The grumpy man desperate act to lock him in place was illogical. It is simply beyond idiotic to throw away your life in order to hold your opponent down. But that's the reason why Zyro was caught off guard, putting him between wall and a dying man grip. While the last assassin prepared to strike with his mobility hindered.
The shard tip of the short spear glistened the lanterns light, as it was thrust to Zyro's head like a bullet. Fortunately, the spear wielder was a little hesitant, afraid to hit his comrade head, as well. So, it's not completely stable as it aimed a little to the side of the young man's head.
Zyro abruptly tilted his head to the side, avoiding the piercing tip in the nick of time. The spearhead clang, nailed at the brick wall. Its sharp edge cuts the young man's neck, causing some blood to flow.
Zyro held his breath for a moment there. He groaned in pain, but acted quickly to salvage the situation. With the spearhead momentarily stuck in stone, it would cause a slight delay before the attacker could strike again.
He needed to get out of this suicidal man's grip. Zyro exerted his strength at full to free himself, the man, despite having the strength of a Beta had loss so much blood already. However, his blood seemed to refuse gravity as it stubbornly cling to its owner.
Vampires don't bleed easily, after all. A normal person would have died if their throat was slit to that degree, but a vampire of the second Mark are built different.
Still, the combination of Zyro's raw strength and exoskeleton are not to be underestimated. With all his might, the bleeding assassin bulge. But at the next moment, the man let out an indignant scream, along with it comes greater strength than before.
It's like a mother finding strength somewhere to lift a car and save her son.
But in exchange, his bleeding dangerously increases. Because the greater strength one forcefully exerts, the faster the heart rate.
Zyro almost escaped his grasp, but the sudden increase of pressure held him back in place once more. He gritted his teeth. It's too late, the other vampire had already pulled his spear back, ready to deliver another strike.
Still, it's fine. As long as the spear wielder avoided his comrade head, Zyro could once again use it as a shield to hide his from danger.
And the man pressing him won't last long.
However, before another attack came. The dying vampire weakly shouted, his voice sounded ghastly broken due to the slitted throat.
"Strike... Through... Me."
He must be aware that his beyond saving.
Zyro froze. His shield are no more.
The assassin hesitated for a moment, and gritted his teeth.
Then... Thrust by a Beta with all his might, the spear pierced the dying man's back. It went through his flesh, starveling straight to the young man chest.
The deranged man who risked it all, including his life seemed satisfied. To die, while witnessing the demise of his comrades murderer the moment of his death.
But instead of the sound of flesh being pierced by the assassin short spear. Metal against steel resounded.
"An... Armor?" Was the third vampire last words.
Zyro sighed, saying with hint of disappointment.
"What a shame. You should have stick for the head."
Then, he pushed the man into the spear, before sidestepping. A dead man has no strength anymore, so pushing him took no effort unlike before. With Zyro free to move, while the last assassin short spear was still stuck at his comrade back. He took the opportunity to lounge at the disarmed vampire. Zyro held the Broken Sword in one hand, with a silver blade at the other.
Realizing he couldn't pull the spear in time, the assassin decided to give up and to back off. Allowing him to evade Zyro's attack in time. The vampire then proceeds taking steps back to widen the distance between them.
It's a logical move. In close quarter combat, the young man currently had a huge advantage. His blades are sharp and give him longer reach, while all he had are bare hands without his spear. His reluctant to fight dual daggers with fist.
However, that was a big mistake.
Zyro retracts the Shroud of Night silver blade back, then pulls out the short spear from the fallen enemy laying corpse.
Thick blood is still dripping from its sharp, lethal tip.
Zyro look coldly at the last assassin, his face emotionless. Excluding an indifferent confidence devoid of fear despite the side of his neck profusely bleeding.
In the next moment, the fighting continue. The last assassin wasn't an amateur in combat, he at least received some basic training. He knows how to launch a proper punch and identity body weaknesses. However, that fist of his can't be compared to the short spear reach. All his attempts to land an attack on Zyro was futile, due to the spear relatively long range. Actually, the assassin can't even get close to Zyro as he unleashes swings and thrust one after the other.
