Her eyes shimmered.
Something heavy pressed against my mind.
[Charm].
The spell didn't take me fully. My Spirit stat was too high for that. But my body froze, leaving me trapped, unable to move.
'What is she trying to do?'
I decided to wait to see what her intentions were. Though, I could guess they were not good intentions.
Her steps were light as she moved closer. She bit her finger with sharp fangs, blood welling up.
I watched as she lifted her hand. A crimson circle formed in the air, spinning slowly.
"She's using Crimson Hollow Vow! Lord of Shadows, dodge it!" Yuna's voice shook.
A type of blood poison curse. It was nasty stuff.
Once cast, it would burrow into the target's body, and become nearly undetectable.
The caster would be able to slowly weaken the victim over time… or instantly kill them at will.
I waited.
Closer. Just a little closer.
She moved with a relaxed expression.
Just a few more seconds...
As her hand reached for my face, I moved.
Two magic circles snapped into life in an instant.
Her eyes widened.
"What—!?"
A portal opened before me. Another formed behind her head.
I fired a [Magic Bullet] into the first.
It came out the second, piercing the back of her skull and bursting out the front.
Blood sprayed. Her head jerked forward violently.
For a heartbeat, I thought it was done.
Then her hand lashed out and slammed into my stomach.
Pain exploded. My body flew back, crashing into the wall. Wood cracked against my spine. My ribs screamed. Blood filled my mouth.
I coughed, gasping.
She staggered, touching her face, blood dripping from the hole in her skull.
"Who are you!? A disguised guard!?" she yelled.
I didn't answer. I forced air into my lungs, fighting against the pain, and kept my focus.
No one else would come to rescue me despite the noise we made.
She'd said it herself she had used the sleep gas. Everyone must be out cold.
'It must be the undetectable type of sleep gas that only works on people who are asleep.'
'Since I was awake, it didn't work on me.'
Liana looked at me with fury now.
"You little brat…"
Her red eyes glowed. Her fangs showed in the moonlight as she bared them.
The hole in her skull was closing. Flesh stitching together.
I wiped the blood from my mouth and pushed myself off the wall. My body trembled, but I remained alert.
'She's a Dhampir. A headshot isn't enough to kill her.'
I instantly recognized her as a lower-ranked species of Vampire.
Dhampir had two hearts. You needed to destroy both hearts to kill them.
She hissed, baring her fangs. Her nails lengthened into claws.
This time, she didn't rush me.
She observed me cautiously.
Her red eyes flicked between the portals and my hands.
It was the first time she had seen Spatial Magic. It made her wary.
But her hesitation didn't last long.
She dashed forward, closing the distance in a blink.
I fired another [Magic Bullet] into a portal.
It opened near her temple, but she was ready this time. She twisted her head aside, and the bullet missed.
I didn't stop.
Another portal appeared in the bullet's path, redirecting it.
She predicted I would target her head again, and was late to react when the magic bullet pierced through her calf.
Her steps faltered for a moment.
Still, she pushed on, limping but not stopping.
Her clawed hand shot down, aiming for my chest.
I created a portal right in front of me.
Her arm slid straight into it.
Her eyes widened in surprise. She froze, realizing what had happened.
The second portal opened behind her. Her arm thrust through it, her body half-turned in confusion.
That was my chance.
I fired another [Magic Bullet] into the portal.
It came out from behind her, ripping through her back and striking her heart.
Her scream tore through the room. She clutched her chest and stumbled away, staggering. Blood dripped down her suit.
Her breathing turned rough, but she didn't collapse.
One heart gone. One more left.
Her eyes glowed faint red with fury.
Both of us were injured, and tired. I could barely maintain my consciousness. She could barely breathe.
But neither of us wanted to stop.
"You're dead now!" she hissed.
Her voice cracked, but she started chanting a spell.
I pointed my hand and fired again. The bullet shot past her as she sidestepped.
She expected another portal.
She smirked, thinking she had already seen my trick.
This time, I changed it.
I used [Telekinesis].
The glowing bullet curved mid-air.
Her eyes widened in shock, and she moved to dodge.
It was too late.
The bullet slammed through her chest. Straight through her second heart.
Her body jerked violently.
The light in her eyes dimmed.
Blood gushed from the hole, staining her suit dark.
She crumpled to the ground, hitting the carpet with a dull thud.
Her chest rose once. Then stilled.
I stayed frozen, staring at her.
Her body was riddled with holes. Blood pooled beneath her, soaking into the floorboards.
Still, I didn't move.
Only when the silence stretched too long did I raise my shaking hand.
I fired five more [Magic Bullets] to confirm she was truly dead.
Each one struck with a heavy thump, tearing into her unmoving body.
When the room finally went silent again, I lowered my hand.
I stayed on the floor, unable to move for a moment.
Every breath burned. My ribs felt crushed, and sharp pain shot down my sides whenever I tried to inhale.
Blood slipped down my chin. I coughed and groaned.
But I was alive.
She wasn't.
With effort, I pushed myself against the wall and sat there. My arms trembled. Sweat ran down my face.
The system messages appeared.
You have resisted: Charm. +2 Spirit.
Magic Bullet: 0-Star → 1-Star
Telekinesis: 0-Star → 1-Star