Iris Sakata: A Diamond in the Rough

"GASP!"

Chifuyu wakes up with an immense cold sweat. Even asleep, the encounter from earlier had his very soul quaking in fear.

"Where am I? Ah-!"

Tied around a pillar next to an unconscious Iris, they appear to be in some abandoned parking lot.

"Crap, were we captured? Shoyo knew this could happen, and now I've gotten someone else involved. Damm it!"

Chifuyu tries to force his way out of the ropes, but it proves futile. They're tightly bound around his waist and wrists, he can only sit there on his ass and wait for what's to come.

"It's only been a month and this is already happening, huh? I can't believe they were able to slip by Shoyo."

'Calm down, Chifuyu.'

'Ariel!'

'I've been up for a while now, waiting for you to wake up. I don't know who we were captured by, but there's no need to worry. You have me after all.'

Chifuyu takes a deep breath in and out.

'Yeah, you're right. I'm training not just to become a Hunter, but so I'll also always be able to protect myself when situations like this come up. So until I get stronger, I can rely on you, right partner?'

'Heh. You'll always be able to rely on me, even if you become the strongest there is.'

'Hmph.'

Chifuyu realizes his sudden panic was for nothing.

'I've been awake for at least 2 hours. I wasn't out long, so it must be early in the morning of the best day.'

'So it's somewhere between 1 a.m and 4 a.m rn.'

'I'm sure the vampires know my existence is being kept a secret right now, so that means they also know a large amount of Hunters won't come to our rescue.'

'Yeah. If more Hunters other than Shoyo are searching for us right now, then it's probably just the ones who were present at the trial.'

'Surely our captors don't think they have all the time in the world either, they should show themselves before too long.'

"Hm..."

'Oh, looks like the girl's woken up.'

"Wh-wha.. Where are we?!"

"Iris, calm down. Listen, everything's going to be fine."

"What could possibly be fine about this, we're gonna die!!"

"Ariel's going to protect us, none of these vampires have squat on her!"

"Ho. So our commander really has betrayed us."

"Seems like it."

"How hilarious!"

Vampires emerge from both the lower and upper levels of the parking lot, numbering exactly 50.

Ariel emerges out of Chifuyu's shadow.

"There she is, the woman of the hour!"

"I'm surprised the lot of you were able to gather here without catching the attention of any Hunters. So, how many of you were my subordinates?"

"We all were!"

"I see."

Most Vampire Lords usually never get to know their subordinates. Each Lord has at least 100,000 vampires under them. The only ones they gave some attention to were their generals who are the ones that mainly manage and order the vampires under each Lord. Ariel was no exception. She played the part of a great leader but still never cared for those under her. This was the result of her immense hatred for humans. She only had 2 generals which ended being the only vampires she called her friends. Her subordinates wanted to save Ariel as the great Vampire Lord they thought she was and who they served under for so long. Now that she's defected to the side of the humans, they have no qualms about killing her.

"How're Nino and Reoa doing?"

"Hm, it's been about 30 years since I've been to our world. I think Nino's alive but I heard Reoa bit the dust a long time ago."

"Is that so."

"Anything else you wanna know?"

"No, thank you for telling me."

"I don't know if she got the news yet, but I'm sure your sister will be devasted once she hears of your betrayal."

"..."

"Sister?" Chifuyu whispers to himself.

"Have you not been thinking about her at all? We all know how dearly she loved you!"

"That's enough."

"I can only imagine how distraught and heartbroken Ayu will be when-"

In an instant, Ariel dashes at the provoking vampire with the intent to kill.

"Hold your tongue, you fool."

Following those words, Ariel rips out that vampire's tongue. Blood gushes out his mouth. The other vampires just watch without making a move.

The tongue grows back after a few seconds.

"You sure are rough aren't you."

"..."

"Hmph. Is that your human master over there? How pathetic. Ariel, after we kill that boy, you're coming with us back to our world. Your punishment will certainly be execution."

"Ha, and how exactly are you going to do that?"

"C'mon commander, it's been 200 years. Do you really think we haven't found ways to deal with insubordinate vampires?"

