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A Night is all I need – Chapter 58

'An immune one!’ Jessie uttered. ‘Then why are you helping them? You know what they do with immune ones, don’t you?’

‘Yes, I know. But just for your information—I’m not an immune one. My case is a little different. I’m a high priest.’

‘Then we can kill you!’ Larah concluded—and attacked.

The priest jumped to the side, dodging the slash that split the earth. ‘That weapon is dangerous,’ the woman muttered.

Jessie appeared on her left and swung her axe. The priest caught it with one arm. ‘I was blessed with immense strength! Hahaha!’

She hurled Jessie into a building and turned back to Larah, who came at her swinging. The priest managed to avoid every strike, yet Larah didn’t seem bothered. Suddenly, Larah rammed her sword into the ground—smoke rose. Within it, a body flew toward the priest. She pounced on it—and it exploded. Just then, a sword pierced her chest. Larah had circled around.

‘Pretty smart woman… or was I just dumb?’

‘I’d say both,’ Larah replied, yanking the katana free.

But the priest simply turned to her, smiling—and kicked her away. Larah flew into a building that collapsed from the impact.

The priest noticed movement to her right: Jessie was approaching, holding a black ghoul and mumbling: ‘I can’t die here.’

Sark, realizing what she was about to do, shouted: ‘Jessie, stop that nonsense!’

But Jessie didn’t care. She let the ghoul bite her.

The priest had no time to see what would happen next—Larah was already charging again. Her head was bleeding, but that wouldn’t stop her. On her way, she slashed through several ghouls—and with each kill, the wicked energy in her sword intensified. She swung her blade—an energy wave shot at the priest.

The priest dove to the ground, just as the building behind her was sliced in two. A faint grin crept onto Larah’s face. The priest began smiling too. She cracked her fingers and marched forward—but then stopped.

Her eyes caught a sea of flames forming to her side. From it, Jessie emerged. Her eyes weren’t violet anymore—they had turned crimson, burning like fire. The demon energy from her axe had turned red.

‘A true immune one…’ the priest whispered.

True immune ones were rare—beings from the past who, when possessed by a demon, absorbed its power without losing themselves. They sealed away the wicked energy completely—keeping their souls untarnished.

‘I’m back!’ Jessie declared, her voice strong and commanding.

The priest laughed, delighted. ‘It’s getting interesting. Then let me respond in kind!’

Some ghouls ran toward her—not to attack, but seemingly drawn to her. The priest struck them down—and devoured them. ‘Hahahah, yes! Let me introduce myself. I am the High Priest of the Light Sect—Suriel!’

‘I’m Jessie. And I’m here to kill Niyghel!’

‘I’m Larah. I’ll kill everyone… and save my child!’

‘Hey… and I’m Sark!’

The women glanced at Sark—briefly—then turned their focus back.

Larah and Jessie launched forward. Larah was faster and reached Suriel first. She tossed her katana into the air—Suriel’s eyes instinctively followed it. A mistake. Larah grabbed her by the shoulders—and headbutted her. Baaam!

But Larah was the one who stumbled back. Suriel grabbed her head and slammed her into the ground. Then she spun around toward Jessie, who had launched a sea of flames at her. Suriel clapped her hands so forcefully that the wind extinguished the flames—and shoved Jessie backward.

Behind Suriel, Larah was already back on her feet. Her katana within reach—she grabbed it, spun once, and swung at Suriel’s neck. Suriel simply tilted her head—and caught the blade with her teeth. She bit down, released, spun—and punched Larah into the air.

Next, she smashed her fist into the ground—cracking it wide. The earth buckled. Some sections rose, others dropped, warping the battlefield. Jessie lost sight of Suriel. Suddenly, a boulder beside her exploded—Suriel’s fist struck her face.

This time, Jessie stood her ground. Suriel was too close for her to swing her axe—so Jessie dropped it. And the two began trading punches. Neither relented. Even the soldiers—and the ghouls—were stunned by what they saw.

Shaking his head, Sark continued shooting down ghouls. ‘They’re not right in the head…’

Suriel eventually overpowered Jessie and brought her down with a punch. But Jessie fell with a smile.

As soon as she hit the ground, flames exploded beneath them—blasting Suriel into the air.

Waiting above was Larah. She gifted Suriel two clean slashes—forming an X on her chest.

But Suriel gave a gift in return—she grabbed Larah and hugged her midair.

As they dropped, Suriel spun—a twister formed—and they crashed into the ground.

Suriel was the first to rise, laughing madly: ‘This is so much fun—hahahaha!’

Larah stood, heavily wounded—but still ready. Jessie, too, was in rough shape. Suriel’s chest wouldn’t stop bleeding. The fight was reaching its limit.

Then—men in suits appeared. They shot down the ghouls with precision. The soldiers looked stunned. But Sark recognized them. The suited men made way—for her. A woman walked calmly through them.

She had dark skin and long, curly hair. Her presence alone commanded respect. Her eyes glowed with a deep night blue.

A ghoul lunged at her. She grabbed it by the neck—and slammed it into the ground. Baaaaaam.

The ghoul was dead.

The woman stopped in front of Sark. ‘Won’t you greet your mother?’

overview

chapter 57

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A Night is all I need – Chapter 57

There was smoke everywhere. Soldiers were crying out—yelping in agony. Understandable. Some had lost their arms, others their legs—and some even both.

Only Nicole had been fast enough to react. Yet even she wasn’t without injury. She touched her chest—blood seeped from the wound and dripped to the ground. She had already been in bad shape, but now... she was truly done for.

The commander still hovered in the air above them, watching like a predator. Nicole struggled to her feet and staggered toward a wounded soldier.

‘Can you stand up?’ she asked.

The soldier nodded—his arm was gone, but he could move. Still, tears streamed down his face. ‘What happened to our commander? What happened to him? Daaamnn!’

Suddenly, something caught the commander’s attention. Without a word, he turned and flew away. The group felt a rush of relief—momentary delight. But they knew he’d be back. He was a predator. And the way he had looked at them… he enjoyed the hunt. That much was certain. Still, with him gone, they could finally breathe.

‘He’s become a beast,’ Nicole whispered, her voice cracking as her tears threatened to return. ‘He’s turned into a beast… and this time, for good.’

In the City

Sark and the others had no better plan than to follow the women. Returning to the forest wasn’t an option—not with the pressure and the lights emanating from there. People were fighting.

At the front, Jessie and Larah suddenly stopped. They all ducked behind a truck, observing the incoming army of ghouls. Leading them was a light priest.

‘What do we do now?’ one of the soldiers asked.

‘We capture that bastard and force the information out of them,’ Larah declared. ‘Aren’t you soldiers of the Special Forces—Alpha and Beta? How come you're more scared than me?’

The soldiers remained silent. Larah ignored the side-eyes Sark was giving her. She stepped out from behind the truck. Her walk turned to a jog—and then to a sprint.

The priest spotted her and bellowed: ‘Attack!’

The ghouls charged. Larah tightened her grip on her weapon and leapt over some of them. She landed in their midst and started cutting down everything in her path. She didn’t differentiate. If it moved, it was the enemy. If it was alive, it had to be cut. As she sliced, she bathed in blood—hers and theirs.

‘She’s totally snapped!’ Sark grunted. ‘Let’s go!’

The rest joined the battle. Jessie fought her way toward the priest, who was clearly stunned that she had gotten so far. Even more shocking was Larah suddenly appearing behind him.

The priest pulled back their hood, revealing long blonde hair—and eyes that shimmered gold and white. A woman. An immune one.

‘I can feel it! You two are crazy! Well, I’m crazy myself—hahahah!’

In the Forest

Nicole had placed the wounded soldiers beneath a tree, giving them something to lean against. They had lost their light, their hope. They were waiting for death. One of them had already passed—his body completely drained of blood.

‘What’s the plan, Nicole?’ one soldier asked.

‘I—I don’t know! I’m sorry! I don’t know! I—fuck!’

‘Drink our blood,’ the same soldier suggested. ‘We’re already dead men. But you—you can still save the others. And the commander—he’s wounded. If you drink our blood, you might be able to defeat him!’

‘You mean kill him,’ Nicole corrected. ‘You want me to kill our commander?’

‘Yes. I do. He’s not our commander anymore—he’s an enemy. And you’re the only one who can stop him. I can feel it—my body is reacting to something... something dangerous. He’s coming. So what will you do? Die with us—or fight for us?’

The other soldiers said nothing. But their silence was not hesitation—it was unity. Their faces all said the same thing: We’re ready. Nicole had to decide.

She rose, stepping back. Shaking her head. ‘First I lose the commander… and now I must kill my own men. I can’t—’

‘Get a grip, Nicole!’ one soldier shouted. ‘You’re our commander now! We serve you! And we will gladly lay down our lives if it helps you. So, Commander—what are your orders?’

Tears spilled down her face. Nicole gave her order. ‘Die… for me.’

‘Yes, Commander!’ they all replied.

