"M-Master...", Ennea said, her eyes showing a mixture of emotion. A hint of embarrassment. Shock. Surprise. And even...expectation?
Sadly, the two of us got cut off the moment we heard the nearby door hiss open again. A third cloaked figure soon exited onto the deck, looking just like the two of us.
"So you two were out on the deck after all---?", Ines's voice called out, only to see my mouth agape, not too far away from where Ennea was standing. "...Was I interrupting something between you two---?", Ines continued, only to take another look at me. Confusion appeared in her eyes as she couldn't even find words to finish her sentence. She saw the visible changes I had gone through.
"...What happened with your hair, Your Highness?", Ines asked as I closed my mouth shut. Ennea couldn't see my fangs anymore. Shrugging what I had just asked aside for the moment, I turned my head toward Ines and called out to her for another question.
"You came at a good time, Ines. I can't exactly talk about this in front of the rest. At least while Emma is not around. Given the circumstances, I feel it is an appropriate time.", I began to say. "But I'll be frank and ask this. Has Campanella told you anything about me, Ines?"
"I'm...not exactly sure what you are referring to, Your Highness. We in Ouroboros keep our work and personal lives in two different buckets. Unless it's related to what we do, I don't think the Fool has mentioned anything.", Ines said, shaking her head. "As to why I came out here, I am here to inform you that we are arriving in Roer in two more hours."
"Two hours, eh? That should give me plenty of time for my next move then. That is, if you're willing, Ines. I take it you've seen plenty of what the land we live in has to offer, courtesy of the Steel Maiden, but you haven't seen all of it.", I said. My lips curved upward into a grin.
Wooosh...!
I let my Mana run rampant around me. But it wasn't the normal blue you'd come across other Witches use. Because of the Occupation I now had, it turned into a deep crimson. It felt powerful, and opposing. Seeing such a blood-like aura start escaping from my body, even Ines's eyes shot upward, turning wide in surprise.
As for what was happening internally, I felt my blood pump in excitement, and even my bones felt thicker than usual. My height remained around the same, being over six feet tall already. Even if I'm still thirteen this year, I know I'm not done growing. Not for some more years. By then, will I be over seven feet tall? Perhaps pushing it to eight feet? I'm not sure.
Then there was the bloodlust. To my surprise, perhaps it was because of the experience I had gained on the battlefield, but I suddenly received a Gamer Notification. One I hadn't seen happen in a good minute.
[Ding! By switching to Child of the Progenitor and experiencing your first kill, you have met the requirement to unlock a new Skill: Bloodlust.]
[Bloodlust]
Effect: Your aura exudes killing intent so overwhelming that weaker foes may kneel or break and run from battle. It has little effect against strong opponents, or those who possess a strong will.
Bloodlust Skill, eh? Straight-forward. How convenient. This might actually come in handy if this Garden of Swords sends out multiple enemies at once.
"That...is quite the aura. One would not expect someone of your stature to even possess something like that---!?", Ines said, feeling her own blood start to churn. She didn't exactly feel fear, but it was enough to feel something. She couldn't even react further before she saw my fangs now in open view. They were much more visible now. "I knew it. You really aren't human. Just what in Aidios's name are you!?"
"Heh. You mean these?", I said, letting my mouth hang loose. Stretching my lips out with one of my fingers, the fangs she saw appeared sharp, acting like they could be dug into anything. "Will you believe me that this too is part of that "ability" I possess? Well, courtesy of my Master, it has changed it to such a degree on its own. I can switch to this form whenever I please."
"It really has been a good minute since I've seen you like this, Master. Not since we played around with those bastards. They seriously thought they could get through you. All that talk about being a "perfect vessel" is a bunch of baloney. You turned out just fine, Master.", Ennea said, and smiled at me. Even with the bloodlust I was releasing, she didn't feel bothered by it one bit.
As expected of an ex-assassin.
"Plus, once I first achieved this look of mine, it allows me to do this.", I said, and snapped my fingers. Just a jest, but I used this moment to activate my Mana. Kuuusha!
