Aya Felicity sat in the airship along with everyone else. As the white haired girl suspected, her master would have them continue to Dracula's fortress.

"So where do ya think Memphis ran off too?" Kaden asked her.

"It's possible he is searching for Rygilya and whatever he lost." She responded.

Aya wondered if her father had heard of the return of the Darkness and fled somewhere safer. Maybe he went out to do more dark deeds a mist the chaos.

Aya knew if she killed him for vengeance, she would undoubtedly enter the Fallen Place. She despised her father for what he had done all those years ago. She hurt for all of the people he's wronged. The young woman often searched her heart for forgiveness. There was none to be found.

"So master Van and Akio tells me this girl were rescuing is something special." Kyanè said making her way over.

Kaden thought as he said, "Special? Maybe. Annoying? Definitely." He chuckled to himself.

Aya couldn't help giggling a bit. Before the truth about their origins was brought to light, Kaden and Kariah-Belle had developed a bond of siblings. When not on assignments the two would wear each other's nerves and compete over the smallest of things. Yet when they fought together, the two were in sync even without a nurolink.

"Ha! I know two master Knights who'd say the same of me." Kyanè said giggling.

Her expression became somber as she stared out the window over Aya's head. Aya figured she was thinking of her two juniors. Aya herself wondered how the evacuation was going.

"Kaden!" Sir Jericho called loudly as he made his way over. A big smile plastered across his face. "I hear you've learned a few new skills."

Kaden grinned as he stood to shake the larger man's hand saying, "Keep an eye on me old timer and ya just might learn a thing or two."

The elder man laughed. "What of you Frozen Gun? Do you plan on showing me up as well?"

Aya chuckled. "No sir. I leave the showboating to Kaden."

The man chuckled then looked to Kyanè. He extended his hand. "Kyanè Laveil, I have heard a lot about you. I've been told your skills rival Aya here."

Kyanè shook the man's hand with a modest smile. "It's thanks to Master Van's training that I've come so far."

"Hahaha! You are as modest as Van says. Word is you were chalk full of potential during your university days."

Pride showed on Kyanè's face. "So I was told."

"I look forward to seeing what the three of you can do." The Divine Knight said. His demeanor turned to something more serious. Placing a hand on Kaden's shoulder, he spoke. "We will get your sister back young man."

Kaden nodded. "Don't plan on leaving without her."

The man nodded back. A silent agreement between men.

"Alright everyone!" Iris shouted loud enough to be heard throughout the air ship. She stood in the center of a crowd of Knights. "We'll be over Dracula's Crystal City in a matter of minutes. No doubt there will be mature vympiri. As you know they are frighteningly strong. If you aren't careful you can end up dead in the blink of an eye."

"There's also Dracula's Royal Guard." Van chimed in. "They are handpicked by Dracula as the strongest of his kin. Be wary of them."

Iris nodded and continued. "Some of us won't survive. In truth this may just be a death march for a young woman who may not even have Kul within her. If you wish to back out now, no one would blame you."

The large crowd cheered to storm Dracula's city.

"Then today, Dracula loses his head!"

The crowd roared and cheered.

The bottom of the ship slid open wide enough for multiple knights to jump through. The back of the ship opened up as well.

"What the hell is going on down there." Van said after taking a look down at the black crystal city.

Aya and Kaden rushed to take a look. Down below Aya saw darklings, Evilbarers and mercenaries attacking the city. It was chaos at it's finest. In the middle of it all was a Darkness Tamer with two shining stars.

"Memphis." Aya whispered.

"Do you think it has something to do with Rygilya?" Kaden questioned.

Aya was willing to bet so.

"Alright people! Our mission is still the same!" Iris shouted. "Your main priority is keeping Dracula's minions busy while Van and I try to convince Memphis to aid us. A team led by Sir Jericho will search for Kariah-Belle. Let's do this everyone!"

The army of knights cheered before leaping out of the airship to the carnage below.

"Rescue team!" Sir Jericho called. "Let's see what you can do!"

The man then jumped out the ship. Aya, Kaden, Kyanè and several Divine Knights followed after.

