Chapter 71: Nisha's Heart
"Uh..."
Nisha couldn't find her voice.
Her mind was a complete blank. It wasn't that she was too terrified to think, but rather that her thoughts were completely submerged by something far more primal.
The wails of her kin were entwined around the hunter behind her.
There were too many!
And it wasn't just her kin; there were other... dark creatures too!
Those voices were invisible, yet they could be felt, like countless iron-gray, translucent corpse hands reaching out from that man, grabbing her ankles, climbing up her calves, and wrapping around her waist and abdomen.
They pulled at her tongue, stuffed themselves into her throat, and flowed into her eye sockets.
Her brain was constantly refreshing.
Finally, all her chaotic thoughts were crushed, shredded, and reorganized, leaving only a single emerging thought—survive!
Crack!
Green applied pressure with his hand.
The sound of wrist bones shattering was exceptionally crisp in the rain, like snapping a soaked branch.
"Ah—!"
Nisha let go of Laura's leg with a scream of agony. Green hoisted her up by the wrist, dangling her in mid-air to face him.
Her legs curled inward as she shrank into a ball, like a cat caught by the scruff of its neck, looking utterly defeated. On that beautiful face, only terror and bewilderment remained.
"Now that I'm here, you've lost your voice again," Green said, looking down at her.
"I..." Nisha opened her mouth, attempting to speak.
Before she could finish,
"Let's cripple you before you start talking."
Green swung her around and slammed her entire body against the wall.
Bang!
The wall trembled, bricks shattered, and a shallow human-shaped crater was embedded into the surface, with cracks spreading outward from her as the center.
Before she could slide down, Green grabbed that same hand and yanked her out of the crater, lifting her back up to dangle in mid-air.
Internal shock caused blood to seep from her nose and mouth. The crimson liquid dripped down her chin, mixing with the rainwater.
Her head hung low, swaying limply with Green's rough movements like a ragdoll.
Her loose hair fell down, obscuring her battered face. That golden headpiece was embedded in her skull, sunk into her flesh, refusing to fall off.
"Don't sleep."
Green delivered a sharp slap.
Slap!
That slap knocked out several of her teeth. White fragments mixed with blood flew from the corner of her mouth.
It also jolted her awake, like an alarm clock exploding in her head, forcibly dragging her chaotic consciousness back.
"I am... the Vampire Princess, Nisha Damaskinos!" she said indistinctly through her swollen face, but a trace of pride remained in her tone as she reminded the man before her.
"Ah, I can see that. So, do you need me to host a tea party for you?" Green looked down at her.
"You harmed my treasures, so I'm going to harm yours properly. For example..."
As he spoke, his other hand ripped open the combat suit over her chest.
The sound of tearing fabric was particularly jarring in the rain.
Her full contours were exposed to the rain, her pale skin quickly covered in rainwater and blood.
But don't misunderstand.
He wasn't thirsty.
He just wanted to rip her heart out.
"I have information! Information! It's very important!" Nishacried out, abandoning all decorum. Bloody foam sprayed from her mouth, washing down with the rain.
She could tell—this man was serious!
Green didn't respond.
His hand-blade plunged directly into her chest.
Pfft.
Skin, fat, and muscle were penetrated layer by layer until his fingertips touched her sternum.
Crack!
The sternum shattered. That warm hand passed through the broken bone, reached into the chest cavity, and grabbed her heart.
"Aaaaah!! Stop! Stop it!"
Nisha's body tensed in agony, her toes pointed, her back arched. Tears mixed with blood poured from her eyes, blurring her vision.
"Now you can speak," Green said, squeezing the heart.
"I..." Nisha's lips were trembling.
It was the first time she had discovered what it felt like to have her heart held in someone else's hand.
That heart, which had always beaten with pride, was now helplessly contracting and trembling in someone else's palm. Every beat felt like a final countdown.
She looked at the man before her,
Waiting for her to speak, or waiting for her to die.
She seemed to understand why those three girls were so "tough" now. With a guardian like this, it would be strange if they weren't.
She was, after all, the number one beauty of the Vampire Tribe.
Identity, status, power—she had them all.
In her family, she was a high-and-mighty princess whom everyone had to look up to, flatter, and fear.
She had never been treated like this.
The drop from such a height straight into a death trap was unacceptable, yet she was forced to accept it.
It was humiliating! But... she was afraid of death, and there was an inexplicably strange feeling.
"We... our kind has mutated into a new strain. It... it feeds on blood just like us, but more than that—"
She paused, gasping for air. The heart in her chest throbbed violently in Green's hand.
"It doesn't just drink human blood. We, the vampires... are also on its menu."
Green didn't respond, only looking down at her.
"Its infectivity is extremely strong," Nisha continued.
"Humans bitten by it don't turn into normal vampires. They become... its spawn. Those spawn have no consciousness, only instinct—the instinct to feed."
She swallowed, her throat bobbing.
"And..." She hesitated, her eyes flickering.
"Hmm?" Green tilted his head, adopting a listening posture.
He applied a little pressure with his fingers.
"Ugh-ahhh..."
An ambiguous moan escaped Nisha's lips as her body tensed again. The sound was a mix of pain and something indescribable.
"Look at that. Is the princess so intolerant?" Green looked at her with a half-smile.
"And... mmm-hnn... and it's still evolving." Nisha gritted her teeth, forcing out every word.
"We don't know why... but it's undoubtedly our biggest problem right now. It's stronger than us, more adaptable than us, and... more of a monster than us."
"The reason I came here was to give Deacon's ancient Blood God Ritual a chance, so he could deal with this mess!"
As she spoke, Green released his grip. The suffocating pressure on her heart suddenly vanished.
"Hah—"
The tingling sensation of blood surging again rushed through her body. The long-lost feeling of being alive intertwined with an unspeakable pleasure.
Her vision was still blurry, and her consciousness was somewhat muddled, but the way Nisha looked at Green had quietly taken on a certain indefinable quality.
"Oh? This woman..."
Green keenly caught that familiar glint—the dazed look many women showed just before they were about to fall. His lips curled slightly in understanding.
He withdrew his hand. Since he hadn't infused it with any positive energy, the gruesome hole in Nisha's chest writhed like a living thing. The edges of the flesh quickly drew together, closing up in an instant and leaving only smooth skin behind.
