The clearing behind the club building was just that—a clearing. Dirt, some trees, scorch marks on the bark from Rias's recent after school training sessions.
I stood there with hands in my pockets, watching Irina and Xenovia change into their black exorcist gear. The combat uniforms looked way more practical than those ceremonial outfits they'd worn earlier.
*This is almost too easy,* I thought, watching them prepare. *Their pride is going to be their downfall, just like I remember from the anime.*
"So you both really want to fight me?" I asked, not bothering to hide my boredom. "I'm trying not to completely destroy your confidence here."
Xenovia unwrapped Excalibur Destruction, the massive sword humming with holy energy. She pointed it at me, eyes blazing. "I'll break that arrogance of yours and make you apologize for disrespecting the Church."
*There it is. Hook, line, and sinker.*
"I told you the truth," I said with a shrug. "I'm being nice by warning you that Kokabiel will crush you. Your blind faith is making you stupid."
Her face went red. I could practically see the steam coming out of her ears.
"Enough talking. Fight me."
Both girls moved at once. My enhanced perception kicked in—everything slowed down just enough for me to read their attack patterns. Irina's Mimic flowed into a curved blade while Xenovia's Destruction crackled with holy power. They came at me from different angles—textbook pincer attack.
*Actually not bad coordination. They've trained together before.*
I manifested Incursio's sword form, the familiar weight settling in my hand like an old friend. The holy energy from their weapons stung my skin even through the armor's protection, but I ignored it. I'd felt worse.
Xenovia struck first, bringing Destruction down in a vertical slash that would have split a tree in half. I sidestepped, letting the massive blade carve a furrow in the earth where I'd been standing.
"Your footwork sucks," I said, parrying her follow-up thrust. "You telegraph every attack with your stance."
"Shut up!" she snarled, spinning into a horizontal sweep.
I ducked under it just as Irina's Mimic extended like a whip, trying to catch me while I was low. Smart—they were actually working together properly.
*Let's see how good they really are.*
I dodged backward, giving them space to coordinate. Xenovia advanced with measured strikes while Irina used her Mimic's flexibility to attack from unexpected angles. The curved blade shifted forms mid-strike—sword to whip to spear—keeping me guessing.
"Better," I admitted, blocking a thrust from Xenovia while simultaneously deflecting Irina's whip-form with Incursio's skin over my own. "But still not good enough."
For the next few minutes, we danced. They pressed their attack with genuine skill—Xenovia's raw power combined with Irina's versatility. The holy energy from their weapons burned where it made contact, leaving red marks on my half armor covering my skin that steamed in the cool air.
"He's fast," Irina panted during a brief pause, sweat already beading on her forehead.
"Too fast for a human," Xenovia agreed grimly. "What are you?"
*Time to show them the gap.*
"Just someone who knows how to pick fights " I said, then attacked for real.
My blade caught Xenovia's guard and shattered it, sending Destruction spinning from her hands. Before she could react, I grabbed her wrist and used her momentum to throw her into Irina, who was mid-transformation with her Mimic.
But Irina rolled with it, using the impact to launch herself back at me with her blade in spear form. Impressive recovery—she had good instincts.
"Bungee Gum," I said, raising my left hand. Pink substance shot out, coating her weapon and binding it to my palm. "Possesses the properties of both rubber and gum."
I yanked hard. Irina stumbled forward, off-balance, right into my waiting fist. Not hard enough to seriously hurt her, but enough to drop her.
Xenovia was back on her feet, having retrieved Destruction. She came at me with everything she had—a flurry of strikes that would have overwhelmed most opponents. The holy energy flared with each swing, making the air itself burn.
*She's strong. Probably could take on most mid-level devils.*
I parried, countered, and stepped inside her guard. My pommel strike caught her in the solar plexus, doubling her over. A quick follow-up with the flat of my blade to the back of her head put her down.
Both girls ended up on their asses, breathing hard and staring at me with new understanding in their eyes. The defeat was written all over their faces—not just the physical loss, but the realization of how outclassed they'd been.
*There we go. Reality check delivered.*
"You're not weak," I said, offering Xenovia a hand up. She glared but took it, her grip firm but trembling slightly. "You actually fight pretty well together. But you need to stop jumping into fights you don't understand."
"How?" Irina asked quietly, accepting similar help. "How are you so strong?"
*Because I've killed dozens of vampires stronger than you've probably ever seen.*
"Experience," I said simply. "Real combat experience. Not training dummies or sparring matches."
