“Anything goes,” Sabrina explained as me and her stepped into the center of the training grounds. “Magic, weapons, hand to hand. Whatever you have at your disposal.”

  Hand to hand. I smiled weakly.

  “Uh…” I looked at her. “Can…Nia go first?” I asked. “I have to mentally prepare.”

  “Nope,” Sabrina replied. “I don’t like waiting and want to see what you can do.”

  “Please!” I begged.

  “I already said no.” She scowled. “Now hurry and draw your weapon.”

  “Mmmm.” Tears fell from my eyes as I reached behind me and grabbed Rei.

  Click.

  Why, Rei!?

  “I…don’t need a weapon to beat you.” I let her go as I took a stance.

  “I see.” She crossed her arms and closed her eyes with a nod. “I knew you were strong, but to think you were so confident in yourself that you’d refuse to draw your blade on me.” Her crimson eyes glowed in amusement as she opened them. “I won’t be holding back then!” She vanished from my sight.

  What? Where did she- As I looked to my right, her fingers stabbed past me, missing me by a hair. I had managed to avoid her lightning-fast attack, and I responded by jumping back calmly.

  Strange. Why am I not panicking? I usually would have, but a wave of calm kept washing over me for some reason. That was when I remembered the skill Calm Mind. Was it the cause?

  It had to be, but I failed to understand how it worked. It said it was a passive ability, but there were plenty of times when I had panicked. Then again, thinking about it… Was I ever truly scared, or was it just natural reaction?

  It didn’t matter, especially not now. I had to focus on the fight at hand. I had to observe Sabrina as best I could. I knew I stood no chance against her, but it didn’t mean I would stand there and let her win without a fight.

  “You saw me coming?” Sabrina asked, perplexed by my calm reaction.

  “Just lucky, is all,” I replied.

  “Luck, huh?” Sabrina smiled. “Well, I’m glad you admitted that. Luck can only get you so far!” She ran at me with her fingers extended, reaching me in less than a second.

  I may be weak, but I’m lucky. I calmly stepped back as she stabbed. a hand at me. She spun, unleashing a roundhouse kick. I ducked, catching a glimpse of her panties before grabbing the leg that held her balance and pulling it from under her. She fell on her back while I calmly walked past her.

  “Huh,” I shrugged. “I guess luck is good for something.”

  Maybe I wasn’t as weak as I had thought. Sure, my other stats were extremely low, but my luck stat seemed to make up for it. It allowed me to dodge and evade attacks, even ones like Sabrina’s that my eyes couldn’t see. I didn’t know how they would attack or when and where; it was just luck that I guessed right.

  “Luck my ass!” Sabrina hissed as she quickly got back to her feet.

  “Lick your ass?”

  “What? No! Don’t toy with me!”

  “Sorry,” I shrugged arrogantly. “I can’t help it.”

  “Can’t help it?” Sabrina’s eyes narrowed.

  “That’s right,” I began walking in a circle around her, holding my hands behind my back as I did so. She watched my every movement, turning with me.

  “Who is he?” One adventurer asked.

  “He actually landed a hit on the guild master.” Another spoke, awestruck.

  “Is he…stronger than her? How can that be possible?”

  “Why can’t you help it?” Sabrina asked. “Is it because you fell in love at first sight, and now you want to tease me?” I could tell she was toying with me by her tone, but it didn’t faze me.

  Oh no, I can feel myself getting lost in the role-play!

  “Watch yourself, Sabrina.” She stiffened as I spoke her name. My eyes glowed as I looked at her while walking. “For it was never curiosity who killed the cat, but rather vacuous impudence.”

  “W-What?”

  Did she just take a step back? No, there’s no way this shitty acting is scaring her. But still…I can’t stop! I was too deep into it. I couldn’t just turn it off.

  “Do you not understand?” I stopped and faced her, my eyes pulsing as I smiled sinisterly. “I’m amusing myself, using you as the outlet, because I thought you’d be stronger than this.” I threw my arms out to either side of me and looked at the sky.

  The clouds drifted slowly in the beautiful blue sky until one covered the sun. Rays of light pierced the cloud, casting a beam over me like a spotlight as I closed my eyes, relishing its warmth.

  How lucky! I probably look badass right now!

  “What…What are you?”

  “What am I?” I repeated, my eyes still closed. “Hehehe…” I laughed softly. “Hahahaha!” It grew louder, turning manic before I quickly looked at her as I opened my eyes, which shone brightly even in the light of day. “Why don’t you come find out!”

