Observation makes me strong. The Stake King's power is too great to handle. But there's only one Sable.
　I can't speak for others, but maybe it's because they're too powerful, but vampires are too careless. It's no wonder they're sometimes hunted by humans.

　In the darkness, lit only by moonlight, I could see my surroundings clearly.

　Sable stepped forward, sword in hand. It took a lot of concentration to hide his presence, and the signs that had disappeared completely were returning slightly.
　The reach of the sword is not that long, but it is blood. I'm going to enjoy this.

　"Let me enjoy the power of the Firstborn, the King of the Dead!

　His eyes narrowed with the pleasure of violation. An unaccountable chill runs through my body from my feet.

　I already knew how to fight vampires. Just do what I've always hated to do to powerful enemies. Sable is careless.

　I take a step back. Sable sees my move, smiles thinly, and steps forward as if to show off.

　At that moment, I step in as hard as I can.

　Blood sword?　Vigilance?　Measuring the distance?　Nonsense. I'm not human.

　I've learned.
　The only thing that can defeat a vampire is power over it.

　The blood wedge won't be that easy to use anyway. If the conditions are so loose, why are you struggling with Lynell?

"!

　If he doesn't have any weaknesses, if the opponent is superior, he will subdue him before he can give his all.

　Sable's eyes twisted in astonishment. The blood sword bursts open and shoots an arrow at me.
　Several arrows pierce my body. A dull pain and shock shakes my body. But I was prepared for everything. There was only one thought that ran through my mind.


　--I've torn up my whole outfit again.


　I swung the machete and cut off Sable's right arm from the shoulder.

　Sable's handsome face contorts for a moment. But I don't give him a chance to fight back.
　Vampires can regenerate, but it takes strength, and it takes time to fix something the size of your arm.

　I'll be on my guard. I'm going to do everything you've ever hated to do to me.

　The blood from the shoulder you cut off stirs and forms a shield in an instant.
　Well, that's a nasty ability. It's shapeshifting. It forms fast. Transforming parts of the body is the same as with the claws and fangs, but the degree of freedom is different.

　And that's when I realized. I felt as if I had a revelation.
　It's not that I have an advantage. But it felt good to be in the middle of a battle against a superior opponent. The quest for the unknown is something I was never able to satisfy in my lifetime.

"Well, ...... I understand. The Stake King's power is a development of the Claws and Fangs.

"What?

　Just as my Curse of Steel is a modification of Bloodsucking, the necromancer who created the King of the Stakes must have modified the Claws and Fangs to create Blood Pain.

　Good eye. Bloodsucking can be used by any vampire, but 'claws' and 'fangs' are strictly the abilities of a werewolf, so they cannot be used by those who have become vampires directly through the power of favoritism.
　The reason why the King of the Stakes has become such a powerful force is because the power that is passed on to his family members is very easy to use.


　The King of the Stakes became a powerful force because the power inherited by his family was so easy to use. Strike the Light Eater and break the Blood Shield. The blood shield only lasted a moment against the blow that was fired by the vampire's physical strength.

　But I guess that was enough. The sable, which should have been within touching distance with a finger, literally 'fizzled' out.

　The ability to "atomize. I had been warned. But there was nothing I could do. I don't have the power to deal with atomization.


"...... I underestimated you, the Founder!　I didn't expect them to come at me without hesitation. ......


　A few meters away, Sable appears.
　I'm not sure what to make of it. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
　Her blood-red pupils were dilated. His body trembled with strong murderous intent.

"Actually... my powers are not as great as you might think.

　So you can't regenerate while you're in the mist. And you can't change into mist for very long.
　You'll probably need a lot of power. It's logical that even a "shadow" that hides its presence would use a force that can't be ignored. I'm learning a lot.



　She kicks the ground hard and lunges straight at Sable. The female vampire's eyes narrowed.

You can't ...... think that the same move will work over and over again!

　The blood that flowed swirled and instantly created a huge triangular pyramid - a blood spear.
　I'm not sure what to make of this. But I didn't rush in without thinking, either.

　I had already transformed my left arm. The reason I was able to do it in time was not because of my skill, but because I used my ability as soon as I stepped in.
　The power he used was the claw. However, it was deformed excessively by pouring the power of blood into it. Sable's expression distorts.

"!

　When he fought the Cannibal, he used his entire arm as a blade. But this time, what I've created is a shield of bone with a gently flowing surface.

　It's not as powerful as turning blood into a sword, but if he developed this power to create the Blood Curse, there's no reason he can't do something similar.
　It seems that the "sharp claws" and "sharp fangs" were not strictly the ability to transform claws and fangs, but the ability to transform bones.

　A white shield and a crimson spear clash. I don't know which is stronger, the shield of bone or the spear of blood. But the shield was not created to catch.
　The tip of the spear slides across the surface and flows back. Sable quickly lifts his remaining left arm. I slam the machete into it mercilessly.
　I can feel the crushing of bone and flesh. I continued to swing the machete in succession, but as expected, the head was hard to defend.

"I feel great!　I feel great!　I'm sure Lynell is happy about this.

