The realization irritated him more than he wanted to admit.
No—
it infuriated him.
He was supposed to be the one looking down on everyone else.
Not the other way around.
Yet right now, all he could do was watch two monsters tear through the city while he stood uselessly above them.
His teeth clenched.
*Maybe I should just stop watching.*
His crimson eyes sharpened.
*Maybe I should use my Blood Authority.*
A dangerous pressure briefly seeped from his body.
*Kill that damn elf.*
His expression twisted into a frustrated scowl.
*At least then I'll feel better.*
His hand slowly tightened into a fist.
Then—
he forced himself to relax.
The pressure faded.
Aldric clicked his tongue.
"Tch..."
He looked down at the battlefield again.
Another explosion illuminated his face.
His eye twitched.
"Damn it."
He dragged a hand down his face.
"This is pissing me off."
The black cat sitting on his shoulder remained completely still.
Aldric exhaled sharply through his nose.
He stared at the battlefield for several more seconds.
Then—
his expression became even darker.
"What a pain."
---
Elsewhere—
high above the battlefield—
an airship hovered over the city.
The captain stood near the edge of the deck.
He stared into the distance.
Explosions continued flashing through the city.
Lightning illuminated the battlefield.
But from this distance—
he couldn't clearly see what was happening.
He could only see the flashes.
Another explosion erupted.
**BOOOOOOM!**
The captain's expression tightened.
He turned toward one of the officers.
"Can you follow the battle?"
The officer shook his head.
"No, Captain."
"We can only confirm that the battle is still ongoing."
The captain frowned.
"We can't see anything?"
"No."
The officer glanced toward the battlefield.
"The explosions and lightning are making it impossible to track the combatants."
The captain remained silent for a moment.
Then—
he asked.
"And the vampire?"
The officer immediately looked toward another direction.
"The target hasn't made a move."
The captain's eyes narrowed.
"He hasn't moved?"
The officer shook his head.
"No."
"He seems to be doing nothing but watching."
The captain looked toward Aldric.
Far above the city—
the winged figure remained suspended in the air.
The black cat still rested on his shoulder.
He hadn't joined the battle.
He hadn't attacked anyone.
He simply watched.
The captain's expression became increasingly uneasy.
"...What is he waiting for?"
Below—
the battle between Draven and Lunaria continued.
Lunaria launched another lightning-fast attack.
**SHIIIIING!**
His blade tore through the air.
Draven's Blood Scythe immediately moved to intercept it.
**CLAAAAANG!**
The two weapons collided.
Draven twisted his body, dodging another strike by mere inches.
His Blood Scythe was already in motion.
**WHOOSH!**
He swung it toward Lunaria.
Lunaria immediately dodged.
**SHRAAAK!**
The Blood Scythe cut through the surroundings behind him.
Structures and debris were sliced apart by the force of the attack.
Lunaria suddenly disappeared.
A spark of lightning flashed.
**ZAAAAAP!**
He reappeared at a distance.
Draven stood where he was, his Blood Scythe resting in his hand.
He looked toward Lunaria.
Then—
he spoke.
"You're disappointing."
Lunaria's eyes narrowed.
Draven continued.
"After such a long time, I thought I'd finally get to let loose."
His crimson eyes remained fixed on him.
"But this..."
His gaze slowly traveled over Lunaria.
"This is all you have to offer?"
A faint smile appeared on Draven's face.
"How disappointing."
Lunaria stared at him.
"Is that so?"
Lightning crackled around his body.
"You're disappointed?"
His golden eyes sharpened.
"You won't be for long."
He raised his blade.
"I've already measured your capabilities."
His voice became colder.
"Now that I know what you're capable of..."
Lightning surged around him.
"I'll be killing you now."
Draven's expression didn't change.
"Is that so?"
He gave a quiet chuckle.
"You've measured my capabilities."
His crimson eyes narrowed slightly.
"How amusing."
He slowly raised his Blood Scythe.
"You've spent this entire time studying me..."
He paused.
"...and you still haven't realized something."
Lunaria's expression tightened.
Draven's smile widened slightly.
"You're not measuring my capabilities."
"You're measuring how much I chose to show you."
Silence.
Draven's gaze remained fixed on him.
"Let me make something very clear."
His voice dropped.
"What you thought was a battle this entire time..."
He took a slow step forward.
"...was nothing more than entertainment."
His Blood Scythe dragged slightly against the ground.
"A game."
Draven looked at Lunaria as though he were explaining something painfully obvious.
"Since the beginning, I've been fighting you without taking this seriously."
He lifted his eyes.
"And you mistook that for my limit."
Lunaria's eyes narrowed further.
Draven continued.
"Let me explain it in a way even you can understand."
His crimson eyes glinted.
"Vampires are known for their incredible regeneration."
"In battle, a vampire doesn't need to fear injuries or death the way other beings do."
"We can put our bodies on the line."
"We can allow ourselves to be wounded."
"We can continue fighting even after suffering injuries that would kill another creature."
Draven's smile disappeared.
"Because we regenerate."
He stared directly at Lunaria.
"And that is exactly how I've been fighting you."
A brief silence followed.
"Without caring whether you hurt me."
Draven slowly looked over his own body.
Then—
his gaze returned to Lunaria.
"Now answer me something."
"Since this began..."
His voice became almost mocking.
"Have you even managed to leave a scratch on me?"
Lunaria remained silent.
Draven smiled.
"No."
His eyes moved over Lunaria's battered body.
"Yet look at you."
His tone became colder.
"You're already showing the damage this little game has done to you."
He tilted his head slightly.
"And you still thought you were the one measuring my capabilities?"
Draven gave a quiet laugh.
"How arrogant."
He tightened his grip around the Blood Scythe.
"You haven't even seen me try yet."
His crimson eyes sharpened.
"So I advise you—"
A dangerous smile slowly spread across his face.
"Try harder."
He raised the Blood Scythe.
"Stop being a disappointment."