Zemeth returned to the castle and saw that the second opening was about to end. It doesn't matter, he already got Ivy. Beginning today, the castle can no longer release monsters because the three sisters were already out of the castle. The golden dagger will no longer work since there is no compatible blood to activate it.

It's a good thing that he was able to save Ivy this time. He no longer feels sad and guilty. He willed his mind back to the present and scan the whole area. He was currently hovering in the sky watching his companions slaying monsters everywhere.

The biggest advantage of Zemeth and his team was their ability to hover in the air and attack the monsters from above. The monsters have no weapon to protect themselves. They only have sharp claws and sharp teeth to attack humans, aside from that, they can also run fast.

Zemeth was just lucky that even if they were outnumbered by the sheer number of the monsters released by the vampires, he has a team of friends that were gifted with special skills to their disposal that they can use to annihilate these flesh-eating creatures.

He saw Agran doing a great job slaughtering a good number of monsters with the flames in his hand and the fire in his eyes.

Immortal Vearah's poison powder was very effective in killing the monsters in one go.

As for the rest, all they need to do is hunt and kill any monsters that come their way.

Right now, several monsters were able to escape because they run fast, but his men were already after the ones that got away from the slaughter area. What will comes next is the grueling part of hunting the monsters one by one as the areas nearby were submerged in darkness.

The monsters can hide anywhere, under the rocks, the tree, the hole, behind a big stone, and any structures that can provide a hiding place. If the hunter doesn't have sharp eyes, they can easily miss the monsters hiding nearby.

This is the tricky part, 'coz if the hunter is careless, the monsters can launch an attack and ambush the hunter behind his back and overpower him or her which is fatal because the monsters are vicious creatures, they will sink their talons and sharp teeth greedily on their prey.

Enough of his musing, time to hunt for the ones that already got away.

He flew further away from the castle to hunt the monsters that were fleeing or hiding in nearby areas.

This activity will take a whole night of combing the wide-area, searching for the ones that already got away before they can reach the people's homes and create terror on their victims.

Zemeth saw the overgrown bushes moving... a few meters away. There could be a monster hiding there! He zoomed towards the bushes, he was not mistaken! He saw the monster munching on a bloody fox. He strikes the monster's neck with his sword decapitating it in one blow.

Done in that area, he rose higher and looked everywhere. Finding nothing worth looking by...he flew towards the direction of the area where the people's houses were located.

A few minutes later, Zemeth saw Ramza hovering in the air near the vicinity of the houses. He hovers towards him.

"What is the situation here?" he asked him.

"Good so far, I saw no monster creeping nearby. I think they haven't reached this area yet," Ramza replied.

"How about those areas over there-?" Zemeth asked him while pointing at several trees located nearby.

"I already checked that area thoroughly, but I didn't find any monsters hiding there," Ramza replied.

"Good! You stay here and guard the houses just in case the monsters will come this way. You have to stop them from coming closer to the houses. Kill them before they can create real damage. I'll hunt for the others nearby," Zemeth said.

"Okay," Ramza replied.

Zemeth was about to take his leave...suddenly...they heard the horses neighing nearby. The animals sounded like they were being attacked!

Ramza and Zemeth flew towards the stable and saw four monsters attacking the horses!

Zemeth and Ramza drew their swords and strike the monsters with their swords in a fatal blow sending the monsters' severed neck flying into the ground.

"It looks like there are monsters already heading in this area. Let's hunt for them before they can reach the houses," Zemeth said.

The men flew in different directions trying to spot monsters lurking nearby.

~

Back at the base of the castle.

Jegun went to Agran's side. "Good job, son! I'm happy with your achievement today. You slaughtered a lot of monsters tonight! I'm so proud of you. I'm sure your mother is also proud of you watching you from heaven above. You were brave and making a good deed by killing monsters without mercy," he said.

Agran smiled. His gaze sweeps the whole area. "I think... there are no more monsters left here, Grandpa. Do you think we should leave this place and hunt for them? I'm sure that some monsters already escape," he said.

Jegun nodded his head. "Yes, there'll be monsters scattered everywhere. But let's rest for a few minutes first. We will catch them no matter near or far," he spoke.

"Okay, Grandpa," Agran replied.

They lowered themselves into the ground and sat on the grassy ground while looking at the pile of monsters burnt corpses nearby.

"Do you think they will release more monsters in the coming days?" asked Agran.

Jegun shook his head. "No more. I saw Zemeth successfully taken Ivy away from the castle. This time the vampires can no longer open the blazing barrier without Ivy's blood, therefore, they can no longer release monsters. It's game over, my son! We won!" he said, smiling brightly.

