Chapter 97: God wants to kill me?

The blonde girl appeared without a sound, so silently that even Nico and Katherine, who were checking on me, didn’t notice the menacing newcomer behind them.
It wasn’t until they saw the change in my expression that they turned, only to freeze under the overwhelming aura of the stranger, their bodies rigid with tension.

“Phew… finally caught up to you.”
The blonde girl exhaled softly, her face adorned with a wicked, almost seductive smile as she stepped out from the shadows into the sunlight.

Carter and the others instantly went on high alert, adopting combat stances, but fear crept onto their faces—rare for them.
They knew this seemingly delicate girl, dressed in soft, gothic clothing, was far stronger than them.

Even if the five noble squad members fought to the death, they likely couldn’t scratch her.
This was a raw, insurmountable gap in strength, one that equipment, skill, or talent couldn’t bridge.

As she stepped into the light, I got a clear look at her.
An alluring, almost dangerously charming face, with pointed ears and crimson eyes marking her as a blood clan member.

Most importantly… I recognized her!
“…It’s you!”

I froze, my breath catching as I realized where I’d seen her before.
She was the girl who once asked me for directions to the Golden Skull Auction House!
Back then, she had no pointed ears, and her eyes were blue, not crimson!

In an instant, I knew this blood clan girl was the same one I’d briefly met.
Seeing the shock on my face, she gave a meaningful smile, pulling out an arrow still stained with blood and licking the tip with her tongue.

She remembered me too!!!
But why was she here!?
What did that knowing smile mean—did she have some plan for me?

Wait… that arrow!
That arrow! It was the one that nearly pierced through my shoulder!!!

Horror gripped me as my quick mind pieced together a terrifying conclusion.
This blood clan girl was after me!
My blood had drawn her here!!!

What went wrong?! Where did I mess up…
I stared wide-eyed, frantically replaying everything in my mind to figure out what mistake had led this terrifying blood clan powerhouse to track me for hours.

Was it… back in Blackshine City, when I was talking with Kriss and accidentally cut myself on some glass?
That tiny bit of blood… just that tiny bit!?
And it lured this overwhelmingly powerful blood clan, who even the noble squad couldn’t resist, to chase me all the way here!?

I sat slumped against the ground, despair washing over me.
Is this my end?

Each crisis today has been worse than the last, and now I’m facing an opponent so powerful resistance feels futile.
I finally understood why the dark elves’ pursuit had faded—it was all because of this blood clan girl!

“Phew… chasing you was exhausting… but just to be sure, I’d better test it first.”
The blood clan girl narrowed her eyes, and in an instant, her figure vanished.

“Ugh—”
The next moment, Nico let out a pained cry.

The blood clan girl reappeared beside Nico, effortlessly pinning her wrists to immobilize her.
Then, she leaned in, gently biting Nico’s… neck.