On Kara's side
"I'm sorry, Ms. Zor-el. Your fight is with me," said Anur.
"Damn it," Kara muttered,
Kara attacks Anur, but the vampire uses his coat to blind her momentarily. Anur then kicks Kara, sending her crashing into a wall.
Kara shakes off the disorientation and glares at Anur. "You won't get away with this," she growls.
Anur chuckles, his fangs glinting. "My dear, I already have." He moves with blinding speed, slamming Kara against the wall again.
Kara grunts in pain but retaliates, her fists flying. Anur deftly dodges each blow, toying with her. "You Kryptonians think you're so powerful. But you're no match for a true predator."
Kara grits her teeth, summoning her heat vision. The beams scorch Anur's shoulder, and he hisses in pain. He lashes out, his sharp nails raking across Kara's cheek.
The two engage in a fierce battle, trading blows and utilizing their respective abilities. Kara's super-strength is matched by Anur's supernatural speed and agility. Neither is willing to back down, each determined to emerge victorious.
Kara and Anur continue their fierce battle, each utilizing their unique abilities to gain the upper hand. Anur's supernatural speed and agility allow him to dodge Kara's powerful strikes, but the Kryptonian's sheer strength slowly begins to overwhelm him.
Anur darts around the room, his cape billowing behind him as he avoids Kara's heat vision. He leaps onto a nearby table, his fangs bared in a sinister grin. "Is that all you've got, my dear?" he taunts.
Kara narrows her eyes, her muscles tensing as she prepares her next attack. She launches herself at Anur, her fist colliding with the table and shattering it into splinters. But Anur is no longer there, having vanished in a swarm of bats.
The bats converge, reforming into Anur's imposing figure. He lands behind Kara, his clawed hand grasping her shoulder. "You're not as fast as you think," he hisses, his grip tightening.
Kara grits her teeth, refusing to show any sign of pain. She grabs Anur's arm and, with a mighty heave, tosses him across the room. Anur slams into the wall, but quickly regains his footing.
The two combatants circle each other, their eyes locked in a silent battle of wills. Kara can feel her strength slowly building, the familiar power coursing through her veins. She knows she can't afford to hold back any longer.
With a sudden burst of speed, Kara closes the distance between them. Anur tries to evade, but Kara is faster. She lands a series of powerful blows, each one sending the vampire reeling. Anur's arrogant facade begins to crack as he struggles to keep up with Kara's relentless assault.
Kara senses Anur's weakening resolve and presses her advantage. She grabs him by the throat, her grip unyielding. "Give up, Anur," she demands. "You can't win."
Anur's eyes widen, and for a moment, Kara sees a flicker of fear in their depths. But then, his lips curl into a twisted smile. "Oh contrar, my dear," he rasps. "I have you right where I want you."
Anur suddenly grabs Kara's head, locking eyes with her. His piercing gaze ensnares Kara, and she feels her mind growing hazy. Everything around her starts to blur and distort.
Kara struggles to focus, but Anur's hypnotic control overwhelms her. Her limbs feel heavy, and a strange lethargy sets in. Kara can no longer process the details of her surroundings, her senses dulled by Anur's mental domination.
Kara's defiant expression softens, replaced by a vacant stare. She sways slightly, her body succumbing to Anur's influence. The vampire's lips curl into a satisfied smile as he watches Kara fall under his control.
With a gentle tug, Anur guides Kara closer, her movements sluggish and unresisting. She is now firmly within his grasp, a pawn to be manipulated at his whim.
With a sinister grin, he commanded her, "Go, my dear. Assist lady Astra in dealing with the Kamen Rider."
In a burst of superhuman speed, Kara surged forward, smashing through the walls of the gothic mansion. She hurtled towards Haruka, the Kamen Rider, and tackled him with tremendous force.
Haruka grunted as he was slammed to the ground, his body protesting the impact. Disbelief and confusion clouded his features as he looked up at Kara. "Kara?" he uttered, his voice laced with a mix of bewilderment and concern.
Haruka, in his Kabuto Rider Form, dodged Kara's powerful tackle, his enhanced reflexes allowing him to evade the unexpected attack. Confusion etched across his features as he stared at the woman he had come to consider a close friend.
"Kara, what's wrong?" Haruka called out, his voice laced with concern. "Why are you doing this?"
But Kara, her eyes vacant and her movements controlled, did not respond. She charged at Haruka again, her fists swinging with Kryptonian strength. Haruka backpedaled, unwilling to retaliate against his friend.
