Aura.
Trudviar comes to name this mysterious force that dwells in his sword as 'Aura', and with further mastery, to wield it like an extension of one's limbs.
Through Aura, he is able to execute monstrous feats... such as...
...projecting his killing intent.
The vampires and the few elves flinch instinctively as they watch the new arrival take a single step forward.
"What are you?" The vampire who Trudviar identifies as Juren speaks to him with bafflement.
Trudviar understands in a sense.
Because even Trudviar doesn't understand the realm of martial prowess he possesses.
Its source is the enlightenment that Trudviar is able to receive and hone time and time again both in meditation and combat.
Maybe he is just being arrogant.
But he has the right to be arrogant.
Raising his sword with invisible overpowering sharpness, Trudviar announces his silent challenge.
Trudviar flicks his sword, and the wind blows with a sharp flying spear invisible to the naked eye.
It is an Aura Sword.
To the sharp senses of a vampire though especially one such as Juren, he is able to discern the invisible attack.
The vampire tilts his head the last millisecond before the flying Aura Sword reaches him.
Behind Juren is a sharp clang making a mess of the gold vases and furniture.
Juren of Greed laughs madly at the surprise attack.
"What was that?" He asks with some confusion prior to Trudviar's arrival. "Who even are you? Are you from the Empire? Allied Kingdom's Ten? No, you are an elf... this is..."
Impossible.
Juren wants to deny the reality in front of him. To think the elves are already attacking him when he is only just starting.
But Juren quickly gains confidence.
"You are a fool. You dare stand in front of me alone, and not mention in my territory. Are you so eager for death?"
The elf ignores Juren's rambling.
Trudviar changes his stance, lowering his sword with a faint as if inviting his enemies to attack him.
And comes the acceptance of his invitation.
The elf vampire, Perama, comes at him with feral speed. Her well-manicured sharp nails stretch outwards, eager to inflict death on her foe.
Trudviar calmly brings his sword upwards matching the seemingly unrivaled speed of the vampire.
No.
Trudviar easily surpasses the vampire's speed, accelerating a notch midway through his swing.
"N-no—!" Perama cries realizing the consequence of her actions.
Juren intervenes just right on time. He frantically reaches at Perama's nape and pulls her to his side, while throwing a dagger to Trudviar's head.
Embracing one of her favorite vampires, Juren heroically retreats a step and two. He watches Trudviar with wary eyes.
Trudviar shakes his head with regret. "I thought it was an elf, so I hesitated. But thankfully, my sword reached her just enough."
~Plop*
A sudden dropping sound.
Juren looks at the vampire in his embrace only to instinctively tremble at the sight of Perama being headless.
~Tuk*
A slight sensation brushes his foot.
Juren looks down only to see Perama's head gazing back at him with a shocked face.
Vampires don't bleed blood when cut. They simply bleed ash, a rather unimaginable scenery. And more horrifying is that they leave no ashes when slain.
More than five seconds have come to pass, but only still silence remains in the bed chambers.
Perama's ash drifts to the wind until there is nothing left. The elf slaves are speechless both in fear and awe.
"How dare you?"
Finally, Juren explodes with fury.
"How dare you do that to my possession?"
Seething with hatred, Juren draws his inner bloodlust. His eyes become a deeper shade of red, his fangs lengthen threateningly, and his nails morph into claws reminiscent of daggers.
"I will slash you into ribbons."
In a deadpan tone, Juren unleashes his extreme speed reaching Trudviar within a blink of an eye.
Except Trudviar doesn't blink, especially if under the stress of combat.
Juren's claws come from two opposite directions eager to eviscerate Trudviar in half.
Trudviar calmly defends by attacking. With more impressive speed, he unleashes his sword at Juren with an aura on top of it.
"FOOL!"
Shifting his left claws, Juren decides to intercept the sword while his right claws strike Trudviar's throat.
His confidence in his claws is not unfounded as these claws are capable of cutting even refined steel.