A cube is tossed to the ground in front of Ariel, chains immediately erupt out of all 6 sides and wrap all around her.

"Ariel!"

"DAMN IT! What the hell is this?"

"A binding artifact that not even a Vampire Lord can break through. Gotta hand it to those witches for making such useful contraptions."

"AAHHHHHHHHHH!"

"Use as much brute force as you can muster, it's useless. Coincidentally, we have a sound artifact surrounding this building. So no matter how loud you yell, nobody will hear it."

'Crap, this isn't looking good. Not even Ariel thought they had a means to capture her. Is this really it?'

"No... I don't wanna die.."

Iris who was silently watching while quivering the whole time lets out a cry.

"Iris.. I'm sorry, it's my fault that you got involved in this."

Actually, it's Shoyo's for bringing the two together.

"Hey! You can take me back, just don't kill Chifuyu! Please!"

"Please? Hey guys, did you hear that?"

"Sure did!"

"An almighty Lord begging us to spare a human?!"

"Oh man, comedy doesn't get better than this."

"Pfft."

"Haha."

"Hahaha."

"Hahahahahahahahahaha."

A hopeless situation. Ariel is forced to listen to the laughs of those mocking her without being able to do anything.

"Hey guys, I know how to make this even more amusing!"

"Ho, what is it?"

"Let's have this girl kill the boy instead!"

"Huh?"

"What?"

"Girl, if you do this, then we'll let you leave here alive."

One of the vampires with a blade walks up and slashes the ropes. Kicking Chifuyu away, he drops the sword in front of Iris and walks back to the crowd.

A few seconds of silence pass before Iris picks up the blade.

"I'm sorry..."

"Iris...?"

"I don't wanna die, Chifuyu."

Tears flow down her face of genuine sadness. She hasn't known Chifuyu for long, most people would do the same.

When being forced to choose one's own life or another, even if you've known them your whole life, humans will ultimately save themselves.

"DAMN YOOOUU!"

Ariel lashes out at the vampires, she can only watch from the ground.

"Gah!"

The vampire instigating all this kicks Ariel across the parking lot, even further from the two she was supposed to protect.

"Now kill him!"

"AAAHHHH!"

Iris is the most frightened she's been her whole life and feels like she has no choice right now. The vampire yells viciously to kill Chifuyu which leads to Iris screaming as she runs at him.

Chifuyu has no choice but to defend himself.

Shoyo had already told Chifuyu Iris is strong enough to become a Hunter, but that doesn't even begin to describe how strong she is.

Even when bawling her eyes out, her blade doesn't waver. The first slash misses Chifuyu's neck by a hair's breadth, even he knew if that blade made contact his throat would've been slit.

'Crap, she's serious here!'

"Please die for me, Chifuyu!"

"Woooooo."

"Yeah, get 'em, girl!"

Chifuyu hasn't practiced dodging attacks. And at this moment, he has to weave around Iris's precise slashes like his life depends on it.

Because it does.

Iris cuts through the air countless times in quick repetition for several minutes. Chifuyu manages to hold onto his life, albeit with shallow cuts all over his body.

"Sigh."

"This is getting boring."

The vampires grow tired as Ariel is still rendered useless on the ground.

'Damn it! How could I get so careless? Chifuyu please, don't die on me.'

Several more minutes pass. It's been about half an hour since Chifuyu regained his consciousness.

Chifuyu is gasping for breath while Iris is although crying and has snot dripping down her nose, she's barely broken a sweat.

'Haha, what type of person am I? I'd take this boy's life just to save my own skin. I haven't been able to fatally injure him yet, maybe this is a sign to just stop.'

Iris doesn't know she's subconsciously holding back. She doesn't want to kill Chifuyu, but she doesn't want to die either. What can possibly be done to save the both of them?

"This is taking too long, I'm killing both of them."

"I don't think so."

"What?"

Everybody in the parking lot turns to where the new voice just spoke from. He's sitting on the railing with a smug look on his face.

"Bastard, how long have you been here?"

"The whole time."

"What?"

"Huh?"

"Eh??"

Everybody, humans and vampires exclaim their surprise.

Ariel especially is speechless.

"What happened to our guards around the perimeter?!"

