The heavy doors creaked shut behind them as the trio stepped into the grand main hall of the manor. Velvet carpets stretched across the floor like a trail of bloodied silk, chandeliers flickered overhead with a strange amber glow, and tall stained-glass windows let in beams of distorted moonlight from a crooked, unfamiliar moon that seemed to grin in the sky. The scent of old books, burnt candles, and ancient decay hung in the air like a thick perfume from a bygone era.
Then the sound came.
CLANG!
The trio spun around just in time to see the entrance slam shut with an unnatural force, followed by heavy steel bars crashing down with a deafening THUD, sealing off the door and all visible windows. One by one, reinforced shutters dropped with mechanical precision, enclosing them in shadow.
An eerie alarm began to blare, not like any modern siren but a warped melody that played like a broken music box, echoing across the sprawling halls of the manor. Moments later, a speaker embedded somewhere in the ceiling crackled to life with static.
"Welcome... guests," said a voice, velvet with cruelty and thick with deranged amusement. A maniacal laugh followed, distorted and echoing. "You've entered my manor, and now you'll play my game. Let's see if you can find me... before I find you."
The speaker emitted a final distorted squeal before cutting off.
Lila narrowed her eyes and stepped forward. "That's him. The vampire lord."
A sudden scuttling noise echoed from both ends of the hall. From the left hallway came the sound of rapid footsteps; from the right, low snarls and rasping breaths. Figures emerged—maids and butlers dressed in tattered remnants of noble attire, skin pale and bloodless, fangs gleaming. Half-vampires, caught between servitude and monstrosity.
Lila stepped in front of the left hallway, lifting her staff as her body began to glow. Her voice shifted into a sacred language, flowing fast and full of power. A luminous sphere formed at the tip of her staff, crackling with radiant energy.
"Luxus Ignira!"
She launched the glowing orb down the hall. As it flew, it expanded, consuming the hallway in a blinding white light. Screams tore through the silence as the vampires disintegrated into ash, their cries vanishing into the glow.
"Still got it," Kaisel remarked, already drawing his katana.
From the right, more twisted servants lunged, their red eyes gleaming in the dark. Kaisel charged into them, slicing through bodies with merciless speed, his blade moving like a windstorm. Chosa followed beside him, his own weapon glinting as he cut through their ranks with decisive slashes. His movements were sharper than ever—efficient, practiced, lethal.
Within moments, silence reclaimed the hall. Ash floated in the air like cursed snow.
Chosa took a breath. "Luna, where next?"
In his mind, Luna's voice echoed. "Proceed up the grand staircase ahead. On the second floor, turn left. Beware: a vampire lies hidden inside a painting halfway down the hall."
Chosa nodded and relayed the instructions. Together, they approached the wide staircase at the end of the main hall. Ornate railings lined the sides, and the carpet beneath their feet was embroidered with the sigil of a long-dead noble family. Stone statues stood on either side of the stairs, their eyes watching silently.
They climbed swiftly. On the second floor, the hallway stretched out long and dimly lit. Halfway through, a large painting of a pale nobleman hung unevenly.
Without breaking stride, Kaisel drove his blade through the canvas. A shriek erupted from behind it, followed by a soft thud. Black ichor seeped from behind the painting's edge.
"That should do it," he muttered.
Chosa heard Luna again. "Turn right at the end of this hallway. You will encounter two unknown energy signatures. Exercise extreme caution."
Chosa frowned and looked to Lila. "Luna says there are two unknowns up ahead. Any ideas?"
Lila's expression turned grim. "It has to be them—the Jester Twins. They're the vampire lord's personal butlers. I've heard whispers from old raiders who never made it out. Horrid creatures, twisted jesters with oversized grins and faces like melted porcelain. But here's the worst part—they share a single mind. Two bodies, one consciousness. They move, think, and strike as one. Killing one won't stop the other. You have to be precise."
Chosa's grip on his sword tightened. Kaisel simply nodded, eyes focused ahead.
"They laugh when they kill," Lila added softly. "Try not to give them the satisfaction."
The trio advanced, moving in unison. Every creak in the floorboard beneath them sounded like a warning. At the end of the corridor, a right turn led them deeper into the manor. As they approached the bend, the distant sound of deranged laughter echoed through the halls—two voices in perfect sync, high-pitched and unrelenting.
The air grew colder.
Chosa exhaled slowly. "Time to meet the twins."
They rounded the corner—and the laughter grew louder, closer.
And the game of the vampire lord continued.