Lucas watched as Tsukune threw himself into the fire, willingly enduring a brutal beating to protect Moka—a girl Lucas was certain was a vampire. Yet, as the brutal scene unfolded, Moka’s actions and demeanor only added to Lucas’ confusion.

When Moka briefly released an overwhelming surge of youki, Lucas’s instincts were on high alert. But as quickly as the energy appeared, it vanished, leaving him confused.

Why is she holding back? Is she so intent on hiding her nature?

However, Lucas saw Moka drink Tsukune’s blood.

She’s a vampire, I’m sure of it.

His sharp eyes fell on the ornament around her neck.

It must be the rosary.

Lucas’s calm demeanor didn’t waver, even as Junya’s savage assault on Tsukune escalated. He briefly considered intervening, but doing so would risk exposing his identity and ruin months of careful groundwork.

His gaze shifted to Junya, who continued to gloat and brutalize Tsukune.

Not a vampire, Lucas thought flatly, assessing Junya’s behavior and presence.

In his experience, true vampires carried an unmistakable aura, a distinct pride that Junya completely lacked. This realization narrowed Lucas’s search, but it didn’t eliminate his uncertainty.

If Junya’s not the one, then it surely must be Moka…

His mind cycled through the possibilities. Months of intelligence gathering had led him to Spirit Academy, but Moka’s demeanor didn’t match the rogue vampire he’d been hunting.

No… she’s not the one. But the rosary, could it be…?

Before he could finish the thought, an overwhelming surge of power suddenly erupted, blanketing the area like a tidal wave. Lucas staggered slightly, his trained instincts immediately sharpening.

His eyes darted toward the source of the energy and found Tsukune holding Moka’s silver rosary in his hand.

The rosary.

His mind raced as he processed what he’d just witnessed.

A seal… of course.

As the realization settled, Lucas’s gaze locked on Moka, who stood beside Tsukune. Her previous restraint and the flickers of her hidden power began to make sense.

Could she really be the one I’ve been looking for all this time?

----------------------------------------

“What do you mean you didn’t follow him?!” Yukari shouted, her voice sharp with frustration as she sprinted ahead. Her enchanted uniform, powered by anki, hummed with energy while her youki-enhanced body pushed her far beyond the limits of an ordinary eleven-year-old. Together, these enhancements made her a formidable force despite her diminutive stature.

Kurumu kept pace beside her, guilt written across her face and red-rimmed eyes betraying her earlier tears. “What was I supposed to do?! Follow him while he runs to confess his love to Moka. That’s not exactly my idea of fun!”

“Of course not!” Yukari snapped. “But I already figured it out! That Junya guy? He’s nothing but a sleazy playboy claiming to be a vampire!”

Kurumu’s expression shifted, less surprised and more annoyed. “What??!”

“He’s definitely not a vampire!” Yukari declared.

“What makes you so sure?” Kurumu asked skeptically.

“Because he hasn’t fought anyone!” Yukari shot back, recalling the hours she’d spent piecing together gossip and scraps of information over the past few days. She was no master sleuth, but she’d managed to gather enough to make her case.

“That doesn’t mean he’s not a vampire,” Kurumu countered, still unconvinced.

“Wrong!” Yukari’s face lit up, eager to share her deduction. “Vampires are proud! Historically, they never back down from a challenge. Ever! And what does Junya do? He dodges most challenges unless they’re from weaklings he knows he can humiliate!”

Kurumu frowned but said nothing. Yukari’s argument was starting to make sense.

I knew it, Kurumu thought, puffing out her chest with pride. Moka isn’t some clueless girl, and my Tsukune wouldn’t fall for someone so shallow!

As the two continued running, they were suddenly hit by a powerful surge of youki—an unmistakable wave of Moka’s energy. Both of them immediately slowed, relief washing over their faces.

“She’s unsealed,” Kurumu said, a small smile breaking through her worried expression.

Yukari nodded. “Tsukune’s safe for now. But just in case my theory is wrong—let’s back her up!”

“Right!” Kurumu agreed.

Without hesitation, the two quickened their pace, racing toward the source of the power.

