If the Tohsaka Rin who brought Archer to scout the enemy earlier today was a majestic lion inspecting her territory, then the current her was undoubtedly a cat being strangled by Akatsuki.
A sense of powerlessness arose in her heart; her slender neck was currently being controlled by a fierce beast. The feeling of not having control over her own life was exceptionally terrible, yet she had no ability to resist.
Given the physical ability Akatsuki had just displayed, if she made any movement, her fragile neck would be severed the next second.
And at that moment, the Holy Grail War she had planned and worked hard for ten years would also end.
Just like that, it would be over before it even began.
"How could it just end like this!"
Just as Tohsaka Rin roared internally with resentment, she suddenly felt a strange sensation flash across her neck.
Sticky, wet, warm... it felt exactly like someone had licked her neck... Wait?
"Eek! W-What are you doing!!!"
Startled by the sudden stimulation, Tohsaka Rin subconsciously wanted to pull away from Akatsuki, but she was tightly restrained in place by Akatsuki, unable to move.
"My apologies, I haven't eaten anything at all yet, and I just encountered some food that reeked of rot. I simply couldn't stomach that kind of food." Saying this, Akatsuki licked the same spot again. "How should I put this? You smell so good, it makes me feel like I can't help but devour you."
Although Akatsuki's urge to drink blood was much smaller than that of other True Ancestors, this did not mean she had no such urges. After all, she was the Final True Ancestor, created based on the King of the Moon.
Since this body was created, she had not replenished herself with any food. The blood of the three people she met earlier was truly unfit to consume, which allowed Akatsuki to suppress her bloodlust again.
However, being this close to a Young lady whose blood exuded a fragrant scent truly made her thirsty.
It would be very easy for Akatsuki's power to suppress this urge, but unfortunately, she never liked suppressing her own nature, even if that nature was drinking human blood.
"A Vampire?"
"Some people call us Dead Apostles, but it's just a title, call us whatever you like." Saying this, Akatsuki smacked her lips and looked at Tohsaka Rin. "A bit salty, did you sweat today?"
"None of your business! Don't just lick someone and then casually judge them!"
Tohsaka Rin's face was completely red now. Seeing that she couldn't break free from Akatsuki's restraint, she quickly called out to Archer in her heart.
However, Archer's reply made Tohsaka Rin feel somewhat desperate. The girl holding her hostage was likely a High-Ranking Vampire Species, one whose nature was close to that of an Elemental. He could not deal with this level of existence; she would have to rely on herself to escape.
"An existence of her caliber probably wouldn't need the Holy Grail. Maybe she's just here to play around. Master, if you manage to appease her, you might even gain a powerful ally."
Upon hearing this, Tohsaka Rin glared fiercely at Archer, seemingly conveying that she would definitely settle the score with him once she survived this ordeal.
"Y-You... let me go quickly!" Tohsaka Rin tried to struggle, but once again realized how immense Akatsuki's strength was. The space around the hand Akatsuki was holding seemed to be fixed in place.
Akatsuki quietly watched the struggling Tohsaka Rin, seemingly enjoying the process of toying with her prey. She opened her mouth, revealed her sharp fangs, and gently bit Tohsaka Rin's neck.
The taste of fresh blood spread in Akatsuki's mouth. Tohsaka Rin only felt as if her neck had been bitten by a mosquito. Subsequently, her heart rate accelerated, and the blood in her body seemed to slowly drain away. A sense of exhaustion surged from her body.
She had never been so close to such a dangerous existence.
"Archer!"
Tohsaka Rin's face was deathly pale. She suddenly screamed, and immediately after, a flash of light appeared, and Archer materialized between them, holding his sword.
Facing Archer's sudden attack, Akatsuki, immersed in the taste of blood, subconsciously released Tohsaka Rin's hand and retreated backward.
"Rin, be careful. Something is wrong with this Vampire." Archer checked Tohsaka Rin's wound while keeping a watchful eye on Akatsuki nearby.
"Gurgle... crunch... gasp..."
A strange sound that made one tremble emerged from Akatsuki's throat, and the aura surrounding her continuously surged wildly. It seemed she was about to lose control.
A few seconds later, the aura around her gradually calmed down, and sanity returned to her crimson pupils.
She had been careless. The bloodlust that required ordinary True Ancestors to use all their power to suppress was unexpectedly terrifying. This was something she had not foreseen.
Just now, while drinking Tohsaka Rin's blood, she was almost captivated by the taste and became a monster that only knew bloodlust.
If she became a Fallen True Ancestor, she would definitely be hunted down by Arcueid Brunestud. Although Akatsuki wouldn't fear dealing with her, she feared the King of the Moon sleeping in the Millennium Castle.
Akatsuki regained her composure, and her eyes revealed wariness regarding her own flaw.
"What a terrifying individual..." Archer murmured.
Tohsaka Rin clutched her injured neck, and her eyes, as she looked at Akatsuki, were filled more with anger.
"I apologize, I lost control just now."
Akatsuki looked at Tohsaka Rin with some guilt. She knew she had lost control moments ago. Perhaps Tohsaka Rin didn't realize that if Archer had been one second later, she would have been sucked dry by Akatsuki.
Akatsuki was not like the King of the Moon—a solitary, arrogant, temperamental individual with a certain degree of malice who enjoyed causing trouble for no reason.
Her physical body was jointly created by gaia and alaya from another world line, and her spirit came from a hedonist in the Third Dimension who had failed to surpass human limits.
Even so, human ethics were still rooted in her heart. She could kill evil people without hesitation, but she could not kill good people without cause.
"Huh?" Tohsaka Rin hadn't expected Akatsuki to apologize. "Why are you suddenly apologizing? Survival of the fittest is the rule among Magicians, isn't it!"
"But I'm not a Magician. I'm just a passing, homeless Vampire~" Saying this, Akatsuki activated her ability and stealthily pulled out a gold bar from Arcueid Brunestud's Millennium Castle. "Consider this compensation. Also, I don't have a place to stay in Fuyuki City. If you could help me solve this problem..."
Another gold bar appeared in Akatsuki's hand.
"Hmph, do you think mere money can sway us..."
"G-Gold bar?!"
Before Archer could finish his sentence, Tohsaka Rin's surprised voice rang out behind him. Archer turned back in astonishment, only to find that Tohsaka Rin's expression was actually one of internal conflict.
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