Suddenly, blood left their bodies—and Nicole’s skin absorbed it. Her wounds healed. Her strength returned. Just in time. Because the commander had returned. He approached slowly.

‘You’ve come back… to be hunted like a beast,’ he said with a groan. ‘You’ve even lost the ability to speak. Let me end your suffering… my love.’

Somewhere in the Forest

Seraphina finally woke up. ‘Damn… that was a strong woman!’

She gasped for air and crawled toward a tree, leaning against it for support. ‘Guys… where are you? Shit’s about to get real here…’

overview

chapter 56

chapter 58

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A Night is all I need – Chapter 56

‘What do you mean, Nicole?’ the soldier asked. Before Nicole could answer, the question answered itself: The commander cried out again. He was helpless against his foe. The soldier’s face went pale. Their commander was dying. Their strongest warrior was losing. Humanity wouldn’t make it. Nicole, too, was speechless. Dracule, seeing their reaction, burst into hysterical laughter. He even had to clutch his stomach. The winner was decided. Or was it?

Yes, the sun had turned red. But the sun wasn’t the only thing that visited Earth. Behind the clouds, a silver light broke through. The commander smiled as his body overflowed with power. He flexed his muscles and focused on purging the cursed blood within him. Then it appeared—the full moon.

‘We have not lost yet!’ Commander Nootra bellowed. ‘We have not lost yet! Fight! Fight and survive! My soldiers! My friends! My love!’

Silver light erupted from his body. His fur shimmered. His wounds healed. And the war cry that followed shook the heavens. The ghouls froze. Even Dracule had to swallow hard. But his fear turned to joy.

‘That’s the beast I know! A king candidate—the true King of the Beasts, who once challenged the King. Let us bathe in blood and end the world while fighting!’

Dracule rose into the air. The sky turned blood-red as if drenched in gore. Then—giant blood worms shot down from the sky. Their fangs were forged of demon energy. They came in great numbers. Each fired energy blasts at the soldiers—at the commander. But it only took one swing of Nootra’s powerful arm. A wave of silver energy blasted forth, destroying all incoming attacks. His soldiers’ morale soared. Even Nicole smiled—until her joy vanished just as quickly as it had come.

(Nicole: Will he recognize us in that state?)

She couldn’t afford to dwell on the thought. The ghouls had resumed their assault. The soldiers formed a protective circle around Nicole, who needed time to recover her strength.

‘I knew that would be enough!’ Dracule roared.

His blood worms lunged at the commander. Nootra retaliated, tearing them apart with razor-sharp claws. Meanwhile, Dracule concentrated demon energy between his hands, slowly shaping it into a spear.

In the Past

Dracule lay on the ground—defeated. No amount of growling could change that. The King of the Beasts turned his back to him and said:

‘You were truly strong, my friend. But I fear I’ve become too powerful. Only a king candidate—or the King himself—can satisfy my hunger now. Grow stronger. One day, we’ll face each other again. I’ll always accept your challenge.’

‘Just wait! One day, our positions will be reversed. You’ll be the one at my feet!’

‘If that day comes, Dracule, I’ll gladly train again to face you. See you then.’

In the Present

Commander Nootra had effortlessly destroyed the blood worms. Their blood floated in the air—just as Dracule had foreseen. The blood morphed into chains, wrapping around the commander. They wouldn’t hold him for long, but they’d buy Dracule enough time for one final attack. He held the energy spear in his hand. It was so powerful that the hand holding it was slowly falling apart.

‘I will defeat you, King of the Beasts—even if it costs me my life! I prepared this special gift just for you. O cursed bone, carved by judgment— Trace the guilt in flesh and soul. Twist the heavens. Tear through fate— Akzhareth, pierce without mercy!’

He threw the spear. Just as the commander broke free, the spear struck—piercing through his body. A burst of light exploded, bathing the sky in violet. Nicole began to cry.

Dracule, on the other hand, rejoiced. He formed a fist and thumped his chest.

‘I did it. I finally beat him! After all these years of hellish training—it paid off. My friend, who is now the loser—’

The light dimmed. And revealed the commander. He was alive. The spear had pierced his chest—left a gaping hole. But he was still standing. Dracule, already pale, turned ghostly white. He had put everything into that final attack.

‘Hahaha… it seems it will be like last time. I am the loser.’

The commander surged forward at terrifying speed. Dracule didn’t move. What use was fighting now? The King of the Beasts had survived his final blow. Dracule spread his arms wide, like a father welcoming his son. Commander Nootra drove his claws through Dracule’s chest—ripped out his heart—and raised the bloodied organ in his hand. He crushed it. Blood spilled across his face.

The ghouls fled. The soldiers cheered. Only Nicole remained silent, watching the commander. Waiting for him to speak. As a human. But the commander let the heart fall—and turned to the soldiers. Nicole’s eyes widened.

‘His eyes…’ she whispered. ‘That’s not our commander. RUN!’

The next moment—the commander fired a silver energy blade at the group.

overview

chapter 55

chapter 57

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A Night is all I need – Chapter 55

‘Yes, a demon,’ the woman replied.

Dean slowly made space for her. But the woman teleported behind him.

‘But what are you? You're not human, yet you don’t give me the feeling of an immune one. Weird.’

Dean struggled to his feet. He shook out his hand and fingers, then rolled his shoulder.

‘Come on,’ he mumbled to himself.

The woman gave him a wide smile—then teleported again.

Dean was on guard. He didn’t know where she would appear, but she had to show up. He spun quickly, peered over his shoulder, then to his right and left—but no woman.

Only when he looked up did he see it—a leg came flying toward him, smashing him to the ground. The woman stepped back from his bleeding face.

‘Yes, you’re not human. I went for the kill with that attack—yet you're still alive. For now at least. Before I end you, tell me who you are.’

Dean chuckled as he stood up. He raised his arms.

‘Well then—die!’

The woman summoned two grey daggers. She bounced in place and inhaled deeply. The moment she emptied her lungs completely—she vanished.

Dean braced himself to face her head-on.

But ten of her appeared at once, pouncing on him from all directions. There was no way he could survive the assault.

The woman closed in, and Dean had no idea which one to focus on. Then he felt it. A raging storm inside him.

The storm surged into his fist, which began to glow golden. Dean suddenly knew what to do.

The light slowed the woman for a moment—but she pressed on regardless. All the afterimages went for a thrust.

Dean slammed his fist into the ground. Energy burst out of his hand and shot into the enemies. All the clones vanished—leaving only the real woman before him.

She was stunned. A blessing.

Dean wasted no time. He lunged forward, gathered all the energy into his fist, and struck her. Light exploded from the impact—destroying the woman completely.

Nothing remained.

Dean collapsed, gasping hard. Before he blacked out, he saw men in suits rushing toward him.

In the Forest

Fighting such a number of ghouls turned out to be harder than Nicole had expected. Luckily, she'd already been possessed once—so when a ghoul bit her, it only wounded her. Still, better not to get bitten at all.

Meanwhile, the commander and Dracule had taken the fight to the skies. The commander went for a slash—Dracule deflected. Another slash—this time it grazed Dracule’s arm. And another.

The commander didn’t stop. He became faster, each strike aimed closer to Dracule’s heart. Dracule chose to put more distance between them.

Immediately, the commander gave chase—unaware of the tiny blood droplets surrounding him. They morphed into long spikes and pierced his body.

At the same time, the blood that had entered him coursed through his veins and paralyzed him.

‘You lacked patience! Look where that got you,’ Dracule taunted. ‘You’re a beast, no doubt. But I know there’s more inside you!’

He gathered demonic energy in his palm and let the orb grow before firing it at the frozen commander—booooom.

When the smoke cleared, the commander was wounded but still standing.

Dracule fired again. And again. His laughter echoed through the sky.

Nicole noticed. But her hands were full—ghouls surrounded her. Tears formed in her eyes, but she couldn’t run to help.

‘Fuck!’ she cursed, beheading a charging ghoul.

She formed a giant scythe and swung it in a wide arc, slicing the ghouls before her in half. From behind, she shot blood blades at ghouls trying to flank her.

A powerful attack—but it came at a price. Nicole collapsed for the first time.

She gasped for air. When she raised her head to the heavens, it felt as though a force was pressing it down.

She needed a break. But Dracule was toying with the commander.

Then the commander screamed.

It wasn’t a war cry.

‘He’s in pain!’ Nicole realized. ‘You bastard!’

Forget the ghouls. She was going to tear that bastard apart—even if he was a Celestial.

Fueled by rage, she launched upward. She didn’t notice the giant ghoul that had emerged.

It leapt—landing above her—and slammed her back to the ground. Baaaamm. It landed hard.

Nicole’s head bled. She coughed up even more. Her right arm was mangled—useless.

Another giant ghoul emerged behind her.

Still, when she heard the commander’s tortured cry, she rose again.

She wasn’t done.

But she was unlucky. She was only facing ghouls—meaning she couldn’t drink their blood. It was rotten. Foul.

Vampires grow stronger by drinking blood. Depending on the quantity and compatibility, their power can double—or more.

