The Golden Breath Villa. It was now around a month since the trio moved to the Cugine City, and started living in this villa. During that time, the trio spent their days relaxing as if they were on vacation. It could be said that they were still recovering from everything that occurred in the Marigold Kingdom, and their journey to reach the Kashmir Continent.

However, it seemed like vacation time was over.

*Bam!*

The Golden Breath Villa was a very large place. It had a lot of recreational centers as well, where the residents could play around. Currently, Rory and the girls were at one of these centers.

*Bam!*

An explosive sound resounded in the building. This sound was caused by Rory hitting the air with his palms. He was dressed in a track pants, and a tank top. He messed up his slicked back hair, which gave him a different charm than before. He now seemed more casual and laid back.

‘It’s becoming harder to see his current look as a disguise.’

Amelia thought to herself. Rory’s original red hair, blue eyes, and fair skin now seemed like a memory of the past.

“Did you see what I just did?”

Rory asked Amelia and Reina. The three maids that were assigned to them were standing in a corner watching them.

“You threw a palm strike and caused a sonic boom. It’s nothing new for you.”

Amelia responded.

“So that’s how you see it? What about you ReRe?”

“It looked like you sent a wave of anima from your palm, but I’m not sure.”

Rory nodded.

“Looks like the difference in experience is showing.”

Amelia frowned when she heard that.

“Was there something special about your palm strike?”

“Of course. You should’ve witnessed how special it is firsthand.”

“Me?”

Amelia started to scan through her memories. After some time, she recalled something. It was when she first met Rory and he saved her from her country’s knights.

“Looks like you remembered.”

Rory smiled.

“Have you two ever heard about the Crimson Palm Arts?”

The girls looked at each other and then shook their heads.

“I guess it isn’t as famous as it was 100 years ago. I wonder if it’s because of the Blood Devils School’s destruction?”

Rory mumbled to himself.

“I guess it would be better to demonstrate it to you two using a living being.”

Amelia became distressed when she heard that. She recalled how Rory destroyed the bodies of countless people with his palm strikes, and immediately wondered if he was going to slaughter people like that again.

“I haven’t tried this in a while, but with my current strength I should be successful.”

Rory closed his eyes and took a deep breath. A green glow appeared around his body matching his structure, and he started to concentrate his anima outside his body. Soon the glow grew so large that it looked like someone made of green light was standing behind him. The green silhouette moved from behind him and slid to his side.

The light disappeared and someone was left in its place. The girls were shocked when they saw who it was.

“There’s two Aniket?”

Beside Rory was another him, that was identical from head to toe.

“A clone?”

Reina asked.

“That’s right. This is a technique called Body Projection. You use anima to create a physical copy of yourself. In other words, a clone. However, it’s mostly used as a distraction because they’re hard to control. Because of that they don’t really have much combat use.”

Rory touched the clone.

“It’s pretty solid. I’m impressed by myself.”

He laughed after praising himself.

The maids who were watching them were pale with shock. This was the first time they’ve seen someone clone themselves. They were now more convinced that Rory was someone great.

“Now then….”

Rory positioned the clone in front of him and stepped back. He took a deep breath and then took a quick step forward and thrust his hand forward.

*Bam!*

His palm hit the clone’s chest and left a hand print which was a few inches deep.

“If this was a living thing, it would’ve died instantly just now.”

Rory pulled his hand back and readied his next palm and thrust it.

*Bam!*

That palm left a hand shaped hole in the clone. Rory then started to hit the clone with a barrage of palm strikes.

*Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!*

The sound that came from his strikes became louder after every strike, and the damage to clone increased. Before long the palms started ripping the clone apart. A palm hit the shoulder and blew off that shoulder with the arm attached. It hit the leg and turned it into paste. After a few more strikes, nothing was left of the clone but pieces of meat.

“Ugh!”

The maids who were watching felt the urge to vomit, but held it in by placing their hands over their mouths. As for Amelia and Reina, they had experience with gore, so they were able to control themselves. However, they had to admit that Rory’s palms created a gruesome scene.

“Brutal, wasn’t it?”

Rory asked.

“That’s the Crimson Palm Arts. Normally my hands would be stained with my enemies blood making them crimson. This is where the name came from.”

Amelia recalled how Rory’s hands were crimson with her country’s knights’ blood back then. It was a horrifying sight. Rory snapped his fingers and the disembodied clone turned into particles and disappeared.

“Do you now see what’s special about my palms strikes?”

Rory asked.

“What is that move?”

Reina asked. She never saw such a brutal palm technique before.

“A martial art that uses the palms. It works by concentrating your anima into your palm equally through every vein, muscles, and joint. This requires mastery of Anima Control to the highest level. The user becomes able to exert incredible force from their palm strikes also, the anima you released from the previous strike will ricochet off the target after destroying it, and combine with the next strike, making it continuously stronger.The more consecutive strikes you're able to get, the more powerful the next strike will be. The force doubles after every strike. It's the most powerful when used with combos.”

Rory explained.

“It’s an art designed to kill, and is pretty effective when fighting a group of people; because just hitting someone will make the next strike stronger, which can be used to kill in an instant.”

