-----
"Wouldn't you want to spar a little with your mother? That way, we can both get to know each other better through a good battle. No skills or magic, just weapons and techniques." She smiled. "How about it, my son? I was thinking about reconnecting more with you…"
"R-Reconnecting? And do we have to fight for that?!" Vlad asked, realizing Chris was giggling at him behind him, like the damned little imp he was.
"But of course! The Iron Blood Empire is a country born from the mightiest family of vampires. We pride ourselves on strength above all else," Teressa nodded. "There is nothing more enriching than sparring with your parent! It is a very emotional moment, where both parent and child can connect further and strengthen their bonds as warriors and family."
"So this is the vampire's concept of family and bonds, huh?" Vlad rolled his eyes. "It's all just fighting… no wonder they're so cold and cruel, usually."
"Son? I hope you don't plan on running away like back then!" Teressa said. "Or… you would rather not spend time with your mother…?"
After her strict words, Teressa suddenly let go of Vlad's grip as she lowered her head.
"I would understand if you wouldn't want to… I have… not been a good mother to begin with…" She sighed. "You were born sickly, and I never dared to bother you with such things… but now that you've improved a lot and gotten better… I wanted to finally do something I always dreamed of doing with my son… But it's alright, I suppose… I shouldn't be too overbearing. You've done—"
"Aw, come on, you're now making me feel bad! Fine!" Vlad said, crossing his arms. "But let's make it short, no longer than thirty minutes, okay?"
"Truly?! My son, you make your mother the happiest!" Teressa smiled, her motherly smile reminding him of his real-life mother as well.
Perhaps because they had similar personalities in the whole "overbearing mothers that want the best for their son," he was always reminded of her with Teressa.
"A-Ahah…" Paul wanted to log out already, but he thought he could at least give her thirty minutes of his life to deepen the bonds with her and make it easier in the game for Vlad to do as he pleased too.
"Nice! I'm looking forward to that fight!" Chris smiled with an evil giggle.
"O-Oooh! Wait, can't we livestream that? A cute spar between mother and son?" asked Queenie. "It could be really popular, like a deeper, more emotional, and personal side of the vampire family of Elderbridge."
"…I would prefer if you didn't," Vlad said angrily.
"My son, come here. The garden here is spacious enough," Teressa said, as Vlad noticed she was now carrying a long black and red spear.
"Oh wow, is Mom and big bro really going to spar?" Camilla asked excitedly. "This is so cool!"
"I suppose they are, little princess," Heracles nodded, crossing his arms. "It'll be a nice time to see the level of skill of my lords."
"Vlad is a monster. I recall how strong he was…" Gofumina said. "But Lady Teressa… I don't think I've ever seen her fighting yet."
As Vlad unsheathed his sword, he faced his mother while stepping on the grass, no longer floating. Although his penalty was still there, he was trying to overcome it through footwork, levitation, and jumps while fighting.
This way, he wouldn't have to be airborne all the time and could get a proper foothold on the ground, giving him a stronger stance at the same time. However, he had to time his three-step paralysis from his crippled physique perfectly for it to work.
He was going to overcome his weaknesses and turn this into an opportunity to develop a completely unique fighting style.
"Very well, I am well aware you're still under some problems, my son, but I also know your equipment can help you make up for it," Teressa said. "This is why we're going to fight with only weapons and low-rank weapon techniques—no magic, no skills, understood?"
"Yes," Vlad nodded, as he pointed his sword at his vampire mother. "I'm ready anytime."
"Very well. If you want me to take the initiative, then I won't complain either," smiled Teressa, her eyes glowing bright red as her aura turned colder. Her spear absorbed her aura, beginning to overflow with her power. "This is the basic Blood Weapon Aura technique, son. Have you ever tried something like this before?"
"Too easy," Vlad smiled, doing the same with his sword.
"Good, then you've been figuring out most things on your own. You might truly be talented… but even then, as your mother, it is my responsibility to teach you the basics either way, and I will make sure to engrave them into your very psyche, alright? I'm starting now, so get ready. Take the best stance you can think of to receive my blow," Teressa said, taking a step forward, her body overflowing with red light. "Three… two…"
Vlad swallowed hard, holding the blade horizontally across his chest, using it as if it were a shield to protect himself from what was coming.
"One."
FLASH!
"…Huh?"
For a split second, Teressa disappeared.
Vlad's eyes widened.
Right afterward, he realized she hadn't disappeared—she moved so quickly it seemed like she had.
Indeed.
CLAAASH!
"Ugh?!"
She took a single step, and in a second, she hit his sword with her powerful blood-aura-enhanced spear.
Vlad could hardly resist her powerful blow, being pushed several meters away while trying to keep his foothold by digging his boots into the ground with his sheer physical strength.
"Hah!"
With a furious swipe of his sword, he swung his blade downward, trying to slash his mother's chest with it!
SLASH!
However, Vlad was greeted by yet another surprising move. His mother placed the spear into the ground, using it as a pole as she spun around it, evading the slashing attack and then kicking his head from above.
"Wha…?!"
BAAM!
-----