Remilia hovered in the blood-red sky, her wings spread wide, the moon's crimson glow framing her figure. Her outstretched hand crackled with energy as she unleashed her first attack.

  Heaven's Punishment "Star of David"

  Blinding light formed intricate geometric patterns, deadly beams shooting towards me in all dires. I reacted instantly, summoning a shield of magic, its golden glow barely holding back the onsught. The beams exploded on tact, the shockwaves rattling my bones.

  Before I could catch my breath, Remilia followed up with another spell.

  Scarlet Sign "Scarlet Meister"

  Blood-red danmaku burst forth in a chaotirelenting barrage, filling the sky. Each bullet pulsed with power, ripping through the air with a menag hum. I pushed my shield to its limit, feeling it crader the pressure. The final bst shattered it to pieces, magic fragments raining down like gss.

  But I was ready.

  In my other hand, my Master Spark was fully charged. I gritted my teeth and unleashed it, a massive beam of light tearing through the battlefield, aimed directly at her.

  The bst engulfed her, the light blinding. I squirying to see through the explosion.

  A cold ugh echoed. As the light faded, Remilia reappeared, pletely unharmed. Her body wavered, shifting like smoke. She had turo mist to dodge my attack.

  She smirked, her eyes gleaming. "Is that all? How many tricks do you have, Carl? I'll make you use them all."

  I ched my jaw, refusing to respond. Instead, I reached into my coat, pulling out the amulets I received from Reimu. It was time to show her what I learned.

  The amulets floated around me, f a circle as I ted the spell.

  Dream Sign "Evil-Sealing Circle"

  The amulets shot towards Remilia, encirg her. She tried to move, but her body was bound, magic s tightening around her limbs, log her in pce.

  Remilia looked down at the amulets with a sneer. "Should I be happy? You learhis from that shrine maiden... just to use it on me?"

  I stood firm, my voiwavering. "I know it 't hold you forever... but now you 't turn into mist to dodge anymore. That's all I need!"

  In my hands, the Mini-Hakkero hummed, its power building rapidly. I aimed at her, energy crag at my fiips.

  Love Sign "Master Spark"

  A colossal beam of light shot forth, its sheer power shaking the ground. Remilia's eyes widened as she hastily summoned a magic circle shield, the crimson barrier shimmering as it absorbed the impact.

  But I wasn't finished.

  I poured more magito the Mini-Hakkero, pushing it to its limit, just like Marisa did. The beam grew in size, transf into a gigantic wave of destru. It overwhelmed Remilia's shield, shattering it before engulfing her entirely.

  The explosion was deafening, the light blinding. When the dust settled, I looked at my smoking hand, the Mini-Hakkero destroyed, its remains turning bato a card.

  I let out a breath, exhaustion catg up to me. "Did... Did I win?"

  A chilling voice responded. "Gungnir... kill him."

  My body froze. A fsh of red appeared before me, and then pain—searing, agonizing pain. A crimson spear had pierced my chest, its jagged tip stig out from my back. Blood poured from my mouth as I struggled to breathe.

  Remilia stood there, pletely unharmed, the spear reappearing in her hand. She looked down at me with a cold, detached gaze. "Did you think it would be that easy?"

  I stumbled backward, as I fell into my knee and my vision blurring. I could feel the life draining from me, fear g at my heart. "Am... Am I... going to die?"

  But then... warmth. The wound on my chest began to close, my flesh knitting itself back together. The pain vanished, repced by a strange numbness.

  The Vampire Cheat Card floated out of my body, its glow fading as it returo its inal form. My wings vanished, my senses dulling. I had turned bato a human.

  Remilia's eyes widened in surprise before narrowing in disappoi. "So that's how you survived... using a card to cheat death. But now your vampire form is gone." She twirled Gungnir effortlessly, the spear crag with lethal energy. "If I strike you again, you'll die for real this time."

  Remilia floated gracefully above me, her wings stretched wide, their dark silhouette stark against the crimson moon. Her scarlet eyes softehe alice fading as she looked down at my battered form. Her lips curved into a gentle smile, her voice dropping to a tender, almost g tone.

  "You are not alone, Carl..." she cooed, her words ing around me like a warm embrace. Her voice was soft, almost melodic, carrying a sweethat felt out of p this desote battlefield. "You don't have to suffer. You don't have to keep fighting."

  She slowly desded, her feet toug the ground without a sound. Her hair flowed with the movement, delicate as silk. She walked toward me with an elegance befitting a noble, her posture perfect, every step calcuted. The moonlight danced on her por skin, giving her ahereal beauty that was both mesmerizing and terrifying.

  Remilia extended her hand towards me, her fingers slender and delicate, almost inviting. "Just like Sakuya... you stand by my side. You don't have to face this cruel world alone." Her eyes gleamed, refleg the crimson glow of the moon. Her smile was warm, even passionate, a stark trast to the merciless power she wielded.

  "Swear your loyalty to me, Carl... Bey servant, and I promise to protect you. I'll give you everything you desire. Power, safety... even a pce to belong." Her voice was so soft, so soothing. It felt like a lulby, temptio surreo give up the fight a her carry my burdens.

  I felt my heart waver, her words breaking through my fear and pain. For a moment, I could almost see it—standing by her side, shielded from danger, no more battles to fight, no more eo fear. She looked at me with gentle eyes, her hand still outstretched, waiting for me to take it.

  Her voice grew even softer, almost a whisper. "You don't have to die here, Carl. Just promise to stay with me... and I'll let you live."

  The words hung in the air, dripping with sweetness. But beh the kindness, I sensed something else—a longing, a deep, insatiable need. Her smile, so warm and inviting, was too perfect, too practiced. Her eyes, though soft, were sharp and calg, like a predator watg its prey.

  This was the same girl who anded Gungnir to pierce my heart without hesitation. The same girl who created this fake world to trap me. The same girl who looked at me not as a person... but as something to possess.

  I hesitated, doubt clouding my mind. Could I trust her?

  I felt my heart waver, my resolve crumbling. Should I... bee her servant?

  I looked into her eyes once more, searg for an answer. But all I saw was that empty smile, masking a deeper longing.

  I said to her in a low voice, "I'm will..."