Judas had finally begun to control his aura. After many days of training, the red lightning stopped flickering out of control and started to glow steadily. His aura had evolved, looking sharper and more focused.
Diana was no slacker either. She followed Judas's example and trained every single day. Within a month, her aura had completely changed. It was still orange, but much darker and more intense. The power she radiated was proof of her progress.
Peter nodded in satisfaction as he watched them.
"You both have done well—or I should say... you guys nailed it," he said, arms crossed. "You're progressing really fast, even better than I did at your age."
"Really?" Diana lit up.
Peter smiled. "At this rate, you'll be stronger than me in no time."
Diana laughed. "This is the first time in years big bro has praised someone other than himself."
Judas covered his mouth and laughed secretly. Peter pouted but joined in the laughter.
"Alright," Peter continued. "Now that your auras are stabilized, it's time to move on to the next stage—learning how to convert your aura into elemental magic."
"But I can already do that," Diana said, lifting her palm and lighting a small flame on it.
Peter chuckled. "That's just a spark. Real elemental magic needs to be powered by your aura, not just borrowed from nature. You both know your elements, so what you need to do is... imagine turning your aura into that particular elemental attribute. Come with me, I'll show you how."
He led the two deep into the forest.
"Where are we heading?" Judas asked.
"You'll see soon," Peter smiled and kept walking until they reached a dry, cracked field with a small mountain made of dried mud at the edge.
They walked a few more steps, then stopped near the mountain.
"Now, stand back."
Peter's green aura flared around him as he focused power into his hands. In seconds, he used his imagination to convert his green aura into blazing red flames. He pointed at the mountain and shouted, "Fire Beam!"
A massive stream of fire burst out and hit the side of the mountain with a loud explosion. Smoke and heat spread out as a crater formed on impact.
Judas and Diana stared in awe.
"This is what you need to learn," Peter said. "You must be able to focus your aura, convert it using your imagination, amplify it, and lastly, shoot it at your target."
Diana raised her hand. "Let me try!"
She stepped forward, mimicked Peter's stance, closed her eyes, and concentrated the aura around her fists, making it denser. Her hands started heating up, and smoke began to rise. Fire sparked around her fists as she gathered her aura. Then she shouted, "Fire Beam!"
The flames burst out—smaller than Peter's but strong enough to leave a burn mark on the rock.
Diana dropped to her knees, breathing hard.
"You okay?" Judas asked, helping her up.
Peter nodded. "Not bad. A little more control, and you'll have it."
Diana smiled, then collapsed unconscious.
"Master, can I try too?" Judas asked.
Peter looked unsure. "You haven't learned elemental conversion yet. You might just drain yourself."
"I've been watching you both," Judas insisted. "Let me try once. Please."
Peter sighed. "Fine. Give it a shot."
Judas walked up to the mountain and clenched his fists. Red lightning sparked around him as he tried to focus it into his palms. His fists started to glow faintly, then the glow faded.
He frowned. "Damn…"
"Try again," Peter encouraged. "You were close."
Judas nodded, then focused harder. The same thing happened—his fists started glowing, then the aura faded again. But on the third try, something clicked. The aura formed properly in his hands. Judas smiled.
"I did—!"
But before he could finish, the energy exploded and blasted him backward.
"Judas!" Peter called out, running toward him. "Are you okay?! Where was your focus?!" he scolded.
Judas laughed, holding up his hands, bruises on his wrists. "Sorry, Master… but at least I know I can do it now!"
Peter sighed and helped him up. "Then focus this time."
Judas focused hard. He was finally able to transfer his aura into his fists. Red sparks flickered around his arms. This time, he closed his eyes and imagined converting that aura into elemental magic.
"Done!" Judas opened his eyes with a proud grin.
He pointed his palm toward the mountain, supported by his other hand, and screamed. A red sphere started forming in front of his hand. It kept growing—larger and larger—until it covered the base of the entire mountain.
Judas gritted his teeth and began shrinking the sphere, compressing it with all his strength. The mountain inside the sphere started to shake. Rocks cracked. The base began to crumble within.
Judas tried to stay focused. Veins popped up on his forehead, and sweat started pouring down—but in the end, he lost control.
The sphere cracked and suddenly shattered like glass.
A shockwave erupted, and the mountain's base broke apart. In seconds, the entire mountain collapsed and began crumbling into dust.
Peter didn't waste a second. He rushed in, grabbed the unconscious Diana in one arm and Judas in the other, and jumped far away from the destruction.
They landed safely as the mountain behind them fell apart completely.
Peter turned around, gasping, eyes wide. "Incredible, Judas…"
He looked down. Judas was already asleep in his arms, completely knocked out from the aura overuse.
Peter smiled slightly, then carried both Judas and Diana back to the cottage. As soon as they hit the bed, they both fell into a deep sleep.
Judas drifted off. His breathing slowed, and his body relaxed.
