Chapter 312: Let’s end this.

"Let’s get it over with."

Lucian shrugged.

He glanced at Caelan, Caelan stared back.

Aurelia positioned them a few meters away from each other, the rest of the Vampires moved away.

"Keep it short, you are not allowed to use Artifacts or have outside assistance.

The Spar ends when one surrenders or is incapacitated, or when I say so.

Clear?"

Aurelia listed the rules.

"No Artifacts or outside assistance, are you sure that’s fine?"

Caelan grinned.

An Enclave Hunter without his Artifact was only slightly stronger than a normal Human, it was, at some level, unfair to restrict the use of Artifacts.

’Seems like even Lady Aurelia is on my side.’

Caelan’s grin widened as he thought of that.

His suspicion only got even stronger when he saw Lucian staring at Aurelia and Aurelia smiling at him.

Clearly, Aurelia wanted to embarrass him.

Or at least that was what he got out of their exchange.

"Yes."

In the end, Lucian nodded.

"Clear."

Caelan nodded with a grin.

Once the two fighters were ready, Aurelia raised one hand.

"The battle starts once I lower my hand."

She announced.

The two fighters nodded.

Then—

Aurelia lowered her hand and—

Caelan moved.

He was fast, faster than Lucian actually, but the difference wasn’t high. Lucian’s eyes could easily follow him, especially after they were forced to chase an enemy like Rhydan before.

Yes, Caelan was an adequately strong being, this was the reason House Arcelis accepted him in the first place.

But—

He was not Rhydan.

Nor was he the strengthened Varek who fed on the suffering of hundreds of candidates.

He was just... a Fullblood Vampire with impressive speed.

And he used that speed to appear right in front of Lucian and threw a straight punch.

Lucian tilted his head, the fist passed beside his cheek, Caelan immediately followed with another strike, Lucian parried it.

He blocked the third attack, avoided the fourth one, by the time he prepared the fifth one, Lucian stepped inside, closing the distance.

His shoulder struck Caelan’s chest and completely broke his rhythm, Caelan stumbled back, still confused as to what even happened.

He, however, wasn’t given time to think it through.

Lucian punched.

Caelan blocked at the last second but—

"Ackk!"

The impact still pushed the Vampire back.

"Hmm? That’s it?"

Lucian tilted his head with a smile.

Caelan didn’t answer.

He disappeared again and came from Lucian’s right, targeting his ribs. Lucian simply twisted his body, the strike skimmed past him. Caelan raised his knee, trying to attack again but Lucian simply slapped his thigh down.

The Vampire’s balance faltered, Lucian kept staring at him with a smile, then, he moved in again, brought his face dangerously close to his.

Caelan’s eyes widened.

He could not understand.

He knew for sure he was faster than the demon, then...

How was he blocking or dodging his attacks?

Why couldn’t he read his movements?

How was he getting so close?

Why did it feel like he was never in control...?

What was... happening...?

"Are you sure you should be spacing out right now?"

Just then, Lucian chuckled.

"!!!"

Caelan blinked, just then, he saw Lucian grabbing his collar, and before he could react, Lucian threw him away.

Caelan turned his body midair, then landed cleanly on his feet a few meters away.

The entire Arena turned silent. Vespera raised an eyebrow, Aurelia now looked even more interested.

More than a few Vampires here could tell that Lucian could have ended the battle twice by now, he just... chose not to.

He was... playing around.

And perhaps...

Caelan realised it as well.

He stared at the man in front of him, Lucian simply rolled his shoulder with this unbothered look on his face and Caelan...

He finally started to understand it.

He... might have made a mistake.

All this while, he attributed Lucian’s success to the endless energy he had during the Trial, he believed that without it, he was not much stronger and the attention he was receiving was beyond what someone like him should receive.

But...

Something here did not make sense.

Caelan still had no idea how Lucian was doing what he was doing.

’Is he using an Artifact?’

He wondered.

But then he glanced at Aurelia.

’If he was using one, she would have stopped him, no?’

He didn’t understand.

"I am waiting, you know? Can you think a little faster? What are you thinking in the middle of a battle anyway? If it’s whether you should surrender or not, I would suggest you do. I accepted the spar because I thought it would be fun, but you are weaker than I thought.

If you continue, you will only embarrass yourself."

Lucian spoke as he yawned in the middle of the battle, heck, he even rubbed his eyes after it.

Caelan clenched his fists at those words. His anger and frustration piled up as he rushed forward again.

This time he stopped trying to overpower him immediately, this time, he tried to become more technical. Jabs, feints, low kicks, just that...

The difference between their skills was simply too high.

Lucian blocked the jabs, ignored the feints, and simply avoided the kicks, it wasn’t difficult.

Caelan attacked with his elbow, Lucian ducked, then he punched his open abdomen.

"Khrrkk!"

Caelan’s body bent a little, Lucian didn’t stop, he hit his jaw with an elbow, Caelan felt his vision blurring as he was knocked sideways.

He staggered back, creating a little distance.

Lucian didn’t chase.

He just stood there, watching what he would do next.

Maybe Rhydan was rubbing off on him.

Or maybe he just didn’t see a threat he needed to react to.

When Caelan saw him, his expression darkened. Seeing the enemy he challenged holding back somehow felt... even worse.

"That’s it."

Caelan’s expression turned even uglier and suddenly, the air around his body changed.

Then—

Caelan formed blood out of thin air as his crimson eyes stared at Lucian.

The blood crawled towards Caelan’s fingers, then it gathered above his palm and stretched rapidly.

Within a second, a long crimson blade formed in his hand.

It was time for round two.

"Let’s end this."