Masaru could be seen alone in the training room, his sharp gaze fixed on the cape that now lay before him. It had finally returned to its original form—a deep crimson red, as if permanently dyed in blood. The fabric was plain, with no intricate patterns or embroidery to speak of, save for a single insignia at the clasp. Yet, despite its simplicity, it exuded an undeniable aura of power. The weight of its history and the secrets it held made it seem more than just a mere piece of cloth.
Right now, his current task, given to him by Akane, was to master the powers of the cape. She had told him that, after evolving, he was now capable of using only 5% of its power. Even that fraction, however, was already proving to be remarkable. The cape had abilities that went beyond his expectations—it passively absorbed blood energy from the surroundings, reducing the energy cost required for him to use blood arts. It was, in every sense, a magnificent weapon. The mere thought of what it could do at full power made his imagination run wild.
"Five percent...," Masaru muttered under his breath, his fingers lightly grazing the fabric.
He couldn't help but wonder—what would happen if he unlocked 100%? What kind of strength would he wield? The idea itself was both exhilarating and daunting. He knew it was a far-off dream, perhaps even an impossible one, yet he couldn't stop himself from imagining it. No wonder Akane called it an ancient artifact; such things always carried incredible power beyond the grasp of common warriors.
According to Akane, this cape was a living being. It had a will of its own. If he wanted to make the most of it, he needed to establish a connection with it as soon as possible.
Masaru narrowed his eyes, staring at the insignia. If it was truly alive, then surely... it could hear him, right?
Placing his hand on the insignia, he stroked it gently, feeling the slightly cool surface beneath his fingertips.
"Can you hear me?" he asked in a low tone.
Silence.
He waited.
Still nothing.
Masaru frowned, feeling a little ridiculous. He continued speaking, trying different ways of addressing it, but after a few minutes of meaningless chatter, he sighed and face-palmed himself.
He really was an idiot sometimes.
A memory flickered in his mind. In the countless fictional movies and animes he'd watched, there was always a common trope—ancient relics or powerful weapons would often require a drop of blood to awaken. Blood was a key ingredient, the bridge that connected man to artifact.
Now that he thought about it, he'd always questioned how the protagonists in those stories had no hesitation. They would simply cut their palms open without a second thought, as if the pain was nothing. He used to think it was reckless, even absurd.
But now, standing in front of the cape, wanting to forge a connection with it, he understood.
The thrill of getting stronger, of unlocking hidden potential, far surpassed any casual or unimportant fear of pain. Even if he had to cut his entire arm off, he would do it if it meant gaining more power.
...Or at least, that's what he wanted to believe.
"—No, I wouldn't," Masaru quickly corrected himself, shaking his head. "I like my arm!"
Instead, he decided on a less dramatic approach. He extended his hand and gently bit his finger with his elongated fangs. He had learned that normal human-made weapons couldn't even injure him unless he used excessive force, which seemed unnecessary when he could simply use his own fangs.
That being said, silver was something he absolutely wouldn't use. Not only was it painful, but it would also burn his blood and prevent regeneration. After all, he was still just a vampire servant.
There were also supernatural weapons that Akane had spoken about—artifacts that had unpredictable effects when used. Some could potentially harm him in ways he couldn't even anticipate. He wasn't about to experiment with those on himself just to satisfy his curiosity.
His thoughts returned to the cape as a single drop of blood fell onto the insignia.
The reaction was immediate.
The insignia began to glow with a brilliant light, pulsating as if responding to the blood. Masaru's eyes widened slightly in anticipation. It worked! His intelligence and memories had finally paid off.
A grin spread across his face, revealing his fangs.
He sat back, watching eagerly for what would happen next. The light continued to shine for several moments, filling the training room with an eerie red glow. He felt his heartbeat quicken as his mind raced with possibilities.
Would the cape recognize him? Would it finally acknowledge him as its wielder?
He waited.
And waited.
Minutes passed.
Nothing happened.
The glow slowly faded. The cape remained unchanged.
Masaru's grin vanished.
"...Was the blood not enough?" he muttered. "Or is there something else?"
He considered the possibility that the connection had already formed but was too subtle for him to notice. Perhaps he needed to feel it rather than see it.
"Let's try adding more blood," he decided.
Without hesitation, he placed his hand over the insignia once more.
However, before he could even release another drop of blood—
A sharp, searing pain tore through his entire body.
His vision blurred as his nerves screamed in agony. It felt as if his flesh was being burned away, as if his body was being exposed to the scorching sun. His muscles convulsed, his fangs clenched as he struggled to make sense of what was happening.
"Was it always this painful—?!"
His words never finished.
Darkness overtook him.
His body collapsed onto the cold ground.
Unconscious.