Lesson 1

"No. No lesson one. You're just a human and I can't beat these guys. We have to get out of here."

Leon was standing back to back with Valeria. The pair vampire assassins closing in on them. Each was clocked in dark robes and equipped with a crimson rapier. A weapon made of blood and controlled by their blood arts.

"It's not like we have much of a choice, they're blocking each exit."

Valeria's dagger is solidified blood, but these guys keep their handles and guards as liquid. A more advanced technique? Consume more blood? Ugh man, I don't have enough information to go off of.

"Alright if we can't win, we have to make a break for it. Can you run up walls or fly or something?"

"I don't have much blood and you're here too. This is bad. I don't know what to do."

She’s panicking. Not good.

The assassins began to thrust with their rapiers despite still being far away. Their blades grew as they added more hardened blood to the hilts. An effect that increases the range and speed of the attack.

"Watch out"

Leon shoved Valeria out of the way as the two strikes thrusted into him. In an instant, the blades pierced a few inches deep before bending and shattering. Shards of crimson sent flying, still propelled by the force of the attacks.

Unknown to the vampires, Leon's healing stopped the depth of the wounds. And it was the opposing directions of the strikes that cancelled out the momentum. Resulting in the blades breaking apart so violently and leaving them shocked for a moment.

"This is our chance."

He grabbed Valeria by the hand and rushed towards the city square. The two vampires had regained their composer and were already reforming their respective rapiers.

I got an idea. These guys seem more like mercenaries than serious assassins. Which means...

He rushed into the melee range of the vampire that blocked the exit. Keeping himself between Valeria and the vampire as they thrusted at them. The blade got stuck in his chest.

And here comes the 2nd...

With the blade still stuck, and without looking behind him, he pulled Valeria in front and held her close. He steadied himself as he waited for the attack from the 2nd vampire to hit him in the back.

He didn't wait for long, as within less than a second, the strike came. More powerful than the first but still not fierce enough to pierce through his healing. With no opposite force, Leon and Valerie were sent tumbling out of the alley into the square.

"Ouch. I had a feeling these guys weren't professional assassins. Probably mercenaries. You have a bounty on you?"

He asked as he stood up and helped Valeria to her feet.

"What makes you think they're not professionals?"

Avoiding the question probably means yes. She comes with a lot of problems that she doesn't want to talk about...but still. We're a team now, so I'll let her move to her own place.

"Why didn't they attack us from the rooftop or use any sort of stealth? Instead they covered both exits. A good strategy but not an assassin's plans. So I bet that after getting surprised like that, they would default back to the thrust attack even if it didn't work the first time."

The two vampires had emerged from the alley. Licking their newly forged rapiers as they approached.

"Ewww, edgy much?"

"Yes but I think they figured out I have some healing ability. You vampires have anti-healing saliva."

Will they try the trust attack again? It uses blood but does it use a lot? In the middle of the square it's easier for us to dodge but they have the range advantage.

"Behind us is the hunters guild hall. It's also an Inn so there's...."

"No. I'm a vampire too. They would kill me on sight."

The two vampires were slowly approaching. Coming in at an angle yet not wrapping around them just yet. Their blades were at the ready.

Should I have gone deeper into the alleyways? It would weaken their thrust attack but we don't know what else they have. Plus if we hit a dead end...

"We have no other... choice..."

Ba-dum.

Time began to slow down. Leon had spent too much time doubting himself and let his guard down. The extended rapier had pierced him directly through his heart and out his back. Without his healing to slow the blade, he became aware of how powerful this attack truly was.

Ba-dum.

He brought up his hand and grabbed the blade. Despite being thin and made of hardened blood, he wasn't strong enough to break it.

Ba-dum.

Is this it? Even with 100 vitality I can still get one shot....

Ba-dum, Ba-dum,

Valeria was grabbing on to him. Tears formed in her eyes as she was saying something. Yet he couldn't hear her.

Ba-dum, Ba-dum,

All he could hear was the sound of his heart.

Ba-dum, Ba-dum,

But it wasn't slowing down.

It was accelerating. Each beat hitting like a piston. Adrenaline pumping through his heart like fuel.

Ba-dum Ba-dum Ba-dum

Each heart beat sent vibration through the rapier. As metal hammering against metal.

Ba-dum Ba-dum Ba-dum

No, I need to stop doubting myself. No more hesitation. No more second guessing!

He didn't have the Strength to break it, but he did have the Vitality.

He let go of the blade, clenching his fists as he bent his elbows and drew his arms to his sides.

BA-DUM BA-DUM BREAK

With a flex of his chest the blade exploded like a fuse traveling back towards its handle. His healing was more powerful deeper inside. Allowing his heart to overcome the vampire's anti-healing, despite his skin still bleeding.

He looks at the two vampires dead in the eyes, fists clenched and chest flexed. Adrenaline pumping through his veins. It was time to fight.

"Is That The Best You Got!?"