Mark waited patiently for an opportunity, his body slowly fighting the effects of paralysis. As for the sanguinexus, she was already too absorbed in draining his blood. Suddenly, he felt the control he had over his body return, and the opportunity he calmly waited for came.

Forcing his mind into a focused state, Mark turned to the unsuspecting Vysla and bashed into the back of her with the butt of his blade. The attack stunned her, and her grip on his arm weakened and Mark quickly wrestled it away from her, bearing the pain as he shoved her away.

She stumbled like a drunkard. After wiping the blood off her face, Vysla lunged for Mark, only to be caught off guard and swept off her feet. Lying stunned on the ground, there was nothing she felt but embarrassment and rage — she was miles stronger than the idiot before her, yet he made it this difficult for her to harm him.

Mark watched her calmly. After pushing her away, the bleed debuff was negated, causing Mark to update his knowledge on a sanguinexus’s bite attack. There were little information about weird vampires with scythe arms and ability to vanish at will available to the public, causing Mark to sigh.

With all her talk earlier, he guessed that her race were engineered to mimic mythical vampires. A frown formed on his face as he thought of her behaviour. She was so energetically crazed for death, and seemed to be a deviant of common social norms. Like, not attacking this random stranger you’d just met. If that isn’t true, then what motive did she have for attacking him?

Before they dashed right into action, Mark heard a knock on the door, and he froze. Forget the part that he never had any visitors over, he was dealing with the wild Vysla, and as she turned and stared at the door, his heart clenched. I guess I have gotten myself in quite a pinch.

If the person on the other side was to see the mess they had created, it would horrify them for sure! Mark was not sure if he’d be fast enough to clean up this mess up before the visitor attracted unwanted attention. Especially not with the centre of attention — Heh — still inside!

Calm down, Mark, or you will make unnecessary blunders! Mark silenced his wild thoughts, and then he straightened his stance. It was not as if he was fighting with a complete primate, despite his limitation in reasoning with her. He was sure that if he asked very nicely, she could let the fight wait.

“Can you wait for a second? I seem to have a visitor.” He asked in a low tone, wearing a smile on his face as he held his blade. Vysla stared at him, and he stared back, both locking their gaze in deep thoughts then reaching a decision. I just hope she understands the term ‘civilisation’.

“Okay.” Vysla replied, stepping back and vanishing into the shadows.

Mark, turned around and walked to the door, opening it calmly. He stared at his visitor, confusion present in his face. The visitor he received was not one of the guards or staff of the facility as he had expected, but was one of the children. It was a familiar horned girl, and he raised his brows.

She could pass for a regular with no visible enhancements except the dual pair of horns on her head and her ink blue hair. She looked very vibrant and lively, both in her expression and colourful dressing — a bold blue top and a bright red skirt. Her deep blue eyes turned to Mark as she opened her mouth to speak, “Hello, I was just passing by and I heard a commotion, is anything the issue?”

She seemed very interested in the commotion she must have heard whilst ‘passing by’, as Mark caught her secretly sneaking a peak or two into the room with narrowed eyes. She was just being nosy and was not visiting for a very good reason, so Mark decided to send her packing.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"I see, well, I guess you can kindly mind your business and leave mine alone." Mark narrowed his eyes, wanting to slam the door in her face for effect, but restraining himself. If he did not have a wild sanguinexus in his room, then maybe he could have taken time to entertain her curiosity.

But, for now? Even if she had a genuine reason for visiting, he would find a way to chase her off until he had settled this issue. The environment was not welcoming for visitors and he needed to be very careful. As she nodded silently and turned around to leave, Mark believed her to understand.

He turned around to meet Vysla staring back at him, most of her fighting resolve suppressed. He believed that a second or two of thought must have helped with her twisted reasoning. Nothing her change, he resorted to his ultimate weapon, one to fell any mighty foe upon success, communication.

“Once you kill me, what are you going to do? There are numerous guards out this door, and you won’t get very far in your weakened state. You would only be hunted down, and killed.” Mark sighed for effect, shaking his head and clicking his tongue, “

Vysla chuckled.

"I see that peace had dulled your senses. If I cannot kill you today, I will kill you tomorrow. As far as there is a prey to be hunted, there would always be a hunter." Vysla closed her eyes, raising her head to the ceiling and spreading out her hands, "You asked why I am trying so hard to kill you? I have to level up in this pathetic world. I have to get stronger so I can face the monster who destroyed my home."

"Level up? I guess a monster as technologically advanced as you must have had some sort of system installed for managing stuff like this. So, you think the only way you can get stronger is by killing those who have not done anything to harm you?" Mark sheathed his sword, "If you believe that, why don't you try killing me?"

Vysla narrowed her eyes, she felt something was wrong, yet she could not put her finger on it. It was as if this was a trap of some kind, and naturally, she did not move an inch, “What are you trying to do? Don’t you think that you can push my buttons, you waste!”

"Why are you getting so worked up? I know you don't have it in you, there were a lot of chances to kill me in the past but you did not. It is not because you are kind or lack the ability…" Mark smirked coldly, "It was the same reason I decided against throwing you into a pool of lava. You just cannot bring yourself to harm another creature because of these virtual experience points."

“You were awake throughout the journey back home, yet you did not act until now. I was vulnerable a lot of times till this time, yet you waited till I was on my guard before deciding to attack. The fact you aimed for my head instead of my body, allowed me to perform that excellent defensive move — although I would have been immobilised if it hit, and Nyra would be killed.”

“The reason I attacked you is because… you would have killed the only living thing I care for in this world if I was a second slower in my defence. That alone — unforgivable! I won’t let you off the hook, even if I die. My spirit will haunt you until I exact vengeance for attempted murder on Nyra.”

Hearing Mark speak, Vysla stood stunned. Who knew that he had so many things going in on his mind even during the intense battle of life and death? Even after all that, she still did not know who this Nyra was. She could not sense any life forms in the room except herself and Mark, the fact he kept repeating this worried her. Was there a third party she couldn’t sense in the room waiting to attack her?

“Heh heh. I guess you have gotten a third of it all figured out. Well, I guess after what happened earlier you are starting to understand why I was so desperate to “kill” you earlier. I guess I do not need to hide it anymore do I? I feel as if I have been completely seen through by someone weaker than me.” Vysla took a stance calmly, her eyes locked on to Mark.

“It doesn’t have to be this way. Aren’t you tired of fighting? Don’t you have a goal to accomplish? If you are not going to cooperate, then we can fight it out till one of us collapses or dies. But, I will make sure that you are not a threat to anyone else after today.” Mark remained calm as well, “Why don’t join me? I can help you get accustomed to this new world, and then you can grow at a faster pace.”

Vysla froze. For the first time since their battle, she stopped to think about what Mark suggested to her. He had given her a path she never thought was possible for her before, a path she never dreamed of crossing before. Could she coexist with other humans despite these ‘flaws’ she had been born with?

Could she live a life, where she did not have to hide in the shadows?