The blood from the Last Vampire’s foot gathered in front of his hand and took the shape of a crescent moon. The edge was as sharp as any blade, threatening to cut even the air to shreds.
“It’s time you give back what you’ve taken from us,” he said.
The vampire brought his arm back and thrust it out, launching the crescent from his hand. It collided with the blood that encircled the abomination—the creature was too slow to dodge the attack. The two Blood Arts clashed, disrupting each other and erupting in a burst of crimson rain. The [Crescent Slash] didn’t make it through the vortex of blood but a gap had formed where the two collided, creating an opening in the abomination's defenses for just a moment.
That’s it, the vampire thought. The opening only lasts a moment, but that’s the only chance I’ll get to take this thing down. I’ll need to strike it when our two Blood Arts clash.
With a roar, the abomination recovered from its daze and went on the attack. The vampire did not back down. He charged it, his foot now healed to its regular state. He felt the effects of firing off his Blood Art now; his body felt a tad weaker and his steps weren’t as steady as before. It was like he’d lost more than his blood when he had used his Art.
But so be it! It is my duty to reclaim the Hearts of my brothers and sisters. I cannot let myself be bested by my own weakness.
[Crescent Slash]! he shouted. The blade formed from the blood that clung to his clothes and floor. He thrust it towards the oncoming abomination, colliding with the vortex, but was unable to follow up. The creature jumped above him when the two clashed and coated its grotesque arms in the vortex of blood, swinging down at the vampire's back and slashing it to shreds.
“Gah!” the vampire cried. He felt the cold of his blood seep down his back as he put some distance between him and it. It has the advantage here, he thought. I have to break its defenses before I can attack while it has the luxury of just attacking as it pleases.
The two clashed once more, the vampire cautious not to leave any openings. But being on the defensive meant he couldn’t attack, and using his Blood Art only tired him as the fight went on.
One strike from the Blood Art isn’t enough. The damned thing just maneuvers away as soon as its vortex gets broken! I need to attack continuously without giving it a chance to recover. But to throw out so many attacks at once…do I even have the strength to do that? Using my own blood tires me out, I’d collapse before I ever took this thing down.
He looked over to his worried Thrall that watched from the sidelines. “Rathburn!” the vampire called. The worried man was at the ready as soon as he heard his master’s voice. “Give me blood.”
“Right away, Sir.”
Drawing a dagger from beneath his coat, Rathburn sliced his left hand clean off without a moment of hesitation. The blood poured from his wrist and onto the ground, and, regretful as he was, the Last Vampire took all that he could. He didn’t take only the blood that had already left Rathburn’s body, no, he took what hadn’t even come out yet. Like a mid-air river, the blood from Rathburn’s wrist flowed towards the vampire, gathering around his hand and forearm like a gauntlet of blood.
I thank you, my thrall.
“It’s time to end this!” the vampire said.
[Crescent Slash]!
The gauntlet released some of its blood, forming a slash in the palm of his hand. He threw it at the oncoming abomination, disrupting the vortex around it. The creature maneuvered to the left, avoiding a second attack, but the vampire was quick to react, jumping at the creature in an instant and swinging a blood-covered arm at the abomination’s approaching claws. The blood released from the gauntlet and formed a whip-like shape before converging into a crescent with an edged blade, colliding with the abomination's arm and disrupting the vortex around it. The vampire grabbed the exposed arm with his right hand, using the gauntlet on his left to form another [Crescent Slash], severing the arm from its body.
Painful screeches filled the air as the creature put distance between the two of them, trying to regain its arm like before. But the vampire wouldn’t let it. He threw the severed arm to the ground and put his fist through it.
“[Crescent Slash]!” he shouted, and three waves of blades shot out from the arm in different directions, tearing it to pieces. “You’ll have to take your time putting that back together.”
But the vampire was on the attack before the creature could even attempt that. One attack after another, the abomination had limb after limb severed from its body and torn to shreds by an onslaught of slashes. In a desperate attempt for one final attack, it jumped at the vampire head-first, the vortex of blood spinning fast and wild. With the hand coated in blood, the vampire punched through the vortex of blood, feeling the sharp pain of the spinning Blood Art trying to tear his arm off, and he grabbed the abomination by the head, releasing everything he had.
“I guess you won’t be getting that chance to put your limbs back together,” he said, and the remaining blood that coated his hand burst out into ten different blades, pushing straight down the creature's body before converging in the center and exploding outward, scattering its remains to every edge of the room.
