Chapter 97: A Moonlight Brawl

However, the uninvited guests ruined that warm atmosphere."You filthy dog!"

"How dare you kiss our princess like that!"

"I'm going to kill that dog and his family!" Maximilian shouted in anger and was the first to act, but he didn't dare attack Nikolai without ensuring no guards were watching. Thus, he sent the servants and thralls. "Get him!"

However, Nikolai didn't seem to care, his black eyes peeking at the three thralls rushing towards him—he could feel the soft hand of Selene grasp his before he gave her a wink.

'He's only been awakened for a short time. He will get hurt!' Selene thought as he slipped away, prepared to step forward, even if it meant breaking the rules.

Despite that, he moved without worry and quickly used the back of his hand to knock out the first attacker, who got close and then grabbed the second by his throat, while the third grabbed his shoulder and arm before he lifted the second vampire by the throat with ease.

Then, he tossed the one by the neck into the third and let out a sigh, not even bothering with a proper punch or kick.

The other nobles and vampires looked shocked by such a display and didn't know what to say, but Maximillian didn't waste time. "What are you doing?! Attack! Attack now! That dog deserves to be beaten to a pulp!"

"Come at me, leech." Nikolai's lips curled into a violent smile because although the thralls weren't dead, he devoured two of their three blood crystals, which meant they would never surpass their current strength or evolve further.

'I won't take insults lightly, even if I cannot kill you, let me devour your potential~ hahaha!'

His body suddenly burst forth, and the vampire squire from the Nosferatu heir didn't seem to react in time.

"Too slow. You lack speed." Nikolai appeared behind a male, grabbing him by his shoulders and throwing him over his back before he smashed into the stone ground with enough force to create a small crater.

The squire from the Nosferatu staggered to his feet, despite blood oozing from his cracked skull, and then the new squire of Maximilian lunged forward with a blood sword aimed at Nikolai's neck.

'Ah, what is that?!' His eyes looked at the blood weapon, but his hand instinctively moved, grabbing the blade before the female's face showed fear, and she dropped the blade and began backing away.

"Hey~ Max, it seems your little girl here isn't quite trained enough to face me."

"M-Monster...." The woman trembled as she looked into the black eyes of Nikolai, as if unable to remove her gaze.

To her, he became a towering monster with distorted limbs and an eerie maw with fangs that devoured everything in his path. The feeling caused her blood to chill, her legs and arms shaking as her heart pounded against her ribcage.

"What did you do to her?!" Maximilian yelled.

"Oh, nothing at all..."

Selene watched quietly, her body wrapped in a faint scarlet aura.

Her fingertips danced in the air, constantly creating sharp spears of blood that were hovering above the heir of Nosferatu and Max. The other nobles looked confused and worried about stepping in after seeing their thralls being destroyed constantly like level 1 goblins.

After all, if a higher noble noticed, or Selene told her father, it was their head on the line if caught.

However, the vampires didn't have long to wait as Maximilian was fed up with the thrashings. He stepped forward, his hands clenching as his face turned red from anger. "I've had enough of your antics, and it seems you wish to challenge my family, huh?! I guess I will just have to show you who the boss is!"

Before Nikolai could respond, his hands swirled with a heavy aura of blood—a feeling of dread filled Nikolai's chest as his blood arts began to send danger signals and warnings, and despite his improved senses with the Obsidian Tide flowing through his eyes, ears and brain he could only foresee defeat.

"Hahaha! Look at you trembling, pathetic dog! This is why vampires are superior to you dogs!"

Maximilian's hands flickered before two beautifully crafted blades appeared, though Nikolai didn't want to admit that those swords were amazing compared to the poor makeshift weapon of the squire... He thought the Faust clan's blood art was interesting.

'Fuck this guy and his showing off!' Nikolai let the black tide flow through his arms but limited it just to his nails, using the effect of the Obsidian Tide mostly going to his brain—it boosted focus, accuracy, and mental capacity, allowing his thoughts and anything related to his brain to be enhanced.

The blades swung down, aiming to chop off his arms and legs in one go, but he didn't plan to lose so easily.

'N-No way?!' Maximillian's eyes widened in shock as the hands that wielded his blood weapons felt resistance, as the nails of Nikolai's hands became five black blades the size of a dagger. The two racial arts collided and began pushing each other.

'This... damn dog!'

Nikolai's body felt immense stress, the pressure causing him to grit his teeth and put more force behind his nails that began to shake under the assault of Maximillian.

His flesh began to bleed, and the connection of his claws transformed to his finger bones when using his transformation ability; thus, minor fractures from the collision formed in his hand and wrist.

