The Fallen Vampire

{Disciple.}

"…"

{Disciple.}

"…"

{…Taira.}

Surprised, the fallen prince opened one eye underneath the shade of a forest tree.

'You are surprisingly insistent on speaking to me. Am I the only one who understands the beauty of a little silence?'

{I'd hardly say this place is silent…}

Taira glanced down at the ground floor from his perch within the tree.

The forest floor was lined with human bodies.

Not slaughtered ones, the bodies belonging to the new initiates.

Although they did appear to be on death's door…

Each little human was huffing loudly and rolling around on the ground as they nursed their bruised bodies and aching muscles.

"You've a minute to rest before we continue." Was all the motivation Taira gave them.

"Y-Yes, Dai-Shi."

"U-Understood, sir…"

"Got it, Boss Man.."

"Yes, Master…"

*Unintelligible whimper.*

Taira went back to leaning against the tree from up high and lowered his straw hat over his face.

{The story you told them earlier… Was it true?}

'You believe I would make something like that up just to get a reaction out of them?'

{…No. No I don't actually.}

'Then it seems you have your answer.' Read new adventures at

Taira waited for the screaming retaliation that he had rightfully earned after his curt remarks.

But what he got instead, was something that he never expected.

{I'm sorry that happened to you.}

The fox-kin was so floored that he nearly fell out of his tree.

'…What?'

Velreth scoffed.

{Whatever you may think of me, Descendant of Bao Si, I am not an unsympathetic man. And your upbringing reminds me far too much of my own.}

'…'

{…We didn't deserve what happened to us.}

'It made us stronger.'

{We were children with no idea of the ways of the world. We didn't need to be strong yet.}

Taira couldn't talk about this any further, since the conversation was beginning to reach a rather difficult place.

Everyone had a backstory. He didn't see the use in fretting over his.

He was strong now, that's what mattered.

And he could make sure that nobody ever did anything like that to him or anyone he loved ever again.

Velreth recognized the look on Taira's face and the cold air he developed around this particular subject.

It was a look he had seen many men wear. Including himself.

Sometimes, it was the only way to survive in the world of cultivation.

He didn't know if it was his place to try to change Taira's mind. Nor did he even expect him to listen.

So for now, he just sat in silence, and allowed his young disciple to go about life as he saw fit.

Atleast, until he was prompted otherwise.

"Time's up."

Taira didn't yell or raise his voice any higher than a low level, but the humans still got up instantly.

Probably because they knew from experience that if they didn't, something much worse would follow them.

There was a rustle of the trees and six figures dropped out of the branches.

These were training dummies from the Black Myth sect.

They looked like normal bodies wearing a light, yet sturdy cream-colored armor. Instead of heads, they had billowing steam that resembled hair.

The training dummies circled the humans like a pack of wolves; prompting them to get into a fighting stance.

They all had the dog shit beat out of them.

These training dummies are specially designed to help cultivators work on integrating their strength into fighting techniques.

The dolls analyze the opponent's body and fight at a level that mirrors their own. To beat them, you must expand your own repertoire and push past any existing limitations.

Because the dolls are constantly adapting and never use the same moves twice.

However, any cultivator with even a modicum of proficiency in hand to hand combat can best them just by sticking to a few fundamental principles.

Vermeil once told Taira that people on earth can seriously overestimate their proficiency when it comes to a physical fight.

And because these humans were now inside of Tayar, where martial arts were significantly more advanced and required their own unique flow and pace, they were having a small… learning curve.

They were being humiliated.

Saanvi threw out a slow, improper punch that was easily caught by her dummy.

As a result, it kneed her in the joint between her arm and snapped it in two; breaking her arm cleanly.

Jordan tried to do a flying jump kick that she had seen from some movie, or video game, or maybe both…

With all that excess time she spent in the air, the doll had more than enough time to sidestep her kick and then give her a clothesline so brutal that she nearly had her head taken off.

Big Country recieved a big ass whooping when the doll punched him in the stomach four whole times before he could even put his arms up. He went down swiftly after.

Those martial arts skills that Sawyer needlessly boasted about before appeared to be no good to him.

He was able to exchange no more than two moves with the dolls before it broke him down like a fraction and sent him hurtling headfirst into a tree.

The ones who lasted the longest were Himari and Corey, but even they weren't on their feet for longer than a minute.

{…They are-}

'Awful, I know.'

{Atrociously so. I could've killed them all 100,000 times by now.}

'Yes, but…'

Taira watched the humans struggle to get up even when they were bleeding, had broken bones, and were on the verge of fainting.

'…They have tenacity at least. And with that I can make them something.'

Taira couldn't see Velreth now, but he could almost feel him smiling.

{…Indeed, you're right. This immortal has certainly seen greater powers with less heart than them. Perhaps they can go far, but… that depends on their master.}

Now, Taira was the one showing the beginnings of a small smirk.

""Dai-Shi.""

Taira lifted the rim of his hat using his tail.

Shakti and Vaal had arrived silently on the tree branches just above where Taira was resting.

Though he noticed them coming about three minutes ago.

"You two look weathered. How was your first class?"

Though not as bad as the humans, they were also sporting quite a few new bruises and bandages.

"Dai-Shi Aveena's body tempering lessons are really intense!" Vaal gushed. "It was a hard work out, but my body feels like molten metal!"

Taira smirked. "Follow her recommended recovery procedure to the letter and you'll feel even better in the morning. But of course she will break you again after that…"

"I don't mind at all! Soon I will have a body as powerful and indestructible as hers!" Vaal flexed his arms.

'Though it will not be nearly as charming...' Even surrounded by the pained screams of humans, Taira physically could not stop himself from fantasizing about his wives.

Tonight would be exquisite…

"I assume that you two didn't come out here because you thought I needed company."

Taira looked at Vaal again.

"…Well I know at least one of you is smart enough to know better."

"Which one is that, brother??" Vaal asked with sparkling eyes.

"…"

Shakti shook her head as she lowered herself in front of Taira.

"That aside, my Dai-Shi… As your vassals, Vaal and I feel as though we have something we must express to you. I wonder if you are in the mood to hear us out?"