Chapter 51: Delving into the Tiger's Den

Emily swiftly spread her wings, hovering in mid-air, and looked up at Yuri with an angry gaze. Yuri, on the other hand, wore a playful grin and blew a kiss in a carefree manner. His deep eyes emitted a faint green glow in the darkness, giving him a ghostly yet remarkably attractive appearance.

Emily's face inexplicably turned red for a moment, but she couldn't afford to be angry. She flew away from that troublesome place, only feeling relieved and able to breathe normally when her feet touched the ground.

Just as she regained her composure, she met another profound gaze. Benjamin approached hurriedly. "Emily, what's wrong? Why is your face red?"

"Huh? N-nothing..." Emily evaded Benjamin's probing gaze, hastily brushing past him. "Let's go, we need to make good use of our time."

As they entered the tunnel, it became evident that it was a maze of interconnected paths. However, Emily wasn't worried at all because Benjamin was by her side. No matter how convoluted and complex the route was, Benjamin could always find his way back after going through it once, unlike herself, who was completely directionally challenged.

Emily and Benjamin walked openly in the tunnel, unafraid even when encountering other vampires. With Yuri overseeing their surroundings, Emily felt a sense of tranquility in her heart. Initially, Benjamin had some doubts, but as they walked for a long time without any obstacles, he grew bolder. At times, he even made faces at passing vampires.

Suppressing her laughter, Emily playfully hit Benjamin, urging him to stop being mischievous. If he continued like this, she couldn't guarantee that she wouldn't burst out laughing. They were already deep in the tiger's den, and any exposure would spell trouble.

The tunnel was filled with the fragrance of flowers, but the deeper they went, the more Emily felt a difficulty in breathing. Vampires didn't need to breathe, so they didn't feel the effects of the thin oxygen in this environment. However, it was different for Emily. The overwhelming scent of flowers, mixed with the earthy smell, the dampness, and the scent of decay from unknown sources, all combined to make Emily feel increasingly uncomfortable. It was as if a nerve in her nose was about to twitch.

Fortunately, the complex mixture of scents in this underground environment prevented her own scent from being detected. Along the way, she could see people sniffing the air and looking in her direction, only to appear confused afterward. It was said that fortune depends on misfortune, and misfortune relies on fortune.

After traversing a myriad of narrow tunnels for a considerable distance, Emily was almost on the verge of giving up due to the overwhelming smell. However, the path suddenly opened up ahead. It resembled an ant's nest, with tunnels branching out in all directions. The central area served as a communication hub, akin to a honeycomb, with multiple makeshift rooms carved out, each equipped with a bed and basic amenities.

Emily was amazed by this spectacle. She never expected Alexander to construct such an "underground palace" in such a short time. Although it was rudimentary, it provided all the necessary comforts for survival.

Lost in admiration, Emily momentarily forgot their true purpose for coming here. It wasn't until she caught a familiar scent with her nose that she remembered why they had come today.

She firmly grabbed Benjamin's arm and pointed in a direction, her expression serious. Benjamin understood her intentions and ran alongside her in that direction. However, the closer they got to the Blood Blade, the more nervous they became, as even Benjamin caught a whiff of Alexander's scent.

It was strange because Alexander always concealed his scent, regardless of the circumstances. Even back in the Leisenba Castle, where the probability of danger was almost zero, he remained cautious and hidden. It was highly unusual for him to release his scent so recklessly today.

Benjamin abruptly stopped in his tracks, pulling Emily back. Emily looked at him with confusion in her eyes. Benjamin shook his head, his brow furrowed tightly. Based on his understanding of Alexander over the years, this was definitely not his style, unless he had some ulterior motive.

Could he have known that they would come? This place seemed like a huge trap specifically prepared for them.

Realizing something was amiss, Benjamin urgently pulled Emily back along the path they came from. Emily, however, exerted force from behind, holding Benjamin back, looking at him puzzled.

Benjamin couldn't speak as the situation was too complex to convey with a single glance. Feeling anxious, he looked around, fortunately finding no one nearby. He quickly crouched down and wrote two characters on the ground, "trap," and promptly rubbed them away with his foot. He grabbed Emily's hand and they began to run, making sure to keep their footsteps light, without stirring up any dust.

"Capture them!" Alexander's voice echoed, sending a chilling shiver down their spines.

The once spacious tunnel was now tightly packed with vampires, seemingly appearing out of nowhere. They surrounded Emily and Benjamin, with some accidentally bumping into them due to their inability to see. However, this only confirmed the presence of Emily and Benjamin.

A pathway was cleared through the crowd as Alexander leisurely approached, his gaze fixed on the invisible space that enclosed them. "My dear Emily, your unique scent, did you really think you could hide it from my nose?"

Yuri, observing the situation from the rooftop, realized that his illusion had been shattered. With such a large number of people present, it was impossible for him to simultaneously create illusions for everyone. He quickly jumped down and sprinted towards them.

"Capture them! I refuse to believe they can escape this time!" Alexander took a step back as the vampires surged forward like a tide, preparing to attack Emily and Benjamin with precision.

Emily and Benjamin knew the illusion had been broken. Benjamin's nails suddenly elongated as he swiftly engaged in combat. Alexander watched coldly as Benjamin's abilities grew exponentially, effortlessly taking down five nearby vampires. This surprised him, but his surprise quickly turned into mockery. No matter how strong Benjamin became, could he really challenge the entire Leisenba clan on his own? Today, he would make him pay for betraying Leisenba!

Alexander's gaze shifted back to Emily. In just a few days, she had made remarkable progress. Her steps were methodical, her movements swift and decisive, devoid of any hesitation or wasted effort. It was a far cry from her previous chaotic and reckless fighting style. Each move she made reflected her unique abilities.

Has that girl not arrived? Alexander narrowed his eyes. Could she really be dead? His lips curled into a mocking smile. Humans were humans after all. What could their abilities do? They were just as fragile as ever!

Emily fought against the monstrous creatures with her bare hands, lacking any weapons. Soon, her body was covered in fresh wounds, each claw-like nail or blade cutting through her skin. The wounds would heal, only to be reopened again. The vampires' nails were different from ordinary weapons; their cuts caused pain, a piercing sensation that severely impaired Emily's judgment. Gradually, she began to struggle in the battle, feeling her strength dwindling with each passing moment.

Even the bravest general would grow weary when facing such ant-like enemies. Emily quickly found each punch becoming more and more difficult to deliver.