Safari's grip on his weapon tightened. The Devil Hammer hummed with crimson energy, sparks flickering like embers. He surged forward.
"Devil Hammer Strike!"
A devastating arc of dark crimson light shot toward Victor. The sheer force of it split the cracked stone floor beneath Safari's feet. But Victorâ
Effortlessly dodged.
He flickered from view, appearing behind Safari in an instant. "Too slow."
Safari twisted, barely in time to block Victor's clawed strike. The impact sent a shockwave through the room, rattling loose debris.
Ian, peeking from behind a toppled pillar, quickly raised his camera. "Now that's some action! The fearless warrior goes head-to-head with the vampire lordâouch, never mind, that's a hit."
Victor's knee collided with Safari's chest. The force sent the warrior skidding across the floor. His hammer clanged as it tumbled away.
Zack and Jen rushed to him, but Victor's laughter stopped them cold.
"Pathetic."
Angeleva's eyes narrowed. Her wings flared wide, casting a golden brilliance that washed away the looming shadows.
"Fairy Radiance!"
A surge of pure light erupted from her wand, illuminating the château like a miniature sun. The shadows hissed, recoiling from the divine glow. Victor snarled as the light licked at his skin, searing with holy power.
"You think your light can save them?" He shielded his eyes, but the radiant energy pushed him back. "It won't be enough."
Angeleva wasn't done. She launched forward with blinding speed, her wings shimmering.
"Fairy Daggers!"
Shards of glowing energy formed around her, then shot forward like streaks of starlight. They rained down upon Victor, forcing him to dodge rapidly. Each step left scorch marks where her daggers grazed the vampire general.
Olive seized the moment. "Time for some backup!" She adjusted her blasters, the bullets glowing bright blue. "Charged plasma, coming right up!"
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The plasma rounds roared through the air. Victor snarled, the combination of Angeleva's powers and Olive's gunfire forcing him to retreat.
"You insects...!" He hissed, the crimson mist around him swirling in fury.
Zack clenched his fists. His hands trembled, but the soft green glow of his healing powers didn't fade. Despite the bruises and exhaustion, he forced his abilities to workâmending Safari's wounds.
"You can't give up," Zack urged. "We're all in this together."
Safari coughed, but the pain was already fading. He felt the warmth of Zack's healing, the determination behind it. "Thanks, kid."
Jen knelt beside them, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes. "You're not fighting alone, big bro. We believe in you."
Ian grinned from behind the pillar. "That's the spirit! Keep it coming!"
Victor growled, his crimson eyes blazing. "Touching. But belief means nothing against true power."
The vampire general raised both hands. The mist around him pulsed violently, swirling into a massive, corrupted sphere of crimson energy.
"Blood Eclipse."
The castle trembled as the sphere hovered above him. The air itself seemed to scream in protest.
Angeleva's wings faltered. "That power..."
Safari grit his teeth, forcing himself to stand. "We're not running."
Victor sneered. "Then die together."
With a cruel laugh, he hurled the Blood Eclipse toward them.
The family braced for impact.
But Safari wasn't done yet.
"Devil Hammer Smash!"
Gripping his hammer with both hands, Safari's muscles tensed. Crimson energy crackled wildly around him. The moment the sphere reached him, he swung with everything he had.
BOOM!
The collision sent shockwaves rippling outward. Sparks and embers danced in the air as the impact split the stone floor. Safari's strength held â the Blood Eclipse wavered, then shattered.
Victor's eyes widened in disbelief. "Impossible!"
Safari, panting heavily, grinned through the pain. "Not so impossible when you've got family backing you up."
Victor's snarl deepened. "You'll regret that."
Victor vanished.
"Where is he?!" Olive scanned the mist, sweat dripping from her forehead.
Safari spun around, his Devil Hammer ready. "Stay sharp!"
Angeleva closed her eyes, her wings glowing faintly. "I can sense him... but he's faster now."
Then, like a blur, Victor struck.
CRACK!
Safari staggered as Victor's fist connected with his ribs, sending him crashing through a stone pillar. Angeleva tried to counter, but Victor was already behind her.
"Fairy Beam!"
It shot toward him. Victor dodged with ease. "Futile."
Zack raised his hands. "Healing Pulse!"
A wave of soft green energy rushed through the air, tending to Safari's wounds. Jen stood by Zack, trembling but steady.
"Come on, big bro! Get back up!"
Victor sneered. "Pathetic. You think healing him will change anything?"
Ian, still taking photos from behind a toppled statue, laughed nervously. "Note to self: vampires don't like optimism."
Safari growled, staggering to his feet. "You talk too much."
Safari's grip on the Devil Hammer tightened. His body screamed in protest, but the warrior within refused to back down.
"Devil Hammer Slice!"
With a powerful swing, the weapon emitted a slashing wave of dark energy. It roared through the air, but Victor sidestepped it effortlessly.
Victor chuckled. "Predictable."
He lunged at Safari, claws gleaming. But before he could strikeâ
"Fairy Pulse!"
