In the southern part of Newford's civilian slum, there is a narrow street, a food market.
It's also shelter for refugees from Luzmell, which was one of the world's largest culture mixed city, this peculiar part of Newford was a food lover's paradise.
Zed, sauntering down the bustling street, ordered a cup of blood orange juice. They contained it in a plastic cup. He took a sip and immediately placed it on the nearby steps.
"Ah, so bitter! Only the orange remains."
He grimaced, face twisted in distaste.
There was a certain look in his eyes as he promised himself to find more food option in the coming days.
He'd always felt that a vampire's existence should more than just blood-sucking. If the creature could truly live for centuries, then there had to be more to their lives, even in a wasteland.
Walking through many mazes of makeshift intersections, crafted from repurposed billboards, Zed left Lucy in the safe area and walk into the quieter side street. There, the crimson silhouette in his vision morphed into a tangible figure.
The man was taller than what he had looked like before. It appeared the masks of these awakened ones had undergone some special treatment, altering even the contours of their bodies.
A suit, a black car in the alley, an umbrella, and an army of bowing and scraping shoes. Zed's eyes rolled upwards shortly.
Of course, what could be more exciting than an apocalyptic version of "The Godfather"?
He crouched in silence, attempting to project his senses towards the group.But reality was harsh. Even his enhanced vampire senses couldn't compete with the eavesdropping capabilities of movie spies. Not yet, at least.
Shaking his head, Zed reminded himself that he was only here to have a look about general stuffs, situation. He had tested the waters earlier on the street, deliberately provoking strangers. Any form of provocation, direct harm, or even emotional damage would grant him the opportunity to reset his so-called "revenge target."
But again, he could only set one at each time.
The issue was the cost of the blood bank spore, it seems doubled when he tried to reset.
Though, he had thought to switch targets as long as their a chance. After all, he got no actual conflict with this fox or the local gangs. He could better utilize this ability to track down the "Demon" and ask about the progress of the Shadow Thief.
With that in mind, Zed rose, slowly stepping back.
The ability to walk in the sunlight, a privilege for vampires, did come with its downsides. Even the good thing could became bad in certain circumstance. It wasn' t just that he lacked a shadow. It was when he looked carefully, he could see other people's shadows very clear.
"One, two, three... wait, how many shadows does this guy have?"
Zed''s eyes narrowed, then he halting his steps.
As he adjusted the view, he saw it clearly. Three distinct shadows under Fox's feet.
So, Zed stayed.
"Well, It's hard to ignore you no."
He thought while staring at the tall, thin man near the car.
Zed didn't wait long. He reached into his pocket and pull out an exquisite bead shimmering with a purple glow. He held it between his index and middle finger, slowly raising it to his eye level, aligning it with the man.
["Use the 'secret steal spore' on your 'revenge target'?"]
[Cost: 1 blood point]
"This is one of the few useful ones, though..."
Zed murmured, his hand wavering slightly. But as soon as he recalled Adrian's face when he dropped his sword, Zed's resolve firmed.
"I'm gonna use it, anyway."
[Ding! You've unlocked a secret chest]
[A wave of fear spreads]
[A cruel ruler reigns]
[A cunning merchant trades]
[Golden secret: Your "Revenge Target" has a merchant who walks in another realm, providing him with rare spores.]
"A merchant walking in another realm..." Zed's eyes widened slightly as he whispered the words.
He suddenly feel extremely thirsty, it was like his throat was burning. And his full body became strengthless...
It wasn't just because of the consequence that using vampire ability under the sun.
Nor was it the much-touted rarity of the Sopre fox had acquired that truly mattered.
The crux of it all was the lingering sensation of being watched, a feeling that had haunted Zed ever since he had smashed the Sopre. It was a chilling, spine-curling feeling that made the tiny hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
He can not feel vampire power anymore.
"Damn...was that about sun?"
Zed immediatly felt something was wrong, then he turned and ran.
Meanwhile, the unexpected sound of footsteps appeared in the alleyway.
