Currently, Stella and I stand in a large field that once served as Jill's training ground. The burnt grasses tell the tale of past battles, and it's evident that this place has been neglected over the years. The special grasses that once had the ability to self-heal after taking an attack have slowly withered away.

Stella holds a small wooden spear, her aura contrasting with surroundings. She's dressed in a tight black dress that clings to her body, making her look alluring yet fierce. As for me, I'm simply wearing shorts, shirtless, with a wooden sword in hand. Guida stands at the far end of the field, observing the scene with keen interest.

"Stella," I say, looking at her with a serious expression, "I want you to use everything in your arsenal to attack me. Don't hold back."

Her eyes light up with determination, and she clenches her fists. "Are you sure, Master? I don't want to hurt you."

"Don't worry about that. I can handle it," I assure her with a reassuring smile.

Suddenly, Stella charges at me, utilizing her incredible speed ability. Her movements are so swift that it almost looks like she's instantaneously teleporting from one spot to another. It reminds me of someone with a similar ability; Blink.

Stella's attacks comes at me relentlessly and precise as she thrusts the spear at me with expert skill. I parry her strikes with my sword, but her fluid movements make it challenging to keep up. I choose not to use my vampire aura, relying solely on my Ki to block her attacks. Despite my best efforts, it's becoming increasingly difficult to evade Stella's barrage of assaults. It's as if she's getting faster with each passing second.

Our battle continues, and our movements become a blur as we exchange attacks.

"IYAAAH!!!"

Stella's battle cry rings in the air once again as she charges at me with even greater speed. Our pace intensifies, and it feels like hours have passed, though it's only been minutes.

Stella starts panting heavily, her breathing rough as she struggles to catch her breath. In contrast, I am not tired, but perspiration drips down my forehead from the intense exertion.

"Are you tired, Stella?" I ask, concerned for her well-being.

She clenches her fist with determination and replies resolutely, "No, Master. I can still keep going."

In the next moment, something remarkable start to happen. Stella's body begins to elongate, and her small tail grows larger. Her horns also increase in size, and her muscle mass bulges, revealing her Draugh form. It's an incomplete transformation, but it's clear that she has improved compared to before.

Her Draugh form radiates with power, and her aura surges with energy. Stella's strength and speed appear to have amplified significantly, and she looks even more formidable.

"Impressive," I say, acknowledging her progress. "Your Draugh form has grown stronger."

Stella nods, her eyes gleaming with a newfound sense of pride and determination. "I've been training hard, Master. I want to become stronger and and always be by your side." historical

Hearing Stella's determination, I raise my eyebrows, impressed by her unwavering resolve. "If you want to always be by my side, Stella, then you'll have to keep getting stronger," I tell her, a serious expression on my face. "I promise you that I won't go easy on you. I'll push you even harder than before."

Stella nods her head, her fiery determination burning brightly. Without hesitation, she dashes towards me with incredible speed, thrusting her spear forward with precision. I swiftly evade the attack, but she doesn't stop there. With a fluid motion, she throws her wooden spear into the air and launches a barrage of punches at me.

I quickly defend against her punches, using my sword to block each strike. But Stella doesn't give me a moment's respite. As her spear descends back down, she swiftly catches it and swings it in a vertical slash towards me.

Sensing the attack, I raise my sword above my head to block the strike. However, before I can leap backward to create some distance, Stella surprises me once again. She swings her tail with immense force, slamming it on the back of my head, causing me to skid backward.

I feel a dull thud as her tail connects, but I'm not injured. Instead, I'm impressed by her ingenuity and resourcefulness in combat. Stella's ability to seamlessly combine her attacks, using both her spear and her tail, is a testament to her growth and adaptability.

"You're getting better, Stella," I say with a grin, rubbing the back of my head where she hit me.

Stella's eyes sparkle with a mix of excitement and determination upon hearing my words. "I won't stop until I reach your level, Master. I want to be someone you can rely on completely."

"You're well on your way," I reassure her, a sense of pride swelling within me. "But remember, strength isn't just about physical power. It's also about strategy, tactics, and protecting those you care about."

Stella nods, absorbing my words. Since she's not the smart type, I have to take my time and slowly explain to her.

As our training session continues, Stella and I engage in a series of intense sparring matches. She keeps pushing herself, and I match her prowess with my own skills and abilities. The field around us becomes a blur of movement and power as we clash against each other.

As the moons sets on the training field, we finally come to a halt, both of us panting with exhaustion but wearing smiles of satisfaction. Stella wipes the sweat from her brow, a glint of determination still in her eyes.

"I'm not there yet, but I promise I'll keep working hard," Stella says, her voice filled with determination.

Letting out a weary sigh, I glance at Guida who is sleeping on the far end of the field with drool leaking from the corner of her mouth.

"Khuuurghhhh~ mwhaaa~

Khuuurghhhh~ mwhaa~~" Snoring sounds erupts from Guida as she sleeps without caring about her surrounding. Though her black miasma is still dancing around her.

"Sigh... Such a lazy spirit," me and Stella say at the same time causing us to both let out a chuckle.

==================================

Join our Discord server for updates and to view character illustrations.

https://discord.gg/RF8pvt6KJv

Cast your votes using power stones and golden tickets to unlock more chapters.