----------------------------------------

Junya rose from the rubble, brushing off the debris with an irritated grunt. A dull ache pulsed through his body, but it was nothing he couldn’t shrug off.

That bitch! How dare she strike me!

But before he could fully redirect his fury toward Moka and Tsukune, a wave of raw, oppressive energy surged over him, freezing him in place.

H-How…

His eyes snapped to Moka, and what he saw made his blood run cold. A maelstrom of youki swirled visibly around her, pulsing with unrestrained power.

I-It’s even stronger than before!

Panic gnawed at the edges of his mind. If her earlier burst of energy had made him feel like an ant facing a hurricane, this was something far worse. Now, he felt like an insignificant speck before a cosmic catastrophe, utterly powerless.

As the pressure mounted, Junya’s gaze flickered to Tsukune, who stood, battered but upright, glaring at him with unwavering determination.

“Y-You! What is this?!” Junya stammered, his voice cracking under the weight of his fear. “What’s happening?!”

Tsukune’s lips curled into a faint smile, his exhaustion evident but his confidence unshaken.

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“You’re a liar,” he said simply, his tone steady, cutting through Junya’s bluster like a knife.

Junya flinched, taken aback by the accusation.

“For months now, I’ve seen the strength of a true vampire,” Tsukune continued, pausing to catch his breath. His voice was calm, almost reflective, but carried an unmistakable edge. “If you were even half as strong as Moka, I wouldn’t have survived your first attack. Your youki isn’t anything impressive either!”

Junya’s body tensed, trembling with anger and disbelief. Tsukune’s words weren’t arrogant, but to Junya, they felt like a slap in the face.

“And another thing,” Tsukune pressed, his voice gaining strength. “The vampire I know has pride! She doesn’t strike the weak just for the sake of it—it’s beneath her.”

As those words left his mouth, the youki surrounding Moka condensed and snapped into focus. The torrent dissipated, leaving her transformed. Her vampiric self stood revealed—taller, more graceful, her presence exuding both deadly beauty and overwhelming power.

Tsukune raised the silver rosary in his hand, the faint gleam catching Junya’s attention. “This,” Tsukune said, holding the rosary aloft, “isn’t just for show. It’s a seal. Unlike yours, which is nothing more than decoration.” He fixed Junya with a piercing stare. “Now that I’ve removed it, you can finally witness what a true vampire is.”

Moka chuckled softly, a low, amused sound that sent a chill down Junya’s spine. Without a word, she stepped toward him, her presence alone forcing the air to tremble. Every movement radiated power, her aura pulsing like an impending storm.

Junya stumbled back instinctively, his confidence shattering under the weight of her approach.

“N-NO! GET AWAY!” Junya shouted, his voice cracking as he stumbled backward, unable to suppress the instinctive fear gripping him.

I-It’s a trick! This can’t be real!

Junya had built his reputation on lies. Though he had never encountered a true vampire, his monster abilities allowed him to mimic one convincingly. With vampires being so rare, no one had ever been able to challenge his claims. The truth was simple—Junya didn’t even know what the average vampire’s power should feel like.

As Moka approached, her silver hair shimmered under the ambient light, and her crimson eyes glowed with an intensity that pierced his soul.

No! It doesn’t matter! So what if she has those legendary crimson eyes? She’s still the same stupid girl!

Then Moka spoke, her voice colder and heavier than before, dripping with clear disdain. “An Onimodoki.”

Junya froze, the name of his species hitting him like a thunderclap.

“A cowardly parasite,” Moka continued, her tone unwavering, each word slicing into him. “A fly that mimics the colors of a hornet to fool predators. Your kind survives only by imitating the aura and appearance of stronger monsters.”

A smirk tugged at the corner of her lips, sending a shiver down Junya’s spine.

“You’re all frauds and weaklings. Pathetic.”

Her words burned, stripping away the façade Junya had carefully constructed over the years. His blood boiled as her voice echoed in his mind, dredging up memories he’d buried long ago.

Weak. Insignificant.

The taunts of his youth came flooding back. As a lowly monster, Junya had been scorned and dismissed, an outcast in monster society. In the human world, he was no one—a shadow blending into the background. But everything changed when he donned the title of "vampire." Suddenly, the world wanted him. Among humans, he was revered, desired, and envied.

