Chapter 43: Rias' Garden
Beast Tamers utilized their techniques in many forms.
Since Bryce's enemy, Zak, had his head and shoulders covered in thick fur, Bryce inferred that the man had some of the werewolf's blood coursing through him. Digging deeper into the new information he'd learned from Wolfgang, Bryce believed his enemy wasn't compatible with the foreign blood within him.
'It'd explain why he's just partially covered in fur. He was also too impulsive,' Bryce thought just before his sword clashed with Zak, the first beast tamer he'd kill.
But killing never came easy, particularly when it was for a quest. Zak spread his fingers, aiming to grasp the sword with great courage, and when his palms collided with the thorny weapon, Zak showcased just how tough he was, as Bryce didn't leave a cut on his skin.
It was like Bryce had slammed his sword into obsidian!
Bryce's right hand went numb, too, reminding him of his spars with Wolfgang. It was just for a second, though; clearly, his enemy was leagues below the royal friend. Smirking, Bryce yanked his sword down and distanced himself to change the style.
Holding his sword in both hands, Bryce thought of the battles and training he'd gone through on Earth.
'It's swordsmanship without any connection to the hero's swordsmanship.' He inwardly whispered to the vampire soul behind Sword of Dracula. 'I don't want to use other skills as it's just one guy around us. So, cooperate with me.'
The Crimson Sword shone brighter, and thorns around it coiled like snakes. Bryce felt some of his mana sipping into his weapon as though someone had opened doors to him, and his whole aura significantly changed.
Following what he'd learned on Earth, Bryce went for a second round. In similar footwork, he'd appeared before Zak, his sword rose and let out a blinding light as though thirsty for some blood, and when he dropped it heavily onto the beast tamer, the blood spilled!
"Ugh!" Zak cried as immense pain went through his hands, a few beads of blood flew past his cheeks, and he could easily imagine his palms turning bloody. Still, he balled them, gritted as aching heightened, and threw punches forward.
Bryce reflected them all with a flat of his sword perfectly, and when Zak took a step back to gather more strength, Bryce used it as a chance to thrust. He pushed his sword with all his might!
But then, Gengo barked and alerted his friend. A few seconds later, the forest swayed, and more figures emerged from the shadows. They were cloaked, their features were hidden, not daring to take a step closer to Bryce, and all of them summoned wolves out of their mana.
Bryce ignored everything around him, keen on killing the beast tamer.
However, with his allies and their wolves coming straight at them, Zak felt a surge of strength. He parted his lips and howled like a real werewolf, stopping Bryce and his sword. It was a mere imitation of a werewolf's howl, but it still formed a wind pressure that forced Bryce to exert more strength.
With heavy steps, Bryce tore through it. One, two, three steps, and his sword went through Zak's chest.
Meantime, summoned wolves pounced at the vampire, only to crash into an invisible wall. Their faces bounced off, their forms fell backward, and they all dropped, confused, just like their summoners.
"There's no escaping me now," Bryce sneered after using the item he'd snatched from the villain, the first person he'd killed in another world.
That item formed a defensive ball around him, protecting him from outsiders. Of course, it wasn't omnipotent and less valuable than the black coat he'd received from the demon lord. Still, it'd take some time for summoned wolves to get through him.
Moreover, it was a prison for Zak.
Stuck to the invisible wall, the beast tamer grunted as he felt the Crimson Sword tearing through his tough and muscular flesh. His blood kept filling the insides of the invisible formation, splashing around gruesomely, only to stream down to the vampire's boots.
Zak felt powerless, even though it was just one injury, and he couldn't help but stare at Bryce. He extended his shaking hands, which shook like his eyes, to stop the blade and ask the question before his health points dropped dangerously low.
Bryce saw through his confused eyes and said, "This sword is not just about a cool appearance. She sucked a lot of your blood, you know? When we tore through your palms, she left thorns within your hands. She added more when you punched me. I reflected every punch, and each contact was like a new dosage of thorns. They crawled like bugs through you, sucking out your blood, and when I connected the sword again, the thorns fueled my weapon. That's it, the beast tamer."
He didn't understand why Bryce called his sword a 'she', but that was a fair explanation. Still, he wasn't done, and he'd to all to secure the royal vampire and werewolf to his mistress.
Zak put his hands on the blade and tightly clenched it, wanting to keep Bryce in one place. In the corner of his eyes, he saw the summoned werewolves again banging their heads on the invisible barrier. Some cracks had already started popping out, so it was working!
Bryce naturally saw through it, too, so he wanted to quickly end the show.
Still, he suddenly felt an urge for a speech, as though something within him stirred and requested it.
"Look, a mere imitation of a werewolf, what brought you to me. It was an ass, wasn't it? Chasing her for years, you must have felt like you were a failure, and that's what you are. Still, your efforts haven't ended in vain, for that ugly woman served you a death at the demon lord's hands," Bryce's smile widened as Zak's eyes rocked with fear.
In the form of thorns, Zak's blood beneath his feet crawled through his legs up to his head. Tied in those thorny and sharp vines, Zak's heart drummed aloud, filling the invisible defenses with its sound.
"It's an honor for you, isn't it? To become a little worthy at the end of your life," Bryce whispered amidst the drums, and for Zak, those words weighed the most, "E stands for the execution."
BANG!
Zak's head exploded into bits of blood, meat, and bones as though thorns squeezed him to death.
[You've killed Lv. 54 Beast Tamer Zak!]
Bryce confirmed the gap between him and the first beast tamer, looked at his quest, then faintly smiled. Oblivious to all around him, he drew his sword and glanced at the heart on its tip. He stuffed that into his inventory, then turned off the invisible defense.
It would be a pain if he were to lose that item today!
With his invisible defenses gone, Zak's blood spilled outside, tainting nature red. Bryce remained cool-headed and glanced around at all summoned wolves going at him. They were clearly made out of mana, their forms were see-through, and their presence much weaker than what Bryce had expected.
It'd be a problem if all of them bit him, though.
Bryce was prepared for that. In fact, he was quite impatient to use more of his vampire skills.
Lifting his hand, he whispered, "Rias' Garden."
Every drop of blood around him heeded his command and turned into thorny veins, trapping summoned wolves, who clearly weren't prepared for that turn of events. Hailed by the bloody nature, the wolves shrieked in low cries while swaying their paws.
At the same time, the beast tamers stood frightened. But as Bryce hadn't finished their summoned souls, they'd noticed that the vampire's skills lacked offensive means.
They couldn't be more wrong, though.
When Bryce took out a heart — the heart of the pig woman he'd killed alongside the villain — a crimson flower coalesced before him. He planted the heart inside it. A few breaths later, Rias' Garden crushed the souls of werewolves.
'Glad to see that I've inherited my mother's talent to control blood,' Bryce commented while recalling how strong and excellent his mother was as a magician. He couldn't wait to learn more techniques from that side as it stirred dreams of his young self, who liked to play mages in video games.
Those would immensely help him on his path as a swordsman and hybrid, too.