Familiars stand as a distinctive forte within the repertoire of the Vampire race, complementing their proficiency in blood techniques. These creatures serve as companions to Vampires, contributing to the formidable challenge posed by facing a Vampire in solo combat.
Indeed, contending with someone who wields both personal and animalistic prowess on the same echelon of universal energy arts proves to be a formidable task for anyone.
Vampires and their familiars share an identical power level. Thus, the Level 3 guard finds himself pitted against a Level 4 familiar endowed with independent thought.
When an animal undergoes the transformation into a familiar, not only does their power escalate, but their intelligence also undergoes a remarkable surge. It reaches a level akin to composing written language, surpassing even the proficiency of a gorilla capable of using sign language.
Nevertheless, a Vampire can only bond with a single familiar throughout their existence. Hence, it was accurate to assert that these familiars were lifelong companions, destined to share the journey of life and death together.
Certain prerequisites existed for acquiring a familiar. While not overly arduous, they had the potential to be emotionally challenging for some. However, the most daunting task lay in locating a suitable animal, one well-suited for battle.
After Vampires turned out to be a reality for the people of Earth, opportunistic people sought to capitalize on the familiar business. Similar to the training of war horses in ancient times, they captured lions, panthers, lynxes, and even elephants to undergo combat training.
Their primary motivation was profit, but the returns were only marginally successful. The reason why they failed to amass significant profits in the initial years was rather apparent.
Vampires, with a history spanning tens of thousands of years, had a continuous demand for animals for an equivalent duration. Naturally, they maintained their own distinct market for familiars.
However, a hierarchy persisted among the Vampires, a relic of the past forgotten by those under a hundred years old. This factor contributed to the monopolization of the familiar market by the elite.
Certain formidable Vampire lineages possessed their own meticulously trained animals, occupying the zenith of the natural hierarchy. These influential families wielded the authority to interfere with the familiar selection of other Vampires, going so far as to prohibit Vampires not of their kin from choosing a familiar of the same species as theirs.
However, these dynamics were relics of the past. Following their integration as one of the races coexisting with humans and others, intermarriage between different races became a commonplace occurrence.
Although the fertility rate for a hybrid to be born was low based on the specific combination of races, there still was an abundance of people from every race now. Vampires were no exception to this trend.
The proliferation of Vampires made the process of monitoring them an insurmountable challenge. Seizing this opportunity, animal traders, who initially struggled to generate substantial profits, successfully transformed their enterprises into lucrative ventures.
Amidst this transformation, those who ascended to the pinnacle were predominantly Vampires, benefitting from their pre-existing familiarity with the business.
The existence of both Vampires and their familiars has become an everyday reality for contemporary society.
Consequently, the guard, who had been ambushed from behind and struggled to rise, didn't harbor any disbelief when faced with the reality of an animal employing magic in the attack.
Similar to their owners, familiars possessed the ability to use blood techniques. However, the intricacy of their techniques paled in comparison to those wielded by their Vampire counterparts.
"So… Haah… Your bodyguard was a… Vampire…"
Beads of sweat cascaded, wearied eyes blinked heavily, hands trembled uncontrollably, and a panting mouth struggled for breath. His body and mind teetered on the brink of being torn asunder by the relentless onslaught of unfortunate events unfolding in rapid succession.
This proved to be an exhausting day not only for the Rebellious's mission team but also for the beleaguered guard.
Attempting to regain composure, the guard drew deep breaths while retrieving his sword from the ground.
Fortunately for Leon, the guard's focus remained fixed on the true threat at hand—the crimson feline, William's familiar.
The blood-red aura enveloping the cat mirrored that of a Vampire's, now elevated. Hovering above her, her energy twirled at a deliberate pace before accelerating into a frenetic spin, giving birth to four crimson orbs of energy.
The blood continued its spiraling dance, coalescing into an expansive ocean. Menacing and foreboding, the appearance of these orbs bespoke imminent danger, poised to annihilate their adversaries both from within and without.
William's familiar harbored a sense of caution, refraining from unleashing her crimson orbs. Patiently, she awaited her adversary's initial move, poised to respond strategically.
"If only I were Tier 2..." The guard murmured with a sense of lament.
Aware that he had no control over his magic tier, he relinquished brooding over it. With a determined focus, he directed his sword toward his most formidable adversary, conjuring a fireball in his empty hand. These abilities essentially comprised the extent of a Tier 1 in magic.
