15.4

He was in enemy territory.

At the hearth of the vampires’ den.

Surrounded by violent, inhumane, bloodthirsty, murderous beings, that had no shred of logic nor empathy.

In front of him was Aurelius, who held steady but shallow breaths as the vampire servants drained his blood.

Any second now, the wolfkin would succumb to the blood loss in his body. Though Aurelius was rendered speechless from the injuries, John could still see that the wolfkin’s shaking head as he picked up his mythril sword that was tossed to the arena battlegrounds.

Aurelius was advocating for him to escape. He was telling John to leave him in the hands of the vampires instead of participating in the fight with Naild.

But for John, who cared not for his own safety, his own life, nor his purpose… The moment the vampires had brought his wolfkin friend onto the table, a spark had ignited in him.

John may have no immediate power.

But he certainly had responsibility towards Aurelius for bringing his friend to such a predicament. John had no will to win against Lieutenant Naild by his abilities alone, his determination to ensure Aurelius’ survival, however, blazed in him, giving him the tiniest amount of strength that he never thought to be in him.

He was an empty man.

But he was not one without a mind of his own.

And if Kahnira, a woman from his fragmented memories, reminded him of what he should be doing. By all means, he would do his best to uphold what remains of John Sarvod from the past.

This was who he was.

He was stubborn, he was willful, he was…

Without a sound, he pulled his mythril sword from its raven black scabbard as the elated voices of the vampire audience around him drowned out his ears.

With power, comes the need for responsibility. With responsibility, brings the need for will to strengthen it. With a strong will, comes the need for power to act.

He repeated the three raisons in his mind as he watched Naild drew his rapier and brandished it in front of John.

Aurelius is a friend. He did nothing wrong...I was the one who brought us here.

For as long as he lived, John was an avid learner, he dove into a spectrum of books amid his younger days in A’vetheas, with the likes of philosophy, science, magic theory, history, fiction, psychology and even boring bibliographies alike.

He was never one that registered himself towards a specific mindset. While he understood a vast array of things, he was not one that specialized nor honed into things like ‘school of thought’.

But when the memories of the three raisons appeared in his mind, something in him clicked, something that he never knew he had lost, returned to him reminding John of the person he used to be.

…someone who held his convictions far too strong for his own good.

And for that fleeting moment, there was something beyond his responsibilities towards Aurelius that spoke to him to act. A feeling that everything that was happening before him was all too familiar...yet...foreign to him.

Something as if he were close to achieving, something that only he could do, something that could only be the answer for his eternal suffering, something that had always been at the crevices of his mind, something that nudged him.

Something that he could consi—

“Begin.”

Rabugra’s solemn voice became the indicator for John and Naild’s death match. As soon as as the voice echoed in the arena, Naild leaped with the speed befitting of a highly trained vampire at John.

Clang!

John barely had time to blink and Naild’s strike had found its way to his sword, barely missing to parry the vampire as Naild bounced away from John in recoil.

If John had not been actively training his swordsmanship, Naild’s rapier would have already pierced his heart.

Naild, having recovered from his sudden burst of speed, slowly raised his shaky body with a sadistic smile, “I’ll make sure to thoroughly enjoy our fight. You’ve resisted my ancient magic, you’ve injured my left rib severely earlier. This is payback.”

John said not another word as he silently watched Aurelius, who was still being drained of his blood.

Having noticed John’s unfocused gaze, the vampire lieutenant raised his rapier and pointed towards John and declared. “Come at me, Sarvod!!! Show me what you are made of!!!”

“No…” John muttered in reply as he assumed yet another defensive pose, fully knowing that he would be at a disadvantage if he initiated an attack.

Naild’s speed, strength, and magic abilities were far superior to his, hence a battle of attrition was his most optimal strategy until he could figure a way to defeat the vampire and save Aurelius.

“Huh?” Naild cocked his head, the emotionless face the vampire had twitched as veins popped from his forehead. “If that’s your wish…”

Poof.

Naild vanished from John’s view.

“Where is—”

As John turned his body to survey his surroundings, a stiff yet piercing piece of steel made its ways into his shoulder blades, tearing nerves and tendons that were in its way.

“GAHHHHHH!!!”

When John’s agonizing scream reached the audience’s ears, Naild, with a satisfied smile retracted his rapier from John, whipping away the blood on his elegant weapon as he used his boot to kick at the back of John’s legs, forcing John to his knees.

