The joy at receiving another Memory was muffled due to the current situation. In killing an Ascended human, he had achieved an unimaginable feat. However, he was only able to accomplish this due to the element of surprise and the several tricks he had up his sleeves. Furthermore, it had taken a heavy toll.
Even with his increased stamina, the process of regrowing a limb was taxing. A wave of dizziness also overtook him. The Knight's gun was indeed powerful. It relied on Quicksilver Bullets just like those used by the Church. But this bullet was meant for devastating power, not stunning. As such it took a great amount of Gehrman's blood to fire the shot.
He considered quickly transfusing the Knights blood with his own, but ultimately decided against it.
The Spell had confirmed something he had long suspected: the Vilebloods were human. As such the man's blood would not automatically become a healing agent and power amplifier like the blood of the Corrupted would. Despite being "Vile" he still walked on the path of Divine, not the Profane (at least, according to the Spell).
He ended up summoning another vial of Blood, this was the second to last sample of the Viper Pit Hatchling blood. As an Awakened creature, it would not provide the boost that the Loran Silverbeast offered, but it would do for now.
Gehrman turned his attention toward the other fight. Maria was still holding her own despite being constantly suppressed by the other knights Reiterpallasch and gun. The Royal Guard, meanwhile, was the real danger. He wielded a blood blade that Gehrman was mostly unfamiliar with. He had never used it, but he had definitely fought against it before.
It was the weapon of the Bloody Crow of Cainhurst: The Chikage.
For those with a high level of blood control, the katana was the deadliest weapon there was. And the Royal Guard was making full use of it. Each of his slashes were extended by a thin blade of blood that followed the path of his blade. His range (and deadliness) increased drastically due to this mastery.
His battle style was much unlike the Knights. While they relied on quick movements and the power of the Reiterpallasch, the Royal Guard danced around the blows. He shifted the cadence of each attack in order to keep Maria on her toes.
And yet, if the fight continued, the result would be obvious.
Even without the use of her blood, she was still far superior to them in instinct and dexterity.
However, Gehrman would not be left out.
After all, he couldn't turn down the chance for another new Memory!
Straining a bit, he called the blood of the fallen Knight to him. Though he couldn't gain any power from it, he could still use it as a weapon.
He coalesced the blood that streamed from every hole of the man's body into the ball. And when it was compact enough, he hurled it at a specific place on the battlefield.
Since all parties in that fight were Ascended, he could not aim at his enemies and reliably make contact. But he could guess a general position they would be in.
The ball of blood unfurled into a loud curtain that was stretched out over ten meters. It flew directly in front of the Royal Guard's sight. This single instance bought him a singular second. The seasoned warrior would surely cut through the obstacle once he recollected himself.
Though the curtain was not thrust in front of the knight, he too would pause for a moment. So Gehrman lunged forward. He pulled the blood from his blunderbuss since counters were proven to be ineffective. His [Burial Blade (Sealed)] swept through the air with new blood.
Just as Gehrman predicted, the Knight turned to face him. His keen instincts had picked up the incoming threat. But before he could respond a chunk of flesh on his side was suddenly replaced by a silver blade.
Maria had thrust the back end of her Rakuyo into the exact spot where the bullet from before had torn through her.
And then, Gehrman finished the job. The weapon (which was now in its sword form) brutally tore into the Knights neck. Without the protection of the Knight's attire, it roughly severed the man's neck. At the same time, he heard the confirmation.
[You have slain an Ascended Human, Vileblood Knight Recaredo.]
Unfortunately, no further announcements were made, which meant that he had only acquired a single Ascended Memory from this dire encounter.
This was not bad. Especially considering that his real boon would come now that his victory over this group was assured.
The Royal Guard jumped back and "tricked" his blade. The blood constantly being pulled from his body halted, and that small wound stemmed.
"I- I surrender!" the shrill voice echoed from the armor. "I didn't know that you…I can make it up to you! Just spare my life!" Despite the intimidating aura that came from the man's ability and armor, it seemed he was a rather meek fellow.
"Snivelling brat," Maria sneered. Her contempt for her own people was on full display. It was rather disheartening to witness. But it was indeed these "Cainhurst Nobles" who were the reason why she left. He wasn't familiar with the exact details. But Gehrman knew that Maria was a rather close relative to Annalise, and thus held quite a high position in the Cainhurst Court. It seemed likely to him that it was the machinations of people like this man that resulted in the demise of whatever tethered Maria to her homeland.
However, even with her spite, she recalled Gehrman's words. The blood stained blades of her Rakuyo lowered as Gehrman walked past her.
He was in a very sorry state, but he still summoned all the gravitas he could.
"You don't know who I am, do you?"
"...A Hunter?" the guard said with an unsure tone. Gehrman's eye twitched as realized that this man was actually quite young. Perhaps a similar age to Seishan.
"The First Hunter," Gehrman growled. "I may have become less prevalent since my students started to help out. But I didn't think my name would diminish so much that you thought three measly Vilebloods could kill me. Let alone my brightest pupil."
The Royal Guard was motionless. But it was obvious that his face had placed beneath the armor's helmet.
"You've killed quite a lot of my students. Haven't you?" Gehrman now stood very close to the man. If the Royal Guard knew about the disparity between their speed, he could have easily sunk his Chikage into Gehrman's throat and killed him on the spot. But The First Hunter was exuding an aura of Frenzy still. And the memory of his dead students only made it worse.
The Royal Guard made no move.
"I have not. I have not even left the castle before today."
"Oh? That's a relief," Gehrman took a step back and crossed his arms. "You're just a kid then. One who doesn't understand what it really means to Hunt."
The boy seemed to fight off the urge to tell him differently. But his survival instincts told him that silence was the best answer.
"You haven't killed any of my students. I remember all their names, y'know. I pray for their souls every night. It would truly be a shame if even one of your knights laid a finger on them."
"The-the knights are just servants. We give them titles so they fight for us, but they aren't really under our orders. They just go out and kill anything that moves. They're no different than beasts, really," he let out a nervous chuckle.
Gehrman's eyes narrowed.
He knew exactly what this meant. One of his Knights (or more likely two of them) had cornered at least one of his students and gutted them.
"Even still," Gehrman drawled. "I think you owe me, don't you? I am letting you live, and I am forgiving you for the deaths of my precious pupils. I'd say you better offer me a favor."
Maria stiffened behind him. She too had her arms crossed, but her stance was not to seem confident. Instead, it revealed her extreme discomfort. At this moment, her beloved Master was bargaining with her greatest enemy.
Gehrman ignored her for now. At this moment, he needed to close out a deal.
"I…suppose a favor…would be in order," the Vileblood said slowly.
Gehrman's mouth split into a wide grin.
"Then I must congratulate you! Though it cost you two of your Knights, you have managed to slay Lady Maria. You are worthy of great respect and ought to receive a boon or two from the esteemed Queen Annalise for your service." The other two seemed genuinely baffled by this proclamation. But Gehrman was not done.
"Now that you have lost two of your best men, you need at least one other to fill the spot. Fortunately, there is a man from the outskirts of Cainhurst that you had been meaning to hire for a long while, and he is now ready to enter under your service as a new Knight," Gehrman's grin broadened. And with a slow, deliberate movement he pointed to himself.
"And that Knight will be me."