Slash.

My sword sang through the air, meeting the mantis's glowing scythe strike at just the right angle.

Sparks flared, and the green arc split into two jagged halves.

One slammed into the ground right in front of the thunder jaguar charging me, exploding into dust and shards of stone.

The jaguar skidded on instinct, muscles rippling under its sleek pelt, and flung itself sideways just before the blast radius consumed it. Sharp. Too sharp.

Jaguars weren't supposed to think like that.

The second half of the mantis's slash carved into the wall right beside me, detonating with enough force to drown me in a screen of dust.

I coughed once but held steady. Through the haze, my eyes caught it. The mantis staggered, just slightly, its stance dipping. Mana recoil.

It couldn't chain that scythe slash back-to-back. That was my opening.

But the jaguar didn't waste time.

Blue sparks crawled across its fur, the air vibrating with tension.

I could feel it even through the dust. The bastard was lining up a ranged attack.

A thunderbolt screamed toward me a second later, tearing through the smoke with blinding light.

I clenched my teeth. Jaguars weren't this calculated.

Normally, they'd just commit to momentum, claws and fangs and reckless speed. But this one? It was adapting. Testing. Targeting me based on conditions.

Something's off… these aren't just beasts. They're being directed.

Crimson aura crackled from my limbs, scorching against my skin.

Enough research. If I hesitated any longer, they'd cook me alive.

I burst through the dust screen in a blur, just as the next volley of thunderbolts lit up where I had been standing.

The explosion blew the haze wider, covering my escape, but by then I was already past the jaguar.

The big cat whipped its head, eyes widening as it realized I wasn't there anymore.

And then I was on the mantis.

Its multifaceted eyes twitched wide. Even its jaguar companion hadn't tracked my speed.

That was its mistake. Judging me based on my novie aura output. Too late now.

My blade arced upward toward its thin, jointed legs. The mantis screeched and crossed its massive scythe-arms to block.

Metal shrieked against chitin, sparks spitting into the air.

My strike locked with its guard, so I flipped the momentum instantly, dragging the clash down into a sudden parry as its second scythe swung straight for my ribs.

The blade hissed inches from my torso as I planted my sword into the ground and vaulted upward.

And right into the jaguar's waiting jaws.

The cat launched off the stone, sparks cascading off its body as it rose with me, maw yawning wide.

Blue light pulsed in its throat, and I could see my reflection in its teeth.

A grin stretched across my face.

Got you.

I clamped my left hand around my right wrist, bracing the recoil. My palm flared as I pointed it toward the beast.

"Dark Beam!"

Mana seared through me like molten lead.

A sphere of black light erupted from my palm, the beam projected from it tearing a hole through the air before it rammed straight into the jaguar's chest.

The impact hurled me backward, my arms screaming as the beam drove on through.

Blood sprayed, glittering red in the torchlight. The jaguar's body jerked, its own momentum twisting it sideways at the last possible instant.

My beam punched out through its shoulder instead of its heart.

"Damn it…" I hissed as my boots scraped stone on landing. The cat hit the ground hard, coughing up blood, its body trembling but not falling.

I tightened my grip on my sword and then felt it. The sharp pain behind my eyes, pulsing with every heartbeat.

Mana: 43 → 11

My lips twitched. "…oh well. Guess that was my last party trick."

The mantis shrieked in rage, its jaguar partner staggering beside it.

Its movements were off now. Hesitant, unsettled.

It knew. It was next.

But not a single one of its allies came to its aid. They stayed locked in their duels with Lydia.

I flicked my gaze toward her side.

The mammoth, if you could even still call it that, was a butchered mess. Its tusks gone, chunks of its body eaten through with acid. Aqua Regia's signature, mixed with her shurikens and bombs.

It bellowed weakly, legs trembling, barely standing.

The slime wasn't much better. Its regeneration had slowed to a crawl, Lydia's corrosive waters biting into it with every strike.

It pulsed sluggishly, wobbling, a dying ember of what it had been.

Lydia herself was catching heavier breaths, her chest rising and falling faster, but her aura was steady. Solid.

She wasn't near her limit. Not even close.

I turned back to the mantis. It was restless now, its usual aggressiveness dimmed, hesitation creeping in. Good. Fear made bugs sloppy.

Then my chest tightened, my lungs burning. I coughed, a metallic taste hitting my tongue. Poison.

I'd been too focused on the fight, pulling in more air with every clash. My body screamed at me for it now.

Shit… too much. If this drags out, we're done.

Thirty minutes more, minimum, to finish these things outright. We didn't have thirty minutes. Not with the poison seeping deeper. Not with traps waiting to be sprung.

I looked at Lydia, and she was already looking at me.

Sweat on her brow, her breaths heavier, chest rising and falling in rhythm with mine.

Our eyes met, and words weren't needed. She knew. I knew.