"Uh..."
The moment the wound healed, Nisha's heart suddenly felt empty, replaced by an unfillable void.
Her red lips parted slightly, her breath hitching.
"The only common trait among intelligent beings is their talent for creating their own overlords."
Green wiped the blood from his hand onto her face.
"This is an evolution of natural adaptation. We are all victims."
"You should let me go now," Nisha said.
A sinister smile flashed in Green's eyes as he casually let go.
"Once I've verified the accuracy of the information, we'll talk."
Nisha landed on the ground, clutching her broken wrist and looking grim as she forced the bone to heal correctly.
"You can't do this. My status is very special. If I go missing—"
"Slap!"
Green slapped her to the ground again. It was the same side of her face; the swelling that had just subsided became even worse.
"Captives don't have the right to refuse."
Nisha clutched her face, looking at him from the corner of her eye. The gaze through her fingers was complex and unreadable.
Green pulled Laura and Gwen into his arms, one on each side.
"Well done." He gently patted Gwen's back. His large hand transmitted warmth through her soaked raincoat.
"Welcome to the other World."
"It hurts so much..." Gwen leaned her head against his chest, her voice carrying a hint of a sob.
Now that she had a shield, she finally dared to show a young girl's vulnerability.
"It's okay." Green looked down at Nisha.
"She will pay the price."
That glance was light and faint, but for some reason, Nishafelt a chill run through her entire body.
"I could have handled it." Lorna, who had been pulled up by Green as he walked over, tugged at his pant leg and looked up at him.
Her delicate face, wet from the rain, was full of stubbornness.
In her fox-like eyes, there was frustration, grievance, and a trace of a suppressed... longing for recognition.
"You lost," Green said, looking down at her.
Lorna didn't reply.
She simply pointed her palm, glowing with dark green energy, at Laura.
Laura's body jerked, her chest heaving as she spat out a silver bullet along with some stomach acid. The bullet hit Green's chest, rolled down, and was caught by him.
Surprise flashed in his eyes.
A bullet hidden in her stomach?
At that close range, with Lorna's magnetic field manipulation building up spiral kinetic energy under the cover of Laura's body, there was a high probability of a one-shot kill on that woman.
"You two..."
"You two—"
"Don't look down on me!"
Lorna interrupted him, her small face tense and her lips pressed into a thin line. Rainwater slid down her cheeks.
"Heh." Green couldn't help but laugh, reaching out to pinch her small face.
"Fine, you're amazing."
"I'm being serious!" Lorna glared at him, her voice rising, but with her face being pinched, her momentum immediately deflated by half.
"Right, right, right."
As they spoke, there was a sudden movement in his arms.
Stimulated by the physical reflex just now, Laura's heartbeat finally returned to its normal rhythm.
She opened her eyes dizzily, water droplets still clinging to her eyelashes. Her vision gradually cleared.
"Huh?"
The first thing she saw was Green's dog mask. Then she turned her head and saw Nisha at his feet, immediately baring her teeth as silver-plated claws popped from her knuckles.
"Enough, the fight's over. Be good." Green wiped her face, his large hand sliding from her forehead to her chin, like smoothing the fur of a bristling cat.
"Ah? Over? Oh."
With that stroke, Laura's face instantly became dazed and cute. Her bared teeth retracted, and her bristling fur smoothed down. She leaned limply against him—whatever, Green was in charge anyway.
Still, that stinking woman was actually so big. Fortunately, she wasn't as pink as hers.
"Get up."
Green glanced sideways at Nisha, then turned and walked away.
"Move it! Didn't you hear him?"
Lorna gave Nisha a wicked grin, her fox-like eyes full of triumph. Then, clutching Green's pant leg, she followed him forward.
Nisha gritted her teeth, looking down as she tremblingly pulled her torn chest together. Those two "white rabbits" that had been exposed to the rain were tucked back into her shredded combat suit, one by one, to cover them up.
The opponent's strength was clearly not in the same league as hers. She could see that he was using these vampires as training tools to hone those three girls.
But seeing him holding those two girls and seeing his concern for them...
She felt an inexplicable pang of sour jealousy.
That kind of concern was something she had never experienced.
Despite these thoughts, she still started walking and followed. She still had to find a chance to escape.
Her hope arrived soon enough.
A strong dark figure descended from the sky, the hem of his trench coat flaring out in the air as he landed in the alley ahead, blocking the way.
"I don't think you can take her, Owl."
"Huh?"
Green tilted his head, finding it somewhat laughable.
He wasn't surprised by the sudden appearance. This person had been within his range of perception the whole time.
His sense of smell had caught the strong scent of Garlic Essence, and his hearing had picked up the slight sound when the person landed on a nearby roof. Yet, the man seemed to think he was well-hidden.
Since he was a vigilante—one of the few "beneficial insects" in Hells Kitchen—Green had a bit more patience for him.
But...
"Are you high or something? Daring to snatch my spoils, you damn black bastard."
Chapter 72: Is This Your Girl? She's Mine Now.
"Save me! Daywalker!"
Nisha's cry for help exploded in the rain, sharp as an owl's screech,
but her body was faster than her voice.
Her muscles suddenly tensed, and with a kick, she leaped backward like a startled bat trying to escape a hunter.
"Clever."
Green's voice remained where he stood, but his form had already vanished, ripples spreading through the puddles in his place.
The next moment.
He appeared directly above Nisha, his black trench coat flapping loudly behind him.
The hunter grinned savagely, his eyes coldly fixed on the rising figure below.
"So fast?!" Nisha's pupils constricted in disbelief.
"Down you go!"
A whip-kick struck down; raindrops solidified beside him before being shattered into a mist by his force.
Bang!
Nisha's body folded in half as she slammed into the ground; at that instant, the air was compressed into a dull, explosive boom.
She smashed out a shallow crater.
Gravel flew from the bottom of the pit and water exploded as her back hit the ground. Her spine groaned under the unbearable weight, and her limbs spread out weakly like a crushed butterfly.
"Ugh!"
She vomited a large mouthful of bile mixed with crimson blood.
Green landed beside her. The soles of his shoes stepped into the water at the edge of the pit, splashing fine droplets.
Those droplets landed on Nisha's face, sliding down her cheeks.
"No!"
