"Because you're black… wings."
Everyone paused for a brief moment—then nodded collectively in understanding. He did have black wings, after all. Clearly, that was why Alucard called him a fallen angel… and not for any other reason.
And then—
The fighting began.
Wings moved first, wasting no time as he hurled the spear in his hand straight toward Alucard with immense force.
However, Alucard reacted just as quickly. He coated his hand in blood and caught the spear mid-flight.
The moment his hand made contact, a sharp burning sensation spread through his palm.
He glanced down.
The spear was covered in white, sparking flames—identical to the ones Anderson used.
"Ah… so that's how your Aspect works? Interesting."
Thankfully for Alucard, he was wearing the Mantle of the Underworld. It allowed him to endure the flames for a few seconds—just enough time.
Enough to throw the spear aside.
Enough to prepare his next shot.
He quickly noticed that both Alex and Wings were already closing the distance between them. Deciding to eliminate the stronger targets first, he gave a short command:
"Hold off the priest. I'll take the other two."
Beast obeyed instantly.
It grabbed a large piece of nearby rubble and slammed it into Alexander, forcing him back and creating distance.
Using that brief distraction, Alucard aimed and fired a blood bullet toward Wings.
Wings reacted immediately, taking to the air and narrowly dodging the shot.
Alucard adjusted his aim, firing several more times—but none of the bullets found their mark. This gave Wings enough time to summon another spear.
He held it for a moment, gathering force—
Then launched it.
The sheer power behind the throw pushed him back several meters in the air, though he quickly stabilized himself.
Alucard noticed the incoming spear and dodged it effortlessly with a backward jump, already preparing to fire again—
But suddenly—
He felt a palm slam into his back.
A surge of pain shot through his entire body.
From behind him, a voice rang out.
Ignoring the pain, Alucard turned sharply to face the attacker.
It was the shonen protagonist kid from earlier.
Alucard gritted his teeth so hard that blood seeped from his gums as he stared into the boy's soul—like a beast ready to tear him apart, limb from limb, and devour what remained.
But the kid didn't stop.
He continued his relentless barrage of attacks, shouting as he moved:
"My name is Daniel! My Aspect ability allows me to seal the Aspect of anyone I touch for a full 24 hours! My innate ability lets me send my essence running through the bodies of anyone I touch! And my flaw is that I must explain my abilities for them to take effect! And one final thing—Butcher, you will die today by my hand!"
Alucard didn't even flinch.
Instead, he moved.
His leg snapped back, striking Daniel directly in the knee.
Before the boy could react, Alucard followed up with a brutal elbow to his face using his right arm—
Then finished with a vicious headbutt, slamming the back of his skull into Daniel.
"You seem to have forgotten who you're dealing with, brat."
His voice was low. Dangerous.
"I don't need my Aspect to tear the likes of you limb from limb. In fact… all you managed to achieve with that little stunt… was sentence yourself to a painful execution."
Alucard reached forward, aiming to grab Daniel by the throat—
But Wings intervened.
He came crashing in from the side, delivering a powerful dropkick to Alucard's head and sending him face-first into the ground.
"Enough talking, monster. You should stay in the dirt where you belong."
Wings stood over him, one foot raised above Alucard's head, spear already in hand.
Most people would have begged for mercy in that situation.
Alucard… was not most people.
He grabbed Wings' leg, digging his nails deep into his calf.
Wings winced in pain, forced to pull back.
That moment was all Alucard needed.
He rose to his feet, staring at both of them.
For just a brief second—
The two hardened Awakened felt something shift.
Where Alucard stood… it almost looked like an abomination had taken his place.
Unfortunately for them—
He wasn't one.
Alucard dashed forward.
His hand shot out, grabbing Wings by the arm and yanking him closer before slamming his head forward in a devastating headbutt—immediately followed by a crushing knee to the kidney.
At the same time, he sensed Daniel using Envy.
The boy was trying to approach from his blind spot.
Pathetic.
Alucard twisted his body and hurled Wings straight into Daniel.
The two collided violently, both stunned just long enough—
Long enough for Alucard to act.
He turned and ran.
Or at least… that's what it looked like.
Wings wasn't about to let that opportunity slip away.
He took to the sky, diving straight toward Alucard with his spear aimed to pierce through him.
Alucard sprinted toward a nearby building—but there was no way he could outrun Wings mid-dive.
It was pointless.
Or so it seemed.
At the last possible moment—
Alucard dropped and rolled across the ground.
Wings couldn't adjust.
His momentum was too great.
He slammed into the wall, his spear embedding itself deep into the structure.
And just like that—
He was stuck.
Below him, Alucard lay on the ground… grinning like a madman.
This—
This had been his plan all along.
Like a predator herding its prey into a trap…
Alucard had led Wings exactly where he wanted him.
In an instant, Alucard moved.
He hooked Wings' legs with his own, locking him in place, and drove his fist into his face.
The first punch tore flesh.
The second shattered bone.
The third—
Would have killed him.
If Daniel hadn't intervened.
Daniel pulled Wings back just in time.
Wings immediately took to the air again, retreating to create distance.
Alucard turned his attention to Daniel.
A wide grin stretched across his face as he slowly licked the blood from his lips.
In nature, when an animal bares its teeth...
It means it intends to use them to rip you apart.
That was exactly the feeling Daniel had as he looked at Alucard.
That grin.
Those eyes burning with rage.
Then suddenly—
Alucard turned and rushed into the nearby building.
Daniel hesitated.
But only for a moment.
Then he followed.
Inside, the building was dark. Silent.
Too silent.
Daniel stepped in cautiously, scanning his surroundings.
The butcher was nowhere to be seen.
But something felt wrong.
A strange feeling began to build in his chest.
Then—
A warm drop of liquid fell onto his head.
He reached up slowly.
Blood.
His eyes widened.
He spun around, trying to locate the butcher—
And for a single brief moment—
He saw him.
Clinging to the wall like a creature of the dark.
Blood dripped from his mouth onto the floor. His armor seemed to absorb the darkness itself, blending him into the shadows. And his eyes—
His eyes pierced straight through Daniel's soul.
Then—
Everything went black.
Alucard's hand snapped his neck in an instant.
And the last thing Daniel ever saw…
Was that same, terrifying grin.