  Notice:

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Sabrina’s feelings for you have increased. All stats increased by 20

  Really? She found that attractive? It seemed as though she liked arrogant assholes, but I couldn’t blame her.

  “Don’t blame me if you get hurt!” She ran at me before attacking.

  Left, right, left, right, jump, back step, duck and twist, back step. I dodged each punch and kick she threw at me.

  “Master…” Nia’s awestruck meow reached my ears.

  Do you see me, Nia? I’m getting stronger. I will protect you, I swear it.

  I jumped back, sliding on my feet and twisting to unleash a backhand punch that connected with Sabrina’s cheek. It had no effect.

  Shit. I forgot I’m just lucky. I’m not actually strong.

  “I see. I know what you are.” Sabrina smiled as I continued evading her attacks.

  She jabbed, and I turned to the side. She attempted to step on my foot, but I pulled it away. She stepped closer, and so did I. She jabbed her fingers at me, and I swiped them away with a hand. She roundhouse kicked, and I stepped under it and around her. She straight punched, and I parried it, sliding my hands down her arm and twisting in the process so I was behind her. It looked like we were dancing around the training grounds.

  “Do you?” I chuckled. “And what might that be?” She continued her onslaught of attacks.

  “You act weak and like a coward, but when it comes down to a fight, you act completely different.”

  “Is that so?”

  “It is,” she lunged at me. I sidestepped, grabbed the collar of her waitress-like uniform, spun, and tossed her away. She reoriented herself in the air and dug her nails into the ground as she skidded to a stop. “You also hold back your punches so you can draw out the fight. Then there’s that smile.” She licked her lips. “That smile that hasn’t left your mouth since we started fighting.”

  Am I smiling? I touched my mouth. Shit.

  “You’re a battle junkie!”

  Am I?

  “Heh,” I lowered my hand. “You got me.” I shrugged.

  “Master! Y-You’re so strong, nya! My Master, nya!”

  Music to my ears!

  “Well, I suppose I’ve gauged your strength enough.” Sabrina sighed softly.

  “Eh?”

  “Did you think I was going all out? I haven’t even used my magic yet. Speaking of, I apologize in advance.”

  “Apolog-IIIIIAHHH!” I cried out as a gust of wind lifted me high into the air. Sabrina quickly appeared above me as I reached max height.

  She rested her knees on me and grabbed hold of my collar as we began to fall. “There really is something about you.” She smiled as her face closed in.

  “S-Sabrina?” I looked down at the ground that was closing in. “Sabrina!”

  “It’s okay,” she whispered as her mouth opened and closed in on my neck.

  Thump-Thump!

  My eyes widened as I felt her breath on my neck.

  “Don’t make me regret this.” Her fangs sunk in, and fire shot through my veins. It felt as though liquid fire was being injected directly into me, but that pain soon turned to a feeling of ecstasy and euphoria as Sabrina moaned softly. “So good. So good.” Her arms wrapped around me.

  Notice:

  You have been chosen as Sabrina’s Successor

  Unique skills acquired:

  Ripple Jump and Flow

  Flow:

  A movement-based ability. All vampires and successors have this. Grants significantly increased movement speeds.

  Ripple Walk:

  Your own unique ability. It creates ripples in the air that act as footholds, allowing you to walk or jump between them.

  “Um…S-Sabrina?” I looked down at the ground. It was too close for comfort. “S-Sabrina!!” She was too busy snacking on my blood.

  “Mph. Mph. Mmm.”

  I’M GONNA- at the last second, a gust of wind slowed our fall, and we landed on the ground just as we had been in the air.

  “S-Sabrin-AH!” I moaned as she released my neck just to clamp back down again. “Oh…oh, fuuuuhhhh.” I grabbed the back of her head and pulled her closer.

  Ecstasy. Pure ecstasy. Her bite felt like a drug that I found myself growing addicted to. It didn’t hurt, not in the slightest. It was like bliss had consumed my entire being, and it seemed Sabrina was feeling it, too.

  Her hands clasped my shirt as her fingers curled, and she pressed closer. The heat between her legs warmed my abdomen, and I shivered in delight as she let go of my neck and licked it up to my ear.

  “I want more.” She whispered. “I want to taste mo-“

  “NYA!” Nia lunged at Sabrina, and they both rolled on the ground as they struggled to pin the other down.

  I only lay in place, my breathing heavy and face hot as I waited for my heart rate to lower as well as…other things.