Mikazuki Mansion, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
The grand corridors of the Mikazuki Mansion stretched endlessly before Masaru. Every step he took echoed faintly, swallowed by the sheer luxury surrounding him. Marble floors polished to perfection reflected the intricate gold chandeliers overhead. The walls bore ancient calligraphy, each stroke painted with deliberate precision, as if the very history of the Mikazuki family had been inscribed onto them.
He glanced at the serene yet haunting emptiness of the estate—a mansion far too large for one person to live in alone.
"Akane, I couldn't help but notice… where are the other Mikazukis?" he asked, his voice carrying genuine curiosity. "So far, I haven't seen any of your family around. Don't tell me you live here alone in a place like this?"
Akane, who had been walking beside him with a relaxed yet graceful stride, didn't break pace as she replied, "They're on an important trip. They'll be back in about a month, so just forget about it."
Masaru narrowed his eyes slightly. There was something off about her tone. It wasn't dismissive—it was guarded. As if there was more to the story than she was willing to share.
Before he could press further, she turned her head slightly, flashing him a smirk. "If you feel like it, you can start living here. From what I can deduce, you still live in that tiny apartment, right? There's plenty of room here for another person."
Masaru's mouth opened slightly, caught off guard. The offer was so casual yet strangely intimate. He wasn't sure whether to take it as an invitation or a command.
Before he could respond, they arrived at a massive set of double doors, crafted from a dark wood that gleamed under the hallway's warm lighting. Akane placed her delicate fingers on the ornate handles and pushed the doors open.
What lay beyond was something Masaru had never seen before.
---
The Grand Training Hall
The air inside the training hall was crisp, carrying the faint scent of aged wood and steel. The space was enormous—larger than a VIP gym, stocked with training equipment that Masaru hadn't even seen before. Some machines resembled standard weights, while others had a futuristic glow, hinting at technology far beyond normal human comprehension. The walls were lined with racks of weapons—katanas, spears, even European longswords, all perfectly maintained.
Masaru whistled in appreciation. "Damn… this isn't just some rich kid's gym. It's a battlefield."
Akane folded her arms, clearly amused. "Good observation. Every vampire noble needs a place to hone their abilities. You're lucky I'm even letting you in here."
Masaru's smirk faltered slightly. Lucky? No, that wasn't the word he would use. He was here because he needed to get stronger. Fast.
However, his thoughts were abruptly cut short when Akane began unbuttoning her school uniform—right in front of him.
Masaru's eyes widened slightly, and for some reason, he found it difficult to look away.
Her porcelain skin was flawless, smooth as silk, with curves that were neither excessive nor lacking. She was the embodiment of balance—graceful, yet undeniably deadly. She moved with an air of confidence, as if completely unbothered by his presence.
"I don't think I brought you here to stare at me, now did I?" Akane teased, her lips curling into a mischievous smirk.
Masaru immediately turned away, his face heating up. "I wasn't staring!"
She let out a chuckle, tying her hair into a tight ponytail. The simple action made her seem even more dangerous, as if the act of restraining her hair was the final step before a battle.
"Catch."
A bundle of black clothing hit Masaru in the chest.
"Change into this before we begin," she ordered, walking into another room inside the training hall.
Masaru sighed, quickly changing into the training outfit. Unlike Akane, he was far more conscious about exposing himself.
---
Blood Arts Training: The Trial of Blood
When Akane returned, she was holding something… strange.
It was a glass-like dummy, standing about five feet tall, almost fragile in appearance—but Masaru knew better than to take things at face value. The moment he focused on it, he could feel it.
It was dense. Unnaturally so.
"What is this thing?" Masaru asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Ethercryst," Akane answered, setting the target down. "A semi-transparent crystal that absorbs vibrations and force, making it nearly impervious to physical impact."
Masaru's expression darkened. "So you're telling me that punching it is pointless?"
Akane smirked. "That's right. But don't worry, I'm not asking you to break it with raw strength."
She stepped closer to him, her gaze turning serious.
"I'm going to teach you Blood Bullet. But since you're connected to me through my blood… I can make the process much easier."
Masaru stiffened slightly as she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer.
His heart pounded violently. He could feel her breath against his lips.
"My first kiss is going to be taken by the strongest girl in Shiroyama Academy," Masaru thought, unable to decide if this was a blessing or a death sentence.
Then it happened.
Her lips met his.
It was soft, yet burning with intensity. A tingling sensation rushed through his body, amplifying with each passing second. His mind was drowning—not in pleasure, but in knowledge.
The moment she pulled away, a sharp pain lanced through his skull.
"Gah!" Masaru groaned, clutching his head. His body was glowing faintly, and the seal on his right hand burned brighter than ever.
When the sensation finally faded, he realized something.
His mind was now flooded with information about Blood Arts. It was like he had just downloaded years of training into his brain in an instant. There were currently information about two blood arts, blood bullet and blood solidification which could also be called blood creation.
"That… was insane," he muttered, slowly sitting up.
Akane took a sip of tea, watching him with satisfaction. "It worked like a charm."
Masaru clenched his fists. He could feel it. The energy inside him. The blood energy that now surged through his veins like an extension of his will.
His eyes locked onto the Ethercryst dummy.
"Alright," he said, lifting a hand. "Let's see how this works."
---
Masaru extended his index finger, channeling his blood energy outward.
A scarlet mist formed at his fingertips, slowly condensing into liquid form. The liquid then began to spin, its speed increasing exponentially until it took the shape of a small, razor-sharp bullet.
Akane's eyes flickered with interest. "Not bad. But can you fire it?"
Masaru grinned. "Watch this."
With a flick of his finger, the Blood Bullet tore through the air—
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion erupted, shaking the very ground beneath them.
Dust filled the air as the Ethercryst dummy remained standing—but now, a deep, glowing-red crack spread across its surface.
Akane's eyes widened slightly. "…You managed to crack it on your first try?"
Masaru smirked, flexing his fingers. "Underestimating me was your first mistake."
Akane let out a short laugh. "You might actually be worth training after all."
As Masaru looked at his still-glowing hand, a thought crossed his mind.
This was only the beginning.
If he wanted to survive in this world—if he wanted to dominate it—
He would have to master everything.
No matter what it took.