Chapter 58

People watched in shock as Lennix punched the adventurer across the road. One of the lizardman's party members, a demi-human woman with fox-like features, got off her horse to check on him, while the rest of his party dismounted and drew their weapons at Lennix. Lennix freaked out and put his hands up. "Wait a minute! I didn't mean to punch him! He just scared me!" he exclaimed in a panic.

"Ye-yeah! He jumped in front of Uncle Lennix suddenly, so it's not his fault!" added Mari, trying to defend Lennix. The three adventurers looked at each other. "I mean, they're saying the truth. Vrax just kinda jumped at him," said the human man.

"But why did he do that? There has to be a reason," replied the human woman.

"Hey, Minx! What's Vrax's condition?" asked the demi-human man with cat-like features, addressing the fox demi-human woman who was checking up on the lizardman, Vrax.

"He's okay, just concussed I think," she replied, as Vrax shook his head slightly. "Where am I? Mother, is that you?" he asked, clearly delirious.

"Vrax, can you hear me? It's me, Minx," Minx said as she softly slapped Vrax's face. "Minx? Ow, my head hurts," Vrax replied as he held his head and sat up.

"See, he's fine, so we don't have to fight. Let's all calm down," said Lennix as he slowly put his hands down, the adventurers doing the same with their weapons. The cat-like demi-human turned around and also went to check on Vrax while the other two kept their eyes on Lennix.

"Hey, Vrax, buddy, are you okay? Why'd you do that?" the cat-like demi-human asked, getting down to Vrax's level. "Ryo? What do you mea—wait a sec, where's the vampire?" Vrax asked as he looked around, his vision still blurry.

Ryo raised an eyebrow, and Minx beside him also looked confused, while Lennix panicked. "Uh, would you look at the time? We have somewhere to be, don't we, Mari?" he said, turning to Mari as she rapidly nodded. "Y-yes, we do, Uncle Lennix! We need to meet up with Mommy!" she replied as they both tried to walk away.

But the two human adventurers blocked their path. "You ain't going nowhere," said the man, as Lennix gulped. "What are you talking about, Vrax?" asked Minx as Vrax rubbed his eyes, looked around, and spotted Lennix. Pointing at him, Vrax yelled, "That guy right there is a vampire!"

As soon as Vrax yelled, panic erupted in the streets. Some people started running away, and Lennix cursed under his breath. "Shit!" Without wasting another second, one of the adventurers swung his sword at Lennix. He leaned back to dodge the swing, then swiftly picked up Mari in his arms as she clung to him tightly. "Whoa, at least confirm that I'm a vampire before you go around swinging that sword!" Lennix exclaimed as he backed up from the two.

"There's no point in lying; Vrax is a cleric, and he can tell what's undead or not," said the woman, attempting to stab Lennix's leg with her rapier. Lennix stepped backward to dodge the attack. "Then why am I not dying in the sun, you idiots!?" he exclaimed, trying to weasel his way out of this. Right then, he sensed someone trying to attack him from behind. He ducked under a hook from Ryo before putting some distance between them.

"We know that some vampires are immune to the sun; you're just one of them," said Ryo as he got into a fight stance. "But what about me? I'm still human!" exclaimed Mari from Lennix's arms.

"He's put you under his charm; he doesn't actually care about you," said Vrax, who got up with the help of Minx. Lennix noticed that he was surrounded. "Calm down, guys, I'm really not all that bad," Lennix said as he backed up until his back touched a building.

"Good try, but none of your charms will work while I'm here, monster," said Vrax firmly, his expression hardened. "Do I look in any way charming to you!? I can't even use most of my vampiric abilities!" Lennix retorted, frustration evident in his voice. However, his words seemed to fall on deaf ears as Ryo attempted to punch him again. Lennix swiftly moved his head, causing Ryo's fist to slam into the wall of the building behind him, creating a hole. *That guy's an enhancer,* Lennix noted as he again put distance between them, not wanting to escalate the situation further.

