CHAPTER 53: 53. RACE BASED PSYCHO

Ayaka’s heart jackhammered against her ribs, gritting her teeth so hard her jaw hurt. Her fingers tightened around the copper rods, knuckles white. The stench of gasoline saturated the air as the vampire’s footsteps echoed closer slowly, sniffing the air, drawn to the scent of her blood like a hound in a slaughterhouse.

With a deep, trembling breath, Ayaka jammed the two wires together again.

Crkk—tch!

A tiny spark flashed. Barely visible. But it was enough.

Flames ignited with a hiss, slithering down the petrol-soaked cloth like a serpent unleashed, weaving through the shadows toward the trap room.

Ayaka pressed herself to the wall, praying that this worked. The gasoline had been poured generously, and the fumes had long since contaminated the air. The moment the fire touched that deadly mist, the whole trap room combusted.

WHOOMPH!

A rush of flames erupted, the heat bursting out like a living thing. The vampire was instantly engulfed—his trousers caught, then his vest, the fire clinging to him like a lover. Windows shattered from the pressure, glass raining like deadly snow.

Ayaka braced herself, expecting shrieks of agony.

But instead...

Laughter.

A hoarse, unhinged chuckle, gurgling up from the smoke like a beast amused by pain.

"Ahh—AHAHAHAHA! Now this... this is what I LIVE for!" the vampire roared, even as his lips bubbled and peeled back from his gums, revealing teeth blackened by flame. Skin sloughed off his cheeks in molten clumps, but his smile only grew wider. Pain? It was a thrill to him. An aphrodisiac.

Charred fingers gripped the flaming machine gun tighter. The weapon hissed as the heat crawled up on the barrel. Still, he didn’t flinch.

"You’re not like the others," he rasped through cracked, scorched teeth. "The last one whimpered like a dog before I ate her. But her pleas killed my appetite. You, though... you bite back. I LOVE THAT."

The gun began to sizzle ominously in his grip.

Suddenly, the magazine on his gun began cooking off, the heat swelling the metal.

POP—POP—SNAP!

The bullets inside detonated. Chaos erupted as rounds burst from the magazine. One smashed a window, others ricocheted off the walls, and a few tore straight into the vampire’s own legs, puncturing flesh with wet, meaty thuds. He staggered back, burned, bleeding...

And still grinning.

"PAIN..." he wheezed, his left eye sagging as the scorched flesh drooped around it. "...just means I’m still alive. Still... hungry..."

He could feel his body weakening. Bones brittle. But he didn’t care. Because he knew that the blood of this girl would restore him. She was young. Fresh. Warm. Perfect.

His hair was burned off, his skin bubbling like boiling soup. But he rose, smoke curling off his body like a demon crawling out of the pit of hell. He walked, slow, staggered, zombie-like and still, he laughed.

"Hhhhhaahhaa!! Little girl!!" he bellowed. "I’m going to ENJOY feasting on your flesh!!"

Ayaka’s eyes widened in horror as the vampire stepped through the doorway, his entire body a grotesque, blackened mass. His flesh reeked—charred, greasy, like smoked meat. She stumbled to her feet, legs trembling, barely holding her upright.

That didn’t kill him? The fire? Her plan?

Was it all for nothing?

"There you are!" he grinned, pupils dilated, his stare razor-sharp. The scent of her blood drove him into frenzy. His body should’ve been spent—but the hunger gave him strength.

He charged.

Ayaka backed away in terror, tripped, fell to the floor. She scrambled back, her palm bleeding as she crawled. Her True Sight of Domain had deactivated—maybe because of fear, maybe because of exhaustion. She couldn’t see or sense what was around her anymore. That made her panic more.

The vampire snatched up a nearby metal pole and swung down. She rolled just in time, the rod slamming into the ground with a metallic BOOM, scattering rubble like shrapnel.

She jumped to her feet, sprinted to a shattered window and jumped out, boots landing hard on the cracked street outside.

Without second thoughts, she sprinted through the ruined streets, lungs burning, shoes scraping on broken pavement. Without her skill, she felt naked. Blind. Vulnerable.

What if she ran right into another enemy? A bullet to the head?

"Damn it," she hissed. "I was too naive. One plan. Just ONE plan!? How stupid can I be!?"

Behind her, the laughter came again, loud and wild chasing her.

"A meal that runs?! Hahaha!! You’re making me HUNGRY!!" the vampire screamed, saliva slinging from his lips as he chased after her like a beast.

His clothes were burned to scraps. His flesh blackened, peeling, and some parts of his muscle visible.

Ayaka turned right sharply—only to hit a dead end. A wall stood in front of her. Not high, but too tall for her to climb fast enough.

She spun around.

He was there. Just five meters away. Still gripping that cursed metal rod.

She backed into the wall. Her heart thundered.

Trapped.

"Damn it!!" she hissed.

"It’s over, sweetheart," he growled. "But thanks... you made this so much more fun."

Tears welled in her eyes. She shouted, "Are you even human!?"

He grinned, eyes wild. "What do I look like? A fucking animal?"

She nodded silently, terrified.

"I don’t even KNOW what I am anymore. These damn systems... But one thing’s certain—I want your flesh!"

He raised the metal pole high.

Ayaka closed her eyes.

Then....WHAM!

A thunderous crash echoed, followed by a cry of surprise.

When Ayaka dared open her eyes... she saw Yuki.

She had landed from above one of the buildings like a comet. She drove her boot into the vampire’s skull, crushing it against the ground. The impact split the dirt, forming cracks under his twitching body.

"Tch," Yuki sneered. "Race-based skills... That’s why I don’t use that shit. Drives you insane."

Beneath her, the vampire twitched but couldn’t move. Her blow had nearly split his spine.

Ayaka dropped to her knees. Tears fell. "I’m sorry... I thought I’d kill him... I really—"

SLAP!!

The sound rang out like a whip. Yuki’s palm printed across her cheek, snapping her face sideways. Ayaka blinked, ears ringing.

"I told you," Yuki said coldly. "I hate that sobbing crap. Your tears don’t mean anything! Stop using them to gain pity!"

Ayaka clutched her burning cheek. Mouth dry. Throat tight.

Yuki extended a hand. "You’re my pupil now. And I don’t train weaklings. Cry again, and I’ll smack you so hard you’ll forget your name."

Ayaka looked at her, stunned. "But... I didn’t even kill him. How am l your student...."

Yuki scowled. "Accept my handshake before I change my damn mind!"

Trembling, Ayaka took her hand.

Yuki pulled her in close. "You didn’t win. But you fought and used your skill and mind. You faced a race-enhanced psycho and held your ground. That means something. But remember this: Never fight with just one plan. Always have a backup... and a backup for your backup."

"Yes, Sensei!" Ayaka snapped to attention like a little soldier.

"Good. Now end him."

Ayaka turned to the twitching vampire. The transformation had faded—he looked almost human now.

She picked up the metal pole. Raised it above her head. And—

SHLICKKK!!

She smashed it into his skull as it collapsed, brains bursting like overripe fruit. Blood sprayed. Ayaka flinched but she stayed standing. Her stomach churned, but she didn’t cry.

She wouldn’t cry.

[+8,200 Coins]

[Total Coins: 30,300]

[+100 XP]

[Level Up: Level 5]

Ayaka’s system interface chimed.

She glanced at Yuki with a grin. "I leveled up!"

Yuki nodded, arms crossed. "Good. Now let’s get the hell out of here."

They turned, walking through the rubble back toward the safezone.

Behind them, only blood and fire remained.

TBC