Sadly, Trudviar's sword is not normal. Moreover, with the mysterious power of aura, it is just more special.
Juren feels his confidence shattering as Trudviar's sword cleanly cut his claws and proceeds to bisect his arm.
But Juren's mental fortitude proves its value at this moment. He endures the pain and proceeds to strike Trudviar's throat.
"DIE, ABOMINABLE ELF!"
At the next millisecond, Trudviar proceeds to demonstrate his martial prowess through a kick.
The sole of Trudviar's foot makes contact with the vampire's abdomen sending him flying to a distance never reaching Trudviar's throat with his claws.
Not wasting a second more, Trudviar brings his sword in one swift motion utilizing his aura to the fullest.
An Aura Slash.
Both invisible and powerful come flying to Juren.
Enduring through the pain, Juren flails and rolls around, barely evading the deadly attack on his life.
"A pity," Juren comments in a dull tone. "You dodged that."
At the end of his words, more elves arrive at the scene. They take care of the elf slaves and help them.
"General, we are going now. We have acquired the prioritized documents." A bald elf reports to Trudviar.
Juren angrily glares at them feeling the humiliation soak on his bones. He feels terrible.
Trudviar didn't even give Juren a second glance, but only gives a small reminder. "We'll be back."
Just like that, all of the elves leave the premise and vanishes like the wind.
...
A short while later, Juren's soldier gathers and spreads to the areas of commotion within the Dark City.
Juren almost kills his subordinates for being late in responding to the assassination attempt on his life. If not for his natural vampire abilities, he will be already long dead.
The only reason Juren is able to maintain his sanity, and barely throw himself on a killing spree are the various news that reach his ears.
"The granaries were attacked. It happened so fast. When our soldiers reached the area, the place is already burning so strongly it has reached the residential areas."
"The barracks received a lot of casualties. Many of our officers were slaughtered in their sleep, and even our weapons are compromised. We don't know how, but it seems they were stolen."
"Refugees suddenly arrived in the Dark City. We don't know what to do with them. We are waiting for your commands, your lordship."
"Several of the businesses were also attacked however thankfully, none of our wealth was stolen... still, a lot of our documents were pilfered."
"Your... lordship... Our well water has been dirtied..."
"ENOUGH!" Juren shouts to his gathering soldiers just below his balcony.
On second thoughts, Juren is very tempted to just do away with his assets and just commit mass slaughter.
One night and the damage is already like this. Imagine a second night or the third.
"We'll be back, he says..." Juren whispers to himself still full of disbelief.
How can one elf be so strong?
A Sword Master is someone who is able to master the way of the sword, and when it comes to one-on-one duels, they are invincible.
Recently, there is a rumor of a swordsman who can contend against multiple enemies, and as a result, the continent dubs him as the Sword Saint.
Juren is thinking of the stories as hoaxes at that time, but now that he is in this situation, he has to confront reality.
Moreover, the Sword Saint is not the real problem.
Just why did the elves start attacking them?
And so swiftly?
Juren's intentions with the elves are malicious, but they have not openly challenged them. In fact, the first phase of his plans is to engage the elves in a friendly relationship.
It is impossible for there to be a leak.
Except if the elves manage to acquire Angelica.
"Angelica has been compromised, and just like that, I have lost one more of my possessions..." Juren's blood is boiling with hate.
It is humiliating, and the fact that they are overwhelmed when it is dark and at the height of their power only adds to the feeling of shame.
...
Trudviar silently contemplates the power of his Aura while he idly seats in a lotus position.
In their 'borrowed' Outpost, they make their rest.
For how long they remain unknown is only a matter of time. While luck is playing a major role in using the Outpost as a temporary base, Trudviar is one who believes more in probability.
If it comes to shove, Trudviar's units will be long prepared.
For now, Trudviar shall hone his aura.
Recalling his bout with the vampire, Trudviar admits that he is not the strongest.
Only through harnessing and sharpening his aura, and forging his Aura Sword will he become a true champion deserving of the title of General.