"Can't you see I have a child in my arms!? At least hold back because of her!" Lennix exclaimed desperately. Ryo sneered, "I am," before attempting to attack Lennix again. Lennix instinctively held Mari in front of him as a shield, causing Ryo to halt his punch. "Ha, won't attack me now, will you?" Lennix said victoriously, but Mari's innocent comment cut through his façade. "Uncle Lennix, you seriously look like a bad guy right now," she remarked, her words piercing Lennix's undead heart.

Lennix felt the weight of her words like an arrow piercing his undead heart. "I know, Mari, but I have no choice!" he exclaimed in anguish. Minx glared at him, accusing, "Don't hide behind a little girl, coward." Lennix glared back, frustration boiling over. "Maybe if you stop attacking me, I will!" he shot back defensively.

Vrax gritted his teeth, determination evident in his voice. "We won't let you escape, monster." Lennix wanted to cry. *Why is this happening to me? Is this what karma feels like? Well, I'm sorry for beating people up for no reason!* he lamented in his mind.

Suddenly, Lennix felt his entire body start to feel sluggish. "Are you okay, Uncle Lennix?" Mari asked, panic evident in her voice. "Just peachy, don't worry about me," he replied, his voice strained. He looked towards the man and saw that he had a hand sigil while holding a talisman in his hand. *They have a ritual mage with them?* Lennix thought to himself. Before he could react, Ryo approached him.

However, instead of attacking him, Ryo ripped Mari out of his arms. "Ah, let me go!" Mari yelled as Ryo handed her over to Minx. "Don't worry, we'll free you from his charm," said Minx softly, holding Mari firmly. Mari struggled to free herself from Minx's grasp but couldn't break free.

"Good job, Jamey," Ryo said, giving the man a thumbs-up. Ryo then ran back to Lennix and punched him. Lennix, still sluggish and distracted by Mari, couldn't block the punch, which hit him squarely in the face, knocking him to the ground. "Uncle Lennix!" Mari yelled out in distress. "I'm fine, Mari, don't worry about me!" Lennix reassured her as he struggled to get up.

Ryo then kicked him while he was on the ground, sending him flying until he hit the wall of a building, cracking it upon impact. "Let go! Uncle Lennix is in pain!" Mari exclaimed, trying once again to escape Minx's hold, but Minx refused to release her. "He's not a good being, child. He only sees you as food," Minx said, trying to calm Mari down. "That's not true! Now let go!" Mari protested as she watched the woman run up to Lennix and stab him with her rapier.

Lennix grimaced in pain but lied, "Ugh, don't worry, Mari, I'm still fine." Tears welled up in Mari's eyes. "Stop lying, Uncle Lennix! I know you're in pain!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with fear and concern.

"What a vile charm you have put her under, monster," said Vrax as he also started to approach Lennix with a mace in hand. "For the love of goddess, could you lot stop? I'm not an evil vampire!" Lennix exclaimed, frustration evident in his voice.

Ryo picked him up by the back of his neck as Vrax stood in front of him with his mace held high, ready to end it. "Uncle Lennix, please defend yourself!" Mari exclaimed, on the verge of tears. Lennix gritted his teeth in annoyance before yelling, "Ugh, fine! Mari, close your eyes!" Mari immediately obeyed, shutting her eyes tightly. She heard a scream filled with agony but didn't dare to open her eyes. "Don't open your eyes, Mari!" Lennix instructed firmly, and Mari nodded, her eyes still closed.

"You monster!" Vrax exclaimed as he and his party members looked wide-eyed at the fact that Lennix had snapped Ryo's leg in half with a simple squeeze. "This is just self-defense, mate," Lennix said as he properly stood up, with Ryo still on the ground in pain. "Sorry, but you guys left me with no choice," Lennix added as he decided he was no longer going to hold anything back and actually fight.