Cradell's eyes began to weep blood, tracing down his cheeks like an ancient Greek statue. He removed his hat, revealing long black hair flowing like silk, though there was no wind to stir it.
In his right hand, he held an old Victory pistol—crafted with exquisite detail and etched with ancient markings and forgotten words. In his left hand, he gripped his blood-soaked sword, which had begun to weep profusely.
"From this moment on… you will see Mr. Crimson."
Faithless swallowed hard, his eyes trembling from the terrifying, otherworldly scene in front of him. The transformation that stood before him was unlike anything from this era.
'Such an immense crimson aura… If not for the Antrois form I'm currently in, I would've been crushed—literally.' Faithless muttered quietly to himself.
And in the same low voice, he added:
'But what is that thing in his right hand? I've never seen anything like it in my life.'
"You deserve to witness this form, boy," Cradell spoke with a commanding, dreadful tone. "You've shown great courage before the King of Kings of Vampires… You possess vast potential—but unfortunately, this dimension will become your final grave."
"To die bravely is better than using something I never developed just to win," Faithless said sharply, a generous smile forming on his face.
Cradell placed a hand on Faithless's shoulder, his expression calm yet unreadable.
"What boldness you possess, boy… Now I understand why the Antrois allowed you to wield its power. Faithless, son of Syron, grandson of the Yellow Emperor… Your death shall be a magnificent sight before the Great Ones."
Faithless smiled and spoke with a deep tone:
"So you've known who I am all along… and still looked down on me despite the greatness of my bloodline."
In a flash, Cradell placed his palm against Faithless's chest and unleashed a devastating wave of energy that slammed him into the wall with immense force.
"What use is noble blood… if you're a coward?"
Faithless shot forward like a missile, aiming to slice off Cradell's head, but Cradell blocked the strike with his bare hand. Then, he stabbed him with his bloody sword and smashed him to the ground.
A golden light burst from the dust. Faithless released a golden-red wave toward Cradell, but Cradell was completely alert—he swung his blood sword and cut through the attack with ease.
But Faithless suddenly appeared behind him, drove his sword into Cradell's back, and tried to split him in half. Cradell, however, fired a blood-charged bullet laced with sorcery from his Victory pistol directly above Faithless's heart—forcing him to retreat backward.
"Tsk." A massive hole opened above Faithless's heart. Blood gushed from his mouth and the wound.
Cradell appeared before him, his eyes blazing with crimson fire. He grabbed Faithless's head and smashed it into the ground with such force that the entire arena quaked, as if a magnitude-10 earthquake had struck.
The Great Ones watched in complete silence. Above them, the black hole debated with the crimson moon.
"The Great Ones seem to be enjoying this fight… so try to last a bit longer," Cradell said with a sharp, mocking tone.
Faithless threw his sword high into the sky. The hilt laughed in terror as it descended like a comet, piercing Cradell's back.
Shock spread across Cradell's face. Faithless jumped back and launched a golden wave of arrows at him.
All the arrows struck. The impact caused a massive explosion—not of fire or smoke, but of pure blood.
Faithless grinned, an odd blend of shock and fear twisting his expression.
"Just as I expected… A hit like that won't stop a monster like you."
A wall of blood formed around Cradell. He tapped it with his index finger, and each drop turned to ordinary sand.
Cradell stepped forward and grabbed Faithless's chin, speaking in a cold, detached voice:
"You think you can kill someone who's lived for a million years with a strike like that? Rethink your odds, boy."
Faithless's eyes widened in disbelief. He swung his sword, unleashing a golden spark aimed to decapitate Cradell—but Cradell broke the blade, then punched Faithless in the gut so hard he was launched into the upper wall of the arena and crashed among the spectators.
His fall was oddly regal and beautiful—landing on an empty throne, legs extended forward, arms dangling beside him, head tilted back.
The audience around the arena stared at him with sharp, angry red eyes. On the other side, Cradell stood calmly, coldly gazing his way.
Faithless closed his eyes and murmured softly to himself:
"They used to talk about a dream and a cry that brought pressure and hallucinations… but is this place a dream sculpted into a nightmare?"
He paused for a few seconds, then continued in the same tone:
"Did Isaac send me here to die? Or to sharpen my power… or both?"
"To face such a being… is terrifying. And yet I'm still standing. But for how long? How long can I last against this monster? He doesn't tire… but I do. I thirst. I want rest."
"But it doesn't matter anymore… My madness and will to fight have reached their peak."
