After taking a moment to catch his breath, he focused on calming his racing heart. As he adjusted his hand, he noticed a distinct feeling. Moving his legs brought forth a new sensation, and even shifting his face brought about an unusual experience.
As his fingers brushed against his chin, he felt something unfamiliar. Looking down at his palm, he saw a dark substance resting there. "Ugh, that's gross," he muttered quietly, quickly shaking his hands to get rid of the unwanted residue.
"Clean." Suddenly, a vibrant blue magic circle, about one meter in diameter, surrounded him, filling him with a sense of purity. As the enchanting circle disappeared, it took away the dark residue and dirt clinging to his skin and clothes, leaving him feeling as refreshed as if he had just emerged from a rejuvenating bath.
"The sound came from this direction."
Startled by the sudden sound of a stranger's voice, he quickly moved away from where he was standing and sought cover behind a large boulder. Feeling a sense of urgency, he performed a series of discreet spells. First, he softly uttered the word "Concealment," causing a fleeting, pale blue magic circle to briefly appear and then disappear. Next, he invoked the word "Silence," which made a white magic circle briefly materialize above his head before vanishing completely.
With caution, he began to explore the area, filled with curiosity, trying to figure out who these individuals were. As he discovered their true faces, a mix of astonishment and confusion washed over him simultaneously.
Vampires?
The trio, a group of three individuals, possessed a certain captivating charm that seemed to draw people in. Their unique status as triplets only added to their allure. They shared striking features, such as milky white hair and deep brown eyes, which further enhanced their enigmatic appeal. Notably, one of the triplets wore glasses, which gave them a touch of distinctiveness. Despite their mysterious nature as vampires, there was no denying their beauty.
Sam found himself in a peculiar situation as he watched the vampires carefully surveying their surroundings. Being hero, he was unable to gauge the extent of their power, which left him somewhat unsettled.
The triplets glanced casually at the lifeless creature in front of them. One of them, peering intently through his spectacles, seemed to be puzzled by something. "Do you notice any differences?" he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.
His nearby brother overheard the remark and inquired, "What exactly do you mean by 'different'?"
"The creatures," he pointed towards the lifeless beings, "there used to be many of them here, but now they have all disappeared."
"Someone is here," Sam sensed a sudden change in their surroundings, observing how the atmosphere seemed to grow warmer. Despite the unexpected shift, Sam remained composed. "Could this be connected to my new physical condition?" Sam wondered, feeling puzzled.
Unbeknownst to Sam, a vampire wearing glasses stealthily approached the rock where Sam sought shelter. The vampire was just a few steps away from Sam when he abruptly realized that his presence had been detected.
"Stop hiding behind that rock and come out for a conversation," the vampire exclaimed, making sure his voice carried clearly for Sam.
SIGH!!!
Sam cautiously stood up, dispelling his stealth spells, and fixed a determined gaze upon the vampires, realizing that his magic had no effect on them. He came to the realization that his stealth abilities were useless against these creatures.
"You're just a kid? You shouldn't have any problem getting rid of him, right?" One of the triplets asked his brothers, casually underestimating Sam's abilities. They seemed to view the situation as nothing more than child's play.
Upon hearing the vampire's comment, Sam felt deeply offended. "Do you really think you can kill me? Keep dreaming."
With a swift and fluid motion, Sam's hand wrapped around the hilt of his adamantine sword, drawing the gleaming blade from its intricately decorated sheath. The metal caught the light, creating a radiant aura that reflected his determination. With a steady gaze, he pointed the formidable weapon at the group facing him, his eyes filled with unwavering resolve. The weight of the sword in his hand instilled him with confidence. As the blade's tip aimed directly at them, it seemed to emanate an aura of power that demanded respect and commanded attention.
"Whoa, that's quite the talk for someone who's about to die." As one of the brothers raised his hand, a massive ball of fire materialized atop it, steadily growing in size until it reached five meters in diameter.
The vampire tossed it in Sam's direction, issuing a challenge, "First, endure this test, kid, and later on, we'll verify the truth of your words."
Sam accepted the challenge with enthusiasm.
[Skill: Influence activated]
Sam gathered a substantial reserve of Mana in his hand before infusing it into his sword. Consequently, the blade emitted a radiant azure glow, signifying its connection to the water element.
As the fiery ball hurtled towards him with remarkable speed, leaving behind a trail of intense energy and scorching heat, the triplets watched in wonder. Their eyes gleamed with a captivating mix of curiosity and excitement.
Impressed by the impressive size of his sword, Sam was determined to infuse it with even more mana, driven by his unwavering resolve to defeat and, if necessary, eradicate the malevolent vampires he had encountered. Recognizing the harmful nature of their actions, Sam believed it was better to completely eliminate them rather than allow their nefarious deeds to continue unchecked.
As a scorching ball of fire rapidly approached, Sam lifted his sword high above his head, his muscles tense and adrenaline pumping through his veins. With immense strength and focus, he unleashed a powerful vertical slash, cutting through the air with his gleaming blade as it descended toward the blazing orb of fire. His goal was to sever its fiery core and neutralize the imminent threat.
Explosions erupted with a deafening boom as the two opposing forces collided, reaching a climactic point in their struggle to cancel each other out. Sam let out a sigh of relief, releasing the tension that had gripped him.
"So, I can handle them?" After carefully analyzing the vampire's energy output prior to the attack, Sam discovered that their power level matched his own. This revelation filled him with a newfound sense of self-confidence. As the fog from the explosion dispersed, Sam noticed the vampire triplets observing him with serious expressions.
"You have an impressive strength despite your youth," commented the second brother, revealing a brown dagger that had the appearance of an ancient artifact.
...
[Author's Note: Thank you for investing your time in reading this chapter. Your feedback is valuable to me, and if you enjoyed the story, kindly consider supporting it by donating Power Stone. I look forward to hearing your thoughts in the comments section.]