"I'll say it again—you can't beat Kokabiel. I won't stop you from trying, but when you realize you're screwed, ask your precious Church for backup."
*Assuming they'll listen. Church politics were always messy.*
I waved at Rias and her group. "I've got stuff to do. Thanks for letting me use your backyard."
---
Back home, I sat in the living room while Valerie trained Asia in the backyard. The sound of wooden swords clacking together was oddly comforting. Normal. Safe.
The system notification popped up: Rank 4 gacha ticket for beating the exorcist duo.
*Rank 4. That's way better than I expected.* My pulse quickened as I activated it. The reward made me blink.
**Reward: Ingrid - A sentient sword once belonging to the Vanir god Freyr, later possessed by Odin, then Loki/Atreus, and finally returned to Freyr during Ragnarök. The blade possesses its own consciousness and can act independently of its wielder.**
The weapon materialized from the screen like something born from digital starlight—a beautiful sword in an ornate sheath that seemed to pulse with barely contained energy. But it was what happened next that truly caught my attention.
Ingrid emerged from her sheath with a sound like wind chimes caught in a gentle breeze, the blade itself seeming to stretch and yawn as if awakening from a long sleep. Then she began to dance.
There was no other word for it. The sword moved through the air with liquid grace, spinning and weaving in patterns that spoke of joy and curiosity and an intelligence that was distinctly non-human. Her movements created a soft, musical hum that seemed to resonate in my bones—not threatening, but alive in a way that made the hair on my arms stand up.
The sound drew Valerie and Asia from their training, both girls appearing in the doorway with practice swords still in hand and expressions of wide-eyed wonder.
"What's with the sword, Akira?" Valerie said, coming in with Asia behind her. Both of them stared at the dancing sword.
"I got her for Asia," I said, watching Ingrid circle around both girls. The sword seemed to be... greeting them? The hum changed pitch when it got close to Asia, almost like it was curious.
"I can't take something so valuable," Asia protested, but I could see the fascination in her eyes. She wanted it.
*Good. She needs something to protect herself with.*
"Don't be weird about it. Valerie got one, so I had to get something for you too. Her name's Ingrid, by the way. Try not to lose her."
Asia reached out hesitantly. Ingrid practically jumped into her hands, humming happily. The sword's joy was almost infectious—I found myself smiling despite everything.
"Come on," Valerie said, grinning. "Let's see what she can do."
As they headed back outside, I felt something cold crawl up my spine. Two powerful presences approaching through the forest. One was familiar—Elmenhilde's vampire signature, unmistakable after our last encounter. The other was much stronger.
*Much, much stronger.*
But not stronger than what I'd already faced and killed. *Vampire nobility. I've butchered plenty of those.*
"Asia, Valerie, get inside. Now."
The girls took one look at my face and moved without question. Valerie guided Asia to the living room while Ingrid hovered protectively nearby, her hum turning sharp and alert.
*At least the sword has good instincts.*
"Stay here," I told them, then looked at Ingrid. "Keep them safe."
The sword's hum changed to something that sounded like agreement. Good enough.
I walked into the forest, feeling the familiar cold anticipation settling into my bones. The supernatural signatures were strong—powerful, ancient, dangerous. But I'd felt similar power from the Tepes nobles I'd massacred, and they'd died just like everything else.
*I could deal with vamps. I've proven that already.*
"Elmenhilde," I called out, my voice calm and steady. "Show yourself or I'm taking a trip to Romania tonight."
Bats swarmed from everywhere, the sound of their wings like thunder in the enclosed space. They formed into two figures, and I felt a grim satisfaction at the fear that flashed across Elmenhilde's face when she saw me.
*Good girl. She remembers it very well.*
The other woman was different. Blonde hair to her hips, red eyes that held centuries of experience, curves that spoke of predatory grace. She wore a black dress that probably cost more than most people's houses and smiled with the confidence of someone who'd ruled from the shadows for millennia.
Power radiated from her like heat from a forge—old power, refined and deadly.
*So this is what a vampire queen looks like.*
"At last we meet," she said in an accent that screamed old European nobility. "I am Elene Carmilla, leader of the Carmilla faction."
I studied her for a moment, noting the way she held herself, the predatory stillness masked behind her feminine grace.
"And you're here because?" I asked casually, like we were discussing the weather instead of standing in a forest where one wrong word could start a war.
. . .
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