NOVEL WEB Chapter 62: Joining hands
Ethan's POV
An idea lit up in my mind suddenly as a dark thorn formed on my left forefinger and I carefully cut my wrist vein without wasting any moment. I pried open her soft lips with my right hand and touched the bleeding opening to her mouth.
The flowing blood seemed to pour life inside her as she strongly sucked on my wrist as if her life depended on it and soon her fading consciousness returned. Her eyes fluttered open and her vulnerable appearance made me feel more attracted to her.
A sudden urge to forever keep her safe in my embrace crossed my mind.
Time seemed to stop as we gazed at each other and her dazed and innocent expression which was completely different from her usual cold and stoic one captivated me. But before I could do anything her hand rose and stroked my cheek.
Her crimson eyes were hazy as her thumb traced my cheekbone and my expression mirrored my inner surprise.
Finally, her hazy eyes regained some clarity and I could see a sudden panic erupting in her eyes as she realized what she was doing.
She acted with haste and pushed my hand away as she got out of my hold panickedly and turned around as if to hide her emotions. I was amused inside but shook my head and reminded her about our current condition.
"Lady Virelle, we need to help your brother. He's on the brink of defeat and could be in serious danger if we don't intervene soon."
Her body trembled slightly and when she turned to face me, her serious expression was marred by the faint twitch of her lips, betraying her struggle to maintain her composure.
"Yes, Brother Ethan," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil reflected in her twitching face.
"You'll be the main force in this fight, and I'll provide support from the side to ensure we defeat this abomination."
Her crimson eyes gleamed with renewed determination and I could feel the weight of her resolve solidifying, a stark contrast to the fleeting panic and vulnerability she had shown moments before.
Whatever external bleeding and cuts she had sustained had already healed, leaving no trace of her prior injuries. I couldn't help but inwardly marvel at the extraordinary regeneration abilities of vampires.
It was remarkable how quickly they could recover from physical trauma, yet equally concerning how heavily they relied on blood to sustain their strength.
The incident earlier had made it clear that even a loss of blood that wasn't very lethal could drastically drain their energy. Virelle's temporary loss of consciousness was a testament to this.
I concluded that while vampires were undeniably formidable in terms of raw power and recovery they faced a critical weakness in endurance. Their strength was intrinsically tied to their blood reserves and any significant depletion could leave them vulnerable.
Now, as I observed Virelle standing before me with her posture steady and her gaze sharp, it was evident that she had bounced back with remarkable speed. The effects of her earlier blood loss seemed to have vanished entirely, her body replenished and her fighting spirit reignited.
Her vitality was restored to a degree that would be impossible for a human in such a short period.
As for myself, the blood I had offered was a small price to pay.
Without another word, dark energy seeped from my wound and formed a black seal as I healed the cut on my wrist. I whooshed and vanished in the dark from my initial position swiftly towards the battle a few hundred feet away.
Like a specter, I moved into the shadows gliding silently toward the raging battle a few hundred feet away.
The air crackled with residual energy, the scent of burning wood and charred earth thick in the atmosphere. As I drew closer, the devastation came into sharper focus.
The landscape was utterly ravaged. Shattered rocks littered the ground, some scorched black while others were sheared into jagged fragments.
The unique underground trees towering and resilient by nature were reduced to splinters and their remnants were scattered haphazardly like the aftermath of a storm.
My crimson eyes locked onto the source of destruction. Two shadows danced violently amidst the chaos, their forms moving with lethal precision and ferocity. One shadow though a bit smaller but faster was clearly on the defensive, dodging and weaving between strikes.
The other was a monstrous bloated figure who pressed forward relentlessly and its mad attacks left trails of crimson energy that distorted the air with their intensity.
Victor was barely holding on. His agile movements, though impressive were faltering under the pressure of the relentless assault. Suddenly, a rock face appeared in his gradual retreat and he was unable to change his directions midway.
He roared and his fists lit up with blood-red flames forming two fiery fists that he hammered into the bloated figure who laughed maliciously and the two claws slashed from up and down. Victor was blown away with blood erupting from his mouth and a resounding crack sounded from his body.
I flinched in response and presumed that the bones of one of his hands had broken in the front on clash just now.
I melted into the darkness, my form blending seamlessly into the void. My intention to ambush the monstrous shadow was clear and to tip the scales in Victor's favor.
Every step I took was calculated and silent. The sounds of battle masked my approach and I drew closer gradually.
Suddenly, the bloated figure's head snapped in my direction, and I felt its gaze pierce the darkness. It had sensed me.
Before I could react, a thick beam of crimson energy erupted from its outstretched arm, carving a fiery path through the air. The beam roared toward me with terrifying accuracy splitting the darkness with its radiance.
Instinct took over and I swiveled to the side, narrowly evading the blast but the dangerous aura around the beam still made me retreat away frantically.