Rock and Richard found themselves in a dire situation as they realized their connection to the surrounding mana and even more, Soul Crystal, the source of their magical power, had been inexplicably severed. Panic began to set in as they grappled with the implications of this sudden loss.
"Brother, something is blocking our connection with the Soul Crystal," Richard's voice trembled with unease as he voiced their shared concern, his expression mirroring the dread that gripped them both.
Rock remained silent, his mind racing as he assessed the gravity of their predicament. With a determined resolve, he moved swiftly to join forces with the Vampire Queen, who stood resolute amidst the chaos.
"Your Majesty--" Rock began to speak, but before he could voice his concerns, the Vampire Queen's sombre expression spoke volumes.
"I know. We have been cut off from the connection to the mana," she confirmed, her voice tinged with frustration as she attempted to summon the black mana that flowed within her veins, only to find it unresponsive to her command.
"Hehehe..hahahah" Theo's mocking laughter rang out, his amusement was palpable as he revelled in the chaos he had wrought.
"Feel it now?" Theo taunted, his gaze sweeping over the assembled group with a mixture of arrogance and contempt, "That's what it means to be a God... The creator of you, Filthy things!!"
Theo's words struck a nerve, eliciting a collective sense of defiance and determination among those gathered. Rock knew that they could not allow Theo's unchecked power to continue unchecked. They needed to act, and they needed to act swiftly.
"We need to eliminate him before he becomes an even greater threat," Rock declared, his voice firm with resolve as he scanned the area for Head Master who could aid them in their struggle. To his dismay, the Head Master, their most trusted man, was nowhere to be found.
Undeterred, Rock leapt into action, his movements fluid and precise as he launched himself towards Theo, his weapon spinning in a deadly arc.
"Thud"
Theo's effortless catch of the weapon shattered Rock's offensive, the godlike being displaying his overwhelming strength with a casual ease that sent a chilling reminder of their powerlessness.
"What are you trying to do, child?" Theo's voice was laced with derision as he effortlessly manipulated the chains, sending Rock crashing to the ground with a forceful impact that left him stunned and vulnerable.
"Boom!"
Rock's body collided with the unforgiving ground, his strength faltering as the pain he had pushed aside now surged through his body with relentless force.
'Cough, Cough' His throat emitted the sound of struggle as he tried to regain his breath, his senses reeling from the impact.
Theo's voice cut through the chaos, his smirk filled with mockery as he revelled in his superiority,
"See, I told you... You guys are nothing without your so-called mana," he taunted, each word dripping with disdain. "And unlike you, I am not dependent on any other thing for the source of my powers... That's what makes me The God!!"
"Tsk," Vampire Queen's disdainful click of her tongue echoed through the arena. The loss of mana may have crippled others. The Mana was gone and they could not even channel the mana that was stored in the soul crystal..... So What?
She was not just any ruler.. She was the Vampire Queen, the embodiment of power and immortal grace... not to be underestimated like mere Humans.
With a single forceful stomp, she closed the distance between herself and Theo,
"SSHHH!!"
Before Rock could even take a single step, a sudden and ominous sound echoed through the air.
'Thud'
"BROTHER!!" Richard's anguished cry filled the air, his horror-stricken face a mirror of the disbelief and shock that gripped everyone witnessing the scene. Rock's body, once filled with determination and courage, now lay on the ground lifeless, as if a puppet whose strings had been cut.
"Hmmm..." Theo's nod was filled with a macabre sense of satisfaction as he held Rock's severed head, crimson droplets of blood trickling down his neck in a haunting display of brutality.
"So, what now?" Theo's voice held a cold indifference as he addressed the Vampire Queen, his eyes gleaming with an unsettling mix of amusement and contempt.
As the Vampire Queen struggled against the torment of the lightning bolt embedded in her stomach, Theo's mocking words cut through the air.
"Come on, there's no use in pulling it... It will only prolong your suffering," Theo's tone carried a twisted sense of pity, though it was clear that his empathy was nothing more than a cruel facade.
"BASTARD!!" Richard's voice was filled with fury and grief as he lunged forward.
Yet,
'Spark, Spark'
'Thud'
Before Richard could even reach Theo, a small but deadly spark of energy shot forth, piercing through his stomach with deadly precision.
Richard's body crumpled to the ground, his valiant attempt to avenge his brother cut short by the merciless hand of fate.
'TNIG!'
Theo's attention was abruptly drawn to a distinct sound. His gaze narrowed as he turned to face the Vampire Queen, who had managed to extract the massive lightning bolt from her stomach despite the excruciating pain, blood trickling down her lips as she defiantly met his gaze.
"..." Theo's frown deepened as he questioned her, "Do you truly believe your healing abilities will be of any use?" He gestured towards her stomach, which stubbornly refused to mend despite her supernatural resilience.
"Nah... cough, cough... I am -ha- content knowing I can endure an assault from a god," she retorted with a smirk, a sense of pride evident in her tone as she reflected on her resilience thinking she was able to pull that lightning bolt thing that was far worse than she ever witnessed in her life.
"Hehe... hahahahaha," Theo's laughter erupted suddenly, a manic edge to his amusement. "Do you believe I have unleashed my full power? Oh, dear, you underestimate me... I have barely tapped into a fraction of my capabilities.
This world is bound by laws and regulations, and this vessel I inhabit is but a mere shadow of the true Heroes," Theo's voice took on a sombre note as he revealed the limitations imposed upon him by the constraints of this realm.
But the Vampire Queen remained unfazed, her pride unyielding as she drove her black sword into the ground, her posture exuding confidence and defiance. "And I didn't even rely on my mana for defence... It was purely my physical prowess," she declared with unwavering pride, her eyes gleaming with determination.
Vampires, traditionally reliant on mana to block sunlight and other forms of light energy, found themselves vulnerable in the absence of such magical resources. The Vampire Queen's feat of extracting the lightning bolt from her own body using sheer physical resilience was a display of her formidable strength and determination, unaided by the protective barriers typically afforded by mana.
"Someone need to learn their place," Theo's muttering carried a chilling undertone as he raised his left hand, a stark contrast to the grisly scene of him holding Rock's head in his right hand.