Completing the Quest

An unpredicted incident happened that the onlookers were not expecting.

Blake managed to beat the leader.

Regardless of the big difference in level, swordsmanship, and experience, he was still able to come out on top as he thrust his sword right into the center of the leader's neck. It happened so fast, and the leader still doesn't know what had just happened.

His body itself hasn't registered the pain yet, he was still oblivious.

It was then he lost the ability to move his body anymore, it already turned corpse stiff. Lowering his eyes down, he saw the blade in Blake's hand had already pierced his neck and it protruded out of his nape.

"Kaahkk!"

A mouthful of blood escapes the leader's mouth.

Now the pain started to overwhelm him, like maggots eating his body and soul from within.

Blake slowly stood up while still holding the sword and keep eye contact with the leader's glaring eyes that still can't believe that he had lost to an amateur, even his expression was nonchalant as he did this.

Ice-cold, and he kept eye contact until the leader lose the strength in his legs.

Swish!

A meaty sound was made as Blake pulled the sword out of the leader's neck.

Blood traces that was left on the sword is the testament that Blake is the one that did this to the leader, and a thudding sound soon follows, the leader tries to say something but his consciousness started to become dark, and his body eventually fell to the ground.

[Level 25 Mercenary Leader killed!]

[Obtained 26,000 Exp]

Notifications from the system showed that he has managed to kill the mercenary leader.

It was something of an achievement for himself.

Blake was obviously losing at first, he didn't even manage to make the leader sweat even though he tries his best swinging his sword offensively. But as the fight continues, he started to grasp the fundamental of swordplay.

On top of that, his Body Control has been upgraded, he also gained Basic Sword Proficiency.

It's the reason that made him really excited during the fight.

Controlling his rapid breaths, his eyes then landed on the last mercenary on the side.

Since the death of his comrades earlier, the mercenary was stunned on his spot out of surprise and fear. His entire body is stiff and he was unable to do anything. Now, that sensation has been amplified.

Gazing at the corpse of the leader, a vicious shiver run down his spine.

If even the leader couldn't win against Blake in a one-on-one fight, then it was highly improbable for the last mercenary to win against him. Despite Blake wasn't in optimal shape after the fierce fight, he would still have no chance.

Looking at Blake who is still standing undisturbed, the man felt his soul leaving his body.

Noticing the stains of blood all over his arms and some smeared on his face, the last mercenary felt a crippling fear that swelled inside of him. Blake looks like the emissary of death right now, he looks horrifying.

Squeaking like a small animal, the last mercenary turns around and sprinted away.

Tara and Audrey who were watching this from the back were confused as to why Blake let the last mercenary run away, "Don't let him get away or he'll bring back others, it's better to kill him right now"

After saying that, Tara can see that Blake's body is trembling slightly.

It confuses her but Blake slowly glanced over his shoulder, and when their eyes met, Tara took a step back in reflex. She realizes that she had just ordered the man that saved them and fears that the man would turn on them.

But to her relief, Blake didn't idle along and ran after the last mercenary.

Since the game mechanics don't allow the players to fully healed after leveling up, Blake is not in top condition as his wounds are still stinging him. Blake is in pain, but he tries to endure it to the best of his abilities.

Going through the forest, passing tree after tree, he managed to catch up.

Locking his eyes on the last mercenary, Blake frowned when he realized that some of the trees he passed were actually mobs. Some of them try to reach the last mercenary with their branches, but he doesn't seem to care.

'Is he dumb? Why isn't he dodging the branches?' Blake thought in confusion.

Furthermore, the last mercenary's stupidity didn't end there, he got stuck inside a knee-length pond with toxic steam coming out of it. Even a donkey would be able to avoid that, yet the last mercenary was stuck and was screaming in pain as his legs were corroded.

Almost as if the crippling fear induced into him rendered his senses useless.

Brak!

Coming from the side swiftly, Blake did a roundhouse kick right aimed at the last mercenary.

Not giving any chance for the last mercenary to react at all.

Backed with the high-strength stat that is above normal thanks to him having an EX-grade race, the last mercenary got flung out of the toxic pond and crashes onto a tree on the side, he was hissing in pain because of that.

"Argggh!"

It was so bad that the white part of the last mercenary's eyes turned red.

Additionally, being crashed away leaves a couple of scratches all over his body as well as his pained face. The last mercenary then reaches out to his legs and finds them corroded beyond measure.

Due to the pain, he pressed his forehead against the ground, trying to endure it.

Just then, he suddenly felt an ominous feeling from the back that made him for a moment, forget about the pain. Glancing to the side, the last mercenary finds a pair of purple eyes looking at him.

Blake walks towards the last mercenary slowly, his eyes exposing great malicious intent.

Not a trace of possible mercy can be seen in his eyes. Moreover, his eyes were fixated on one thing only, and that is the dripping blood on the last mercenary's cheek that seems to be inviting.

Even though it may look like he was letting the last mercenary escape earlier, he wasn't.

He did it because he wanted the last mercenary to run away so that he could drink his blood, he doesn't want to show this side of him to Tara and Audrey due to the fact that the two of them are humans.