"Kara, please, you have to snap out of it!" Haruka pleaded, his words falling on deaf ears as Kara continued her relentless assault.
Weaving and ducking, Haruka avoided Kara's blows, his Kabuto armor protecting him from the brunt of her attacks. He needed to find a way to reach her, to break through the strange control that had taken hold of her.
Kara's movements were swift and precise, leaving Haruka little room to maneuver. He knew he couldn't keep up this defensive dance forever. Gritting his teeth, Haruka made the decision to counterattack, hoping to incapacitate Kara without harming her.
With a burst of speed, Haruka darted forward, his armored fist colliding with Kara's midsection. The impact sent her reeling, but she quickly regained her footing, her eyes narrowing with determination.
"Kara, I don't want to fight you!" Haruka cried, his voice tinged with desperation.
Haruka continued to evade Kara's powerful strikes, while Astra observed the confrontation, a small smile playing on her lips. Anur, the vampire-like creature, moved to stand beside her.
"Well done, Anur," Astra said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "Your work has proven most effective."
Anur inclined his head respectfully. "I live to serve, my lady Astra. The girl is under my thrall, and her attack on the Kamen Rider is proceeding as planned."
Haruka clenched his fists, his Kabuto armor creaking with the tension. "What have you done to Kara?" he demanded, his voice laced with anger.
Anur's lips curled into a malevolent smile. "I've simply brought her under my control, Kamen Rider. Her will is now mine to command."
Haruka turned to Kara, his heart sinking. "Kara, snap out of it! This isn't you!" he pleaded, but her expression remained cold and unresponsive.
Anur chuckled. "It's no use, Kamen Rider. Her mind is mine now. She will do as I say."
Haruka dodged another of Kara's powerful strikes, her fist barely missing his armored form. Thinking quickly, he grabbed her cape and used her momentum to throw her towards a nearby wall. Kara crashed against the concrete, but quickly recovered, her eyes still devoid of recognition.
Realizing that he needed to deal with Anur in order to free Kara from his thrall, Haruka activated the Clock Up function of his Kabuto armor. Time slowed to a crawl as he moved with blinding speed, closing the distance between himself and the vampire-like creature.
[Clock Up]
Haruka unleashed a flurry of strikes, his fists and feet a blur as he pummeled Anur relentlessly. The vampire cried out in pain, unable to mount a proper defense against Haruka's onslaught. Sensing an opening, Haruka delivered a powerful kick that sent Anur crashing to the ground.
But just as Haruka was about to deliver a finishing blow, Astra intervened, her powerful frame slamming into him and knocking him away. The Clock Up disengaged, and time resumed its normal flow.
Haruka grunted as he hit the ground, his Kabuto armor cracking from the impact. Astra towered over him, her eyes glinting with a mixture of amusement and disdain.
"I'm getting used to your speed?" she mused, her tone laced with a hint of respect.
Haruka clenched his fists, unwilling to back down. He pressed the sides of his belt once more, activating the Clock Up function.
[Clock Up]
Time slowed to a crawl as Haruka surged forward, his movements a blur. He pressed the three buttons on the Kabuto Zecter, preparing his finisher.
[1-2-3]
"Rider Kick!" he called out, the electricity coursing from the Zecter towards his leg.
Just as Haruka was about to deliver the devastating blow, Astra's arm lashed out, her timing impeccable. Haruka realized she had anticipated his move and was ready to counter.
But at the last second, Haruka twisted his body, narrowly dodging Astra's strike. The lightning reached his leg, and he unleashed a powerful roundhouse kick directly at Astra's midsection.
The impact caused a massive explosion, disengaging the Clock Up as Astra was sent hurtling backwards. Haruka landed on the ground, his Kabuto armor cracked and dented, but his stance unwavering.
Astra crashed through a wall, dust and debris filling the air.
Astra was bleeding on the chest, a gash from Haruka's powerful kick. Anur Vladias, the vampire, grew concerned at the sight of her injury.
"Kara, take Lady Astra and retreat," Anur commanded, his voice laced with urgency.
Kara, her expression conflicted, obeyed Anur's order. She swiftly grabbed both Astra and Anur, then took to the skies, disappearing from Haruka's view.
"Damn it," Haruka cursed, realizing he had failed to stop their escape. He clenched his fists, the Kabuto armor still crackling with energy. Astra's retreat, along with Kara's involvement, left him with more questions than answers.
///
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