Chapter 313: Chapter 313: "Storm of Steel and Fangs Part - 2"
Under the pale light of the crescent moon, the battlefield was a grim scene of destruction. Smoke rose into the sky, carrying the bitter smell of burned flesh and scorched earth. Shadows flickered in the light of dying flames as Harry Potter stood at the center of the chaos. His sword—a weapon of goblin-forged steel—gleamed with raw elemental energy. His breathing was steady, but his body was coiled with tension. The fight was far from over.
"The wizards have gone quiet," a vampire commander snarled. "Find him!"
"Spread out and trap him!" another hissed, its voice sharp with frustration. "He can't take us all at once!"
The cries of anger echoed through the smoke-filled air as the vampires and werewolves adjusted their strategy. The werewolves, fully transformed, sniffed the air, their howls cutting through the night as they relayed Harry's position to each other. Their sharp senses helped them track him despite the heavy smoke. The vampires, equally skilled hunters, moved with deadly precision, circling closer to trap their target.
Harry crouched low, his sword glowing faintly in the dark. He could feel them closing in. Channeling his magic into the blade, he let the fire along its edge ignite. The hilt grew warm in his hand, but he welcomed the sensation. This wasn't magic for intimidation—it was pure, precise destruction.
The werewolves attacked first, charging as a pack with snarls and growls.
Harry moved with practiced precision, spinning to meet the first wave. His blade cut through the air in a fiery arc, colliding with the lead werewolf mid-leap. The fire and steel sliced through fur and muscle, severing its forelimb. The creature hit the ground with a pained howl, but there was no time to stop.
Another werewolf lunged for Harry's throat. He twisted sharply, driving an elbow into its snout before slashing upward with his sword. The fiery blade left a deep, cauterized wound across its chest. Behind him, a third werewolf sprang from the smoke, jaws snapping. Without looking, Harry drove his blade backward, impaling the beast with a burst of wind magic that hurled it into a nearby boulder.
"Push him harder!" a vampire barked, motioning for the others to charge.
The vampires descended in a blur of speed and precision, their movements coordinated and deadly. One leapt at Harry, claws extended, but his sword was faster. The flaming blade caught the vampire mid-air, burning through its chest as it disintegrated into ash. Two more closed in from the sides, their claws slashing toward him.
Harry steadied himself, channeling earth magic through his legs to root his stance. He swung his sword in a wide arc, cleaving one vampire cleanly in two. The other stumbled, thrown off balance by the sheer force of the blow.
---
Despite his victories, Harry knew he couldn't afford to slow down. The vampires were relentless, their shouts cutting through the smoky night as they regrouped.
"Don't let him rest!" one barked. "He's tiring—he can't keep this up forever!"
Harry ignored their taunts, focusing on the elemental energy coursing through him. He adjusted his grip on his sword, channeling wind magic this time. A powerful gust swept across the battlefield, carrying with it the fine silver dust he had prepared earlier. The werewolves recoiled, yelping in pain as the shards stung their eyes and burned their sensitive noses. Vampires hissed angrily, shielding their faces as their movements slowed.
"Coward!" one vampire spat, its voice sharp and accusing. "You hide behind tricks!"
Harry's reply was cold and unyielding. "If you can't overcome them, you don't deserve to stand."
A pack of werewolves charged as one, undeterred by the silver dust. Their snarls filled the air as they closed the distance. Harry met them head-on, his sword blazing with elemental fire. The first werewolf lunged, claws aimed for his chest, but Harry sidestepped and brought his blade down in a sweeping arc. The beast howled as its foreleg was severed, collapsing in pain. Another leapt for his side, but Harry pivoted, driving his sword upward. The flames carved through its torso, and it fell lifeless to the ground.
Two more charged, but Harry flicked his free hand, conjuring a wave of wind that sent them flying into a concealed rune trap. The air erupted with explosions, and the werewolves' bodies were scattered across the battlefield, lifeless.
Above him, vampires descended from the smoke-filled sky, their fangs bared and claws extended, aiming to catch him by surprise. But Harry was ready. He ducked low, his movements sharp and controlled, then swung upward in one fluid motion. His flaming blade met one mid-flight, cleaving it cleanly in two.
Another vampire landed hard on the ground nearby, snarling as it lunged for him. Its foot activated a rune concealed beneath the earth, which erupted in flames. The vampire's shrieks echoed through the night, its body turning to ash within moments.
---
As the battle raged on, Harry began to feel the toll on his body. His breaths came heavier now, each inhale burning his lungs. His muscles screamed in protest from the relentless pace, and he estimated he was down to less than half of his full stamina. But he refused to let it show—weakness would be fatal. Every movement remained sharp, every strike deliberate. He fought like a man with nothing left to lose.
The remaining enemies were disorganized and panicked, their morale crumbling with each loss. Werewolves limped and bled, their snarls weaker now. Vampires hissed frantic commands, trying to rally what little remained of their forces.
"Fall back!" one shouted, desperation in its voice. "He's too strong here! Regroup outside the wards!"
But Harry had no intention of letting them escape. He advanced like a ghost, his movements precise and relentless. He used his elemental magic sparingly, conserving his dwindling energy but ensuring each attack was devastating. A single strike of his sword sent a shockwave rippling through the ground, toppling several foes at once. Another slash, infused with the sharp force of wind, cut through two vampires in a single blow.
One vampire tried to feign death, lying motionless among the ashes of its comrades. Harry's sharp eyes caught the slight twitch of its hand. Without hesitation, he drove his sword downward, the flaming blade ending the deception instantly. A werewolf, desperate to escape, clawed at the ground in an attempt to dig its way out of the trap zone. Harry flicked his wrist, conjuring a massive boulder that crashed down, crushing the creature where it lay.
---
Far away, Vladimir Dracul XII, leader of the Carpathian Covenant, felt the deaths of his people like sharp ripples in his consciousness. Each loss was a dagger to his pride, the bond he shared with his kind vanishing one by one. The number of deaths was staggering—far beyond what he had expected.
His crimson eyes burned with fury as he rose from his chair. "Summon the elites," he commanded coldly. "Now."
The response was immediate. Twenty of his most loyal and powerful vampires assembled before him, their faces grim with determination. Without delay, and without informing Voldemort, Vladimir led them toward the battlefield.
---
Back at the battlefield, the last of Harry's enemies fell. The werewolves lay dead or dying, their once-ferocious snarls silenced. The vampires had all been reduced to ash, the bitter scent of their destruction lingering in the air. Harry, though utterly exhausted, allowed himself a moment to breathe. He leaned heavily on his sword, its edge still glowing faintly with residual power.
The silence that followed was almost eerie, hanging over the battlefield like a fragile veil. Harry glanced around at what remained of the hills surrounding his sanctuary. The battle had taken its toll, but for now, the danger seemed to have passed. Or so he thought.
As he turned toward his house, the wards shimmered faintly, their glow rippling unnaturally. A disturbance cut through the stillness, subtle at first but growing stronger by the second. Harry's instincts flared, a warning screaming in his mind. Straightening, he raised his sword once more.
The air in front of his house twisted and warped, bending in ways that defied nature. A tall, imposing figure stepped through the distortion, his crimson eyes gleaming like molten rubies. Vladimir Dracul XII had arrived. Behind him came a fresh army of vampires, their shadowy forms stretching endlessly into the night.
Harry's grip on his sword tightened, the ruby in its hilt flaring with an intense, pulsing light. Though his body screamed for rest, his spirit refused to yield. He squared his shoulders and raised his blade, ready to face this new challenge.
The battle was far from over.