THE SSS-RANKED TAMING VILLAIN SKILL-Chapter 30: The Predator’s Lesson

Aelion did not really understand the link between the use of runes and being an artisan. It was true that in what he had read, artisans were the most predisposed to evolve in this field, yet there were mages who used them. Maybe it was because of the runes he had drawn?

"I mean the runes? Why bother learning them knowing that it’s more for utility than for combat?" declared Seraphina, curious.

"Who said that? I can understand if it’s the case for minor runes, but major ones are rather offensive," he said, confused.

"I mean, yes, that’s true, but what’s the point of learning and entering a field where you will never reach the level of major runes?" questioned the vampire, curious.

"I still don’t understand what you mean..."

Seraphina sighed before continuing, remembering that her student knew nothing about magic.

"Runes are rather complex and quite esoteric knowledge. Mages abandoned its learning and even often threw it into oblivion, because how to say it? What is the use of learning an art whose peak or even a decent level one will never reach? The ratio of mages who can truly be effective using it is quantified at 1/1000, unlike artisans. And considering how mages can be, facing the growing number of talented rune artisans, it was classified as utilitarian and without contribution—relegated as not prestigious enough for them," explained Seraphina, detailing as precisely as possible.

"Wait, you mean that just because mages weren’t as gifted as artisans in the runic language, they depreciated it to the point of not considering it worthy of their interest? Just because of artisans?" replied Aelion, shocked.

"Exactly! You know, mages can be quite arrogant, selfish, and show excessive pride. We are for the most part scholars! The fact that knowledge is out of our reach is rather..." affirmed the vampire bluntly, searching for the word.

"Humiliating? Especially because it is within the reach of artisans you consider simple-minded?"

"That’s it! Besides, I have nothing against them, I only repeat the prejudices in which I was raised. It’s not as if I knew the runic language—my parents didn’t find it relevant," justified Seraphina.

Generally, in the works of fiction from his world, although runes found their usefulness in weapon creation, they were considered a superior form of magic that surpassed conventional ones.

"I don’t plan on becoming an artisan anyway, I use all the knowledge at my disposal to reach my goal..."

"Which is what, if you’re willing to share?"

"Haven’t I already told you? Helping you, of course!" he said, his face reflecting his seriousness.

Seraphina, surprised, blushed without realizing it, instinctively turning away.

"Y-y-you still have a long way to go."

"I know, that’s why I decided to speed things up," he said, smiling and excited.

---

Two weeks passed after he began learning runes. Thanks to his efforts and constant determination, he managed to master a few basic ones, which allowed him to access an exclusive quest.

---

Side Quest #2: Path to Rune Mastery

Description:

You, scholar from another world, have stumbled upon knowledge as ancient as it is esoteric. Devotion, understanding, and thirst for knowledge go hand in hand to reach the peaks of the runic language.

Completion Conditions:

Trace 100 runes without errors. [80/100]

Identify the effect of an unknown rune. [Completed]

Survive a trap rune.

Duration: No time limit

Reward: [Rune Sense]; [Rune Mastery] (Intermediate)

---

The completion conditions were rather flexible for Aelion. Although his fingers and his mana suffered from the many rune tracings he had to make, he was not discouraged. Thanks to this, he was able to learn how to manage his mana and comparatively train his basic magical skills, which evolved in level.

Identifying the effect of the rune was the most complicated, because a rune literally represented the name and sometimes the effect. He had to read a lot in order to identify the effect through its forms. The last condition was the most problematic. How to survive a trap rune? Would it still be a trap if he knew it and endured it? Or did he need to be unconscious? That was the point he needed to clarify.

Parallel to this, his close-combat training began with Seraphina and UGAEL. The vampire handled blade techniques, and the automaton handled pugilism.

At first, he was overwhelmed by the difference in strength; even Seraphina was exasperated and asked him to stop on several occasions. According to her words:

"It is true that I am, the problem is that you don’t really have innate talent for weapon handling... Even if I can reduce my strength, there is a limit I cannot go below."