With one final screech that contained the cries of his fallen brethren, the abomination ceased to exist. One chunk remained on the floor, beating like a heart and leaking blood. The vampire felt an instinctual urge as he gazed at it. Something inside of him spoke up, whispering to him in his own voice; guiding him as if he was meant to do something.
DRINK…it said. And the vampire rushed to his knees, grabbing the chunk of flesh and driving his teeth deep into it. The blood flowed into his mouth like an ocean of the sweetest delicacy. It was tantalizing, coating his teeth and tongue and dripping down his throat. He felt a surge of power fill him, and then those words appeared in front of him.
[Blood Absorbed | 1\10]
[Predisposition Changed | Agility]
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Unlike before, the words didn’t make any sense to the vampire. He didn’t have time to make sense of it as more words appeared in front of his face.
[Vampiric Abomination Slain | Trial of Blood Completed]
[Status Pages Unlocked | To check Status, think it in your head or speak the word out loud]
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Personal
Name: Vlad Tepes
Age: N/A
Race: Vampire
Level: 1
Blood Absorbed: 1/10
Title: Lesser Vampire
Tears of Sin: 0
Stats
{Predisposition: Agility E}
Power: 21
Endurance: 14
Wisdom: 18
Agility: 23
Dexterity: 15
Arcane: 4
Traits Perks {Vampirism}- 1 {Superior Blood I} {Martial Arts}-1 {One-handed}-1 {Two-handed}-1 {Magic}-1 {Archery}-1 {Stealth}-1 {Spiritual}-1 {Charisma}-1
Skills [Skill Gems: 0] {Blood Art | Vampiric Drain} {Blood Art | Crescent Slash I}
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The multiple pages of red bombarded Vlad’s vision, filling his mind with so many thoughts that he felt like fainting. “I understand now…” he said. Rathburn rushed to his side and knelt next to him. “My Lord, how are you feeling?” The old man held out the blazer Vlad had tossed aside. His left hand no longer bled but was still missing.
Vlad took it and slowly put it on as all these thoughts filled his head. “It all makes sense now. I don’t know why I thought otherwise, but I never existed until I stepped foot out of that coffin. My body was created in there. I was truly made for the sole purpose of bringing the vampire race back to power. I’m no Lord…I’m no different than that abomination. I was just put together properly and with my sanity intact.”
“You are wrong!” Rathburn said. It was the first time the old man showed any emotion in his voice. “You are nothing like that THING. You were created, yes, but your purpose is far greater than what any of us could possibly imagine. You are more than just a tool to bring our race back. You are the one who is destined to rule us.”
It was brief, but the old man’s face flashed with something indescribable. He caught himself, returning to his stern expression. Vlad didn't notice. His head was lowered. What foolishness had he spoken? Even if his role was to only bring the others back, it was an honorable one. He was given the power of the Lords; the ability to grow stronger where others are left with what they’re born with. It would take time to understand the many pages he’d seen, but that too was his duty.
“What would I do without you, Rathburn. You talk sense into me when I’m unable to see it myself. You eternally have my thanks,” he said.
Where the chunk of flesh Vlad had drunk from once lied, two shining, crimson gems rested instead. They glowed with the same beating light that the Heart had. Vlad walked towards them and they rose in the air, hovering for a bit before shooting towards him in the blink of an eye and entering his body.
[Tears of Sin Acquired | +2]
I saw that word on one of the pages I was shown. What are they? Vlad thought.
“The Tears of Sin. How beautiful…Use them well, my Lord. They will serve to be your greatest asset. If only I could be there to witness you use them and grow to become the ruler you’re destined to be,” Rathburn said. His voice was weak.
Vlad turned to see the dark man on his knees, skin flaking like worn roof tiles, light fading from his crimson eyes.
“Rathburn!” he shouted, running to the man's side and dropping next to him. “What’s going on, why are you fading? Were you injured in the battle?”
“My duty…was to see you through the first trial. The pact I'd formed all those centuries ago was for that purpose alone. My blood flowed only so I could see you take your first steps. I’ve far outstayed my welcome, my Lord. The pact has ended. And so my body is finally reclaiming all the years it had avoided till now. I’m glad you turned out to be such a capable man…I can rest now, knowing our race will surely one day rise again.”
Rathburn’s skin continued to flake into the air, and all Vlad could do was watch as his companion’s life faded before his very eyes.