Blade Warrior was just about to step forward,
boots kicking off the ground, muscles bulging, as he charged out like a cheetah.
Without Green's embrace, Laura and Gwen landed on the ground.
One raised a gun, the other extended her wolf claws.
Two pairs of eyes simultaneously locked onto the rushing dark figure.
"You'd better... not move!"
Gwen spoke coldly.
She held the gun, larger than her palm, with both hands, aiming the muzzle at Blade Warrior's chest.
The gun was too heavy, making her arms tremble slightly, but there wasn't a hint of wavering in her eyes.
"Humph!"
Laura stood by her side, her silver-plated wolf claws glinting coldly in the rain.
She crouched slightly, legs apart, center of gravity lowered, like a wolf ready to pounce at any moment.
Rain dripped from the tips of her claws, creating small ripples in the puddles.
Blade Warrior skidded to a sudden halt.
His boots slid across the wet ground for a distance, splashing up water.
He could feel that these two girls were serious, incredibly determined.
"Tsk, troublesome."
Blade Warrior's gaze pierced past the two girls with their gun and claws, stabbing straight toward Green.
"Owl, you're not going to let two girls stand in front of you, are you?" he said deeply.
Green tilted his head.
The dog mask looked exceptionally comical in the rain; its round eyes and wide grin made him look like an ill-timed Joker.
"They are my 'Robins.' So, why not?" He shrugged.
Beside him, Lorna's lips curled up upon hearing that title.
Rain slid from the tips of her hair, dripping onto her delicate little face.
She glanced at Green, something flashing in her eyes.
Green reached his hand into ugly treasure's mouth, his arm disappearing inside as if reaching into a bottomless pocket. After fumbling around, he pulled out a section of the Ten-Thousand Mile Lock.
"Blergh—"
ugly treasure kept its mouth open, letting Green pull out the chain.
Green flicked his wrist.
The chain, like a living snake, traced an arc through the rain and accurately coiled around Nisha's neck.
"Ugh...!"
Nisha grabbed the chain, her fingers desperately clawing at the cold iron rings. Her nails dug into the gaps, making a harsh scraping sound against the metal, but the chain didn't budge.
"Dare to run?"
Green yanked hard, lifting her out of the pit.
Nisha's body hung in mid-air, her toes off the ground, dangling helplessly.
Her head was tilted back, chin held high, her neck deeply indented by the chain. Her tongue poked out uncontrollably from the corner of her mouth, and her eyes became bloodshot.
"She is the vampire Princess," Blade Warrior said, raising a hand to point at Nisha.
"If she dies, it will affect many people—many innocent people."
Nisha looked at Green pleadingly; in those once-proud eyes, only fear and supplication remained.
"Heh."
Green said nothing, dragging the chain around Nisha's neck as he walked step by step toward Blade Warrior.
The chain dragged through the puddles, making a fine metallic scraping sound.
Nisha was dragged along, her knees plowing two shallow furrows in the ground.
The two girls stepped aside to let him pass.
But their gun muzzle and claw tips remained pointed at Blade Warrior.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The raindrops and Green's footsteps almost merged, making it hard to tell which was the rain and which was death approaching.
A deathly chill spread from the ground, following the puddles and extending bit by bit to Blade Warrior's feet.
He suddenly felt that the rain seemed to have turned colder?
No, it wasn't the rain.
It was his body's warning system!
His hanging hands couldn't help but start trembling; the gaze behind his sunglasses grew heavy, his pupils shrinking to the size of pinpricks as he stared fixedly at the approaching figure.
That tall figure's aura was radiating outward.
Rain twisted and steamed around him, forming a blurry mist barrier. Within that mist, the outline of a humanoid dragon shadow gradually emerged.
Green was like a tyrannical monarch dragging an escaped slave, walking step by step toward his defiant subject.
"Not good. Only after facing him directly do I realize the gap is quite large. Is this guy really not some kind of dark creature?"
Blade Warrior's breathing became rapid.
"We aren't very familiar, but I've already been quite merciful to you. Yet, you aren't even willing to call me Mr. Owl."
Green came to a halt in front of him.
Lightning struck, illuminating the entire alleyway. Beneath his black spiky hair, those dragon eyes remained sunken in shadow.
"When did you get the delusion that... I was a good person?"
"You've deepened my misunderstanding of your skin color, you rude chimpanzee."
Crack. Crack.
Blade Warrior's fists had clenched at some point, his knuckles popping. Rain slid down his tensed arms.
"You're the same."
Green tilted his head, the eyes on the dog mask still round, carrying a sense of absurd comedy.
"Don't you know that being rude is a privilege reserved only for the strong?"
He flicked his wrist, the chain clattering as he pulled Nishain front of him and held her high, like displaying a trophy before Blade Warrior.
Nisha's face was directly facing him.
On that once-beautiful face, only shame remained. Tears mixed with rain slid down, carving two shallow paths on her face.
"Don't... don't look at me..."
She eyes were full of humiliation.
Meeting the one she considered the greatest enemy of the blood race in such a humiliating posture.
But when she looked at Blade Warrior's ugly face, she suddenly realized they were no different.
That face was also filled with rage.
In those eyes, the fire of being humiliated burned just the same.
This man, this vampire hunter, was currently just like her—a tool for this mad hunter's amusement.
Inexplicably, her filter for Blade Warrior shattered.
He wasn't a hero.
He was just another prey.
"Kill her."
Green's voice rang out again.
"Or, take her from my hands."
"Hehe... do you dare?"
He leaned forward slightly, laughter leaking from deep in his throat like a slippery tongue, licking across Nisha's fair neck and then spitting in Blade Warrior's face.
"Kill... kill me!"
Nisha suddenly spoke, her voice hoarse.
She had changed her mind; she didn't want to fall into the hands of this terrifying human.
She feared unknown abuse, but she feared him even more.
"I beg you..."
"Make a decision quickly."
Green's voice deepened.
"I don't want my 'Robins' to catch a cold."
"Do... it!!" Nisha roared with a raspy throat.
Blade Warrior's expression turned savage.
He didn't draw the sword from his back, but instead grabbed one end of the chain.
"Let go!"
He roared and pulled with all his strength. The bricks beneath his feet cracked and shattered under the force, fissures spreading outward from his soles. Veins bulged on his arms, but the chain in his hand didn't move an inch.
