The bloodstained mask was slashed apart by a sword and sent flying to the ground. Blades clashed with sharp, violent clangs—the lethal rhythm of desperate struggle and approaching death.
The dawn sunlight climbed higher, its red rays radiating warmth as they announced Mother of Night's departure.
With a trace of regret, she withdrew her blessing, leaving the creatures that could only move in darkness to sink into weakness. The scorching light became flames, beginning to set alight those creations that belonged neither to the day nor to the favor of light.
Arthur felt as if he were about to burn up!
Even though his armor was enough to shield him from the sun, the vampire's traditional aversion to light and heat weakened his every swing of the sword in the early morning.
By contrast, Maxim, his opponent, was already covered in wounds, but the accumulated pain hadn't crushed him. Instead, his enemy's weakness spurred him to gather his strength and drive the battle toward the climax of his counterattack.
"Thud."
The rapiers in their hands, wielded in the same stance, pierced through their battered armor almost simultaneously. Maxim was forced to take a step back, clutching the blood welling from his chest.
His body swayed, but the vampire across from him was in even worse shape.
It wasn't only because sunlight seared his skin through the cracks in his armor. The accumulated psychic poison from being struck so many times by the poisoned blade had finally reached its limit. Weakened by the sunlight, the vampire could no longer resist it.
He staggered backward, repeatedly spitting out blackened blood.
Arthur felt the power of darkness slipping away. The shadow of defeat grew more oppressive as Maxim advanced with his sword raised, until it engulfed him!
It left him nowhere to run