
Jack froze for a few seconds, then nodded in understanding: "Oh, right…"
Then he suddenly remembered—Jack lowered his voice, his gaze thoughtful as he looked at the empty space where the Vampire had just been.
"He even killed his own comrades to escape… I can't believe I used to be like them."
Unexpectedly—"Well, you still are."
Mira's voice was sharp as a knife, making Jack frown and turn to look at her. She truly was a strange girl. Only moments ago, Jack had saved her, and now she threw such a bitter remark at him… No one wanted to be an inhuman blood-sucking demon…
John raised a hand, cutting across their exchange, his expression suddenly serious.
"No!" He looked directly at Mira. "He is no longer one of them. He has now been purified by Last Light – Blade of the Sun's Wrath."
Jack frowned, confused, asking:
"This sword has such a long name… does it have a shorter one, old man?"
John seriously stroked his beard, ignoring the question, and continued:
"If I'm not mistaken, the sword chose you as its master and inadvertently created a new species—"
"A Half-Vampire. Half-human, half-Vampire."
Jack's mouth dropped open:
"What?! So, this is all because you stabbed me!?"
John looked awkward, forcing a laugh: "Well, yes…"
Mira propped her chin, nodding: "What a sword with such a long name… Hmm…"
Jack sighed, rubbing his temples, feeling like his mind was a tangled mess. Too much had happened in the last few hours.
Just moments before, he had been Jack the Butcher, tasked with conquering this fortress. The taste of fresh blood was still in his mouth. He could still feel John's fatal stab… And then came the recent confrontation. He suddenly remembered something else—the memories of when he was human…
He mumbled: "What about my memories as a human? Why can't I remember anything…?"
Mira and John both fell silent. Jack closed his eyes, an image suddenly flashing through his mind—his wife and children. A boy. A girl. They were captured by Vampires… And he—was transformed. The scene slammed into his mind, making Jack grit his teeth, clenching his fists. That's all he remembered for now, and it felt like it was just yesterday…
John sighed softly. "That's what we'll have to find out. This is the first time in nearly 70 years that the sword has chosen a new master… Even I don't fully understand it."
Jack took a deep breath, his eyes growing cold. "So now, where do we go?"
John smiled faintly: "I know where we need to go to answer all your questions."
Jack nodded: "Hmm… Alright, I'll follow you."
He turned to Mira, crossed his arms, and raised an eyebrow: "And you? Why are you following us?"
Mira immediately turned away, avoiding his gaze, scratching her cheek awkwardly: "Uh, uh… I just want to live, that's all. Besides, I feel safe with you guys."
Jack narrowed his eyes suspiciously: "Oh, that sounds perfectly logical, doesn't it?"
John chuckled, while Mira shot him a glare. The trio began to walk, heading towards the horizon of mysteries.