"What are you screaming for?"
Green flicked his hand casually, throwing Nisha backward. Blade Warrior couldn't even pull her back. ugly treasuregave a squeak and flew off after her.
She was like a ragdoll, tracing an arc in the air before slamming into the puddles with a thud.
"If you can't do it, get out of the way!"
Before his voice faded, Green threw a punch.
That punch pierced through the curtain of rain, blasting straight toward Blade Warrior's chest.
Blade Warrior hastily brought his hands together, crossing them in front of his chest to block the hit.
Bang!
The rain exploded into a hollow ring between the fist and arms, the air compressed into a dull, explosive boom.
"So heavy!!"
The force vibrated through his arms to his entire body, every bone groaning. Blade Warrior was horrified, his pupils shrinking instantly. In the next moment, he was blasted away by the punch.
He flew through the air and smashed into a pile of clutter behind him. Bricks, wooden boxes, and trash bags collapsed, burying him.
Not far away.
Nisha hit the ground and was just about to push herself up,
when a slender leg stepped on her waist, flipping her over.
Nisha's back lay in the puddle. A hand reached out, grabbed the chain on the ground, and yanked hard, pulling her into the middle of the three girls, facing the sky.
"Wh-what? You brats."
She looked at the three girls surrounding her.
Three pairs of eyes, three kinds of gazes.
Lorna raised her hand, dark green energy dancing at her fingertips, illuminating her pale, cold face.
"Don't make useless struggles," she said, her voice soft like a snake's kiss.
"Otherwise, I don't mind driving that gold in the back of your head straight into your brain."
Laura held the chain, looking down at Nisha.
Her gaze was a bit distant, as if her thoughts had drifted off-center.
"Disgusting woman," she muttered, her gaze falling on Nisha's exposed chest in the rain.
"With those two lumps of meat being so big, I bet Green is going to unlock some new ways to play again."
"Maybe I should just kill you."
Gwen lowered her gun muzzle, aiming it at Nisha's head.
Her eyes were calm, showing only a nearly indifferent focus.
"If you run, I'll kill you."
She hadn't become this cold overnight; she had been building up her mental strength for a long time.
She hated these monsters that hurt her family. No matter how weak a puppy's nature was, it still had things it wanted to protect.
"Heh... hehe..."
Nisha lay back in the water and laughed helplessly.
Rain hit her face, mixing with tears. Her gaze gradually became lifeless, like a lamp going out.
She tilted her head, watching the tall figure in the distance walking toward Blade Warrior.
The resentment and fear in her eyes were intertwined, making it hard to tell which was greater.
"I am... a princess. These lowly humans shouldn't be this strong. They should be under my feet, licking my toes and begging for my charity."
She murmured, her voice so soft it was almost swallowed by the sound of the rain.
"Why... why did it turn out like this?"
Chapter 73: No! You're Really Taking It?
"F*ck! F*ck!"
Blade scrambled up from the pile of trash and kicked an empty wooden crate beside him. Wood splinters flew, scattering across the ground in the rain.
He panted heavily, roaring at the approaching Green,
"You're only going to escalate the conflict with the vampires! Once they mobilize on a large scale, they can infect an entire area. Do you have any idea how chaotic it will get? Do you know how many people your selfishness will kill?"
Green stopped in his tracks.
The rain fell beside him, forming a hazy curtain between him and Blade.
"America has about 20 million citizens with legal gun licenses, and even more if you count the unregistered ones. Are these rats not afraid of firearms?"
A mocking curve curled at the corner of Green's mouth.
"Don't make me laugh. If such an event occurs, looking at the root cause, they're just a bunch of self-pitying cowards. And you're blaming me?"
"Did humans reach the top of this Planet's food chain by relying on compromise?!"
As soon as he finished speaking,
Green suddenly sprinted forward.
The rain curtain exploded behind him, shattering into countless crystalline droplets.
That black figure streaked through the rain like an afterimage, closing in on Blade almost in the blink of an eye.
"Of course not!"
Green swung a fist down.
Blade's pupils shrank, and he hurriedly raised his arms to block.
Bang!
The force of a single arm slammed into his forearm.
Beneath them, the watery ground exploded violently. A curtain of water rose between them like a transparent wall, enveloping both. Raindrops froze in mid-air before being shattered by the force of the punch, turning into a mist that filled the air.
Blade fell to one knee.
His knee pressed into the bricks with a crack, and fissures spread outward from beneath him. He gritted his teeth, veins bulging at his temples as he supported himself with all his might, only barely managing to block the punch.
"I only care about whether this event will happen!!"
"I can't be bothered to talk to you anymore." Green drove his knee forward, aiming straight for Blade's chest and abdomen. The air in front of his knee exploded with a dull sonic boom.
Blade instinctively curled his right arm, bracing it against his side to block.
Bang!
The moment his arm caught the knee strike, a massive force vibrated through his arm and into his skull.
In that instant, he felt his skull buzzing. His vision went dark, and his ears were filled with nothing but a sharp ringing. He stumbled backward.
The bricks beneath his feet were crushed, leaving a shattered footprint with every step.
"Stay the hell down!!"
Green stepped forward and followed up with a straight kick.
"Rider Kick!!"
As that foot kicked out, the rain curtain exploded in front of him. Countless raindrops were swept up by the fierce wind, forming a cone-shaped void ring in front of his foot.
That void ring was transparent and distorted, like a layer of air compressed to the limit, booming forward along with his foot.
The surrounding rain seemed to stagnate for a moment.
Then, it all exploded.
"I can take this!!"
Blade couldn't see the trajectory of the kick clearly, but he didn't dare underestimate it. Reacting on instinct, he held his sword in front of him, using his arm as a support beam. He tilted the blade so the flat side faced the impact.
But the moment that foot touched the blade, he realized he was wrong.
Terribly wrong.
Ting—
A soft sound rang out.
His sword broke.
The wind pressure slammed into his face.
It sent ripples across his skin, and his sunglasses exploded.
His vision blurred, and his ears were left with only a sharp buzzing, like ten thousand bees flying inside his skull at once.
The sound grew louder and sharper, nearly piercing his eardrums.
He didn't know what happened in that instant.
In his dazed state, he only felt his body flying—no, being pushed by some massive force.
He felt like a cannonball fired from a barrel, smashing through the air, through the rain, and toward the wall behind him.
