Vampire (2)

Change always comes suddenly.

Erica clutched her chest and raised her gaze. At the end of it, a girl with a chilling smile was standing next to her sister.

She had vaguely felt it. That the day that would eventually come was not far off.

From her tone, manner, voice, and those sentences she uttered while passing by with an indecipherable look, as if showing some kind of sign, everything.

But she didn’t like it being this way. She needed time to prepare her heart. Even just time to hold back her tears.

Looking back, you were always selfish. Because you were so self-centered, you tried to control many things as you pleased.

When we went for walks together, when we worked, when you staged hostage situations.

Even when you cried in my arms.

Still, I wanted.

For this time to last forever.

For what I had been trying to avert my eyes from not to come.

Was it too much greed?

I wanted to let her know. I wanted to clearly engrave many things in her eyes.

Erica took a breath, still not averting her gaze from Orli.

Orli silently smiled and lifted the crown. The glass sparkled in the red moonlight and blazed even redder.

Her body shook, and the crown settled on her silver hair.

Orli took a step closer. Her pupils turned red and fangs emerged. Huge wings flapped and a red sword was grasped in her hand.

Heat blew in. Red rain began to fall. Vampire bats filled the sky and screamed terribly.

An eerie laugh was heard.

Eming, the living weapon.

The vampire had arrived.

My body is hot.

My vision is shaking.

Still, I tried to face her steadily.

“…Orli.”

I smiled slightly at the seemingly desperate voice.

“Don’t do this. There’s no need for this, is there?”

I moved my steps.

I grabbed the wrist of her sister, called Err, leaned her against the inside of a special building I had located beforehand, then stood up again.

“It is necessary, because your sister was the final target. You have to save her.”

Her gaze turned to Err. I nodded with satisfaction at her trembling lips and expression.

“If you don’t kill me, she’ll never wake up. In other words, I’m saying I won’t give you the cure unless you please me.”

“What did you… do?”

“I touched her heart a little, and she ended up like that.”

Her face that distorted then looked at me again and rapidly darkened was really worth seeing.

“…Give it to me.”

“What?”

“The cure, give it to me, and let’s go back. Home, let’s go home.”

I shook my head.

“You don’t seem to grasp the situation yet. I’ll tell you again.”

Then I pointed to my heart with my finger.

“Unless you stab here with your sword and get your hands stained with the thick blood that flows,”

Absolutely.

“Your sister will never wake up.”

It’s specially manufactured blood.

I prepared it for you.

Her body was shaking violently. I was about to approach her, who looked like she might collapse at any moment, but stopped.

“You seem perplexed. You don’t seem to know what to do.”

I pointed to the ground with my sword.

“I’ll help you make up your mind clearly.”

Red mist gushing out amidst the surging air currents began to pour over the entire street.

Mixed with the lightly falling red rain, the ground and buildings being engulfed crumbled one by one as they corroded.

The clouds filling the sky dyed the air red and made it suffocating, and the strange cries heard here and there also constantly echoed in the ears.

Red moon, bursting magic power, murderous bats dominating the streets.

Erica faltered at the aftermath.

“If you leave me alone, the city’s life will disappear in an instant.”

You’ll know what comes after that too, I think.

Would I be satisfied with just one city?

She seemed to understand the meaning at once, unconsciously grasping the pure white sword she had created. Her gestures and face only showed urgency.

“Why, why… there’s no reason for it to be like this.”

“It’s a chance to save many things at once.”

“No, it’s not. It’s not.”

It’s a natural cause and effect. While understanding that, she’s trying to escape. While committing the act of protecting someone who has seeped into her body, or more precisely, has now become part of her body.

“Don’t do this. Orli, please.”

Trembling voice, yet pointing the sword, and the roaring sounds all around.

Seeing her pupils shake, I couldn’t help but smile. And that smile was swallowed up by the surrounding noise and disappeared.

“I’ll help you.”

Although it seems you’ve already made up your mind.

Well, you probably knew. It’s the story I’ve often whispered to you. I worked hard to engrave it in your brain.

