The man who shouted stood at the entrance of the training grounds. His voice cut through the chaos. It echoed against the stone walls. He looked ready to scold someone. But the moment Cain turned around and answered, "I am," his expression shifted.
He blinked. He stared at Cain's face for a long second. Then he glanced behind Cain and froze.
His breath stopped.
Dozens of soldiers lay scattered across the ground. They were bruised. They were swollen. They were bleeding. They were crawling. Some looked like they had been tossed from one end of the training ground to the other.
It was a massacre of pride.
The soldiers behind Cain instantly screamed out when they saw the newcomer.
"Trooper Captain William! Save us! Captain! Please! We can't take this anymore! He's crazy! He's not a normal Vampire! He's breaking bones! Captain, please save us!" Their voices overlapped.
One cried about his ribs, another about his jaw. One sobbed that his mother wouldn't recognize him, while another begged William to carry him to bed. One shouted that Cain hit him so hard he forgot his wife's name. Another wailed that Cain laughed while beating them. One claimed he saw his life flash twice.
Several begged for mercy at once. One yelled that his arm was twisted the wrong way. Another pleaded for William to end the pain. They trembled so much their words broke. Tears mixed with blood. One repeatedly pleaded, "Captain please," like a broken chant.
They sounded like men returning from war, but they had only fought one man.
Cain did not even look back at them. He simply stood there, arrogant and calm.
William pointed his sword at Cain. His voice trembled with confusion and anger.
"Cain… did you use your spells again? Are you trying to make Madam Cornelia angry with you? Do you want her to avoid you again? Do you want her to spend more time in training with Captain Cedrick like last time? Are you not afraid those two will develop feelings?"
Cain snorted.
"Me? Using spells on weaklings like them?" His arms relaxed at his sides. "If I wanted to use a spell, William, I'd use blood restoration. That way I can restore them to full health and beat them into a bloody pulp again."
William's mouth fell open.
He looked at the soldiers. He looked back at Cain. He swallowed hard. His face slowly paled. If Cain was telling the truth, then those injuries came only from his physical body.
Cain lifted a finger and pointed at William.
"Why don't you and your troops join? These insects behind me didn't satisfy me."
The beaten soldiers behind Cain instantly cried out again. He was begging him to run.
"No! Captain William, please don't leave us! Captain! We thought we were saved! Captain please! Please don't fight him! He's insane! He'll destroy you too! Captain, don't let him touch us again!"
One soldier sobbed, this one was begging him to avenge him. "He twisted my arm like it was dough! Captain avenge us!"
Another shouted, "He hit me so fast I forgot how to breathe! Run Captain, run!"
One grabbed William's leg and cried, "Captain, I have a child! I don't want Cain to use me as a punching bag again! take me with you!"
One even screamed dramatically, "Captain, I saw the moon god! I saw him! He told me to avoid him!"
The panic was endless. Others were begging not to join them, some to run, some to avenge them.
Meanwhile, the soldiers behind William were furious. They pushed forward and shouted things like:
"Captain, let us avenge them!"
"He humiliated our brothers!"
"Beat him up, Captain!"
"We can't let this useless husband talk like this!"
"Captain William, show him the pride of the Moonshade Soldiers!"
They were full of fire and anger, but not a single one dared take the first step while Cain was watching them.
Cain pointed at them with a grin.
"Yes. Come. Avenge them. I agree."
Then Cain suddenly grabbed one of the beaten soldiers behind him by the collar. The man screamed.
"No no no no—wait—please—!"
Cain snapped his arm, then snapped his leg, then cracked his nose with a flick of his finger. The poor soldier shrieked like a dying animal.
The soldiers behind William roared:
"STOP!"
"How dare you!"
"Let him go!"
"You monster!"
William's fury exploded.
"You!"
Cain ignored all of them. He looked down at the man he had broken.
"Stop crying. You sound like a little girl."
The soldier still cried harder.
Then he whispered weakly, "Save… me…"
William stepped forward. His voice rang out loud.
"Do not interfere! Let me deal with him!"
The soldiers behind William cheered loudly. The beaten soldiers behind Cain also cheered even louder, even though they were in no condition to cheer.
"Captain William! Beat him!"
"Show him who's boss!"
"Make him pay!"
"We believe in you, Captain!"
One cried, "Captain, break his legs! Please!"
William lowered his stance. He held a real sword, not a wooden training weapon. His aura rose like a burning flame. His breath deepened. The air around him grew heavy.
Cain smiled.
William charged forward. His sword cut through the air. His movements were strong. His footwork showed years of training. But Cain only tilted his head. The blade missed him by a hair.
William swung again. Cain leaned back lazily.
He stepped aside. He dodged with calm movements. His feet barely touched the ground. He moved like water.
William gritted his teeth.
"Stop dodging!"
Cain chuckled.
"Annoying. You're weak. You're wasting my time."
William swung harder. Sparks flew when his blade scraped the stone floor. His breath grew heavy. His face twisted with frustration.
Then killing intent surged from him. The soldiers gasped. Cain raised a brow.
"Oh? Finally. Something fun."
His eyes darkened. His smile twisted.
He stepped in.
Boom.
Cain struck William's side. The captain flew across the training ground and rolled on the sand. He stood again, shaking. He charged again.
Boom.
Cain hit him in the chest. William coughed out blood. His sword trembled in his hand. But he refused to fall.
Cain sighed.
"You should stay down."
But William roared.
"Never!"
Then Cain moved like a shadow. He blurred. His fist slammed into William's gut. The captain fell to his knees, gasping for breath. Cain kicked him lightly, sending him into the air.
The soldiers behind William charged in anger.
"Protect the captain!"
"Fight him together!"
Cain looked thrilled.
"Oh, good. More toys."
Boom. Boom. Boom. One by one they flew into the sky. Bodies landed beside the earlier beaten soldiers. Soon the entire training ground was filled with groaning vampires.
William lay under Cain's foot, pinned to the sand. His sword lay far from him. His face was swollen. His pride was shattered.
"You son of a bitch!" William yelled. "How dare you humiliate me like this!"
Cain pressed harder.
"Shut up. I'm not done yet."
One soldier remained standing in the far back. He had no injuries. But his legs shook so badly he looked like he might collapse.
Cain pointed at him.
"You. Call your captains. Bring the Blood Soldier Captain. And bring that highest-ranking but weak ass Captain Cedrick too."
The soldier did not move. His mouth opened and closed like a fish.
Cain glared.
"Hurry."
The soldier jumped at the command and sprinted toward the exit like a terrified rabbit.
Cain watched him run with a bored expression.
Behind him, William cursed from under his foot. "You'll pay for this!"
Cain didn't even look at him.
"I said shut up," And kabam! His head was slammed deeper to the sand.
And the training ground stayed silent except for the sound of soldiers groaning in pain.