Chapter 26: Man up, would you?

"Why?... Why are you doing this? I have already told you everything I know," the vampire pleaded, attempting to free himself from under Sam's legs.

In response, Sam acted decisively, driving his sword forcefully through the vampire's neck, causing him to wince in pain. "I am doing this because you took the lives of my people. There's no way I'll let you go just because you shared what you knew. You must be out of your mind to think that," Sam stated firmly.

Sam noticed the vampire's wound healing slowly, with the flesh reattaching around his sword. The vampires' regenerative abilities amazed him.

The vampire struggled to move but found himself overpowered by Sam's strength, hindering his ability to use his fire ability as Sam quickly neutralized him.

Feeling cornered, the vampire saw only one way out.

Death.

<Devour>

When the vampire named Joshua Snow heard this, he knew something terrible was going to happen to him, and unfortunately, he was right. Something terrible did happen to him.

As he looked ahead, an enormous swirling mass of red liquid materialized before his eyes, leaving him shocked. That was the last thing he could recall before slipping into unconsciousness.

As he drifted away, darkness enveloped him, and he felt a sense of remorse for the choices he had made. He found himself regretting his decision to come to Arcane, questioning his allegiance to the Resistance, and feeling a deep sense of regret for having encountered this enigmatic hero.

<Quest: Journey to become the strongest Vampire

Objective: Devour 1/100 Vampires

Objective: Devour 6/100 liters of Noble Vampire Blood>

Objective: Devour 0/4 Drops of Vampire Progenitor's Blood>

Reward: A Vampire Body>

Sam let out a heavy sigh, not because he felt remorse for what he had done, but because he knew that this was only the beginning of something much bigger lying ahead.

However, he had a task at hand that needed to be accomplished: "I have to destroy that machine," he said determinedly.

Heading toward the direction the vampire had indicated, Sam walked for about fifteen minutes until he stumbled upon a majestic formation. At the center of it, there was an incredibly large mana stone, radiant with rainbow colors. What caught his attention, even more, were the lifeless bodies scattered around the formation. It seemed evident that these poor souls had been kidnapped and used to feed the formation with energy.

Unperturbed by the sight, Sam knew that neutralizing this machine was necessary to prevent further harm.

Just as he was about to destroy the magic formation, he was met with a punch packed with quite the strength. However, Sam swiftly blocked the punch with ease.

As Sam stood there, he noticed two individuals approaching him. One of them had a shirtless appearance, while the other was dressed in a t-shirt and shorts. Both seemed quite peculiar, hinting at their vampire nature.

"Looks like I might have to fight once more," Sam sighed, feeling somewhat exasperated.

"You plan to take us on?" the bare-chested vampire chuckled, finding the idea amusing. The t-shirt-wearing vampire also nodded, seemingly ready for any confrontation.

Silent determination filled the air as Sam charged at the group of vampires, his focus solely on confronting Jack Tremere, renowned for his physical prowess. Undaunted by Jack's reputation, Sam relied on his bare fists, aiming to land a punch. Jack's smile betrayed his amusement at the hero's boldness.

However, Jack was no fool. He had witnessed Sam's impressive strength earlier when Sam effortlessly defended against one of his punches. Moreover, Sam's speed surpassed his own. They stood face to face, prepared to test their abilities in this intense confrontation.

Yet, for Sam, this wasn't about testing his abilities; it was about winning the fight with ease. He refused to underestimate Jack's strength and unleashed his full power from the start.

<Stone Skin: Spell activated>

<Host experiences a 10% increase in strength and a 10% decrease in agility>

As their fists collided, Sam and Jack Tremere made a startling discovery – Sam's strength far surpassed that of the renowned vampire. Blood sprayed into the air upon impact, mixing with the intense aura of battle surrounding them. The force of their clash sent shockwaves through the air, leaving cracks in the ground beneath them.

Unfazed by Jack's surprise, Sam's eyes glinted with determination. He launched a relentless assault, his movements fluid and precise, as if he were a well-honed weapon. Blood smeared across his knuckles as each punch from Sam carried an incredible force, leaving Jack struggling to keep up with the sheer power behind them.

The vampires' regenerative abilities were put to the test, attempting to repair the damage caused by Sam's relentless blows. Yet, despite their quick healing, the wounds couldn't keep up with the ferocity of Sam's attacks.

Their dance of combat continued, a flurry of strikes and evasive maneuvers, as they pushed each other to their limits. Crimson stains marked the battleground, a testament to the brutal nature of their confrontation.

Jack, with a mix of desperation and determination, channeled his abilities, trying to find a weakness in Sam's defense. But Sam's training and skill proved too formidable, leaving Jack frustrated and on the back foot.

In a final decisive move, Sam unleashed a devastating combination of strikes, his fists leaving trails of blood as they sliced through the air. The impact landed squarely on Jack's chest, sending him hurtling backward. Jack crashed into a nearby tree, the force of the blow shattering the wood and leaving him gasping for breath.

Defeated and utterly surprised by the outcome, Jack struggled to rise, his pride wounded along with his body. But he had no time to recover as Sam turned his attention to the other vampire who had attempted the sneak attack.

With a cold, intense gaze, Sam locked eyes with the vampire, who now stood several feet away, fear creeping into his eyes. Sam's lips curled into a predatory smile, blood splatters decorating his face like war paint.

"Why do you vampires always try to sneak up on your opponents?" Sam's voice held a deadly calm as he taunted the vampire.

Fear and adrenaline coursing through his veins, the vampire lunged at Sam once more, desperation overriding his caution. But Sam was ready, his movements fluid and precise. With incredible speed, he sidestepped the attack, leaving the vampire off-balance.

In an instant, Sam seized the opportunity and delivered a powerful kick to the vampire's abdomen. The force of the blow sent the vampire hurtling through the air, crashing into a heap of broken stone and debris. Blood poured from the vampire's nose and mouth as he struggled to stand.

"Man up, would you?" Sam's voice was laced with disdain as he approached the fallen vampire. His eyes locked onto the vampire's trembling form, ready to end the confrontation once and for all.

<Devour>