Chapter 70: ADC Got Killed? Jungler, Help!

“Ugh…”

Waves of pain surged through her arms, a sensation Cynthia hadn’t felt in ages.
‘The last time I felt pain like this was…’

Her eyes fell to the wounds where the blood chains had pierced her.
Bright red blood trickled along the chains, vanishing as if absorbed.
‘This thing… is draining my strength?’

Though Cynthia herself possessed this ability, she rarely used it.
Theoretically, absorbing an opponent’s power through blood was a vampire’s innate blood magic, something humans couldn’t master.
Yet here, in this place, she was being attacked by blood magic…
‘The source must be the Blood Crown.’

As she prepared to break free, the chains twisted tighter, nearly crushing her arms.
Agony flared, cold sweat beading on her forehead.

“I can’t even… muster my strength…?”

She could no longer grip Yulandel.
The massive sickle slipped from her right hand, dissolving into streaks of blood that returned to her body.

Cynthia tried to sever the chains with her magic, but as soon as she began channeling, the chains absorbed it just like her blood.
She had to find another way to escape, or this would be the end.

A burst of eerie, intermittent laughter drifted from the depths of the blood mist.
“Heh… heh… this power… so… intoxicating… heh… heh…”

Enduring the pain, Cynthia looked toward the sound.

A figure emerged slowly from the mist-filled corridor.
Unlike the monstrous creature from the hall, this one was at least recognizably human.
But its face was obscured, its upper body draped in blood-red hair that covered even the white robe it wore.
The only clue to its identity was the silver staff in its hand.

Cynthia recognized the staff’s significance.
This red-haired figure was likely the Archbishop of the Barlia branch church.
The red light emanating from the staff confirmed it—he was tainted by the Blood Crown’s power, and these chains were likely his doing.

“Hehe… hehehe… God… this is… the power of God…”

Cynthia felt his gaze on her, yet not quite on her, as if he were lost in madness.

The deranged archbishop raised his staff high.
Red light siphoned from Cynthia’s body, merging into his.
He was trying to devour her power bit by bit.

But Cynthia forced herself to stay calm.
She knew escape was impossible in her current state—unless she could break the chains.

Staring at the mad archbishop, a dangerous idea sparked in her mind.
‘If all I need is to break free…’

Her pupils contracted as she glanced at her wounded arms.
A fierce glint flashed in her eyes.
‘Just two arms… If they’re gone, they’ll grow back!’

“Hng…!”

Seizing a moment when the archbishop’s attention lapsed, Cynthia used the chains’ grip against her.
With a brutal wrench, she tore her arms free, blood gushing out and staining the ground red.

The pain from her severed limbs flooded her nerves, nearly knocking her out.
But she held on.
Before the archbishop could react, she surged forward with a burst of force from her feet.

Even without arms, her blood magic was unaffected.
The blood pouring from her wounds only amplified its power.

A massive scarlet blade materialized beside her, guided by her magic.
As she closed in on the archbishop, he barely registered her approach.
It was too late.

Fueled by blood and magic, the blade sliced through him like tofu.
Unless his body was tougher than the Blood Crown monster’s, he had no chance of surviving.

Clang.

The staff hit the ground with a sharp ring.

As expected, the blade cleaved the archbishop in two, his halves collapsing in opposite directions amid a spray of blood.
He’d barely wielded his newfound power before Cynthia ended him.

Looking at the split corpse, Cynthia sank to the ground, relief washing over her.
Blood loss blurred her consciousness.

[Hey! Cynthia! Don’t pass out!]

The Blood Demon, watching anxiously, finally shouted, its voice tinged with guilt.
Even it hadn’t anticipated a human successfully ambushing Cynthia.
By the time it noticed, it was too late.

“Shut up… Help me, you bastard…”

[I’m trying my best! But I’m almost out of power! This is all I’ve got!]

Cynthia fought to stay conscious, feeling the Blood Demon working to repair her body.
But as it said, it had given her nearly all its strength.
What little remained could barely sustain its own consciousness, let alone aid her significantly.

[Damn it, you’ve lost too much strength! There’s no way to replenish it!]

As the Blood Demon fretted, a guttural roar echoed again.
“Food… power… eat…”

In her fading vision, Cynthia saw the figure she’d been chasing emerge from the fog.
She had no strength left to fight, barely able to track its position, let alone dodge.

“Damn it… why now…?”

As she prepared to unleash a final blood explosion, a faint pulse of magic caught her attention.

Boom!

A black shadow flashed by, dark elements slamming into the monster lunging at her.
Though it seemed unharmed, the impact disrupted its attack, forcing it back into the mist.

A familiar voice rang out nearby.
“Cynthia-chan!!!”
“Hold on!!!”
“I’m here to help you!!!”