Midnight. A narrow alley like a damp gullet. A small pack of men, and a golden-haired Little Loli. Wu Hao came to, his hands lashed to a post, breath and shadows close by.
“What... what are you doing?” The Little Loli’s eyes flew wide; panic hit first, then words tumbled out.
“Little miss, your hair and eyes are special. Such a pretty little thing.” The thug boss in shades stood before the bound Little Loli. “Yo, carrying a lot of cash, huh?” His hand roamed over her, crude as a muddy boot on silk.
“Stop touching me, you disgusting perv!” she cried, face reddening like a steamed crab. “Don’t like my hands? Then explain this...” The man in shades fished a pair of black stockings from her bag. “Tell me what these are.”
He dragged the stockings across her cheek on purpose. The contrast only made her face look like a snow lotus under moonlight. “So young, and you’re already buying nylons?” he sneered, grin greasy.
“Nonsense! They’re only black because you’re looking through sunglasses!” Wu Hao blurted, clutching at the thinnest straw.
Not sure if he was stupid or pretending. “Hm? That kinda makes sense,” the boss said, rubbing his chin. “Boss, don’t fall for it. They’re black stockings. She’s playing you!” Thug A blurted. The boss took off his shades and peered. “Huh. They are black. Good. Little girl, you dared trick me? No one fools me on my turf. Watch me teach you.”
“Mmf...” A big hand clamped the Little Loli’s jaw. Panic swelled; only muffled sounds squeezed out. “Boss, after you’re done, let me go first,” Thug A rubbed his hands, eyes greedy. “Fine. You did the most tonight,” the boss said, gaze crawling over her small frame like a cold knife.
Dread hit first, heavy as a falling stone. Seriously? I’m about to lose my first time tonight? I haven’t even been in this world a day! Wu Hao howled inside. But the Little Loli’s jaw was pinned, so only “mmf, mmf” came out. Tears slid down her cheeks. Golden hair fanned behind her like spilled light. She looked heartbreakingly small.
“Pitiful, huh? I’ll be gentle. A little,” the man in shades said, stroking her smooth cheek. His hand went for her jeans.
“Mmm-mm!” The Little Loli thrashed with everything she had, but the rope held like cold iron. As he tugged at her jeans, a strange light pulsed from her skin, like dawn under ice.
What’s that? A transmigrator bonus kicking in? Wu Hao’s heart leaped, a spark in the dark.
“Boss, look—her eyes are turning red!” Thug A yelped. “Impossible. I just saw they were gol—Aaaah!” The boss’s howl tore the alley like a banshee. The golden-haired Little Loli sank her teeth into his hand. Her front two teeth had become vampiric fangs, locking him in place.
Blood jetted from the wound. What she didn’t drink splattered her face and hair like crimson rain. “You’re all dead,” she snarled, watching him shrivel into a dry husk in the time it takes a flame to lick paper.
The thugs froze. The boss who’d been screaming was now a mummified heap on the ground. “Aaaaah! A ghost—no, a vampire!” they shrieked, scattering like startled crows.
“Heh. Want to toy with my body? Measure your own weight first!” she roared. She twisted, snapped the rope like a rotten vine, and blurred toward the nearest thug. Her fangs drove down.
In a blink, another thug withered under her bite. Her eyes burned scarlet. She licked the blood at her mouth, and whispered like a winter draft, “Useless. You can’t run. Heh... heh...” In a few heartbeats, several more collapsed into dry shells.
Only one was left. Knees knocking, he felt along the wall, trying to escape. “You. Stop.” The voice rang clear and sweet, but to him it was a death bell. “Y-yes! Auntie, spare me, spare me!” He dropped to his knees and kowtowed to the Little Loli.
“Where are we? How far from that bridge I was just on?” Her red pupils fixed on him. Her tongue swept the blood from her finger like a cat tasting cream. “Th-this is the East District. The bridge—you go xxxxx and you’ll reach it. Please spare me, Auntie!” Staring at the pitiful husks behind her, he had lost all courage. “Good. I’ll grant you a painless death.”
As the words fell, blood sprayed from his neck like cut paint. The last human shape crumpled, and silence spread like fog.
Hmm. So it’s a blood-sucking talent. Not sure what it does long-term. Wu Hao was turning it over when a mechanical voice flickered in his mind: “Blood is sufficient. Which function will the Host upgrade?” Sure enough—system perks. Wu Hao brightened. “What functions are available?”
“The Host may enhance Constitution, Movement, Skills, Bust Size, and Hip Size,” the mechanical voice droned.
“Hey, hey—what’s with those last two?” Wu Hao blurted.
“The Host currently has no curves. The absorbed blood is insufficient for Skill upgrades. Available: Constitution, Movement, Bust Size, Hip Size. Please select,” it replied.
“Then boost Constitution and Movement. Otherwise I can’t even protect myself,” Wu Hao said.
Warmth flooded her body, like every cell was being tempered in spring sun.
“Final reminder: this Bloodsuck System only activates to drain nearby life when the Host is in danger. Please protect yourself. Body has returned to initial state.” The voice went quiet.
The Little Loli touched her teeth to make sure they were normal again. “Teeth are back. The red eyes they mentioned must be gone too.” She sighed. “So much for riding a cheat to be a walking power fantasy and conquer the world. Turns out it’s a dud.”
Wu Hao shook his head. “Most of it will still come down to me protecting myself. Can’t rely on bloodsucking. If I get exposed and dragged into a lab, I’m done.”
She checked her clothes and hair. “Damn. It’s all blood. How am I supposed to go home?” Then Wu Hao remembered a spare jacket. She searched, found it hanging on a post like a forgotten flag. “Mm... better with this on. And my stockings?” She put on the coat and hat, checked herself, grabbed the bag, and prepared to leave.
“The bag’s clean. But what about the bodies and all this blood?” She frowned, brows like willow leaves in the dark. “Forget it. Run first.” She did not want the cops finding her and inviting her for “tea.”
She sprinted toward home. The night wind felt lighter. “My speed’s way up. I’ll test strength and such back home,” Wu Hao thought as footsteps drummed. “Go see Mom and Dad—heehee.” The thought put a sweet smile back on that exquisite face, like a flower opening at dawn.