"Nice," Agran smiled happily. "This time, the monsters can no longer terrorize the masses. There will be long lasting peace," he said. "Grandpa, when can I see Ella again?"

"Why?"

"I miss her already," Agran replied sheepishly.

Jegun chuckled and rose to his feet. "Let's go! Let's join the others in hunting the fleeing monsters!" he said.

"Okay!" Agran responded and hovered in the air beside his grandpa.

~

Esmeralda and Vearah were a tandem of two looking for the monsters in the eastern part of the area. They already covered a hundred miles of forest and lakes, searching for the fleeing monsters left and right.

Vearah looked at her student. "I'm going back to the mountain to check on the girls. I will return here after making sure they are okay," she said. She feels something is not right up in her place in the mountain. She needs to investigate what's going on.

"Okay," replied Esmeralda.

Vearah opened the portal in the air, she entered it and disappeared from Esmeralda's view.

Vearah reappeared in the front yard of her house. She saw the three sisters outside the house. Ella and Kate were carrying bundles in their arms. Are they about to flee?

She made herself visible. "Wait...w-where are you, going - girls?" she asked them.

The three sisters were shocked to see the Immortal appeared in front of them.

Kate and Ella rushed towards the immortal.

"Granny, we are about to flee because sister Ivy told us that the monsters and vampires are coming this way to take us away! We have to escape and leave the mountain before they can find us!" Kate said, her body already shaking in fear.

"Granny! Let's go!" Ella said.

"Wait! Calm down, girls!" Vearah said. "This is my home! I know if we are in danger or not. Besides, the monsters and vampires don't know about this place," she said while looking at Ivy, the only one among the sisters who didn't rush to her side. She's getting suspicious of this woman!

She looked closely at the woman's face. "Ivy - why did you scare your sisters? Why are you telling them that the monsters and vampires are coming to this place? How did you know-? Unless...you are one of them?" she accused the girl.

Ivy showed no reaction on her face. "I...I thought we just... need to hide somewhere..." she stammered. "They are my sisters...I have to protect them!" she reasoned out.

Vearah doesn't trust this woman standing in front of them. She thinks she is an impostor! Her instinct told her so. There's only one way to find out if her suspicion is true...she waved her hand directing at Ivy. A minute later, a mist-like fog enveloped Ivy's body - revealing her true form. Vearah's suspicion was correct! The real person posing as Ivy was a vampire woman! But she was the only one who can see her true colors right now. She needs to get the liquid from her room. Right now, the sisters were bewitched by the impostor, and they can't see her original form.

If she didn't come on time, this impostor might already have abducted Kate and Ella and brought them somewhere! She stared at Ivy, her eyes blazing with anger. "How dare you enter my property, impostor!"

Vearah opened her palm, the powerful dagger appeared in her right hand, she bolted towards the vampire woman at a speed of light and slit the impostor's neck. The vampire grunted as blood oozes out from her neck. But before she completely loses her life and fell to the ground, her mouth released a thick black smoke that enveloped Vearah's entire body.

Vearah was frozen in time as the impostor's lifeless body crumbled into the ground, still wearing Ivy's image.

"Sister Ivy!" Kate and Ella were screaming in horror after seeing their older sister's body crumbled into the ground. They rushed to Ivy's dead body crying hysterically. They wailed even more after Kate can no longer detect pulse and heart beating on their sister's body.

Kate looked at Vearah. "Granny, why did you kill our sister? Why!" she screamed at the immortal.

But Vearah didn't respond. She stood frozen in time like a statue.

The sisters continue to cry hysterically over Ivy's dead body.

"What we're going to do now, sister?" asked Ella between sobs.

"I dunno, I'm still in shock. I still can't believe Granny Vearah killed our sister! " Kate lamented.

They continue to cry over Ivy's dead body.

A few minutes later, suddenly...a portal opened up a few meters away...Esmeralda exited the portal.

Her gaze sweeps the whole scene in front of her. She looked at her mentor frozen in time, while the girls were crying over a body sprawled on the ground...then she saw blood! She rushed to their side in alarm. "What's going on here!?" she asked and looked at the woman's face lying in the ground as fresh blood was already forming a puddle in the ground. It's Ivy! There was an open wound on her neck! Then she looks at her mentor's hands, Vearah was holding a dagger dripping with fresh blood! Oh my!

"Granny! Immortal Vearah killed our sister! Please, help our sister!" Kate said.

Esmeralda's eyes widened in horror!

This is pure madness!

What's going on?

But why? Why would her mentor kill Ivy? It's not making sense to her at all!