My own blood began to spill out, and form into a bloody sphere. You want the beauty of this particular spell? I can use however much EP I want to determine its capacity and output.
[Ding! Gamer Naoto has consumed 15,000 EP.]
[Ding! Current EP: 85,500/103,500.]
[Ding! Three Blood Spheres (A) have been created!]
"This is...", Ines uttered, seeing three blood-red spheres floating around me, acting as if they had a will of their own. "Is this your own blood?"
"It is. Take these spheres with you. I can create as many as I want. If our little assassin friends attack you in a way you're not prepared for, they can act as a fast-reacting shield. I doubt you'll need it. I can tell you're strong on your own. It's just me being a little paranoid. This is Ennea's former co-worker we're up against, in a way.", I said, explaining things to Ines.
"Then I shall not stand on ceremony and kindly accept it. Thank you, Your Highness. Having an extra trump card never hurts.", Ines said, seeing the blood spheres fly over to her position. They moved around, ready to strike at a moment's notice. Seeing Ines accept this spell, I smiled.
"Right? As to what this is, exactly, it's Magic.", I said. "Magic itself is a scary existence, and not a lot of people know about it in this present day and age. They're ignorant of how the world works. It's been lost through time, but it hasn't been completely forgotten yet."
"Magic...", Ines uttered. "And you knew of this, Ennea?"
"I do. Master has learned Magic from the time he was young, and he has that witch friend. I thought I told you about Emma already.", Ennea nodded. It is true that Ennea knows about Emma. Both were there during our excursion to Nemeth Island. Vita came first, and apart from that initial teleportation spell, I doubt Ennea would ask about Vita. Emma's much more of a friend to us than Vita is right now. Plus Vita needs to remain by Crow's side until he completes his Azure Trials. I doubt we'll be seeing Vita again for a good while.
"Emma, that name sounds familiar...", Ines uttered. "But either way, having the ability to possess this so-called Magic should secure any uncertainties you might have, Your Highness. It is a technique I do not know the scope of, it sounds powerful, to say the least. We will go on as planned. Kreuger is still part of us, even though she is on leave right now. Some may like infighting, but going as far as to place a hit on one of our members has pretty bad taste.", Ines said, and sighed. She even had a hint of scorn in her voice.
"Tell me about it. Melchior really loves to tug at someone's strings, in a bad way.", Ennea said, also sighing in disappointment. She really hates this Melchior guy, doesn't she? Makes me even more curious to how twisted he is. Is he worse than someone let's say...The Faceless, or Joachim?
"Complain all you want. His Highness is using this mission to stay within our ranks. At least, unofficially. If you want someone to complain to, complain to the Fool.", Ines said while looking at the two of us. "Either way, I did what I came out here for. To inform you two that we will be in Roer in two hours.",
"Fine. Fine. I'm sure we can find something to pass the time. Even if this night will soon be soaked in blood.", Ennea said. Her lips curved upward. It wasn't your normal smile. It was the smile of an assassin. She was ready. That I have no question about. "But...you did kind of interrupt something when you arrived, Ines."
"Was I now?", Ines shot back, interested.
"Maybe? Maybe Not?", I responded, still unsure if I should proceed with this. "I was going to make Ennea mine in both mind and body. Interested in joining in?"
"Make Ennea yours...in both body and mind?", Ines asked, sucking in the cold breath of the night lit sky. "What exactly do you mean by that, Your Highness? Ennea and I are part of the Stahlritter. We only serve Our Lord, and no one else."
"Hehehe.", Ennea replied, and giggled. "You really are going there, Ines? I was always Master's to begin with. Our Lord accepted that fact and still welcomed me into the Stahlritter. If I had to choose protecting Master over Our Lord, I would choose Master in a heartbeat."
"Our Lord...really permitted that?", Ines asked, and frowned. "Oh boy, how do we bring this up to Duvalie?"
"That question is easy. You don't. I do not plan to stand in the way when it comes to the Steel Maiden. The roles you members of the Stahlritter are assigned to enact, I will not drive a wedge in that.", I said, assuring Ines where my position stood.