"They're dead, of course."

"And we didn't hear or notice a fight?"

"There was no fight, me and a few of my buddies got them all in one strike. It sure took us some time to find this place though, didn't think you could take my apprentices 5 districts away so fast."

The man who has arrived is none other than Shoyo. A few of the hunters who were present in the trial assisted him and taking out the vampires guarding the parking lot.

"M-Mr. Shoyo... You were here the whole time??"

"Apprentice? Also, were you just gonna watch me die?"

"I knew Iris wouldn't be able to kill you. I could tell she was holding back."

"I was...?"

"Tsk. I made a mistake, the girl was stalling for time."

She wasn't.

"We're not scared of the so-called strongest Hunter. Bring it on!"

"You won't be fighting me."

"What?"

"Iris, take them on!"

"Ehhh??"

"Shoyo, what're you saying?"

Jumping off the railing, Shoyo walks across the parking lot to Chifuyu and Iris.

"Iris, you can do it. I've told you several times, haven't I? You're strong."

"But Mr. Shoyo, it's 50 of them! What can I do against that many vampires?!"

"I wouldn't tell you to do something that I don't think you can't do, would I? You didn't think you would be able to complete your training, but you did. Didn't you?"

Shoyo smiles genuinely and puts his hand on Iris's shoulder.

"Have faith in yourself, and have faith in me."

"Mr. Shoyo..."

"I'm the world's strongest Hunter after all, ahahahahaha!"

And he ruined the moment.

"I'll g-give it a try..."

"Give it a try?! You're dead little girl!"

Iris timidly walks up to the vampires.

"Shoyo, is Iris really strong enough to beat that many vampires? Can the average Hunter even win in a 1-on-50 situation?"

"Nope. You see, Iris has the potential to become even stronger than me."

"WHA...?!"

Iris takes her stance and steadies her breathing.

"This brat... SHOW HER NO MERCY!"

"RAAAAAAH!"

Several vampires charge at Iris. Her composure is completely different from when she crying swinging at Chifuyu. The first 3 vampires are cleaved with one clean horizontal strike. It doesn't end there. Iris immediately goes for the closest target.

"When Iris was 12, 3 vampires broke into her house. And she killed them all with a kitchen knife."

"When she was 12? No way!"

"It's true. And her parents reported that the vampires put up a real struggle and still lost. Iris has an unbelievable talent for swordsmanship, and she only spent 3 years doing fundamental training. As you can see, this is the result."

15 vampires dead now. Iris isn't able to kill them all in one strike, but her blows are still deep. Shoyo told Chifuyu that the best way for a new Hunter to kill a vampire is to slowly chip away at them. But that isn't necessary for Iris. Each slash that doesn't kill cuts deep into them and results in major blood loss. Although some of them haven't died in one strike, none have lived past five. Not a single one of them has landed a hit on Iris yet. It was the same as when she was 12, the 3 vampires then couldn't so much as touch her. This prodigy's awareness with 3 years of fundamental training won't even allow 50 vampires to lay a finger upon her.

"Iris has no confidence in herself whatsoever. I've tried to tell her multiple times how strong she is but she could never believe it. Iris never had any experience in a real fight with a vampire since she was 12. So I hope this one-sided massacre against 50 vampires will make her realize she's not as weak as she thinks."

Chifuyu and Ariel simply watch in awe.

35 vampires dead on the ground now.

"Who the hell is this brat?.... Ah-!"

"Shit, let's get outta here!"

"No, not without that traitor!"

Iris gets even faster. Even more precise. Some of these vampires have slaughtered countless humans in the Alter World, and they're no more than fodder to Iris. Not a single one will escape.

"DAMN IIIIIITT!"

'Slash'

In less than 10 seconds, she finishes off the last 15 vampires.

"Heh, that Iris. She really is a diamond in the rough."

Quite literally a flawless victory.

"Incredible."

Chifuyu was awestruck. A fire was lit in him, this is how strong he wants to become.

"I did it?! What kind of insane luck do I have?"

"Haha. This girl takes down 50 vampires all by herself and believes it's dumb luck!"

"W-w-w-well how else would you explain what I just did?!"