He snapped back to his senses.
He was already embedded in the wall at the end of the alley.
His entire body was sunken into the wall. Cracks spread from around him across the surface, and the plaster on both sides was stripped away by the raging wind, falling to the ground.
"Vomit—"
He coughed up a large mouthful of blood, mixed with fragments of internal organs, which flowed from the corner of his mouth, down his chin, and onto the broken bricks on his chest.
"This kick... how... so strong... no warning... at all..."
Blade's breathing grew weak until he fell silent.
The broken blade only then fell from the air, stabbing into the ground. The blade trembled slightly, emitting a faint metallic hum.
Green walked past the blade, leading Nisha behind him.
She followed with her head bowed, her eyes vacant. The chain around her neck dragged through the puddles with a clattering sound as she walked mechanically, allowing herself to be pulled along.
She knew where the earthquake from earlier had come from. Green's kick had similarly crushed all her thoughts of resistance.
Beside him followed three girls who looked like little moles, all wearing matching loose beige overalls with straps hanging loosely over their shoulders. They wore cartoon shirts underneath, yellow raincoats on top, and matching water shoes, splashing through the puddles.
ugly treasure was grumbling on him, its little mouth opening and closing as it let out indistinct whimpers.
"Bye-bye, big hero."
Green rounded the corner past Blade, who was stuck in the wall like a signpost. Prey without sufficient fighting spirit wasn't even worth killing.
As they passed, the three little ones also politely raised their hands.
Laura leaned in closer and reached out to take the lensless sunglasses off Blade's face.
"Don't pick up trash." Lorna slapped her hand down.
"I'll buy one when we get back too."
Laura wasn't annoyed; she obediently stuffed her hands back into the pockets of her overalls.
The three little moles followed the big mole, leading their trophy out of the damp alleyway.
Under a streetlight, an elite special ops squad stood guard at the outer entrance.
Dressed in matching black tactical gear, their firearms glinted coldly in the rain until the sound of footsteps approached.
Everyone raised their guns in sync, muzzles pointing straight at the alley entrance. Upon seeing it was Green, they lowered their weapons and nodded to him.
Green naturally wouldn't let those three little ones face enemies recklessly. If they had run, this special ops squad assigned to him by Nick Fury would have taken over.
The Asian woman leading them walked over.
She sized up the strange group, her gaze lingering on Nisha for a moment before moving away.
Then she looked at Green and gave a cold nod.
"I'm Melinda May," she said, her voice as cold as her gaze. "I believe Hill mentioned you to me."
Melinda didn't mind his silence and continued, "It's a mess over there, and there was a small earthquake just now. Can we move in?"
"It's already settled." Green looked down at her.
"There's a perfect sample of a half-human, half-vampire in the alley. Take what Nick Fury wants, and your mission is complete."
Melinda's eyes widened slightly.
It was only for an instant before she returned to normal.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she said expressionlessly.
"Our mission is to assist you, though it seems Nick Furystill underestimated you."
"Whatever."
Green blew a sharp whistle that sliced through the rain.
In the distance, a fiery light flickered.
The hell cycle roared as it drove over, trailing a path of fire beneath its wheels. It stopped beside Green, unmanned.
Flames surged in the rain, showing no sign of being extinguished.
The three little ones lined up and climbed onto the seat one by one, sitting down obediently.
When Melinda saw the vehicle, her pupils contracted slightly.
She and Coulson had tracked the owner of this bike before and even had a few interactions. Most of those interactions were quite unpleasant.
But why was this bike... in his hands now?
"Tell Nick Fury that the vampires are up to something and to have a solution ready." Green straddled the bike behind the three little ones, grabbing the handlebars and pulling them into his embrace.
His gaze landed on Melinda's face.
"If he wants to wipe out the race..."
"He'll have to pay extra!"
With that, he twisted the throttle.
The hell cycle roared as it turned around, its tires spinning violently in the puddles and splashing water everywhere. Flames erupted from beneath the wheels, trailing a burning path through the rain.
"No!"
Nisha was dragged by the chain, running for her life to keep up.
Behind them, a trail of unquenchable fire tire marks stretched out.
Those flames surged in the rain, steaming the puddles into white mist, only to be doused by newly falling rain the next moment, repeating in a sort of eternal cycle.
The trail of fire extended into the depths of the darkness, disappearing at the end of the rain curtain.
Melinda stood where she was.
Her expression was somewhat complex; she knew some of the inside story.
"Fury, I hope your judgment isn't wrong. This guy doesn't exactly look like he's on the side of justice."
Chapter 74: Underground Room, Midnight Solace
The rain deepened, and the night grew darker.
Rows of streetlights glowed with brilliant white halos, and the fine, continuous drizzle passed through the light like flowing angelic skirts draped over every lamp.
Those skirts were gently swayed by the wind, gathering at times and scattering at others, casting mottled shadows on the wet streets.
The hell cycle lowered its voice.
The roar gradually faded, turning into a low, heavy panting.
The flames beneath the wheels died out, leaving only a scorched black tire track extending from the street corner all the way to the garage door.
It slid slowly into the garage, coming to a steady halt as the engine cut out.
Green Morgan stepped off the bike.
He patted himself down; the heat carried by the cycle's body hadn't yet dissipated. As the residual flames and high temperatures touched his body, the rainwater on him instantly evaporated into steam.
White mist rose from him, swirling through the dim garage and blurring his silhouette.
But he was the only one who received such treatment.
The three little ones hopped off the seat one after another.
Nisha was dragged by the chains, stumbling into the garage and collapsing in a corner, gasping for breath; she had practically been dragged for the latter half of the journey.
Green Morgan pushed open the living room door, walked in, and clicked on the light.
Snap.
The warm yellow light illuminated the entire living room—the sofa, coffee table, TV, and rug. Everything was as usual, exactly as it had been when they left a few hours ago.
"Go take a shower, especially you, Laura. Don't just scrub twice and tell me you're done."
"I know, I know, mom."
"Go on, get moving."
Standing in the entryway, Green Morgan ushered them toward the bathroom like herding ducks, then turned around and stepped right on a banana peel with a squelch.
Green Morgan looked down at the slimy mess under his foot, his face darkening.
"Laura, I told you to throw the trash in the bin when you're at home!" he shouted toward the bathroom.
