“Captain, it is time for the shift change. Why hasn't the next squad of soldiers arrived to relieve us?” A soldier holding a torch and wearing a black mask stood perfectly straight, though the exhaustion from the high tension night patrol was beginning to catch up to him.
“We must fulfill our duties first. Perhaps there was an issue with the handover inside the castle. We will sweep the route one more time. If they still do not come, we will have to rotate watches ourselves.” The man, whose mask was inlaid with a blood crystal, issued the order in a stern voice that brooked no argument.
“Yes, sir!”
“Report! A soldier spotted human figures flickering in the shadows of the forest.” A guard knelt on one knee, his expression more tense than ever before.
“Are you certain?”
“Absolutely certain. Many of us saw them!”
“Everyone, draw your swords! Prepare for combat!” At the captain's command, the torchlight flared brighter. In the expanded light, he too could faintly see flickering figures running back and forth through the woods.
Realizing they were facing more than one opponent, he ordered the troops into a battle formation. Under the glow of illumination magic, those blood red figures became increasingly clear. In that moment, he saw the blood shadows deep in the forest. His brow furrowed slightly, and his pupils constricted.
“All of you, draw your spare mithril swords and coat them in holy water!” He issued the command while pulling a light blue bottle from his pocket and pouring it over his own mithril longsword.
“Yes, sir!” The soldiers stood ready; battle was imminent.
...
Li Yue tossed the ritual dagger in her hand. Staring into the faint darkness, she caught the scent of blood. The metallic odor was spreading, wafting through the long corridor. She sniffed carefully, her brow knitting. This scent was far too familiar...
“Concentrated blood crystals. They begin to affect the human body immediately after ingestion.” Li Yue looked at the floor beside her. There was a fine, dark red granular powder scattered there. Inexplicably, it reminded her of a long forgotten past.
How did the saying go? Even now, she couldn't forget that stable coated in scarlet gore. Someone who had been assimilated into a blood demon was capable of anything, especially those in the middle of a partial transformation.
Li Yue reminisced for a moment. The thought of that guard who had consumed the pony's tobacco oil brought a sense of absurd amusement to her. Looking back, Roland's expression hadn't shown much surprise at the time. Perhaps that was the composure and indifference of a veteran demon hunter.
Li Yue smiled faintly. She still missed the old Li Yue, much like an adult reminiscing about their childhood. She missed the version of herself that would still vomit at the sight of a corpse.
Unfortunately, there was no going back. Now, when she saw such things... if her sanity ever wavered, she might actually start drooling. It was a disease with no cure.
Li Yue sighed softly. Low growls echoed through the hallway. She looked into the distance, where the torchlight in the surrounding forest flickered. Some scattered torches had even begun to set the trees ablaze. Li Yue’s pupils suddenly constricted. She realized something was wrong.
She shifted her gaze from the window. The soldiers outside seemed to be engaged in a massive battle with blood demons. However, she wondered if any of them were currently mutating into blood demons themselves. As for the soldiers inside the castle...
Li Yue looked behind her. In the darkness, scarlet eyes lit up like flickers of eerie fireflies. She sighed softly and drew another blood red longsword. It seemed she finally understood; the enemy no longer cared about her magic. All they wanted was to slow her down.
“To create so many blood demons at once... what a grand gesture. But using blood demons to deal with me... isn't that a bit... insubordinate?” The corners of Li Yue’s mouth twitched. Blood red blood lines cut through the air, accompanied by severed limbs and splashing flesh. The blood red longsword didn't change at all; it was already the color of blood. No matter how much slaughter or gore it faced, it could not be stained further. This was perhaps fitting for her, the God of Death and Slaughter.
...
“Captain, why are there so many blood demons? Is this a plan by the Church of Death?” A soldier found a moment to breathe amidst the resistance. He wiped his blood stained visor and couldn't help but ask the captain, who they viewed as their pillar of strength.
“Soldier, do not waste your strength on doubts and suspicion. All you need is... loyalty.” His voice trembled slightly. For the first time in his life, he felt his armor was a bit tight. He hadn't changed his armor size in years... why was it so strange today?
“Ugh...” He let out a pained growl. The sound of leather straps snapping on his armor echoed repeatedly. The howling blood demons bypassed his defense line, charging straight into the defensive formation.
“Ah!”
“Captain... your body...” The soldier beside him froze. Suddenly, a battle hardened veteran thrust a longsword into the captain's breastplate, stabbing repeatedly in an attempt to pierce the heart protecting mirror.
“Help me! He's about to turn!” he screamed. As his sword became stuck in the mutating flesh, he was suddenly tackled by a blood demon. He pulled out a hidden dagger and struggled desperately, while his mithril longsword was completely swallowed by the mass of deformed flesh.
“Dammit... we are completely finished now.” He stabbed the blood demon that had taken two bites out of his flesh to death. He had no time to clean the wound with holy water and could only mutter to himself as he watched the gore in the air.
...
On the other side, the blood and flesh of blood demons already paved the hallway behind Li Yue. Her breathing remained steady, without even a hint of exertion. She looked exceptionally relaxed.
Bang! She kicked open the heavy door in front of her. She had already guessed what was happening inside, but she needed to confirm it.
The massive room was incredibly dim. Li Yue focused her gaze on the throne in the center. Her breath hitched for a moment, then quickened.
“Truly... nauseating...”
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