Chapter 198: Come at me!!

Toma stepped behind Aiden. Aether looked at her. His smile disappeared. For a moment, something cold entered his eyes. Then his fangs became visible.

"Toma."

Toma froze. A strange fear ran through her.

Aether tilted his head. "You still remember me?"

Toma’s hands trembled slightly. She couldn’t answer.

Aiden moved in front of her. "Stay away from her."

Aether laughed. "Still playing the hero?"

Aiden clenched his fists. "You’ve already been arrested once. Do you really think attacking us is going to end differently?"

Aether’s smile returned. "That’s the funny part." He raised one hand. "I don’t think like a human anymore."

The lights in the office flickered.

Aiden’s eyes widened. Aether suddenly disappeared. Aiden barely saw him move. He raised his arm. Aether’s fist struck it. The impact sent Aiden sliding several meters across the floor. "Toma!" Aiden crashed into a desk.

Toma immediately ran toward him. "Aiden!"

Aether appeared behind her. "Found you."

Toma turned. His red eyes were inches from hers. She froze.

Aether raised his hand.

Before he could grab her...A loud engine roared outside. Aether looked toward the shattered window. A crimson motorcycle shot past the building.

Nobody jumped from it. He landed on the edge of the office floor. His black blazer fluttered behind him. His helmet covered his face. Blossom Bunny clung tightly to his shoulder.

Nobody straightened. "Sorry I’m late."

Aether slowly turned.

Nobody looked at Toma. Then Aiden. Then back at Aether. He sighed. "Okay." He pointed at the vampire. "You."

Aether stared at him.

Nobody pointed toward Toma. "Leave her alone. Or else I will make you cut your tongue and cook it with garlic."

Aether smiled. "Who are you?"

Nobody tilted his head. "That’s a complicated question." He looked at the broken window. "And honestly, we don’t have time for introductions."

Aether laughed. "You think you can stop me?"

Nobody glanced at the System.

A blue window appeared.

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[HOSTILE ENTITY IDENTIFIED]

[AETHER VEIL]

[SPECIES: VAMPIRE]

[ENHANCEMENT: EXTERNAL]

[THREAT LEVEL: EXTREME]

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Nobody stared at it. "...Extreme." He sighed. "Of course."

Aether suddenly moved. Nobody disappeared from his position. Aether’s fist struck empty air.

Nobody reappeared beside Toma. "Whoa." He looked at Aether. "You’re fast."

Aether turned.

Nobody immediately grabbed Toma’s arm and moved her behind him. "Stay back."

Toma stared at him. There was something strangely familiar about the way he spoke. The same casual confidence. The same strange feeling she had experienced around Nobody. For a second, she couldn’t explain why...But she felt safe.

Aether noticed her expression. His eyes narrowed. "You." He pointed at Nobody. "Why are you protecting her?"

Nobody paused. "Because she’s a civilian?"

Aether laughed. "That’s not the reason."

Nobody’s eyes narrowed behind his helmet. "Do I know you?"

Aether stared at him. "No." A pause. "But there’s something strange about you."

Nobody sighed. "Great." He rolled his shoulders. "Another person who thinks I’m strange."

The System appeared.

[STATEMENT : USER IS OBJECTIVELY STRANGE.]

Nobody looked at the window. "Not helping."

Blossom Bunny raised his tiny fist. "Atta!"

Aether’s expression became darker. "You don’t understand." He slowly spread his arms. "This entire city is my prey now.." His red eyes glowed. "I’m different." He pointed at Aiden. "I’m going to kill him." Then he pointed at Toma. "And her."

Nobody stepped forward. "No."

Aether smiled. "You think one word can stop me?"

Nobody lowered his stance. "No." His voice became calm. "I’m saying you’re going to have to get through me first."

Aether disappeared.

Nobody’s eyes widened.

The next instant, Aether appeared directly in front of him. His fist came toward Nobody’s face. Nobody raised his arm. The collision sent a heavy force through the room. The floor beneath Nobody’s feet cracked.

He slid backward.

Aether grinned. "Interesting."

Nobody looked at his arm. Then back at Aether. "Okay." He shook his hand. "That hurt."

Aether laughed. "You’re strong."

Nobody looked at him. "So are you."

The System appeared.

[COMBAT RECOMMENDATION: DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE TARGET.]

Nobody sighed. "Wasn’t planning to."

Aether suddenly launched himself toward him again. Nobody moved to intercept. The two collided in the center of the office.

Aiden pulled Toma farther away. "We need to get out of here."

Toma nodded. "But what about him?"

Aiden looked at Nobody. The strange masked man was fighting Aether alone. "Isn’t that the guy who saved you last time..Toma" Aiden clenched his fists. "Let’s run as he’s buying us time."

Toma looked at Crimson Bunny Biker. Her heart began beating faster. A strange feeling returned. Why did she feel like she had seen him before? Why did his presence feel familiar? She said in her mind, "Who are you...crazy guy?"

Nobody and Aether exchanged another powerful strike.

