By the goddess, this is so disgusting.
Gawain was able to jump away from Zelim due to the distractions the bite and stabbing had caused, now he stood a short distance away from the ghoul feeling the corrupted and nearly dead blood smear itself in his veins. There was of the liquid leaking out of his lips, the fledgling vampire attempting to keep it down while his face distorted in his efforts. He's never drunk since the blood Arthur gave him. That blood was delicious, filled with power but in contrast, this was weak and disgusting. It would have been no different than drinking sewage water.
Belona might have finally shunned him now, he has partaken in the red thirst he no longer even required. The dark deed that seemed vampires monsters was just committed, despite it being onto another creature of darkness. The church didn't have much room for nuance, circumstance, or deviation. The thought of him forsaking his family's goddess befell him, he hoped his actions did not affect his sister or mother's fortune.
He could feel the blood dulling the pain, the flesh was moving along his wounds, muscles healing, chunks restored, strength revitalizes and improved. The blood became part of him, a hole was filled within him, the strength of a vampire was seemingly achieved. No, the strength of a blood dragon, his kin were stronger than the other night hunters. His lack of blood weakened him but, had still kept him equal to his cousins, not to his brothers. Gawain could feel a surge of strength and it, he was shaking with excitement.
Zelim had a stare of rage aimed at Gawain, his hands wrapped around the shaft of the spear as he began to slowly pull it out. The vampire could see the blood on his weapon sinking into the metal brightening it's glow as it did; Percival never really explained how the weapons worked so it was up to him to figure it out.
"You little shit." The old instructor called out in anger as the last of the weapon escaped his torso, using it support his stance for a moment.
The pain was dulling him, Zelim was slowed, weak and vulnerable at this very moment. A good opportunity for Gawain; but it wasn't the fear of the brutal beating he had just received that kept him from attacking. It was the fear of a challenge being swept away cheaply, despite the lack of scars on his body his opponent was strong. The memory of pain was evidence of that. He would let the man toss the blood spear aside, it's glow never diminished. Gawain watched as the wound in his chest closed, at a slow pace on par with a distorted look upon Zelim's face.
Did he have to focus on healing? His own arm that had been nearly cut in half had reattached it ends, adjusted and connected bones, and sealed without a scar with just the flow of new blood within his veins. What pitiful creatures ghouls were, distorted and weak versions of vampires. Gawain called the spear to his hand, it shot out like a bullet out of a rifle and landed against his palm. He spun it in his hand, shifting its length along his skin before letting its center crash down on his other hand. He slid a foot back, aimed the spearhead at Zelim and remained still awaiting him.
"Seems my blood did you good leech" He growled at him, feeling his wounds finally close. He reached down and picked up the sword that Gawain had dropped before Zelim cut into his arm.
"You tasted like shit, I rather drink from a dead rodent than from you again." Gawain spat in his direction, before lowering his stance. His leg muscles bulged, his feet digging a bit into the dirt underneath him.
"According to that crazed girl, there's plenty of them for you." Zelim chuckled, raising his swords. "But that was your last meal, sad it tasted so bad."
Gawain dashed forward in a burst of unnatural speed, he slammed his foot down kicking up a spray of dirt. The rest of his moment was pushed into a swing of his spear, it whistled through the air as it's sharp tip cut through the air. The ghoul knew better than to create range against someone with farther reach, so he tried to close the gap while using both swords to block the shaft that would have struck his side. The force of it caused him to slide to the side, sparks flying from the impacts of clashing weapons. Zelim swung one of the swords at Gawain's neck, while his other stayed against the vampire's weapon.
Gawain felt confident.
He stepped closer to the swing that seemed so slow to him, sliding the spear up on Zelim's sword to be closer at the tip. He used his body as leverage and slammed all his strength against his spear, it twisted on his body. Pushing past Zelim's block and slamming into his neck launching him down into the dirt before his sword had ever reached him. He stabbed down at Zelim's chest.
A loud grunt escaped the ghoul's lips, quickly swinging his sword as he dropped to block Gawain's jab at him. There was a serious look on the ghoul's face, an expression of recognition. He parried off attacks as he stood up, the vampire using these moments to gain some distance between them.
Gawain's moves consisted of him aiming the spear and extending it fully on a single arm in rapid succession. It came at the ghoul-like flashes of lightning, pushing the old instructor back who had given up attempting to get closer. Each time he had put a foot forward Gawain, jabs turned into violent swings where the base of his spear rested on his back, stomach, neck, creating a pivoting speed beyond what he naturally could create.
These techniques were developed by Arthur, who mastered all the weapons. Percival said as much as he taught Gawain, he said the rest of the blood dragons were meant to improve on them. Percival's style was different from Arthur's and with time, so will Gawain's grow unique.
Zelim leaped backward, breathing heavily. "Seems you had a different teacher." He was still holding onto both swords.
"Aye, not like the army really taught anyone how to use the spear, just aim and stab," Gawain said twirling his weapon in his hand.
"Any fool would have a chance against a swordsman with a spear, there was no need," Zelim said in a mocking tone, Gawain was given a spear in his life.
"Aye, well I'm no longer a fool," Gawain said aiming his weapon at his older instructor. The vampire began charging at his ghoul opponent.
"Yes, you are." Zelim grinned.
Zelim threw a sword towards Gawain, it flew through the air at high speeds. The vampire stopped suddenly, knocking the sword up high in the air before it had reached him. In the split second, once his eyes were back at Zelim he had a small pistol aiming at him. Gawain's eyes widen, the thunderous bang of the weapon was followed by intense pain. His right hand's fingers had been shot off, Gawain dropped the spear from shock and pain. Now Zelim was approaching ready to swing at him.
Gawain could imagine his death vividly, the feeling of the cold steel cutting through his neck creating a wound he wouldn't be able to recover from. Giving him a true death, a death he didn't want, a death he wouldn't accept. His mind was racing, thinking of possibilities that wouldn't involve him getting sliced by wounds that would force him to drink again. Zelim had a smile on his face. Cocky bastard.
"I'll show him," Gawain thought.
-----
"I got him. That dumb vampire bastard. "
Zelim dropped the gun he had just fired to stun his opponent.
"He is was pretty tough with that spear, felt like he got stronger too."
He closed in on Gawain, prepared to behead him.
"After he's dead I'll go after his little girlfriend. Eat her, and the rest of this village. Once the witch is dead, I'll find a new place to play in."
Gawain was shifting in place, he didn't try to move away.
"Did he give up?"
The vampire's knee came up. He was a few feet away from him.
"His leg won't reach me, idiot."
"Wait"
There was a red glow rising in front of the vampire. He had kicked the spear up into the air, moving his chest onto the back end of it.
There was too much momentum.
"Dammit." Thought Zelim.
The tip of the spear slid into Zelim's chest once more, Gawain had used himself as a brace for it without his hands. The ghoul ran right into it sliding further down its shaft. He was slowed but he could still cut this bastard head off, the vampire was still without a weapon that could kill him.
Suddenly Gawain's hand shot out to his side, he caught something. A sword in his uninjured hand.
"Good fight," Gawain said with a smile.
He swung quicker than the ghoul, cutting clean through Zelim's neck. Decapitating the cannibalistic monster.