As they plummeted to the chaos, Aya could see that the mercenaries and Evilbarers were fighting together against the vympiri. Aya knew it was her father that was controlling the darklings but was surprised to see him working with mercs. Her father didn't trust anyone.

Aya generated her silver mana skeleton before landing on a crystal building. Kaden landed a few feet away as did the other members of the rescue team. Van and her master landed close by.

"Okay team!" Iris said, demanding attention. "We'll stick close and make our way into the castle. From there we part ways. Understood!?"

"Roger!" They all said.

The group of fifteen headed for the large fortress that sat in the middle of the city. Along the way, they faced vympiri. Darklings ignored them while bounty hunters gave them confused looks before quickly dismissing them as distractions. A powerful grenade filled with mana went off and sock the ground under Aya's feet.

It was then that Aya heard a familiar laugh. A laugh which she hated to her core.

Not far from them was Memphis. His black ice sword slicing through vympiri as he roared with rage.

"Dracula!" He called. "You take what's mine then send your underlings to kill me?! It's an insult you will pay for with your life!"

"You don't really think you can beat Dracula alone do you?" Iris shouted to be heard over the chaos.

The Darkness Tamer whirled. A surprised look on his face. It left as quickly as it came. Now his expression was one of realization as he laughed. "So it's true! Dracula has Lilith's and Eliyah's brat!"

Now it was Iris who looked surprised. "How did you know that?"

"Word in the Underground." He said with a shrug. "So Lilith did give Kul to the girl."

Iris nodded. "Memphis, we need her. She could be the key in defeating the Darkness."

Memphis looked to Kaden. Aya stepped between them. The Darkness Tamer smirked at his daughter.

Aya scowled.

"Memphis we don't have time for this!" Her master yelled. At this point, Sir Jericho and the others were keeping the vympiri at bay along with a few darklings. "The Darkness has attacked once already! Who knows when they'll be back! Memphis we have a common goal so let's work together here!"

Memphis glared at her. After a moment he nodded. "Fine, that bastard has something that belongs to me."

"Rygilya?" Kaden questioned. Thinking the same thing as her.

Her father nodded.

"Rygilya doesn't belong to you!" Kaden snapped, his voice then became dangerously low. "You're risking your life just to kill him? How twisted can you get?"

Aya knew Kaden blamed her father for Rygilya falling so low. He always suspected that the man had polluted his friend somehow. Aya wouldn't put it past her father. After all, he was only training Rygilya so he can one day drain his Lifeforce.

Memphis merely grinned menacingly. "The boy is a prize, just like you. I spent two years grooming him and when he's done, he'll be stronger than my current self. Damn straight I'm risking my life for his. He may be my ticket to killing Iris, then you."

Kaden cursed and stepped around Aya who stopped him.

"Stop it! All of you!" Iris demanded. "We've got a job to do!"

Aya stayed close to Kaden and kept an eye on her father. She didn't trust him. Not with her life or anyone else's. If the situation wasn't so urgent, she wouldn't have suggested teaming up with him.

As they made their way to the castle, they fought against wave after wave of vympiri. With Sir Jericho and the other members of the rescue team aiding them, they could move quickly. They used team work to dispatch any enemies that opposed them.

Memphis rounded up a few Evilbares to fight along side them. Fighting beside the creatures was something Aya never thought she'd do. If she was being honest with herself, it was a bit frightening. The thought of them suddenly turning on them made her a bit paranoid.

Before long the group made it to the castle doors. Sir Van blew them open.

Inside they found Dracula and a group of vympiri. They had an atmosphere that made the hairs on the back of Aya's neck stand on ends.

Behind Dracula were three long pillars of black crystal that reached into the ceiling. Each held someone in suspended animation. A girl with golden hair, Rygilya Semtek and Kariah-Belle Nadire.

"Welcome, Knights. Memphis." Dracula spoke, his hands behind his back. Aya could tell the vympiri, Dracula, was more powerful than the vympiri standing close by.

"You know why I'm here leech," Memphis spat. "Give me the boy and the girl! Maybe I'll give you a quick death!"

"Insulant human!" Another of the vympiri hissed. He moved to unsheathed his sword but Dracula held up a hand, causing the vympiri to fall back.

