At Death's Doorstep
As Xueluo teetered on the edge of death, he recalled a thick stack of cash.
No—what truly mattered was what Oreo had told him before that money:
"This Vampire is worth that much."
So that’s how it is?
Xueluo forced a bitter smile. Just as Guya, the Vampire, lunged to sink her teeth into him, he slipped his hand into his pocket.
A Third Generation Vampire?
It’d probably cost far more than that cash…
Though this thought flickered in his mind, Xueluo still tossed a small, round object from his pocket.
At the same instant, the girl’s teeth snapped forward.
Snap!
“Ugh!”
The moment the round thing hit the ground, a pungent garlic mist erupted and spread rapidly. Coughing violently, the girl stumbled backward through the haze.
“Garlic fog bomb? You’re a Blood Hunter?”
Plain garlic barely affected Vampires. But as an inhaled mist? Its potency spiked.
Such tools were standard issue for unskilled Blood Hunters.
While the girl covered her nose, hacking, Xueluo leaped several steps back. He raised his pistol and fired quick shots at her.
But in that split second—
Boom!
Her entire body exploded into countless droplets of blood. They reformed instantly into a wing-like shield, deflecting Xueluo’s bullets.
“A historical relic? Are you joking?”
Nose still clamped shut, the girl emerged slowly from the mist. Her blood-crafted wings unfurled with a thunderous roar, stretching like an endless horizon.
The bullets embedded in the wings clattered to the ground. Only then did Guya sneer,
“I thought they were Silver Bullets. That’s why I deployed my Bloodwing. But… ordinary rounds?”
“Yeah,” Xueluo murmured. His hand slipped into his backpack.
Slowly, he drew a longsword shimmering with silver light. He grinned.
“Silver Bullets cost a fortune. After buying this Elder Sword, I’ll be hunting for scraps the next few days.”
“Oh?” Guya smiled, raising her hand.
“But to fight the Blood Kin up close—as a powerless human? You’re bold.”
Whoosh—!
The instant she finished speaking, a crimson longsword materialized in her grip. Without warning, she vanished with a thunderous crash.
Under the fading sunlight, Xueluo watched Guya descend, Bloodwing spread wide. She thrust her Bloodsword downward, towering over him.
“Pay for your arrogance!”
Boom!
Xueluo retreated fast, but his pistol split cleanly in half.
“Tch!” He reached into another pocket, pulling out a revolver.
But Guya was already upon him, driving her Bloodsword forward.
Xueluo raised the revolver—
Bang!
The golden-sparked bullet shattered mid-air. Metal screeched against metal, sparks flaring where they clashed.
Amid the sparks, Guya charged into Xueluo’s range, sword raised to strike. But Xueluo swung his Elder Sword at her.
Their attacks crossed. Guya’s strike landed a hair faster. The tip grazed Xueluo’s face. Blood sprayed as he lost balance.
His Elder Sword veered off, missing Guya by a breath. It slammed into a tombstone behind her, stuck fast.
Trapped, Xueluo couldn’t free it. Guya lifted her Bloodsword again, aiming the killing blow.
But as victory seemed certain, Xueluo raised his revolver and fired twice.
A revolver held only five bullets.
Guya braced to take the shots.
He’d already used three—all ordinary rounds.
Unbelievable.
This human truly had no Silver Bullets.
Dismissing his firearms, Guya thrust her sword forward.
Just as the Bloodsword neared him, Xueluo twisted his blade sideways. With a sharp crack, he snapped it. He retreated with the broken half, Guya in pursuit.
Xueluo fired once more.
Thud!
The bullet struck Guya. She didn’t flinch, charging faster.
“Think that’ll work, human?”
“Effectiveness is one thing,” Xueluo muttered. Abruptly, he halted his retreat.
He straightened, gripping the broken sword. Closing the distance in a flash, he charged.
“A test of pure strength! Human!” Guya roared, accelerating.
“Watch me crush you!”
Their collision echoed like clashing cavalry. The outcome decided in an instant.
But as they neared, Xueluo raised his left-hand revolver.
“Surrendering already? Human!” Guya bellowed, thrusting her sword.
Xueluo pulled the trigger, firing his last bullet.
“I told you, you—”
Boom!
Her words cut off.
The bullet struck her forehead.
Agony exploded through Guya’s body.
“Aaaaaah!”
Screaming, she crashed to the ground. Momentum sent her rolling wildly before she lay still, disheveled.
From her forehead, veins swollen with silver corrosion spread, turning a sickly bronze.
“How… silver…”
“Remarkable. A Third Generation Blood Kin—still alive after a Silver Bullet to the head?” Xueluo smoothed his hair, strolling toward her. He lazily opened the revolver, ejecting spent shells.
“How did you—”
“A strategy. Blood Hunters can’t match Vampires… or Mages.” Xueluo crouched, pressing the broken Elder Sword to Guya’s throat.
“Why a revolver? To count bullets. The earlier pistol shots, even this sword—all misdirection. Making you think I’d fight with steel…” He sighed.
“But I’m not stupid enough to brawl with the Blood Kin. I waited until you believed I had no Silver Bullets. Until you thought taking my shots meant nothing. Then… one last bullet to your forehead.”
“You… you…”
“Enough exposition. These bullets, this sword—they cost a fortune. Drained my advance pay. So…” Xueluo hauled Guya up.
“Where’s what you stole?”
“You took it…” Guya’s voice burned with rage. Foam flecked her lips. Her blood blackened from silver corrosion, yet she glared.
“It belongs to our race. You deceitful creatures, I—”
No more “thee” or “thou.”
She wouldn’t talk.
Xueluo sighed.
“Pity. My mission was only to kill you.” He reversed the Elder Sword, sliding it slowly across Guya’s throat.
“So I’ll just take your head back—”
Thud!
His words died.
Something pierced his stomach.
“What…”
He glimpsed a silvery-blue flash vanishing into the distance.
Magic…
Strength fled. Xueluo collapsed.
Behind him, figures in white robes approached.
On their robes—the black eye beneath a scale—burned into his vision.
A symbol known worldwide.
“Hymn Guild…” Xueluo whispered. His body hit the ground with a thud. Blood pooled, seeping into Guya’s form.
