Dark Moon: The Blood Altar Episode 8: Old Moon: Vampire Lord
Manga chapter 22-24
Oshimeter
22 Fans
READTHROUGH
A Friendly Rivalry
The episode opens on the familiar rugby field, the boys engaged in their spirited Nightball practice. Heli and Kaan share a triumphant high-five after a good shot, while Shion teases Yano for his missed attempts. Suha arrives, bringing a cheerful energy, and the boys vie for her attention with playful boasts. Haru watches her with a quiet smile, while Shion warns her to stay away, only to be flustered by her bold affections.
The Unexpected Visitor
The playful atmosphere shatters when an old woman, clad in a trench coat, confronts the boys in a school hallway. Shion recognizes her, revealing a shared history stretching back 120 years. The boys react with anger and distrust, particularly Haru, who tells her to disappear. The woman, unflustered, drops a small, significant package as Haru walks away, a clear sign of impending conflict.
A Confession Under Moonlight
Suha receives a late message from Khan, calling her to a beach beneath a full moon. He expresses his feelings for her directly, explaining that werewolves love for life, a declaration both earnest and possessive. Suha is left stunned, processing his intense words with a mix of surprise and confusion, tears welling in her eyes as he offers to walk her home.
Nightball Finals and Inner Turmoil
The Nightball finals between Decelis Academy and Sunshine City begin, a grand spectacle filled with cheering crowds and an excited announcer. Suha watches from the stands, her mind clearly elsewhere. She reflects on her conflicting loyalties to Haru and Khan, her internal struggle so intense that her eyes briefly flash purple. Her frustration becomes visible, a clear sign of hidden power stirring within her.
The Game, The Plea, The Fluster
As the Nightball match intensifies, the boys continue to seek Suha's attention from the field. Yano, Shion, and Jaka playfully call to her, asserting their claim, while Khan, flushed with emotion, makes an earnest plea for her support alone. Haru then appears beside her, whispering a mischievous request for her to cheer only for them, leaving Suha completely flustered and overwhelmed by their competitive affections.
Kidnapped and Lost
The old woman approaches Suha in the stands, her face grim. Grotesque, red-eyed vampires appear, forcing the old woman to protect Suha, taking a blow meant for her. Suha is terrified as she is forcibly dragged away by the hooded figures. On the field, Haru hears her scream, his face contorting in alarm, and his frantic search quickly turns to horrified realization that she is gone.
Victory in Defeat
Despite the terrifying events unfolding, the Nightball game reaches its climax. Khan, fueled by a desperate determination, throws the glowing ball with immense power, scoring the winning goal for Sunshine City. His team celebrates wildly, but the Decelis Academy boys are left defeated and confused. Haru stares blankly at the scoreboard, his personal loss eclipsing the game's outcome, before collapsing in despair, calling Suha's name.
Ancient Secrets Revealed
In the dark academy hallway, a distraught Haru confronts the old woman, demanding to know who took Suha. The old woman reveals the kidnapper is Siso Dardan, an ancient prime minister transformed into a monstrous vampire. She then explains that the boys are the true Vampire Lords of the ancient Balg kingdom, sent to the future centuries ago by a princess they were sworn to protect from Dardan's rebellion.
The Princess, the Queen, and the Wolf God
The old woman confirms Haru's dawning realization: Suha is the lost princess. A flashback begins, showing Princess Seren suffering from an uncontrollable shamanic power. Her Queen mother, in desperation, gives Seren the blood of the ancient wolf god, Balg. This transforms Seren, bestowing upon her immense power and a new, distinct blue streak in her hair, solidifying her destiny as the Vampire Queen.
A Queen's Sacrifice, a Daughter's Burden
The flashback continues as the Queen lies dying, imparting her final, urgent instructions to Seren: she must go to the Moon Altar and claim her full power to become the strongest Queen in history. Seren watches heartbroken as her mother's spirit ascends to the heavens. In a desperate final act, the Queen reveals that Seren must spill her own blood to create new Vampire Lords, a profound sacrifice to protect the kingdom from Dardan's encroaching darkness.
Blood Oath and Reawakening
During a brutal ancient battle against Dardan and his vampire army, Seren is grievously wounded. As she collapses, bleeding, she looks at Haru, tells him he has always saved her, and asks him to accept her true form. She then bites Haru's neck, forging a powerful blood oath that seals their bond and, with a brilliant flash of light, awakens the full Vampire Lord powers in Haru and the other boys.
The Battle Rejoined, A Hero Falls
Back in the present, Dardan stands triumphant, boasting of his victory over the old woman and his hold on Seren. An enraged Haru attacks Dardan with his sword, but the ancient vampire retaliates with brutal force, stabbing Haru. The newly empowered Shion, Jaka, Yano, and Heli arrive, now fully transformed Vampire Lords, summoning their weapons and unleashing their formidable abilities against Dardan's forces. Yet, despite their renewed strength, Dardan manages to strike down Haru, who collapses as Seren screams his name in horrified despair.
EPISODE REVIEWS

The nightball gam takes up half the time for this one. It’s actually kind of fun to watch but it's more of an attempt to portray their usual school activities, I guess. The shifting between the game and a certain entity sneaking up on Sooha is suspenseful.

This episode was a rollercoaster! Starting off with a confession, then going to the sports match (which I'm glad didn't take up too much time), then a huge reveal that pivots from where I thought this show was going entirely! It's honestly an interesting choice with more meaning.

The pacing picks up, and the stakes feel higher.