It exploded from Angeleva's wand. The light forced Victor to recoil, shielding his eyes.
Safari didn't waste the opening.
"Devil Hammer Shock!"
The ground trembled as Safari slammed the weapon down, sending a massive shockwave straight at Victor. The vampire leapt into the air, but the aftershock cracked the stone floor beneath him.
Victor snarled. "You pests are starting to annoy me."
He raised his hands. The crimson mist began to condense around him, swirling violently. The air grew colder.
"Blood Chains."
Thick, shadowy tendrils burst from the ground, writhing like serpents. They lashed toward the family.
"Move!" Safari roared.
Olive dodged swiftly, firing plasma rounds to destroy the tendrils. Zack and Jen barely managed to evade as chains slammed down, cracking the floor beneath them. Ian jumped out of the way comically still not giving up on documenting.
Angeleva soared, light shimmering around her. "Fairy Agility!"
She darted through the air like a golden comet, avoiding the chains with ease.
Victor watched them struggle, his fangs gleaming in satisfaction. "You cannot defeat me. I am eternal."
But despite the fear, the family stood strong.
Zack clenched his fists. "We're not giving up."
Jen nodded, her voice trembling but firm. "We stand together."
Safari smirked, despite the pain. "You think power makes you untouchable? You don't know what true strength is."
Angeleva's voice rang out, steady and powerful. "True strength comes from those who fight for each other."
Victor's eyes narrowed. "Stupid ideals!"
The crimson mist swirled again, and the vampire general launched himself forward.
But this time, the family was ready.
Victor lunged forward like a crimson blur, his claws aiming for Safari's chest. But Safari, with all his grit and determination, anticipated the move.
"Devil Hammer Strike!"
He swung his mighty hammer down, colliding with Victor's clawed arm. Sparks flew as the impact blasted through the château. The floor cracked beneath their feet.
Victor growled, pushing back against the immense force. "Is that all you've got?"
"Not even close." Safari's grin was laced with defiance.
Before Victor could retaliate, Angeleva appeared at his side, her wand glowing with radiant light.
"Fairy Barrage!"
The flurry struck Victor in a dazzling arc. He twisted his body, avoiding most of them, but a few pierced his skin. Black mist seeped from the wounds.
"Annoying fairy," he hissed, his red eyes burning with fury.
"Fairy Radiance!"
Angeleva spun her wand mid-air, unleashing a wave of pure light. The brilliance forced Victor to shield his face, growling in irritation.
"You think light can stop me?" he sneered.
But that wasn't the plan.
"Devil Hammer Smash!"
Safari's weapon roared to life once more, a wave of destruction surging toward Victor. With his vision momentarily obscured by Angeleva's radiance, Victor was unable to evade.
BOOM!
The attack sent Victor crashing through a nearby wall. Dust and debris clouded the air.
Zack rushed to Safari, hands glowing with green light.
His soothing energy washed over Safari's battered body, closing the fresh wounds.
Jen held Zack's trembling hand. "You're doing great, Zack. Keep going."
Victor's growl echoed from the rubble. He staggered back to his feet, his body damaged but far from defeated.
"You're wasting your time," he spat. "Your pathetic healing won't change your fate."
Olive stepped forward, her plasma pistol aimed straight at him. "We'll see about that."
She fired a volley of rapid plasma shots. The air sizzled with blue light as the bolts raced toward Victor. He swiped his hand, conjuring a crimson shield that absorbed the blasts.
But Olive didn't relent. "Keep him occupied!" she yelled.
Ian crouched behind a cracked column, camera in hand. "And now, the thrilling moment where our heroes are cornered, but not beaten! Stay tuned, viewers!"
Safari shot him a glare. "Are you seriously narrating this?"
"Absolutely," Ian grinned. "If we survive, this is gonna be legendary."
Victor, now visibly enraged, snarled as his crimson aura intensified. The mist around him thickened, swirling like a storm.
"No more games."
He raised both arms, and the shadows responded. Dozens of blood-red tendrils emerged from the mist, whipping toward the family.
"Blood Reign!"
"Scatter!" Safari roared.
The family moved swiftly. Olive dashed behind a fallen pillar, firing blasts to intercept the tendrils. Angeleva soared high, deflecting them with golden barriers. Safari blocked those that came his way, gritting his teeth through the strain.
But Victor wasn't done.
He appeared behind Zack and Jen in an instant. "Got you."
Jen screamed as Victor's claw reached for herâ
Safari immediately charged in that direction hitting Victor hard using his horns, the impact forcing the Vampire back.
Zack threw his arms around Jen protectively, trembling. "We won't lose!"
Victor glared at them, his bloodlust unrelenting. "Then die together."
But before he could strike againâ
Angeleva's voice rang out.
"We fight for each other. And that's why you'll lose."
The family stood together once more, bruised, exhausted, but unwavering.
Safari pointed his hammer at Victor. "You're not taking anyone today."
And as Victor's aura ragedâ
The final clash loomed.