I stretched out my hand and swung the red sword. Thorns that began to rise up extended towards the building where Err was. Erica, whose face instantly distorted, stretched out her hand and struck the ground.

All the thorns were repelled and pain arose in my body from the aftermath.

I smiled slightly and spread both arms to the sides. Then I spun around once. The wind blew and the earth shook. The red waves on the ground and the air currents mixed together and rose up. Extending out as a whirlwind and coalescing into a storm, the space shook.

Everything on the ground was swept away and turned into a handful of ashes. The bursting flood destroys many things. The body is cold from the incoming chill.

Her dumbfounded face is the expected sequence.

“It will soon sweep towards where your younger sister and the citizens live.”

“Orli!!”

She’s running over.

I wish you wouldn’t make such a frightening face as if you’ve seen a disaster. Well, that’s pretty too.

So it was natural. That you would end up staging a hostage situation where you could only lose, and that you, who have protected many things, would respond to it were predetermined stages. Because you were always beautiful.

As that expression seems to be trying to tell me something, I chose my greeting words before our last date.

“There’s no reason to live.”

And I raised my sword high.

“I must be defeated.”

Red curves scatter from the swung sword strike. The rushing sword strikes crumble at a single gesture of her hand.

After hesitating, I shattered the sword and recombined it into a double-edged sword. Spinning around once, I swung it at her who had come right up to my face, but it was blocked by her pure white sword and scattered into dust.

Right then, a scar was carved into my chest and blood burst out. Feeling the stinging sensation, I hurriedly glided while flapping my wings. As the air thinned, created blades tore and penetrated my skin.

I combined the burst blood into a scythe and swung it. Red curves were engraved in the air and the aftermath swept across the earth, striking her hard. A pure white shield was raised. Without a single scratch left, magic scattered in all directions.

“This won’t do. You, you…!”

I flapped my wings. Gliding low to the ground, I shattered the scythe and recombined it into a huge hammer. As soon as I struck the shield while flying, the space shook and fragments flew in all directions. Right then, my abdomen was kicked by her outstretched leg. I was flung backwards and crashed into the ground.

“At least…, at least fight properly! Earnestly! With all your might!”

Coughing from the pain, I stood up staggering.

“Why, why as if it has to be like this… so weakly.”

Light arose in the sky. Groaning at the chill coming over my body, I flapped my wings again. I flew up, avoiding the pure white swords that began to strike the ground. A red spear flowed into my hand. I aimed it at her and stretched out my arm.

The spear raced through space, devouring the surrounding air currents. The wind blew fiercely and she stepped back while raising her shield. The ground where the spear struck exploded in an instant, burning the earth. It spread throughout the entire area except for the shield, scattering magic power.

“What’s the reason… for making such a face…”

It’s because the finale is coming.

The lack of strength. The magic power slowly starting to run out.

Anyway, it’s been enjoyable days.

Then, even if it’s not a brilliant end befitting that, shall I make it slightly shine?

I calmly stretched out my hand and drew out magic power. The great flood that was eroding the surroundings changed direction and burst out from the buildings surrounding me on all sides. Feeling the chill on my skin, I clenched my hand. The waves gathered together, gradually rose up, then condensed into a single space and spread out in all directions. The waves gathered from everywhere took on partial forms of armor and constructed one huge life form.

The cloak fluttered and a long trident was raised. The armor flashed in the moonlight and the shark’s red eyes blazed red.

A terrible cry rang out. Waves surged and floods swept in. The trident tore through space as it was swung. Blue curves were engraved in the air and the aftermath of magic power mixed with the waves and began to rush towards her. A huge waterfall attacked from all directions.

Erica calmly raised her sword. She stretched her arm downwards. The blade was thrust into the ground and the earth shook. Light descended on that spot and blew away all the waves and magic power, spreading widely in a circle. A layer of light was engraved throughout the air, collapsing impurities and turbid air. Mist and clouds scattered into dust, and sunlight began to shine down from various parts of the sky.

The shark’s skin blackened in the light, then it let out a terrible cry and decomposed in an instant. The floods and waves occupying the ground evaporated into moisture and disappeared at once.