"Whatever, your nonexistent confidence is sure to return someday. I hope..."

Shoyo walks over to the binding artifact and picks it up.

"Let's see..."

With a press of a button, the chains free Ariel and disappear back into the cube.

"Well, this'll be fun to clean up."

He's referring to the 50 deceased vampire bodies throughout the parking lot covered in heaps of blood.

"Chifuyu!"

Iris ran up to Chifuyu and bows down on the ground.

"Nothing I can do can make you forgive me for trying to kill you, but I'm sorry!!"

Crying like a baby, Iris apologizes for her attempted murder.

Without warning, Chifuyu picks her up and holds both of her shoulders.

"You were amazing Iris!"

"H-huh?"

"To win against that many vampires on your own, I don't even know what to say."

"Uh-I..."

"Have more confidence in yourself!"

With those words, Chifuyu gives Iris a hug to show his appreciation.

Unfortunately, the direct contact from a boy her age was too much to process which causes her brain to short-circuit.

Iris momentarily passes out.

"Iris? Hey, what happened?!"

"Shoyo."

As Chifuyu freaks out, Ariel who hasn't said anything walks up to Shoyo.

"Thank you. I'm truly grateful for your help. You saved us."

Ariel gives a light bow.

"Hmph, don't mention it. It was worth it getting to see you lower your head to me."

This reply ticks off Ariel.

"I really will never like you."

"You can't be the strongest Hunter without some haters."

"I'm done with you."

Tired of Shoyo's nonsense, Ariel goes over to Chifuyu.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

Chifuyu put Iris on his back.

"I'm sorry."

"Hm. For what?"

"I wasn't able to protect you. If it wasn't for that idiot's help, we'd be..."

Chifuyu flicks Ariel on the forehead. She is slightly taken aback.

"Don't get all depressed on me, I'm not blaming you for anything. All that matters is that we're both still here."

"..."

"Hey, Ariel."

"..."

"Next time, you won't be caught by any surprises, right?"

"Hmph."

Ariel lets out a chortle.

"Yeah, I'm moping the floor with our next opponents."

"That's what I like to hear."

The two first bump.

'Clap. Clap. Clap.'

"Well done."

"So you finally showed up, huh?"

"That's the vampire who kidnapped us!"

"Hm..."

Iris wakes back up.

"Ch-Ch-Chifuyu!"

"Calm down Iris, we have company."

"You sure a dangerous one, aren't you? What name do you go by now, Iris was it?"

"Vamp, I have one question for you. Are you in the group calling themselves the Slayers?"

"I am."

"That's good. You seem strong enough to be a leader or something, so you'll be coming with us."

"Haha. Since I answered your question, may I ask one of my own?"

"Go ahead."

"It's for the silverish hair gal."

"Huh, me?"

There's a pause before the vampire asks his question.

"Do you not remember me, my dear little sister?"

"What?"

"I was truly surprised. I was tasked with capturing the half-vampire, only to at long last see you after so long."

"I-I don't know what you're talking about. I don't have a brother..."

"Fate is a cruel thing."

"That's enough out of you. Iris, ignore what this vamp is saying. You don't look blood depraved, yet you're spouting some nonsense right now. Did you take some of our kind's drugs or something?"

"Oh heavens no. Some of our goons got into those and they look terrible."

"Is that so?"

"Let's stop with the chitchat Shoyo. Hey you, do you really think you can beat us 4 on 1?"

"I'm not going to put up a fight, Ms. Vampire Lord. As a matter of fact, I showed myself to partake in a little chitchat."

"Well, you can talk your head off once we take you in for questioning."

"I'll do you one better and tell you something right here."

"Hm?"

"There's a lot you humans don't know about our world, but there's a lot we don't know about our own world either. As for me, I know what you can call a secret of both of our worlds."

"What would that be?"

"Wouldn't be much of a secret if I told you, now would it?"

"You're just spouting a bunch of crap right now, maybe I should just kill you here."

"I'll be taking my leave in a second. I just have one thing I want to say to the half-vampire boy."

"Huh?"

The vampire's malicious smile returns to his countenance.

"You're going to be betrayed in the worst way possible."