Chapter 20 It’s getting out of control!

With a smooth motion, I rose from the chair and walked to the bedroom to change clothes. I opted for a pair of pants and a T-shirt, a casual yet suitable combination for the occasion.

"Are you going to college?" My aunt's gentle voice echoed through the room. I noticed that she had already ended her call on her cellphone.

"No, I'm just going to the store to buy some candy. Do you want some?" I asked, turning to her. She nodded silently and settled in the chair at the table. She was clearly waiting for her friend's lawyer to call or maybe even show up in person. "What kind of candy do you want? Chocolate? White chocolate? Condensed milk?" I made these suggestions as I walked towards the door.

"It can be the same as yours." Her response came with a soft smile. I paused to digest her words and understand what lay behind them.

[Her current thoughts: "I don't need to worry, the lawyer is on the way, all this confusion will end. I'm glad Eugenio is with me. I'm grateful for that. I need to find out how much this lawyer is going to charge; I hope it's not more than the car installments."]

"Alright," I replied, giving her a nod. "Aunt," I began, catching her attention. She looked at me, curious. "I'm here for you, don't worry. I'll do what I can to help." Her eyebrows raised in surprise at my statement. As I exited the door, I caught a glimpse of her smile. I closed the door behind me, went down the apartment stairs, and headed to the nearest café.

As I got closer, I saw a woman with white hair and glasses tapping her finger on the table, growing impatient.

[Name: Evangeline

Height: 1.80 meters

Origin: Shadow dimension

Age: 2048 years

Race: Noble vampire

(A pure-blood vampire)

Emotional state: Impatient, bored, annoyed

Parents:

1. Maelis

2. Draven

Siblings:

1. Lucian

2. Raphael

3. Seraphina

4. Isolde

5. Gabriel

Current thoughts: "Where is he? Ah, what a delay, Seraphina said she had something to show me, probably related to the woman from yesterday; she must have managed to create more ghouls, right? I wonder? She didn't tell me; I'm so angry!"]

[Remaining lifespan: 1 minute

Cause of death: Shot in the head with a sacred bullet.

Cause of death: Erick Helsing, monster hunter.]

I froze. Is she going to die? As cruel as it sounds, I hope she dies because it would solve one of my problems. But not all of them. Is she not from this world? Does this Erick know what I am? I took my phone and looked at my reflection.

[Remaining lifespan: 10 seconds

Cause of death: Purified

Cause of death: Diana, saint of the Holy Church.]

Am I about to face death? The thought barely had time to settle in my mind. Without hesitation, I left my human form behind, transforming into my Ghoul form. With an agile and desperate leap, I narrowly avoided what could have been my demise.

At that exact moment, a blinding white light descended from the sky, incinerating the spot where I had just dodged. The heat burned the air around, leaving a trail of devastation. Among the ashes and the path of destruction, a sweet and familiar scent wafted through the air. It was the same intoxicating scent that had filled the air the night I turned into a Ghoul. A scent that, try as I might, I couldn't resist.

Evangeline waited for me, her eyes widening in pure terror as she saw the light rush from the sky. "Damn, it's the Holy Church!" She cursed, her voice a mix of anger and fear. Displaying astonishing cunning and speed, she flung the table in front of her, using it as an improvised shield.

At the same instant, the roar of a gunshot shattered the silence, echoing through the walls of the place. Evangeline had already moved, leaving behind the spot where she had been just seconds before. The projectile whizzed through the air where she had stood, embedding itself with a dry, final sound in the ground.

What the heck just happened? Was it... magic? But how? My eyes turned to Diana, the seemingly innocent figure amidst all this chaos. Her blond hair cascaded in soft waves around her face, shimmering in the diffused light. Her eyes, a blue so deep it rivaled the clear skies, were fixed on me. But her beauty, which might have enchanted me before, meant nothing now. Not when I was so close to the razor's edge of death.

Adrenaline surged through my veins like a wild drumbeat, making my heart pound with a force that threatened to burst from my chest. My muscles were tense, ready for the inevitable fight. I knew I had to get out of there. I had to run from this incredibly surreal and terrifying situation, where the line between life and death was so thin that it threatened to break at any moment.

Now, fear wasn't just an emotion, but a tangible entity, a monster with sharp claws that coiled around my heart and squeezed, making it hard to breathe. I needed to escape, needed to run from this place of madness and unimaginable power, where the line between life and death was so thin that it threatened to break at any moment.

{Name: Diana Cristina

Age: 18 years

Height: 1.54 meters

Origin: Earth (not our Earth)

Institution: The revered Holy Church

Occupation: In a constant quest to become a Saint

Race: A notable blend of human and angel

Personality: Characterized by an almost palpable innocence, endearingly naive shyness

Emotional state: A mix of surprise, a touch of sadness, but above all, unwavering motivation

Parents: Hestia, the venerated saint, and Gabriel, one of the seven supreme angels of heaven

Current thoughts: "I made a mistake... But how? I dedicated so many hours, so many days, immersed in laborious training, and yet I failed? I can't attain sanctity like this. I apologize, Mom, Dad! I promise I will learn from this and continue to strive!"

