7: Round Two.

She gasped in shock as she slowly walked towards him. Her entire body continued to tremble with each step and the scorching heat within the area was still overwhelming.

She knelt next to him and slowly placed her hand on his back. She was only able to take notice of his pointed ears after that but her mind was far too engrossed in healing him that she didn't care to dwell on the matter.

A simple technique which she had managed to learn. The ability to transfer mana and while it didn't heal him, it did well in restoring his strength and stamina.

" Ciara, get out of here now." He said with a slight groan as he slowly curled up into a ball.

His head continuously throbbed in pain and his eyes began to glow red while his entire body trembled, twice as much as hers did.

She instantly let go of him, her eyes slightly widened due to how his voice sounded. He was in pain and she wanted to help him however she could.

[Those flames did more than I had expected, your mana, life and soul energy have all been drained completely. You'll be in trouble if you don't do something soon."

" And-" he couldn't finish his thoughts as his head began throbbing in pain once again and he was forced to curl further into a ball.

She was more desperate to help him as she saw that his pain was excruciating with every action he made with each passing second.

She slowly placed her right hand by his neck and proceeded to lift his upper body off the ground while trying not to twist or bend as much as possible. He grunted in pain while she did so and after a while, his face came fully into view.

His skin had been burnt off by the flames and his mouth had been closed the entire time he was groaning and grunting. He was far too tired to even open his mouth, the warning he gave her was done with the very little might he had left.

" It's happened again and all because I was too weak to protect them." He muttered as he stared at his burnt face in tears.

His heartbeat was quickly getting more silent and before he could take his fleeting breath, he reached out his right hand towards her head.

His hand was barely able to reach her head as it stopped just by her shoulders while he struggled to open his mouth. She looked keenly at his face, trying to make sense of what information he was trying to convey but nothing was making sense to her.

" Blood." He finally managed to mumble.

" Blood? Is he- what if I turn into a vampire." She thought as his words rang in her head, " But what does it matter anyway."

Slowly, she pulled him up and proceeded to make a cut on her hand before placing it by her lips. As the sweet scent of blood pierced his nostrils, he instantly opened his mouth wide and placed them on the wound.

A slight gasp escaped her lips as his teeth sank deep into her body and afterwards, she began to feel incredibly dizzy. She closed her eyes and collapsed right after he was done drinking her blood.

His eyes were still red but they weren't glowing like they were just a few moments ago. His body began to heal and he looked around to see the damage which the flames had caused to the forest.

He wasn't able to see what had happened but he was sure from the scene that she was the one who he had just drank blood from. His instantly infuriated and all his anger was directed towards one person.

Vines emerged from the ground and enclosed her and after that, he slowly got up from the ground. His clothes were torn and there were still ashes left on his skin. He picked up his hand and brought out a bottle of potion from his pocket. After placing it on his wound, his hand was immediately healed into place.

He slowly began walking forward, increasing his pace after each step. He was able to sense the masked man's aura as they both approached each other and he seemed to be carrying the boy from earlier with him.

A few meters away from the man, he drew three arrows and fired them straight towards him, he was able to easily burn them as usual but as soon as he did three other ones charged straight towards him from all sides of the forest and they were faster this time.

[Bear in mind that while drinking her blood has rejuvenated your life force it has done nothing to your mana or soul energy, you may be up and well but not full strength]

He heaved a sigh after hearing all that and slowly directed his gaze towards the ground before charging straight towards his current enemy.

As the improved arrows came towards him, he was forced to increase the heat of his flames in order to burn them quickly enough.

" It's just as I thought." He thought as he quickly closed the gap between them.

The masked man was quick to take notice of and react to his actions but just as he was about to use his flames on him, he instantly vanished.

He quickly turned around to see the same man behind him, he had already drawn his arrows and the moment he turned around, they were fired towards him.

He was trying to be careful with how he used his wits against his current opponent. The masked flame manipulator was faster and stronger than him, the only reason why the battle was currently in his favour was because of the boy he had with him. However, it also put him at a disadvantage, since he would be trying as much as possible not to hurt the boy.

" Your skill are talent are simply too mesmerising, that agile body of yours would make such a great vessel..." The masked man said, grabbing one of the arrows with his hand while the third one pierced through him, "Wouldn't you agree."

He didn't try to bother himself with anything the man said since none of them made any sense but he was ready to do anything just to beat him.

[What in the world do you think you're doing? You've barely mastered blood control, manipulation of that level could kill you and from this distance as well?]

" I know that but, I'll have to take risks like that if I'm to defeat this guy."

He turned to the side and took off, running around the forest. After a few seconds, he dashed out from the forest with a blood-made sword in his right hand.

The masked man dropped the boy he was carrying on the ground and infused his hands with the blue flames before dashing forward as well.

They both attacked at the same time, he swung the blood sword while the masked man swung his fist and just as they were about to make contact, he suddenly vanished and an arrow went piercing through his opponent.

Blood gushed out of his mouth as he slowly looked down at the long arrow that had impaled him. Multiple arrows shot out from the forest right after that and they all went through him as well.

[You go pulling the stunts once again but that was quite careless]

" I know... things could have been fatal if I hadn't executed the plan perfectly... but still... I'll have to give him credit for his strength and skill."

[You're almost drained of mana drinking a mana potion now before things turn against your favour would be best]

" Like... you have to tell me... that."

He slowly reached into his pocket after that but just as he did, he heard the man's sinister laughter and looked up to see that he was still standing there, impaled by the arrows.

" You couldn't bear to understand the beauty of flames, its magnificence soaring all round. Of course, you wouldn't be able to feel... haha, I'll curse you with my flames, you will know nothing but its cruelty all your life. Witness my true manifestation and tremble all your life." The man with a loud chuckle as flames began to engulf his entire body once again but this time, there seemed to be a being, made of flames standing behind him.