Forcing his opponent to dodge endlessly, until he eventually fail. One failure is all it took for his life to end. Zyro's battle against the last assassin was one-sided, to say the least.
Although, the assassin was proficient to some degree. His still no match for Zyro who underwent humanity's hardest training which include mastering not only varying martial arts, but also all known general weapons - Guns, bow, sword and spear.
Piercing the hooded man heart with the tip of his own spear. Zyro stayed still for a while, making sure the vampire died.
He signed.
Now that the battle is over, his heart calmed down. Allowing him to feel how much had strained his body.
'...My muscle, it hurts?'
He frowned, sensing his aching muscles hurting more than usual on certain parts. After thinking about it, he realized the cost of using Dark Burst.
A while ago, Zyro activated it multiple times to enhance his strength further for a short time. He didn't notice it before due to the adrenaline and concentration amidst combat. But now, apparently, the muscles where he used Dark Burst seemed more damaged than the others.
It seemed, Although Dark Burst greatly enhance Zyro strength. It also means straining his muscles further. Since receiving the Blinker gift, Zyro always felt like he could copy the monster instant dash. Moving in the blink of an eye to your enemy front. However, now he realized that maybe he could also achieve god-like speed with Dark Burst. However, his muscles would probably be torn apart. He simply doesn't have the Blinker's monstrous body, that could withstand Dark Burst full potential.
Every battle bore fruit, whether it's realization or material loots. Zyro was happy to receive it all.
Zyro pulled his short spear and swing is hard to his side. Causing excessive blood to splash to the ground.
He turned around to check on the others, only to see Scarlet and Pert's stunned expression.
There was an awkward silence, Zyro scratch his head and ask.
"What?"
The princess, who had finished her battle against four enemies with Pert's long range aid earlier. She originally wanted to aid Zyro immediately, noticing that he was fighting too. But decided to watch instead, after seeing his down the last opponent in a one-sided duel.
She pointed at the four cloaked assassins. Dead on the ground and asked with a hint of disbelief.
"You did this?"
Zyro simply nooded, there's no point hiding the obvious.
"Oh, I see. I didn't mind you as figher, I'm sorry. I'm just quite surprised." Scarlet smiled.
She probably never thought of their unassuming cook as someone who could slaughter four vampire or more by himself. Then again, no one would suspect a slave like him was the notorious Fallen Knight, a warrior who went against the entire Gricks species in their own territory and lived to tell the tale.
Scarlet then notice Zyro's bleeding neck. She came towards him in worry.
"Are you okay, do you need mediate treatment?"
But Zyro shrugged it off.
"I'm fine" he look around and added. "More importantly, now that the assassins are gone. How about taking the route now?"
"I also agree. We're safe to go, so." Pert voiced.
Scarlet thought for a moment, before giving her decision.
"Fine, but are you sure your would are fine? It look bad. Zyro, be honest with me." She stares at Zyro with a mix of worry and guilt. Worried for his health and guiltly because this happened because of her.
Under her crimson royal gaze. Zyro spoke the truth.
"I'll manage, I think."
"That's good enough."
After that, they move quickly to reveal the hidden entrance of the long passage leading to another settlement. They can't stay here anymore after causing a commotion where eight vampires died. Fortunately, this happened in a secluded alley, so no one was around. However, this massacre won't go unnoticed forever.
The gate was blocked by wooden crates and many things to hide it's existence. The three of them moved it all, eventually revealing a barricade gate. Multiple planks of wood were nailed to keep anyone from opening the entrance, but such protective measure aren't impossible to break.
Zyro was in the middle of pulling out the barricades, when he heard a barely audible sounds. He frowned, look behind but saw no one there. No, the sound wasn't coming from behind them.
He look back at the wooden gate with a dark expression... And cursed.