MY SUGAR MUMMY IS A BEAUTIFUL VAMPIRE

With each sickening thud of flesh against stone, the knight's heart sank deeper into despair. It was clear that whatever hold the mysterious force had over the sanguines was too strong to be broken by mere physical restraint.

Gritting his teeth against the rising tide of hopelessness, he redoubled his efforts, his grip tightening around the struggling vampire as he fought to maintain control amidst the chaos. Though the odds seemed stacked against him, he knew that he could not afford to give up—not when the lives of his fellow knights hung in the balance.

As the sickening sound of flesh meeting stone filled the air, the knight's shock quickly turned to horror. He had hoped that by restraining the sanguine, he could prevent him from harming himself and force him to speak, but it seemed that even that was not enough to break whatever sinister hold had taken root within the minds of these vampires.

With a growing sense of desperation, the knight redoubled his efforts, his hands tightening around the struggling sanguine as he attempted to wrestle him into submission. But with each blow against the unforgiving stone wall, the sanguine's actions grew more frenzied, his movements fueled by a madness that defied reason.

For a moment, the knight considered releasing his grip and allowing the sanguine to fall to the ground, hoping that the shock of the impact would bring him back to his senses. But he knew that to do so would be to risk losing whatever slim chance they had of uncovering the truth behind this sinister plot.

Instead, he gritted his teeth against the rising tide of despair and redoubled his efforts, using every ounce of strength and determination to restrain the sanguine and keep him from inflicting further harm upon himself.

Through sheer force of will, he managed to subdue the struggling vampire, pinning him against the wall with a strength born of desperation. But even as he held the sanguine in place, he could feel the tenuous grip slipping from his grasp, the relentless onslaught of self-inflicted violence threatening to overwhelm them both.

With each sickening thud reverberating through the night air, the knight felt a sense of hopelessness creeping into his heart. It seemed that no matter what he did, he was powerless to break the hold that had seized control of the sanguines' minds, condemning them to a fate worse than death.

But even in the face of despair, the knight refused to surrender. With a final, desperate plea, he called out to the other sanguines who looked on in horror, urging them to break free from whatever dark influence held them captive and speak the truth before it was too late.

Whether his words would reach them, only time would tell. But one thing was certain: the knight would not rest until he had uncovered the truth and put an end to the madness that threatened to consume them all.

********************

Back under the oak tree, a hulking figure emerged from the bushes, catching both Blake and Nana off guard. Scar, sensing the figure's authority, rushed forward, but what happened next defied Blake's expectations.

Just as Blake was about to intervene and prevent Scar from potentially harming the newcomer, the figure uttered a single command, "Heel!" Instantly, Scar obeyed, halting in its tracks and submitting without question.

"I do not have time for you, animal," Kabib declared dismissively, striding past Scar and directing his attention squarely at Blake with a fierce determination in his eyes.

"I come for that demon that has my wife!" Kabib declared, pointing a wooden club directly at Blake as he approached with palpable fury.

"No, Kabib, wait! He is a friend!" Nana interjected, positioning herself between Blake and Kabib in a desperate attempt to diffuse the escalating confrontation.

Kabib's reaction was one of incredulity, his laughter bordering on hysterical as he regarded Nana with a mixture of disbelief and suspicion.

"Are you out of your mind, woman?! Or has this demon bewitched you?" Kabib questioned, gripping Nana's face with a roughness that conveyed his deep-seated distrust.

Witnessing Nana's mistreatment, Blake felt a surge of protectiveness, unable to stand idly by as she was manhandled.

"Easy on her, you don't have to be that rough," Blake intervened, his voice firm with disapproval at Kabib's treatment of Nana.

"Huh? The bloodsucker speaks?" Kabib retorted, his tone dripping with scorn. "Is this your plan? To deceive my betrothed? To suck the life essence out of her? Well, I have bad news for you.

I am Kabib, the final beat of the ancient talking drum! And today, one of us shall perish under the great sun! Now come out from that shade and fight me!" Kabib issued a challenge, his eyes blazing with righteous fury.

"No, you have it all mistaken. He isn't one of them!" Nana pleaded, attempting to defuse the mounting tension.

"I'll deal with you later," Kabib declared, swiftly dragging Nana aside and flinging her to the ground with surprising ease.

With Nana momentarily out of harm's way, Kabib focused his attention back on Blake, charging forward with his wooden club raised high.

Blake reacted swiftly, ducking to avoid the first swing of Kabib's weapon. But his relief was short-lived as Scar, loyal to Kabib for reasons already obvious, the animal knew whom was its master and it was obvious it knew who Kabib was.

Scar immediately lunged into the fray, adding an unexpected layer of complexity to the already volatile situation.

Scar viciously lunged at Blake, knocking him to the ground, Kabib wasted no time in delivering a brutal blow with his wooden club, striking the back of Blake's head with crushing force. The impact sent Blake's face crashing into the dirt, a loud ringing echoing in his ears as his vision blurred and dizziness enveloped him.

In the midst of the chaos, Scar seized Blake's feet, gnawing at his boots with fervor, eagerly aiding Kabib in his assault.

Meanwhile, Nana's horrified screams pierced the air as she witnessed the brutal attack on Blake. With tears streaming down her face, she scrambled to her feet, desperate to reach Blake's side and assess the extent of his injuries.

But Kabib intercepted her, his grip firm as he held her back from approaching Blake. Despite Nana's frantic struggles and protests, Kabib's strength proved insurmountable as he restrained her, preventing her from seeing the full extent of the carnage.

"Blakeee!" Nana's voice cracked with anguish as she watched helplessly, her heart wrenching at the sight of Blake's motionless form lying prone on the ground, blood pooling around his smashed skull.

She could only watch in horror as blood gushed from his head, staining the earth red and leaving her paralyzed with fear and grief.

Amidst the swirling haze of pain and confusion, Blake's senses struggled to grasp onto the fleeting fragments of reality. In the chaos of the brutal assault, he could hear a distant cry. It was the voice of a woman calling out his name.

"Blakeeee" Nana kept on screaming as Kabib dragged her away from Blake.

"Come, I must take you back to the village and examine if you've been bewitched by that bloodsucker!!" Kabib insisted, dragging Nana away with him.

However, through the fog of his dazed mind, Blake strained to discern the source of the anguished cries. His head throbbed relentlessly, each pulse sending waves of agony through his battered skull. Yet, amidst the pain, the voice of a woman reached him, her cries laced with desperation and fear.

"R... Rose?" Blake whispered, barely audible in the chaos surrounding him. But the name had slipped past his lips anyway.