If only that woman hadn’t exposed me! I wouldn’t be stuck in this garbage academy!

A flash of memory surged forward—the face of the woman who’d ruined everything. For a brief moment, Moka’s visage melded with hers in his mind, igniting a firestorm of rage that threatened to consume him.

“No!” Junya roared, his anger surging. His trembling stopped as his emotions boiled over, adrenaline replacing his fear.

“I am not nothing!” Junya roared, his voice trembling with desperation as he charged forward. His body pulsed with youki, and he unleashed his most powerful technique—one developed through years of studying and mimicking orc physiology. In his earlier days, Junya had modeled himself after orcs, using their raw strength as a baseline for his enhancements. Through relentless training, he had eventually surpassed the average power of an orc, which had been enough to elevate his status in certain circles.

Once he felt confident, he set his sights on vampires, a far more prestigious archetype. However, his imitation of vampires was superficial, based on myths and incomplete observations. Junya was entirely unaware of their deeper abilities—powers rooted in centuries of refinement and an innate connection to their youki that could never be mimicked.

His lack of access to advanced youki techniques left him with only one reliable option in battle: brute force. With a growl, his muscles began to expand grotesquely, multiplying in size and density. Veins bulged beneath his skin, and his frame swelled to nearly double its original size.

With a wide, sweeping right hook, Junya slammed his enlarged fist into Moka’s torso. The sheer size of his mutated hand was enough to cover her entire midsection. The impact reverberated through the area, sending a shockwave that made Tsukune’s eyes widen in alarm.

Moka!

Tsukune's heart pounded as he watched Junya’s grotesque transformation intensify.

Junya grinned maniacally, relishing the sensation of his strike connecting. Memories of his relentless struggle to overcome his race’s inherent limitations surged through his mind like a twisted badge of honor.

"Call me a fraud, will you?!" he bellowed, his voice dripping with unbridled fury. His muscles bulged further, grotesquely overloading his frame. "You think your bloodline makes you better than me?! You think being a vampire gives you the right to look down on me?!"

Junya pressed forward, pouring even more power into his attack. He fully expected to send Moka flying, broken and humiliated.

But something was wrong.

Just as he prepared to unleash the full force of his momentum, everything halted. It was as if all the power in his swing had been drained into an unyielding void.

Moka stood unmoved, her crimson eyes boring into his with an icy calm that sent a shiver down his spine. Junya’s massive fist, despite its monstrous strength, had been caught between her slender fingers, utterly neutralized.

A smirk tugged at the corner of Moka’s lips.

Junya struggled desperately to pull his oversized arm free, but Moka’s slender fingers held it firmly, as though anchored by an immovable force. His eyes widened in fear as her voice, calm yet seething with disdain, pierced through him.

“You’ve never met a true vampire, have you?” she asked, her tone laced with venom. “Let me explain why we are unparalleled.”

Moka’s youki surged through her body, every cell ignited with raw energy far beyond a monster’s natural limits. “Unlike you worthless parasites,” she continued, “vampires don’t need to change our forms. Our strength comes from mastering what we already possess.”

Effortlessly, she lifted Junya and hurled him skyward. The brute flailed helplessly as his screams echoed through the air.

Looking up, Moka smirked, her crimson eyes glinting with superiority. As Junya hurtled back toward her, she crouched slightly, her muscles coiling like a spring.

Power erupted outward as she leaped to meet him midair, her voice ringing with authority. “Our true power lies in transforming youki into pure strength,” she declared.

Junya’s mind raced in disbelief as Moka closed the distance with blinding speed.

N-No way! She’s enhancing her body with youki?? T-That’s impossible!

He knew what he was witnessing: body enhancement through youki. But what baffled him was how efficient Moka’s use of it was. Most monsters wasted vast reserves of energy for minimal gains. Yet vampires, through centuries of refinement, had perfected this art.

For a vampire, even a small amount of youki could exponentially enhance their physical prowess.

