The Dirty Affairs of a Vampire and His Horny Stepmom-Chapter 89: The fruit of my training (2)

«Melania, right now you’d just get in my way. Stay behind me and don’t move — I can get rid of that Monster Slayer all on my own.»

«Don’t you dare get yourself killed... I’d never forgive you!» she snaps back, her cheeks adorably puffed out with anger.

«Don’t worry. There’s no danger.»

I bend my knees, and the ground shatters beneath my feet as I launch myself. I glide just above the ground, straight at the Monster Slayer.

CLANG!

Now he’s the one blocking my strike... but not with the same ease I stopped his a moment ago.

From the strained look on his face, it’s clear he’s making a tremendous effort not to get overwhelmed — Blood Rage is doing its dirty work, making me much stronger and faster than I normally am.

Unfortunately, even though I’ve trained almost daily to endure the weight of Blood Rage, in my current state I still can’t keep it active past about thirty seconds.

Doesn’t matter — I’ll make them count.

The Monster Slayer, moving like a true combat expert, twists his body through a full half-turn, guiding my heavy axe thrust so it bites into the ground.

Then, with his back now facing me, he shoots his right leg back and drives his foot straight into my stomach.

Or at least, that’s what he meant to do.

A split second before his powerful kick can hit, I stop it by grabbing his ankle — and then... a wrenching scream of pain explodes from his mouth as my fingers clamp down. I hear bones crunching, almost shattering under my iron grip.

Normally, a human ankle would already be completely pulverized under pressure like that, but I guess the light his body keeps giving off makes him tougher, on top of being strong and fast.

That’s it...? Is this really all the strength the Monster Slayers I feared so much have? Or maybe... am I the strong one? Could it really be?

Fighting Kimberly first and then Hank made me think I was pathetically weak, but maybe I was wrong — maybe those two are just insanely strong.

«Damn vampire bastard! I’ll kill you!»

The Monster Slayer whips his light sword in a man-high arc, but with my boosted reflexes I snap my head back and barely dodge it — the tip of his weapon passes a hair’s breadth from my eyes.

Even with his right ankle out of commission, the Monster Slayer uses the momentum to wrench himself free from my grip, hopping on his left leg and backing off again to a safe distance.

I’m not surprised that instead of pressing the fight, he’s simply staying defensive and stalling.

It’s obvious a skilled fighter like him knows Blood Rage even better than I do, and he’s definitely waiting for its effects to burn out before counterattacking.

A real coward’s approach. Taking him out before Blood Rage ends will be very hard, so I’ll use these last seconds to mess him up so badly that even Melania will be able to finish him afterward.

I charge the Monster Slayer again, ready to end the fight with the next blow, but...

What the hell is he doing?

Instead of taking a guard stance, he slips a hand inside his cloak. He’s about to pull something out, and the grin on his face doesn’t promise anything good!

I instinctively stop and step back — I have no idea what kind of gear a Monster Slayer carries. Maybe a weapon made specifically to neutralize a vampire? Or something even worse?

I can’t risk a frontal assault without even knowing what I’m running into.

But what he pulls out isn’t some mysterious weapon, and it’s not some kind of magical vampire-killing artifact either.

No... it’s a fucking walkie-talkie!

That bastard played me, making me think he was about to draw something dangerous... shit!

«This is Agent US-617. Requesting backup at the Hallett Nature Sanctuary. The subjects are a young vampire and a suspicious girl! Judging by her hair, she’s most likely a succubus of House Narkhalis.»

Fuck, things are going from bad to worse. He identified Melania, and as if that weren’t enough, that sneaky trick just burned through my last few seconds of Blood Rage!

With the axe locked tight in both hands, I dash at him again.

Strangely, I expected him to stall again — even more so now that time is on his side and reinforcements could drop on us any second. Instead he answers my charge, lunging at me too.

But just as our blades are about to clash yet again... the Monster Slayer changes course at the last moment.

What the hell is he doing now...?

I don’t even have time to wonder, because Melania’s screams clear up every doubt.

Even crippled in one leg, his speed is still too much for Melania’s reflexes, and that lets him take her hostage with absurd ease.

He’s pinning her from behind, the light blade a breath away from her throat.

«Girl, move even a muscle and your head comes off. Was I clear?! And the same goes for you, vampire. If you care about your little friend’s life, don’t you dare move a single step from there!» he threatens, breathing hard.

It’s obvious that bastard is running out of energy. If I attacked him, I’d kill him for sure... but Melania would die too. What am I supposed to do? Sacrifice Melania’s life to save mine?

Not long ago, I wouldn’t have hesitated. But now... no. I promised I wouldn’t let a single hair on her head be harmed, and I’m going to keep that promise.

«Drop your weapon immediately and kneel face-down with your hands clearly visible behind your back!» he orders, making the blade sway dangerously close to Melania’s neck.

«Alright, alright — just don’t hurt her!»

As instructed, I lift both arms into the air, then let go, and the axe hits the ground with a heavy thud.

For the tiniest fraction of a second, his eyes followed the falling axe, maybe afraid I meant to use it for some trick. But the only trick was hoping he’d do exactly that. One moment of distraction, and it’ll be fatal for him.

«Blood Manipulation... Spike Bullet!»

The sharp blood spike pierces straight through his skull, right between the eyes, with an enviable precision — the result of hours and hours of nonstop training on that island in Hawaii.

Yeah. Who would’ve thought that personal challenge born purely from Melania’s provocation would end up saving her life?

I rush to her immediately — she’s still trembling in my arms from the shock.

«We need to get out of here right now,» I say, grabbing her hand and dragging her away.

«W-where...?»

«Somewhere we’ll be safe from any Monster Slayer. But at the same time... the place where I set up your surprise birthday party.»