Arthur took out his fangs.
His eyes narrowed. His breath steadied. He bent his knees and without another thought, leapt forward like a launched arrow. His fist, clenched tight, glowed faint red as blood surged through his veins with magic. The forest around them went silent for a moment. No wind, no rustle. Then came the sound of impact.
His punch flew straight for the killer's face.
The killer lifted one hand.
With casual ease, he stopped Arthur's punch with just his palm. The moment the two forces collided, the ground beneath them cracked. Leaves from nearby trees were blown back. A burst of air exploded from the center of the clash, rustling every branch and snapping twigs. Dust and dirt flew into the sky.
Arthur's eyes widened. He could feel it—the difference in power.
Arthur stepped back quickly, then launched another punch, this time aimed lower toward the ribs. Again, the killer blocked it, barely flinching.
The killer tilted his head and smiled.
"What happened?" he said, mocking. "This is how you were going to end my reign of terror? You haven't even pushed me back yet."
Arthur gritted his teeth.
He let out a loud scream of rage. His fists began to fly faster now. One after another. Left, right, upper, hook, jab. His attacks were relentless. His eyes burned with fury. His arms ached but he kept going.
The killer remained calm. Every punch was blocked. Some with his palms, others with his elbows or forearms. His eyes tracked every movement, his expression unfazed.
Arthur suddenly chuckled.
The killer raised an eyebrow.
"What are you giggling about, boy?"
Arthur didn't answer with words. Instead, he looked down. The killer followed his gaze. His feet. He was no longer standing where he had been when the fight began. During the exchange, Arthur had slowly but surely pushed him back, inch by inch. Not much. But enough.
The killer scowled. "You weakling." He stepped forward.
In a flash, he disappeared from Arthur's view. Arthur blinked. Then pain exploded in his gut.
The killer had moved in close and delivered a side kick right into his stomach. The force lifted Arthur off his feet. He flew backward and crashed into a tree, snapping it in half. Bark and wood splintered around him.
Arthur gasped. He dropped to one knee, holding his side.
The killer approached slowly, eyes gleaming red in the dark.
"Judging by how weak you are," he said, "you must be one of those mix-blood vampires. You people always despise me. Because you know I'm the real deal."
Arthur winced. He stood up slowly. Blood dripped from his mouth. But his hand moved fast. He raised it and chanted.
"Noctis Dagger Pulse."
The air twisted. Crimson light danced around his fingers. Magic circles formed and from them, blood-forged daggers shot forward like arrows.
The killer's eyes widened. He couldn't dodge them all. He twisted his body to avoid the ones aimed at his heart and face. But several cut his arms, legs, and shoulders. Thin red lines appeared on his skin, followed by blood.
He stumbled back a step.
Arthur wiped his mouth and stood tall.
"I'm not weak. And look... I made you bleed."
The killer touched one of the cuts on his arm and looked at the blood on his fingers.
He laughed.
"Hehe... Kid, you're good. I'll give you that. But being good won't be enough to defeat me."
He raised his arms.
"Noctis Sword Shot!"
The night pulsed. Blood magic circles appeared in front of both his hands. They spun rapidly and from them, long crimson swords began flying toward Arthur.
Each sword gleamed and shrieked through the air.
Arthur wasted no time.
"Noctis Dagger Pulse!"
He summoned the same blood daggers as before. They clashed mid-air with the killer's swords. The sound of steel clashing against steel rang through the forest. Explosions of magical energy erupted with every collision.
The killer kept summoning swords. Arthur kept summoning daggers. Their faces were lit up in red with every burst of blood energy.
They fought with their magic for minutes, neither giving in.
Arthur suddenly shouted over the chaos.
"Why did you kill the doctor and his wife? Why did you kill all those innocent people? What did they ever do to you?"
The killer laughed.
"Oh, should I say it? Every now and then, I get bored. And then I start killing people for my amusement. It's fun. Hearing them scream, cry, beg for mercy. That's what makes life interesting."
Arthur stopped in his tracks. His eyes widened. His heart pounded.
He couldn't believe what he had just heard.
"You... You killed them for fun? Taking innocent lives is fun for you? You bastard."
His voice trembled with rage.
"I'll rip you apart!"
He surged forward. Faster than before. His anger made him quicker, stronger.
He punched the killer in the gut. A solid hit.
The killer coughed and took a step back.
Arthur didn't stop.
He kept attacking. Punch after punch. Kick after kick. The killer tried to block but some hits broke through.
Their bodies moved like blurs. They clashed again and again. Trees fell. Rocks cracked. Dirt exploded under their feet.
Arthur aimed a punch at the killer's head. The killer blocked it. Arthur swung with his other hand. Again blocked. They were locked in place. Muscles tense. Eyes burning.
Then, without warning, Arthur leaned forward and smashed his forehead into the killer's skull.
The impact echoed.
The killer stumbled and fell to the ground.
Arthur stood over him, breathing hard.
"Get up... Get up so I can kill you! You don't deserve to lie there. Get up!"
The killer's face twisted with fury.
He slowly rose.
"You little..."
He raised his hands high.
"Noctis Soul Leech Pulse!"
This time, the red magic circles didn't stay with him.
They floated forward, spinning through the air, slowly surrounding Arthur.
Arthur looked around, confused.
"What is this...?"
The circles stopped moving. They hovered around him like crimson halos.
Arthur had never seen this spell before. He didn't know how to counter it.
He took a step back.
The circles shimmered.
Then, from each one, blood swords began emerging, one after another.
Each blade pointed at him.
They were coming.