"What are you doing?? Kill the girl!" Evangeline's desperate cry echoed through the chaos, a flash of fear and fury amidst the cacophony of gunshots and explosions. She was in motion, her actions a frenzied dance of survival as she dodged and took cover from a hail of deadly bullets. She wanted me to kill someone? Hell, I had never done something like that before!

With a mixture of fear and determination, I lunged toward the girl. My speed, fueled by the intense adrenaline coursing through my veins, was almost supernatural. I knew that attempting dialogue was futile in that chaos, but I definitely wouldn't kill her. I had a different plan.

My hand reached out toward the girl's face, my intention clear. I wouldn't kill her, but I'd make her my shield, my hostage. As I approached, I saw the reflection of terror and surprise in her deep blue eyes. She was scared, of course, but there was also a gleam of determination that surprised me. She was stronger than she seemed.

I was almost there, almost touching her... and then I felt a sharp, intense pain in my hand. I looked down and saw my arm flying through the air, a sharp katana cutting it like butter. The pain was intense, but the surprise was even greater. I hadn't seen that coming. What was happening?

"Get out of here, freak!" A young man clad in gleaming armor, as white as the first snowflake in a harsh winter, shouted at me. His eyes, burning with a mix of indignation and courage, were fixed on me, the intruder, the enemy.

Without waiting for a response, he launched himself at me with astonishing speed, the armor moving silently in perfect harmony with each movement. His foot struck my face with brutal force, sending me flying back with an impact that made me see stars. My body hit the wall with such force that I could feel the concrete shatter behind me, my back groaning in protest against the pain.

"Are you okay, Saint?" He asked, addressing Diana with a voice that was both firm and gentle. His concerned gaze was fixed on her, as if I were no longer a threat.

"I... I still can't be considered a... B-but I'll do my best. And yes, I'm fine, thank you." Diana replied, her voice trembling but determined. Her small, delicate hand was extended in my direction, her face lit by the diffused light.

A cold shiver ran down my spine when I realized what she was about to do. An imminent danger buzzed in the air, a threat so palpable that it made every cell in my body tense in anticipation.

Without thinking, I moved at a speed faster than a leopard. The young man in the white armor, caught off guard, lunged at me with the same katana that had cut my arm.

{Name: Seliph

Age: 20 years

Height: 1.83 meters

Origin: Planet Earth

Institution: Holy Church

Occupation: Holy Knight

Race: Human

Personality: Helpful, fearless, and courageous

Emotional state: Exudes happiness, remains on constant alert, and carries an eternal flame of hope

Parents: His father, the venerable Bishop Arthur, is the cornerstone of the Holy Church. His mother, the devout Bishop Fernanda, is the source of his unwavering faith.

Current thoughts: "Today is the day. When the last breath leaves this wicked creature's body, I will kneel and ask for her hand in marriage. You, monster, will meet your end today!"

Preview of the move: With the determination of a true Holy Knight, Seliph raises his gleaming katana, preparing to strike a powerful blow from above, intending to cleave the enemy in half in a single, decisive strike.}

The darkness that lurked within me seemed to only intensify, enveloping me in a cloak of despair and agony. Was I really a monster? I... I didn't ask for this. I didn't ask to be attacked by a Ghoul, to be forced to consume its flesh, to be turned into a monster. I didn't take anyone's life, yet here I am, hunted like a wild animal, a dangerous predator. Why, then, did fate decide to play this cruel game with me? Why?!

These thoughts haunted me like an unrelenting storm, each wave of doubt and fear crashing against the fortress of my sanity. Yet, I didn't have time to drown in self-pity. The blade was getting closer to my face, its metallic gleam reflecting a fate that was deadly certain.

In the last moment, with an explosion of adrenaline, I dodged. My body moved on instinct, avoiding the sharp blade that promised a quick and merciless end. With all the strength I could muster, I struck Seliph's chest. The armor he wore, despite being gleaming and pristine, couldn't withstand the desperation fueling my blow.

"Go to hell!" I shouted as the impact of my punch sent Seliph flying backward. The concrete beneath him shattered as if it were made of glass, a network of cracks spreading across the surface before collapsing completely. The ground gave way, revealing the foul depths of the sewer below.

With a muffled cry, Seliph disappeared into the hole, his body vanishing into the darkness. However, the momentum of my blow was too great, and before I could react, I found myself following the same path, plummeting along with him into the dark and unknown depths. The world spun around me as darkness swallowed everything, leaving only the echo of my scream resounding in the darkness.