We had to cripple them, not kill them. Buy time. Escape.

I pointed toward the split that led deeper into the chamber, and she simply nodded.

Not once did she question how I'd guessed it when even her sharpened senses hadn't.

She just accepted it.

That trust… I wasn't sure if it was a good thing for a commander. Blind faith usually wasn't. But hell, it worked for me right now.

I exhaled hard, braced my sword, and charged at the mantis head-on, leaving my body full of openings.

I had to. If I want to bait the scared bug into attacking.

My stance screamed desperation. My aura flared erratically, crimson sparking like a dying fire.

The mantis took the bait. Its scythes glowed bright green, mana surging.

It drew them into an X-shape slash, its ultimate attack.

X-Scissor. Familiar. Too familiar.

It reminded me of the Knight Commander of Sinclair Duchy. Her scythe work was the stuff of nightmares.

But also, the reason I chose to fight this bug. I knew this attack pattern like the back of my hand.

My sword swung upward, crimson against green, sparks tearing the space apart.

And behind me, I felt it, the jaguar creeping closer, slower now but still hunting.

Perfect.

I shifted at the last second, twisting my stance into a parry, sliding out of the mantis's line of fire.

The jaguar lunged.

The mantis's X-Scissor sliced downward, its full strength unleashed.

The two met in the middle.

Blood and thunder filled the air as the jaguar was cleaved into ribbons, its body raining crimson onto the stone floor.

The mantis screeched, its own attack cutting down its partner.

I let out a shaky breath, my smirk tugging wider. "Thanks for the assist."

But the mantis wasn't done. It shrieked and launched upward, body twisting in midair. Its wings beat, and it turned itself into an arrow, scythes aimed straight for my skull.

"Oh, shit."

I braced my sword, pointing it upward, preparing to tank the strike. My arms screamed already, my lungs burning with poison.

And then something wrapped around me.

"Wha...?"

The world blurred. I was yanked back, something soft pressing into my spine, warm and firm against my back.

The mantis screamed down, and instead of me, it slammed into the charging mammoth.

Bone cracked, skull shattered, blood spraying in a grotesque fountain as the mantis's dive tore through the beast's head like a blade through wet paper.

Both creatures buckled, screams overlapping.

The mantis twitched, spasming, its body crumpling against the wall in a wet crunch.

If I blocked this head-on… goodbye arms. Goodbye sword.

The mammoth groaned once, then collapsed with a thunderous crash, shaking the entire chamber.

I blinked, chest heaving, then realized I was still being held.

Lydia's voice came against my ear, steady despite her heavy breaths. "Let's leave. Now."

Her arms were firm around me, and every inhale made her breasts press into my back.

"Damn," I muttered, staring at the ruined beasts.

Did she time luring mammoth into mantis's sky slash?

Was she watching over me while fighting two of her own?

…Scary woman.

She tightened her grip once, then let go, dashing toward the split I'd pointed out earlier.

I followed without hesitation, boots crunching on stone and blood as we ran.

But I noticed something off about her movement.

Is that exhaustion?

[Not likely.]

"What do you mean?" I asked Nexar as Lydia and I sprinted down the narrow corridor, our footsteps echoing against the damp stone.

[You might need to buy a blood purifier.]

"Blood purifier…? But the poison's gaseous, isn't it?"

And then—

Thud.

The sound jerked my attention away from the glowing window.

I turned, and my heart sank.

"Lydia!"

She had slammed against the wall, one hand braced as she slid down, panting harshly.

Her body trembled. Her pale skin was drenched in sweat. By the time I reached her, she was already struggling to breathe.

I crouched in front of her. "Commander Lydia!"

Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her breaths ragged.

I pressed my palm against her forehead and hissed under my breath. Hot. Too hot.

She forced her eyes open, hazy slits of brown searching me.

"I… think…" her voice cracked, but she managed, "…the poison had… silver dust." Her hand shot up, clutching my arm tightly.

Silver dust? My stomach twisted.

"I inhaled more than you," I told her quickly, refusing to let her words sink in. "You'll be fine."

But she shook her head faintly. Even in pain, she was stubborn.

Her fingers tightened on my arm, dragging it closer to her chest.

Her breath hitched as she whispered, "Please… look after my unit."

Her smile was pained, but resolute.

"What—"

She slowly pushed herself up, shaky but determined.

"What are you—"

"Rune." Her voice was softer than I'd ever heard it.

She stood, bracing against the wall, and whispered, "Leave here. Find Tugnier. Tell him… what you saw."

I blinked, stunned. "What?"

Her gaze hardened. "I don't have much time left." She exhaled deeply, sweat dripping down her pale jaw.

"I'll kill as many of them as I can before I die. So go."

She shoved me lightly, trying to push me away. My throat closed up.

"You…" My voice faltered. "…you can't be serious."

She stepped forward, legs trembling.

