Enter The Storm

-- Claire's POV --

I was running through the forest at high speeds. I needed to get there fast.

How could I be so stupid. I should have realised it sooner. That vampire was after mana. I thought he would attack the village as there were many people and adventures there. But I forgot about that tree. Whatever it is, it was gathering mana in abundance. The vampire's senses are very good at finding mana, so therefore he should have sensed it. He is definitely going to attack that tree first.

"I won't let him. Even if I don't know anything about it, it is the only thing that remains of my son. If that bastard harms it in anyway, I WILL RIP HIM TO SHREDS." - Claire

-- ??? POV --

Who would have thought that I would sense another source of mana. I was heading towards the village but then came this pleasant smell. This mana....

"Such delicacy. He-he.." - ???

Just wait you bastards. How dare they try to kill me? To think that just because I killed a few lesser lifeforms, my own kind would attack me. They call themselves vampires but refuse to take an innocent's life to get stronger... What a joke. We are the strongest race. We shouldn't be living like this. We are the ones to trample and enslave all the other races. We should be the absolute kings.

"Just wait. I Bamon will comeback after I have gotten strong. Strong enough to kill those elders who refuse to fully use their powers. I will show you the true strength of the vampires. Then I will take over the clan.. and then... he-he.." - Bamon

As I was flying searching for the source. I saw something. A strange looking tree with white leafs in the middle of a lake.

I descended and landed at the edge of the lake.

"What an incredible amount of mana. And that tree.. ha-ha.. No wonder. So that is the cause." - Bamon

I never thought I would find one here. I put my hand in the lake and used magic.

"FREEZE." - Bamon

The entire lake was frozen in a few moments.

I proceeded to walk over to my meal.

"Sorry about this little spirit. Blame yourself for being unlucky." - Bamon

When I reached halfway, I sensed danger. I immediately jumped back.

*BOOM*

The place where I was before suddenly exploded. Red yellow flames burnt brightly.

"Who dares to stand in my way? Show yourself." - Bamon

As the smoke cleared I saw my opponent. A figure standing infront of the spirit tree.

"An elf. Why are you here on human lands?" - Bamon

-- Claire's POV --

I am glad that I made it in time.

"An elf. Why are you here on human lands?" - Bamon

"That doesn't matter. I will only tell you this once. SURRENDER." - Claire

"Ha-ha.. You think a weak elf like you can stop me, the great Vampire Bamon. I will kill you, drain your mana dry and then the spirit tree behind you is next." - Bamon

"Spirit tree?" - Claire

"Oh, it looks like you don't know. I guess that's to be expected. Most of the races don't know anything about spirits. That tree is called a spirit tree. It gathers mana from the surroundings and gives birth to a dryad." - Bamon

What? This tree is nurturing a dryad. But why here on my son's grave? The spirit race are supposed to be near the Dragon continent.

I saw the vampire preparing to attack. I can think about this later. Right now I have a baby spirit to save and a bastard vampire to slay.

I used body strengthening magic and went into a sword stance. I directed all my killing intent on the vampire.

The vampire on sensing my killing intent, flinched. He then became angry.

"ELVEN SCUM. HOW DARE YOU." - Bamon

He charges at me with the immense speed of a vampire. I see that idiot has a superiority complex. In that case..

As he was charging I raised my sword up, ready to bring it down on him once he enters my range. Just like I thought, that idiot thinks that he won't be affected by my attack.

BODY STRENGTHENING is a spell where mana is applied throughout the body. This increases all the body functions like power, speed, perception and so on. But Luck used this spell in a different way. He applies compressed mana throughout his body. The amplification becomes much more powerful as a result. It's not something any magic warrior can use because you need to get your body strong enough to resist the backlash of the resulting power. It took Luck and me a lot of intense hardwork to compress our mana and keep casting this spell like it was going out of style. This new spell was called..

"CONCENTRATED STRENGTHENING." - Claire

My body started radiating with concentrated mana. It screamed power. My perception became sharpened. The world slowed down. The vampire was still ignorant. He was going to attack with his claws enhanced with magic. His hands became covered in a sharp black aura. But it didn't matter because I knew I was faster.

He entered my attack range. I brought down my sword with immense power. His eyes widened. Finally comprehending the danger, he used both his magic enhanced hands to block the strike.

*CLANGGG* *BOOM*

A huge shockwave erupted from the clash. His movements stopped. A crater filled with spider cracks appeared on the ice floor beneath the vampire's feet.

The kneeling vampire's face was indescribable. His hands were bleeding. A mix of emotions. Confusion, anger and so on.

"How dare yo.. (Yells in pain)" - Bamon

Before he could finish I send a powerful kick into his stomach, sending him flying back across the frozen lake.

After stopping he gets back up looking at me with eyes covered in fury. His hands stopped bleeding due to the vampire's inborn healing factor.

"I admit that I underestimated you but no more." - Bamon

I charged at him. I needed to take the fight as far away as possible from the spirit tree. I can't risk it.

Sword and claws clashed together a dozen of times. I see.. the mana sucker started using strengthening magic as well. Although the spell is not anywhere near strong as mine he makes up for it with his vampire body that is stronger when compared to most of the other races.

*Clang*

*Slash*

It was not just swords and claws. Sometimes when distance was formed between us we would use long ranged magic spells as well.

"SERPENT FLAMES." - Bamon

Four serpents made of fire started slithering through the air towards me at high speeds.

"AQUA BLADE." - Claire

I covered my sword in an aura of water magic. When the serpents entered my attack ranged I sliced all of them in two fast sword slashes.

*HISS*

The steam created a mini fog. I knew the vampire would use this as a cover to attack me. Just as I guessed he appeared from my left side. I knew he was coming from there because even though I couldn't see him I could sense his mana approaching from the left. Normally in a battle, mana will be spread everywhere due to often moving around, so sensing the enemy position is difficult but for people like Luck and me it is not impossible. Due to our training in mana control we can accurately sense the enemy position.

I dodged his claw attack by leaning right. Then I counter attacked with my sword. The bastard barely managed to block it with his magic enhanced claws. He still got hurt.

"You haven't met anyone stronger than you, have you." - Claire

"That's right. To think there exists someone like you who can rival me in strength. I won't allow you to exist. You must die." - Bamon

He swings his claws at me. I deflected it with my sword.

If this guy ever faced Lady Frey he would have apologized for his pathetic existence being born into this world.

I managed to make a safe distance between our fight and the tree. Now I can use more power. I was afraid that I might damage the tree before. I must admit that this vampire is strong. Although not anywhere near General class strength.

"Hey mana sucker. It's time we ended this fight. I am done holding back." - Claire

"Bluffing won't save y.." - Bamon

"STRENGTH OF TEMPEST" - Claire

-- Bamon's POV --

The moment she said those words, she changed. A green aura manifested around her. Her sword glowed green. My instinct was screaming the words danger.

"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?" - Bamon