what if I'm an undead! then so what?-Chapter 72: Last ten minutes

Masaru’s voice cut through the tense silence, sharp and laced with a little bit of irritation. "Why the hell are you staring at me like that?" His crimson eyes narrowed as he caught Akane’s unblinking gaze, fixed on him ever since the artifact’s evolution had completed. The air in the room felt charged, as if the very atmosphere acknowledged the shift in his presence. "I know I’ve gotten stronger, but still, it’s a little too much shock coming from you!" he added, his tone softening slightly as he turned to grab a shirt from the nearby chair. As he moved, his eyes inadvertently fell on the mirror across the room, and his breath caught in his throat.

"What the fu—" Masaru’s curse hung unfinished as he stared at his reflection, his mind struggling to reconcile the image before him. It was him, yet not him. His once-ashen grey hair now shimmered a brilliant silver, catching the dim light of the room like molten moonlight. His eyes, previously a striking red, had deepened into a crimson so vivid it seemed to pulse with an inner fire, surpassing even Akane’s in intensity. His physique, already athletic, had refined into something almost otherworldly—muscles taut and defined, skin flawless as if carved from marble. His hair, now longer, cascaded just past his shoulders, framing his face in a way that made him look both regal and untamed.

He reached up, touching his face as if to confirm the reflection was real. The transformation wasn’t just physical; he could feel it in his veins, a surge of power that thrummed with every heartbeat. The artifact’s evolution had done more than enhance his strength—it had reshaped him into something beyond human, a high-ranking vampire with a presence that demanded attention.

Akane’s voice broke through his reverie, tinged with a mix of awe and embarrassment. "What can I say? You look... a little too much!" Her cheeks flushed faintly, a rare crack in her usually composed demeanor. She couldn’t deny it—Masaru’s newfound appearance was striking, almost unfairly so. In this moment, there were likely only a handful of beings who could rival his beauty, and she found herself momentarily caught off guard by the intensity of his transformation.

Masaru turned to her, a playful smirk tugging at his lips as he regained his composure. "Too much, huh? I guess I’ll have to get used to turning heads." His confidence was bolstered by the power coursing through him, but his mind was already racing toward his next goal. "Speaking of, I think I’m strong enough to learn more blood arts now. I mean, I’ve only got three—Blood Arrow, Blood Bullet, and Blood Creation. They’re cool and all, but I need something more powerful. Something... flashier!"

Akane’s hand met her forehead in a dramatic facepalm, her silver hair swaying as she shook her head. "You and your obsession with ’cool.’ Fine, I can’t exactly comply with your request for ’flashy,’ but I do have something that might work. How about Blood Flames, Blood Clone, and Blood Switch?" She paused, letting the names sink in before explaining. "Blood Flames lets you ignite anything marked with your blood. Blood Switch allows you to swap places with anything that has even a drop of your blood on it. And Blood Clone creates duplicates made from your blood—perfect for direct combat, but even more useful for spying, infiltration, or strategic battles. Master these, and I’ll teach you the advanced form of Blood Flames and some transformation techniques."

Masaru’s eyes lit up, but his mischievous side couldn’t resist a jab. "So, do I get a kiss to transfer the knowledge into my brain?" he teased, leaning slightly closer with a grin.

Akane’s expression soured instantly, her brows knitting together. "No," she said flatly, pointing a finger at him. "You’re stronger now, so I can use our blood link to send you the blood arts directly." A wisp of red light extended from her fingertip, spiraling toward Masaru’s forehead before dissolving into his skin. The transfer was seamless, a flood of information about the new blood arts pouring into his mind. Unlike the excruciating pain he’d felt as a low-ranking vampire, this time the process was calm, almost instinctive, as if Akane’s years of experience wielding these arts had been imprinted directly onto his consciousness.

Masaru closed his eyes briefly, letting the knowledge settle. When he opened them, a confident glint sparkled in his crimson gaze. "That wasn’t so bad. Honestly, it feels like I’ve been using these arts forever. Go ahead and give me the next ones—I’m ready!" To demonstrate, he bit his fingertip, letting a single drop of blood fall to the tiled marble floor. The drop expanded unnaturally, forming a crimson pool that rippled and rose, shaping itself into a red figure. Within moments, the figure’s surface solidified, revealing an identical copy of Masaru, down to the silver hair and crimson eyes. The clone stood motionless, awaiting his command.

Akane watched, her lips curving into a sly smile. "Not bad for a first try. But how about a challenge instead? Let’s spar. If you can last ten minutes against me, I’ll teach you the advanced blood arts and... consider your earlier request." Her tone was teasing, but there was a dangerous edge to her words.

