Chapter 2: Rise 2
Standing above the vampire fledglings Jackson examined each of them before heading over to the spot underneath the balcony that Viktor had stood on taking advantage of that blind spot. After being hidden away in that spot for a few minutes a figure vaulted off of the balcony above sniffing around at the fledglings on the ground before turning to face me revealing Lucian.
Mildly intrigued as to why he was even close enough to the courtyard to have noticed the vampires knocked out in the middle of it Jackson stepped out of the shadows facing down Lucian.
"Who might you be?"
"Jackson and you?"
"Lucian the blacksmith."
"Oh a Lycan blacksmith must be a privilege is there a reason that you crashed into the courtyard?"
"These masters were obviously attacked I was merely checking on them."
"Don't worry about them I was tasked with training them seeing as I displayed an impressive amount of skill for combat after I was forced to take the bite."
"Ah I see apologies I imagine its still a fresh wound then my friend."
"Let's make this clear Lucian I am not your friend not at this instance in time at least."
Nodding Lucian made a very obvious show of turning to leave appearing as non threatening as he could be about it Jackson's guard only lowering once he could no longer hear Lucians footsteps. With a grunt Jackson walked over to the vampires nudging them with his foot a few times before moving away again sitting down against the wall as they slowly got up groaning from the bruises and broken noses that were repairing before his very eyes.
Enjoying the sight a bit too much Jackson watched as they supported each other out of the courtyard the vampire that was forced to bite him seeming to be disoriented only shaking off most of the impacts yet a few of the wounds to the face took longer to recover.
Soon after that batch left a more experienced group entered this time they were sporting actual armor not metal but instead leather with small patches of silver along it. In the lead stood Sonja her knuckles heavily plated with silver as she strode ahead of the pack not issuing any form of warning before launching off to strike at Jackson.
By pure luck Jackson managed to roll out of the way as Sonja slammed her fist into the wall cracking it in an impressive display of strength, leaving Jackson to spring to his feet racing at the other vampires drop kicking one into the other two while a fist flew threw the air where his back had been obviously with the intent to break his spine.
Landing on the ground Jackson looked up at Sonja as she stomped down using both of his hands to catch her foot before roaring as he pushed sending her flipping away before leaping up striking the regrouped vampires in the throats and legs forcing them to kneel.
While he was focused on dealing with the regrouped vampires Sonja came up from behind him striking Jackson across the side of his head disorienting him and allowing the vampires that came with Sonja to support each other spitting blood onto the ground. Growling Jackson lurched up the counter in front of his eyes winding down rapidly before finally slowing back to normal as the rage he was filling finally settled.
[2 days 14 hours and 43 minutes to transformation]
The vampires could feel their instincts screaming at them that the man in front of them had been riled up to a point he never should have reached a fact that was only supported when Jackson turned around his eyes burning with anger.
Launching at them Jackson punched the nearest vampire in the stomach dropping on elbow on the back of her head on the way up forcing her back down while twisting around Sonja who had come in for support using the force from the spin to knock out the second vampire. Watching the other two being dominated the final one a man in his forties began to retreat only to be punched in the throat Jackson shoving his forearm in the mans mouth forcing another bite.
Head butting the man repeatedly Jackson finally turned hurling him into Sonja who batted aside the body only to get swept off of her feet and into a headlock forcing her onto her knees growling quietly in her ear. As he was about to go for the rest of the move a force ripped him away sending Jackson sailing through the air and onto the balcony as Viktor stood where he had once been examining Sonja.
"To dare lay your hands on even a pure blood perhaps I should strike you down where you stand but your moves intrigue me to no end allowing you one who has yet to experience the change to dominate a set of fledglings and then a team of pure bloods."
Grunting Jackson stood up the shoulder that had been grabbed hanging limp as it had been dislocated yet the pain did nothing to stop the rage from showing in his eyes for a few moments before he decided to smother it biding his time to get the last ten percent of the Vampire gene.
"I expect that when two days pass you will be prepared to return to the training of the younger vampires and not this poor excuse for an training session seeing as when it ends you do not evaluate them or even leave them conscious."
Done speaking Viktor collected Sonja while more vampires came in to drag away the others leaving Jackson only standing on the balcony finally looking at the notifications that had come through during the fight.
[Mixed Martial Arts Lv. 2 (130/200), 50 Exp, Grappling Lv. 1 (40/100)]
Dropping back down into the courtyard Jackson sat down holding his arm before smashing it into the ground forcing the arm back into the socket biting back a groan for a moment finally settling down as he began to meditate hoping to gain some time back.
