The room was silent now, save for the faint hum of burning embers clinging to the walls. The aftermath of Kyon's attack had left an imprint—a scorched silhouette of a vampire who no longer existed. It was unnatural, almost obscene, the way the remnants of Vincent’s existence were reduced to a shadow, like the bomb shadows left behind in nuclear blasts.

He stood still, his arms crossed, gaze fixed on the scorched imprint on the wall. He had seen destruction before—had witnessed Flux bend reality, had felt its raw, untamed power surge through his own body. But this? This was something else entirely.

Shockwave Annihilation.

The term wasn’t unfamiliar to him. His master had spoken of it before—a technique born from the deepest state of Flow, where power and intent became one. It wasn’t just a strike. It was an erasure.

Vincent hadn’t been wounded. He hadn’t been crippled. He had ceased to exist.

And Kyon, a half-vampire barely beginning to grasp his abilities, had done it.

A cough broke the silence.

Faraday.

The vampire lay on the cold floor, his body twitching in pain, his skin still smoking from the residual energy. He was dying. That much was clear. But he still had words left to speak.

“You see it, don’t you?” Faraday rasped, blood pooling at the corners of his lips. “He isn’t normal.”

Harvey didn’t answer. He simply stepped closer, his eyes narrowing.

Faraday chuckled, the sound bitter. “A half-vampire… A Flux user… A boy who can control an Elder with nothing but his will…” He exhaled sharply, the effort making his whole body shudder. “Even in my years, I have never seen anything like him.”

Harvey remained silent.

Faraday turned his head slightly, forcing himself to meet the hunter’s gaze. “You know what this means. You know what’s coming.”

“The Sanguis Antiquus won’t stand for it,” Harvey said flatly.

“No.” Faraday smirked. “Master Conrad is just the beginning.”

They both knew the truth in that statement. Kyon had disrupted the natural order. He had done something no one—not even the oldest of vampires—had anticipated. And that made him a danger.

Harvey’s grip on his sword tightened.

“The Argent Sword,” he said coldly, “eliminates all threats to humanity.” He lowered the blade. “No matter what they are.”

Faraday smiled one last time. “Then I suppose he’ll have to kill you too.”

It was a warning.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

First-Person POV – Kyon.

The air felt heavier now, as if the very walls of Hotel Helios knew what had just happened. The weight of the night pressed down on me, exhaustion creeping into my bones, but I couldn’t stop. Not yet.

I glanced at Lawrence, who was keeping pace beside me, his expression unreadable. Sia walked slightly ahead, arms crossed, her sharp eyes scanning every corridor like she expected another fight.

“Are we really doing this?” Sia asked, finally breaking the silence.

“Yes,” I answered without hesitation.

She sighed. “We could just leave, you know. Right now. Get out of this damn place before something worse happens.”

She wasn’t wrong. We could leave. But that wouldn’t change anything.

“This whole night… all these games…” I clenched my fists. “It all leads back to Conrad. I need to hear it from him. I need to know why.”

Sia frowned. “And then what? You think you can just tell him to leave you alone? He’s an Elder, Kyon. You might’ve done some crazy shit tonight, but Conrad is in a different league.”

“I don’t plan on threatening him,” I said. “I just want to make sure this ends here.”

Lawrence finally spoke. “That’s not entirely true.”

I turned to him. “What do you mean?”

He exhaled, his usual casual demeanor replaced by something more serious. “Showing up isn’t just about getting answers. It’s about making a statement.”

“A statement?” Sia asked.

Lawrence nodded. “If Kyon leaves this hotel alone, he’s open game. Every supernatural faction, every vampire, every hunter will see him as a free target.”

I narrowed my eyes. “But if I leave with Kadir…”

“Then it’s different,” Lawrence said simply. “It means you’re under the Argent Sword’s protection. That changes the game entirely.”

I mulled over his words. The supernatural world thrived on power, influence, and reputation. If I left under Kadir’s protection, it wouldn’t just be about me anymore. It would be a message.

Sia crossed her arms. “And you think Conrad will just accept that?”

“He might,” Lawrence admitted. “If Kyon stands his ground, makes it clear he’s not afraid, Conrad might back off. At least for now.”

Sia still looked unconvinced. “That’s a lot of ‘mights’ and ‘maybes,’ Lawrence. What if he doesn’t? What if he decides that Kyon is too valuable to let go?”

Lawrence met her gaze. “Then we hope he’s not foolish enough to start a war over one person.”

A tense silence fell between us.

Then Lawrence added, “Besides… think about it. Despite everything that’s happened tonight—the gunfire, the fights, the destruction—did any humans show up?”

The question made me stop in my tracks.

I hadn’t thought about it.

This was a popular hotel in the middle of the city. There had been explosions, bodies thrown through walls, gunshots. Yet… not a single human had come running. No police. No guests peeking into the hallway. Nothing.

That was impossible.

“…Why?” I asked slowly.

Lawrence smirked. “You already have your answer.”

It hit me instantly. Vampire Compulsion.

Sia’s eyes widened. “You’re telling me… the entire hotel is under Compulsion?”

“A preemptive command, most likely,” Lawrence said. “Something simple. Stay in your rooms. Everything is fine.”

I shuddered. The sheer scale of it was terrifying.

Sia looked sick. “And this is allowed?”

“There’s no ‘allowed’ in our world,” Lawrence said. “Just what people can get away with.”

I clenched my jaw. This wasn’t just about fighting monsters anymore. It was about control. How deep did their influence go?

Lawrence gave me a knowing look. “And here’s something else to consider. Hotel Helios? It’s a legitimate business.”

Sia scoffed. “Yeah, right.”

“It is,” Lawrence insisted. “Owned by a very rich, very reclusive millionaire.”

“…Who?” I asked.

Lawrence smirked. “Elijah Gerard.”

Sia and I exchanged stunned glances.

A vampire owned this place.

I exhaled sharply. This night just kept getting worse.

“Now,” Lawrence said, coming to a stop. “Are you ready?”

I looked ahead.

We stood in front of a large set of ornate doors. The penthouse. The 50th floor.

Beyond this door was Conrad. Kadir. Elijah. The answers I needed.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself.

“…Let’s finish this.”

Lawrence nodded.

Sia sighed. “Here we go.”

And then we stepped forward.