Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 201: Claudia’s awakening

Chapter 201: Claudia’s awakening

"It’s over."

At the same time as they heard the voice, the Crimson Knights felt a powerful suction force erupt from behind them.

Struggling to keep their balance, they turned just in time to find a massive black hole with a white circle revolving around it.

In awe, one muttered. "What is this?"

Of course, no response came and instead, the Knights were pulled into the hole, one at a time, amidst desperate cries.

From numbering over 30, they were quickly whittled down to 15 and even that number was about to reduce further as the hole grew larger.

However, before it could devour the others, a blood-curdling scream was heard after which a crimson ray flashed, dyeing everywhere blood red for a moment, and then...

Boom

A terrifying explosion erupted, causing the octagonal hall to collapse in on itself.

Pa

At the same time, the floor parted to reveal a dark place underneath, A familiar snap echoed, and then another...

Pa

As a white light flashed in the hall, Charlotte’s voice, devoid of all formalities and filled with endless malice, was heard. "Kane!"

Boom

Yet another explosion occurred, destroying everything in its path.

***

Amidst the debris, Charlotte lay with half of her body destroyed.

Blinking with her one good eye, she watched as a familiar figure approached her.

"How?"

"Hmm?"

"How did you do it?" She asked in a hoarse voice.

Alex let out a sigh as he crouched down. "Does it matter?"

"... I guess it doesn’t."

"Do you regret it?"

"... Regret going along with Damian’s plot despite knowing he was using me?... Yes. But imagine being in my shoes... waking up in a world that has long since forgotten about you, forced to face the fact that you were sacrificed for nothing. What would you do in such a situation?"

Not bothering to use fancy words to give an unnecessary speech, Alex answered. "I don’t know."

"... Thought as much."

Taking a deep breath, Alex remarked. "I want your soul."

"... Why?"

"Because you are useful."

"... Do what you want."

With those words, Charlotte soon breathed her last with regret still etched on her face at which point Alex reached a palm out, extracting black and white essence from her.

The essence coagulated into a pulsating black and white orb at the center of his palm before slowly dissipating.

"Can we go now?" Elizabeth asked as she came up behind him.

Alex nodded. "Let’s go."

***

With the city in chaos, the mortality rate steadily grew but it didn’t take long for the aggressors to notice something strange.

"What’s going on?"

The humans meant for the sacrifice were all gone and even their numbers were being reduced by an unknown force.

"We have to report this to the Monarch."

Deciding amongst themselves, they prepared to return only for a ripple to occur in the aether.

At the same time, an authoritative voice was heard.

THE BATTLE IS NOT OVER YET. HEAD TO THE PRECINCT, KILL ALL THOSE YOU SEE, AND RETRIEVE THE HEARTS OF MEN.

The order filled the hearts of the vampires with dread, causing them to see no reason to refuse.

Quickly coming to a consensus, they rushed toward the station with a clear goal.

***

Just as the Vampires heard the words spoken by that unknown figure, so did Claudia and those currently occupying the precinct.

With Roland and his Spirit Beast handling the Uncanny, Claudia was left to tend to Ada’s wounds.

Unfortunately, the order left her even more flustered than she was initially.

"Roland!"

"I know!" Roland replied as he leaped away from the fighting for a moment.

Focusing his attention elsewhere, he quickly recovered as a grim expression covered his face.

"They are coming!"

"How long?"

"3 minutes," Roland said before adding. "We have to run!"

Claudia shook her head. "What about Arwen and Nadia!"

"Here!"

Claudia turned back just as the doors behind her flew open with Nadia emerging with Arwen in tow.

Looking incomparably weak, both women were not in the state to flee.

"We have to take one of each." Roland quickly suggested as he moved to help Nadia.

"But..." Claudia didn’t get a chance to finish her sentence when several explosions erupted about the precinct, destroying the already fragile structure.

"I thought you said 3 minutes!" Claudia cried out in a panic.

Roland, clearly shocked by the suddenness of the situation, intoned. "I thought so as well!"

They didn’t get a chance to continue their argument as several bloodthirsty vampires rushed in.

Almost immediately, a powerful mental wave erupted, crashing into Claudia and the rest.

Apart from Claudia who managed to protect herself, the others were not so lucky with Roland, Arwen, and Nadia collapsing like dolls that had their strings cut.

"No!" Claudia exclaimed as she found herself confused about what to do.

Before her, a terrifying number of bloodlusted Vampires, and behind her, her unconscious teammates.

"...what do I do?"

Her heart palpitated as she resisted the urge to flee for her life.

But hardly had that urge materialized fully when she found herself recalling her father’s voice.

Taking a moment to ponder, she wondered if he had fled when Charlotte came for him.

So why should she flee when in a similar situation?

It was foolhardy to think in such a manner but she found herself unable to run while knowing what her father had done.

Hadn’t she promised Roland to grow stronger?... Strong enough to prevent the tragedy that took her father from happening again.

So why back away now?

Taking a deep breath, Claudia made her decision.

Glancing down at the unmoving Ada in her hands, Claudia slowly let her down on the floor before rising to her feet.

Gritting her teeth, she slowly stepped forward, or at least tried to.

Before she could take a step forward, several Spirit Beasts rushed toward her like crazed monsters.

Restraining the fear in her heart, Claudia raised her palms and exerted her will on the world.

Not expecting anything outstanding, what happened next was enough to shock not only the attackers but even Claudia herself for at that moment... time seemed to pause.

Hardly had anyone recovered from the shocking act when a voice was heard.

"You have done well... even going as far as to unlock your Innate Talent. I’m glad."

Claudia blinked in confusion before turning toward the origin of the voice.

There, a familiar figure stood but something was different.

Was it the fact that her body was green and transparent or maybe the fact that she floated in the air like some sort of ghost?

It was neither of those things.

Instead, It was the smile she had on her face... a warm smile that Claudia thought impossible for her to have.

"... Aunty."