The ghouls closed in. Their grunts were drowned out by the commander’s howls.

Peng, peng, peng… One after another, ghouls dropped.

Soldiers had come to help.

One ran to Nicole and held her upright, reporting:

‘Some of the soldiers—and Dean’s group—they made it out. They’re heading to the White House! We need to finish up here and join them!’

‘Yes… we should,’ Nicole said, breathing heavily. She hesitated, then added, painfully:

‘I doubt we’ll make it out alive.’

overview

chapter 54

chapter 56

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A Night is all I need – Chapter 54

The crash was bad—truly bad. The plane was destroyed, and yet most of the soldiers—Dean’s group included—had survived. Still, they had been separated during the crash. It had taken place in a forest. Dean was lucky; he had landed near the city, its lights shining brightly. However, he was alone.

‘Our goal was the White House! I might find others if I go there!’ And so, he started walking.

The others had more luck—they had stayed together. They were deeper in the forest, which seemed strangely alive. That’s when they heard footsteps. Ghouls were approaching. Their stench was foul, and their grunts hideous. Yet among them was a surprisingly calm, familiar voice:

‘We meet again, Kong of the Beasts!’ Dracule emerged from the darkness. ‘Last time I had a time limit—but this time, there is none!’

Commander Nootra remained composed. His eyes scanned the line of his soldiers, then Dean’s group, and finally halted at Nicole, who greeted him with a bright smile.

‘Hahahah! Everyone, listen to me! We have one mission, and it’s the White House. Fight your way through and destroy whatever stands in your path. If we fail, humanity fails! I’ll deal with this bastard!’

‘And I’ll take care of the ghouls!’ Nicole added. She wasted no time. Giant blood spears formed at her sides. She hurled them at the advancing ghouls, breaching the enemy line. ‘Now!’ she bellowed, and the others ran through the gap she had created.

Next, she activated her ability: Agro—forcing all the ghouls to focus their rage and attention solely on her. They stormed her. White and black ghouls, countless in number.

The commander shifted into his final form and let out a war cry—not to intimidate, but to inspire the scattered soldiers in the forest. Then he launched himself at the enemy.

In the Sky

The sky was ablaze. Tornadoes wreaked havoc across the land.

Seraphina and Saphire were both wounded—but both smiled.

They shot forward, weapons gripped tightly, and clashed—baaaaam! Seraphina went for a thrust, which Saphire managed to deflect. She countered with a slash Seraphina failed to block. Her blade sliced from Seraphina’s chest diagonally down to her waist.

Saphire didn’t stop. She summoned a tornado and crashed it into her opponent. Then she unleashed a wild flurry of sword swings. With every strike, wicked energy shot from her katana, smashing into Seraphina, who was still struggling against the storm. More tornadoes gathered—and Saphire felt confident in her victory.

‘Seems like that’s it! You were a formidable opponent. However, today—’ She stopped. Flames in the sky began to flow downward, gathering around Seraphina. The heat intensified, burning away the tornadoes.

Seraphina was far from defeated. Her voice, powerful and unwavering, proved it.

‘Hahahah, no, Saphire. You were a strong opponent. I was born in a thousand flames. My body is steel, and my soul is light.’

The gathering fire compressed into a small sun, hovering above her.

‘And victory is my destiny.’

Saphire gathered all her reserves and poured them into her sword.

‘Witness the new beginning of a sun.’

She shot forward, determined to stop Seraphina from releasing her power. As she drew near, her skin began to burn—her weapon glowed fiercely, even started to melt. The sun above Seraphina hadn’t grown much, but its heat was unbearable. Seraphina grabbed the blazing orb and fused it with her spear. Then she thrust it forward and roared:

‘Nova Burst!’

Saphire swung her sword one last time, putting everything she had into that final slash…

In the Forest

Larah led the charge, slicing through every tree that blocked her path. She moved quickly, her slashes tearing through the forest.

From the right, Sark called out:

‘Larah, calm down! You won’t get far like this! Right, Jessie?’

Jessie was to Larah’s left. She didn’t look much better—her mind was on Niyghel and John. She didn’t respond, even when Sark called again.

That’s when they felt it—the impact of Seraphina’s attack. The heat and pressure slammed into their backs. Still, Larah and Jessie pushed forward, ignoring the burning force. Finally, they broke through the forest’s edge.

Some soldiers joined them, gasping for breath. They glanced at the two women, then at Sark, who shrugged.

‘We don’t have any time to waste,’ Larah said. ‘What’s the fastest way to the White House?’

She looked over her shoulder at the soldiers, who were speechless. Sark, however, was not:

‘If we keep going straight, we’ll get there quickest. Surely the enemy will be waiting for us!’

‘I want them to wait for us,’ Larah grunted. Jessie added, ‘Hopefully Niyghel and John are also there.’

‘Damn, ladies! Chill! Why don’t we take another route?’ Sark suggested.

The women didn’t answer. They marched on.

Somewhere in the City

Dean wandered the streets, unsure where he was going. So far, he had encountered no one. The roads were empty.

‘Yes, I am the lucky one!’ Dean searched for the voice’s source. He looked up—and on top of a tall building, a woman sat.

(Dean: How did I hear her?)

In the blink of an eye, the woman vanished—and appeared behind him.

She had violet skin. Her dark hair was so long it touched the ground. She wore black leather boots, baggy black pants, and a violet hoodie clearly too big for her.

When Dean turned around—she vanished again.

‘You are too slow!’

Sweat broke across his forehead as he spun around.

This time he saw her—and her eyes.

‘A demon…’ he whispered— and then a fist slammed into his face, knocking him to the ground.

overview

chapter 53

chapter 55

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A Night is all I need – Chapter 53

‘So when are we going?’ Sarah wanted to know.

Michael stepped closer to the hole and stared down as he answered, ‘Today! But let me introduce you to my team first. I’ll be waiting for you!’ Then, he stepped into the hole—and vanished.

‘Who wants to go first?’ came a voice from Rick, who, by the way, was the farthest from the hole. Sarah responded by walking over to it. She gulped, turned to her soldiers, and said, ‘I’ll see you on the other side!’ And with that, she stepped into the hole—and disappeared.

Now, only two were left.

‘Were you worried a lot?’ Rick asked suddenly. His voice was soft, and even softer was his touch as he caressed Emilia’s hand. ‘Sorry—it wasn’t my plan to die and then just show up again!’ Emilia looked down at Rick’s arm touching hers—and chuckled.

‘How long have we been fighting together now? Around six years? We’ve faced many enemies and terrible situations. But this—this is on another scale!’

‘Well, we’re soldiers. Fighting and taking orders is all we know.’

‘Are you sure that’s all you know, Rick?’ Emilia raised her head and met Rick’s eyes. ‘You’ve become an immune one. You don’t have to worry anymore.’ Rick let go of her hand and placed his palm on her head.

‘Hey, I got you. Okay? And no—there’s more that I know. But all of that comes after we make it through whatever the hell is going on right now. Now get moving—into that dark pit, hahaha!’ Emilia thumped Rick’s chest, grinned, and ran toward the hole. Then, she too was gone.

Suddenly, sand formed next to Rick, taking on a female shape. What was more surprising was that it could speak: ‘It’s me—Zahira!’

‘Damn. I thought you could only speak in my head!’

‘Nah! I prefer this. Also... that woman—you like her a lot!’

‘Yes, I do. Why?’

‘Right now, love is a luxury we can't afford. That so-called king—I know who he is. His name is Temphael. He’s strong. Really strong. I can’t imagine us defeating him!’

‘Whoa, chill. We haven’t even seen the full strength of the leader’s team yet.’

‘I admit, that leader is powerful. I couldn’t quite gauge his abilities—but he may be a Celestial. Still, that won’t be enough! Even among the king candidates, Temphael was one of the strongest. If that leader is the best they have… well, we’ll need a lot of luck on our side!’

And with that, Rick strolled over to the hole. The sand dispersed— and a moment later, he too was gone.

In Paradise

The villa already looked grand from the outside, but its interior was even more magnificent. The soldiers had all taken a bath and were now eating together at a long table.

Pandora descended the stairs in a stunning white dress, a golden amulet hanging from a delicate chain. When Rayshel noticed Dae gawking at her, she rammed her elbow into his ribs and said:

‘If I wanted to, I could look even prettier than her!’

‘And… do you want to?’

‘Why should I? Do you want me to?’

‘Now’s not the time for that. Pandora, is there a special occasion?’

‘Yes! Today the King will host a festival. During it, he’ll choose people for something important. I really hope he chooses me. If you want, you could attend as well!’

‘Thanks for the offer, but I’ll have to decli—’

‘Why?’ Rayshel interrupted, jumping to her feet. ‘Do you think I won’t look good if I go?’

‘Damn, Rayshel—please. Not now!’

‘Yes. Now. We’ve been fighting all this time, without a single break!’

‘And what do you think this is right now?’

‘A small break. Then we’re back to the battlefield! Now that I think about it… I’ve been fighting my entire life. Never once had a chance to experience something like this. And now the world is ending.’