Suddenly, from behind the billboards, shadow began to emerge, slowly converging on Zed.
Seeing the scene, Zed's face gradually darkened.
The slick-suited figure, Fox, turned his head slowly, glancing at Zed for a second.
Then, without saying a word, Fox gave a light chuckle as stepped into his car, and leave in the corner.
At the same time, Zed furrowing his brows as he scanned around.
Four men, deceptively tall but emaciated, had encircled Zed. Judging from their movements, he deduced that maybe one or two among them were awakened, but not pro—though he couldn't be entirely certain, for he had met only a few 'awakened' in his life.
Instead, he made his estimation based on the weapons they carried.
Knives, axes, daggers... They seemed like thugs, straight out of a mob movie.
Zed squinted in the direction where Fox's car had disappeared.
This was the exact scenario he wanted to avoid.
Were they mistaking him for a rat sent by some rival to gather intel? Or had they discovered his secret?
But right now, thinking itself was a luxury he couldn't afford.
"Who sent you here? You little toerag."
The man leading the group, a cold glint in his eyes, held a long blade, his tone menacing.
"What to take from you, depending on who you're working for...is it eyes? Nose? Oh...it must be ears..."
The man's words were still hanging in the air when Zed's hand decisively dropped to the gun at his hip.
His fingers closed around the grip, and he took a step back.
Gun raised.
He might misjudge a situation once, but he swore it wouldn't happen a second time.
Instantly, the four men froze in where they were.
The leader raised his hands with blade subconsciously, while another man, garbed in black, instinctively reached for his own weapon. However, before he could even react, the two exchanged glances, followed by an incredulous chuckle.
"Hey, hey, this kid must be new in town, very impressive, pull out a gun?"
"Alright, alright, we'll step back. You do realize this is a civilian area, right? And there's a food street nearby..."
Strangely, the group did actually lower their weapons, gradually retreating.
Zed frowned, unsettled.
They all seemed to be holding back laughter, as if waiting for something. It was a feeling Zed didn't like.
"Hey, put your little hands down. Let me tell you, there was a big big whore in the center of city, and no one want to fuck with it. And your little gun just..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Zed noticed the other man in black reaching for his own gun. In Zed's eyes, it certainly means a sign for killing. In the instant his finger flicked off the safety, the gunshot rang out.
The sound of a "Bang—" echoed in the alley, the bullet ripped through the man in neck, a crimson spray painting on billboard behind. Another man had his hand on his gun, but he didn't have the chance to make his move. Zed was too quick, his actions fueled by survival instincts.
Gunfire filled the alleyway, not so long, but a deadly symphony playing out in the dim-lit urban maze. Of the four men, only one was left standing, the others now lifeless forms sprawled on the cold ground.
"Gurgle..."
The remaining man, a middle-aged figure, had a look of raw fear etched onto his face. He swallowed hard, the muscles on his face trembling slightly.
Zed moved towards him, gun trained on his forehead. His voice was as icy as the steel weapon he wielded.
"Why you say that, about gun."
The man, now kneeling on the ground, let out a laugh tinged with despair at Zed's question.
"You don't know? So you shot without knowing... damn, what a day, what a lovely day! We bad luck running into you. Have you read the manual when you entered the city? They'll chase you, capture you, and then..."
His words trailed off as a red flash pulsed from the city center, then it spread to full sky, followed by the shrill sound of an alarm.
The man's eyes reflected a deep-seated terror. As if driven by instinct, he attempted to escape.
*Bang*
With a dull thud, the last standing figure collapsed to the ground, joining his companions in the icy grip of death.
Zed holstered his gun neatly, his expression growing increasingly grim. Remembering the words of the bald man when he entered the city, a sense of foreboding crept into his heart.
Meanwhile, outside the alleyway, the cacophony of a crowd could be heard, along with the blare of a broadcast.
"Attention! to the person here! Do not move! You have violated Newford's firearms regulations. Lay down your weapon! Do not attempt to flee! Repeat, do not attempt to flee..."