"You possess surprising strength for someone so young," remarked the second brother, unveiling a brown dagger that bore the semblance of an ancient artifact.
"Before we begin, let me inquire," Sam assumed their silence as a confirmation and pressed on, "What are you, Vampires, doing on Arcane?"
The triplets exchanged glances upon hearing Sam's doubt, and the vampire sporting glasses responded with a mischievous grin, posing a question in return: "And who might you be?".
This vampire's attitude irritated Sam, as he had expected an answer rather than another question.
Sam, noticing the vampire's skeptical expression, chose to go along with it and responded to his inquiry. "Sam Verninne".
The vampires' expressions turned to surprise as they asked, "You're from the Verninne clan? Could it be that you're related to Anos Verninne?"
A silent response lingered on Sam's face as he pondered a question: "Are you familiar with my grandfather?".
"Indeed, I have had the opportunity to encounter him on several occasions within my clan's domain". Abruptly, he halted in his tracks as if a memory had resurfaced, then turned his gaze towards Sam's response. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his pallid countenance: "Are you familiar with the economic connection between your Arcane realm and our Vampire world?".
Sam nodded affirmatively, eager to move into action. However, the vampire seemed determined to prevent him from doing so, frustrating his desire for swift engagement.
"As members of the Snow clan, we bear the responsibility of handling economic affairs and international relations. Therefore, I have had the opportunity to witness him attending meetings with our clan count, who holds the position of the head of the Foreign Exchange Administration for Arcane".
"You didn't answer my question". With a determined stride, Sam inched closer to the triplets, his sword gleaming in the dim light as it remained unwaveringly aimed at them. The atmosphere grew tense, the air thick with anticipation, as his steady approach emphasized the gravity of the situation. "What are you doing on Arcane?".
"Seems like impatience is your trait, isn't it?". Just moments before Sam's eyes, the second brother abruptly vanished, as if he had melted into thin air. Then, in a sudden and unexpected twist, he reappeared right before Sam, his muscular frame looming over him. Without wasting a second, he launched a fierce punch toward Sam, aiming to catch him off guard and deliver a devastating blow.
However, Sam's reflexes were swift, enabling him to effortlessly parry the vampire's hand using his adamantine sword. A look of surprise painted Sam's face as he inquired, "You are weak?" His expression soon transformed into a mischievous grin as he seized the opportunity, unleashing a powerful punch with his left fist, causing the vampire to gaze at him in sheer terror.
With a resounding explosion, the vampire was catapulted into the sky and landed in front of his brethren. "I believed vampires possessed unparalleled strength, but in comparison to the tales I've heard, you appear utterly weak."
The vampire brothers, consumed by an overwhelming rage, found their temper boiling over. It was the oldest brother who couldn't contain his fury any longer, his voice echoing through the room as he bellowed, "Watch your mouth, you insolent brat, or -"
"Or what? Are you planning to kill me?". Sam taunted, further fueling their anger. "You're powerless. If anyone's going to meet their end today," he declared, pointedly extending his finger towards them, "it will be you."
The middle brother's visage, covered in grime and infested with vermin, displayed an unprecedented rage. He bellowed at the top of his lungs, as though he had suffered the utmost humiliation imaginable, declaring, "I will kill You."
He charged toward Sam, determined to defeat him with one swift strike. Flames engulfed his body as he intensified his speed. Sam focused his gaze and summoned a shield of water elemental mana, shielding himself from the incoming fire.
'What is this power?'. Sam mentally pondered while gripping his own hand in an aggressive stance, anticipating the vampire's intention to strike his solar plexus with its scorching fist.
Sam crouched low and executed a horizontal swing with his sword, precisely targeting the vampire's shoulder and continuing the motion until it struck the heart. Without hesitation, he capitalized on the opportunity, firmly planting his left leg into the ground and forcefully drawing the sword upward, aiming to sever the vampire's head from its body.
Sam, being naturally cautious, made it a priority to acquire extensive knowledge about vampires upon learning of their existence from his grandfather, as he discovered that to effectively eliminate a vampire, both their heart and brain needed to be destroyed to prevent their regeneration.
"No! Cain-".
The bespectacled vampire appeared to possess prior knowledge of Sam's intentions, making an attempt to caution his brother. However, it was too late—the heart had already been pierced, and the head severed, resulting in Cain's demise.
"You...You killed him". The eldest brother appeared to be in a state of shock and disbelief, unable to grasp the fact that his brother Cain had ceased to breathe. "You killed my brother?". His eyes shimmered brightly, while his menacing fangs glistened with an intimidating allure.
Enraged by his brother's death, the eldest brother unleashed a barrage of scorching fireballs at Sam, who sprinted toward him with the agility of a hellhound. Sam effortlessly evaded the fiery projectiles with his swift movements. The vampire appeared singularly focused on seeking vengeance for his brother's demise by eliminating the one responsible.
Just before the collision, Sam vanished from the vampire's sight. "W-Where did he go?".
"I'm right here". Sam emerged stealthily behind the vampire, swiftly slicing horizontally at its neck, effectively severing its head from its body. He deftly retrieved a compact knife from his concealed position and promptly thrust it into the vampire's heart, swiftly bringing about its demise within mere seconds.
Sam gazed at the youngest brother, noting the nonchalant expression adorning his face. Sam was undeniably taken aback since he had learned that vampires typically exhibited volatile and explosively emotional behavior. However, this particular vampire defied expectations, remaining composed and merely observing as his brothers met their demise at the hands of Sam.
"Are you not going to avenge your brothers?" Sam inquired.
"No, I am not foolish enough to engage in an attack while fully aware that I will face fatal consequences". With sorrow in his eyes, he gazed upon the lifeless bodies of his own kin. "I prefer to embrace life rather than perish meaninglessly, unlike my misguided siblings."
...
[Author's Note: Thank you for your interest in reading this chapter. I value your feedback and encourage you to share your thoughts in the comments section. Your support is greatly appreciated.]