Time to Fight!

That was so cool! Maybe it's the adrenaline but I feel unstoppable. Valeria doesn't want to go to the hunters guild, so there is no point in running around aimlessly. It's time to fight!

"They're after you, so I'll take them head on. You just hit them with whatever long range attacks you got."

Valeria was still shaken from moments earlier. She watched Leon take a hit that should have ended his life, only for him to shatter a blood arts blade like it was glass. Her eyes were still wet, but she forced herself to focus.

"Vampires don’t usually use long-range attacks, it costs too much blood.”

"I'll feed you after, just hit them with everything you got!"

He sprinted toward the two vampires, and they moved towards him as well.

"Wait-!"

The vampires were much faster, closing 3/4 of the distance between them. The one whose weapon had been destroyed earlier, took the lead with his fists raised as he charged.

The leading vampire leapt forward with a right high kick towards Leon’s head. He managed to raise his arms in time, but the force of the strike broke through his guard. Without stopping their rotation, the vampire landed on his right foot and spun, transferring his weight before driving a left kick into Leon's gut. The direct hit knocked him to the ground.

Before he could recover, the second vampire rushed in, jumping over the first, and landing with a plunge attack. The crimson rapier striking directly in his heart.

"You Guys Don't Learn, Do You?!"

Unfazed this time around, he flexed his chest again, his heart shattering the blade. Then he took a shard and jammed it into the vampire's forearm.

"~My Blood, Written in the Stars~"

Leon turned to Valeria, her hand lifted skyward as blood flowed up her arm, defying gravity. Nearly a hundred droplets hung suspended above her, shining like red stars.

"~Nightfall!~"

She fought to lower her hand as she finished her blood art. Above her, the droplets harden into spikes, then released, shooting in a fast, wide range rain.

The blood spikes struck the ground in a wave of red. Effortlessly piercing through the two vampires despite their attempts to dodge away.

Meanwhile, Leon, who was still on the ground, was completely covered in spikes. He had instinctively brought his arms up to protect his face, but the rest of his front half had multiple spikes protruding out of him.

Don't use long range attacks. Wasting blood. What do you call that then!

Valeria fell to the ground. She had given everything she had in that attack and left the rest up to Leon.

Not good.

The two vampires had already recovered from her attack. Their blood arts allowed them to heal faster but their exhaustion was obvious.

Wasteful but clearly effective. I need to end this now.

He got up and ran towards the vampire who was previously standing over him.

"Porcupine Hug!"

It was a horrible name for an attack but it was the best he could think of on the spot. Covered in spikes, he grabbed the vampire as hard as he could. The spikes pierced through the vampire due to a mixture of the hug and Leon's healing pushing them out.

The vampire yelled in pain as it pushed Leon off of him. He called his blood to close his wounds but it was too late, he didn't have enough left to stop the bleeding and fell to the ground.

One vampire left. If he feeds on me, I lose. If he takes Valeria and gets away, I lose. If I get him to flee, I win. If I kill him, I win.

He maintained eye contact with the remaining vampire and called out to it.

"So what's it going to be? You're out matched. Leave now or die."

My best chance is for him to leave so I can feed Valeria a bunch and make her ready for next time. Just fall for the bluff and leave.

The vampire stealed himself. There was no intention of leaving on his face.

Damn it

The vampire charged towards him, slower than before but still faster than Leon. The vampire led with a left hook this time. He raised his arms to block but once again the difference in strength caused the punch to break through.

A right uppercut came next before he could react. Then two jabs to his nose, each hit breaking it but healing right after. At this point Leon stopped trying to block the hits.

The pain was real but not the damage. Each strike was using the vampire's blood and in a battle of endurance he couldn't lose.

At some point he's going to try and bite me. That's the only attack I need to block.

The punches and kicks kept coming yet they couldn't send him flying like before. Despite the pain, Leon found himself smiling as he kept eye contact with the vampire. He was the immovable tank that stood between the villain and beautiful girl behind him.

When the bite did come, he was ready. It started with a left upper cut, then a right elbow into his stomach that put the vampire's head right next to Leon's extended neck.

The vampire bared its fangs as it went in for a bite only to have its mouth shut as Leon landed a direct upper cut.

The vampire jumped back, creating distance between them.

Is he finally going to flee?

Before he could get an answer, a short sword that looked like a wakizashi pierced through the vampire's heart from behind. Blood was shooting out as the blade was generating wind.

The vampire made a desperate attempt as he swung behind him only for Rika to dodge by performing a handstand on her blade that was still in the vampire's back.

"Vampires store blood in their hearts and can heal from any injury, even a strike to the heart."

She spoke so casually as the vampire collapsed. However, her voice was out of breath and her body had an assortment of fresh scars and bruises.

"But since they store their blood in the heart, attacking it is the best way to reduce their reserves."

"Rika!"

"Sup Farmboy? Though I'm impressed you managed to hold your own against 3 vampires. Not bad."

"I know right!"

Wait 3?

"I'll finish off the girl, can't risk you getting bit"

"Hold up! She is actually my friend."

Her tone shifted to anger.

"...Excuse me?”