Moka’s voice cut through his thoughts, steady and deliberate. “The strength of mere flesh is nothing,” she said as she closed in. Maneuvering with precision, she positioned herself for a devastating strike. “Allow me to demonstrate.”

Junya roared in desperation, swinging a massive fist downward in a last-ditch effort to stop her. But Moka moved like a blur, far faster and stronger than he could comprehend. Twisting her body midair, she delivered a thunderous roundhouse kick.

The impact was catastrophic. Bones cracked, muscles tore, and Junya’s body folded from the sheer force of her youki-infused strike. His form was flung upward like a rag doll, blood trailing in his wake.

But Moka wasn’t finished.

Landing gracefully, she dashed forward, leaping once more to meet his falling form. Another strike connected, sending him hurtling upward again. Her movements were relentless, a blur of precision and fury, each blow filled with simmering anger.

You reminded me of my childhood…, Moka thought bitterly, and what I lost…

Her strikes echoed the pain of past wounds and frustrations. As Junya fell again, she launched herself upward for one final, crushing blow. His limp body crashed into the ground with an explosion of dust and debris.

Standing over the unconscious onimodoko, Moka sighed deeply. Her rage began to dissipate, replaced by a familiar ache of sorrow.

“You’re not even a real vampire,” she whispered, her voice soft but laced with regret. “Not real enough to bring it all back… yet somehow, just enough to make me remember.”

Turning to Tsukune, who was limping slightly as he followed behind, Moka couldn’t help but let a small smile play across her lips. “Tsukune… I have to admit, I didn’t expect that from you. You were surprisingly clever, figuring it all out in the middle of everything.”

Hearing the rare compliment from this formidable version of Moka, Tsukune blushed deeply, scratching the back of his neck.

“For a human,” Moka added with a playful edge, clearly amused by how quickly he got flustered.

He’s more cute than handsome though, she thought with a mix of fondness and amusement.

Closing the distance between them, she leaned in just slightly, her voice soft and almost conspiratorial. “I’ll let you in on a secret.”

Tsukune froze, anticipation and nerves twisting in his chest.

Seeing that his full attention was directed at her, Moka turned away and began walking a few steps ahead, her casual pace heightening the suspense. Over her shoulder, she spoke, her tone tinged with mystery.

“No one really follows those old laws anymore. These days…”

She turned back toward him, her crimson eyes gleaming and silver hair catching the fading light of the evening. Her smile, soft yet alluring, made Tsukune’s heart skip a beat.

“Vampires love whomever they please.”

For a moment, the world seemed to stand still, her words lingering in the air as Tsukune’s blush deepened, his mind racing to comprehend her meaning.

“T-Then that means—"

Before he could finish, Moka interrupted with an amused tone, “Don’t get your hopes up.”

“W-What?!?!”

Turning back to face him, Moka smiled slyly. “Know your place, Tsukune.”

Watching her amusement at his expense, Tsukune could only sigh.

I really don’t get this other Moka.

“Tsukune!!”

Tsukune and Moka turned toward the familiar voices of Kurumu and Yukari rushing toward them.

Before they could respond, Moka suddenly sidestepped, her instincts kicking in just as a knife embedded itself into the ground where she had been standing moments before.

Following the trajectory of the attack, Moka’s sharp gaze landed on a familiar figure as an illusory spell dissipated, revealing their assailant.

“Lucas?” Tsukune said, startled. “What are you doing here?”

Moka narrowed her eyes, her stance subtly shifting. She was immediately combat-ready, her youki empowering and shielding her body.

Tsukune on the other hand remembered Lucas’ claim.

Oh no, another vampire? Don’t tell me he’s here because of that law—

Before Tsukune could fully process the thought, Lucas spoke, his voice cold and commanding.

“Vampire,” he said, locking eyes with Moka. “Under the Sleeping Parade Convention, you are ordered to surrender to the Black Hound’s jurisdiction.”

Moka’s frown deepened at the mention of the name. It rang a faint and familiar but unpleasant bell.

Lucas brandished a spiked silver knuckle with a sharp knife attached to it, its polished surface gleaming ominously. “Or,” he continued with a menacing edge, “would you prefer I bring you in by force?”