Masaru laughed, the sound echoing with newfound confidence. "Ten minutes? Akane, the last time we sparred, I lasted four minutes, and that was when I was just a low-ranking vampire. Now? I’m high-ranking, and I’ve got Aether on my side. Ten minutes is practically an insult!" He crossed his arms, his smirk widening. "You’re underestimating me."

Akane’s smile didn’t falter, but her eyes gleamed with something predatory. "Oh, is that so? Then let’s make it interesting. A bet. If you survive ten minutes, I’ll teach you the blood arts and do anything you want. But if you lose, you can forget about the advanced arts, and you’ll do anything I want. Fair deal, right?" Her voice was smooth, almost too convincing, as if she were luring him into a trap.

Masaru’s grin didn’t waver, though a flicker of doubt crossed his mind. He dismissed it quickly, bolstered by his recent transformation. "You’re on. I heard Mr. Isagi took down both you and Hinata, and I’ve lasted minutes against him before. Now that I’m stronger, I’d say I’ve got this in the bag. You’re underestimating just how powerful I’ve become!" His words were bold, but they seemed to strike a nerve. Akane’s expression shifted, her playful demeanor replaced by a steely seriousness.

"Fine," she said, her voice low and deliberate. "No holding back. Use any abilities, any weapons. I heard you got a powerful blade from the Tsukigami clan. Bring it. Just don’t regret this later." She paused, her crimson eyes locking onto his. "When you’re ready, meet me in the training room." With a flash of movement, she vanished, leaving only a faint ripple in the air.

Masaru stood frozen for a moment, blinking at the empty space where Akane had been. "What the hell? Did I say something wrong?" he muttered, running a hand through his silver hair. The doubt crept back, but he shook it off. He could feel the power coursing through him, a vibrant energy that made his previous self seem like a shadow. He was stronger, faster, more capable. Ten minutes? He could handle that. Right?

Unbeknownst to him, the gap between a high-ranking vampire and a true vampire like Akane was vast, a chasm as wide as day and night. And if he thought a noble vampire’s power was within his reach, he was gravely mistaken. But ignorance fueled his confidence, and he moved toward his room to prepare.

In his quarters, Masaru approached the blade resting in the corner. Its red, intricate design pulsed faintly, the ethereal glow of its golden edges casting soft light across the room. The weapon, a gift from the Tsukigami clan, was as intimidating as it was beautiful, its unique structure hinting at untapped potential. He lifted it carefully, feeling its weight settle perfectly in his hand, as if it were an extension of himself.

His gaze shifted to Emerald, the feline companion engrossed in a seemingly empty book. The cat’s green eyes flicked up, meeting Masaru’s with a stern expression. "How long until you decode the entire thing?" Masaru asked, his voice tinged with impatience.

Emerald’s tail twitched irritably. "Don’t rush me. At my fastest, I could decode it in fifty years. The first two pages were simple, so I’ve finished those. But there are a hundred more, and each could take six months."

Masaru’s jaw dropped, nearly tripping over his own feet. "Fifty years? Do you want me to grow old before I can use it?" His frustration bubbled over, his hand tightening around the blade’s hilt.

Emerald’s gaze was unyielding. "You’re not very bright, are you? You’re a high-ranking vampire now. Barring any fatal mistakes, you’ll live at least six hundred years. With your growth rate, you might even reach noble vampire rank within that time, which could extend your life to five thousand years or more. Patience isn’t your strong suit, is it?" The cat’s tone was dry, almost mocking. "Besides, I’ve unlocked the first two pages. They focus on elemental manipulation—specifically, flame manipulation. With your new blood arts and this, you could wield high-level flame spells. It might give you a fighting chance in your little spar."

Masaru’s eyes widened, a spark of excitement replacing his frustration. "Flame manipulation? Now that’s more like it!" He paused, then frowned. "Wait, what do you mean ’a fighting chance’? You think I’m gonna lose?"

Emerald’s green eyes glinted with amusement. "I overheard your conversation with that silver-haired vampire. Let’s just say you’re in over your head. If she wanted, she could end the fight in a minute. You’re strong, but she’s on another level entirely."

Masaru scoffed, waving off the warning. "Yeah, right. I’ve got this." But as he headed toward the training room, Emerald’s words lingered, a faint seed of doubt planting itself in his mind. He gripped the Tsukigami blade tighter, its glow reflecting his determination. Ten minutes. He could do this. He had to.