Selene's face was full of concern and anger, her hand moving as a spear aimed at the heart of Maximillian prepared to thrust forward, yet Nikolai glanced in her direction and shook his head. He then mouthed, 'Please, let me try a little longer.'

The spear faded into the air, and Max and Nikolai began to clash rapidly, the sound of metal colliding, a red and black flicker of aura and light with each blow.

However, the difference between a pure bloodline that had spent close to two hundred years alive and one that barely awakened a week or two before was apparent.

Max's movement, skill, and strength far surpassed the newly awakened hybrid werewolf. 'This dog... why is he so much stronger than a normal newborn werewolf? I am the heir to a powerful clan, but this... why?!'

Nikolai felt the same irritation, not knowing that Maximilian was filled with a small amount of fear towards him. Cuts formed, their blades colliding as Nikolai used his agility to avoid fatal blows and stabs. But it was still a losing battle.

Selene, who was watching, couldn't help but feel both amazed and angry towards the vampire doing his best against Nikolai despite their difference in age.

"Haa....ha..." Nikolai gasped with a mixture of laughter and immense pain in his arms and fingers, yet his heart and mind were filled with glee. He stole two blood crystals from this noble.

"I can't believe Lord Maximilian is struggling against a mere werewolf... wasn't he awakened less than two weeks ago?" The heir to Nosferatu stood back with his men and didn't interfere; instead, he seemed impressed. "I want to know more about this wolf... who is he."

He turned to his squire. "Find out more. He cannot be a mere low breed of werewolf!"

Maximilian heard those words, and his heart became bleak, turning black with hatred.

He lifted his blade high; the beautiful crimson shimmer with perfectly crafted parts shone under the moonlight. His eyes flickered with a crimson light as he seemed to aim for a fatal blow.

The blood weapon lingered for a moment before Max regained his focus. However, by that time, Nikolai forced all his Obsidian Tide into his eyes, turning them jet black with a silver ring and red pupils. Finally, he could see the trace and path of the next two attacks coming from the blade despite the decrease in physical strength.

The trade-off for the increase in the power of the eyes was worth the price!

He wasn't worried. Instead, his mouth curled into a grin while his eyes watched the movements, the flow of energy and aura, and he dodged with minimal movements the blades missing his neck and chest.

Using only instinct Nikolai's left arm shot out, a brutal double jab aimed at Maximilian's fangs.

"You talk too much!" Sёarch* The NôᴠeFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

The vampire was stunned and felt his head snap back. The first strike hit the jaw, a loud crack as a tooth broke, the bone-cracking while the second attack smashed his nose, a spray of blood splattering over Nikolai's face and the stone path.

Although he struck the noble vampire, Nikolai's fist was slightly deformed from the impact with two broken fingers.

The next moment, dozens of blood spears penetrated the spot where he stood as two vampires stabbed forward from the shadows.

"How dare the elders from the Faust clan attack my squire!" Her eyes flashed with a deep scarlet light as the spears stabbed towards them.

Maximilian struggled to stand up and was grabbed by another elder who looked nervous as the night sky turned blood red with spears formed by Selene, her cheeks dyed pink, with sweat dripping from her forehead. Yet they realised that for this squire, the princess wouldn't let them take his life right now.

Maximilian looked in her direction with shock. "I... didn't ask them to..."

"You think I will believe you? Hmph!" Her voice was stern and regal. 'Why does he always cause so many problems...'

At this time, it amused her that the Nosferatu heir was long gone, and only the Faust clan remained. Because of their bloodline being only noble, the royal Selene caused even their elders to be restricted in her presence.

"Take that useless trash home. I will not pursue this further. In order to maintain our race honour and dignity."

"Ah... Princess! Thank you. Forgive us for being rude." The elder who didn't attack but helped Maximilian apologised—her face showed a true look of regret, and she became apologetic. "Let's go back, young master... Hurry!

Make sure to thank the princess."

"But he hi--"

"SHUSH!" She scolded him as they vanished with a special transfer token.

However, the two who attacked and had slight wounds from her spears scowled at the princess and dazed Nikolai.

"You should consider your place before showing such acts with a filthy werewolf, princess."

"He will lower your class and dignity!"

The two didn't seem to care for her response and vanished in a flicker of light.

Selene let out a sigh before she turned around to see Nikolai sitting against the wall—though covered in blood, his cocky and handsome face showing a sly smile caused her heart to flutter.

"You..."

"I broke his fang, hahaha."

"...You idiot... Haha... did you see what he looked like? Hahaha!"

Nikolai could only watch in awe, as Selene under the red moon was too captivating as she laughed like a normal woman. It was the first time he felt she was so lovely.