The truth hurt him, of course, but he swallowed his frustration and got up every time. Today too, it was time to start again. Seraphina was already in the training room, wooden sword in hand.

As soon as Aelion entered, no words—just an exchange of looks that already said everything that would happen. He quickly took his own weapon, and then the carnage began. The vampire appeared and disappeared from his field of vision. Each time he tried to think about where she could be, he received a violent strike.

The first was an upward blow that shattered his shoulder and the joint of his bones. Aelion screamed in pain; however, he had to react—otherwise, what was the point of all these weeks of training? Seraphina knew exactly what she was doing, because her man’s refusal to give up not only angered her but pushed her to greater aggression to show him the gap and the despair.

Yet he did not give up. His piercing golden eyes still shone—a faint glow whose intensity was real. That was why, despite her aiming at the arm holding his blade, Aelion quickly passed it to the other hand, turned, and struck laterally with all his force.

The only resistance his sword met was that of the air, because Seraphina had already moved, leaving only emptiness.

Panicked, he scanned the room, yet he did not see her at first glance.

It was already too late, because as soon as she reappeared, his second arm was struck with the same violence as before. The result was not beautiful to see at all. Even Aelion pitied what it had become. His arm had been broken in multiple places, the bones tearing through the flesh and showing in the open air.

Argh!!!

His weapon fell, and a scream of pain echoed through the room. The young man collapsed to his knees under the cold and emotionless gaze of his opponent.

"You..."

"Go on if it helps reduce your frustration, anyway there’s nothing to be done—you’ll die again now," she said, looking down at him with her imposing gaze.

Of all the training sessions, this was the first time she had shown herself so violent and uninterested. At one moment, Aelion thought he saw again the one who had killed him on the ground floor.

Seeing him in a new light—revolted and enraged before her—Seraphina found it rather attractive and sexy. She had nothing against his kindness; however, it was always interesting to see all the facets of a person.

Aelion was not used to swearing, at least not internally. It was an accumulation of frustration and constant awakening. In fact, Seraphina was satisfied to let the man train alone; however, for reasons of efficiency—and vengeance for the rising sexual tension between them that she had not been able to satisfy.

As a result, Seraphina erased all traces of her mana and infiltrated wherever Aelion was. Each time he failed to detect her instantly, she simply killed him. In summary, she killed him: while he was eating, in the bathroom, in the shower, walking in the corridors, in the office, and when he fell asleep or was on the verge of sleeping. In every possible situation and in the worst ways.

The pain was present sometimes, and sometimes it was just as if his mind and consciousness had been cut off abruptly. He had become the prey of an invisible predator.

Traumatic experiences that had the effect of sharpening his perception and detection, his natural senses, and opening the way to sensing intentions.

The speed with which Seraphina shifted from the intention to kill to her normal demeanor was surprising to him. If he had not resisted so much when she made advances through her touches and flirting, Seraphina would not have been so cruel. But he had a creed to respect.

A sly and confident smile appeared on his face as Seraphina prepared to deliver the final blow to split his skull. There was something he had forgotten from the beginning: the nature of his opponent—a vampire.

The day before, he had drawn runes all over the room—the one he had shown her at the very beginning, the little light rune. Moreover, Seraphina had also admitted her lack of knowledge of the runic language.

Thanks to that, he was able to carry out his plan. Aelion deployed his mana, which upon contact with the runes activated. A small spark was nothing threatening, but thousands changed everything. A strong blinding light was born in the room, and even Seraphina was forced to cover her eyes and face.

[Skill Activated: Blood Blade, Focused Flow, Blood Perception]

The combined effect of his reinforcement skills plus his black blood, which reattached and reset his two arms temporarily like an adhesive, granted him explosive speed.

His black-blood sword in hand, he rushed forward as soon as the blinding effect dissipated and, thanks to a diagonal slash, he cut Seraphina for the first time.

"Well played..."

[You have died]

Damn.