“Hmph, is this all you can do? Where was the vigor you had when we were alone?”

John, crawling to get to his feet, retreated as quickly as his legs allowed, limped away from the vampire as he silently cast [Heal].

Naild’s lips stretched to a flat line, annoyed at John’s reluctance to draw blood, “Use whatever magic you want to defeat me, no one is here to judge you…demon.”

Spitting the last word out, soft enough for only John to hear, Naild leaped at John once more with his rapier aiming straight for John’s heart.

“!!!”

By reflex, John switch his sword from his left to his right hand, grabbing the rapier that came at him with his now empty left hand and slashing his mythril sword at Naild’s neck with his right.

The vampire jerked his body away in time from John’s sudden counterattack, leaving only a red streak across his pale neck.

“Well done…” Naild said as he placed a hand on his own neck, covering the graze John inflicted. “You do know how to fight, but your motivation is lacking.”

“…”

“Could it be the audience? Or could it be that you know that escape is utterly impossible? Hahaha.” Naild provoked as he laughed sarcastically at John. “It matters not. All I care is to humiliate you as you made fun of my ancient magic… And if you need motivation…I shall give it to you.”

Naild looked towards the platform and stared at one of the vampire servants, nudging his head at his underling. The vampire servant lowered his head before moving towards Aurelius, bared his fangs at the beastkin and chomped down at Aurelius’s exposed arm, gnawing away the beastkin’s flesh in vigor.

This bastard!

Blood rushed to John’s head, his grip on his sword became tighter. He wanted to jump at Naild, he wanted to swing his weapon and brutally beat the vampire for harming Aurelius.

But against the stirring emotions that were boiling in him, John suppressed his anger.

No…I can’t be provoked. I need to think of something, something that will get us out of here.

“Will you be taking me seriously now, human?” Naild opened his arms as to invite John to attack him, but John remained in his defensive stance as he had been since the beginning of their death match.

Contrary to the results Naild wanted, John had become more distracted and was no longer paying attention to the vampire’s provocations. Instead, John was now constantly glancing back to where Aurelius was instead of facing Naild.

This further surged Naild with irritation.

But instead of pulling his hair out in frustration, the vampire wore a wry smile, “Blood Arts: [Explosive Acceleration].”

Launching himself from where he stood, ground rupturing at his magic. Like a supersonic missile, Naild zoomed to John before John could tear his gaze away from Aurelius who was writhing from above.

“Boo!”

With his face not centimeters away from John, and a palm on John’s face, Naild slammed John against the ground with the tremendous momentum. In an arc, John’s body slammed against the ground, his skull fractured with loud cracks as blood flowed down to his face from the impact.

However painful that attack was, John remained unfazed.

Naild was certain the impact was enough to crush a human skull, not only John felt no pain but still retained his full strength as he defiantly swung his sword in Naild’s way.

“You maggot, how are you still alive!?”

John rose to his feet, shoulders slumped.

“I’ll fight you. I’ll fight you.” John declared, his gaze still fixated on Aurelius, who was on the platform above. “Let Aurelius go, let me go heal him, then you can do whatever you want with me.”

Naild blinked, dumbfounded at John’s calm composure.

He was certain that John would wail like a child after he used the Blood Arts magic of the Hangrabo family on him. Instead of cowering in fear or shouting in desperation, the human before him was still adamant on helping his pathetic beastkin friend.

“Why…” Naild spoke in a low voice. “...do you not care about our deathmatch or your own survival? How do you have the heart to bargain with me at this moment?”

“…”

“DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND YOUR CIRCUMSTANCE???!!!”

Like Captain Rabugra moments earlier, John had finally gotten to the calm Naild’s nerves.

“You lot!!!” Naild called to the vampire servants and attendants on the elevated platform. “The lieutenant of the Hangrabo family commands you feast on the beastkin’s!!! This is an execution, do not stop until he withers away!!!”

As though they had been waiting for Naild’s permission, the various vampires immediately jumped at Aurelius and sank their fangs into Aurelius’ skin before ripping and tearing the wolfkin’s skin into shreds.

No…

John became frozen in his spot as he watched the droves of vampires latched their fangs on Aurelius’ already battered body. Some, in their overzealous state, had sprouted wings and tried to tear a portion of Aurelius from their own kind to feast on the beastkin alone.