She turned to Dae. Her eyes locked on his, her pulse quickening. Normally, battle was the cause of such a reaction. But now— there was another reason.

‘Dae, before the world truly ends—before I die—just once. Just once… I want to do something like this. And well—’ she puffed out her cheeks and crossed her arms, ‘I wish I had someone to take me to the festival.’

Silence fell. All eyes turned to Dae. Even the maidens standing meters away from the table paused and waited.

Dae sighed and rose to his feet.

‘Rayshel, do you want to be my date for today?’

‘YEEEEEESSSS!’ she yelled, leaping into his arms. He caught her and added:

‘And after that… we’re gone!’

In the King’s Chamber

Temphael sipped golden wine as Angelica entered the room to report.

‘Everything is ready for the festival, my King. However… I have a question. Wouldn’t it be a waste to sacrifice everyone here? Some of them show potential. I mean—if we’re lucky, we might get another success like her.’

‘Indeed. But time is running out. The last thing I need is other king candidates crossing over—or the king himself. I can handle Celestials and lower ranks easily. But the others… Still, the army we have now should suffice. And even if it doesn't—you have me. I am an army by myself. What about the man you captured?’

‘He’s finished. His condition hasn’t improved. It looks like he’s now battling the demon for control over his body. If this continues, his mind will shatter.’

‘Hmm. I see. Send guards for him later. He’ll be part of the sacrifice.’

‘Yes, my King.’

In the Prison

It was dark, damp, and cramped. The walls were so close that they pressed against Nade on either side. Chains bound him. Chains that—under normal conditions—would never hold a Celestial.

But in his current state, they were more than enough.

They drained his power.

(Glacia: Just give me your body, and you’ll be free of the pain! That man on the throne—his name is Temphael. I know he’s going to kill us!)

‘You can’t die. Not while you’re in my body. Your soul will return to your world.’

(Glacia: That should be the case. But I’m sure he’ll find a way to destroy me for good. And these chains—they bind me to you! If you die while we’re still connected, I’ll die with you!)

‘Then we die.’

overview

chapter 52

chapter 54

[rtblack]

A Night is all I need – Chapter 52

"It all began when the moon turned red!" Michael began. "Tell me, how many days have passed for you?"

"I would say around two days," Sarah replied. "Why?"

"Time here flows slower. It changes as it pleases. Sometimes ten days here can be one day outside—or just one day. Sometimes it even goes faster. I found out when—"

"Wait," Sarah interrupted. "What’s the current situation then?"

"Sorry, I can’t tell you. Only the King knows. He can manipulate time and space. You know demons and angels have ranks. The highest rank after the King or Queen is 'Noble'. But there are people called King or Queen candidates. They’re not as strong as the King, but trust me—they could challenge one. And the one who controls this space is a King candidate. When all this shit started, it was chaos. We only saw black ghouls. But one day, that King appeared with his own army and helped us. He said that to keep us safe, we had to hide underground. Maybe he just didn’t want people to see how the white ghouls devoured everyone on the surface. Things were peaceful... but here and there, he would take people and call them 'the chosen ones'. Some came back, others didn’t—and of course, he always had some lie to tell us. The people were blind and believed everything. The ones who returned from the chamber had changed. Maybe you’ve already seen one—"

"I assume the smiling man," Rick said, and Michael nodded.

"Yes! One day it was my turn. And as blind as I was, I went there full of energy. There are two reasons why you're called to the chamber: either as a chosen one or as food. I was the latter. The moment the gates closed behind me, he revealed his true self. And before I knew it, my arm was between his fangs. I wanted to know why he did that. I thought he was a savior," Michael stomped the ground, his jaw tightening. "He decided to tell me because I was about to die. The priests and some angels were planning a union at the White House. They decided that instead of fighting each other, sharing the world would be a better idea. Not everyone agreed, but they had no choice. The King was a loud opponent of that treaty. He also hated his Queen. He said he should ascend the throne—and if he couldn’t, he’d create his own. So he holed himself up here and began experimenting to create his own army—"

"He would then kill the other demons and angels," Sarah concluded. "That’s good. Let the two forces weaken each other!"

"Well, it’s not that simple. Right now, his army isn’t strong enough. So he decided to stop the ritual that summons the demons and angels. There are two ways to stop those rituals. One is to fight your way through and destroy the altar by force. But destroying an altar takes a huge amount of power. Even a Noble couldn’t do it. Maybe the King could—if he used all his strength. But he’d be depleted. That’s no good for him. So now he wants to sacrifice the humans down here. Over the years, people have come to this place, but no one has ever left. I told you—he controls this space!"

Sarah crouched, cursing. "Fuck! We have no choice but to attack him. The time, the sacrifices, the experiments!" She stood again and paced the room, massaging her temple. Then she stopped. "Okay, then how did you escape? And why do you have two arms?"

"Back then, he offered me to some ghouls—and of course, I fought back. The first one bit me, and then I felt it: I was one of the immune. The King decided to spare me and take me under his wing. I played along until I found out about some artifacts. That hole over there belonged to the King. I stole it. Down there, he can’t track us. Same goes for everything within a certain radius. So don’t worry about us talking out here. I’ll keep it short. Are you with us? We plan to attack soon."

Sarah gulped, mumbling to herself, "And I thought it couldn’t get any worse... Michael, leader of the Resistance—you have our support."

In the King’s Chamber

The door opened, and Angelica entered. Behind her, two ghouls dragged Nade along. Angelica bowed, placing one hand on her chest. "I greet you, my great King!"

"Welcome back, Angelica. And you seem to have brought someone. Who is that?"

"That human is possessed by Glacia. I thought bringing him alive might be the better choice."

"Hahahaha, oh Angelica. It was the better choice. Throw him in the prison and put the chains on him. He may be possessed by a Noble, but we’re talking about Glacia—and in his condition, the chains should be enough."

"I shall do that, my King."

"Were there others?"

"Yes, but they escaped, my King," Angelica said, bowing her head further and hiding her one shuddering arm behind her back.

"I see. Don’t worry. I wouldn’t be surprised if they met—" his voice grew rougher, "Michael."

"My King, why didn’t you hunt him down?"

"Let him have his fun. He wants to play leader? So be it. As long as he comes back bringing his resistance, I don’t mind. More people to sacrifice."

"But are you sure he’ll come back? I mean, he could just wait. Why would he care that we’re sacrificing citizens?"

"His sister is here."

In Paradise

Dae and the others had reached Pandora’s house. Well, it was more of a villa than a house. At the villa, maidens waited and welcomed them with bows.

"Who are you?" Dae demanded.

Pandora stopped and turned around. "I saved many people by bringing them here and offering them a new life. The King, of course, is pleased with my service and loyalty. He bestowed a title upon me and gave me an even better life. I lost my family on the first day of the apocalypse. But he told me that in the future, I would have a big family—and so a villa was just right. Maybe I’ll even become a chosen one! I’m so happy! But okay, enough about me. Let me show you in!"

Somewhere

"My friend," Abaddon said. "I think I’ll leave first. Seraphina joined Dean."

"Then you’ll join my other son, my friend," the man replied. He looked over at the woman who stood before the gate, channeling her power into it. "After we’ve set enough precautions, we’ll join you."

overview

chapter 51

chapter 53

[rtblack]

A Night is all I need – Chapter 51

In the Plane

Some soldiers were clutching their dog tags, rubbing them for some time now. Others seemed to be praying, while a few had simply clasped their heads. Each had their own way of displaying fear — the fear that the plane might not make it through whatever was heading their way. However, some remained calm, for they knew that someone was outside — and that someone was Seraphina.

The commander had crossed his arms and leaned back; with his eyes closed, he appeared anything but worried. Nicole, who was sitting next to him, was the same. Dean was gazing out the window, and when Seraphina flew past the plane, he rejoiced and mumbled:

"We are going to make it!" "Of course we are!" Sark uttered.

Outside

The monsters were so great in number that it seemed as if the sky on their side had turned dark — maybe it had. Nevertheless, Seraphina pushed on, right into the enemy. The shrieks of the monsters reached her, yet when she let out her own roar, it shook the heavens and overpowered theirs. Then she breathed fire — and it was so powerful that it seemed to swallow the sky itself, burning a great number of enemies. They, however, chose to disperse and attack Seraphina from the sides. She slapped her wings and rose upward.

There, she breathed fire even higher and once again ascended — right into her own flames. Clad in fire, she beat her wings, thus creating tornados — fire tornados. These tornados spread to the sides, just like the enemy had done, and swallowed them up, ripping and burning their wings.

This seemed easy. Too easy. Well, it seemed like the monsters had company.

The flying ghouls ceased their attack and made way for Saphire. She had already transformed, though she remained in her humanoid form. Her tails whirled in the air, accompanied by strong winds and tornados.

"We meet again!" she bellowed, displaying her katana. "Are you ready for round two?"