"No." Dracula answered plainly. He then went on saying, "The girl has a very rare trait and Life Force that resembles a Nadire. She will be my pet. As for the boy, he too will be kept as livestock."

"Like hell!" Memphis shouted. "I'll cut you down!"

Aya watched her father charge at the vympiri.

"That's our cue!" Iris shouted as she summoned her Stardust sword. "Rescue team! Move out!"

She and Van charged at the line of vympiri as well.

"Let's move out!" Sir Jericho said as he summoned a large silver mallet.

Everyone followed him. They were cut off as the line of vympiri moved in front of them.

"Lord Dracula considers those three precious cargo." One of them explained. "We of the Royal guard will not let you get near."

"Very well!" Sir Jericho yelled without slowing. Aya could hear the anticipation in his voice. His thick accent revealing itself with his excitement. "May the best team win!"

He moved fast, nearly upon them in an instant. He swung his large hammer down on the vympiri with great force. One blocked the attack with a katana made of black mana, the crystal beneath his feet shattering.

The other vympiri scattered. They attacked from different angles. The rescue team split into pairs and small groups.

While the vympiri was busy holding a stalemate, Aya warped behind him. Kaden appeared next to him.

They both attacked simultaneously. However, a black barrier expanded around the creature, repelling Sir Jericho and the two Master Knights.

"Jericho Solaris." The vympiri said as they recovered. The creature almost sounded impressed over the sounds

of battles raging on around them. "The Mana you're emitting is marvelous."

"You know of me?" The large man asked.

"Of course. I've wanted your head for quite some time. I'm sure with your Lifeforce I'll get twice as strong."

"Twice, eh? Then we'll make sure to grasp victory!" The Divine Knight lunged at the tanned skinned creature.

With a wave of the hand, a shield made of dark Mana was projected to block the attack. A shockwave showed the intensity of the attack and the durability of the shield.

The divine knight then began attacking rapidly. Swinging the mallet so fast Aya's keen eyesight had trouble tracking. The vympiri continued to create a dark Mana barrier, each one deflecting Sir Jericho's blows. Visible shockwaves echoing loudly through the crystal walls like the rest of the battles taking place around them.

"Oh, oh." The vympiri said as it was being pushed back. "Not bad human. Show me why they call you Scorching Hammer?!" The creature urged.

Aya saw as a diamond doppelgänger resembling Sir Jericho surround in sky blue mana, kicked the vympiri hard in the back. The crystal copy cat seemed to hold an intense ball of fire inside it. The vympiri was sent hurtling towards Sir Jericho who smacked him upwards.

He then sent a beam of condensed solar energy chasing the vympiri. It managed to use it's barrier to protect it but was sent through the crystal roof. The crystal copy cat appeared and detonated, the intensity of the blast blew away chunks of the crystal fortress.

Aya, Kyanè and Kaden were upon the vympiri immediately.

Aya now in her Stardust queen armor fired bullets made of stardust from all of her floating fire arms and dual SMG's.

Kaden in his partial transformation dawned the top half of his flame avatar. He fired a six large fire balls surrounded by electricity.

The barrier cancelled their attacks and but shattered. She and Kyanè were inside his guard, attacking with a fury of spices, jabs, elbows and knees. The vympiri was blocking using a katana made of black mana.

Aya countered an attack by warping mid strike and having her stardust fire arms fire from different angles but the vympiri was fast in his evasion.

She willed her life force to collect a large portion of mana to form more stardust firearms and fired a massive barrage of stardust bullets after Kyanè leaped backwards.

The creature radiated a faint dark hue and suddenly Aya could feel mana rolling off the vympiri in waves. He began deflecting each bullet masterfully.

Aya didn't have time to be impressed. She was inside his guard once more with Kyanè. The two delivered a powerful kick that warranted a grunt. The creature was fast enough to block. A purple and silver shockwave shook the sky. The attack managed to send the vympiri flying to Kaden.

"Grand Flame lightning Fang!" He roared. The lightning sword his avatar held was covered in a large flame that was twice as hot manga. Aya could feel the dense mana around the attack.