“Stop this!!! Let him go!!!” John finally recovered from his shock and charged at Naild.

Pouring his own weight with his strength, John swung his weapon at Naild, only to be blocked by the vampire’s rapier and a sardonic smile behind the thin weapon.

“So you’ve finally—”

“Arrggh!!!”

John yelled as he unleashed a flurry of strikes against the vampire. With each movement, he used whatever brute strength he could muster and hacked away at Naild as his vision turned crimson.

I’ll defeat him, I’ll defeat him, I’ll defeat him. A-and then, and then, I’ll—

“Argkkk… Ack, ack, ack…”

John stopped when he heard a pattern of familiar coughs from Aurelius. His skin crawled as he turned to look at the beastkin who was hapless against the vampire’s blood sucking.

No, no, no my priority isn’t to defeat Naild, a-at this rate Aurelius will die. I need to get over to heal him.

With Aurelius’ rampant coughing in the distance, John’s attacks against Naild weakened.

No, that’s not right...I should stop Naild first before going to Aurelius, or else Naild will be the one attacking Aurelius…

John then turned back his attention towards his aggressive slashes at Naild.

Wait...I shouldn’t be… It’s better if I…

A cloud of doubt shadowed his mind as John became further confused about the best course of action that he should take.

His rational mind and heart told him that incapacitating Naild was his highest priority. He needed to take down the immediate threat in front of him before he could even have the chance to help Aurelius. If John can’t even guarantee his own safety, what could he do for Aurelius.

But his gut told him otherwise.

An overwhelming sensation of dread flooded his heart the longer he was engaged with Naild, the vampire. His mouth became bitter the longer he exchanged blows with Naild.

John delivered slash after thrust at Naild, then when he was pulling his weapons back, the other side of his body would move forward as he used his fist, elbows, knees and other body parts to follow up his attacks, giving no time for the vampire to recover from his direct assault.

His body burned from overexertion, he tried suppressing the strain that was tolling on him, silently casting [Heal], but even then, he needed the battle to end quickly.

Else Aurelius would certainly die in this den of the vampires.

As John chained his attacks against the vampire, sweat dripped from Naild’s forehead as he struggled to defend at John’s attacks. If the vampire blocked John’s upward slash, he would receive a hard blow to his other arm. If he drove off John’s kicks, Naild would receive yet another laceration on his sides.

The smirk on Naild’s face vanished, replaced with one filled with wear.

John’s body moved as smoothly as he carried out his attacks. Though he never practiced such a fighting style, his body moved on its own the moment he charged at Naild as though he were guided by something beyond himself.

His thighs knew when to push him forward, draw him backwards. His torso spun from left to right as he constantly swapped the grip on his sword. One moment he used his left, the next he used his right, then he used both arms, and when the vampire thought that was all to his attack pattern, John held his mythril sword in the reverse grip, bringing about a whole new set of attack sequences that the vampire had never encountered.

John’s attacks were simple, but they varied each time he executed them.

One moment he was using both of his hands, the next, he switched to his right, then his left.

Sure, his training in the past had taught him such moves, but the unusual thrusts and slashes were all derived from the different weapons that he used to learn.

The polearm, the saber, the rapier, the longsword, the short sword, it all stemmed from the very basic moves of these weapons but here he was, adapting the fighting techniques and making them his own as he allowed for the tide of battle guide him, to propel his movements to continued to launch one attack after another, to press on his assault against Naild. Something beyond his own abilities and thoughts had integrated with his desire to end the battle quickly.

One could say, for that moment, he had surpassed his physical limits.

Still, despite being able to stand up against Naild, there was no joy in his heart. Because the longer he was down here fighting, the longer Aurelius would have his blood drained.

I shouldn’t be doing this… He thought to himself as he visualized the vampires on the platform draining Aurelius’ blood. This...I… feel like...something worse is coming.

Then, out of nowhere, his mythril sword made pass the vampire’s defense as it dug firmly at Naild’s shoulders, slicing the vampire’s right arm before John’s body moved in to plunge his sword deep into Naild’s heart.

I managed? How?

He blinked in surprise as he watched Naild, who was now writhed beneath him, laughing at him, “Hahahahaha…”

An icy shiver crawled down his spine as he became frozen in horror.

The magic that he refrained from using, the dark aura…

“N-no, no…” John’s voice shivered.

