Blood Hunt : Project Zero

[3] 15. Ring match

[Cyrene]

Ah, so noisy.

Sa kabila ng naghahalong mga ingay at amoy, nangingibabaw ang kay Val. From my position, I can smell, hear, and see how disgusting that man is. Next to her is a familiar woman whose looks haven't changed, but desperation and misery are visible on her face.

Still, you look good, Kira.

I sighed. At the moment, I've only killed 4 vampires. I respect Priscilla and my agreement, I won't kill the vampires in this city. But since I joined this ring match, I have no choice but to fight, right?

I glanced at the vampire in front of me. Huge body, strong biceps, visible muscles and veins. Skin rough, palm full of cicatrix. I assume it was the cause of repetitive injuries. Most likely, because he's a butcher.

Masinsin ko siyang tinignan. I don't want to drag this any longer. Umangat and tingin ko. Should I get Val's attention now?

I felt movement, my opponent started to attack. Hindi pa rin nawawala ang tingin ko sa itaas. Yeah, I should.

With an obvious stunt, and of course, despite knowing it, my opponent intentionally took the only chance to step ahead of me. But instead of hitting me or even touching my skin, ang cloak ko ang natanggal niya. Sumabay sa kamay niyang dumaan sa 'kin ang cloak ko, buo.

I heard gasps, for a second, everyone was dumbfounded. Sinuklay ko ang maikli kong buhok, napalingon sa nagtanggal ng suot ko. Come on, I gave you an opening and that's all you did?

I feel eyes locked on me, one of them is definitely Kira.

Their eyes widened, astonished, my opponent looked at me, dumbfounded. "A woman?" His voice has a hint of bitterness but being surprised is dominant.

"Is this some kind of a fluke?" he scoffed, followed by a laugh. "What kind of men lost to you earlier? They deserved to lose their heads!"

All the vampires surrounding us laughed with him, tho it was obvious that some were just trying to support him. I could feel the nervousness and awkwardness in their voices.

"Say, how about this? A woman shouldn't be here. How about giving me a blow and I'll fuck you nonstop later?"

I glanced at him, he was giving me an ick. Despite countless brain rot and dick-minded vampires I keep meeting, I won't get used to it. 

"I have a better suggestion." My voice, not as loud to be heard in the sea of laughter, still made the man in front of me stop laughing. With my previous fights, with my hand and long nails, fast and brute force is enough to slice anything I pierce through. 

A speed that almost looks like I'm teleporting, without disgust or thinking twice. I sliced what's in front of him—what's a part of him. Kagaya ng kagustuhan niya, bago pa man into mag-regenerate, bago pa man niya maramdaman ang wala, sinubo ko 'to sa bunganga niya.

"How about you suck your own?"

It was too fast for the crowd to follow, they were still laughing because of his first joke. Until they realized he was no longer laughing, but screaming.

Bago sila matigilan sa pagtawa, sinunod ko ng tanggalin ang ulo niya. The way the laugh disappeared at the same time his head did. From their laughing eyes, their crimson red followed the head I'm holding, slowly perishing.

Now, I got all of their attention. Now, they know who they're dealing with.

"Wow, looks like we have a little champ!" Nangibabaw ang boses niya sa biglaang pagtahimik. Kahit nakatalikod ako, kilala ko kung sino ang nagsalita. I gave him a side glance despite fully at my back, thinking I could see him fully.

Finally, your attention is on me.

I looked behind me, to see a full-eyed bloodsucker, entertained and amused, staring at me.

Val.

He tilted his head, examining me. "Hmm, I'm sure I'll remember a beautiful face like yours. Are you new here?"

He doesn't remember me. No one who hasn't seen my face would remember me. Hindi dahil sa umikli ang buhok ko, nagbago nang kaunti ang mukha, o ang katawan ko. Hindi nila makikilala ang presensya na meron ako, ang amoy.

I'm different from the first time he felt me. I no longer smell a Nate, a newborn. And like our first meeting, the fear I felt is no longer here. 

"I'm from a different zone. I find the blood fest here is more intriguing, so I'm here to check it out," I answered.

"Oh? Hmmm, so you're here for the prize? What is it?" Inangat at binuka ni Val ang dalawang kamay niya. "I've seen how your opponents ended up, so I knew your strength is real. I wouldn't want to humiliate you."

How genuine.

"Hmm." I hummed. "I heard that I could get the mayor's head if I win, is that right?"

Again, silence. But unlike the previous where they were astonished, now, they were silenced by fear. Even Val was taken aback, eyebrows raised. Slowly, his opened mouth turned into a grin, eyes still wide. Siya lang ang nakasagot sa tumahimik na nasa paligid namin.

He laughed, tapping his chest with a force that I could hear. "Yes! Yes! Of course, you could freely get my head!" He laughed. Tawa niya lang ang umalingawngaw. He then suddenly stopped, I felt the bloodlust when his grin changed and he showed a serious expression for the first time.

"Want to get it now?"

I answered his look with mine. I stepped forward, stretching my neck. "Why not?"

Ngayon, nabuhay ulit ang mga nasa paligid namin. Napuno ulit ng hiyawan ang entablado. May sinenyasan si Val sa labas, ang host.

"You know what, I won't kill you," he said as the host started talking, introducing us.

"Seems like our lord will fight earlier than usual today!"

"You look interesting," he added.

"Fighting our best fighter tonight, who's a woman!"

"You might regret not trying to kill me in this fight," I answered, he chuckled.

"Now, let's watch how long she can maintain her arrogance when our lord puts her in her place!"

"Oh come on, we would want to have a nice drink after this, right? You don't want to kill me too, you just wanted my attention-"

"Let the fight begin!"

Sabay silang natapos magsalita ng host, kasabay rin nila akong umatake sa lalaking kaharap ko. I took no time to waste, and it took long enough for Val to react for me to get closer to him. Hindi nawala ang tingin namin sa isa't isa, kaya nakita ko kung paano namilog ang mga mata niya nang hindi pa siya kumukurap, nasa harapan na niya 'ko.

"Actually, I really wanted to kill you."

Unfortunately, as expected to a monster, he dodged it. Siya ang unang nakaiwas ng take ko ngayong gabi. He stepped back, touching his neck that I tried to strike.

"You bitch-" He stopped midway, everyone stopped. A red line slowly appeared on his neck, and red liquid followed.

He couldn't believe it with his eyes. No one can believe it. I could hear gasps one after the other. I know what they're thinking. It's not deep, because he managed to dodge it.

Val couldn't be struck. Val shouldn't bleed.

"Y-You-" For the first time, maybe not just for me, but for everyone as well—Val's expression faltered. He recognized me now. Took him long enough to notice.

"I told you, I'm going for the kill."

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