Chapter 35: The Masked Woman
Miles arrived at the beast at the same time as Porseila and others did. He was hiding behind a curtain created by darkness, watching them speak with the monster. He was also surprised to see the beast spoke in human language, but he wasn’t frightened, nor was he taken aback.
When Porseila and the others engaged into battle, he distanced himself not too far so as not to get hit by the stray attacks. He observed them closely. He already knew Tian Ling’s and Porseila’s powers because he knew them since he was 4. The others, he didn’t know.
Everyone knew the Orril family had the power of heaven’s holy light. It was what made them famous and allowed Mihr’s grandfather to win the presidency. Mihr Orril is named as such because of this.
Miles never saw any member of the Orril family use their powers till today. He didn’t know how magnificent it was.
The one that impressed him most was the masked woman of Starve Cleric. She had the speed and strength of a person who had used the first Strengthening Serum. But she had yet to show her superpowers. She was manipulative from the start. Miles knew she was playing everyone like puppets.
When she offered everyone to fight together, she did it to get rid of the controlled humans. Miles also had a hunch that she waited for others to weaken on purpose as they fought against the vampire. She used them to preserve her powers.
When they came to face it, she let them know that the monster had known their powers beforehand and that they shouldn’t hold back and attack with everything they had. Instead of saying it directly, she implied it, so no one would suspect her. Finally, she only attacked with her sword while the others were using everything they had.
‘She is dangerous.’ Miles thought as he watched them fail to injure the monster in its new form. He was expecting the woman to use her superpower while she was trapped by the monster, but she shouted to the others to save her instead of attacking herself. Now that monster had evolved, she had yet to use her superpower. Miles didn’t know what she was waiting for.
It was then a low cynical chuckle was heard.
The vampire locked his gaze on the masked woman. The others turned her direction as well.
“You vampires have garnered life energy you sucked from your prey.” she said. “You can regenerate your body when you are injured or create high-powered attacks by burning that energy.” She walked towards his direction “But it's real function is helping you evolve, isn’t it?” Her mask faced him directly. “Now that you have, you are in your weakest state.”
The vampire looked at the wound on his shoulder. The bleeding has not stopped.
The others were surprised when they heard what she said. Their eyes locked at the wound.
Hearing her reveal his weakness, the vampire opened his wings wide and flew backwards to distance himself away from them. He screeched before facing the masked woman’s direction. “How do you know so much, human?” His tone, surprised.
Then cancelled his condensed ball darkness on his palm as he faced the woman.
“Hehe.” She giggled once again and said, “Because I can also feed on blood.”
When she said it, blood gathered and floated around her hand. It took the form of a sword. She wielded it, then pointing it at him.
“Blood element!?” It was such a rare and powerful elemental superpower. They were all dumbfounded when they saw her form a weapon by blood. They did not expect that a member of a criminal organization had such an awakening.
It was then that the blood sword flew towards the beast, breaking up into small daggers. The winged creature was not able to dodge that every piece fastened on his body. He was reeled back with heavy injuries. The ball of darkness on his palm got cancelled and vanished into thin air.
“Ahh!” The monster cried in pain. Blood gushed out like a river.
The more he bled, the more weapons the woman created. She sent blood daggers in his direction, stabbing in every part of his body.
“Stop! Please! I beg you. Let me live.” The vampiric child pleaded. “I will do anything you say. I will be your slave.” he begged nonstop.
The woman ignored him and created a long blood weapon. She stood before him with a bloody sword in hand. “Now you die!”
Porseila and the others could only watch with shock on their faces.
She was about to take the final blow but retracted her weapon instead. She then looked into the dark forest surrounding them. “Prince idiot.” she called aloud “Won’t you steal the kill?”
A silhouette formed behind her. “You can have him, witch woman.” he whispered into her ear.
She turned around to look at Prince Dark with a smirk, but it was hidden under her mask. “Hehe. I was afraid you had a trick up your sleeve. Turns out, you are useless as they say you are.” She then faced the creature once again. “Don’t mind if I do.”
‘That’s my cue.’ Miles said inwardly and took out the azure orb from his pocket. He was still hidden in the curtain of darkness. No one else could see him except for Prince Dark.
“I am afraid, I will take his head first.” He revealed himself as he discharged an electric in his armor and attacked with a wind sword.
The vampire lowered his head to dodge the incoming attack.
Miles saw this and couldn’t retract nor change the sword’s trajectory. Instead, he could only charge it further.
Before the creature could shirk his head any lower, the sword cut onto its forehead horizontally. The cut piece flew into the distance.
With quick reactions, Miles slashed his sword a few more times in mid-air, cutting the head piece into smaller parts. Brain matter and blood had scattered in every direction.
The orb flew out and Miles grabbed it before quickly dashing away without looking back.
With a giant leap, he put some distance between himself and the masked woman.
When she saw the color of the man’s armor, she was caught off guard by his appearance. “The Marooner!”
Miles ignored the woman’s taunts and kept the distance away from her despite hearing his alternate identity being called out.
She then turned to look at Prince Dark with bloodthirst, “You are working with him!?”
Prince Dark shrugged his shoulders.
“You sons-of-bitches! You dare to steal my prey?! I will have your heads! Because of you, we have failed! ” she cussed at them.
“Cunning bitch, you have controlled every one of them since you entered the forest. You were so close to achieving what you came for. Too bad, we will have the orb.” Miles said and looked at Prince Dark. “Let’s go.” he said.
The other looked at him with a smile. “About that...” He scratched his cheek with a finger. “I tricked you. Surprise!”
Hearing that, Miles just didn’t say anything.
Prince Dark continued “Why would I let you have the orb for nothing at all, silly. I wanted you to create more chaos.”
Miles ignored his foolishness “You know where to find me, Prince Fool!” he said and left with the orb in his person. He used every piece of strength on his body to bolt away before the masked woman could do anything.
She was too dangerous.