He was in a dream again—but this time, something felt strange.
He found himself floating in a completely black space. There was no sky, no ground, no light. Just endless darkness in every direction. No sound either. It was quiet—too quiet—yet he somehow felt a floor beneath him.
He looked around, confused. Then he started walking, unaware of the direction.
"Hello?! Anyone there?!" he shouted.
No response. Just the echo of his own voice.
He started running. His heart raced. His footsteps made no sound. Sweat dripped from his face. The more he moved, the more lost he felt.
Then, he suddenly stopped.
A shadowy figure stood in front of him.
Judas froze. The figure didn't move. He wore a black cloak that moved slightly, like smoke. Behind him, stars and nebulas sparkled faintly. A crimson jacket peeked out from under the cloak, looking like a noble deity. His face was hidden under a deep hood.
Judas stepped forward. "Hey—wait!"
Still, the shadow didn't react. Instead, it slowly knelt.
Judas felt pressure—strong, ancient pressure pressing down on him. He couldn't move, and his vision began to fade.
The shadow leaned in closer, gently held Judas's head, and pulled him toward his mouth. His voice was quiet—barely a whisper.
"Lucas is coming… beware of him."
Judas was startled. He blinked—but now the shadow had disappeared.
Judas reached out, but there was nothing left.
Silence again. Darkness again.
"AAAAHHH!!"
Judas jolted awake, screaming.
Peter rushed in. "Judas! Are you okay?!"
Judas was breathing heavily, drenched in sweat. He looked around in shock. It was morning. The sun shined through the window, birds chirped, the wind gently shook the trees outside.
But Judas looked terrified.
He grabbed his chest and looked at Peter.
"M–Master… He's coming.... we're in danger from him."
Peter leaned in. "Who?"
Judas stared straight at him.
"…LUCAS!"
---
Meanwhile, in an unknown land called "Erebus"—
A strange, cursed land shrouded in darkness. The sky was blood red, and a crimson moon loomed above the mountains. The ground was black and swampy. The trees were dried and twisted, with bats hanging from their branches. Rivers of blood flowed between large valleys.
At the center stood a dark castle with towering black walls. Screeches from bats echoed across the land.
Inside the castle's throne room, a cruel scene played out.
Clown, the second-in-command of the God's Regiment, was sitting on the dark throne. He had his feet planted on the back of the Vampire King—Dracula.
Dracula had grey skin, long white hair, and a dried-up body that looked like all his blood had been drained. He crawled on the ground in pain.
"Please… have mercy!!" Dracula cried.
Suddenly, a spear shot through his back. He screamed in agony.
The spear twisted and was yanked out by Demos—the skeleton horse rider—who stood beside him.
Demos grabbed Dracula by the hair, lifted his head, and shouted into his ear.
"You should have begged for mercy before crossing paths with Lord Lucas, you fool."
He slammed Dracula's face into the ground.
Clown stood over him, laughing like a maniac, stepping on his head and not letting him raise it again.
Far at the back of the room, Lucas stood facing the red moon. His back was turned to the scene behind him.
Behind the castle, his massive golden dragon, Khaos, floated down and landed on the rooftop. It let out a screech so loud that it made Dracula's ears bleed.
Lucas chuckled and said in a calm, cold voice, "That's so cruel, Clown, Demos."
Clown cackled. "Don't worrrry, Drrracullllaaa! You'll get used to Khaos's screechessss soon!"
Lucas turned around and walked toward Dracula.
"Dracula. Get over here."
Demos pulled the spear out of Dracula's back. Clown stepped off him. Dracula groaned in pain and crawled toward Lucas.
Lucas lifted his chin.
"Will you serve under me, the King of the Vampires… or should I say, the Demigod of Erebus?"
Dracula didn't hesitate.
"It would be an honor, my lord," he said, his voice weak and desperate.
He lay flat at Lucas's feet.
Lucas grinned. "Good."
"THORAS!!" Lucas called.
The hammer wielder, Thoras, crashed into the castle from above. The ceiling cracked, and the ground beneath him broke apart.
Clown fell off the throne. "Hey! Watch it, fatty boy!" he said while fixing his hat.
Thoras ignored him. He knelt before Lucas.
"Yes, my lord. Is there an order for me?"
Lucas nodded. "Resurrect all the dead vampires. Heal Dracula. He vowed to serve under me."
"As you wish," Thoras said.
He waved his hand. A glow surrounded Dracula, healing his wounds and restoring his strength.
Then Thoras stepped outside the castle and lifted his hammer high. He summoned a thick green cloud over the entire region. Rain started to fall.
Wherever the raindrops landed, corpses began to rise.
Bat-like creatures erupted from the ground and screeched.
All of Erebus came alive again.
"HAIL!! LORD LUCAS!!" Dracula shouted from inside the castle.
Cheers and screams echoed from every corner of Erebus.
---{end of chapter 6}