As soon as the first day of assessment ended and the elite squad was formed for this batch of recruits between the age of 20 to 30 years old… the instructors suddenly went awry and approached Vlad like hungry hounds salivating after a thick piece of meat, completely disregarding their highly respected image.
Vlad aka Dracula was being fawned over by other instructors who also conducted this test and now wanted him under their wing.
As for why would someone so well respected and skillful person like them let go of their dignified demeanor and come after a single recruit?
Dracula had a vague idea of his own.
[There must be some sort of merit or reward offered to them for training exceptional and promising recruits under them.
Either it's indeed for the army or someone from above is pulling strings from the shadows and wants all the talented people under his own banner in this war.] the vampire sovereign hypothesized.
The world was always filled with corruption in every aspect of society. The Military was no exception to this either.
Many times, some high-ranking officers or someone with deep connections used the rules of the system to benefit themselves and not the kingdom that they were supposed to serve.
"Kid, I'm a Master Swordsman. Join my group of recruits and I promise I will personally train you to become a Blood Swordsman.
Just imagine the honor and glory you can achieve." spoke a white-haired vampire with a magnificent aura emanating from his body.
"Tch! Get in line. We're all Masters here.
Besides, this child has much more promise as an archer. Someone of his age possessing so much accuracy and control in his aim… He will definitely become a Savant Rank Blaze Archer in the future." said a thin black-haired vampire instructor.
"Bah! Stop trying to goad my recruit! I was the one who conducted his tests. He belongs to my squad by default." spoke the red-haired vampiress who conducted Vlad's tests since the start.
One after another, all of them made their offers and proclaimed to provide him with the best training facilities, equipment and battle techniques.
This left a bad taste in many of the other recruits' mouths. But none could retort against this shameless and biased recruitment.
Hum!
Hum!
Humming noises resonated in the surroundings as Vlad finally revealed his Stigmatas in front of all the instructors.
"Those are… He chose the Ghostblade Path?" wondered the vampiress, her previous excitement plummeting instantly.
Soon, the other instructors also had a pale countenance as soon as they saw Vlad's choices.
At this moment, Vlad only lightly activated his stigmatas, not showing their full brilliant glow of Gold Rank stigmatas. So in a way, he allowed himself to appear like an average individual joining the military.
Military Instructors and those who registered people as recruits were from different departments. Thus, these people had no idea about his achievements during the Blood Awakening ritual.
Real life wasn't centered around one person or their story. Everyone was surviving on their own. Hence, not everyone has the time to check other people's lives and keep gathering information.
And now with his future path already sealed, the instructors also felt a great loss as they all lost a great opportunity.
"Umm… You know what. Let's not be hasty.
It's only the first day of testing. We don't know your full potential yet so it's better to leave such an important decision for the future." spoke the very Master Swordsman who was the first to speak.
"Yes, yes. We can't be certain of your strengths just from a simple test.
We might hinder your true talent if you choose a path unfit for your skills.
Let's talk about it some other day." spoke the red-haired vampiress as well while trying to hide her disappointment.
One after another, their opinions started changing and took a U-turn. Now… Everyone was making excuses to turn this situation around while trying to not lose their face in front of thousands of these people on the training grounds.
"It's better if you find someone in this area of profession after you complete the training period." said one of the instructors, acting like a sage imparting the wisdom of the world.
All of them just wanted this to look like a big misunderstanding now so they could maintain their respectable image again.
But exactly then…
"Then don't mind if I do."
A grim voice that sent shivers through everyone's spines suddenly echoed as a dreary aura suddenly emerged from the shadows behind the instructors.
This person appeared out of nowhere, even an average vampire had heightened senses which could even hear someone's heartbeat in a 10 meters radius. But no one heard or felt this person coming along.
Finally, the gray fog around this person faded and a black and golden hooded Assassin with two golden daggers and a short sword on the waist was revealed to everyone.
By the looks of it... This vampire was a bona-fide Ghostblade Assassin.
"Zoltan! It's you." said the master swordsman.
"When did you return?" asked the master archer.
"Just this afternoon.
I came to meet the commander and noticed this test." spoke this assassin in an eerie voice that gave goosebumps to everyone who heard it.
His mysterious and glowing red eyes then gazed at Vlad.
"Why do you want to become a Ghostblade Assassin?" he asked Vlad after noticing his stigmatas.
Unlike the other instructors, he was already affirmed of their grades and capabilities.
"Given your talent and results, you can choose any of the classes with great potential which will not only give you a high standing in the military but also a lot of wealth and fame in the future." he spoke with a ghastly tone.
Vlad on the other end wasn't fazed and replied carefreely.
"Wealth and Fame are just superficial aspects of society." he spoke and continued in an indifferent voice.
"What good is wealth if you're not happy with your life or true to yourself?
What good is fame if prestige and standing in society become your shackles?" he questioned openly, his stance firm and body standing tall while Vlad folded his arms behind his back.
"Oh, then what do you seek from becoming a Ghost?" asked the vampire who was at least a Master Assassin.
In response, Vlad let out a devilish smirk as he replied nonchalantly.
"Fun."
Everyone was taken aback by this response, many found this reasoning inexplicable.
"Elaborate." said one of the instructors.
"There is fun in hiding and sneaking on your enemies when they haven't even sensed you.
There is a sense of accomplishment when you patiently wait and finally land a killing blow.
And most importantly…
Your enemies fearing that you'd come for them, becoming witless and impatient while being terrified that any moment could be their last.
That's fun to me." said Dracula with an imposing demeanor.
"How interesting. Then tell me something.
How would you face an enemy who's stronger than you?" Zoltan asked Vlad.
"By devising plans and underhanded methods to lure, trap and finish my target." the young vampire declared without a second thought.
To his words, some people showed annoyed and incredulous expressions.
"But there is no honor in that." said the white-haired vampire instructor without hiding his sneer.
"A blade hidden in shadows needs no honor. For there is no glory for an assassin.
I wouldn't fear an assassin who is famous for how many people they killed.
But I would fear a killer in the dark who no one has seen, heard of or survived to tell a tale." replied Vlad casually.
Gasp!
Many instructors and recruits heard these words loud and clear.
Zoltan gave a nod as he agreed with every single word spoken by this young vampire in front of him.
"I figured out your type." said the master assassin and his gaze swept through the rest of the recruits gathered here.
"You're no honorable warrior or a chivalrous soldier. But your eyes tell me a different story about you.
Because you are..." spoke the Master Ghostblade Assassin as he declared with an ominous voice while grinning under his mask.
"A Predator."