The bathroom door was ajar, and the rustling sound of clothes being removed came from inside as steam began to drift out.
"I missed my shot!" Laura's voice called out from within.
"Tch." Green Morgan bent down to pick up the banana peel, flicking his wrist. "If you're bad, practice more."
The banana peel traced a perfect parabola, flying accurately toward the trash can.
Clang!
It hit the rim of the bin, the force of the impact knocking the trash can over.
"..." Green Morgan's hand froze mid-air.
"I'm getting a new trash can tomorrow."
He turned and walked toward the garage as if nothing had happened.
"Green—! I'm hungry!"
Laura's shout came from behind him, piercing through the sound of the water and the splashing shower, exceptionally loud.
"Just drink a few gulps while you're showering and make do with that." Green Morgan didn't look back.
"Green—!"
"Can't hear you."
"Green—!!"
He stopped in his tracks and took a deep breath.
"...Fine!"
Green Morgan turned around, grabbed the chain around Nisha's neck as she lay slumped in the corner, and dragged her toward the storage room at the end of the hallway.
"I can pay you! Just name any price, and I'll satisfy you!"
Nisha held her head up, limping along with a forced, placating smile on her face.
Her courage was gone, thoroughly washed away by the rain during the journey.
This princess who stood high above others in her family, this pure-blood noble who had never looked a human in the eye, was now like a dog wagging its tail for pity.
Her mindset seemed to have changed; she could accept a more humble posture as long as she could survive. She hadn't enjoyed life enough yet!
"No."
Green Morgan continued to pull her along, his hand reaching for the storage room door handle.
"Then why won't you kill me or negotiate?" Nisha panicked, her voice starting to tremble.
"To use me to vent your desires? Or to get revenge for me hurting your girls?"
She watched Green Morgan twist the handle, her heart rate suddenly accelerating.
Especially in the pitch-black depths behind the door, where she could faintly see a concealed wooden board, looking like an entrance to somewhere deeper and more secret.
"No, it's simply because you are my spoils of war."
Green Morgan lifted the chain and yanked her forward.
"And you're a trophy with very high potential value."
"You'd be better off letting me pay you; it's faster!" Nisha's voice turned shrill as she desperately shrank back.
"That's too boring."
"Boring?!"
Nisha stared at him, suddenly understanding something. This man's logical thinking was too obvious: she was his loot, so no one else could touch her. He didn't accept direct gifts; he only liked to plunder.
Wasn't this the classic Bandits' mindset?!
"Yes."
Green Morgan pulled back the wooden board.
Behind the board was a staircase leading down.
The stairs extended into a pitch-black silence. A damp breath, mixed with the smell of mold and rust, surged up from below and hit Nisha in the face.
Her shoulders hunched as she instinctively shrank back. Even though she was a vampire, it didn't mean she liked the pitch black.
"What... what do you actually want to do?" Her voice trembled.
"Domestication."
Green Morgan grabbed an iron chain from the tool rack and walked down the steps.
Then, he gave a forceful yank.
The chains rattled as Nisha was dragged toward the black hole.
"No—!!"
She cried out helplessly as she was dragged into the darkness by Green Morgan.
Her shrill cries echoed through the stairwell but were quickly swallowed by the silence, like a pebble thrown into an abyss without even having time for an echo.
Before long, Green Morgan walked back up.
He brushed the dust off his hands and replaced the wooden board, sealing away the pitch-black silence completely.
He walked out of the storage room, closed the door as if nothing had happened, and then picked up a wet mop by the door to wipe away the muddy footprints Nisha had left while being dragged in.
The mop slid across the floor, leaving damp trails that were then stepped on by his soles. He casually leaned the mop against the kitchen wall.
He opened the refrigerator.
Cold air rushed out, carrying a mixed scent of beer and leftovers. He pulled out a can of beer, hooked his thumb into the tab, popped it open with a 'pssh,' and tilted his head back for a large gulp.
Gulp, gulp, gulp.
His Adam's apple bobbed up and down as the liquid flowed down his esophagus into his stomach, spreading a wave of coolness through his chest.
*Burp—*
He wiped his mouth, crushed the empty can, and tossed it into the trash bin.
The aluminum can hit the side of the bin with a dull thud before rolling onto the newspapers at the bottom.
"And that's a hit." Apparently, Green Morgan was still a bit bothered by his lack of aim earlier.
Then he got to work.
He cracked three eggs into a bowl; the whites slid in, leaving the yolks floating intact on top.
He picked up chopsticks and stirred rapidly. The chopsticks clicked rhythmically against the bowl's sides as the eggs were beaten, creating fine bubbles and gradually merging into a uniform pale yellow.
He added water, mixed it evenly, and put it on to steam. He heated up some ginger coke and arranged sliced fruit into a platter.
Tap, tap, tap, tap.
The sound of bare feet hitting the floor came from the hallway.
Laura rushed into the kitchen, bringing a wave of steam with her. Her wet hair was still dripping.
She was only wearing a loose white T-shirt that barely covered the tops of her thighs, leaving her two slender legs exposed to the air, still dotted with undried water droplets.
The first thing she saw was the fruit.
Her eyes lit up.
She lunged forward like a small cannonball.
"I said wear shoes."
Green Morgan reached out and caught her by the waist mid-air. His palm felt the soft T-shirt fabric, sensing the heat radiating from her body and her slight trembling.
"Ahhh~~"
Laura's hand was already reaching for the bowl in front of him. Her fingertips were only centimeters away from the freshly steamed egg custard, but she was ruthlessly set back down.
Green Morgan gave her little bottom a swat for good measure.
It wasn't heavy, but just enough for her to feel the impact.
"Ugh..."
Laura rubbed the spot where she'd been swatted, pouting her lips and letting out a dissatisfied hum.
But she obediently turned around, walked back to the bathroom, and put on her slippers.
"Are you going to change, Green?"
Lorna walked out carrying a green bin full of clothes, tilting her head to look at him.
Her long, wet dark green hair hung over her shoulders, still dripping water that soaked the collar of her T-shirt, creating a dark patch.
Her pale little face was slightly flushed from the heat of the shower.
Gwen walked past her while drying her hair, also looking at him.
She was wearing an oversized nightgown with a wide neckline that revealed half of her collarbone.