Golden hair fluttered. Pure white eyes faced me. The upright sword flashed, receiving the light.

You were always beautiful.

“Erica!!”

I soared into the air, flapping my wings. My vision is red. The cold air touching me is chilly.

I shaped a red sword with the remaining blood and raised it high.

“This is the final attack!”

Please.

“Receive it.”

My love.

I flapped my wings while watching her distorted face. After catching the orbit, I rushed straight towards her.

My body feels like it’s burning in the sunlight. Something seems to be overflowing from my eyes.

I raised my arm.

The long red sword melts and disappears in her light. The blood surrounding it is enveloped in light and fills the world with countless red petals. As the momentary instant passes and I become aware of the pain.

To you who have somehow reached right in front of me.

My burning hot body stiffens and stops.

By your upright sword piercing my heart.

I.

At last.

Become you.

And so I fall endlessly.

It hurts.

My body, about to shatter as it hits the ground, screams. The stinging sensation and the feeling of suffocation are truly nostalgic.

The light shining down is burning hot. Can I endure it? Until my life ends.

Even as I wonder, the pain constricting my body remains. The price for the beautiful world I wished for was horrific. The sensation of reality makes me forget even that.

All I can do is scream, cry, and vomit blood.

“…What is this.”

I don’t know.

I tried to move my lips to answer, but no voice came out. In a way, it’s fortunate. I can’t show an ugly appearance even at this point.

“I’m asking what this is!”

After coughing, I glanced at her. She’s covered in tears. What a crybaby.

Choking my own burning throat that felt like it would burst, I opened my mouth and a cracked voice barely came out.

“The expected result.”

“Why, why does it have to be, such a result!”

Isn’t it obvious? That’s the principle.

My body was pulled. My collar was grabbed and as I faced her face directly, I unconsciously inhaled.

Stop crying.

It feels like I did something wrong.

So I made an excuse.

“Because I’m trash.”

And.

“A beast, a crazy bitch, who should die…”

“You are!!”

Heat blew in. Eyes that seemed to contain many things pierced through me.

“Not trash! Not a beast either!”

I was brought closer by the hand that grabbed me.

“Just! Someone who likes Americano! Dislikes sweet things! With a pretty smile!”

I stared at you blankly.

“An ordinary!”

Her hair fluttered.

“Girl, that’s all…”

Ah.

──I was afraid.

Life was always frightening.

The dark road I stood on alone was so cold. The skin torn by the cold air hurt.

The huge wall blocking the way was overwhelmingly burdensome.

Could I stand up again? Could I smile brightly?

“I, I will be by your side!”

My shoulders were grabbed. Her lowered head faced me again.

“From now on, smile by my side! Cling to me and act spoiled for the rest of your life!”

My pupils shook. Her voice endlessly echoed in my ears.

I wanted to be saved.

I wished for a warm hand to be extended.

I hoped to be able to drink Americano. I wanted to come to like sweet things. I wanted to smile.

I wished wholeheartedly.

Even on the dark and cold road.

For the will to live.

For the lingering attachment to life I had been trying not to face.

I hoped someone would tell me.

That happiness is here.

In your eyes shining clearly, my crying self was reflected.

Ah.

I see.

Actually.

“Do you think I don’t know you?!”

Actually.

I.

“Tell me your heart! Open that mouth yourself! By yourself!”

In this beautiful world.

“Answer!!”

“I… wanted to live.”

My breath stopped.

Our lips overlapped and my vision was dyed with her.

A warm wave moistened my tongue through my mouth and made my throat tremble. The endless fishy taste entering embraced my mouth.

The wave seeping into my body made me forget the painful sensations. The body that had been breaking begins to regenerate and shine.

Like that, only after everything returns to its place, do I exhale.

In the sunlight rising beyond the horizon, the place where she and I were shines.

Now, is it okay not to tremble? Is it okay to smile endlessly?

Our lips separated and my body was tightly embraced.

“…Everything, will be okay.”

That’s the kind of warm words I wanted to hear.

I burst into tears.