[Book II Chapter 164] ROSE: Not Yet

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  “I’m back.” Rose announced.

  Jonathan gestured, and she joined him at the table. The patchwork maid served her tea, which she ignored.

  “Congratulations.” The author said.

  “Please let us destroy Thornbridge Manor.” Rose replied.

  “Raphael’s passing will not alter my mind.” Jonathan took a sip from his teacup. “What you seek to accomplish will likely occur tomorrow or the day after, once powerful immortals make their way here.”

  “Why not now, before millions die?” Rose pressed urgently. “You’ve already accomplished the feat of summoning the Nightmare King. Surely it would make no difference at this point. It’s not as though you can see what’s happening outside Neon.”

  “But I can.” Jonathan eyes went unfocused, staring far off. “Even now, I am witnessed the Nightmare King in his dark splendor.”

  Rose frowned, “How is that possible?”

  “Let’s say it’s an ability I have and leave it at that.” Jonathan smirked.

  That’s one hell of a sublime vagary he’s hiding. “How is the battle going?” She couldn’t resist the chance for an update.

  “It’s fascinating.” Jonathan smiled. “The Nightmare King’s powers are evolving as midnight nears. Soon he will be inexorable.”

  “Don’t you feel anything for his soon-to-be victims?” Rose asked flatly.

  Jonathan winced slightly. “I do, but it doesn’t matter. What captivates me captivates me. For millennia, I have devoted myself to bringing to life fantastical villains and the death of innocents is a necessary consequence of their existence.”

  I won’t be able to change his mind, Rose understood. She gazed at the colossal structure besides them. The manor was too big for her to burn by herself, even if Dorothee wasn’t around. A tremor shook the table.

  “I am going to watch the fight.” She declared, standing up. Convincing Roxanne to back down was her only shot at saving her now.

  Jonathan held up a hand, “Wait.” He twisted back to face Dorothee. “Please fetch the airship.”

  The maid disappeared leaving a trail of static. An moment later they heard the hum of a magical engine, and a craft similar to Astra’s Exodia swooped into view. They boarded and gained altitude, flying over a portion of the garden which was now burned to cinder.

  “There is the rupture.” Jonathan commented. Near the horizon, the landscape warped downward. Trails of moonlit denizens were swarming into the giant depression like ants.

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  Rose didn’t care, focusing on searching the patches of crimson fire below. She spotted Roxanne leaning on her staff, panting. Across from her, Alucard stood patiently, his outfit unsinged.

  The vampire lord gazed up. “While this has been a fun little diversion, the time to end this nears. My patron is spectating. Attack again, and I won’t be holding back.”

  “Let’s retreat.” Rose shouted down. “We can regroup with the others and come up with something else.”

  Roxanne smiled and shook her head. “This is my last fight either way. So, please, no more of that nonsense. Let me go out in style.”

  “Here comes my ‘wickedest flame’” Roxanne announced, unleashing a tidal wave of crimson flames.

  Alucard jumped straight through it, surrounding himself with red bubble to protect himself. “Blood Mirage.” He whispered in a voice they all heard.

  All around him ghosts came into view, their figures transparent and red drifting through the air. With a gesture from their summoner, their focus turned toward Roxanne. The closests dived down, their forms morphing. A moment later, several layers of blood chains anchored their prey to the ground. They appeared to resist the crimson fire conjured to burn them.

  Alucard landed and brushed off his coat. “Goodbye.”

  The remaining blood specters shot forwards, transforming into long spikes of blood. Roxanne was pierced and impaled to the ground in a hundred places.

  No, with wounds like than… While no injury was necessarily fatal to a true necromancer, each one eroded their will live. Rose winced as Roxanne coughed up blood.

  “You fought well.” Alucard said softly. “Isn’t it time to rest?”

  “Not… Yet…” Roxanne spat out. With a surprised expression, the vampire leaped back. Crimpson fire erupted under the necromancer, easily consuming the spikes and chains. Even from the airship, Rose felt the heat of the blaze.

  Roxanne walked out of the inferno, tired, yet somehow full of life. Her staff roared, sending out torrents of crimson which chased after Alucard.

  “I’m surprised how much vigor you still possess.” He commented. “Were you holding back before? Not that it matters, this is over.”

  Blood spears struck Roxanne from behind. Once more she was pinned in place, more assaulted her from every direction until there were so many her figure was obscured.

  “Not… Yet…” Roxanne’s voice reached their ears despite its weakness. A column of flames burst out under the necromancer, brighter and taller than before. Roxanne emerged, a weary confidence on her face.

  “This will be troublesome…” Alucard grimaced.

  “That’s a sublime vagary.” Jonathan observed calmly from besides Rose. “Would you happen to know the story behind it?”

  “She was captured by Nuzou during the last Dark Age.” Rose replied. “She’s been searching for a place to die ever since.”

  “Ah, that makes sense.” Jonathan nodded. “’Not Yet’, a manifestation of her determination to give meaning to her suffering. This type of ability is always formidable. No wonder she dared to face Alucard.”

  “She’s growing stronger every time she uses it.” Rose agreed. And she will collapse when this is over.

  The battle became increasingly violent as Alucard unleashed his full power. Again and again, Roxanne was jabbed and stabbed with blades of blood. Each time, her crimson fire roared fiercer, its speed gradually catching up to that of the vampire.

  If she last long enough, she could actually win! Rose anxiously watched the tempest of red destruction below. Her eyes opened wide when a torrent of crimson fire finally enveloped the vampire. Despite Alucard’s attempts to shape-shift and escape the flames, they clung to him viciously.

  Roxanne didn’t miss the opportunity, tossing out her strongest fireball. An enormous crimson blaze enveloped her opponent. Did she do it?

  “It’s a pity.” Jonathan said sadly. “If it was against anyone else, your friend might have prevailed.”

  Before Rose could wonder at these words, a charred figure strode out from the flames. To her horror, its flesh mended itself, followed by its clothes. Soon Alucard was back to his normal dashing self.

  “He is the supreme vampire.” Jonathan explained, pointing up. “As long as he stand below this full moon, nothing can kill him.”

  Oh, no…