The moon cast an eerie glow over the scene as Byron and the princess's guards found themselves surrounded by the Vampires. The once-silent forest now echoed with the manic laughter of the undead, who seemed to take perverse delight in toying with their prey. Byron's hand tightened around the hilt of his sword, and the guards, though wearied from their previous encounters, assumed defensive positions.

Captain Reynald, his eyes scanning the encroaching Vampires, spoke with a grim determination, "Prepare yourselves, and stand your ground. We fight to the last."

The vampiric creatures, their forms barely visible in the moonlit darkness, closed in on the trapped group. Their twisted laughter reverberated through the air, sending shivers down the spines of those they surrounded. Byron, his gaze sharp and discerning, assessed the situation. "They are toying with us!"

A figure emerged from the shadows. Kairos, the notorious vampire leading the onslaught, moved with a malevolent grace. His eyes glowed with an unholy light as he surveyed the chaos. "Pathetic mortals," he sneered, reveling in the suffering of those who dared to defy him.

The Vampires, their laughter escalating to a cacophony, suddenly halted their macabre dance. In an instant, the forest fell silent, and the undead horde lunged at their prey with startling speed and ferocity.

One of the Vampires, its fangs bared in a silent hiss, lunged at Byron with supernatural speed. In response, Byron's blade moved with the precision of a trained swordsman. The clash of steel and fangs echoed through the night as the vampire's attack was swiftly met with a calculated counter.

In the three years that followed Byron's first encounter with Castiel, a relentless determination had taken root within the seasoned merchant. The memory of that fateful carriage ride lingered in his mind, fueling a desire for self-improvement and preparation for whatever dangers lay ahead.

Byron, his movements a result of his three year long training, parried the creature's strikes. With a fluid motion, he sidestepped the vampire's assault and delivered a decisive blow. The blade, guided by the training he had undergone, cut through the air with a lethal grace. The vampire, unable to evade Byron's swift retaliation, crumpled to the forest floor. Its form convulsed in its final moments as its soul left the body.

Captain Reynald, and the guards, their faces etched with resolve, formed a defensive perimeter around Princess Isabella. Each swing of their blades was a testament to their loyalty and bravery in the face of supernatural adversaries. However, amidst the chaos, Captain Reynald, a seasoned warrior with weathered features bore witness to a guard named Ealdred succumbing to the relentless onslaught.

Captain Reynald's voice, filled with grief and rage, pierced through the chaos of battle. "Nooo! Ealdred!" In a surge of fury, Captain Reynald unleashed a swift and merciless strike, cutting down the head of the vampire that had felled Ealdred.

"Hah! Enough playing! Take the Princess! Kill the..." Kairos's hissing command was abruptly cut off as he felt a powerful aura emanating from the other side of the forest. His eyes, glowing with a predatory hunger, shifted from the immediate battle to the source of this newfound energy. "...rest,"

The sinister leader, Kairos, halted in his tracks, his attention momentarily diverted. Someone powerful is coming.

As Castiel neared the site, he saw the grim scene before him. Twelve individuals were surrounded by twenty vampires, creating an uneven tableau of chaos. Notably, not all the vampires were attacking; some seemed to be playing with their prey. Amidst the fray, Castiel's keen eyes locked onto Byron, engaged in a fierce battle with a vampire.

However, the peril escalated as two more vampires lurked behind Byron, poised for a surprise attack. Reacting with lightning speed, Castiel propelled himself forward, covering a distance of 150 meters in a blur of motion. His sword, gripped with deadly precision, sliced through the air as he closed in on the impending threat.

Every vampire in the vicinity felt the powerful yet violent aura emanating from Castiel, a force that heralded impending doom. With a swift and calculated strike, Castiel decapitated the two vampires, their heads rolling to the ground in a macabre ballet of death.

The abrupt display of strength startled Kairos, who observed the scene with a mix of awe and disbelief. Shit! He is stronger than me. How can a mere human be stronger than me? Kairos pondered, his confidence completely shaken.

The dreaded Night of the Infirmary marked a pivotal moment in Castiel's existence. A brush with death unfolded as he succumbed to the grasp of mortality, his life slipping away for a harrowing two minutes. It was then that the sacrifice of his mother, a selfless act fueled by fierce love, intervened in the cruel dance with the Reaper.

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Through the forbidden Dark magic spell, she traded her own life to spare his, and in that sacrifice, Castiel experienced a rebirth. The dormant Dragon blood within him, a legacy of ancient lineage, surged to life, unlocking its full potential. From the ashes of that fateful night, Castiel emerged as a vessel of newfound strength and power, a living testament to the indomitable force that was laying dormant within him.