[Not to ruin your dramatic moment... but a blood purifier could save her. It's only the silver dust that's reacting with her vampire blood.]

"Should I... should I stop her?" I asked, torn between her words and Nexar's.

[How do you come up with such great questions?]

"Oh shit!"

I lunged, catching Lydia's frail wrist before she could take another step. She turned back, half dazed, lips parted to speak.

"Rune, d-don't mind me—"

I didn't let her finish. In one motion, I scooped her into my arms.

"Hu..huh?" She gasped weakly, too stunned to fight me off.

She looked away, flustered, voice breaking as she muttered, "Rune… you don't understand… I… I'm…"

Her eyes glistened. She forced the words out. "…I'm a vampire."

My grip tightened.

"Once we consume silver," she continued, her voice trembling, "there's no saving us." She refused to meet my gaze, shame burning in her crimson-tinged eyes.

"So drop me. Don't waste—"

"No treatment in this world. I know" I cut in.

Her lips parted. "…Yes."

I lowered her gently, resting her back against the wall.

Her eyes searched mine, confused.

"But I do have a way," I said firmly.

Her eyes widened, a flicker of hope breaking through the haze of pain.

Moisture welled in them, though she didn't say a word.

I crouched in front of her, voice steady. "Do you trust me?"

For a second, silence. Then she gave the faintest nod.

Good enough.

Alright, Nexar. Let's buy a blood purifier.

[See? Isn't my crew feature useful? Because of it, you got intimacy points from Sera, and now you can afford this. You're welcome.]

"…Yeah, yeah. You're great. Happy now?"

[Tsk. Such ungratefulness.]

Crimson liquid began to swirl in my palm, condensing into a slow, thick drop. A faint, metallic tang stung my nose.

I opened my fist above her lips, tilting her chin.

Her soft mouth brushed against my hand, her eyes fluttering shut, giving herself to me.

I supported her back, lifting her slightly. She parted her lips just enough, and the drops slid in.

Her eyes snapped open immediately. They burned, glowing crimson. Her body jolted violently, her hands clutched her stomach as if she were being torn apart.

"Ahnnn.." a sound tore from her throat, half pain, half something else.

"Lydia!" I panicked, holding her shoulders. "Nexar, is she—"

[Worry about yourself. You're bleeding everywhere. You'll faint without a basic recovery potion.]

Only then did I glance down. My clothes were shredded, blood soaking into the fabric. Cuts, gashes, burns...

Must be from debris and Jaguar's sharp thunder spikes.

I'd lost more blood than I realized. My vision swam.

"Yeah… I might.."

Before I could finish, something warm pressed against me. Wet. Soft.

I froze.

It was Lydia.

Her lips trailed across my wounds, tongue dragging against the cuts on my chest.

Her breath was hot, her body pressing down onto mine.

"Commander Lydia!" I tried to push her off, but she was stronger than I expected.

Her eyes, glowing crimson, locked onto me with feral hunger.

Her tongue slid along the blood at my shoulder, her hands bracing me against the ground.

My thigh ended up pressed between hers, caught beneath the fabric of her black skirt.

Her body trembled as her breasts crushed against my chest, rising and falling with her frantic breaths.

"Lydia, stop—" My voice broke as I struggled against her grip.

[Oh, right. I forgot to mention. That blood purifier? It's from your world. Meaning… it contained components of human blood. And I doubt she's ever tasted human blood before. Vampires… tend to lose control when they do.]

"What…?" My stomach dropped, too shocked to even curse.

Her soft lips grazed my neck. Then sharp pain as her fangs pierced, and a hot, desperate pull wrenched at me. My body tensed, blood sucked into her mouth.

"Lydia!" I fought back, my arms straining. I shoved, managing to wrench her off for only a breath. Her lips glistened red, her eyes wild.

Then she lunged again.

I held her off, my palms against her shoulders... until I felt something soft.. something full in my grip.

She froze, eyes wide.

"Mmnn.." she moaned faintly, her body trembling.

I pressed tighter. Something squeezed in my grip.

"A-ahhnn…" She moaned as her eyes widened in shock. Something more fell into my already filled grip.

I blinked down in horror. My hands were full of her chest.

"S-sorry!" I pulled away instantly.

She collapsed onto me, her breasts pressing hard into my chest, thighs tightening around my leg. Heat radiated from beneath her skirt, her breath ragged.

Before I could react, she slid forward against me, her breats dragged on my chest, jolting, lips opening, fangs glinting as she went for my neck.

"Shit!" I braced against her, struggling not to let her drain me dry.

My hands caught her slender waist. Her body jolted at my touch.

"Mmm.." But she was relentless, sucking more blood off my neck.

[Oh boy. You might want to control her before she suck you dry.]

I wish I had a cut down there..

[..Huh?]

Huh?

[.....]

.......

I could always make one.

[I knew it!]

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