The blade collided with the vympiri and explosion of fire, lightning and red mana shook the sky. Aya landed on a piece of rubble sweat beading down her forehead.

She looked up only to see Kaden falling from the sky. He recovered just before hitting the ground.

"Damn. He broke my avatar before I could even finish a combo." She saw his right hand tremble and he swipes under his nose and he grinned with anticipation. "Color me excited."

Don't do anything stupid Kaden. Aya said through a nurolink.

I hear ya.

The Felicity noticed that a storm had started. Indicating that the area was filled with dense amounts of mana.

Rain began to fall just as the vympiri landed on a another piece of rubble. Their battle had moved out of the castle into the crystal city. The fighting raged on around them, Aya tried not to focus on the dead bodies around her.

Sir Jericho and Kyanè landed nearby.

"If I don't get serious I'll end up dead." Spoke the vympiri then dropped a hand full of Stardust bullets from it's free hand.

The vympiri male moved when Aya fired another barrage of bullets. It dodged.

Aya warped above it. Sir Jericho too was above the pale-skinned creature, his hand covered in solar energy that radiated an incredible amount of heat and mana.

Aya formed a mallet made of stardust. She roared as she whacked the creature downwards. The weapon broke against it's tough skin.

Sir Jericho threw his attack but the vympiri vanished. The attack would've hit Kaden who was slow to react forcing Jericho to pause to cancel it.

Suddenly Aya felt a pound in the back of her head and found herself hurtling through crystal buildings.

She slammed through them with considerable force. Even with her defensive stacking, she was seeing stars but could see the vympiri was now in the air once again as it exchanged attacks with Sir Jericho and Kaden who was now shrouded in a full fiery avatar.

She shook herself out of her daze just in time to see another Knight sailing towards her. Aya leapt and caught her comrade. The two of them noticed a female vympiri who also had a dark hue suddenly appear in front of them. She kicked both Aya then the other knight and sent them flying.

Aya recovered to find the female vympiri above her. She warped behind the creature with the dark hue then thrusted a blade made of Stardust at the female vympiri.

The creature reacted swiftly, turning to parry the attack and leaving an opening for her to expose, the vympiri smirked saying, "Not bad human."

It then smacked Aya away. The master knight quickly recovered. Her Stardust firearms began firing from behind the vympiri at nearly point black range.

The creature turned and grabbed every bullet. She was then met with a volley of exploding arrows from her flank, courtesy the Divine Knight Aya had helped moments ago.

The creature was in a blocking stance. The explosions from the arrows were enough to shake the ground but barely any damage was done.

"You humans aren't bad. Premature vympiri don't stand a chance against you lot. Mature vympiri would have to fight seriously from the get go." The vympiri seemingly vanished, appearing in front of Aya it continued, "However you don't stand a chance against us that serve as lord Dracula's Royal guard!"

It then flipped, kicking upwards at Aya. The Divine Knight barely managed to block. Still the impact was hard and sent her upwards. The vympiri sent a volley of Dark Mana beams at Aya as it simultaneously avoided being hit by another volley of arrows. The creature held up it's free arm and all the arrows seemed to get absorbed into nothing once coming within a certain range.

Aya would've been hit by the volley of beams if Kaden hadn't used his flaming avatar to take the blows. Even with it's durability, the beams cracked in the avatar.

The two landed. Taking a quick look around, Aya saw that the vympiri had the upper hand. These vympiri seemed to uses something similar to an skeleton which increased their already incredible physical stats.

If we don't get any reinforcements soon, we won't survive. Aya thought.

Suddenly a violent chill swept through the area.

Aya felt dread grip her stomach. She then looked up to see her master in her Star Goddess mode. Van had undergone a full lycan transformation, dark fur covering his body and tail with gold markings. His armor molding to the shape if his slightly enlarged body. Her father was in his two star transcendent state. Aya could see their chest heaving.

Dracula himself only had a few scratches here and there. The most noticeable bit of damage was the smoke coming from his chest. His shirt had been ruined and singed. From the looks of things, her master and the others were only just beginning to gain the upper hand.

The vympiri stopped moving. It almost seemed as it was hard to breath. The atmosphere seemed to chill but Aya began to sweat. All eyes were upon Dracula.