Henry had set up the special artefact his father had given him in case he came across a monster that was too strong for them to defeat.
He felt assured that he would survive this.
"Hello," a voice said as it walked out of the shadows into the moonlight.
Valerian walked into the little clearing nonchalantly as though he were on an evening stroll.
His swarm had landed under the cover of the trees fifteen meters away and returned him to his normal form.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Lord Valerian Erebus Jata, First Patriarch of a nation that was destroyed a long, long time ago. I am pleased to meet you, slayer."
Valerian held his hand across his chest in humility and greeting but his eyes shone with anger and hatred.
"I am Lord Henry Vincent Duma. Son of Viscount Duma of Saras! If you know what is good for you, vampire, I suggest you surrender and face judgment."
Valerian straightened his back. Clicked his tongue in disapproval. He looked away completely ignoring Henry as though he were considering something then sighed.
"It seems this world has truly fallen into a state of absolute disrepair. So much has gone so wrong.
The magic, the technology, the land and the people, all degraded and insignificant." Valerian shook his head. "Very well then. Shall we fight and end this quickly?"
The Slayer and the vampire clashed. The ancient vampire charged first.
His body became a blur as he rushed to meet his opponent.
The young Duma brought his sword down in the hope that it would cleave his foe but before the blade touched him, the vampire had already retreated.
"Your reaction speed is not terrible. I can see how you can kill so many children."
The vampire stated from his new location ten meters from Henry.
"I killed vampires, not children!"
Henry protested and charged again.
He made two vertical slashes to the left and right but Valerian simply stepped sideways to dodge it as though he were not bothered at all.
The next slash came horizontal aimed for his midsection. Again the vampire dodged with ease by taking a step back.
"Of course they are. Vampires are a long lived race. Anyone below the age of two thousand years old cannot be considered an adult." Valerian protested as if he had heard the most ridiculous thing ever.
He narrowed his eyes, "Yet I smell the blood of those less than five on you."
As Valerian easily avoided the brutish fighting style of the young Duma the light of the moon continued to bath him in a supernatural light.
His white hair seemed to become a strong metallic silver, the moons beams reflected heavily off of the noble vampire's jewellery.
If a mortal saw this, they would have thought that a god of nature had come from heaven to dance under the stars.
"They are monsters and so are you!" Henry shouted as beads of sweat formed on his head.
He could not use his skills. He needed to delay his mental exhaustion so this battle had been purely physical.
"Vampires are mass murders, slayers of women and children, with no remorse or care. Vampire see mortal races as just food but look at what the food can do."
Henry's fighting force increased. His attacks became more furious.
Valerian dodged all of them but was quickly becoming bored.
His hands hand been behind his back this whole time.
He brought his right hand forward and caught the blade between his thumb and index finger. The sword stopped moving.
Henry felt as though the sword had met an impossible force.
With Henry staring stupidly at Valerian, the great vampire lightly pushed the sword backwards and the hilt crashed onto Duma's nose and a cracking sound followed.
Henry cursed his own stupidly. He immediately let go of the sword and jumped backward.
He wanted to hold his nose and crouch down in pain but he could not take his eyes off his opponent.
"What the hell are you?" Henry's pain could not hide the hate and anger in his tone.
"I am a vampire." Valerian shrugged and looked away as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Will you activate your trap or does it need more time?"
Henry's eyes shot wide open.
Did he know? Was he not afraid? Could he defeat it too?
Questions like this raced through Henry's mind. He looked around him and decided it was time.
"Hear me slave of hell and answer my call. I summon you here, to the material realm to do my bidding. Grant me the death of my enemy, under the contract of House Duma. Show yourself, Archduke Byleth!"
A glowing triangular magic formation formed on the ground.
The same print appeared on Henry's left palm and a twisted smile appeared on the vampire hunter's face.
Henry's hair turned white and his eyes lost their light.
This was Henry's tump card. The summoning of a third rank demon.
Out of the six hundred and sixty-six levels of Hell, third rank was nothing to scoff at and Byleth was a former Demon king of the second rank.
He could kill six vampire royals ranked at [SS].
Henry had needed time for the magic formation to charge and the time had come.
The ground cracked. Flames erupted out turning into a pillar of fire.
Henry threw a glance at the vampire hoping to see the previously proud creature turning to fear but it was Henry who was surprised.
Valerian was completely at ease. His hair and jacket danced and fluttered but his face was relaxed.
He had been watching the pillar of fire then turned his head. He locked eyes with Henry.
Henry could not tell what the vampire was thinking but when Valerian suddenly smiled at him, Henry felt his own soul crack.
"I am an Archduke of Hell, the fallen King, Byleth. I am no slave!" a voice roared and the fires immediately disappeared.
A dark figure rose out of the abysmal pit that had formed in the wood.