Swinging upward, Blood-Colored Dusk merged with Snowfall Winter Night. The blood-red greatsword collided with the silver two-handed greatsword in midair, scattering blood-red and silver light everywhere. Time seemed to freeze at that moment.
The Maze Candle burned out completely in an instant. The second relic tonight was destroyed by Shade's hand. At the same time, the deep night sky above faded away entirely. The monster threw back its head and roared, while Blood-Colored Dusk gradually faded. Its body slowly shrank, but it was still not dead.
It staggered back two steps, supporting itself with the blood-red greatsword. Astonishingly, intelligence returned to its eyes:
"Impossible. Who exactly are you? The Moon—oh, Moon! Such a pure Moon."
At the instant the two greatswords collided, although both sides had nearly been grievously wounded, Shade had actually suffered more severely. As the Mystic Lock and Words of Sublimation ended, he would not even have been able to remain standing if not for the two ladies behind him supporting him.
"Shade."
Miss Bayes gripped Shade's arm tightly. Of the three, she was the least injured now:
"No, you only have one ring. No matter how powerful this thaumaturgy is, this is terrible!"
Miss Bayes pointed at the vampire ahead, which had raised its sword again. The young Sorceress wanted to stand in front of her two companions, but Shade moved faster. He knew he had won this battle:
"I pursued this thaumaturgy so desperately for more than just its offensive power."
The leaf in his mouth kept him alive. Holding that sacred silver greatsword, Shade charged toward the roaring vampire within the Blood Mist:
"Once I win, leave here immediately and find the Silver-Eyed One. Neither of you come near me."
He instructed them, then ignored their reactions and raised his sword to meet the