Seraphina switched to her final form and immediately summoned her spear, replying:

"Always! And this time, we’ll see it through to the end, Saphire!"

She shot forward, clad in flames. Saphire responded in kind — only she was wrapped in a tornado, and her sword radiated demon energy.

The two women clashed, creating such immense pressure that the planes and ghouls were shoved away by it — the ghouls less affected than the planes. The planes had by now taken out their cannons. The chaos caused by the two warriors was perfect — and so the cannons let loose, wreaking havoc among the enemy lines. Ghoul after ghoul dropped, adding to the countless corpses drifting in the sea.

As the planes continued their way toward America, Seraphina shouted one last time:

"Dean, just trust yourself! You can, will, and have to do it! You are their son! Prove it!"

Then she focused back on the fight, for she would need everything to defeat the foe before her.

In the Plane (Later)

By now, the soldiers had calmed down a little. The radio crackled to life:

"We are soon reaching our destination. The city is hidden in smoke, so prepare yourself for whatever may lurk in there!"

And just as the radio went off, the planes entered the smoke. Not one second later, the lights went out, and the plane began to descend, the engines going wild. Even now, the commander was calm. He slowly opened his eyes, and his voice came to use:

"Prepare yourselves. We are entering enemy territory. We have one — and only one — mission: Capture the White House! That’s where the altar is. That’s where our road to freedom lies. That’s where we’ll claim our victory! Are you with me?!"

His soldiers — Dean, Sark, Jessie, and Larah — let out a war cry that drowned out the sound of the crash...

In the White House

In the center of the White House, the black altar had been erected. Weird symbols — surely not human — had been carved into it, glowing in violet and gold. Priests had gathered around it. Light and dark priests. They were praying to the altar, occasionally raising their heads to look up at the crack in the heavens. From it, hands were protruding — and judging by their form, these were no hands of humans.

One priest rose to his feet and exited the building. An army was waiting there.

The priest spread his arms and announced:

"We have unbidden guests. Go and welcome them!"

And with that, the army began to move. They would find the intruders — and deal with them.

In Dafton City

Michael was at the front. In one arm, he was carrying a child, and with the other, he held the hand of another. Sarah and the others followed close behind him. They reached the door — and someone opened it for them.

"Come in," Michael offered and was the first to step inside.

The person who had let them in was a blonde woman — and she was the only one in the vast building. There was almost no furniture. However, even stranger was the hole in the center of the room.

The woman took the child by the arms and walked over to the hole. The moment she stepped onto the darkened area, they simply vanished.

"Fuck!" Emilia cursed and turned to Rick, who stood staggered himself. Sarah had managed to hold back her surprise — well, ever since the apocalypse, everything had been more or less surprising to her.

Michael turned to them, demanding:

"What brings you here? You brought us the children — thanks. But what exactly is your mission?"

Sarah was the one to respond:

"A friend of ours was taken by the enemy. And listening to the children speak earlier, I suppose they’re your enemy too, right? We seem to have the same goal."

"It seems like it, President! Well, we also have another reason for going there. Of course, we want to free everyone and kill that self-proclaimed King, but we need an artifact! You saw that hole, right? It’s an artifact. There’s another one in the King's chamber — one that can teleport us to the White House!"

Sarah narrowed her eyes and stepped toward Michael.

"How do you know that — and why do you want to go to the White House?"

"Looking at your expression, I’d say I’m not the only one who needs a quick trip to the White House! I need to go there to stop the priests from summoning hell on earth. And as for the source of my information — well, I think I should enlighten you..."

overview

chapter 50

chapter 52

[rtblack]

A Night is all I need – Chapter 50

In Dafton City

The group had reached the end of the stairs. And what they saw, they surely did not expect. Down here, in Paradise, there was indeed no sky, though the overhang had been painted in different colors—most of the time blue. The air was nice, even fresher than on the surface, and a pleasant wind slapped against the bodies of Dae and the others, hushing away their foul odor and sweat. Down here, it felt so good that the soldiers had to moan. Right after, they dropped to their knees. For days they had not rested well. At any moment, a ghoul or worse could appear. The stress had worn the soldiers down.

Pandora turned around and pointed at the several people walking around. They seemed to be in a market. Everywhere, tents had been erected, and fish, meat, and other things were being sold. One person noticed the group and approached them. It was a little girl with long black hair. She was carrying bread. When she saw Pandora, her slow walk turned into a sprint. She hugged her, and Pandora replied in kind.

“Here, for you,” the girl uttered and handed Dae her bread. Dae accepted it reluctantly, replying:

“Won’t you need it yourself?”

“No, you eat it. I’m already full, hahahah! It’s good bread!” Pandora patted the girl’s head, and not long after, the girl hopped away.

“The bread is not poisoned,” Pandora informed Dae. “And don’t worry. Down here, everything is in abundance. Everyone is kind, and we share—our food, our water, our luck, and also our pain. Many people here lost someone dear to them. So the least we can do is live our lives to the fullest and in a good way. All of this became possible through our King. Maybe you’ll even meet him later! For now, follow me!”

“Where?” Dae demanded. He felt Rayshel’s gaze on him—or rather on his bread. So he broke it in two and tossed one half over to her. Then he tasted the bread, and his face alone was enough to show how delicious it was.

“I told you the bread is good!” Pandora reminded them. “Everything down here is good. And you’re coming to my place. You need to wash and eat!”

“I don’t think we need that, Pandora,” Dae replied. “I thank you for everything, but—” The grumbling of the soldiers stopped him. He looked over his shoulder, then back to Pandora, then at Rayshel, who was done eating her bread and rubbing her stomach. “Okay, let’s do it. But we don’t stay any longer than needed!” And everyone rejoiced.

Somewhere else in Dafton City

The girls had guided the group to an abandoned building. It was at the edge of the city, and aside from that building, there was nothing else in sight. The ground was destroyed—no lush areas. One could even argue the ground was dead. The holes only made it uglier. They strode on, the girls in front and holding their hands.

They halted before the gate.

“What now?” Sarah wanted to know. Rick and Emilia stood behind them, watching for potential danger.

“Now we wait,” one girl replied and pointed at a door in the distance that had just opened. A man stepped out. He had dark skin, which stood in deep contrast to his golden-white eyes. He was tall and broad, wearing a black coat. (Zahira: He’s strong! Really strong!) The man slowly approached the gate. Along the way, his eyes switched between the girls and the others dozens of times. At last, he came to a halt and shot out his question:

“Your parents!” ... “I see. I’m sorry. It’s not every day I get a visit from a president. Though, looking at the situation, that title carries no weight anymore.”

“It does!” Rick and Emilia replied.

“If I were to attack your president now, what would you do?” Rick stepped forward, his eyes glowing faintly.

“Try me.” (Zahira: You can’t take him on!)

“What is your angel telling you right now?” the man demanded, his eyes narrowing to a sharp line. “I can guess. She’s warning you, right?”

“I don’t care what she says. One thing’s sure—I’ll at least take one of your arms!”

“Hahahaha! Exactly! That’s the spirit!” The gate swiftly opened. Combined with the man’s reaction, the group was left in surprise. Only the girls ran to the man, who took them into a hug.

“Hahaha! Did I scare you?” the man asked, and they shook their heads. Then he put them down and approached Sarah.

“I am Michael, the leader of the Resistance!”

In the air

“Are you thinking about what your mother said?” Larah wanted to know. She was sitting to Dean’s right. Sark was to his left, and Jessie sat next to Sark—sleeping, weapon tightly gripped. Dean’s gaze wandered down Larah’s arm and locked onto the sword.

“My mother surely knew what she was talking about. However, she never said it would happen—only that there was a great possibility.” He lifted his head to meet her eyes. “Larah, don’t succumb to the demon, to hate, or other negative emotions. Never forget the love you carry in your heart. Don’t forget hope. Don’t forget me.”

“Dean, I’ll never—” The plane lurched into turmoil. Then the radio went on:

“We are under attack! Brace yourselves!”

Dean rushed to a window and saw Seraphina—in her dragon form—rushing past the plane, straight toward the enemy. Birds were flying toward them. But they weren’t normal birds—these had turned into ghouls. They were much larger now. Some of their feathers had fallen off. Their claws were immense, and their fangs would rip anything apart. One of them alone could threaten the plane—and now, a whole herd was approaching.

Indeed, brace yourself!

overview

chapter 49

chapter 51

[rtblack]

A Night is all I need – Chapter 49

Dean and Seraphina sat on a wide green couch. While Seraphina lounged comfortably, Dean’s limbs were tucked in, jaw clenched and shoulders tense.

“Mother, you wanted to tell me something?”

“Yes, son. Well…” She stood, cracking her fingers. “I’ll be straight with you—”

“You’re not our real parents. Yeah, we know.”

“How do you know that?”

“You and Dad have loud voices.”

“Haha, yeah, that’s true. Well, that’s one problem less. Okay, now to your real parents. This will come as a shock, but… you’re the children of the daughter of the angel queen and the son of the demon king.”

