As Braden and Bors ventured into the alleyway, they were surprised to find Alfred was mysteriously missing. Bors, who had been only ten meters behind him, couldn't help but feel puzzled by this unexpected turn of events.
Nestled within the narrow, 'L'-shaped alleyway was a stack of discarded debris at the bend. Beyond that, a dead end awaited. Concealed by his diminutive physique, Alfred cleverly hid behind the pile, completely unnoticed by the brutes.
Braden, the brother with striking black hair, took the initiative and stepped forward with purpose. His logical reasoning prevailed as he suggested, "Why waste time standing still? We're already here. Maybe the brat went past that turn?"
"Maybe, but be careful. Something smells fishy. Why did the boy suddenly vanish? And where is his mother?" Bors voiced his skepticism while raising valid concerns.
"Hmm, you're right about that. Let's take a quick look at that turn and then head right back. We can't let ourselves be scared off by a skinny kid!" Braden replied.
To return quickly, Bors willingly agreed to his request. He recalled how they abandoned their post as a team, rather than leaving one person behind to stand guard. Embarrassed, he gestured to his brother to go ahead.
With synchronized steps, they advanced toward the mound of discarded waste. Bors, his hair a golden cascade, held onto his axe with a hint of apprehension lingering in his demeanor.
Hidden behind the pile, Alfred listened intently to their approaching footsteps, his grip on his knife tightening in anticipation.
Braden was closer to Alfred than his brother, his guard was down despite Bors' reminder and he was looking straight ahead. As soon Braden took his first step past the pile, Alfred launched from his crouched position whilst muttering 'Accelerate' and lunged at the black-haired brother.
In an attempt to finish things quickly, he urged the unknown primal hunger to resurface and he soon transformed.
His eyes turned red, and his muscles bulged. Veins spread across his neck like a spider web, as immense power coursed through his blood. Alfred's hair grew a couple of inches, and he felt an incredible sensation. It was as if he was intoxicated.
In a terrifying moment, Braden's instincts kicked in as he caught sight of a shadow swiftly approaching him from the corner of his eye. With lightning speed, he turned to face the danger, only to find himself amid a chilling reality - a knife viciously piercing his left kidney. The sheer shock and severity of the situation gripped him instantly.
"ARGHH!" He screamed in a shrill voice.
Alfred swiftly retracted the knife, poised for yet another strike. However, his attention was abruptly diverted as he caught sight of a massive ax hurtling towards his exact location.
Reacting in a split second, he instinctively leaped backward just in time, narrowly avoiding the impending collision. The deafening crash reverberated through the air as the formidable ax met its final resting place on the ground below.
Braden's blood flowed endlessly from the gaping wound Alfred had just created. His lower garments were drenched in blood, he looked towards Alfred in fear and shock.
The black-haired brother couldn't contain his shock as he angrily exclaimed, "What in the world is that?" He pointed at Alfred with a mixture of fear and fascination. It was the first time he had ever encountered a Vesperan, and it left him astounded.
The shorter brother was unfamiliar with Vespserans, despite having heard tales about them. Doubts about their ability to enter the city made it challenging for him to connect the dots.
"I don't know! I told you something was fishy!" Bors replied, his voice filled with concern. "Don't worry, brother, I've got this. Everything is going to be fine." He continued, instilling within himself a false bravado. Looking at his brother and the rapid loss of blood, it was evident Braden was beyond saving. His main priority now was to ensure his survival.
In a moment of overwhelming pain, Braden crumpled to the ground, his face contorted in agony. Tears welled up in his eyes as he bore the pain, feeling a wave of regret wash over him. The frustration within him grew realizing he hadn't even had the chance to defend himself before suffering a fatal blow.
As Alfred and Bors stood facing each other, tension filled the air. Their eyes locked from a distance of ten meters, and they carefully assessed each other. Both were determined to unravel the depths of their opponent's strength.
In the dimly lit alleyway, Alfred's striking red eyes gleamed, casting an ominous aura that sent shivers down the blond-haired man's spine. Alfred's presence alone was enough to intimidate anyone, but combined with his current intoxication, Bors' fear heightened and caused him to tremble ever so slightly.
Alfred's determination was evident as he took the initiative, knowing time was not on his side. He wasn't aware of how long his transformation could last and couldn't afford to let his strength consume him; he had to complete the battle before his energy waned.
Bors was taken aback by the remarkable speed of the boy, as he witnessed a swift figure zooming towards him. Reacting quickly, the burly man instinctively raised his ax to shield himself and prepared for the imminent collision. Although not fully sober, his fighting instincts had been triggered and he was ready to face the challenge.
With a clever move, Alfred feigned a slash and then swiftly delivered a powerful kick aimed at Bors' chest. Despite his initial reaction to block, the blond-haired man was propelled off his feet and careened towards the right wall. He slid down and landed with an impactful thud onto his buttocks.
Alfred's strike was so powerful that even Bors' defensive maneuvers couldn't save him from being sent flying across the alleyway.
This might be easier than I thought, I underestimated my strength. Should I risk it and see how long I can stay in this form? It's already been about a minute. Alfred hesitated after the attack.