As though it responded to his wails, the pitch black aura had enveloped both his forearms, forming a barrier that enhanced his strength and abilities. And bit by bit, John could feel the dark aura crawled to his upper arm as he felt the adrenaline in his body increased.

It was what had been guiding his attacks.

And John indulged in it.

“Demon…”

The vampire lieutenant’s defeat was shown to all, but a satisfied grin appeared on Naild, for he had forced John to demonstrate his own magic before everyone.

“H-how… I was just…no, I have to stop,” John took shallow breaths, calmed himself, successfully reducing the concentration of dark aura on his forearms by focusing his emotions away from the frustration in him.

Clap, clap, clap!

“Splendid!!! Splendid!!! You’ve put on a great show, human!!!”

Rabugra clapped his hands thunderously as he congratulated John.

“As for you reward, I shall let your friend live,” with a lighthearted chuckle, Rabugra turned to the vampires that were feasting on Aurelius’ blood before wrangling all of them with his own hands away from the wolfkin.

The vampire servants and attendants, upon being thrown against the floor, scampered away from Rabugra and retreated to the back of the elevated platform.

“I am a vampire of my word, John Sarvod.”

John’s heart softened as he watched the strained expression on Aurelius disappear. The beastkin’s once rosy cheeks were now beyond pale, the bruises and lacerations on his body were still present, but the moving chest of the wolfkin assure John of his friend’s survival.

“Are you all now, convinced?” Rabugra turned to his guests of honor with open arms. “This human is, in fact, much, much more than meets the eye. Allow me to be the first to propose the starting bid for him. How does one hundred thousand gold—”

“He has yet to use [Heal], Rabugra!!!” the woman vampire who previously argued. “Don’t expect me to give you my gold unless you have fully demonstrated his skills!!!”

Though the woman’s screeching voice brought the other guests of honor to nod in agreement, the smile on Rabugra’s face retained their glee.

“As expected of an almost-Trifellar. Of course, you would not have noticed it, if you would...you wouldn’t be here pretending that you were actually interested in joining the Hangrabo Family, aren’t you?”

“Rabugra, watch your mouth—” another vampire snapped at Captain Rabugra but Rabugra waved his hands and strands of crimson weaved from tied the vampire’s face shut, rendering the intervening vampire speechless.

“Hush. This has nothing to do with you,” Rabugra said to the intervening vampire before returning his attention to the vampire lady and the other guests of honor. “Inspect the boy. Look at the wounds my lieutenant delivered to him.”

The vampire guests of honor all turned their piercing gazes to John and sure enough, aside from his torn and bloodstained clothing, the wounds that were supposed to be there, all disappeared.

“That’s right, folks!!! The boy can cast magic without chanting!!! How else would he, despite having his head slammed to the ground, his shoulders pierced by a fellow vampire, be completely intact!?”

With Rabugra’s rousing, the guests of honor’s eyes became lit with a newfound interest, throughly convinced by what the vampire captain said to them.

“Rabugra, I will pitch the funds to acquire this human child. In fact, I believe a mere hundred thousand gold pieces would not suffice if he is what we believe him to be,” a distinguished vampire raised his hand and spoke, “What is to say of his obedience?”

“Huh?” Rabugra raised a brow at that question, seemingly almost offended that the vampire would ask him something like that. “He would become the purchaser’s property. It’s up to you to deal with him. I am only the host, not the human’s caregiver.”

The distinguished vampire shook his head, “If that human has nothing of worth for me to forge, I believe I will take my leave for—”

“Wait!” Rabugra stopped the distinguished vampire before he left. He placed two fingers as he rubbed his forehead. “I will think of something. Don’t go yet...S-sir Marcedoni,” spitting his words as he halted the distinguished vampire.

The distinguished vampire from the Marcedoni family paused, raised a brow at Rabugra, “A Hangrabo with manners... I suppose I can spare you the benefit of doubt.”

With that, the vampire nodded and returned to his seat.

“What is up with these vampires?”

John can’t help but notice the unease in Rabugra’s face and said to himself.

“Ha… Ever heard of hierarchy, h-human?”

Naild, who was still on the ground, spat at John with a mouthful of blood. The vampire had only recovered slightly from his natural healing abilities but barked at John for his ignorance.

“Of course not, empire retards like you...o-only know w-what is spoon fed—”

John brought his and pointed it at Naild, “Shut up.”

