The two remaining thugs—one was already completely terrified, paralyzed on the ground with a spreading puddle of foul-smelling, cloudy fluid beneath him. His eyes were blank, and he was motionless.
The other still had a sliver of instinct left. With a scream that barely sounded human, he spun around and tried to crawl away in panic.
But how could he possibly outrun a Vampire spreading her wings?
Tulia’s wings gave a gentle flutter behind her, and her figure flashed through the air like a bolt of bloody lightning, instantly catching up to the fleeing man. Her slender fingers shot out, nails sharp as five needles, plunging with cold precision into his carotid artery.
It was plain to see—a stream of scarlet blood flowed swiftly along her nails, drawn as if by some force, and poured into Tulia’s arm. The veins beneath her pale skin swelled slightly, surging with an ominous red glow.
The fugitive’s body withered visibly, his skin turning gray and losing all luster, until he crumpled limply to the ground—a shriveled husk wrapped in sagging flesh.
“Aiya ya.”
Tulia flicked imaginary dust from her hand, her crimson gaze settling with undisguised disdain on the only “intact” survivor—the coward who had wet himself in terror.
“There’s still one left… How disgraceful.”
She didn’t use any more flashy powers; she simply walked forward and, as if picking up a chick, grabbed his head with one hand and effortlessly hoisted him into the air.
The thug’s legs kicked feebly in the air, his throat rasping with hopeless, strangled gasps.
Tulia’s face was expressionless. Her fingers tightened ever so slightly.
Crack—!
A sickening bone-splitting sound rang out crisp and clear.
The head burst open like a watermelon smashed by a boulder, red and white splattering everywhere.
Tulia tossed the headless corpse to the ground, as if discarding trash.
She stood in the middle of the alley, surrounded by three corpses, each dead in their own gruesome way. The stench of blood was so thick it felt almost solid.
She tilted her head back slightly, closed her crimson eyes, and savored the renewed rush of power filling her body. A long, satisfied sigh escaped her lips.
“As expected… this is the taste I’ve missed most.”
Tulia rummaged through the three still-warm corpses, only to find a few Coins, which felt pitifully light in her hand.
“Click, what a bunch of paupers.” She curled her lip. “This isn’t even enough for a horse, let alone a decent Saddle. Looks like I’ll have to pay out of my own pocket.”
She sighed, her gaze returning to the “fresh ingredients” on the ground, her crimson tongue unconsciously licking over her fangs.
Just as she bent down to enjoy this long-delayed “feast,” her pointed ears twitched sharply.
A single, urgent set of footsteps was approaching fast.
She quietly released a wisp of Magic Element Perception. The information flooded back at once.
“Heh… Looks like that ‘dutiful’ Sheriff is catching up.”
She raised an eyebrow, a trace of annoyance at being interrupted in her voice. “What a shame…”
Her eyes lingered on the corpses for a heartbeat, but in the end, she straightened up.
Though she was now a Vampire, the simple moral values she’d held as a human in her previous life—like stubborn stones sunk to the bottom of a river—still held a place in her heart. For those like this Sheriff, who was only performing his duty rather than committing any great evil, she could not bring herself to kill.
“What a letdown.”
She muttered softly and, with a flicker, vanished like a wraith into the dark depths of the alley.
The very next instant, the Sheriff burst into the alley, panting.
The overwhelming stench of blood hit him like a wall. The hellish scene before him made his stomach churn violently; he staggered to the wall, dry-heaving uncontrollably.
Fighting down both physical and mental revulsion, he forced himself to begin inspecting the scene with professional discipline.
Two of the corpses were unrecognizable, especially the one with the shattered skull… The other was even stranger—completely withered, as if all fluid and blood had been sucked out by some force.
That familiar cause of death… The Sheriff’s pupils contracted suddenly as a long-buried memory was wrenched open. It was before he was even born, during that earth-shattering Blood Crime in the Kingdom’s economic center, Aiden City!
Several high-ranking Vampires had committed crimes, and the internal report at the time described in detail exactly this kind of victim, drained of all essence!
A cold shiver shot up from his tailbone to the crown of his head, cold sweat soaking his back.
“No… I have to report this immediately! Request reinforcements!”
A boundless terror seized him, but duty finally triumphed over fear. He turned and ran. Even if he had to mobilize the entire town’s security force, he would see this dangerous Vampire driven out!
At the same time, Tulia had already brought Lisbeth to the Blacksmith Shop in the Old Alley in the South of Town.
The shop was dimly lit, only the dull roar of the forge and the rhythmic clanging of the hammer breaking the silence.
Beside a few empty Stables, a single sturdy-looking brown horse was tied up.
“That horse. I’ll take it.” Tulia got straight to the point.
The old blacksmith—Hank the Elder—merely lifted his eyelids. His muddy gaze swept over Tulia, showing no trace of emotion at her stunning looks or unusual presence. But he seemed to understand.
“One hundred thousand Kingdom Coins.” His voice was hoarse, words clipped. “If it’s too expensive, go somewhere else.”
Tulia said nothing more. She laid ten Coins down with a crisp “clink” on the small table beside him.
Hank the Elder didn’t even look at them, continuing to hammer at the iron in his hands. The cold, efficient transaction was about to be completed.
As Tulia entered the Stable, picking up the Saddle to set on the horse—
“Don’t move! Hands up!”
A sharp shout shattered the Blacksmith Shop’s silence.
The Sheriff had returned, bringing several colleagues who blocked the entrance, Magic Wands glowing at their tips, ready to fire.
They swallowed nervously, hoping this Vampire would know when to back down—no one really wanted to fight a high-ranking Vampire to the death.
Tulia paused, but did not raise her hands as ordered.
She was confident she could eliminate these men in an instant, but… she was not bloodthirsty by nature.
The tension instantly thickened, on the verge of exploding.
“Sheriff,” Hank the Elder suddenly spoke, his tone as flat as ever. “She paid.”
The Sheriff could hardly believe his ears. Was this old man crazy from poverty?
He snatched up the Coins from the table and flung them at Tulia’s feet. The Coins rolled in the dust, ringing out with a crisp yet jarring sound.
“You hear that? The sound of one hundred thousand Kingdom Coins, real as can be!”
The Sheriff nearly roared, at both Hank the Elder and Tulia.
“Hank the Elder! This town does not sell anything to Vampires! Not even a horseshoe!”
He took a sudden step forward, aiming his Magic Wand at Tulia, his voice sharp but uncertain: “Pick up your money! Leave town right now! Do you hear me?!”