　I'm sure Lynell will be very happy with the results. I was able to save my life, so Sable's spear was a tailwind, but aside from that, avenging a powerful enemy is quite interesting.
　Sable is gone. Another atomization. A really nasty power.

　The black mist is moving fast. It's hard to tell the black mist from the darkness.


　--For humans, though.


"What?


　Without hesitation, I followed the black mist and kicked the ground.
　I'm pushing. Don't give Sable any room to maneuver. Atomization is a powerful ability, but even powerful abilities have their weaknesses.
　The fog climbs the wall. I run up the wall and follow it, at the same time I breathe on my, what's left of it.

　Kuro sparks of fire spread and covered my entire body in an instant. A dull pain and heat tormented my whole body.
　Be on your guard. I don't know if I can burn out the mist with fire. But even if it means declaring war on the King of the Stakes, Sable will finish him off here. Now that the power of the blood is still intact, there is no danger of the body burning up.

"Haha, tell me how I can keep my clothes on!

"...... Are you insane ......?　The Ancestor.

　He extends his left arm, which is covered in black flame. The flame touches the mist, but I'm not sure if it's getting through.
　But even if it can't penetrate the mist, it can at least vaporize the blood he's controlling. It's not a bad strategy. It would have been even more perfect if I hadn't lost my clothes.

　The black mist rises to the sky. Even I can't follow it to the sky. I could jump, but that would be foolhardy.
　The mists gather in the sky. A tattered sable forms against the moon.

　Vampires have the ability to turn into bats. But ...... if it doesn't fall...

　I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.

I'm sure you're a lot more familiar with fighting than I thought you were.

　Sable didn't fall. Two pairs of crimson wings sprouted from her back, perched in midair.
　The wounds he had labored so hard to inflict were slowly healing.

　This is not an application of the bat's power. Those are blood wings on his back.

　If you think about it, blood moving freely is magic itself. I'm just changing the shape of the bones, but Sable's curse is completely in the realm of 'liquid manipulation'.
　My wings weren't moving. I'm not flying like a bird, I'm floating with my wings fixed in the air.

"You coward, come down!　Don't you have any vampire pride?

"Say what you will. I'm--I'm not letting my guard down.

　I opened my eyes and looked up at Sable, who was turning pale.

　But the emotion I was feeling wasn't anger.


　--I want it. I want that ability.



　If you have Blood Pain, you can fly.
　I can catch the cowardly Senri as he flies away, and there are other uses for it as well.
　Sable said to be on my guard, but I haven't shown her the Carth Steel yet.

　What you don't know you can't control.

　Then Sable, fully healed, sighed deeply.

I hate to retreat when I'm being pushed ...... but unfortunately, I'm here on my Lord's orders.


　Suddenly, he heard the howling of a beast. There were more than one or two of them.
　After all this time, you realize that there are several signs of life around you. They were certainly not there a moment ago, so Sable must have called them somehow.

　Without making a single sound of footsteps, several huge shadows appeared. Massive bodies to look up at. Grotesque limbs. Sharp claws and golden eyes.
　A smell I've smelled before--a strong animal odor. Werewolves.

　Ten in number. They don't have swords or weapons, but I've seen the sharpness of their claws.
　I shuddered at their viscous intent to kill. The wolves don't even wince when I show myself. It's not like Oliver, who once surrendered at the mere sight of me.

　I scowl. It's been a while since I've had a new life, but while I've been herded by the weak and overwhelmed by the superior, this is the first time I've been herded by a superior.
　Sable said in a soothing voice to my wary face.

"Be quiet, End. I'm not going to hurt you. You're strong. You're strong. With you, we can build a land of the dead.

　A land of the dead. I don't know what the hell they want. Not interested.
　But ......, I'm not sure I like being in Sable's camp.

　I manipulated my power and brought back my left arm, which had been turned into a shield. I extinguished the spell flame and dropped the light eater I was holding to the ground.

　Sable's eyes relax for a moment. A superior vampire has taken control of the airspace and is surrounded by elite wolves. You could say I'm doomed.

　And I poured my strength into it without reservation.

I'll follow in the footsteps of the great enemies I've fought. I'm stronger than Arbatos and Lynel now, I'm sure.

　After all, it's a full moon and I just got a loving dose of blood from Senri yesterday.

　I feel a tremendous amount of power tearing at my body. It's not a force from outside. It's a force from within.

　My skin rips open and black needle-like hairs pop out from within. Bones creak noisily, skeletons change, muscles expand. My vision rises.
　Now I could reach out my arm and reach the sable in the sky. But unfortunately, I can't grab it now.

　My body is hot. My head is on fire. I'm getting stronger. It's worth putting more blood into it than I should.

　The werewolf who was two sizes bigger than me before is like a child. I'm probably even bigger now than I was when I transformed against Lynel.

　I hear it. I can smell it. A hint of fear. Nothing like the ones I've fought before. The wolves are upset.

　Bigger is better, after all. I can crush the ones I don't like with a swing of my paw.

　Sable's face contorts, even though she already knows I can turn into a dog.


"This power ......, your ability to--

"Between you and me, I can turn into a fire-breathing dog.

　You will find a lot of things that you can do to make your life easier.