[It seemed impossible to catch up even now.]
Guya’s voice whispered softly in Xueluo’s mind as she watched the Hymn Guild Mages slowly step into the portal.
But Xueluo only shifted her arm slightly, then rose onto her tiptoes.
“Well, who knows?”
[Huh?]
The moment Guya finished speaking, Xueluo stepped back and bent her body forward a little.
[Wait, wait… you’re not planning to—]
Guya’s words cut off mid-sentence.
Xueluo dashed forward and leaped out with a thud.
The hill stood about ten meters high. Wind howled past her ears, tearing at her already tattered clothes until they frayed further. Guya’s voice roared inside Xueluo’s head.
[You fool!]
Ignoring it, Xueluo gripped the broken sword in her hand and aimed at one figure walking into the glowing circle.
A Vampire’s body could survive this jump.
Now, just need to—
As Xueluo poised to stab the enemy’s back, a Mage’s shout pierced the night.
“Master! Behind you!”
The silver hair must have caught his eye. The target—Xueluo’s prey—halted instantly.
Too late.
Xueluo closed the gap to barely a meter.
In that instant, the enemy spun around. His right hand shot out, fingers curled as if grasping invisible threads, thrust toward Xueluo.
Thud!
“Huh?”
A force slammed into Xueluo’s chest, freezing her mid-air. Then, a crushing grip locked around her throat.
Slowly, she felt unseen hands—forged from magic—lift her skyward.
[Magic telekinesis,] Guya’s voice cut in sharply. [Careful! This one’s no ordinary strong!]
Before Guya finished, the man tilted his head up. His face stayed hidden under a hood.
“So, the Vampire wasn’t fully dealt with after all.”
“Tch!”
Xueluo hurled the broken sword in a last-ditch effort.
But as the blade neared its target, the enemy raised his left hand.
Hum~
The sword froze mid-air, suspended by unseen power. The Mage—holding Xueluo aloft with his right hand—casually flicked his left fingers. The blade spun in a slow circle above him.
“I don’t recall your face yet, but I imagine it’s quite lovely.”
His companion’s shout interrupted Edward’s musings.
“Master Edward! We must leave now! City police are closing in!”
We can’t be seen. Edward shifted his hooded head and chuckled.
“Then let’s go.”
He snapped his left fingers.
Thud!
The floating sword plunged into Xueluo’s chest.
“Ghhk!”
Silver seared her flesh. Agony unlike anything she’d known tore through her—a fire burning from within. Charred flesh reeked, polluted veins bulged sickly blue beneath her skin.
So this is silver’s effect on Vampires…
Edward released his grip, dropping Xueluo to the ground. He raised his right hand again, fist clenched tight.
Crunch.
The sword’s hilt shattered into dust.
“We go,” Edward said softly, watching Xueluo writhe on the dirt. “Father grows impatient for our return.”
He and his followers vanished into the light.
They got away…
[This isn’t about them getting away!] Guya’s scream echoed as Xueluo struggled upright. [You’re half-Blood Kin now, but silver’s still lethal! Can you pull it out?]
Gritting her teeth, Xueluo grabbed the sword embedded in her chest.
Her palm sizzled on contact. She collapsed back to her knees.
He even destroyed the hilt…
That bastard Edward.
Distant engine roars grew louder—city police arriving.
[Save the cursing for later! We die if cops spot us or that sword stays in!]
Damn it…
Xueluo forced herself up and staggered into the forest’s depths.
—
Brother still isn’t back.
Irina set her book down with a sigh, frustration thick in her chest.
Said he was working…
Restlessness gnawed at her. She tossed the book aside and paced the empty house.
No Vampire could kill Brother…
But he’d been gone far too long.
Clenching her fists, Irina snatched a coat from the rack and headed for the door.
Thud!
The door burst open from outside.
“Huh?”
A wave of blood stench flooded her nose.
A silver-haired girl—clothes shredded, a silver sword jutting from her chest—collapsed limply into the room.
Before Irina could react—
“Irina…”
The girl weakly lifted a hand.
“It’s Xue…”
Her arm dropped. Darkness swallowed her.
