[This Pedro seems like an idiot]
'Yes, this guy had a second chance to leave me alone but had to come after me again.'
He had been at his limit with Pedro for a long time. After years without seeing him, he thought it was over, but then he had to be the cause of his death—and now he even reincarnated to disrupt his life? No way. He wasn't the type to give another chance.
'I'll end him before he can get in my way in the future.'
Either way, the character he was now wasn't important at all, so he wasn't worried.
Creating a ball of fire in his hands, Enrico threw it at him, causing an explosion. He decided to use his fire magic, seeing it was impossible to deal with him without magic, since his percentage was way above his own—even more than the difference he had with Danyana.
Name: Vladimir Octavian
Magic: Transformed Blood Circle 2 97%
Mana Amount: 300
Unique Ability: Vampiric Healing
Soul: 49
'He's far above me in percentage, and not even with my ring can I get close.'
"Octavian Twin Blades"
Coming out of the smoke, Vladimir held two blood swords in his hands, pointing at his head. As Enrico ducked, he used the charged impulse to pass by his leg. Grabbing his leg, Vladimir hurled him into the wall.
"Is this the best you can do?"
Stepping on the wall, he lifted his two swords, gathering mana. Realizing this, Enrico dodged immediately, barely escaping before two bolts struck the ground.
"Zero Impact"
He punched Vladimir's sword, sending it flying upward, then tried the same with the other. Sensing his move, blood came from Vladimir's feet, turning into ropes that bound him.
"Return"
With his command, the sword that had flown away returned to his hand, and he attempted a double slash at Enrico's chest. Enrico leaned back just in time, receiving only superficial cuts, which he healed instantly with his water magic.
'I can't let him smell my blood.'
If someone stronger, especially one who hated him, sensed it, he would be crushed completely. Even if he lost control, if Vladimir drank even a little, he would evolve to Circle Three.
[This is troublesome. You should accept the pact.]
'Yes… and to think my nights of sleep will be even worse from now on.'
[You barely slept before.]
Creating his fire bow, he began firing arrows nonstop, desperately buying time. Vladimir deflected them all as he charged forward.
"I knew I was better than you."
"Can't you put your hurt ego aside for once in your life?"
Every time he encountered Saul, he lost control—but how could he not, when this person had destroyed his family? Slashing again, Enrico's bow grew more solid with time.
"For me, you deserve only to die in hell."
Jumping onto a sofa, Enrico moved with a sarcastic smile, looking at him with contempt.
"If you blame me for your family's downfall, know that I only gave a small push. They were already being investigated for fraud."
"Shut up!"
Struck by a painful kick, Enrico was thrown into the wall. Covering his mouth with his hand, blood spilled, which he healed instantly. He was getting lucky, since Vladimir's rage made him reckless, leaving his attacks obvious.
'This won't last long. The gap is too big.'
"What's wrong? Don't like hearing the truth? If you'd stayed in your lane, they might have lasted a few months longer."
"I said shut up!"
He hurled his sword, which nearly pierced Enrico if he hadn't ducked. Jumping in front of him, he aimed the other sword at his neck, while the first was called back to Vladimir's hand. With both strikes about to hit, Enrico switched places with his fire clone, almost making Vladimir skewer himself with his returning blade. Gripping it tightly, Vladimir spun, releasing a whirlwind of blood.
"Damn it."
Enrico moved back, but the ground turned red, trapping him with cords. Covering his body with mana, he resisted as much as possible.
"Pierce, Blood Sword!"
From within the whirlwind, Vladimir emerged, blade spinning at high speed. Feeling his body being pierced, Enrico instantly switched with his clone again, healing the gaping hole in his stomach with haste.
"What's that smell?"
Vladimir's eyes glowed even redder, and he covered his nose. Realizing Enrico had healed instantly, he saw that not only was he human, but his blood was absurdly high quality. If he drank it, his evolution would be guaranteed.
"So not only will I have my revenge, but I can also use you as a stepping stone to evolve? This might be the best day of my life."
"You're not the only one happy."
Though smiling, seeing Enrico calm made Vladimir narrow his eyes, finally suspecting something was wrong. Raising his hands to attack, he suddenly felt his body heavy and noticed a bat biting his leg.
"Lunaris? How did you make a contract with her?"
"Isn't it obvious? You must have felt my blood, didn't you?"
As Enrico stood, a dark red aura spread around him, making Vladimir stumble back as it invaded his mind.
[Maximum Contract: you will receive no other pact of the two types when completing the next two arcs. For every vampire sacrificed and marked by your eyes below Circle Six, your percentage will increase up to 100. From today on, sacrificed vampires will torment your life and body whenever they can.]
"It's a shame I already chose the hundred vampires when I arrived in this city…"
A surge of mana burst around Enrico, leaving Vladimir shocked as the power rose from nowhere. Enrico's circle glowed, and his percentage climbed to ninety-five.
"If I'd waited a bit longer, maybe you'd already be dead on the ground."
Outside, as the battle raged, many vampires began dying in the war. Morvus felt the city's forces collapsing fast, but he couldn't deal with it—he was fighting a monster at his own level: Angela, flying in the sky with an attack charging.
Back where Enrico and Vladimir stood, both prepared to resume their battle, now on equal levels. Neither would retreat until the other was dead.
"Bastard."
"You were too much of a fool to let yourself be controlled by such idiotic rage."