Dean’s eyes widened. He looked down at his open palm, then to Seraphina, who smiled and nodded. Dean massaged his temple, slowly leaning back.

“I told you it would surprise you,” she said.

“More than just surprise! But… why? Where are they? Why did you do that? What am I? What are you? What—”

“Calm down, boy! Hahaha! Step by step. Before demons and angels began gathering on Earth, two from each side were sent here—your mother and father. They were ordered to eliminate threats and prepare for the invasion. But they met, fought… and fell in love. Crazy, right? But love knows no limits.”

She paused, then continued.

“They created the immune ones—to help humanity fight back. Secretly, they opposed both demons and angels. But it was too late… the invasion was coming.”

“Damn, how old are they? Over 200 years?”

“Yes. Me too, by the way. But age doesn’t matter. We feel young. That’s it.” (Dean: I better not bring up age again or she might get pissed!)

“Well, it was worse for your father. He killed his own mother. His father cursed him with immortality and stole his powers. Though still stronger than a human, he was nowhere near what he once was.”

“Wait—he fought my mom?”

“Yes. He learned to twist the curse into strength. When the demon king found out about their love, he didn’t lift the curse—he exiled him forever. Your mother’s story was different. Her father was dead, her mother still alive… but heartbroken. She blamed your father, and all demons. She swore to destroy them. I’m not sure she would take her daughter back—but it wasn’t as brutal as with your dad.”

“They sealed the gate. We—me and Abaddon—were their closest friends. They asked us to raise you, far away from all this. We agreed. At the same time, the priests rose again. So we infiltrated them, killing from within.”

She sighed.

“Now, the world’s a mess. It’s only a matter of time before another invasion. I’m sure you’ll meet your parents soon… though I hope not.”

“Why?”

“Because if you see them, it means things are so bad that even they had to step in. Now, any questions?”

“That’s a lot. Wait—what am I? That golden light from my body?”

“Ah yes. Seems like you inherited your mother’s power.”

“So… I’m an angel. Damn!”

“Yes. Damn. And I hope this stays between us. Your parents thought they were helping humanity—but humans… they’re sometimes worse than demons. That’s why immune ones were designed to fade over time. Once the world was safe, they too would disappear. Full-blooded immune ones were too powerful.”

“What’s the plan now, mother?”

“You can call me Seraphina.”

“I can—but I don’t want to. Even if we’re not related by blood, you raised us. I’ll never forget that.”

Seraphina smiled.

Larah stormed in, wielding a katana—black, glowing violet.

Dean jumped up. “What did you do, Larah? Do you—”

“I don’t care. They have Hope!” Her head lowered, voice cracking. “I’m helpless… I couldn’t do anything. But now I can help fight! Take Hope back!”

Seraphina stepped forward. “Are you truly ready to sell your soul for that? I feel anger and hatred in you. That weapon feeds on it—and grows stronger. If you’re not careful, it will—”

“I don’t care! You wouldn’t understand. When I first saw you… I knew you were strong. But leave me be!” Larah turned to Dean, locking eyes. “I always knew you were different—but not like this. Still, I don’t care.”

She stepped closer, chest to chest, heartbeats syncing, breaths mingling.

“Dean, I love you. I always did. And no matter what you are, I’ll love you. It took an apocalypse for this moment. I should’ve told you sooner. But now I’m sure. My body, my soul… I long for you.”

Dean stared. His breath quickened. Larah stepped back—but he grabbed her waist and pulled her close.

“Larah, my whole life I imagined one woman strong enough to stand by me. It was always you. You drive me crazy. You bring out the best in me. I love you.”

He kissed her—hot, fierce, passionate.

“I hate to ruin the moment,” Seraphina cut in, “but do you love her enough to kill her—if you must? That katana… I don’t know what demon it holds, but its energy frightens even me.”

Dean turned, still holding Larah.

“That won’t happen. We’ll go to America, save Hope, and all return—together.”

“Well spoken, Dean!” Sark called from the doorway. “They’re preparing. Next station—America!”

(Seraphina: Her soul… it’s already fused with that weapon. No one here had such perfect compatibility. It may already be too late…)

overview

chapter 48

chapter 50

[rtblack]

A Night is all I need – Chapter 48

“Damn!” Rick uttered and turned his head slightly, wrinkling his nose.

The man let out a deafening cry, shaking the already crumbling rooftop. Rick glanced at Emilia and nodded. She understood, dashed to the helicopter, and prepared for takeoff.

The man spotted the escape attempt and bent down, ready to leap—but stopped. The sand beneath his feet writhed, forming into chains that coiled around his limbs. He grunted, struggling, but in vain.

The helicopter rose into the sky. Trapped and furious, the man redirected his rage at Rick, who dashed forward. As he ran, Rick shaped the sand into a scythe. He leapt and slashed, but the man had freed one arm and used it to block. The blade struck—but the arm held firm.

“You’ll die here,” the man growled.

“Another person—well, ghoul—said the same. Where is he now?”

Below, near the heart of the crumbling structure

The sand columns thinned rapidly. Nade stood, clutching his chest, breath ragged, skin pale.

“Just give up and come with me!” Angelica demanded.

“I’m far from over, Angelica!” Nade smiled, forcing up one arm. It was already frosting over. The air temperature plummeted. Though Angelica had called off the ghouls, their instincts flared. A few broke ranks and crept toward Nade.

“I told you to do nothing!” Angelica barked and, with one slash, beheaded the nearest ghoul.

The rest hesitated. Some growled behind her, others began retreating.

“Be judged by the heavens,” Nade whispered.

Back on the rooftop

Rick clashed with the mutated man. Each blow he softened with sand—but the hits still hurt. Cuts covered his body. The man bled too, but not deeply.

Then both paused.

Above them, clouds gathered—dense, dark, and swirling. At their center: a sphere of pale blue light, so cold it froze the air around it.

(Zahira: We must leave! I know that attack—Glacia used it during the war. It's not at full power… lucky us! But run—NOW!)

Rick turned to the man. The giant’s attention was fixed on the sky. Rick seized the chance, surged forward, and swung low. His scythe tore through the man’s legs. Before he could rise, new sand chains wrapped around him, anchoring him to the crumbling roof.

The helicopter had vanished—but Rick saw the direction. Without hesitation, he jumped off the building.

Inside

“Damn, you're getting serious, Nade. I'm getting chills,” he muttered.

(Angelica: This is more than I expected. I can counter it—but it'll cost me! Damn it, then…)

“Attack him!” she roared.

That was the ghouls' cue. In a tidal wave of rage, they stormed Nade.

Angelica shattered the floor beneath her. She would use the falling ghouls, her power, and the building as her shield.

Nade remained calm.

(Glacia: If you're unlucky, you'll survive. And so will she.)

(Nade: Didn’t you want me to lose?)

(Glacia: I want you to die. I have a weird feeling about this place—and that puts me in danger!)

“Curse your bad luck, Glacia. Now let’s end this. Ice Age – Heavenly Punishment – Dragon Roar!”

Outside

Rick plummeted—but Zahira summoned the sand to swirl around the building, slowing his fall. He landed safely.

(Zahira: Get away—NOW!)

Rick noticed ghouls nearby, but they were fleeing, uninterested in him. He didn’t question Zahira. He ran, careful not to be followed.

Just as he reached a safe distance, the light above the tower pulsed violently. A dragon-shaped blast of ice, coiled like a serpent, emerged from the heavens and screamed as it descended.

The rooftop, still holding the chained man, froze solid in an instant.

Then—the ice dragon struck.

overview

chapter 47

chapter 49

[rtblack]

A Night is all I need – Chapter 47

They all turned to the door. There he was—standing tall. The ghoul’s bite had left a scar, but all other wounds were gone. Rick was alive and kicking.

“Why do you declare me dead?” he asked, arms crossed.

“You idiot!” Emilia barked. “What happened to you?!”

Some minutes before

The ghoul had buried its fangs in Rick. Everything had turned black—until the pain snapped him back. Another ghoul stood tall above him.

“Seems like that’s it. I should take care of the others,” it said and turned toward the stairs.

Rick’s body twitched. The infection was spreading

(Voice in Rick’s mind: Finally! I get to possess someone, and he looks this wrecked? And he’s an immune one!)

“An immune one?” Rick groaned, his body clinging to life.

(Voice in Rick’s mind: Yes. Let’s keep it short—you’re dying. I always hated angels and demons. I admire humans. Let’s form a contract.)

“Why should I?”

(Voice in Rick’s mind: Because immune ones these days are fragile. Demons or angels either take over slowly—or rip their soul apart resisting. Quick death or slow agony. Take your pick.)

“What’s your name?”

(Voice in Rick’s mind: Call me Zahira.)

Her voice turned distinctly female. Rick’s wounds began healing. The ghoul beside him dried out, like sand in the wind.

(Zahira: I control sand. And I’m a Noble.)

“A Noble?”

(Zahira: Yes. Third-highest rank. You’re lucky to have me, hahaha!)

“We’ll see.”

