Born in Blood

498  Winner

As Liam left, both Alucard and the Queen grew serious.

"You have a soft spot for the kid, do you?" the Queen asked Alucard suddenly. "Seems that way."

"And you have an obsession," Alucard retorted. "He outsmarted your family fair and square. Why haven't you called off the vengeance quest?"

Kisra Thyress scoffed in disdain.

"As if you would."

Silence.

Fair enough, Alucard thought.

A second later, the Mayor threw the ball towards Alucard. Since Liam had been disqualified, it was his turn next. And the game began.

***

For the next two hours, the Mayor watched as the two monsters went at it.

His sea-blue eyes flashed left and right, as fierce winds threatened to whip away the tophat and monocle from his head. His face was straight out of Two forces of nature were battling it out. Natural disasters, more like. Had the blows exchanged not been nerfed, the floor, and perhaps several others, would have combusted immediately.

And, of course, a game like this could not go forth without wounds!

This was the finals!

Queen Thyress had vicious wounds across her hands and arms. Fingers were bent, nails were cracked. At the very least, they were still in one piece. Same with Alucard.

His ashen skin sizzled with crisp burn marks, and a few sparks of light still crackled in between his wounds.

'Her Majesty has gotten even stronger!' the Mayor thought with shock as he watched. 'And although Alucard doesn't seem as strong, somehow he's keeping up with the same tactics!' But… there could only be one winner.

The final blow was imminent. The ball flew towards the Queen.

Light gathered on her palms.

She was trying something different!

The light expanded in the shape of a palm. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ (ꜰ)ir(e).nᴇt

WHOOM!

It became a giant light-palm!

WHOOSH!

Then, it shot forward.

BOOOOOM!

It was flying towards Alucard at an imperceptible speed. But as a result, the Queen's Path seemed to be at the end of its rope. Her light-basked hair and sun-like eyes had reverted back to normal, replaced with a pained expression and a look of anticipation. It was here!

The decider!

WHOOOOSH!

A torrent of crimson energy swirled around Alucard's hands, in between his fingers like a cyclone.

Conjuring such a large amount looked painful, judging by the pissed off grimace on his face and the veiny, constricted irises.

As soon as the ball reached him, Alucard's hands cracked on impact as he sent it back towards the Queen.

CRCK!

BOOOOM!

And the torrent of crimson energy followed it.

As though it was lit on a ghostly, ethereal fire.

Alucard immediately fell to his knees, using one hand to hold himself up. It seemed as though using so much power had siphoned away all the energy in him. Queen Thyress lowered her head.

…Then raised it with a sadistic smile.

SHING!

Just then, a halo formed over her head.

It was made out of iridescent light.

…The crown!

The source of light was the crown itself! There didn't seem to be a sudden shift in her form.

She looked the same.

Except, something was off about that crown. It gave her an exotic, otherworldly aura that struck awe into those watching. Mainly Alucard and the Mayor. Although it wasn't too fast, the dangerous aspect belonged to the ghostly red energy that swirled throughout it.

With a gentle swing, Queen Thyress spun around and punched the ball back with light-made hands. BHOM!

WRSH!

All of the crimson energy seeped through her body!

Queen Thyress grimaced, as though she was fighting back the urge to fall unconscious. Her expression softened at times, then hardened with awareness at other times. The Mayor couldn't imagine her pain.

Of course, the Mayor knew what that red energy was.

And the implications it had were utterly terrifying.

In fact, he was pretty sure no one else in the world could replicate that energy. 'Terrifying,' the Mayor thought. 'How terrifying!'

But there she was. The Queen was resisting it!

Dramatically, the ball made its way towards the edge of Alucard's position.

But he was still on the ground.

He had no energy whatsoever.

A pissed off look was on Alucard's face, and the Mayor heard him swear under his breath.

Just then, the Queen went unconscious… thudding to the floor.

Except… "Alucard," the Mayor said… a little afraid of saying the next word, "disqualified." Silence.

Slowly, the Queen rose up from the ground as she woke up from her sleep. It took a few seconds for her to regain clarity.

But when she did, she looked at the Mayor straight away.

"Who won?" Silence.

The Mayor smiled a little. "You, Your Majesty."

Queen Thyress scoffed and smiled, outstretching a hand.

Slowly, the Star Dust that floated beside the Mayor descended, landing firmly onto the Queen's palm. A second later, it disappeared from sight.

Then, the Queen looked at Alucard, who rose to his feet with an aloof, disappointed face.

"I hope you've had a lovely time, Queen Thyress, Master Alucard," the Mayor said as the room returned to normal. "The party has officially concluded."

***

Hours earlier.

As Liam left the gymnasium, he made a beeline for the Quartz Dragon next. A delicious meal awaited him back home. "What way points to the roof?" Liam asked a butler puppet, who nodded immediately. "I'll guide you there, sir," the butler said. "Please, follow me."

Like so, Liam passed through a series of floors and corridors before finally arriving at the roof.

And there, a few familiar faces awaited him.

Mainly, Kamjin, the Iron Hammer, Valerie, the weird... crazy woman, followed by Nord and Rin.

'Ugh,' Liam groaned. 'Not this again.' As he approached, all four flicked their attention towards him. When Nord saw Liam, he was instantly relieved. Even a smile appeared on his face. Rin must have told him about the game.

And Liam joining them meant he lost!

Phew!

Safe!

"Wipe that smile off your face, retard," Valerie reprimanded Nord harshly from the side. "You weren't even a player."

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