Aether was thrown backward. He recovered in midair and landed smoothly.

Nobody remained standing.

Aether slowly wiped a small trace of blood from the corner of his mouth. Then he smiled. "Finally." His red eyes became brighter. "Something worth killing."

Nobody stared at him.

The System appeared again.

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[WARNING]

[TARGET IS ENTERING HIGHER BLOODLUST STATE.]

[VAMPIRE ABILITIES INCREASING.]

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Nobody looked at the notification.

Then he looked at Aether. "...You’re powering up?"

Aether laughed. "Let’s see how long you can survive."

Nobody lowered his stance.

Blossom Bunny jumped down from his shoulder. "Atta!"

Nobody glanced at him. "Stay with Toma."

Blossom Bunny nodded.

Nobody turned back toward Aether. His eyes became serious. "All right."

The broken office became completely silent.

Aether’s crimson eyes glowed. Nobody’s motorcycle remained outside the shattered window. Toma and Aiden stood behind him.

And somewhere inside the System...A new combat calculation began.

[BATTLE ANALYSIS INITIATED.]

Nobody cracked his knuckles. "Come on, vampire."

Aether smiled.

Then both of them moved.

...

Nobody stood between Aether and the shattered office window.

The broken glass scattered across the floor, reflecting the red glow of Aether’s eyes. Behind Nobody, Aiden and Toma remained near the far side of the room, while Blossom Bunny stood beside them with his tiny fists clenched.

Aether slowly tilted his head. His pale face carried an amused expression. "You’re still standing?" he asked. "I thought that last attack would have sent you through the wall."

Nobody looked at the cracked floor beneath his shoes. Then he glanced at his arm. "That was a pretty strong punch." He raised his eyes toward Aether. "But I’ve survived worse."

Aether’s smile widened. "Then let’s see how much worse you can take." He bent his knees slightly.

Nobody immediately turned his head. "Aiden! Toma!"

Both of them looked at him.

"Run away from here!"

Aiden frowned. "What?"

"I said run!" Nobody shouted. "Take Toma and get out of this building!"

Aether laughed. "How touching. You’re trying to protect them?"

Nobody ignored him. "Aiden, there should be emergency stairs near the eastern hallway. Get to the ground floor and find the police. Don’t stay here!"

Aiden glanced toward the damaged window.

The office was no longer safe. The fight had already destroyed part of the room, and Aether’s movements were too fast for an ordinary person to follow.

Aiden looked at Toma. "Come on."

Toma hesitated. "But he’s fighting that thing alone."

Nobody turned toward her. "Trust me."

Something about his voice made Toma stop. It was strange. She barely knew this masked man. Yet his words carried a familiar warmth, almost like someone she had once trusted without question.

Nobody pointed toward the door. "Go!"

Aiden grabbed Toma’s hand. "Let’s move."

Toma looked at Nobody one last time. "Be careful."

Nobody gave her a thumbs-up. "Of course."

Aether watched them leave. His smile slowly disappeared. "Where do you think you’re going?" He moved toward the doorway.

Nobody stepped in front of him. Aether stopped.

Nobody tilted his head. "Did you miss the part where I told you to stay away from them?"

Aether’s eyes narrowed. "You’re beginning to irritate me."

"Good." Nobody adjusted his black blazer. "That means I’m doing my job."

Aether’s fingers curled. "You have no idea what you’re interfering with."

Nobody glanced toward the hallway. "I know enough." He looked back at Aether. "You’re a dangerous vampire who escaped prison, attacked a civilian and came here to murder two people."

Aether’s expression darkened. "You call it murder."

"What else would I call it?"

"A hunt." Aether smiled again. "They are my prey."

Nobody stood straighter. "No."

Aether stared at him.

Nobody pointed toward himself. "Because currently, I am the hunter." His voice became sharper. "And you are my prey, tomato-headed vampire."

Aether blinked. For a moment, the office was completely silent. "Tomato-headed?"

Nobody nodded. "Your hair is red, your eyes are red and your attitude is rotten. Tomato-headed seemed appropriate."

Aether’s expression twitched. "You dare mock me?"

"Frequently."

Aether suddenly vanished. Nobody barely had time to react. Aether appeared in front of him, his fist driving toward Nobody’s chest. Nobody crossed both arms and blocked the strike. The impact forced him backward. His shoes scraped across the floor.

Aether followed immediately, swinging another punch. Nobody ducked beneath it. Aether’s fist struck the wall behind him, sending cracks through the surface. Nobody moved to the side and drove his elbow toward Aether’s ribs.

Aether twisted away. The elbow grazed his side. Aether’s red eyes flashed. "You’re faster than you look."

Nobody stepped backward. "People say that about my paperwork too."

Aether lunged again.

Nobody raised his hand. "System!"

The blue interface appeared beside him.

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[USER REQUEST DETECTED.]

[EQUIPMENT DEPLOYMENT AVAILABLE.]

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Nobody extended his palm.

"Take out the twin-bladed crowbars."