Faithless slowly opened his eyes, looking toward the sky—where the eyes of the Great Ones dwelled, though he couldn't meet their gaze directly. The blood rain fell furiously on his cheek.
Cradell jumped down and stood before him… He reached out and grabbed Faithless by the neck. Faithless raised his head, a crazed smile spreading across his face as golden tears streamed down his cheek.
Cradell smiled back, unnerved by the terrifying expression.
Suddenly, a powerful explosion erupted in the stands, the shockwave tracing a perfect line until it reached the arena.
Faithless was pummeling Cradell's face with everything he had—his fists smashing into him so hard that Cradell's head embedded itself into the ground. Blood splattered across Faithless's face as he grinned like a madman.
Cradell remained unmoved. Faithless extended his hand and spoke in a terrifying voice:
"Reblium."
A technique that allowed him to summon the sword back to him, even from afar.
The sword screamed from the crowd like a beast and flew into Faithless's hand. He drove it into Cradell's stomach and unleashed a barrage of golden waves, causing the arena to shake violently.
Faithless leapt back, panting heavily, his face twisted into a fearsome expression.
"What's wrong, King of Kings… Is that all you've got?" Faithless said mockingly, resting the sword on his shoulder.
Cradell appeared beside him, voice cold and cruel:
"Your fists wouldn't kill an ant… let alone me."
Faithless's eyes widened—Cradell struck him with full force across the face, sending him crashing into the arena. He appeared again and smashed his elbow into Faithless, causing blood to pour down like a rainstorm across his face.
Faithless grabbed Cradell's elbow, grinning as blood trickled down his teeth, and unleashed a piercing, needle-shaped blow that caused a massive explosion.
Cradell was slammed against the wall as if crucified. Then he moved like a phantom, brushing his hair back with a cold smile.
He fired three blood bullets toward Faithless—two were deflected, but the third curved around and struck him in the abdomen. Cradell swung his sword from behind and sliced off Faithless's arm.
But Faithless grabbed it and reattached it, then swung his own blade and stabbed Cradell with full force. Cradell responded by firing a bullet straight at Faithless's head.
Faithless caught the bullet between his teeth while laughing, then spit it back toward Cradell—embedding it into his chest.
Faithless pulled the sword from Cradell's body and unleashed a golden wave that blew the battlefield apart. Both figures reappeared, clashing violently—blood and gold mingling like a twisted dance.
Cradell struck Faithless in the chest, sending him flying into the stands. But Faithless pulled Cradell with him and drove the golden blade through the blood-drenched arena as the spectators watched in utter shock. He grabbed Cradell's head while laughing and smashed it into the stands—and Cradell did the same to him in return.
Faithless summoned a golden wave shaped like a spear that pierced Cradell's abdomen, but Cradell didn't flinch. He slammed his fist into Faithless's neck, cutting off his breath, then grabbed him by the armor and smashed him into the ground—slapping his head brutally.
Then Cradell clutched Faithless by the throat and spoke in a deep, sharp tone:
"Not a single drop of sweat on my body… and look at you—drenched in blood, not sweat."
Faithless spat blood in his face, laughing mockingly.
"Bathing in blood… is actually my favorite thing."
Cradell placed all five fingers over Faithless's face and said with a mocking voice:
"Ha ha ha ha… and what are you, boy? A vampire?"
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAH!"
Faithless laughed wildly, like a lunatic. Cradell then punched him so hard in the face that his head was driven into the ground.
Faithless rose, still smiling, grabbed Cradell's ribcage, lifted him high, and slammed him into the ground—blood bursting out like a fountain.
He repeated the strike three more times before launching Cradell into a wall. A burning flame fell near Cradell… but it didn't go out.
Cradell tried to stand, but Faithless appeared with unnatural speed—his sword already pressed against Cradell's neck, his crazed smile glowing through the blood dripping down his face.
"Goodbye… King of Kings of Vampires."
He swung the sword and severed Cradell's head—so powerful was the blow that it exploded in midair. Faithless stood panting, until his eyes slowly drifted toward the flame lying on the ground.
He picked it up and threw it onto Cradell's body—engulfing it completely in flames.
"Fire… the number one enemy of vampires," he said with a mocking tone, a foolish smile painted across his face.
He looked up at the sky, basking in his victory—until he noticed something. The eyes of the Great Ones—unclear, barely visible. The bloody eye of the black hole. Even the crimson moon… they were all staring behind him.
Faithless began to turn—
—but a hand, with long sharp claws, burst through his back and out of his chest—gripping his heart.