Suddenly, the building shook. Nade and Angelica’s clash had destabilized everything. Zahira guided Rick—he pressed his hands to the floor. Sand burst out, forming thick columns that braced the walls and sealed the lower level.

When the smoke cleared, Angelica gazed at the sand, then at Nade.

“Seems like that person doesn’t belong to you.”

“And neither to you,” Nade replied, struggling to breathe but refusing to fall. He dashed forward, ice spikes bursting with every step.

Angelica responded with her own charge, golden spheres glowing in her palms.

Meanwhile, the rooftop door creaked open. The ghoul stepped forward—then froze. Something massive was behind him. Sand spears ripped through his body. Rick emerged from the shadows.

“Told you—no future for you.”

The ghoul collapsed, drained dry. Rick strolled past and headed for the roof exit.

That’s when Emilia’s voice rang out: “Rick, you idiot! Now I have to deal with this alone!”

He grinned as he stepped outside. “What do you mean? I’m here.”

Everyone turned, stunned and relieved. Except for one.

The man lunged.

Rick didn’t hesitate. He charged. Their fists collided—but Rick’s fist swelled with sand, forming a giant mass that crushed the enemy’s punch and hurled him off the rooftop.

As the scream vanished into the distance, Rick dashed toward Emilia.

Below them, Angelica and Nade’s clash shattered more sand columns. The building tilted.

Then—a deep roar shook the sky.

The man returned, crashing from above. His body was warped—bulkier, claws sharpened, fangs exposed. His stench reeked of rot and rage.

“I am a Chosen One!” he bellowed, his voice doubled and distorted. “I won’t be defeated by the likes of you!”

overview

chapter 46

chapter 48

[rtblack]

A Night is all I need – Chapter 46

“How beautiful!” the ghoul mocked. “Do you think they’ll remember your sacrifice? Hahahaha!”

He kicked Rick hard against the wall. Rick slammed into it but still clutched his daggers. Blood spilled from his mouth, but he pushed himself up, fingers tightening around the blades.

“Before worrying about me, think about your own future. Oh wait—you don’t have one.”

The horde surged forward, but one ghoul was faster. It leapt down—just one level away. Rick watched it close in, arms raised. Rick dove to the ground as the ghoul’s swing crushed the wall behind him. He rolled up, already on his feet, and clashed with the attacker. Grabbing its arm, Rick slammed the creature into the floor.

“You forgot about me!” another ghoul hissed, raking claws across Rick’s chest. Blood sprayed as cold spread from the wound through Rick’s limbs.

“Damn… guess that’s it for me,” Rick muttered.

He turned his head—and the ghoul lunged, biting into his shoulder.

“Fuck,” was the last word Rick uttered before darkness took him.

Nade was on his knees, panting, struggling to stay conscious.

“Is that all a Celestial can do?” Angelica taunted. “Though... the demon in you seems more rebellious than usual. Looking at who possessed you, no wonder. You’re truly unlucky.”

“He must be someone famous…” Nade gasped, forcing himself upright. It felt like the air itself pressed down on him, like gravity had tripled. “Well, seems I have no choice. Glacia... if I’m lucky, I’ll die—and you’ll be free.”

(Glacia: So a half transformation? That could cost you your life. And with your condition… I’m convinced it will.)

“Good. Then you’ll finally be free of me.”

The flickering lights died. The air grew cold—familiar, bitter cold. Nade welcomed it.

The floor and walls iced over. Angelica stepped back, smiling brightly.

“Now this gets interesting. I’m Angelica. Right hand of the king.”

“Angelica, huh? No idea why you’d tell me your name… but if you’re unlucky, this is the last time anyone hears it.”

His hair turned snow-white, flowing long and smooth. His black eyes glowed deep, icy blue.

Angelica raised her hands—fingers splayed, palms connected. Nade summoned an ice spear in his right arm, raw power radiating from it.

He hurled it. The spear cut through the air, freezing it in its path. Angelica gathered light between her palms and fired.

Both attacks collided. BOOOOOOM.

On the Roof

The three women stood ready—prepared to die if it meant stopping the monster.

The man simply stood there, grinning.

“You can walk faster,” he teased. “Or we’ll be here all day. Hahahaha!”

Then—Nade and Angelica’s clash detonated a few floors below. The shockwave hit the rooftop like an earthquake. The women staggered, their focus drawn to the chaos beneath.

A fatal mistake.

When they looked back—he was gone.

A bam. They whipped around—too late.

The mother had taken the blow. Her face was smashed, body crumpled. Her children screamed, rushing toward her.

Sarah and Emilia acted fast. Emilia fired. The man caught the bullets—barehanded.

Sarah grabbed both children and sprinted toward the helicopter.

“Out of bullets?” the man grinned, opening his hand. Spent rounds clinked to the ground.

Faced with him, Emilia yelled out, “Rick, you idiot! Now I have to deal with this alone!”

“What do you mean?” came a voice behind her. “I’m here.”

overview

chapter 45

chapter 47

[rtblack]

A Night is all I need – Chapter 45

The father locked eyes with his children—his everything. Tears welled up and burst forth, dripping to the floor. “Father loves,” he whispered, then rose and slammed his fist into the man’s face. The ground shattered, cracks spiderwebbing across the room as everything began to collapse. And then—he was gone, swallowed by the hole.

At the front, Nade was still fighting. His heavy breathing said it all—he wouldn’t hold out much longer. Just in time, Sarah and the others passed behind him. But a ghoul slipped through, then another, pouncing toward the group. Rick unleashed his guns, taking them down, but now he was out of ammo. Emilia didn’t hesitate, ushering everyone toward the stairwell.

Inside, Sarah cursed as she heard footsteps echo from above. “Damn! They’re coming from here too. We have to hurry!”

The family followed close behind her. Rick came next. Emilia paused at the doorway, glancing back at Nade, whose drenched face looked near collapse. Although he had his back to her, he must’ve sensed her concern—he spoke without turning.

“Protect Sarah, will you?”

His legs buckled slightly, but his willpower screamed: Not yet. His time hadn’t come.

And then—he saw her.

A woman stepped out among the ghouls. Long blonde hair. Tanned skin. Eyes of black and gold. An angel.

She clicked her tongue, and the ghouls froze.

“An immune one,” she murmured, hips swaying as she approached. “You can come quietly... or I can make you. Your choice.”

Nade’s skin burned. The inner war with his demon threatened to tear him apart. “I really got unlucky,” he muttered. “First, I’m stuck with a stubborn-ass demon, and now I’m facing a Noble.”

“Oh? You know our ranks. Then you must also know how powerful a Noble is.”

“Yeah. One step below a Celestial. If I could use my demon’s full power, you wouldn’t be a problem.”

She laughed. “That arrogance... that smirk... I’ll rip it off your face.”

“Then come, bitch.”

Midway Up the Stairwell

Emilia led the charge, Rick bringing up the rear. Their bodies burned, muscles screaming, but they kept going—until a ghoul smashed through the door one level up and blocked the stairs. It scanned the group and smiled.

Emilia shot. The ghoul dodged with ease.

“Good thing I took the elevator from the other side,” he grinned. “I’m a smart man, wouldn’t you say?”

They froze. Even the mother spoke in disbelief. “That ghoul… he’s also an experim—”

“Don’t call me an experiment! I’m a product! And if you say that again, you’ll be the first to die—and not in a pretty way, ma’am. Hahaha!”

Another bullet missed him. That’s when Rick stepped past Emilia, drawing two daggers.

“Miss President,” he said calmly, “it’s been a pleasure serving you.”

“What do you mean? We can make it together! We—”

“I don’t have long. I was hoping we’d find a doctor here... but the last fight left its mark.” He pulled off his shirt—wounds everywhere. Red, swollen, purple, bleeding.

But his voice was steady. “I’ll create an opening. Don’t think. Just run. Now!”

He charged. No fear. Just purpose.

The ghoul struck first—too fast. His hand clamped around Rick’s throat. But Rick didn’t flinch. He waved both arms, catching the ghoul’s attention. A mistake. Because the next second, Rick kicked upward, revealing a blade in his shoe—and drove it into the ghoul’s chin.

The ghoul released him.

Rick slammed both daggers through the creature’s hands, pinning it to the wall.

“Go!” he roared.

Sarah, Emilia, and the others rushed past.

“You idiot!” Emilia cried, but Sarah didn’t even flinch. Her face burned with only one thing—revenge. They stormed to the top, finally reaching the exit.

But there—waiting—was the man who previously fought the father.

Barely a scratch on him.

“Welcome back,” he smiled. “We’re ready to take off.”

The women stepped between him and the girls, forming one last line of defense.

The man shrugged. “Well then—the hard way.”

overview

chapter 44

chapter 46

[rtblack]

A Night is all I need – Chapter 44

Inside the Building

“What the hell is going on here?” Emilia demanded.

Before her stood a family—a father, mother, and two children—but they weren’t alone. A white ghoul loomed in front of them, alongside a man with black hair, bone-white skin, and eyes as black as midnight. He was grinning, though the family looked terrified, their faces pale and the floor beneath them soaked in sweat.