Her wet blonde hair was a mess from her rubbing it; a few strands stuck to her cheeks, while others draped over her shoulders.
"No."
Green Morgan lifted the pot lid.
Steam billowed out, carrying the scent of eggs and moisture.
He reached into the pot barehanded, grabbed the scorching bowl, and set it on the counter. He took a toothpick, poked a few small holes in the tender surface of the egg, tossed in some chili rings, and poured on some soy sauce.
"Oh~"
Lorna muttered somewhat unhappily.
She understood something; it was likely because of some woman again.
But looking at him busy amidst the kitchen steam, she couldn't find it in her to stay angry.
The warm yellow light spilled from above, casting a shadow across his broad back.
The rising white mist became hazy in the light, like a thin veil.
He kept his head down, focused on the bowl in his hands. The lines of his profile were blurred by the steam, leaving only a gentle silhouette.
All of this made her feel... very safe.
She tilted her small head and carried the bin toward the washing machine.
Green Morgan shifted his gaze, catching a glimpse of Lorna's swaying dark green hair out of the corner of his eye before lowering his eyelids again.
He wouldn't change his nature for her.
Desire. Freedom. Violence.
These were the things that truly allowed him to relax.
To put it bluntly, he was a scumbag.
No matter how beautifully it was sugarcoated or how noble his actions seemed, in the end, he was—
Suddenly.
His shirt was carefully tugged.
"What is it?"
Green Morgan looked down.
Gwen was standing beside him.
She looked up at him, her pretty face—still possessing a hint of baby fat—was flushed like a ripe peach, whether from the steam or something else.
A faint pink glow spread from her cheekbones to the base of her ears, even the tips of which were red.
Those blue eyes were sparkling like glass beads soaked in water, reflecting the kitchen lights and shining with expectation.
She was holding a hair dryer.
Her voice was very thin and light, like the chirping of a bird heard in a dream:
"Mr. Green... could you help me dry my hair?"
Green Morgan fell silent for a moment.
Those few seconds of stillness felt incredibly long to Gwen.
Her feet pressed together, and her head gradually lowered as her heart pounded.
"Was that too much? Or does Mr. Green think I'm not good enough and is dissatisfied with me? As expected, my request was still..."
"Ah, sure," Green Morgan said.
"Huh?" Gwen carefully raised her eyes, her gaze beneath her lashes carrying a hint of longing intimacy.
"It's nothing. Don't think so lowly of yourself, Little Robin."
Green Morgan pressed two fingers against the softest part of her forehead, as if soothing a clingy kitten.
With just that one touch.
The gloom vanished, and Gwen broke into a smile. The corners of her eyes crinkled, and the two shallow dimples on her cheeks were filled with sweetness.
"Okay!"
Chapter 75: Night Watch
The hair dryer roared, the heat buzzing like a bee trapped in a small space, struggling desperately.
Gwen narrowed her eyes, her gaze falling in front of her; the hem of Green's oversized shirt swayed gently as he moved to dry her hair.
"Is it too hot?"
Green's voice came from above, carrying a vibrating low rumble.
His Adam's apple rolled gently with his words, flickering in and out of the shadows of the shirt's collar.
Gwen shook her small head slightly, her hair swaying gently against the side of her face.
She didn't speak, but a small curve formed at the corners of her mouth.
Before long, Green rubbed her hair casually.
Those large hands covered the top of her head, his warm palms pressing against her hair, his rough fingertips weaving through the strands.
The soft, golden hair twisted and loosened between his fingers like a field of wheat brushed by the wind; he rubbed it casually, nonchalantly, yet it somehow made her whole body go soft.
"All done."
Green withdrew his hand with a helpless look; it seemed there was a high probability her hair would be frizzy tomorrow, but forgive him—he had no experience in this.
"Mhm."
Gwen looked up.
She nudged the top of her head upward slightly, proactively rubbing against his palm before it could fully pull away.
Suddenly,
A metal spoon carrying a bouncy piece of steamed egg was stuffed into her mouth while she wasn't paying attention.
"Mmph..."
Gwen's mouth was stuffed full as she shot an annoyed look at Lorna beside her.
"My turn, my turn."
Lorna pulled her best friend away and squeezed in unceremoniously, the oversized shirt covering most of her body and draping onto the sofa, leaving only two fair calves swinging outside.
Gwen curled her lip and gave her an annoyed glare.
Those blue eyes were filled with the meaning of "just you wait," and her lips pouted slightly, but Lorna didn't look back at all.
"Why are you all wearing my clothes?"
Green looked at yet another fluffy head before him, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness.
His shirt was on Lorna; the sleeves were a bit too long, the hem nearly reached her knees, and the shoulder seams slumped down her arms, but with her dark green hair scattered over it, there was an unexpectedly lazy beauty to it.
"Hmph, I'm wearing it anyway!"
Lorna's thin lips curved down as she hummed with a laugh, her head tilted up and her willow-leaf brows arching; the foxy smile at the corners of her eyes couldn't be hidden.
"I bought a whole closet of clothes for you two to choose from," Green tried to reason.
"Wearing it!"
"Then can you stop drawing cartoons on my shirts?" Green looked helplessly at the white shirt Lorna was wearing; an Applejack had been drawn on the originally plain front.
"Drawing it!"
Lorna tilted her chin up tsundere-style, her lips pouting like a small piece of cherry blossom rice cake, round and cute; especially after seeing Green's helpless expression, a bit of secret joy appeared in her eyes.
"Alright now~"
She suddenly softened her tone.
She reached out with her two small hands, grabbed Green's hand, lifted it, and pressed it onto her damp crown; her hands were small and soft, carrying the warmth of a fresh shower.
"I'm about to catch a cold, Green~~"
She said, feigning pity, her voice soft and sweet, but her eyes clearly still held a glimmer of laughter, twinkling like light reflecting off a lake.
"I know, I know."
Green's thumb pressed the hair dryer's button, and hot air gushed from the nozzle, blowing through her damp, dark green hair; the strands danced in the wind like seaweed on beach rocks.
"Hehe..."
Lorna narrowed her eyes, her whole face written with satisfaction; that little expression of enjoyment was exactly the same as Gwen's just now.
Click!
A crisp sound suddenly came from beside them—the sound of white teeth biting down on a metal spoon, sharp and a bit piercing.
