As the Dhampir raised his sword, Gary's own blade began to vibrate, as if it was alive. The Dhampir paused, his eyes wide with surprise. "You're calling it, aren't you?" he said, his voice trembled with emotion. "You're summoning your sword, even though you're unable to lift it." Gary smiled, his face pale with effort. "You're right," he said, his voice raspy. "I can't wield my sword anymore, but that doesn't mean I can't call it to me."
Suddenly, the Dhampir's eyes caught sight of movement, a blur of silver rushing towards him. He turned his head, and there they were - vampires, dozens of them, encircling him. They were dressed in the same gleaming silver armor as the Dhampir, their long swords drawn. "What is this?" the Dhampir demanded, his voice rising in anger. "Why have you betrayed me?"
The Dhampir's eyes settled on a group of vampires in particular - the vampires he had called the "Vampire Students." Before the attack, he had made a deal with them. He had ordered them to stay out of the fight, to not interfere, and in exchange he would spare their lives. But they had betrayed him, choosing instead to stand with the others against him. "You fools!" the Dhampir roared, his voice echoing in the night air. "You've sealed your own fate!"
Gary's sword trembled and shook, and then, in a flash, it left the Dhampir's back and flew into Gary's hand. Gary felt a surge of energy course through his body, giving him the strength to stand. Though he was still weak, he was grateful to have his sword back. And he wasn't alone. The eight vampires standing around the Dhampir were all dressed in the same gleaming silver armor, and each held a sword. They were ready to fight.
The students were present but kept their distance from the altercation. Eventually, Alexander and the other Werewolves regained control of their bodies and swiftly exited the woods. The Vampire Students paid no attention to them; their focus was on the Dhampir.
"I'm ready to unleash my full strength in this battle!" declared the Dhampir, scanning every direction for the initial attack.
"You don't need to prolong this," Gary remarked, clutching his chest and enduring the lingering pain. "Just utter your final prayer."
A vampire lunged at the Dhampir from the right, and another attacked from behind. The Dhampir whirled around, swinging his sword in a wide arc. The blade connected with the vampire on the right, knocking him aside. At the same time, the Dhampir used his other hand to release a wave of kinetic energy, sending the vampire on his left flying. The Dhampir was fast, and his movements were fluid and graceful. He was clearly a powerful fighter. But the vampires kept coming, and the Dhampir was outnumbered.
THUD!
A sword had pierced the Dhampir's left shoulder from behind, but the Dhampir didn't feel pain.
"AHHHHH!" The Vampire who had stabbed the Dhampir's shoulder felt an enormous pain in his left shoulder and the pain was intensifying. It was like he was the one that had been pierced instead.
Just as the Dhampir's blade was about to make contact with the vampire's neck, a bolt of lightning struck his sword. The lightning didn't knock the Dhampir back like it had before when it came from Gary, but it did cause the blade to glow with a brilliant white light. Then, a crackling discharge of electricity burst forth from the sword, spreading outwards in a massive arc of energy. The vampires scattered, trying to avoid the blast. But it was too late - they were caught in the attack, their bodies convulsing as the electricity coursed through them.
The vampires' armor should have protected them, but it seemed to be failing under the assault of the Dhampir's sword. One of the vampires cried out as the Dhampir's blade cut through his chest plate, slicing into his flesh. The vampire's body went rigid, and then crumpled to the ground. The other vampires backed away, their eyes wide with fear. They had never seen anything like this before. The Dhampir's power was unlike anything they had ever encountered.
The vampires regrouped, their fear replaced by a determination to defeat the Dhampir. They charged forward, their swords raised, but the Dhampir was ready for them. He met their attack with a counterattack of his own, his sword flashing as it sliced through the air. One of the vampires lunged at him, but the Dhampir sidestepped the attack and struck out with his sword, cutting the vampire's arm. The vampire cried out in pain, his arm dangling limply at his side.
The vampires were frozen in place, overcome by fear. The Dhampir could not only deal pain, but he could amplify it. And his sword could pierce their armor, which even the claws of a werewolf could not breach. They had never faced an enemy like this before, and they had no idea how to defeat him.
Instinctively, the Vampire Students - Arthur and the rest - turned and fled, abandoning the battle and saving themselves. The Dhampir was left to face the Vampire Guards alone, outnumbered and outmatched. Despite this, he held his own, fighting with a ferocity that impressed even his enemies. He could have easily defeated them all if he had not been so outnumbered.
With a sudden flash of insight, Gary realized that the Vampires would not survive the battle if they stayed. "EVERYONE, GET OUT OF HERE!" he shouted, his voice ringing with authority.
The Dhampir rushed forward, trying to reach the nearest Vampire before they could escape. But it was too late. In unison, the Vampires placed their hands on their armor in a particular pattern, and it began to glow. Then, in a flash of light, they disappeared, leaving the Dhampir alone in the clearing. He stood still, his breath coming in gasps. He had been so close to victory, but it had slipped through his fingers.
"No!" The Dhampir cursed angrily as he slashed his sword several times in the air. "I was so close, I would have gone to the Vampire Settlement. I could have avenged her death finally."
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO VOTE. YOUR VOTE KEEPS ME MOTIVATED TO KEEP WRITING MORE CHAPTERS.
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