Magical tiers served as a gauge of a practitioner's expertise in universal energy arts. Mastery of outer covering was a prerequisite for attaining Level 3. Yet, to ascend to a true Level 3, one had to master both outer and inner covering, delving into the intricacies of magic
Only then could they be classified as a Tier 1 practitioner.
At the Tier 1 level, the pinnacle of their magical abilities typically involved crafting a sphere comprised of their magic. Exceptional ones, having honed their imagination through rigorous training, might extend their capabilities to manifest a magical fist or other imaginative constructs.
While challenging, mastering this skill was certainly achievable, given the multitude of people who had succeeded. However, the fact that others could accomplish it didn't guarantee success for everyone attempting the same feat.
"Meoowrr…"
As if sensing the impending battle, she inclined forward. The guard and the familiar maintained an unbroken gaze.
In the meantime, Leon and Triss pivoted to the right, strategically positioning themselves in front of the apartment to carve out a space for the impending confrontation.
Moments elapsed as the dust from the explosion drifted their way. Some particles had already begun to dissipate into the air, creating an eerie calm after the chaotic storm.
"Huuuh…"
Subsequently, the guard took his inaugural step, signaling the commencement of the unfolding clash.
Vuuppp!!
"What the fu—"
The glaring power disparity between the two combatants was undeniable. Recognizing this, he opted for the most advantageous course of action. And for him, the optimal strategy was...
"I can't beat that cat."
His most strategic move was to prioritize dealing with Leon, the hybrid of the Rebellious. Acknowledging the impossibility of defeating the formidable familiar, he resolved to fulfill his mission by sacrificing himself in the process.
Swiftly pivoting to his right the moment his foot made contact with the ground, he hurled his sword directly at Leon.
Thuuud!
"Thanks cat!"
However, he now had a formidable bodyguard, one of exceptional prowess. Just in the nick of time, she launched one of her crimson orbs at the airborne sword, intercepting its trajectory.
The stark contrast in power and speed unfolded vividly before their eyes, the discrepancy apparent at every exchange.
Despite the shorter distance between the guard and Leon compared to the familiar, her ball moved with such rapidity that it propelled the sword into the horizon before it could reach its intended target.
"I'm not a hyb—"
Buuum!!
Undeterred by the loss of his sword, the guard refused to yield. Unwilling to heed the situation, adrenaline surged through him, propelling him forward with unwavering determination.
Aware that his demise was imminent and driven by the urgency to neutralize the potential future threat, an adrenaline rush surged through his body. His resolve solidified, fixated on one objective—ending the life of the fleeing kid.
Thuuud!
He hurled the fireball onto Leon's intended path, yet Leon proved faster than his running speed. The sudden attack, demolishing a section of the building, caused Leon to topple onto his backside.
Had the fireball struck its intended target, particularly the head as the guard initially aimed, Leon's skull would have been reduced to a charred crisp.
"Tch."
The guard emitted only a disgruntled sound in response to the undesired outcome. Nonetheless, it represented the second-best result he could achieve with that attack, as his target now struggled to rise from the ground.
Pat, pat, pat!!
Like a patient predator seizing the opportune moment, he opted to exploit his adversary's vulnerability. With the golden chance presented, he sprinted at full speed, capitalizing on the opening.
Buuum!!
Yet, his vigilant bodyguard was quick to intervene. Triss, too, launched her knife at the guard, though it missed the mark by a considerable margin.
Conversely, the blood ball found its mark, colliding with the guard's back. While the guard possessed superior speed and power over Leon, the familiar outclassed him in both aspects. Despite the pronounced difference in might, the duty-bound guard disregarded the gap.
Thuuudd!!
However, now, he found himself thrown aside.
"Cough! Cough! Cough!"
Each cough accompanied by spatters of blood, the familiar's assaults proved overwhelmingly burdensome for him to withstand, especially when he hadn't completed his outer covering. His eyes neared losing their color.
Nonetheless, he persisted as a God's Guard, faithfully adhering to his sense of duty until the bitter end.
"F*ck off already!"
Leon, as slow as a snail, approached the guard, and...
Buum! Buum!
"Leon! What are you doing!?"
"I'll kill this b*stard!"
"Don't do that!"
Yet, he paid no heed, relentlessly delivering kicks from both left and right. It seemed as though he had lost his sanity due to an external force, something dormant within him, biding its time to manifest and reveal its true nature.
Elevating his foot as high as possible, he took aim for the skull.
And then…
Pat!