"Quick! spur your mount! I'll adjust." Lia's voice was firm as her eyes scanned the surroundings.
Chen Le didn't ask questions and immediately twisted the throttle on his scooter.
Vrrrooommm…
Lady Alvara Dureim's head wobbled slightly at the sudden burst of speed. Lia urged her horse forward, keeping pace with Chen Le so the gap between them never exceeded five meters.
What's going on exactly? Chen Le muttered in his mind while focusing on the rocky path, doing his best not to slip.
[ Remaining Distance: 4,800 meters ]
His hands ached a little from gripping the handlebars. The roar of the engine echoed against the cliff wall to their left. Lia, riding beside him, looked tense, her sharp gaze scanning the shadows of the trees.
"You feel it too, don't you?" Lia's voice was low, almost drowned out by the sound of hooves.
Chen Le snorted. "If you mean the weird chill from the forest, yeah… I feel it. Creepy, like something's watching us."
Lia didn't answer, only moved her fingers closer to the hilt of her sword. Her horse neighed uneasily, clearly restless.
[ Remaining Distance: 4,500 meters ]
This time, a panel appeared before Chen Le's eyes, and Lia received the same notification.
[ Warning: Energy fluctuation detected. ]
Chen Le swallowed hard. The system panel made the hair on his neck stand up.
Energy fluctuation? Don't tell me a monster's about to pop out while I'm riding full speed…
Lia's voice rang out louder, "Don't slow down. If they appear, we break through before we're surrounded."
Chen Le gripped the handlebars tighter, heart pounding. "They? Who the hell's waiting for us up ahead?"
Vrrrooomm—!!!
Suddenly, from the darkness of the forest, a blazing fireball shot out and smashed into the ground right in front of his scooter.
BOOM!
The explosion shook the ground, rocks scattering everywhere.
Chen Le shouted in panic, the scooter swerving. "SHIT—!"
The front wheel slipped on a rock, sending him crashing down.
CRASH!
Lady Alvara Dureim's head, which had been resting on the scooter's dashboard, tumbled off, rolling several steps away before stopping.
Chen Le winced, his knee scraped raw against the gravel. "Damn it! What the hell now?!"
Lia yanked on her reins, leapt from her horse. Her eyes narrowed at the treeline. From the shadows emerged armed figures, torches and arrows at the ready. In seconds, they were surrounded.
"Bandits…" Lia hissed.
Alvara's head, lying on the ground, scoffed. "Not mere bandits… these are soldiers from the Citadel's enemy faction. They know I'm weakened."
Chen Le turned to her in shock, still clutching his sore arm. "Weakened? Then how the hell did they get here?!"
Alvara's expression was cold despite being only a head. "Pick me up now! My body isn't fully reattached yet… I'm still relying on adhesive magic. Without it, I'm just a head with scraps of energy."
Chen Le gawked, sweat running down his temple. "You serious…? So I'm fighting bandits while carrying a damn head?!"
The circle of enemies tightened. Bows were drawn, spears leveled.
Lia gritted her teeth. "Chen Le! Do it now! Or we're both dead!"
The attackers stepped fully into view, faces hardened, some wrapped in ragged cloth. Not a single one looked at Chen Le—every eye locked onto the head in his arms.
"There… the Citadel Princess's head," one hissed.
Another laughed harshly. "You thought you could hide forever, Lady Alvara Dureim? Without your body, you're nothing but spoils of war."
Chen Le's eyes widened.
Alvara scoffed again, her voice as cold as stone. "I told you… my body isn't whole. They're exploiting this chance."
He hugged her tighter. "Shit, what do we do now?"
That was when Lia stepped forward. For the first time, a flash of light bloomed in her hand. From nothing, it solidified into a long sword, its blade etched with faint runes. The air itself seemed to shiver in recognition of the weapon.
The bandit leader sneered, raising his flaming spear. "Just a soul model courier? Hmph. Do you think you can stand against us? You're just a delivery girl… not a warrior."
Lia stood tall, her grip on the sword firm. "I am a courier of the Elven Kingdom. I will not surrender my delivery so easily."
Chen Le's heart raced as he glanced at her—the fierce elf, poised like a knight, while he stood there in a delivery jacket clutching the scowling head of a vampire.
[ Warning: Combat Detected ]
The bandits laughed harshly, their eyes never leaving Alvara's head.
"Forget the pointy-eared courier! Focus on the man in the jacket—he's carrying the head!"
Their leader advanced, spear glowing crimson. "I'll deal with this foolish courier myself!"
SWOOSH!
The first arrow flew straight at Chen Le.
CLANG!
Lia's runic blade shimmered as she slashed, splitting the arrow mid-air. Sparks showered the ground.
Chen Le hugged Alvara's head tight, breathing hard. "This is worse than any modern mugging…"
Alvara's tone dripped with disdain. "Cowards. They deserve nothing but slaughter."
Four more enemies rushed forward with weapons bared. Lia stepped into their path, her sword raised. "If you want her, you'll have to cut me down first."
The runes along her blade glowed faintly, sharp energy radiating outward, making the bandits hesitate for a heartbeat.
"Don't let her rattle you!" the leader barked.
The bandits charged.
CLASH!
Steel rang against steel, sparks bursting in the dark night.
[ Status: Combat Initiated ]
[ Priority: Secure the Delivery ]
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Lia strained against four opponents at once, her sword meeting their relentless strikes. Sparks danced at every clash, her shoulders visibly tightening under the pressure.
Chen Le stood frozen behind her, still clutching Alvara's head.
"She's getting overwhelmed…" he muttered.
Alvara's voice snapped. "Delivery Boy! Use your item!"
Chen Le blinked. "Item? What item, Vampire Lady?!"
"You've been carrying it. Take it out."
He fumbled in his delivery jacket pocket. His fingers brushed something cold—the Living Eye, the eerie eyeball gifted by the Demon King.
"This creepy thing?!"
"Yes. Channel mana into it."
Chen Le scratched his head nervously. "Mana? I don't even know how—"
Suddenly, a strange warmth spread through his chest, coursing down his arm like an electric current. Instinctively, he pushed it into the Living Eye.
WUUUUMMM!
The orb pulsed, veins glowing faint red. It floated into the air, pupil swiveling to stare at the bandits.
[ Ding! ]
[ Living Eye activated ]
[ Enemy analysis initiated ]
Chen Le's eyes widened as his vision shifted—dozens of faint glowing arrows appeared, pointing to each bandit's weak spots: throats, knees, ribs, even gaps in their cheap armor.
"What the hell?! Like cheat codes?!"
He glanced at Lia—two bandits lunged at her with spears, another loosed an arrow from behind. She was about to be overwhelmed.
Alvara sighed, her voice calm despite her condition. "Delivery Boy… I'll lend you some power. Use it."
Suddenly, Alvara's long hair writhed to life. Her head floated up, then latched onto Chen Le's shoulder, hair wrapping tightly around his right arm like living cords, anchoring herself against his neck.
Chen Le shuddered.
"What the hell?! Don't stick to me!!" he yelped.
[ Ding! ]
[ Temporary Skill Acquired ]
[ Skill: Blood Bullet (Temporary) ]