The thought, 'Is it my turn next?' scarcely had time to linger before she felt her neck constricting, cutting off her ability to speak or even breathe. Struggling to form words, she managed to voice her question.
Stuttering, she managed to ask, "Why me?" Tears welled in her eyes, and her voice quivered. Observing her distress, the bald man couldn't contain his delight, his face breaking into a sinister, devilish smile.
"Sorry to break it to ya, but you ain't gotta feel bad 'bout ending up in this mess. If you're lookin' for someone to point fingers at, you can blame it on your drop-dead gorgeous self." He remarked, and with that, he playfully licked her cheek, causing her to shed more tears.
"P-please, don't end my life. I-I'll do a-anything. Please, j-just let me g-go," she pleaded, her voice fading as the lack of oxygen left her feeling dizzy. Just as she believed her fate was sealed, the sound of approaching footsteps reached her ears. It was her final glimmer of hope, compelling her to turn her head in the direction of the approaching steps.
In that dimly lit space, she caught sight of the silhouette of a man clad in a black suit, and then everything went black as she lost consciousness. The bald man also directed his gaze toward the newcomer, and upon seeing the figure, his sinister smirk widened even further.
"It's a bit of a shocker that you're here, but honestly, it works out pretty sweet for me. I won't need to go hunting for you; you've dropped right into my lap." The bald man remarked, and with those words, he snapped the girl's neck so forcefully that it nearly severed from her body.
Seeing the lifeless body in his hands, Adrian couldn't suppress a sigh. Human life appeared to be so expendable to these entities, yet Adrian didn't feel much remorse, for he knew that he, too, would act similarly if the circumstances demanded it.
Discarding the lifeless body, the bald man licked his lips and fixed his gaze on Adrian. ""We know you're rollin' without those power cores, and it's a tough spot to be in. But, out here, in the wild, survival ain't for the faint of heart. Being weak don't cut it; it's a dog-eat-dog world." he declared.
With these words, the bald man gave a flap of his wings, generating a gust of wind that ruffled Adrian's clothing. When Adrian shifted his gaze back to the same spot, the bald man had mysteriously vanished. Adrian heightened his senses, and moments later, the air crackled as a punch hurtled toward his head from above.
The bald man's excitement grew, confident that Adrian wouldn't be able to evade a punch delivered from such close quarters. However, his certainty was about to be shattered. Adrian's form blurred, and the punch passed through an afterimage of him. Before the bald man could comprehend the turn of events, a rush of air was expelled from his lungs, propelling him backward.
Turning around, he spotted Adrian a short distance from the point where he had aimed his punch. Doubts crept into his mind. 'Did I misjudge his location, or was that some kind of illusion?' He pondered these questions while steadying himself in the air. Adrian remained in the same spot, and the bald man, uncertain about Adrian's intentions, opted to launch another attack. He was filled with confidence, being a two-core bearer of the vampire lineage.
However, he couldn't have been more mistaken. Closing the gap between himself and Adrian at lightning speed, he launched a swift slash at Adrian. Sensing the sensation of something connecting, he was certain that this time his attack had landed.
His strike hit its target, but it was Adrian's cane that took the blow, serving as a perfect defense. Just as he registered Adrian's remark, "I never liked your bald head," he suddenly felt an overwhelmingly potent aura emanating from Adrian. This aura enveloped him, rendering him immobile, as if he were ensnared in a stifling swarm.
The bald man couldn't fathom how Adrian's aura had become so formidable. He frantically ransacked his thoughts to devise an escape plan, but before he could react, a powerful punch landed squarely on his face, shattering his nose. Wincing from the pain, he quickly retreated, putting some distance between himself and Adrian, and then wiped away the blood from his profusely bleeding nose.
Hearing his own words, "You were right; the weak shouldn't be allowed to exist," thrown back at him, he couldn't help but find a bitter taste in his mouth.
"If you reckon this power's gonna cut it against core bearers, you've got it all wrong." the bald man declared in an attempt to bolster his confidence. However, doubts were beginning to plague his mind, for he was no longer certain that victory was within his grasp. "You ain't gonna take down a core bearer without your own cores. How you gonna handle all that power flowing from their cores, huh? That's just gonna mess you up." he added.
"We shall find out," Adrian concluded before taking the initiative. His figure blurred as he sprang into action. Simultaneously, the bald man made his move, leaving a crimson trail in his wake as he charged relentlessly at Adrian.
In the midst of a heated and vigorous battle, the bald man found himself locked in combat with Adrian. The air crackled with tension as blows were exchanged, and their movements became a blur of speed and precision. Adrian's agile and unpredictable maneuvers kept the bald man on edge, forcing him to recalibrate his strategy constantly. The two adversaries clashed in a whirlwind of punches and evasive maneuvers, with the battlefield resembling a chaotic storm of movement and energy. The intense struggle continued as both fighters sought to gain the upper hand in this fierce and relentless confrontation.
Punches, slashes, and kicks flew in every direction, but miraculously, Adrian remained unharmed.
The bald man's frustration grew as he failed to inflict any damage on his opponent, all the while feeling his own bones gradually breaking. Although his regenerative capabilities allowed him to heal quickly, the relentless onslaught from Adrian proved to be a formidable challenge.
'Man, there's somethin' off about his vibe. His aura ain't right,' he thought, sensing that there was an unusual quality to Adrian's energy.
In a world where shadows often reign,
The phrase "dog eat dog" may cause some pain.
Yet amidst the chaos, we find our way,
Learning to survive another day.