fzygal-castlevania

The poor girl finally mustered up enough of her courage and her strength to get out of the rubble. She had not expected the vampiric prince to fight dirty. With a leonine roar, she threw a vial, then another, to create a temporary barrier. Just long enough to catch her breath and check for mortal wounds. Finally, she ran forward.

"I will kill YOU…AND THE NIGHT!"

That caused the vampire to smile, seeing this mere mort…no... that isn't the right word he decided. A Belmont is no mere mortal, especially when they look like a mountain lion. None of them are save for perhaps Leon, this one’s namesake, and Sonia. Trevor and the rest were aided by supernatural guidance even if they did not know it.
Dracula, formerly Mathias Cronqvist, wished things could go back to the way they were. Back to when it was just him, and Leon...even that idiot Reinhart or the supposedly valiant Texan Quincy Morris would do right now. Not some miscreant using the Belmont name for fame and fortune. Even the Lord of Darkness shocked himself when thinking such things about the Belmont’s—but they had become his 'beloved enemies.'

This one…she had called herself Leona, was an anthropomorphic cougar. That alone had caused the Lord of Darkness shock. The Belmont legacy tainted by such a creature. Nonetheless, she had the genuine Vampire Killer on her. She just didn’t have the patience to use it properly, which gave the count time to throw a fireball or two.

"ENOUGH! If you are indeed a Belmont, then you will end this NOW!"

That caused the girl to stumble a bit, the surprise evident in her wide eyes. This man had never spoken to her ancestors in such a manner! The Lord of Vampires stood up, and threw his traditional three fireballs at the Belmont pretender and snarled, teleporting away before that whip could come crashing down on him. He came up behind the Belmont pretender, not even giving her a chance. Dracula grabbed the woman by the waist and pulled him close, leaning to her ear.

“There is no possible way you are a Belmont. Look at you! You’re a half-breed! You belong in one of my dungeons waiting for a real Belmont to come. That whip? A pretender. It is the Hunter’s Whip! Trevor at least pretended he didn’t need help; that damnable…what did his people call him? Texan, Quincy Morris and his son used the whip even if it cost them their lives. You? You can’t even hit me with holy water. Enough games, child! This ends NOW! One way or another…”

The Belmont growled low, even for the creature she was. She threw an elbow into his chest and a uppercut into his jaw when he let go of her, drawing blood. Dracula could only smirk, as he felt the power rise in the girl. Ah, so there it was—she truly was a Belmont! As he wiped the blood trickling down his jawline, he could only stare in shock. This fight would be worthy indeed, at last a true battle worthy enough. A hiss rose up in his throat as the girl used the holy water on him, adding insult to his injury. She finally landed one. It would not kill him, but as it seeped into his wound it did sting greatly.

“Dracula. Die now, and leave this world. You'll never belong here!”

Ah, the words of this one's ancestor, Richter, coming back to haunt him. He tried to think on what he had said to that boy so long ago, wondering if he should use it now too. He had come up against so many worthy Belmont's in the early days, and now he wondered if he would ever face another one. This mere boy was good, but he was no true champion. The boy hadn't even mentioned His eternal name once.
"It is not by my hands I was given flesh, Belmont, it was the humans. Their hatred and sorrow brought me forth with praise and tribute...”

Dracula recalled this scene with Richter so many times. It caused a chuckle to rise from his chest, though it was one fool of sorrow for the tainted Belmont. The Lord of Vampires tried to recall his next line, wondering if it would even dare be worth it. Now if only the Belmont would play to his theatrics nicely…

“WARRIOR’S REVIVE! I summon…. THE GREATEST FIVE!”

She didn’t even give him a chance, the words ringing throughout the castle keep. Dracula blinked at that, knowing he had heard it before, his eyes widened as he realized what it would do. He had heard this spell, from the second world war. But it normally took two people to cast! How could this Belmont be that strong?

A white light, as though from Providence enveloped the area, causing the vampiric lord to crawl back to what little darkness there was. Once it was gone, he could finally see and Dracula did not like the sight. On each side of the cougaress stood five of the greatest warriors that had ever faced him. Six including the female still alive.

Leon Belmont, the first. Matthias felt as though a knife had been plunged into his unbeating heart as he stared at the apparition. Facing off against Dracula’s four generals, undead parasite, and Death Himself. Leon also had to face his own beloved to create the Vampire Killer. He appeared to have an ‘I told you so’ smirk on his face, the Vampire Killer primed and ready.

Then came Sonia. The first woman he had faced. Though men from history refused to name her, it seemed the Great Beyond and her own ancestors did. Dracula was proud of that one. She was the one he would truly call great besides Simon and Leon. The sneer on her face though made even him feel dread

Next stood her son, Trevor, the scar over his eye still fresh it seems. If looks could kill this ghost’s gaze would be deadly, Dracula decided. Having faced him with that sorceress and his own son, Dracula didn’t stand a chance.

Then the cougaress. Dracula had underestimated her. She had played him a fool and he would pay dearly for it. Beside her, on the right, stood Simon. His great grandfather Christopher absent for some reason. But Simon, there was something special about him. That man had risked his own family and then his own life after Dracula placed a curse on him so he would be revived.

Finally, stood Richter. For whatever reason the spirits had decided the tainted blood was a great Belmont. Perhaps for overcoming the curse and mind breaking placed on him by the Priest called Shaft. Dracula didn’t understand it, if he was tainted, he was no good to anyone. But the vampire could do nothing but stare these great warriors down, afraid to draw breathe.

The cougaress stood forward, the whip aimed and ready. The others drew back, holding onto she said her piece.

"Dracula, for too long you have plagued this world…while the sorrows of mankind may have given birth to you…the hope of this family will see your end!”

Dracula laughed. This girl…no, this woman was good! She was worthy; and could finally be called a Belmont. This Dracula would admit this to himself. He wanted to give this mere child…no…no…it wasn't right to call this Belmont a child anymore! She had done only what so few had done before. Dracula found a remark to make at last, wondering how this Godless Belmont would react.

"Hope always gives way to sorrow, in the end, good hunter. I will be back. I can promise you that. Humanity no longer believes in God…therefore only Evil can prevail now"

The woman, with the spirits lashed her whip out, causing the destruction of the count. She turned away, allowing the vampiric lord a moment of privacy. He smiled, even in pain, at this. She was a true noble woman. He grunted and spat a little blood which caused her ear to twitch. She turned her head enough to look at him and opened her mouth.

'Lord Dracula, I tell you this; while humanity has given up faith in a useless deity, this family's hope will be enough to shine down on mankind through your eternal darkness. Remember this, as long as the Belmont name exists, your presence will not be wanted on Earth. As my ancestor and namesake said, ‘I and my clan will hunt YOU AND THE NIGHT!’ for all enternity. Now, demon, back to the Chaos whence you came for another slumber.”

Dracula smiled with this last of his strength and welcomed the slumber that his defeat brought. He was tired, Dracula admitted to himself. With the last thought his brain could muster, he wondered what the future would bring.