When the light faded, the air was eerily still. The ground was scorched, and the walls were cracked beyond repair.
But Victor... was gone.
Only a smoldering crater remained where the Vampire General once stood.
Safari dropped to one knee de-transforming, exhausted. Angeleva collapsed beside him, de-transforming, her wings flickering dimly. But despite the pain, a small smile crossed her face.
They did it.
Zack and Jen stumbled forward, tears streaming down their faces. They threw their arms around Safari and Angeleva, holding them tightly.
"You won!" Zack cried.
Olive grinned, her eyes shining with relief. "I knew you could do it."
Ian, ever the opportunist, snapped a picture.
"Seriously, Ian?" Safari groaned.
"For the memories!" Ian grinned, though his own voice shook with emotion.
The family stood together, catching their breath after the intense battle. The silence that followed Victor's defeat was unsettling, the echo of the destructive clash still lingering in the air.
But then—
A radiant glow emerged.
It started as a small shimmer, pulsing from the shattered ground where Victor had fallen. The light quickly spread, illuminating the dark corners of the château. The once-dreary and cursed atmosphere seemed to retreat, replaced by a golden warmth.
The family watched in awe as the entire planet responded.
The dark sky lightened.
The sickly crimson clouds that had loomed above began to part. The twisted, lifeless trees regained their greenery. Vines that once strangled the ruins loosened, blooming with flowers of vibrant hues.
But that wasn't all.
A chorus of terrified wails erupted from the distant shadows.
The vampires.
They emerged from their hiding spots, clawing at the walls and clutching their chests. The sunlight touched them—
And instead of turning to ash—
They changed.
Their monstrous forms twisted and contorted. Pale skin regained color. Hollow, soulless eyes filled with life. Fangs receded, and the monstrous claws softened into hands.
One by one, the vampires collapsed to the ground.
They weren't monsters anymore.
They were people.
Ian's camera clicked as he resumed documenting.
"This... this is incredible!" He narrated, his lens capturing the once-vampiric residents now trembling and confused, their forms fully restored. "The curse has lifted! Victor's defeat wasn't just the end of the battle — it's the end of the entire nightmare."
The family remained cautious, waiting for any sign of danger. But instead—
A woman, her white hair now shimmering under the sunlight, approached them with tears welling in her eyes. She knelt before Safari and Angeleva, her voice trembling.
"You... saved us."
Behind her, the other former vampires stumbled to their feet. Some wept uncontrollably, others stared at their hands in disbelief. An elderly man dropped to his knees, kissing the very ground he once roamed as a monster.
"We... we thought we were lost forever," the man sobbed.
Safari lowered his Devil Hammer, confusion flickering across his face. "You're... not vampires anymore?"
The woman shook her head. "No. We were never meant to be."
She took a deep breath, the memories washing over her like a tidal wave.
"Lord Victor came to our planet long ago. He was drawn to its energy, the beauty of our home. But his heart was empty — driven only by a desire for power.
He used his dark magic to turn our people into vampires. The more he corrupted us, the more powerful he became. And with every soul he enslaved, our planet lost its light."
Her voice cracked.
"We tried to resist, but... one by one, we were turned. Our families, our friends — there was no escape."
Zack's eyes welled with tears, clutching Jen's hand tightly. The weight of the people's suffering struck them deeply.
"You endured all of that..." Zack whispered.
"Until now," the woman said, her tone softening. "You freed us. You destroyed Victor — the source of the curse. The light has returned. Our planet... it lives again."
The crowd of former vampires erupted into murmurs of gratitude. Some dropped to their knees, bowing to the family. Others embraced one another, overwhelmed by the long-lost warmth of the sun.
Safari stood still, absorbing the reality before him. For all the battles he had fought, this was something entirely different.
Angeleva's wings fluttered as she gazed at the sky, the golden light reflecting in her eyes. The warmth was not just physical — it was spiritual.
"The light of purity," she whispered. "It's healing everything."
Zack and Jen exchanged tearful smiles. Jen hugged Safari tightly, her voice muffled against his chest. "You did it. You really did it."
Safari grunted, patting her head awkwardly. "We all did."
Olive wiped her eyes with her sleeve, though she tried to play it off. "Yeah, yeah. Don't get sentimental now." But even she couldn't hide the proud smile on her face.
Ian, of course, was still recording.
"And there you have it," he said dramatically, walking toward the camera. "The triumphant end of the Vampire's Reign. Safari big bro's family has once again proven that the bonds of unity are unstoppable. A perfect story of victory, sacrifice, and courage. Absolutely cinematic."
Safari rolled his eyes. "You're enjoying this way too much."
"Hey, someone's gotta document the greatest family in the universe!" Ian grinned.
The family laughed. Despite the destruction, despite the pain, this moment was theirs.
The residents, now fully recovered, began gathering around the family. Children stared in awe at Safari's towering figure, while others reached out to touch Angeleva's glowing wings.
"We will rebuild," the white-haired woman declared. "Our planet will bloom again, and your names will forever be remembered as our saviors."
Safari shook his head. "We didn't do it for that. We did it because it was the right thing to do."
Angeleva nodded in agreement. "And because no one should suffer like you did."
The woman smiled. "Nevertheless, you will always have a home here."
Safari gave a small nod.
As the sun rose higher, the once-cursed planet basked in its warmth.
For the first time in what felt like an eternity—
It was free.