"P-Please! Don't kill me! I-I-I-I'll tell you everything! I know many things so listen to me!"

The last mercenary said stutteringly with a meek voice.

Knowing that death is getting closer and closer with each stepping sound that seeped into his ears, the last mercenary's back was completely drenched in sweat as he tries to plead for his life.

"G-Grandmaster Mallory! He was the one that hired us to bring that blonde woman to him!"

Despite his beg, Blake didn't show any sign of stopping.

Anything that the last mercenary said at this moment fell on deaf ears, he can't think straight, and his mind is only filled with the thought of the taste of blood. It was the only thing that could satiate his thirst.

Under the last mercenary's gaze, his human fangs elongated and became sharper.

Just from this alone, the last mercenary's face drains from all colors, there was only one race that looks humanoid and seems to be very incited with blood, "V-Vampire! You're a Vampire!" he exclaimed in shock.

Not even intending to let a second more pass, Blake pounced at the last mercenary.

Driven by his almost animalistic instinct to devour blood, he grabbed the last mercenary's head and tilt it to the side. Baring his fangs, he then embedded them into the last mercenary's neck.

The last mercenary tries to struggle, but there was absolutely nothing he could do.

In about a minute, the last mercenary's body has turned very pale.

Under the suction from Blake's fangs, the blood coursing inside of him was sucked out completely. After another minute, the last mercenary was reduced to nothing but a dried-up corpse.

During this feast, there are notifications appeared in his vision.

[Absorbing blood...]

[+50 HP...]

[+100 HP...]

[+70 HP...]

Slowly but surely, Blake's HP which was a little bit over half was being recovered rapidly.

Each of his injuries started steaming and healing visibly.

When his HP was completely full yet there was still much more blood to absorb, the notifications from the System didn't stop. It keeps on giving him HP, but the HP wasn't allocated into his HP pool.

[Player MoonDespoiler's HP is already full!]

[Allocating the absorbed blood into the Blood Reserve]

[Blood Reserve: 70 / 2,000]

[150 / 2,000...]

[200 / 2,000...]

It keeps on going until eventually, the last drop of the last mercenary's blood was absorbed.

[Blood Reserve: 520 / 2,000]

Blake pulls his fangs away and lets out a satisfied moan as he felt the unquenched thirst that he suffered from enduring the temptation of blood fade away, even his mood and spirit were completely lifted

"Should've gone with the Werefox race, there's no side-effect like this" Salana commented.

Upon hearing this, Blake glanced at her before shrugging his shoulders.

"If getting the Werefox race would really make you drop this, then I'll do it. Remember? All Racial Quests are unlocked, I don't have a limit for how many races I can have, and the Adaptable Mutation skill will allow me to change race on a whim"

"After I gained more races, this issue would not be a problem anymore..." he added.

[Level 17 Mercenary killed!]

[Obtained 11,900 Exp]

[Level up!]

Focusing back on the last mercenary's corpse, Blake ponders for a moment.

It was then, he raised his sword above his head, 'I need to get rid of this body lest it'll be an advertisement that a Vampire is around' he thought. Nodding his head, he then decided to destroy the corpse.

"Colossal Slam!"

Swinging down powerfully, he slammed his sword right at the corpse.

In an instant, the corpse exploded into a pile of meat and internal organs that are devoid of blood. Now, in this state, people that came across the corpse wouldn't instantly think Vampire.

Blake nodded his head before he turns around, intending to go back to the two women.

Since he killed all of the mercenaries that were attacking the two women, it's time for him to reap the rewards of the quest. 'I hope this Infernal Veiled Assassin Guild is a good guild. But it has to be, its name is quite imposing'

Coursing back to the place where they are earlier, Blake finds them near a tree.

Despite being nervous that the two weren't going to be there when he came back, it seems the two women are honorable people. But then again, even if they did run, he could easily find them with his Nocturnal Blood Sight skill.

Both of them probably know that, and thus they stayed and waited for him.

Upon his arrival back, Tara and Audrey bowed to him in gratitude.

"I, Tara Nor Freeda am thankful for your help to protect Miss Audrey, I wouldn't know what would happen to her if you hadn't intervened and helped us" Tara said politely, her face was covered by a black mask but she seemed to be genuine.

Out of her features, only her womanly curves and deep blue eyes can be seen.

Just then Audrey also stepped forward and reaches out her small petite hand towards him, "My name is Audrey, but my real name is Linthia Jade Shawcross. I'm really grateful for you saving us"

Blake frowns when he heard this, 'Is it normal for people to have undercover names?'

Shaking his head, he then received Linthia's hand and shakes it.

As soon as he did that, the system notified him of completing the quest given by Linthia. On top of that, due to being told her real name, the information tab above her head that showed her name changed from Audrey to Linthia.

[Quest - In a Pickle has been completed!]

[Player MoonDespoiler has obtained 80,000 Exp and 50 Infernal Veiled Assassin Guild reputation]

[Level up!]

[Level up!]

[Congratulation on reaching level 20!]

[PK Privileged Player effect has been activated. Persona Quest has been unlocked!]