The training soldiers froze in place. The elf hit the pillar and fell down it. Blood slowly ran along the stone. The whole courtyard went still. Then the soldiers turned to Cain with anger and fear mixed on their faces.
One of them stepped forward. "W–Who are you? What did you do to our comra—"
He went quiet the moment he noticed Cain's attire. Noble vampire colors. This made his eyes bulge big. The others stared. Fear showed on every face.
"M–My lord, we didn't know— we didn't realize— please forgive—"
But their fear lasted only two seconds.
Because the moment they took a good look at Cain's face, their expressions twisted again, this time with disgust.
"Wait… that's…" one soldier muttered.
Another pointed with a shaking hand. "Look! It's the useless Husband Vampire!"
Anger replaced fear like a sudden slap.
"What did you do!?" one of them yelled. "He was your comrade, and you sent him flying!"
Cain stared at them with a blank face. He blinked slowly. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
These idiots saw me blast their friend across the field. They were scared for half a breath, and now they're yelling again because they recognized me?
Another soldier pushed forward. "You useless husband! If our Captain comes and sees this mess, he'll beat you up!"
Cain snorted. "If your captain comes, I'll beat him up too."
The soldiers froze in disbelief.
"What did he say…"
"He insulted Captain Cedrick…"
"He said he'll beat him up…"
They trembled with shock for a moment.
Then one of them pointed his sword at Cain. "Let's attack him! If he uses spells, Madam Cornelia will punish him again! And she'll grow closer to Captain Cedrick! Just like last time!"
Cain paused.
"…just like last time?"
Memory crashed into him. He saw the younger version of himself. Weak. Pathetic. Clinging to Cornelia's attention. Using Blood Infusion Mana in a small fight with Cedrick. Cornelia shouting at him, scolding him for hurting the blood soldiers. Cedrick looking like a hero while Cain looked like a clown. Everyone admiring Cedrick. Everyone mocking Cain.
Cain clicked his tongue. "Tch. I remember."
He rolled his shoulders. "Relax. I'm not using Blood Infusion Mana. I'm here to exercise."
He pointed at them. "Come at me. All of you."
The soldiers looked at each other. Their eyes burned with hatred.
"For Lord Cedrick!"
"For Madam Cornelia!"
"For their perfect match!"
Cain's eyebrow twitched. They're shipping them? Right in front of me?
The soldiers lifted their swords and charged.
Cain grinned.
The first soldier ran in. His steps were heavy. His arms trembled but he swung with all he had.
Cain didn't even dodge.
He punched forward once.
A dull boom rang out. The soldier's body jerked hard. Like he was hit by a cannon. His ribs bent inward. His eyes rolled white. He flew back. Spun in the air. Like a broken kite. Then he slammed into the ground. Sand flew as he skidded far away.
The others froze.
"What—"
"How—"
Then another soldier shouted, "Don't stop! Attack!"
The second one charged. He tried to be faster. He tried to dodge. He tried to leap.
But Cain was faster. Causing the second one to be punched in the stomach next.
Worse, a strange air burst came out of him. It sounded like a horrible wheeze.
Next, his body folded. Like paper.
He flew backward and hit the training wall. A loud crack.
His sword slipped from his hand mid-air. It landed far away.
The third soldier hesitated. He looked left and right. "H–Hold on! He's not using magic! He's—"
Cain appeared in front of him.
The soldier's breath caught.
Cain flicked his fist forward with the smallest movement.
The soldier's face twisted. His cheeks wobbled. His entire body lifted off the ground and he flipped backward. His scream echoed as he flew past his comrades. He landed face-first in the sand, leaving a deep trench behind him.
The remaining soldiers started to panic.
Another soldier tried to back away. His knees shook. "He's not using spells! He's really not! He's just punching!"
Cain shrugged. "I told you. Exercise."
A soldier ran in and swung his sword wildly. "For Captain Cedrick!"
He swung ten times.
Cain blocked none of them. He didn't need to. The sword was too slow.
Cain tapped him lightly on the chest.
The soldier's legs lifted off the ground. His arms flailed as he flew straight up, crashing into the low roof before dropping down like a sack of stones.
The others watched in horror.
"Did he just—"
"He didn't even try—"
"He just touched him and he flew—"
Fear crept into their eyes. They looked at their fallen comrades scattered across the ground. Some were stuck in walls. Some were groaning in the sand. Some were unconscious with limbs bent at strange angles.
Cain rolled his wrist. "What's wrong? Tired already?"
No one moved.
Cain smirked. "How about this. If any of you can take me down, I'll divorce Cornelia myself."
That did it.
Their eyes widened. Rage returned. Pride returned.
And stupidity returned.
One soldier roared, "Everyone! Together!"
They all nodded and stepped forward. They formed a line. They gripped their swords. Their faces were red from anger and humiliation.
Cain grinned wider. "That's more like it. Come."
They attacked in a full rush.
Cain punched the first one so hard his helmet rolled off before his body landed.
He kicked the second soldier. It's not that hard. But the man flew away like a doll.
He slapped the third. The soldier spun and collapsed.
Next, he jabbed the fourth in the shoulder lightly. But accompanied with a scream. The body flew back and tumbled.
He flicked the fifth on the forehead. The soldier shot back, rolled on the ground, and stopped.
Their formation broke. Their courage shattered. Their screams filled the entire training ground.
Cain stood in the middle of the chaos and sighed. "This isn't even an early evening exercise."
The soldiers lay groaning. Some tried to crawl. Some pretended to be unconscious. Some whimpered into the sand.
Cain scratched the back of his head. He wasn't satisfied. Not even close. "Come on. Don't you want Captain Cedrick to be with Cornelia? Aren't you all rooting for them?"
The soldiers flinched.
"Come at me again," Cain said. "Show me if his men are even worth anything. Or are you all just like this? Weak. Pathetic. So so."
He added, with a cruel smile, "Maybe your captain is stupid too. And incompetent. Not worthy of one of my wives."
The soldiers froze.
Silence fell.
Then rage exploded in their eyes.
One soldier stood up trembling. He grabbed a wooden sword. His knuckles turned white.
But he hesitated.
Cain raised an eyebrow. "Why stop? What? Scared? Your captain's men are already weak. Might as well look cowardly too."
The soldier's face turned red.
Cain pointed at him. "Use your weapon. Use anything—even a real one. Why would I be scared? I'm sure, with your captain's teaching and leadership, all of you soldiers aren't worth a damn shit…"
That was the final flame.
The soldiers roared together. "You! How dare you insult our captain!"
Cain sneered. "Can't even take an insult. What cave-ass brains."
They charged with wooden swords raised high.
Cain sighed. "Fine. Let's continue."
Then he moved.
And they flew.
And they screamed.
And they landed in the dirt again.
The sound echoed across the training ground like thunder. Bodies dropped like rain. Wooden swords snapped in half. Sand exploded from every impact.
Cain didn't use magic once.
It was all fists.
It was all strength.
For the blood knights, it was all nothing but humiliation.
Then, just as Cain cracked his knuckles and prepared to beat them up even more, a sharp voice stopped him.
"Who is causing trouble here!?"