Chifuyu’s Blaze Part 2

In the southern area of District 5 where there's a thunderstorm, a squad of 10 1st rank Hunters accompanying Nailah are searching for the Spider.

"Ugh.. It's freezing! I hate the rain."

"Deal with it, Soru."

The Hunter sighs with a fake tear coming out of his eye, "I miss the old times." When Nailah wasn't as cold as she is now. "A little praise would be nice. We were able to finally close in to the Spider in no time because of me."

"….."

"Ignored…"

After years, Nailah has a chance to slay the vampire who cursed her. She has no intention of letting this opportunity slip.

"By the way, how's the half-vampire boy doing, I've been dying to meet him." Soru's been waiting to ask. Around 100 Hunters total currently know the current circumstances of the previously sealed Vampire Lord and half-vampire being among their ranks. This comprises of all the Special-Rank Hunters with the rest being 1st Rank. Other executives in the Hunter Agency are also aware.

"He was captured."

"Eh? Does Shoyo know?"

"Of course. They should be rescuing him at this moment."

"Oh. Well, I guess there's nothing to worry about."

"Stay focused.—" Just as these words leave her mouth, dozens of vampires surround them. On the roof directly above them seems to be the one in charge of this group. She looks like a teenager but has the eyes of a killer. The young vampire activates her curse, causing the concrete around her to turn into ice with her cold breath visible.

"I think it's safe to say we're on the right trail."

"It appears so."

***

Blood flies everywhere from Chifuyu and Patrick clashing blades. The Hunter continues to chip away at his opponent's blade, but they simply get reconstructed. The vampire kicks the boy away to gain some space, combining his two blades to form a spear and launching it as fast as possible. Chifuyu dodges it, but the moment it gets behind him, the spear disperses turning into several small shards and stabbing him in the back. Immediately after, Patrick is right in front of Chifuyu with a massive hammer. He took the attack right to his face, sending him flying and bursting through two statues. He lost consciousness for 2 seconds. As soon as he opens his eyes, he gets up as quickly as he can but is met with a blade thrown into his shoulder. Not even a second after he removes it and tosses it to the side, rolling away before it explodes into several dozen shards. He was able to avoid that due to his great awareness. Patrick charges at him with two blades once again. Chifuyu had dropped his blade when he got walloped by the hammer, but what neither of them knew was that he was right at an awakening.

A decisive grin takes over Chifuyu's face as he forms a fist.

"Let me see you grit those teeth!"

Black veins emerge.

Black fire wraps around his arm.

Not being able to avoid it, a surprised Patrick receives a fiery punch to the gut that sends him crashing back into the mansion.

Chifuyu looks at his hand, "This is… Ariel's curse."

Over a year ago when Ariel saved Chifuyu, she had to give him her blood to compensate for how much he lost, which turned him into a half-vampire. What they didn't know was the fact that he survived the transformation in the first place guaranteed him having Ariel's curse. Only a few people are aware that the chances of a successful vampirification are nowhere near 100%.

Patrick comes back out, seemingly unable to hide his frustration now. Preparing for a final attack, he brings out several tons of blood, sending them up into the air which wraps the sky in red.

"AAAAHHHHHHHHHH!"

A bloody rainfall begins. Chifuyu runs for his blade and charges for Patrick. The vampire is 47 feet away. Several hundred shards are cast down, and Chifuyu's only options are to evade them or cut them. It's impossible for him to come out of this unscathed, so he just has to do what he can. He's able to reach his foe, the cost was getting hit by over 20 shards and impaled by 4. Going purely off the flow he felt landing the previous punch, Chifuyu pours everything out and engulfs his blade in black flames, cutting Patrick down.

The veins disappear, as he's exhausted his curse blood.

Unfortunately, it wasn't enough. Patrick never fell. He stands there as if he's unscathed, but has taken a lot of damage.

"Ha.. That still wasn't enough? Guess I can't beat you as I am right now."

Not saying a word, Patrick gathers blood around him.

Chifuyu is at his limit. However…

"Until Ariel conquers that labyrinth, I will not fall."

He takes his swordsman stance once more.

The Augustus Mansion Raid is zeroing in on an explosive finale.

Next Chapter: Ariel: The Dragon Empress