Rory proved this when he destroyed countless enemies in seconds back at the Buchse Kingdom.

“You’re planning on teaching us this art?”

Amelia asked.

“Yeah, and some others. The world could change for the worse any second now, and I need to prepare you two for it. You’ve gain back control of your anima so I thinks it’s time.”

Rory created another clone after saying that.

“The Crimson Palms Art looks like a high level technique, did you create it?”

Reina asked.

“Nope. I have to admit that my imagination isn’t that great to develop something like this.”

“It’s rare to see you downplay yourself.”

Said Amelia.

“Well, when facing an Emperor’s prestige, even I have to show humility.”

“This art was created by a Beast Emperor?”

“Yup. It’s a part of a larger art called the Blood Devil Arts. It was created by an Emperor from the Vampire Race, and practiced at the Blood Devil School. The Beast Emperor is dead though, and the school was destroyed, so his art was lost in the world I guess. The one that killed him and took his place probably hid its existence.”

“So you’re going to teach us something created by an Emperor.”

The girls became excited when they heard that. Even the maids who were listening from the corner were excited. They were born and raised on this continent, the Beast Emperors were like gods in their eyes, along with Guanyin. So witnessing something created by them, was equivalent to seeing something created by a god.

“Excuse me, Lord Aniket?”

One of the maids stepped forward and called out to Rory. The girls recognized her as Emilia, the maid that Rory seemed to favor a lot. He apparently enjoyed her sitting on his lap.

“Yes. What is it?”

“Can I ask which Beast Emperor are you referring to, when you spoke about the one who replaced this technique’s creator as emperor? Could it be the Scarlet Flower, Empress Camilla?”

“Correct.”

The maids were elated. It seemed that they admired that specific Emperor.

“You three are vampires, right? I’m sure hearing about Camilla makes you excited.”

Rory said. The girls looked confused as they didn’t know who Camilla was, and why just mentioning her name made them happy and proud. Rory didn’t explain and continued on with their training.

The days went by and Rory’s training with the girls became a daily routine. Other than teaching them high level techniques, he also helped them train their Regal Powers as well. As for Amelia, he thought her the fundamentals necessary to use the powers in hopes that she would unlock them.

Another thing he did, was to spar with them. He would take them on at the same time to improve their teamwork, and he would fight them individually and point out what they needed to work on. All in all, Rory worked seriously without playing around.

“This is creepy.”

This was the response he got from Amelia.

“What’s creepy?”

“The way how you’re acting like an actual human being. I’m not used to it.”

“Wait a minute. I’m always a decent human being.”

“Hahahaha!”

Reina suddenly burst out laughing when she heard that. Rory looked at her in shock wondering if he said something funny.

“Oh, you were serious?”

Reina said after seeing his expression.

“You know, I feel like I’m loosing more of your respect.”

“We never respected you in the first place.”

The girls said in unison.

“I mean you sexual harass us.”

“You get us in weird and difficult situations.”

“You’re always scheming something.”

“You chase every girl with a pretty face.”

“You’re an exhibitionist.”

“You’re an alcoholic.”

“You’re irresponsible.”

“And despite claiming to love us on numerous occasions, you’ve never actually showed us any such action that could back it up.”

After listening to everything the girls said, Rory-

“I am not apologizing.”

He showed zero remorse and declared boldly.

“But when I think about it, you girls are weird. Why follow someone like me? I mean, I’m a gift sent from heaven, but still.”

“I don’t know a more arrogant person….”

Amelia said.

In the end, the girls never answered Rory’s question. Rory didn’t seem to mind as if he had already known the answer.

Later that night, in a popular club that served as a brothel, laughter echoed through the building.

“Hahahaha! Drink! Drink! Everybody drink!”

Rory shouted while sitting on a couch with several women around him.

“To life!”

He lifted a glass of champagne and toasted.

“To life!”

Everyone in club toasted with him with smiles on their faces.

“Everyone here is my friend! So drink and be merry! Forget your problems and enjoy life! All drinks on me!”

“Oh!”

Everyone in the club cheered and drank in Rory’s honor. He was the center of the party as well as the life of the party. Music was playing and everyone was having a fun time dancing and drinking. It was a lively event.

“Sigh.”

Suddenly Rory looked dejected.

“What’s wrong, Lord Aniket?”

One of the girl leant closer to Rory and rubbed his thighs.

“Nothing. It’s just that I’ve been thinking lately.”

Despite looking sadden, Rory’s hands were excitedly touching the women’s bodies, which betrayed his expression.

“Girls, be honest. Am I a failure of a human being?”

He asked with a pitiful expression.

“What are you talking about Lord Aniket? You’re a kind and wonderful man.”

“You’re handsome.”

“You’re smart.”

“And you have the presence of a king.”

The girls started to flatter Rory one after the other.

“I see. Then I’m perfect.”

All the girls froze when they heard that.

“I-I wouldn’t say perfect, but you’re a catch…..I guess?”

“Eh?”

“Nothing. Let’s forget this boring chat and start enjoying ourselves.”

The girls started clinging to Rory and started to be more aggressive. It was obvious that they wanted to distract him.

“Wait….I’m perfect right?”