Both of them looked over at the same time.
Gwen held the spoon in her mouth as if nothing had happened, looking at them with confusion, her eyelashes fluttering innocently, though a hint of craftiness flashed in the depths of her eyes.
"What is it?"
The spoon handle tilted at the corner of her mouth; inside, her pink tongue lightly pressed against the egg white in the spoon, which slid over the tip of her tongue before she curled it in and swallowed, her throat rolling once.
Her expression remained innocent.
"Hmph." Lorna curled her lips, seeing through it but not saying anything.
Just then,
A small head pushed in from the side,
Forcing its way into the space under the hot air, pushing Lorna half an inch to the side.
"Laura—! It's not your turn yet!"
Lorna raised her fist and pressed it against the soft flesh of Laura's cheek, trying to push her out, but found to her frustration that she couldn't move her.
This girl was like a plaster; once she stuck to you, she wouldn't let go.
Lorna slapped her shoulder a few more times, but Lauraacted as if she couldn't feel it, instead moving further in.
"My hair is almost dry anyway,"
Laura's cheeks were bulging as she chewed on something; she spoke indistinctly while chewing,
"I don't care, if you guys get it, I get it too."
Saying this, she reached out her hand, pinching a strawberry she'd bitten the tip off of, and fed it to Green,
Green didn't mind; the sweetness of the strawberry dissolved on the tip of his tongue, mixing with the juice remaining on her fingertips.
Two small heads squeezed under the hot air, huddling close together under the warm yellow light.
"Aren't we going to clear out the other strongholds? We just came back like this."
Laura spoke; while outside, she wouldn't defy Green's decisions, but in a place she considered safe, she didn't want to hide the doubts in her heart from him.
"Even though we dealt with this stronghold quickly, everyone else who should have run has already fled. Hunting them down wouldn't achieve much."
Green picked up the remote and flipped through channels; images jumped—news, commercials, variety shows, one after another,
"Besides, with such a big commotion, if those hyenas haven't smelled the crisis yet, they aren't qualified to stay in the game."
When he switched to Family Guy, Laura's eyes lit up, and she quickly tapped Green's hand to make him stop.
"Hye... nas?"
Lorna spoke, a certain light shining in her eyes; she liked that word!
She knew Green was making an analogy to people—dangerous people with no bottom line,
But she felt a sudden impulse, an impulse to conquer,
That impulse surged from deep within her blood, burrowing out from the cracks in her bones, making her fingertips tremble slightly,
She wanted to cause trouble!
"Want to play?" Green suddenly asked,
"Yes!" Lorna admitted frankly, her voice suppressed with an uncontrollable excitement,
"There will be a chance."
...
Meanwhile, in Hells Kitchen,
A large vampire stronghold—The House of Pain,
[Note: This stronghold is from Blade II; psychedelic music plays inside, and vampires use their self-healing abilities to self-mutilate to vent their desires, attracting large numbers of vampires.]
Inside the spacious bar, corpses everywhere had crumbled into ash, forming a thick layer on the floor,
The ashes were still warm; stepping on them produced a fine rustling sound, kicking up small clouds of black dust,
Interspersed among the ashes were a dozen human corpses, sprawled by the bar, near the sofas, and under broken wine racks,
The air was thick with the smell of blood, gunpowder, and the stench of charred flesh; the scent was as viscous as liquid, crawling into nostrils and pouring down throats, making one nauseous,
"Kingpin... you son of a... bitch! You broke your word! You... you even prepared... weapons to deal with us... long ago!"
A well-dressed man was held up by his head with one of Kingpin's hands; in the other hand, Kingpin held a pistol, its muzzle still emitting faint wisps of smoke,
On his white suit, there were over a dozen bullet holes; the bullets were lodged in his muscles without penetrating through, only blooming small flowers of blood on the white fabric,
"You think I wanted to? Today is my wedding anniversary with my wife."
Kingpin's face was grim as his fingers tightened around the man's head.
"If it weren't for my high-level informant receiving some dire news, I wouldn't have wanted to clear you out. After all, the funds you provided played a significant role in my development."
"Then... how about... you pretend... you didn't see me?" The man bared his gap-toothed mouth, barely managing a smile; several of his teeth had been knocked out, making his speech airy, and blood trailed from the corner of his mouth.
"I'll... still provide for you, no... double!"
Kingpin fell silent for a moment,
Those sinister eyes stared at the man as if weighing something,
Seconds ticked by, and hope gradually ignited in the man's eyes,
Suddenly, Kingpin's gaze turned fierce.
"You know too much!"
As soon as he spoke, he gripped the head with one hand and pressed down on the shoulder with the other, then twisted the man's head off like unscrewing the cork of an aged bottle of red wine.
Blood erupted from the severed neck, drenching Kingpin's white suit and splashing across his face.
The man's hand curled and soon went limp, the pistol clattering to the floor,
"A pity, we've lost a big client."
James, standing nearby, walked over and handed Kingpin a pocket square,
"Nothing to pity."
Kingpin took the square and wiped the blood from his hands,
"The clients these things killed also caused my sales through other gray channels to drop by several percent."
"Since someone took the lead this time, it's the perfect chance to wipe them all out. The loss isn't as big as imagined."
"Clean this place up. Business as usual tomorrow." He surveyed the wrecked bar, his gaze landing on the DJ booth.
Bullseye stood there, with his two previously lost hands now wearing black rubber gloves; the faint sound of mechanical gears turning could be heard from beneath the gloves,
"OK! Boss."
Bullseye noticed his gaze, grinned, and then patted the black male DJ kneeling before him,
"Motherfucker, hurry up!"
"Mmph..."
"By the way... down there... vampires can suck blood too, right?" James said, sounding a bit awkward,
"..." A look of disgust also appeared on Kingpin's face,
However, having invested too much in this guy, he still had to make him earn the money back.
Just then, the sound of sirens drifted in through the broken glass windows of the building,
Kingpin's brow furrowed into a mass of flesh as he walked to the window,
His oversized leather shoes crunched over the glass shards on the floor as he stood before the shattered window, looking at the convoy of police cars stopped in the rain outside; red and blue lights flashed in the downpour, reflecting a hazy glow,
His gaze turned toward a person stepping out of a car door—a troublesome old rival.
"George Stacy..."