Extra To Protagonist-Chapter 34: Wave 4 (1)

Merlin groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"No. No more killing me today. No more 'training' where I end up headless. No more surprise teleportation. I am going home for today. I'm tired."

Morgana grinned around her lollipop. "Aww. You sure? I could throw in a bonus lesson. Maybe something like 'How to survive a beheading twice in a row'? Or maybe we could try something else—"

Merlin shot her a deadpan look, cutting her off. "You enjoy this, don't you headmistress?"

Morgana didn't even hesitate as she licked her lips. "Immensely."

Merlin sighed. There was no arguing with her. He turned on his heel and started walking toward the door. "I'm leaving, have a good night headmistress."

"Don't forget your rapier," Morgana called lazily with a distant sighz

Merlin frowned, patting his hip—his sword wasn't there. Right. He'd lost it in the domain when she froze time.

Morgana snapped her fingers, and in an instant, his rapier materialized mid-air in front of him.

'Could I have called it back or anything?'

Merlin caught it out of reflex, frowning. "You could've just handed it to me."

Morgana winked. "Where's the fun in that?"

Merlin shook his head and stormed out the door before she could find another excuse to keep him there.

—

After leaving the academy grounds, Merlin made his way back to his home...suspiciously he didn't struggle with finding a taxi this time.

The sun had already started setting, casting a warm golden glow over the rooftops.

Merlin pushed open the front door, already feeling exhaustion creeping over him, yet his day wasn't even close to finished yet. "I'm home—"

A pillow flew at his face.

"Ow—what the hell?!" Merlin staggered back, rubbing his nose.

Victoria stood in the living room, arms crossed, tapping her foot. "Do you ever come home not looking like you got run over by a wyvern or something?"

Merlin sighed, tossing his coat onto a chair. "I had training..."

Victoria raised an eyebrow as she walked towards Merlin. "Training or attempted murder?"

Merlin opened his mouth, then closed it. "...Bit of both."

Victoria smiled innocently as she hugged him.

"I'm proud of you, congratulations on your win."

'So she was watching as well..'

"Thank you, sis."

Her voice was soft and her embrace was unusually warm. Like the hug of a mother.

"But, why didn't you tell me about your affinities?"

She said as she hit Merlin with a pillow again...who at this point didn't even flinch.

"I'm sorry for not telling you. But it was way better this way. It was safer."

'To the both of us.'

Merlin's voice was soft as he held the pillow in his hands.

Victoria sighed as she shook her head.

"Just go and rest, we'll talk about it tomorrow..and we will. Do NOT try to rush out early."

Merlin eagerly nodded at her words then rushed to take a shower first, after that he headed towards his bedroom.

Slumping down on the bed, his day was far from being finished yet.

'System. Training Menu.'

[Training (Daily) Currently available.]

[Would you like to proceed with the training? Y/N]

It was time to get it over with and rest for today.

'Yes.'

The moment he finished his thoughts his vision went dark as the world slowly faded away completely.

He was in the familiar training field again, which was unusually clean this time. The fresh air was similar to that of the domain earlier. The scent of freshly cut grass lingered in the air.

[Wave 4]

'Not even going to give me any time huh..?'

As soon as he finished his thoughts an ominous energy descended upon the entire field.

'What is this feeling?'

A low hum filled the air.

A portal split open a few meters ahead, shadows bleeding out from its jagged edges. The temperature around him plummeted as a figure stepped through, its silhouette tall, lean, and exuding an unmistakable predatory presence.

He bore his fangs at Merlin, his eyes gleaming red.

'Is that a god damn vampire?'

Merlin's grip on Keryx tightened. "Of course it's a vampire," he muttered.

"The system really wants me dead this time huh?"

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The creature was clad in dark, regal attire—deep crimson and black robes, lined with gold embroidery. Its pale skin contrasted sharply with the flowing silver hair draped over its shoulders. Blood-red eyes locked onto Merlin, gleaming with amusement.

The vampire smirked.

"How unfortunate for you," it mused, its voice smooth like silk. "You look delicious."

'It can talk?'

Merlin exhaled sharply, dropping into a fighting stance.

"You can talk?"

[Courier's Mark]

The vampire's smirk widened but it didn't say anything else.

Instead, it vanished.

[Trickster's Reflex]

Merlin's instincts screamed. He barely twisted aside as cold fingers brushed against his throat—a near miss.

'Fast—! Too fast!'

He whirled, Keryx slashing outward—only for the vampire to catch the blade between two fingers.

"A rapier huh?" the vampire murmured, tilting its head. "How rude."

'Why would it be rude...'

Merlin grinned. "Guess I'm a rude guy."

His free hand snapped up, water magic coalescing into a high-pressure blast aimed directly at the vampire's face—

The vampire dodged easily, almost effortlessly.

Then he suddenly appeared behind Merlin.

Merlin barely had time to react before a clawed hand raked toward his back.

He flicked his wrist—

He teleported mid-swing using Courier's Mark, appearing back at his original position.

The vampire's attack missed, claws slicing through empty air.

Merlin didn't hesitate.

He lunged forward, Keryx glowing with wind magic, aiming straight for the vampire's heart.

"Better," the vampire admitted.

Then it smiled—revealing its sharp fangs again—

And the real fight began.

Merlin's rapier pierced forward, a complete blur as with wind magic he aimed straight for the vampire's heart.

A simple, perfect thrust—fast, precise, lethal.

But the vampire only smirked.

A single drop of blood suddenly floated between them, suspended in midair.

'What the hell—'

Merlin's blade never reached its target.

Instead—

The drop expanded, twisting unnaturally as it solidified into a crimson shield, blocking his rapier with an unnatural clang.

Merlin's eyes widened.

'Blood affinity? What the fuck?'

Before he could react, the shield liquefied, turning into dozens of razor-sharp blood spikes that shot toward him at impossible speed.

[Trickster's Reflex]

Merlin twisted and turned multiple times mid-air, narrowly avoiding the first volley as dodged out of the way of the spikes.

The spikes embedded into the ground, sizzling as they melted through solid ground.

'Those aren't just projectiles,' Merlin realized. 'They can melt things..?'

He barely had a second to think before the vampire was on him again, moving like a shadow.

Claws flashed.

Merlin brought Keryx up just in time, the blade clashing against blood-infused nails with a screech of metal.

The vampire grinned, fangs gleaming. "You react well."

Merlin gritted his teeth, pushing against the strike. "And you talk too much."

His free hand snapped up—

A compressed blast of water exploded point-blank into the vampire's chest.

For the first time, it staggered back.

Merlin didn't hesitate.

He lunged again—Keryx becoming a blur again—aiming for the vampire's throat.

The vampire clicked its tongue.

The blood spikes embedded in the ground earlier suddenly detonated, erupting into a crimson mist that engulfed the entire battlefield.

The mist completely filled Merlin's nostrils as it seeped into his entire body.

Merlin skidded to a halt, barely stopping himself.

'Shit. A fucking trap—'

A hand burst out of the mist, gripping his wrist like an iron handcuff.

Merlin's stomach dropped.

He tried to move away.

But nothing happened. His entire body seemed frozen in place.

Merlin's blood ran cold.

The vampire smiled.

"Don't you know?" it purred, leaning closer. "Blood magic can affect the blood inside you as well..with a couple tweaks of course....HAHAHAHAHAHAAHA!"

Merlin's veins burned.

'Shit—he's interfering with my entire damned body!'

"The great me has won you fool! HAHAHAHA!"

The vampire's grip tightened as his words echoed across the field.

Then—

Pain.

Merlin barely had time to scream as the vampire's fangs sank into his neck.