In one of the main Vampire Family castles of Vastoria, there had been frequent reports of the earth rumbling below the feet of the many citizens that lived near it. Normally, it was passed as either the Vampire Lord or Elders having a bout or a training session, but ever since the Vampire Lord of the Elmos Family had left for an imperial-sent expedition, there had been no one in the main castle to cause such disturbances. To the regular citizens, it was known that the sole Vampire Elder of the Elmos Family never participates in any sort of physical training, so they wondered if it was one of the four heirs to Lord Elmos' position that had grown to such an extent.
However, to those that had tuned in to watch the young prospects challenge their competence in the face of the Royal Academy and its ruthless examinations, it was clear that the cause of the ruckus was most definitely not the deadbeat heirs of the Lord—although, none would dare say it in front of the Elmos' main Family. In fact, it was not even an original member of the Family, but an adopted Vampire that appeared out of knowhere, who knows how long ago. it was none other than Second Scion—although, he goes by Second Elmos in the Vampire World—his actual identity known only to one: the Elder of the Elmos Family.
There were actually two others that happened to witness his proclaimation and proof of his identity. However, they are no more—for causes unknown.
It was after Second faced Void in battle that Scion felt the need to resume his training to become a martial master, and possess even greater power. In terms of critical thinking that is crucial in battle, and versatility of powers, Second is better than Quinn who does not need any more than just a few attacks to dominate over any kind of enemy because he is as strong as he is. So, better equipment and skills at his disposition will only make Second much stronger.
Within the innermost area of the Elmos' Family castle was an underground chamber of secrets that only the Elder and Lord of the Family could access. With the approval of the Elder, Second was allowed access into said chamber. It was nothing special and looked rather plain at a glance.
Just beside the entrance to the chamber, there were holographic displays of dozens of maps of the planets under the influence of the Vampires—the Imperial blood, to be more precise. In one of the isolated corners, there was a giant vent that remained sealed unless Second demanded it to be opened.
"I hope the servants have filled the menagerie to the brim, Elder," Second asked the Elder of the Family, "with different specimens, preferably. I've grown tired of the same old Jiangshi and Chupacabra and such. Hopefully there are a few Wendigos and Strigois this time around."
"I had expected this, master Second," The Elmos Family's Elder's voice rang in his head through the neural implant in his brain, "I hope you will like the surprise that I have personally prepared for you. It is my duty as a Vampire inferior to yourself to do the utmost to help you grow and become King; therefore, I have picked out this rare creature for you... . Ahem, before that, however, would you like some Blood Breed Thralls to wam-up?"
"I'm fine," Second said at once, "Send it in now; I'm rather curious to see what it is. Since it's a surprise, it can't be Strigoi, Vampiric Hounds, Reavers, or Bloodwyrms. I liked the Dullahan, but since it had to life to speak of, I couldn't absorb it's powers, so I hope it is not another undead."
"As you wish, my liege," Arfric opened the vent and the series of dozens of reinforced metal doors that kept the entities inside from escaping, "I am well aware of your desire to face stronger foes in battle and hone your skills further, so I have a fine specimen to introduce to you!
"It is bloody and gritty; it is fierce and unforgiving, but it is strong, even more so. Prithee be careful, as a single moment of negligence and mistake might cause you a limb! I offer to you: a silver-mane Werewolf!"
As the final door opened, scratching against the floor, a sound from what seemed like an explosion resonated from within the depths of the dungeon that it guarded.
———
[Ra'Shahah]
Type: Werewolf
Difficulty Rank: S
———
'Werewolf... ' Second looked at the dark red name in the distance and the information provided by the System as the thing approached him with great speed, 'The ones of the Silver-mane sort are around as physically strong as a Vampire Lord, according to Scion. This shouldn't be that hard, then... Hmm..?'
[Ability: Soul Release
The User grows stronger by absorbing the Souls of their victims. Further information will unlock via a greater understanding of this Ability.]
He could not see, even with his special eyes, but Second instinctively felt that the Werewolf used it's Ability and released some sort of invisible attack or projectile. He put up his hands and braced himself to block the attack, with no intention of dodging.
Three thick tower shields of blood materialised in front of Second, and blood poured out of every pore in his arm, instantly hardening to form an extra layer of defense. The blood that Second used glew with a different kind of crimson—almost ethereal—as he bolstered it with the help of Ki to make it manifold times more potent.
Whatever the projectile was, it screeched painfully loudly against the air and produced a sonic boom right before smashing into Second's layers of defense, easily passing through the three shields, and forming a giant crack on the hardened blood on his arms—and in his defense, as Second was pushed back by more than 5 metres and had his arms flung over his head.
As though it had thought two steps ahead and calculated when Second would get hit with much precision, the Werewolf dashed with even greater speed with the help of it's powerful hind legs, and threw a straight punch towards Second's torso.
Once again, Second showed no sign of avoiding, or even defending against the attack. The Werewolf's fist glew with a greyish white hue as it connected and tried to pulverize Second. This time, however, he was not pushed back—rather, he planted himself onto the ground using blood—and as he took the attack head on, it was as though some of the energy and force behind it had dissipated.
Such was the effect of his Passive Skill ,[Perseverance], that is also a condition to use the Linked Skill: [Eye For An Eye], that lets its User deliver a counter to a recently received attack with double the power that was absorbed.
The punch shot a hole right through the middle of Second's chest and splattered blood far away, behind him. "Inferior rats..." the Werewolf snarled, as it spat out multiple needles of solid blood from. It turned out, right before he had gotten punched, Second spewed blood from his mouth and projected it towards the Werewolf in the form of needles with the properties of his Skill: [Rot].
"Always up to something petty and underhanded in the middle of a fight. I kn-"
A blinding red light enveloped Second as he released the absorbed attack with double the power, enhancing it's effects with the help of his Grudge, Ki, and Energy.
'Although it's a wonderful Skill, in order to use it to its maximum capacity, [Perseverance] requires for me to not wear any armour, so that I can absorb the attacks better. If some unknown foreign substance enters my body when I'm trying to use this Skill, it could result in a disaster for me,' Second felt the need to only use the said Skill under special circumstances and conditions, and equipped his armour as blood covered his body for but a split second, revealing a silver set of armour with white fur resting on the arm guards and near the back of the neck as the blood dissolved.
'Since it's against a Werewolf, using that Skill should be alright, but let's ban its use for the sake of training...'
It had been not even more than half a minute when Second distanced himself from the Werewolf after his counterattack, but his injury had already been completely healed. His gaze, piercing through the smoke screen caused by the explosion, could confirm that it was also the same for the Werewolf.
'Its healing powers rival mine...? When I am a True Vampire, and the kin of Scion?' Second spewed a massive amount of blood from his hands and shapped it into two giant orbs of blood that followed behind him.
'A mere Silver-mane dog...?!'