The Red Rose

Chapter XLI

Everything had turned into chaos. There was a large hole in the floors above, and I could see the light. As I continued to emit that intense ray through my eyes, I had to close them.

"Come on, Miguel! This place seems like it's going to collapse!" Lycaon exclaimed.

When I finally regained my composure and we left the dungeon, I realized the magnitude of the damage. Rays of sunlight could materialize into the deepest parts of the mountain's bunker; the pulsar rays had pierced through the concrete and reached the surface.

"Stop right there!" I heard a voice; it was Varney, with his renewed red eyes. Lycaon jumped on him, while I could barely notice the metamorphosis he had undergone.

He had transformed into a kind of bipedal beast that seemed like a mixture of a large gorilla with the face of a wolf. He had abundant white fur and must have had enormous strength, because even with Varney's capacity improved by my blood, Lycaon tore off his head with a single bite. His wolf form was imposing, and his ability to dispatch vampires was something that left me perplexed. Even Varney, enhanced with my blood, didn't stand a chance, as Lycaon was not only strong and imposing but his speed was surprising.

"Dracula's room! I need to recover my portrait!" Dorian shouted, holding a sword.

"The Necronomicon is there..." Lycaon spoke with a guttural voice, like a ventriloquist. I didn't know werewolves could speak even in such a form.

Lycaon and I advanced quickly, making our way through different vampires that stood in our path.

"The paintings, they're cursed! You must destroy them..." He mumbled while devouring another vampire's arm, as the latter screamed in pain.

I aimed with my eyes and burned all the paintings of the crying children. My pulsar vision stopped working when I aimed at the original. The flames consumed everything, and I could feel my strength returning.

"I only need one more. But I'm recovering now," I told him.

"There is no time! Leave it, we must go for the Necronomicon, so Dracula won't have his power and control of their minions anymore!" He exclaimed.

We ran towards Dracula's office. Lycaon tries to open the door and burns himself.

"Ah! Silver..." He cried in pain.

I tried to use my pulsar vision, but it wasn't working.

"You lack concentration... Come on, focus!" He shouted with his guttural voice.

I couldn't. Then I tried to break down the door. The blows echoed on the thick metal door, making the walls vibrate.

"Ah! Eldritch magic! Damn old fox" He screamed.

The alarms kept ringing, and the fire and smoke began to engulf the entire place, the water safety detectors were not working. I saw some vampires running, with rashes on their faces, and falling consumed by the flames.

"My portrait is in there!" Dorian shouted, who seemed to be recovering from the rashes.

"What are those rashes on Dorian's face and the vampires?" I asked.

"Radiation, young man. Your vision emits gamma rays..." Lycaon responded, while trying to scratch the door with his sharp claws, but the thick magical silver was making it not easy.

We see Mina appear, covered with a handkerchief, also affected by radiation, with keys, and she begins to open the door, which was getting hot.

"All the circuits of the electronic devices were short circuit." And after opening it and kicking it with her foot, we entered the room. Dorian quickly goes out to remove his portrait.