Two more vampires advanced toward him. Castiel, undeterred, hurled his sword at one of the approaching foes. The blade impaled the vampire's heart, carrying its body with it until it collided with a tree, a gruesome display of Castiel's lethal accuracy. The vampire howled in agony, blood gushing from its mouth as death claimed it.

Castiel, now unarmed, lunged at the other one with bare hands. In a display of raw power, he punched a hole through the creature's body, crushing its heart with a single, brutal blow. The forest fell into an eerie stillness as Castiel emerged from the fray, his aura pulsating with a formidable combination of strength and controlled violence.

"Fuck!.... Retreat! Now!" Kairos bellowed, sensing impending doom. The order echoed through the chaotic scene as the vampires hastily withdrew. In the midst of the turmoil, two vampires seized Princess Isabella, setting off a tense confrontation. Captain Reynald, valiant and protective, attempted to intervene, "Get your hands off of her, you filthy....." His protest was cut short as he received a swift kick to the chest from one of the vampires.

The vampires, with the kidnapped princess in tow, began their swift retreat toward Vespera. Castiel, fueled by determination, pursued them at breakneck speed. Matching the vampires' pace, he closed in on the one carrying Isabella. Seeing this, Kairos screamed, "Damn it! Leave her!" urging the vampires to abandon their prize. Sensing death inches away, they hastily dropped Isabella in their retreat."

Seeing the hurt princess on the ground, Castiel hesitated between vengeance and mercy. Castiel, torn by the conflicting impulses, stopped chasing the vampires, opting to ensure Isabella's safety. As she slowly regained consciousness, checking her injuries, Castiel approached, extending his hand. "You are safe now, miss."

"Thank you, good sir," Isabella replied, accepting Castiel's hand. In an unexpected twist, as their hands touched, both Castiel and Isabella screamed, gripped by visions flowing through their minds. Castel saw a fragment of the dreamlike experience he had encountered three years ago. Panting and bewildered, Castiel questioned the inexplicable occurrence. “What just happened?”

Meanwhile, Isabella fell unconscious once more. Picking her up, Castiel walked back to the site of the broken carriage. He thought while looking at the girl in his arms. Who are you?

Approaching the chaos, Captain Reynald voiced his concern, "What happened to her? Is she hurt?"

"Relax! She is just unconscious from all this ordeal," Castiel assured him, handing Isabella over. Reynald and the others thanked him for saving their lives. In the midst of the grim scene, Castiel distributed some of his healing potions to the guards and turned his attention to Byron, who expressed gratitude for having his life saved.

"You ok?" Castiel asked Byron.

"Yeah! Thanks for saving my life, again," Byron responded, injecting a bit of humor into the dire situation.

"Why are you here right now? You said in your message that you were coming next week," Castiel inquired, puzzled by the unexpected early arrival.

Byron produced a small note, saying, "Because of this!"

Castiel took the note, saw a name and address written on it, and looked at Byron.

"Over 100 slaves, all children," Byron whispered.

Castiel's eyes widened. "Good job, Byron. Good job!.... Go to my residence, take some rest.” Castiel looked at the unconscious girl and asked Byron, ”By the way, who are they and who’s that girl?"

Byron replied, "I don't know. I met them a couple of hours ago, and by the looks of it, she's probably nobility."

"Hmmm... All right, we'll talk in the morning. I have to go somewhere," Castiel responded with gratitude in his eyes.

Byron nodded in acknowledgment, "Okay."

After everyone calmed down a bit, Castiel approached Captain Reynald and extended his hand, saying, "I am Azriel."

Captain Reynald scrutinized Castiel's hand for a moment before shaking it. "Reynald Berges, Captain of Vesperan Royal Guard, and that is Princess Isabella."

Noticing Castiel's raised eyebrows, Captain Reynald proceeded to recount the vampire attack and its aftermath. He expressed gratitude for Castiel's intervention, and Castiel, in turn, offered comforting words to assuage their pain. He then extended an invitation to Captain Reynald and the others to seek refuge in his residence in Alvaria, ensuring their safety.

"Your safety is guaranteed there," Castiel assured them.

Captain Reynald, expressing his gratitude, conveyed his thanks to Castiel and agreed to the invitation. He couldn't resist inquiring, "If I may ask, Azriel, who are you or rather, what are you? Because what you did was... extraordinary. Violent but extraordinary!"

Castiel responded, "There are certain questions you shouldn't ask. This... is one of them." Captain Reynald gazed at Castiel for a moment and said, "Understood!"

Castiel assured, "All of you need to rest. Byron will help you out from here." Captain Reynald expressed his thanks once more, and Castiel nodded. Then he headed back into the forest. As Captain Reynald watched Castiel walking away, only one word echoed in his mind: Terrifying!