seraph of the end: I am Raiden

The tension hung thick in the air as Raiden Hyakuya, Mika Hyakuya, Akane Hyakuya, and Yū Hyakuya led the group of children through the darkened corridors of the vampire base. Each step felt heavier, the weight of their desperate escape pressing on their shoulders. The walls of the stronghold seemed to close in on them, as though the very structure of the place was alive, aware of their every move.

Raiden's thoughts were clouded with uncertainty. Despite the careful planning, every instinct told him that they were not going to make it out unscathed. He could feel it in his gut—the vampires were watching, waiting for a misstep. Every creak of the floor, every flicker of light, made his senses flare, his pulse quicken.

Beside him, Akane moved quietly, keeping an eye on the younger children, offering them a sense of calm as they followed behind. Raiden's gaze shifted to her—there was a certain fragility in her demeanor, the cracks beginning to show after everything they had endured. But she never let it show, her strength, though quiet, was a pillar for the children, and Raiden couldn't help but admire her for that.

Mika and Yū led the way ahead, their senses sharp, eyes darting from shadow to shadow. Mika's quiet confidence had only grown over the weeks, and Yū's stoic presence was a silent reminder of how far they had come since they first met. But Raiden couldn't shake the feeling that the danger was far from over. Ferid Bathory—he could feel the vampire's presence in his bones, a constant looming threat that hung over them like a dark cloud.

"Keep moving," Mika whispered, his voice barely audible, but his urgency unmistakable. "We're almost there."

Raiden nodded, his hand tightening around the hilt of the knife strapped to his side. The escape was within reach, but every second felt like an eternity.

The Encounter

As they neared the final stretch of their escape route, the world seemed to hold its breath. The walls, once welcoming in their quiet solitude, now seemed to press in on them, the shadows deepening around every corner. The sound of footsteps echoed in the distance—closer, faster. Raiden's heart skipped a beat. They were almost caught.

Suddenly, the heavy doors ahead creaked open, and there, standing in the middle of the corridor, was Ferid Bathory. His figure gleamed like a specter in the darkness, his smile wide, wicked, and predatory.

"Well, well, well," Ferid purred, his voice cold and mocking. "Did you really think you could escape, little mice?"

Raiden's blood ran cold, his eyes narrowing as he instinctively moved in front of the children, his body ready to shield them. The tension in the air was suffocating. Ferid's fangs glistened, his eyes glowing with cruel amusement.

"You'll never make it out alive," Ferid taunted, his voice a twisted melody. "You think you can defy me?"

Mika stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "We're done being your playthings, Bathory. We're leaving. Now."

Ferid's smile only widened, his amusement turning into something darker. "You think you have control of this situation?" His tone was a low growl. "You will regret this."

Before any of them could react, Ferid moved with inhuman speed, slashing his blade through the air. Raiden barely had time to react as the vampire's strike aimed for Akane. Without thinking, Raiden threw himself forward, using his body as a shield.

The Price of Protection

The impact was like a thunderclap. Raiden's left arm was struck with such force that he felt the bone splinter under the blow. Pain radiated up his side, but his focus was on one thing: Akane. She was in his arms, her face stricken with shock as she struggled to move away from the path of the blade. Her breath was shallow, but she was alive.

Raiden's vision blurred from the pain, but he couldn't afford to collapse. He could hear Ferid's mocking laughter as the vampire drew back for another strike, but Raiden refused to let him get close to the others. Gritting his teeth, Raiden shoved Akane to safety, pushing her behind him.

"Stay back!" he ordered, his voice hoarse, laced with pain. His left arm hung uselessly at his side, blood streaming down to the floor, but his resolve was unwavering.

Ferid chuckled, a dark sound that reverberated in the space. "How brave," he sneered. "But it won't save you."

Raiden barely had time to move before Ferid lunged again, his blade aimed directly at him. This time, Raiden acted quickly, using his right arm to grab a nearby piece of debris, a broken stone pillar. He swung it with everything he had, just as Ferid's blade came crashing down toward him.

The blow connected, and the force sent Raiden stumbling backward, pain searing through his body. His left arm was barely hanging on by a thread, but he couldn't stop. Not now.

"Run!" Raiden shouted to the children, his voice hoarse and ragged. "Go, now!"

Yū's eyes locked with his, filled with hesitation, but Raiden's pleading look made him nod, pulling the children behind him. Mika was already moving, trying to get as many children out as possible, but they were still too close. They needed more time.

The Fight for Survival

Raiden, his body broken and battered, stood firm in front of the others. Ferid's grin was cold, but Raiden could see the vampire's annoyance growing. He wasn't going to let them escape. Raiden had to buy them more time.

Mika and Yū's voices echoed behind him, urging the children to move faster, but it was clear that Ferid wasn't going to let them go without a fight.

"You're not going anywhere, Hyakuya," Ferid spat, his eyes glowing with bloodlust. "You're all mine."

Raiden took a deep breath, the pain in his left arm making his movements slow, but he wasn't done yet. He had to hold off Ferid. He had to protect them. With every ounce of strength, he stepped forward, the stone pillar raised in his right hand, ready to strike again.

But just as Ferid swung his blade, Raiden could feel his vision darkening from the blood loss. His grip on the stone slipped, and he barely managed to parry the blow. The vampire's blade scraped across his side, deepening the wound, but Raiden gritted his teeth.

"Keep going, Yū!" Raiden yelled one last time. "Don't stop! Go!"

Ferid's eyes widened as he looked past Raiden to the retreating children. Raiden's sacrifice wasn't for nothing. The children were escaping, and the weight of that thought gave him the strength to continue fighting.

He knew his time was running out, but as long as he could hold Ferid off, he would fight to the bitter end.

The Final Escape

With one final surge of effort, Raiden pushed Ferid back, using every bit of his strength. His body was failing him, but the children were free. Mika, Yū, and the others were running, leading the children to safety.

"Raiden!" Akane cried out from behind him, but he couldn't look back. His vision was fading, his breath shallow and ragged. All he could do was stand firm, keep Ferid at bay, and buy them the time they needed to escape.

As the children reached the final exit, Raiden stumbled back, his breath coming in painful gasps. Ferid's laughter echoed in the hallway, but Raiden didn't care.

They had escaped.

And in that moment, Raiden made a vow. He would make sure they would never be caught again. Even if it cost him everything.