“Ha! T-that won’t help your friend, you and him are already...d-done for the moment you are on our premises. Go ahead, wedge your s-sword in me. My life is worthless, Captain already— Arg!”

John pushed his mythril sword against Naild’s throat, twisting his weapon as he watched the vampire writhe before dark, gooey liquid leaked from Naild’s neck, severing the vampire’s head from his body.

“K-killing...me...is...the least of your…”

Naild’s voice disappeared when his head rolled across the battleground.

“Ah…and there Naild goes…” Rabugra’s empty voice rang from above John, but there was no sympathy in the vampire’s voice. “He did wanted a deathmatch, not that he had enough mana to deal with the boy...”

John then raised his head towards Rabugra, who was looking in his direction.

“Human, now that you’ve killed my lieutenant cold heartedly. What do you think I should say to Lord Hangrabo?”

“???”

He’s asking me? The fuck is a Hangrabo?

Rabugra continued to look in John’s direction, face unflinching as his crimson gaze locked onto John’s, “I suppose, if we put the idea of auctioning you aside… What if...what if…I made you one of us?”

“O-one of…”

“Yeah,” Rabugra nodded favorably as he looked towards the celling. “For starters, I require a new lieutenant, and S-Sir Marcedoni here insists that you would be of his assistance with that [Heal] and demon magic of yours. You were the one to kill Naild, in vampire tradition. You would succeed his position.”

“Rabugra, this is madness!!!” the vampire lady screeched.

“A human!? That hasn’t been done since, the Termezt—”

“Wait, what of the auction!?”

“Shut up, all of you!!!” Rabugra said to the guests of honor, then returned his attention to John.

“And if I refuse?” John raised a brow.

“Refuse? Ahahahaha!!!” Rabugra bawled at John’s comment before switching back to a serious expression befitting of someone of his Captain rank, “Why would you do something as refusing me?”

“Why would I not, vampire?” John spat the words at Rabugra. “Your kind took my companions hostage. You’ve beaten and tortured my friends as though it were an everyday occurrence. A-and the worse of all… Your kind killed my family.”

In response, Rabugra laughed as though John were a babbling child trying to argue with him.

“And what of that!? Is there anyone in this world isn’t capable of sinning? Look at you, human!!! You, who wield demon magic, you who kill without hesitation, ARE YOU IN ANY POSITION TO LECTURE ME!!!???”

“…”

“My apologies. I lost my composure there.” Rabugra rose from his seat and walked towards Aurelius, waved his hand, and the next thing John knew, the claps that bounded Aurelius to the metallic cross became undone. “Let’s ask your friend here, shall we?”

With one of his muscular arms, Rabugra planted his palm on Aurelius' head, raising the wolfkin into the air without a single break of sweat. At such a weakened state, Aurelius simply flustered about.

“What do you think, beastkin? Do you wish for your friend here to continue to live his life as a vampire or to die with you?”

“Let him go! He has nothing to do with—”

John protested, but a red strand flew from Rabugra’s hand towards his direction, instantly tying his jaw up as Rabugra did to a vampire moments ago.

“Agrk…grrr…” John tried commenting something about the stands made from blood but only grunts came from him.

“What is that?” Rabugra placed a hand to his ear, pretending as though his hearing was of a senile man’s. “Speak louder beastkin, or else John can’t hear—”

Rippppppp!!!

The sound of flesh being torn apart shuddered through the arena. What had been the pristine space above the elevated platform was suddenly filled with splashes of flesh and blood as Aurelius’ had his now claw-like hands struck against Rabugra’s face, sending the vampire backwards with five distinct claw marks on his face, profusely dripping with blood.

“J-John...leave me...ack!!! I’ll b-buy you...time…” Aurelius spoke in his tattered state. “This is t-the...ack...only c-chance you can l-leave safely—”

Before Aurelius could finish what he had said to John. A bloody fist appeared from Aurelius’ abdomen, puncturing a large hole in the wolfkin’s torso.

Let alone gasp or cough, Aurelius simply became frozen from the sudden impact that passes through his body.

“This is WHY...I HATE...YOU LOWER RACES,” Captain Rabugra with the scarred face seethed his words as he directed his rage at John. “IVE HAD ENOUGH OF SHOWING YOU FOOLS GENEROSITY! EVEN YOU, DEMON, SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED TO LIVE!!! YOU WILL DIE OR DIE SUBMITTING TO ME!!!”