"It is as Master says, Ines. We're all on good terms here, and I hope it stays that way. Just don't drive those fangs of yours into our newest little sister~", Ennea replied with a playful smile.
"I'm...sorry?", Ines retorted, unsure of what Ennea had just said.
"Haha, please pay Ennea no mind.", I said, and smiled. Doing this bared my fangs again. "Ennea isn't wrong, though. What you see here isn't just for show."
After saying that, I raised one of my fingers and pointed directly at one of my fangs.
"I see. All jokes aside, it does sound like you two were about to attempt something. If you have something to show, then show it.", Ines requested.
"Fine, fine. I don't care if you want to stay and watch.", I said, and shrugged my shoulders. "Just a fair warning though, it may get a little bloody."
As I said that, a faint blush appeared on Ennea's cheeks. Now that I think about it, Ennea was present the one time I did this. I disregarded everyone else present at the time when Roselia strutted onto Nemeth Island. I plan to do the exact same act I did with Roselia. The very same one that unlocked [Child of the Progenitor].
The difference this time is that it isn't the highest kin of Roselia's race. AKA, the Progenitor. It will be done on a human. I am not sure how the Gamer System will react to what I'm about to do.
"You really are going to do the same thing you did to that blonde-haired girl back on Nemeth Island. To me?", Ennea asked, still doubtful. The blush remained on her cheek.
"I am. Don't back out now, Ennea. Be proud of this moment. You're going to be the first human I've sucked.", I replied, grinning.
"The first human to be sucked...?", Ines uttered, unsure of what I meant by that.
Ennea didn't say anything in response, but she knew what I was going to do. All she did was part some of her hair down behind her shoulders, which revealed her neck. In one fell swoop, I moved. CHOMP!
I bore my fangs, and Ines saw my mouth open wide, only to take a bite into Ennea's neck. Ennea became startled at the quick action, her eyes turned wide. I wasn't used to doing this and wasn't as skilled as Roselia was, so some drops of blood splattered outward the moment my fangs tore through the skin. Since Ines was in a direct line of sight, the blood splattered onto her face.
As for Ennea, all she felt was a quick pierce of her neck. A numbing sensation followed. It felt weird for her. Tight, but somewhat...pleasant? The pain she had initially expected never arrived. Gulp.
"I really am rusty at this. It's been too long...", I uttered while I still had my fangs lodged inside. Because I opened my mouth a bit, more blood came out, and hit Ennea's face. That was what caused her eyes to turn wide in surprise.
As the blood poured down my throat, it was a different feeling than what I had done with Roselia. It wasn't a heavenly elixir this time, but it was tasty. Almost as if I was drinking a cup of honey. It had no metal aftertaste to it at all. Seeing me attempt to talk, Ennea's shock faded, and a smile appeared on her lips.
"Master, it's impolite to speak with your mouth full.", Ennea teased. Hearing that, I couldn't help but chuckle on the inside. The drinking continued, until I was satiated. Pop.
My fangs emerged, and parted from Ennea's neck. A drop of blood dripped down. As I looked, I saw two small red dots that were in the midst of healing. They had already closed shut. Ines just watched on in disbelief while we drifted amongst the clouds in the sky. Her eyes also saw the small red bumps on Ennea's neck.
Quite an enjoyable moment if I do say so myself. And sure enough, the Gamer Notifications started coming through. I had a look at each one.
[Ding! Gamer Naoto has drunk blood with Occupation, 'Child of the Progenitor', equipped. Gamer Naoto's EP has been fully restored!]
[Ding! Gamer Naoto has drunk the blood of a human for the first time!]
[Ding! Gamer Naoto has drunk the blood with someone you have developed a close bond with!]
[Ding! Gamer Naoto has activated a Combination Craft with Ennea, Blazing Tempest!]
[Ding! Gamer Naoto has unlocked a new Craft, Crimson Wings!]
[Ding! A new function of the Gamer System has been unlocked.]
[Ding! A new page has been added to Gamer Naoto's Status Window: Servants.]
...What?