One Piece: Blood Clan

"Ha!"

"Ha!"

"Ha!"

A pale-skinned boy labored in the training room, swinging his wooden sword with determined fervor. For an entire afternoon he had practiced relentlessly until sweat streamed down his face. With every swing, a fleeting thought whispered in his mind—perhaps he should just give up and live off his family's fortune. After all, his household was wealthy and well established, ensuring he'd never want for anything. Yet each time that tempting idea arose, his sword sliced forward regardless.

After countless swings, he finally paused. His concentration had faltered in the later rounds; his stomach had shrunk and then reminded him of its hunger. Glancing at his gradually returning complexion, he grumbled to himself, "I'm starving again."

Despite his exhaustion, the training had paid off. His experience had leaped from 47% to 76%, and his proficiency in basic swordsmanship had increased by 100 points—to a total of 3850. The rapid pace of a vampire's growth was astonishing. In the past, young Burs had kept his bloodthirst in check, abstaining from too much feeding so as not to evolve too quickly into a mid-level vampire. After all, even half a catty of horse blood packed a potent punch—testament to just how disciplined he'd been before.

Yet it wasn't entirely his fault. The Ikano family, a clan of vampires, had long suppressed their natural instincts in order to coexist peacefully with the villagers. Their ancestors maintained their bodies with only a small, regular intake of animal blood. Over generations, that cautious regimen had evolved into Burs's current condition—a state in which he could even subsist on human food. Now, however, Burs's unabashed indulgence in blood marked a clear departure from his forebears' ways.

"Young master, it's time to eat!"

Miya's cheerful voice rang out. Hearing her, Burs set aside his wooden sword and headed back into the villa. From her tone, he gathered that neither Master nor Madam had returned; only he was home. As a result, Nancy Grey had prepared a meal solely for him. Though his family was wealthy, they were never extravagant.

Standing nearby, Nancy studied the boy as he ate. She couldn't help but wonder why only Burs had come back on his own. After all, he was barely six years old—no sensible guardian would allow such a young child to return alone. Was something amiss with Master and Madam? Despite her mounting questions, Nancy chose not to press the matter. She was a refined woman who owed her life to the Ikano family. Had it not been for Burs's father, she might have starved long ago; she would never dare overstep her bounds.

After finishing the sumptuous meal Nancy had prepared, Burs returned to the training room. He had no intention of resting that night. In the past, he had conformed to a "normal" schedule—active by day, sleeping at night—to appear ordinary. But now, determined to embrace his true nature, he abandoned such restraints.

Even though he had just eaten, hunger still nagged him. Human food, after all, never truly satisfied his vampire appetite, and he planned to train through the night. With resolve, he stepped into the villa's spacious backyard.

At the very moment Burs entered the yard, the resident animals became instantly alert. They remembered the earlier ordeal with the black stallion and watched him with fearful eyes. Bound by their leashes and instinctively subdued by the aura of his bloodline, they could only struggle feebly.

Within a minute, Burs left the backyard with his face flushed bright red. In his wake, a small, pure-white ewe lay sprawled on the ground with vacant eyes—as if it had lost all hope for the future. Not far off, the once-victimized black stallion sneered at the sight.

"Not bad, little sister," it mocked silently in its own animal way, "only a minute and you're down. You really need to work on your stamina."

Unaware of the animals' whispered disputes, Burs had already returned to the training room to resume his swordsmanship. From now on, he decided, he would train at night and rest during the day—an arrangement that suited a vampire's true rhythm.

Gripping his wooden sword, he swung it at the air with renewed intensity. In the nocturnal hours, his strength surged, and his focus sharpened as if fueled by adrenaline. He moved with a ferocity and efficiency that suggested if he had always trained at night, he would have long surpassed the limits of basic swordsmanship.

Meanwhile, Miya, fresh from tidying up, was preparing for her own rest. Passing the training room, she paused at the sound of clashing and breathing. Curious—since Master wasn't home—she peeked in through a narrow gap in the door. There, she saw young Burs still immersed in his training. "Staying up this late… our young master really is dedicated," she murmured admiringly.

But Burs was no ordinary child. Possessing keen Observation Haki, he instantly detected Miya's furtive glance from outside. In an instant, his demeanor shifted into alertness. Earlier that day, he had assumed the sweet, unworldly nature of the maid; yet now, a niggling suspicion stirred—might she be scheming like Nancy, perhaps after the family's wealth? The thought sharpened his gaze, his eyes narrowing in silent scrutiny.

Soon enough, Miya departed. Yet about half an hour later, she reappeared at his door, carefully balancing a plate of exquisitely arranged food. At that moment, Burs's earlier suspicions gave way to a pang of guilt. Had he misjudged her intentions?

Miya set the plate on the threshold and slipped away without a word. Curious, Burs approached and discovered a small note affixed to the dish:

  "Young Master Burs, if you're hungry after training, please enjoy these. Leave the plate here—I'll come to collect it in the morning. ^▽^"

The cute emoticon at the end brought an uncontrollable grin to his lips. Though orphaned, he realized he was far from alone—he had a kind, caring "big sister" looking out for him.

After finishing his training, Burs dutifully devoured the meal. As dawn crept in, he retired for a well-earned rest. The next morning, Miya stopped by the training room. Seeing the now-empty plate, her expression softened into one of quiet delight. Knowing all too well that he had trained late into the night, she let him sleep on peacefully without waking him.