Under the crimson, dim moonlight, Emlyn took out a small metal bottle, unscrewed the lid, and took a gulp.
Then he seemed to turn into a shadow, floating on walls and the ground, following Russ Batory swiftly and silently.
Vampires were always known for their speed. The two barons, one after another, ran through dark alleys and unlit streets, taking over half an hour to reach the chaotic, dirty East Borough, stopping in front of an old apartment building.
Seeing that Russ Batory chose to climb a pipe to reach the third floor with the least noise, Emlyn slowed down, not eager to follow right behind him, as that would easily be discovered.
After thinking carefully for two seconds, he took out a semi‑transparent perfume‑like bottle, unscrewed the lid, pressed the nozzle, and sprayed the liquid on himself.
The effect of this potion was simple: eliminate his own scent, making it blend with the surroundings!
After putting that bottle away, Emlyn took out a brass‑colored metal bottle and drank its contents in one gulp.
"The Potion Professor is such a hassle..." he muttered, looking down to see his hands becoming transparent inch by inch, the brass‑colored bottle seeming to float in front of his sleeve.
When Emlyn put that bottle away, only a suit, a top hat, and a pair of laceless, strapless shoes remained, forming a human shape and moving around.
Another completely transparent perfume‑like bottle flew out, hovered in mid‑air, pressed itself, and with a hiss, sprayed the potion onto the clothes.
The outlines of the suit, hat, and shoes gradually faded, eventually disappearing completely.
Having achieved "invisibility," Emlyn glanced at the room Russ Batory had entered, climbed the pipe invisibly and silently, and chased after him at top speed.
Taking advantage of the half‑open window, he drifted into the room like a transparent cloud, making no sound at all. He hid in a corner and watched Russ Batory—a man with a long, lean but expressive face—search for his target.
The latter's brow gradually furrowed, because the place was completely empty. There weren't even any mosquitoes, which had become active in the past week.
Yet this vampire baron could be absolutely certain that the "Moon Puppet" was here.
Suddenly, a creaking sound broke the frozen silence.
The door swung open, and a woman in a black dress walked in slowly. She looked at Russ Batory and said in an ethereal tone:
"Who are you looking for..."
Emlyn turned to look. The newcomer had dark skin, slender brows, soft facial lines, and drooping mouth corners—exactly the target, Windsor.
But in Emlyn's eyes, this devout follower of the "Primordial Moon" had changed significantly from her portrait. Now her eyes, brows, and mouth were curved, as if imitating the current crimson moon.
And on her forehead, cheeks, neck, and all exposed skin grew patches of sun‑dried grass and flowers, clump after clump, bloom after bloom.
...Whoa, what exactly did Russ Batory sell her? How did she become like this? Emlyn was startled, feeling the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.
At the same time, clumps of dry grass, intermingled with withered flowers, grew from the floor, walls, door, and ceiling.
They completely isolated the room from the outside, creating a very eerie scene.
Sensing danger, Russ Batory didn't try to talk. Without hesitation, he took out a metal bottle and drank its contents in one gulp.
Smack!
He dropped the bottle and charged at the mutated Windsor, leaving afterimages, his fingernails lengthened and black mist swirling around his body.
Windsor, studded with dry grass and flowers, looked like a huge rag doll. She rushed forward with equal speed, completely disregarding her own safety, and clawed at Russ Batory.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
After a series of collisions, Russ Batory was sent flying backward and hit the wall.
His sleeve was torn off, and his skin bore scratches deep enough to show bone.
And between the flesh, the dried grass and flowers began to slowly grow outward!
What a monster... Emlyn, encountering this kind of enemy for the first time, had been cowering in a corner, almost forgetting to help.
He didn't recklessly reveal himself. Thoughts flashed through his mind as he observed the battle between Russ Batory and Windsor, considering what approach to take.
The strangest things were those grass and flowers... Grass and flowers... They should be afraid of fire! Emlyn's mind raced. He immediately canceled his invisibility, took out another metal bottle, unscrewed it, and took a gulp.
Pfft!
He sprayed all the liquid from his mouth.
The grayish‑red droplets ignited instantly upon contact with the air, spreading scorching flames in all directions.
Flame upon flame, fire joining fire, in an instant the room turned into a sea of red.
Crackling sounds filled the air as the dried grass and flowers caught fire one after another, rapidly spreading to their neighbors.
Within just two or three seconds, the sealed environment was nearly broken, and the grass and flowers on Windsor began to burn as well.
By then, Russ Batory's chest had been torn open, creating a large hole. He had lost most of his combat power and was barely maintaining himself through the vampire's super regenerative abilities.
Seeing the enemy like a torch, Emlyn keenly sensed the weakening of her aura. Without hesitation, he pounced, circling Windsor and striking repeatedly with his claws.
From under his feet, streams of black mist rose and coiled around the follower of the Primordial Moon, like living shackles.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Amidst the intense, rapid sounds, the two figures suddenly came close.
Then all sounds ceased. Emlyn grabbed Windsor by the throat with his left hand and lifted her.
After hesitating for a second, seeing her grim expression, he snapped her neck with a crack.
Smack!
A long, slim puppet studded with dry grass and flowers fell from Windsor's body to the ground, and the flames in the room gradually subsided.