Back in the cavern, the embers of the fireball are the only source of light. Sol has easily regenerated from his own spell as the vampire is nowhere to be seen. The hope of having easily defeated his opponent was swiftly dispersed as on the other side of the corner the familiar figure stands. Its nails and fangs are even longer than before. Their auras clash against each other filled with killing intent.
"I will grant you another fear this day." The voice that matches the dark cavern calls out to its hunter. His nails scrape against the floor, as he goes from a slow walk to an incredibly high speed.
The shade demon meanwhile summons his blood bound spear and his wings of darkness preparing for contact. The weapon and the long nails clash against each other violently, their auras intertwined. A red mirage appears around the vampire as he disappears from view again. Reappearing shortly after behind Secessus. Xarayis tries to pierce his hunter from behind but only catches air as Secessus has used his wings of darkness to push himself aside.
Now the demon goes to chase until the vampire disappears again with a red mirage. The two individuals continue to play this cat and mouse game with each other. Both cautious of revealing the extent of their strength.
***
An older woman in her small home filled with books looks carefully into one of her cat's eyes. Her head tilted sideways as she peers beyond the feline.
"They've begun spirit. Battling a "Baeerd" it seems, quite ambitious. If I do say so myself." She does not look at the spirit she speaks with. Continuing to look, into the feline eyes of the unmoving cat.
"I'm quite well aware, Yasha. I'm bound to him after all." Cornelius replies unimpressed, reading one of the many books this shop has.
"Most of the time trainers don't throw their pupil into a near ancient vampire. Especially not your kind. Perhaps the rumors are exaggerated."
"Every rumor is, it's in the nature of speculation to exaggerate the larger themes. Unable to distinguish the importance of the smaller elements."
The atmosphere in this small house is not amicable. Rather it feels like two businesses constantly eying the other. Waiting for a moment of weakness to benefit.
"Maescia would love this child. besides she might actually teach him something." The old woman still simply continues to peer into the cat's feline eyes.
"Your words hurt me." Cornelius replies sarcastically whilst also showing clear displeasure.
"After this fight, I shall bring hi-" The old woman gets interrupted by the spirit.
"You're crossing the line, Yasha. Careful." The spirit warns as he closes the book he was reading. The old woman simply smirks as she continues staring into the feline eyes.
***
The battle in the cavern has gradually upped its intensity. The battle has turned into a stalemate neither one capable of breaking through. Deciding that enough time was wasted, Secessus begins to command the darkness in the cavern. The darkness comes ever so close, excited about the prospect of being controlled by a master. The same feeling that his broken mind felt way back then. When his feelings disappeared as it felt like time had stopped. The 10 years that broke a weak vessel and created something superior.
Wielding all this darkness, he commands it to devour his enemy. The deep darkness listens to the spell and attacks the vampire. The feeling of intense mana trying to tear it limb from limb is something new for the vampire. Only once before was he the one being hunted. When he was deemed too dangerous for their society. The day he nearly died, the day he was cursed. When he was thrown in the last remaining fire of the ash. Since that day the same words repeat in his head.
"You're insatiable Xarayis. You were always and you will always be." That voice that banished him said. That high and mighty voice.
The vampire deep in these thoughts is still being actively attacked by the darkness, trying to pull apart his flesh. Even more violent than when he feeds upon those crying humans. Yet still in this battle with a new hunter, the old one's face continues to come to mind.
"Vorigan...." The deep murderous voice mumbles. "You're right. You're right." The red mirage appears around the figure, shielding him from the mana attacking him. The vampire's eyes turn blood-red as a new will forms in its eyes. Mana forms in the palms of the pure white vampire, the same familiar color of his red mirage now in his hand. Unlike the one covering his body this one is filled with bloodlust, with a mind to kill. No, with a mind to feed.
"I always hunger." The vampire spits out as the red mana in his hands begins to wordlessly scream like his victims that lost their voices. He casts his spell toward his new hunter as the red mirage travels with a great ferocity. Quickly engulfing the shade demon as the red mirage makes it feel like Secessus is being eaten alive. Blood burst out of his mouth and eyes as he gets thrown against the cold wall.
The vampire moves closer to his hunter that has been hit by his magic. A man he at first thought to be like-minded. Quickly they were proven to be different yet still a question lingers in the vampire's mind.
"Listen demon, if one were to always hunger. What would you do with him?" The vampire now squats in front of the wounded Secessus. Drawn to the emerald eyes, that are so different from the dark aura.
"Questions were supposed to be over were they not?" Secessus retorts his regeneration and the tone he answers with showing that he's already fine.
"Will you deny answering me for such shallow reasons?" The nails of the vampire now rest on top of Secessus's chest. Threatening to pierce the shade demon's flesh.
"Well, I would search why he was hungry first."
"And afterward?"
"I would solve it."
"What if you can't? How would you feel about the creature?"
"I would pity him."
"Pity?" The vampire's nails slowly dig deeper, the answer leaving the vampire conflicted. "I don't need pity."
The nails dig even deeper as Secessus begins to cry tears of crimson blood. The tears slowly streaming onto his arms and finally his hands. Where the blood lights on a dark red fire. With these hands of fire Secessus goes and reaches for the vampire's already burnt head. Impaling the nails in his chest during the process.
"Let me put you out of your misery, pitiful." Secessus whispers as the dark red fire erupts on to the vampire's head. Turning his vision as red as the blood it has already spilled whilst also for once being on the receiving end of the pain inflicted.