Si (5)

Chapter 5: A Night of Unforeseen Encounters

The girl's eyes slowly regained their clarity as the last remnants of battle settled into silence. The heap of bodies at her feet was a grotesque testament to her power and rage.

Laznoire: sigh

She reached up, instinctively adjusting her glasses—except, of course, she had none.

Laznoire: Muttering Habits… It's either my blood's energy density is overwhelmingly destructive, or my blood itself corrodes metal.

Her eyes flickered as she gazed at the mountain of desiccated mutants.

Laznoire: So much to ponder, yet I lack the equipment to truly investigate.

She paused, contemplating the carnage she had wrought.

Laznoire: I've slain countless mutants, but... can vampires manipulate blood that isn't their own? Or is this a one-blood affair?

A sigh of frustration escaped her lips.

Laznoire: I'll need to do this one by one... tedious, but I can't afford to waste such an abundance of blood. I have a theory on how to control it, but if it doesn't work, I might have to... resort to something drastic to get into the city.

Closing her eyes, Laznoire stretched out her arms. The blood around her began to stir, as if responding to her call. Slowly, the crimson fluid defied gravity, rising from the corpses and pooling into her hands.

The once towering mountain of bodies began to shrink, their white corpses now completely drained. As the blood gathered into a swirling orb, Laznoire's clothes and hair, once matted with gore, returned to their pristine state.

The orb in her hands began to take shape, elongating and solidifying into a blade. The sword was a deep, unnatural red, its handle a stark black. In the center of the handle, an eerie eye slowly opened, giving the weapon a menacing aura.

Laznoire: Blood manipulation… it's just like controlling energy. I can sense it with my vampiric abilities, guiding it to my will. I could've just formed weapons from blood directly…

Her gaze darkened as she regarded the sword.

Laznoire: …instead of wasting time crafting this stupid thing.

The eye on the sword widened, a tear forming at the corner.

Laznoire: Maybe I could still scrap it for parts.

The eye blinked rapidly in a futile attempt to halt her thoughts. But Laznoire was unfazed, indifferent to the emotions of an inanimate object. She raised the sword to her lips, tasting the blade. Instantly, her face contorted in disgust.

Laznoire: Ugh, what is this?! It's like a chaotic mix of every fruit imaginable—no harmony, just a mess of flavors. Like blending every color to make black instead of just using black paint. Absolutely revolting.

She tossed the sword casually, its eye closing in resigned sorrow.

Laznoire: Whatever. I'll just use this abomination to hack apart any corrupted creature I can't bite.

As she pondered her next move, her eyes fell upon the pile of corpses.

Laznoire: Now, how do I dispose of these without blowing my cover? Ah, the old trick in the book.

With a wry smile, she began tossing the desiccated bodies into nearby alleys and trash bins, unconcerned with the gruesome sight she was creating.

Laznoire: That should do. Now, let's see about those robot remains…

She turned back to where she had fought the metallic creatures, only to find the area empty.

Laznoire: Huh… gone?

Laznoire: Did someone take them without me noticing? Impossible... nothing can escape my senses, especially in this body.

Her eyes glowed with an icy blue light as she scanned the air around her.

Laznoire: Spatial distortions… those robots were teleported back to their origin. Ingenious failsafe, but it confirms my suspicion—they're not from this world.

She considered the implications, her mind racing.

Laznoire: So, this city is infested with mutants… and each virus strain hates the others. That means this is a battleground. I should explore and hope to find someone… in need of saving.

Laznoire began her stroll through the abandoned city, casually disposing of more white corpses as she went. The night was silent, save for the occasional shuffle of mutant feet in the distance.

Suddenly, a larger, more muscular mutant charged at her.

Laznoire: A bull-type mutant? Mid-rank, low-tier.

She waited until the last second before raising her leg, effortlessly halting its momentum.

Laznoire: No elemental traits… just another piece of trash.

As the mutant struggled against her, Laznoire hopped lightly, sinking her fangs into its thick neck. The creature thrashed, trying to pry her off, but with a simple punch, she crushed its head, ending its life.

The mutant's body quickly turned white and dry as Laznoire drank her fill.

Laznoire: purrs Mmm… tastes like ripe gooseberries… sweet and intoxicating. I'll have to remember that this type is worth hunting.

She paused, reflecting on her recent actions.

Laznoire: What am I doing? It feels like I'm on a leisurely stroll through a garden, not in the midst of an apocalypse.

She continued her casual hunt, sipping from low-level mutants and discarding their bodies in dark corners. Eventually, she caught a new scent—sweat, fear, and something… delectable. Her eyes locked onto a tall, faded building with broken windows.

Laznoire: The scent's coming from… up there. Ninth floor, maybe? There's a balcony…

With a graceful leap, Laznoire ascended to the balcony, landing silently. She was about to investigate when—

?: Ahhhhhhn~!!!!

Laznoire froze, her sharp ears catching the sound. Peering inside, she saw a white-haired girl in a black uniform, sprawled on a bed, indulging in a moment of intimate pleasure.

Time seemed to stop. The girl on the bed turned, her breath hitching as her gaze locked with Laznoire's, who was still poised heroically on the balcony.

Their eyes met, and an unspoken understanding passed between them—a mix of shock, embarrassment, and curiosity. Laznoire's mind raced, trying to process the situation.

Laznoire: (Shit.)