The two opponents stared at each other for a long while, each observing the other with sharp, calculating eyes. The silence stretched thin, heavy with tension, until Quinn finally exhaled in boredom.
"Ugh… I'm getting bored just standing here. Fine, I'll take the lead."
In the next instant, Quinn stepped forward and vanished, disappearing in the blink of an eye. He became nothing more than a blur tearing through the air toward Lexi. Her eyes widened in shock. How is he this fast? she thought, barely managing to twist her abdomen aside as Quinn's fist shot past her. Though she avoided the direct hit, the force behind the punch dragged the air along with it, slamming into her like a wave and pushing her backward.
This level of aura… Lexi knew only a vampire leader or a knight could possess such power. But she refused to accept that someone she knew nothing about could stand at that level. Her hesitation hardened into a sharp, killing intent.
She launched a flurry of rapid attacks—kicks aimed at his head, strikes toward his chest, slashes meant for his neck—but none of them landed. Every single move was effortlessly avoided by Quinn, as if he were simply stepping through a slow-moving dance.
"How are you doing this?" she demanded.
For the first time, Quinn felt like he was toying with someone—and it was already becoming dull. Meanwhile, Lexi's movements began to slow, fatigue creeping into her limbs. She poured more power into her bloodswipe techniques, trying to pin him down, but every attempt dissolved into nothing.
Then suddenly, from the shadows, another figure lunged forward while Lexi unleashed a barrage of blood swipes to cover the attack. Quinn immediately sensed the intruder's outline, but instead of holding back, he reacted purely on instinct—unleashing his full strength.
His fist shot forward like lightning, connecting directly with the attacker's face.
What followed was brutally instantaneous. The intruder's head was obliterated on impact, bursting into a violent spray of blood and mist that painted the air crimson.
Quinn froze.
His heart skipped a beat as a message echoed in his mind:
[1st vampire killed.]
"…Did I just kill someone?"
He stood still, processing it. He had never killed a human—or even a vampire—before. And yet… he felt nothing. No regret. No hesitation. Perhaps it was the trials he had endured, or the countless beasts he had slaughtered. Whatever the reason, the weight he expected simply wasn't there.
As Quinn remained motionless, lost in thought, Lexi and the remaining vampires grinded their teeths in aggression and seized their chance. Compressed blood bullets fired from their hands in unison, cracking through the air like gunshots. At the same time, Lexi charged forward, performing the steps of blood hammer and bringing it down with everything she had.
The attacks landed.
A thunderous impact echoed as dust exploded outward and blood scattered across the ground. Lexi collapsed to her knees, breathing heavily.
He couldn't have survived that… she thought.
But her instincts screamed otherwise.
As the dust slowly settled, a figure stood revealed.
Quinn.
He coughed lightly, wiping a trace of blood from his lips. "Well… that was interesting. You caught me off guard. But I guess this new body of mine is more durable than I thought."
His shirt had been completely destroyed, leaving his bare chest exposed—his physique lean yet powerfully defined, muscles carved as if by a master craftsman.
"Alright… that's enough."
He vanished again.
This time, there was no warning—no blur to follow. The vampires barely had time to react before their heads began to fall, one after another, rolling across the ground in a silent cascade of death.
Within seconds, only Lexi remained.
Quinn reappeared directly in front of her.
Her heart pounded violently against her ribs, terror finally breaking through her resolve. This was far beyond anything she had expected. He wasn't just stronger—he was overwhelming.
"I won't let myself be killed by a man," she spat in disgust, raising her sharpened nails toward her own neck.
But Quinn was faster.
He caught her wrist mid-motion and lifted her effortlessly by the throat. Lexi struggled, her body trembling as she tried to break free.
"I wasn't planning to kill you," Quinn said calmly. "But you're made this unnecessarily difficult… so I guess I really have to now."
Blood tears streamed down her face as she choked against his grip.
"Long live the Kkqqq—"
She was cut off.
Suddenly, something inside her began to twist and tighten. Her body convulsed violently as if her very blood was being squeezed out from within. She tried to scream, but Quinn's grip tightened her throat.
Quinn had activated his new skill—Manablood.
A message appeared before him:
Vampiric Blood detected. Unable to consume. Convert to mana?
Quinn's eyes lit up slightly. "Well… now that's interesting. Yes."
Instantly, energy surged through him leaving lexi's body and surging through his arms.
+200 Mana
1200 / 1200 MC
Lexi's body trembled uncontrollably as the last of her strength faded, completely at his mercy.