Hours passed like this the night fading away as the sun began to rise a few guards sticking to the shadows that slipped in while Jackson was meditating ensuring that even if he made an attempt to run he would not make it far before being taken down. As the daylight spilled across his frame Jackson finally opened his eyes feeling well rested even though he hadn't actually gone to sleep.
[Meditation Lv. 2 (20/100), ToT 3 days 14 hours 23 minutes]
Staring at the notifications for a few seconds Jackson exhaled the calm that came from the meditation keeping him from reacting largely to the barely noticeable increase to his timer. Bones crackled as Jackson stretched for a few moments the half asleep guards in the corners waking for an instant before sleeping again.
A small chuckle escaped his lips as Jackson walked into the room ripping away the metal from all of the wood fragments he had left piled together sliding them underneath the bed. Not wanting to waste any time Jackson opened up his status screen allocating his three stat points to Dexterity.
Status: Jackson Macintosh Lv. o (80/100)
Bloodline: Corvinus Diluted (Activating), Lycan, 90% Vampire
Str: 13 Agi: 12 Dex: 12 Vit: 13
Int: 15 End: 12 Wid: 11
SP 0, SKP 1, 100 EPP
Skills:
Mixed Martial Arts Lv. 2 (50/200) Beginner
Lv.2 Meditation acquired: Soothe your thoughts and push away all status effects good and bad (20/100)
Grappling Lv. 1 (40/100)
As the change to the stat appeared on the screen Jackson could feel it a new energy flowing into the joints and muscle across his body making it more flexible and responsive. Performing a few moves Jackson was satisfied with the changes that had come from using the points some of the more complex moves that he used to have problems with flowing easier.
*At the blacksmiths*
Lucian was hammering away molding a sword while a small amount of silver was being melted to create the coating for the edges and top seeing as producing the sword completely of silver would lower the durability and also make it harder to repair in a short time.
As sparks flew a conflict could be seen occasionally on his face as Lucian struggled with the words that Jackson had spoken to him upon them meeting the gratitude he had once felt for the vampires slowly dying out the more the internal struggle carried on. Finally Lucian set his hammer on the bench leaning over it while sighing remembering the hatred and disgust that the newest member of the Lycans aimed at him.
There was never any pleasure to be derived from a member of his own race hating him simply for the fact that they had been forced to join their ranks but in time maybe he would be able to channel that rage more productively.
Glancing around Lucian rubbed the brand on his arm for a few seconds before pulling out a chain from the underside of his work bench the ones that had bound his mother in place a small amount of hate in his eyes that was quickly suppressed.
*Back to Jackson*
Jackson had remained in the final position from his quick routine one leg slightly ahead while the other rested in such a way that he could launch forward and carry on the attack barely visible quivers shaking his body for a moment before settling. Finally as Jackson slid back into a more natural stance the door was opened a completely covered figure staring into the room before stepping in closing the door.
Removing the hood the figure was revealed to be Tanis a small smile on his lips as he stood close enough to the door to flee in an instant yet just far enough away to show confidence in his own strength.
"Hello I am Tanis the historian of the coven and you are a most interesting case the only Lycan beyond Lucian that our dear leader has taken an interest in enough to give out a position but it is also very windy on top of such a pedestal."
"Tanis I don't really give a damn not in the slightest if all I have to do is train these vampires on how to fight better so be it I will do it but you came here with a different purpose didn't you?"
"You could say that I wanted to see for myself the young Lycan that has caused a small stir after all you took on a pureblood and a council member at that and almost had her until Viktor intervened."
"Yet you entered a closed space with me what does that speak of your intelligence I wonder?"
"My intelligence is of no concern dear boy I in fact know the eyes of a predator better than anyone else you won't allow yourself to be caged here for long."
"Cut to the point what is it that you want Tanis?"
"Very simple really I am looking to gain control of some resources on the outside world away from Viktor but nearby with a way for me to get a hold of them in moments of need or as perhaps an escape hatch."
"Hmm and what do I get in return for that?"
"A window of time to escape a week here and then I will get the window open all you need to do is make sure that people know that it was Tanis that needs any of the resources you set up."
Grunting Jackson stalked over to Tanis extending a hand that Tanis stared at for a few moments before taking finding himself in an instant with his arm twisted up behind is back.
"You better hold up your end of the deal Tanis or I will make sure that you regret the very moment your parents thought of you."
Releasing him from the hold Jackson smiled patting Tanis on the shoulder acting like he had never threatened him in the first place the sudden change making Tanis pause before pulling his hood back up quickly exiting the room.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone