Volume 9

Vampire Knight Vol. 9 is the ninth volume of the Vampire Knight manga series.

Japanese Tankobon Obi
The obi is a decorative "sash" that is wrapped around a Japanese publication and not included in any of the English releases.

Images

 * Cover - Yuki sits wearing a dress, Zero and Kaname sit on either side of her.
 * Inside flap -
 * Black and white - Kaname, Zero and Rido
 * Back flap - Kaname and Yuki from the cover of Chapter 41.

ChuangYi Manga
Zero, still reeling from the shock of Yuki's revelation, is confronted by Kaname, who declares that he will become the most powerful vampire hunter of all, and the one destined to defeat Rido. Meanwhile, the academy braces itself for the invasion, with the Night Class, Yuki, and even Chairman Cross taking up arms to protect the humans. All the chess pieces have finally stepped out of the shadows. First blood has been spilled, and the battle has begun!

Shojo Beat Manga
A war among vampires has started at Cross Academy, and even Day class students are being attacked. Kaname finally reveals his hidden plan to Zero, and Zero must choose on which side he will fight. But in order for Zero to defeat the enemy, he will have to take part in an atrocious act...

Plot outline
Zero is imprisoned as Rido begins to revive slowly, and his army of Level E vampires approach the academy. Ichiru, fatally wounded, shoots Zero, and it is revealed that Ichiru was on Zero's side all along, and that he was plotting to kill Rido, the one who made Shizuka Hio murder their parents. Ichiru tells Zero to eat him to become stronger, and he reluctantly does. Kaname approaches Yuki and tells her that it is time to flee, but she refuses. She kisses him and tells him that she will be fine, so he leaves while she grabs her Artemis rod, which transforms into a giant scythe. Aido battles against the Level E vampires, and he sees Rido, who hypnotizes him to sacrifice himself to become Rido's food. Yuki jumps in and saves him, unaffected by Rido's controlling powers, being a Pureblood herself. She begins to battle her Uncle Rido, and Zero comes in, having developed a new power to control the metallic vines of Bloody Rose which has attached to his body. They both battle while Kaname goes to the Vampire Senate, and forces them all to brutally kill themselves by ripping off their heads. The battle with Rido ends as Yuki stabs him in the heart during a moment of weakness, and Zero blows him into tiny little fragments. Kaname goes to kill Ichio, but Ichijo steps in, wanting to kill Ichio himself. Back at Cross Academy, Zero tells Yuki that he intends to kill all of the Purebloods, including her. She tells him that she can not die yet, and raises her scythe, ready to fight.

Rankings
In Japan, the volume 9 tankobon sold 183,274 copies in the first two weeks of sales, ranking in the top 20 releases of the week, this makes it the most popular volume of the series to date.