Braden watched the intense confrontation unfold before him, feeling a mixture of shock and frustration. As he remained crouched in pain, he couldn't help but wonder about the incredible strength displayed by that humanoid creature.
Clutching at his wound, which continued to bleed heavily, he instinctively sought some solace in gripping the skin around it – even though he knew it was a futile action offering little more than temporary comfort.
Bors quickly regained his footing, his gaze locked on Alfred. The shocking assault had left him utterly speechless. It became apparent that this adversary was far too formidable to confront head-on. With quick thinking, he began searching for an avenue of retreat, determined to find a way out of the situation unscathed before raising an alarm.
As he frantically scanned his surroundings, his eyes darted from left to right in search of an opportunity. Every object in his line of sight appeared blurred, causing him to feel disoriented and overwhelmingly dizzy.
Alfred decided not to risk it, delaying to finish the fight could alert bystanders and complicate things for him.
Demonstrating his agility, he swiftly moved towards the blond-haired man. He faked another punch before delivering a powerful kick to the man's inner left thigh using the same technique to fool his opponent.
The swift and precise kick caused Bors to lose his balance as he stumbled forward, ultimately falling to his knees.
How could he be so fast? Bors thought as he tried to defend, but was left powerless. He could barely keep up with the attacks, his eyes struggling to follow their movements.
Alfred's agility came to the forefront once more as he swiftly crouched and unleashed a powerful uppercut on Bors. Following up with a relentless barrage of strikes aimed at his opponent's vulnerable areas, Alfred capitalized on the momentary stun to assert dominance in the confrontation.
With a sudden and forceful movement, Bors' head snapped back during the final attack leaving his vulnerable neck exposed.
With Alfred's sharp reflexes, he seized the opportune moment to attack Bors. In a single swift motion, he sliced Bors' neck while quietly uttering 'Accelerate' and enchanting the blade with the spell. The force behind the attack was so powerful that blood splattered across Alfred's face.
The impact was so severe half of Bors' neck went missing, now replaced with a gaping whole. He collapsed onto his knees, displaying a tragic mix of disbelief and a fierce desire to cling to life in his eyes.
His face contorted with shock, unable to comprehend the turn of events. With his dying breath, he ultimately succumbed and slumped backward, limbs contorted in an eerie posture as the last traces of his life abandoned his body.
Alfred found himself confronted with the consequences of his actions. Dumbfounded, he looked around the alleyway, as the metallic tang of blood wafted into his nostrils.
He turned to gaze at Braden's fading stare, right as life was fading from Bors' corpse. In that moment of connection, Braden viewed Alfred as a figure of death itself and he too passed away silently from the loss of blood.
Unaware he had reverted to his former state, now drenched in blood, Alfred was caught off guard. He returned to normal amid his final assault, leaving him overwhelmed by a sudden wave of exhaustion.
[Low Energy Detected.]
[Beginning Energy Transfer.]
To Alfred's astonishment, every ounce of blood left at the crime scene surged towards him and flowed into his mouth. Despite the unexpected influx, he was surprised to find that his stomach remained unaffected - not a single drop of blood escaped his consumption.
He soon realized that something extraordinary was happening inside his body. The blood coursing through his mouth no longer followed the traditional route of digestion; instead, it transformed into pure, vibrant energy before being absorbed by his organs. This remarkable phenomenon opened his eyes to a new understanding of the Vesperan body's capabilities.
I see, the blood I absorb somehow improves my body. I feel slightly lighter than before and somewhat stronger. I still don't understand how to trigger the energy absorption though, it happened automatically again.
Upon reflecting on the previous battles, it became apparent that mere proximity to blood could be sufficient to activate the skill. He recognized that there must be other requirements that need to be fulfilled for it to be triggered.
[Downloading Blood Memories: 78%]
The download Increased at a rapid pace.
[Download Complete.]
Alfred experienced his usual discomfort as the blood memories were swiftly downloaded, instantly flooding his mind with a wealth of information. Two sets of memories from the previous year awaited his attention.
Alfred chose to delve into Braden's memories first, uncovering a fascinating connection. It was revealed that Braden and Bors shared the Jackbottom surname, indicating they were brothers.
Braden typically took the lead and was regarded as the more intelligent one, the fight served as a surprise revelation that challenged that perception.
Bors and Braden, the most trusted guards of Leonis Fangstride, were not only the strongest but also had impeccable teamwork. It was also revealed that Elijah was Leonis' henchman however Leonis did not consider him a trusted confidant due to his lack of intellect.
Alfred couldn't help but feel grateful for his victory as he witnessed the incredible synergy between his opponents during battle, all captured vividly in their memories. If he had given them the chance, although he might have been able to escape, he definitely wouldn't have been able to defeat them. The fact that they were intoxicated also worked in his favor.
This discovery left him feeling unsettled about Leonis' true power. If he could easily control these two individuals, it suggested that he must possess a greater strength than them. The memory of how they avoided involvement with the prostitutes due to their fear of Leonis added further weight to this realization.
Alfred stumbled upon a goldmine of information hidden within the memories: valuable insights into Leonis' network of operations. With this newfound knowledge, he devised a cunning plan to make an identity for himself in the slums.
Alfred's determined voice echoed in his mind as he declared, It's time to cut the head of the snake!