"So I'm offering you a proposition."

"Go ahead. I'm listening."

Although I don't want to, Axel wanted to say. But angry or not, he didn't want sharp silver assortments being thrown at him. So he kept it down.

"You will be seconded to the Vampire Hunters of Estia. You will work with us, for us, under the direct control of me, and the other Circles. You will help us hunt down vampires, who will no doubt be drawn to you due to the nature of your blood. And when they come," The Circle smiled affably. "You will kill them. With us."

"And why would I agree?"

"Because you have no choice. That much is clear."

"Fine." Axel sighed. I've really made a mess of it all. But I can probably escape. One of these days.

"Due to the fact that Arcanist Magus made the suggestion to use you, you will be working with him in a small squad designed to bring out each other's talents. Keep in mind that we can see what they see. We can hear what they hear. Make one move against them, and we kill you. Preemptively."

"All right. But promise me one thing. If we ever see the vampire that goes by the name Lamiar, I get to kill him."

"I'll promise no such thing."

"Why should I help you!"

"Don't help us. Help yourself by not dying. What does it matter if it helps us too?"

"...Fine." Axel scowled. "Now what."

Benson smiled. "Now your training. With me."

------

"The test is simple. Your training lasts until you can throw me out of the circle." Jorge stood in a ring, marked with red, on one of the many training dais in the hall.

He's a human. Without his sword, he's nothing.

"Ready? Here I come."

Axel walked up to Jorge and punched him.

Instantly, the Circle grabbed his hand and spun on it as an axis. Axel felt himself lose control of his arm, and the Circle pivoted on the fist's velocity, then sent it back into Axel's stomach.

Crunch

Axel staggered backwards, staring at Jorge with disbelief. "How did you do that..."

"Come at me again."

This time, Axel ran parallel to Jorge, then abruptly changed direction, running in a V shape. He built up in to a series of blind dashes around the Circle, painting his afterimage onto the eyes of bystanders.

He won't be able to see me coming.

The Circle made ocassional jabs at the blur that was Axel, but none hit him, instead coming into contact with his ghost image. He was getting better at hitting Axel though, showing more prediction in his moves.

How do you like my full power, old man?

Axel abruptly changed direction as he headed straight for Jorge. Parallel became perpendicular as he put all his strenght into dashing right at the enemy. In less than a fraction of a second, he crossed the ten-meter dais and threw a punch. Then he realised.

"What if I kill you?"

Axel's face slammed into the ground, his charging force redirected downwards.

"Nevermind."

"Now use your Blood Arts."

"What? Do you have a death wish?" Axel was incredulous.

"It won't make that much of a difference, trust me. I'll use my sword."

Now Axel was annoyed. "Fine!"

[Blood Strings]

A small pinprick of blood appeared on each of Axel's fingers, engorging until they were about thumb-sized. They flew out, attached on thin strings, weighting them down and providing leverage. Drawing them back to him, Axel spun his arms in two tight circles.

"Get down!"

The weights flew around at breakneck speeds, one of them even smashing through a pillar without slowing down one bit. However, the most dangerous threat were the strings, carving deep through anything they touched. Spectators watching the fight lost their goggle-eyedness and dived for cover.

"Block this!"

Jorge slashed down.

Seriously? One slash isn't going to cut my strings.

[Perfect Aligned][Rippling Ribbon Slashes]

The Circle twisted, redirecting the velocity of the slash and sending it upwards. The cuts grew faster and faster as momentum built up, creating an impenetrable wall of slicing blades.

"Wha..?"

Axel gaped as his strings were all severed effortlessly. Jorge abruptly stopped, bunching his muscles, then jerked his sword forward. The sudden release of force, combined with a leap, brough the Circle's blade right to Axel's throat.

[Tidal Thrust]

"See? No difference."

"The problem with you, vamp, is that your Blood Arts are highly basic. All you can do is shape your blood into various things. Strings. Swords. I've never seen strings before, but it's still really easy to beat. Coupled with your lack of analytical thinking in fights and impulsive behaviour, you'll last about three seconds in a real fight."

"What?"

"Basically you're an impulsive dumbass that hits first and thinks later. Which is bad."

"Oh." Axel was getting mad now. "How do you suggest I fix that."

"I'm not a vampire." The Circle smiled slyly. "You go find your own teacher."

"...Thanks. You're so damn helpful, you know that?"

"Yeah, I do."

------

"Have you found the boy?"

"Yes sir. He is in Gertford. With the Vampire Hunters."

"The Vampire Hunter? What the hell is he doing with them?"

"Apparently they are training him, it seems. They would use our work against us."

"How impudent. Raze Gertford to the ground."