Despite the smile on his lips, the man’s eyes radiated nothing but evil. His face remained utterly void of emotion, twisted into something wrong.

Then came the most disturbing part. As Emilia fully entered the room, the man turned his head—only his head—toward her, twisting almost completely around until it faced her directly, while his body remained locked on the family.

“Oh! We’ve got new people!” he chirped. Then, with a sharp crack, the rest of his body turned to match.

Emilia raised her gun. “What are you? Nade, what is he? Demon? Angel?”

“No,” Nade answered, stepping forward. “His eyes... they’re strange, yeah, but not like theirs. No black-violet. No black-gold. He’s neither. Feels like a ghoul... but also human.”

“Interesting,” the man replied, now moving closer. Emilia instinctively backed toward Sarah. “Yes, you could call us hybrids. I’m sure you’re wondering wh—”

Rick pulled the trigger. The bullet struck the man’s head, dropping him to the floor. His body twitched for a few seconds, then fell still.

Everyone turned to Rick, who raised his hands. “He was talking too much. And creepy. Really creepy.”

“You’re hurting my feelings,” the man groaned as he rose—unnaturally, grotesquely. His chest arched upward first, bending him backwards before snapping back into place. “Hahahaha!” He stood straight, smiling wider. “Our king will be pleased. Especially after we lost some...” His head turned sharply back to the family. “Family members.”

Then he opened his mouth and screamed—a shriek so loud it shook the building.

Silence followed. Then came the tremors. Steps. Many. From below. An army was coming.

“Grab the family!” Sarah ordered. Emilia moved fast, gun still trained on the man, ignoring the ghoul that hadn’t moved at all. She circled carefully to reach the family and signaled them forward. They hesitated, but when the father rose, the others followed. As they all moved toward the exit, the man remained still—almost like he was just a distraction.

Just as they reached the door, the man’s eyes locked onto Sarah.

“The President herself,” he said. “Interesting. The King will be delighted to meet you. In fact, you may be his—”

Nade stepped in front of Sarah and launched an ice lance. The man caught it in his mouth and crushed it between his teeth.

“Get them,” he ordered.

The ghoul moved. Fast. Much faster than any of them had seen before. It was already at Sarah, reaching out—until the father lunged. He grabbed the ghoul by the throat and slammed it into the ground, cracking the floor beneath. Then, without hesitation, he hurled it straight at the hybrid man.

“Get out!” the father roared. “Before I lose control!”

When he turned to face Sarah and the others, it was clear—something inside him was barely restrained. Something monstrous.

“GET OUT!” he shouted again.

Behind him, the hybrid caught the flying ghoul with ease and gently lowered it. His face flushed red with rage.

“A failed experiment dares to defy me? A chosen one?”

(Failed? What were they trying to breed? Nade thought.)

“Bring my family out!” the father growled and charged the man.

Sarah grabbed one child, the mother the other. As they ran, Sarah called out, “Nade! Can’t you do anything?”

“That thing won’t go down easily. And something tells me there’s worse coming. I have to conserve every ounce of power!”

They rushed toward the stairwell—just as white ghouls appeared at the other end. Too many to count.

Nade shot forward, one arm encased in ice. He thrust it out. The ghoul nearest him froze solid; the one behind lost an arm.

“I’ll hold them off. GO!” he roared and dropped to one knee.

No time to think. No time to argue. Only to act.

Sarah sprinted toward the stairwell, the children in tow. As they ran, they looked back one last time—at the room where their father stayed behind, fighting for their lives.

overview

chapter 43

chapter 45

[rtblack]

A Night is all I need – Chapter 43

Near Dafton City

“Dafton City and a king?” Dae repeated, glancing at the others. They all shrugged. “Sorry, ma’am, but we don’t have time for that. We need to get to the airport.”

“May I ask what for?”

“No, you may not,” Dae replied. “We won’t bother anyone.”

“I see. Then allow me to drive you there. We have cars.”

“That would help.”

“Great. Just follow me.”

In Dafton City

“What did you mean earlier—when you said the city felt evil?” Sarah asked.

Nade shrugged. “Just a hunch. Maybe it’s the demon inside me. I don’t know. But something felt off while we were flying over—no people anywhere.”

“Now that you say it…” Sarah nodded. “Maybe they’re hiding. I mean, with the moon and the ghouls, who wouldn’t be?”

“Let’s go,” she continued. “Maybe we’ll find someone along the way.”

They approached a metal door. Emilia kicked it open. Inside, the stairwell was dark. They moved carefully. By the time they reached the fifth floor, they heard a sound.

Emilia was about to descend further when Sarah stopped her. “I know we’re in a rush, but we should check this out. A plane can carry more than just four people.”

“Okay, Miss President. But if it’s something out of our league, we leave immediately.”

“Deal.”

Emilia crept forward and cracked open the next door, her gun entering first. The hallway inside flickered with broken lights. She checked both sides, then stepped in. To the right was a stairwell and an elevator. Voices echoed from the left.

Sticking close to the wall, Emilia crept forward, the others following in tight formation. She stopped at a door, didn’t knock, and kicked it open.

Turned out—it was good they came.

Outside, in the streets

Dae and the group stuck close together. The streets were empty—no ghouls, no humans. A strange silence hung in the air.

“Why is no one here?” Rayshel asked.

The woman guiding them answered without turning around. “There was chaos. Monsters attacked, ate people, played with them… it was horrifying. But then he appeared. An angel. He turned the dark monsters white, and now they serve him. He built a city underground, where we’re protected.”

Dae raised a brow. “He turned the monsters—but not back to humans?”

“No. But they obey him completely. And since he arrived, no one’s died.”

“Really?” Dae challenged. “No one at all?”

She nodded. “No one. Occasionally, he chooses someone to ascend to heaven.”

Dae burst out laughing. “Let me guess—you send someone to him, he or his monsters eat them, and you’re told they went to heaven?”

“You’re wrong,” she said calmly. “When you’re called, he shows you the truth. People go in sick, and come out healthy. Of course, their behavior changes afterward, but that’s just a side effect of the truth. Better to change than to die.”

Dae whispered to himself, “What the hell…”

The woman turned to them. “I’ll be called soon, too. Most surface vehicles are destroyed or dead. We have to go underground. You can keep your weapons. I know how it sounds, but trust me—you’ll like it. We call it Paradise.”

Before Dae could respond, Rayshel pulled him aside. “One thing I trust in life—my instincts. And they tell me she’s not lying. She wasn’t hypnotized. I just know it. Which means either that place down there is everything she says… or something deeply wrong is happening.”

Dae sighed. “We don’t have time. We need that plane.”

“They’re probably long gone if they used the helicopter. And none of us knows how to fly. Do you?”

“…No.”

“Then we go underground. If it’s really as nice as she claims, maybe we’ll find someone who can help.”

Dae looked at her, surprised. “I thought all you cared about was fighting. But this… this side of you surprised me.”

Rayshel flushed, cupping her cheeks with both hands. “Of course! We’ll be husband and wife one day. I might as well show you all my sides!”

Overwhelmed, Dae stepped away and turned back to the woman. “We’ll come with you.”

“Good,” she said with a bright smile. “Then follow me—to Paradise.”

overview

chapter 42

chapter 44

[rtblack]

Thank you

I wanted to thank everyone who has been following my story so far. First of all a thanks for the people who liked my story. I couldn't put everyone in and thus focused on the person who gave me more likes on different posts. Still my thanks is directed at everyone:

@witchy-gremlin @macyiee @ladyann1902 @creepy-story-lover28

@poeticmine @bardic-tales  @bluewiish

Next a big thanks for @ruthwritesalot and @v-o-i-c-e. You didn't only like my story but through your feedbacks I was able to improve my story and I am grateful for that. These two are writing a story on their own and I can confirm their story is unique with their own taste. Give it a try you won't regret it.

Of cousre I didn't forget you @nyx-tenberis. As someone who have been following my story since the beginning I can not thank you enough. Your comments served as feedback and a motivation to go on. You are looking for mystic and interesting stories and blogs. Then let me tell you, you are looking for @nyx-tenberis, trust me. Her poetries are truly beautiful.

@pasthalfsquid, I think you were the first one to even follow my story. Each post I saw a like and damn, it felt great to know that there is at least one person that likes my story. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. On her bio I saw writer (?). Put that "?" away cause after reading your blogs I know you are on, maybe that writer is still hiding in you, but there is one. Guys check out her story: The Brewkeeper. Aside the interesting name the content is interesting too.

Last but not least, @justanordinarygirls, thanks. Just thanks. You likes and comment. They boost my motivation. They improve my story and my writing. And in each comment I see that you mean it. They are genuine comments and for that you merit a big genuine thanks. Truly, Thank you. I appreciate each like and comment. She calls herself justanordinarygirls, but let me tell you all the aesthetics (video, images) she creates are wonderful. I can conform for she did it with my story and I really liked the character designs. I mean look at this character or this video.