"...Shall we call it a draw?"
'Fuck.'
How many close calls had I survived in just this one goddamn day?
Thankfully... well, was it really a blessing? Anyway, my senses were already honed to a razor's edge from all the near-death experiences today. The moment I spotted the pool of blood rippling at the woman's feet, I scooped Rio into my arms and rolled across the ground, barely dodging the oncoming wave of blood.
💥 KRAAAK!! 💥
The blood wave grazed right over my head before slamming into where I'd been standing, crumbling the terrain beneath it. Witnessing that overwhelming power sent chills racing across my skin, every hair standing on end.
"You dare dodge my attack? Accept your death with dignity!"
Clearly annoyed that I'd evaded her strike, the silver-haired woman sneered mockingly and flicked her hand again.
The blood that had just pulverized my former position writhed once more, reshaping itself before charging straight at me.
'Is she a real vampire or something?'
Astounded by her ability to manipulate blood so freely while gunning for my life, I twisted my body in another desperate dodge, narrowly avoiding the crimson torrent.
"Slippery little pest."
As if she'd anticipated my evasion, the unflappable woman spread her palm wide, then clenched it into a fist.
💥 SHLRAAAK!!! 💥
"Guh?!"
The razor-sharp blood surge exploded mid-air, scattering in all directions before converging on me from every angle. There was... nowhere to dodge!
"Kyaa?!"
Decision made in a flash, I shoved Rio far from me instead of trying to evade. The blood instantly coiled around my limbs like a noose, binding me tight.
"Oh...? In that moment, you chose to save the child...?"
She eyed my choice with evident surprise, an enigmatic smile curling her lips.
"...I won't kill you. But since you've recklessly consumed my vital blood, I'll squeeze twice that amount from your veins."
Her casual declaration sent shudders through me, but I thrashed wildly, desperate to break free.
"Futile. My blood magic stands at the pinnacle of the Blood Demon Tribe..."
💥 Plip... Plop... 💥
Uh. It broke.
"...an unbreakable bind... What?! How did you escape?!"
I was just as stunned by how easily it gave way. Gone was her mystical aura; now her eyes bulged wide, her words stumbling as she jabbed a finger at me.
[Janitor's Clothes (Lv. Max)]: Janitor's uniform that repels all dirt!
'...Huh...'
Was it the [Janitor's Clothes]? Did it treat this binding blood as 'dirt' and repel it from my body—no, my clothes?
"...Cunning one, aren't you? But!"
Regaining her composure, she manipulated the blood again to ensnare me. But in that brief opening, I'd already yanked the trigger on my [High-Pressure Cleaner].
💦 THUNK! 💦
"Wha—...?"
The jet of water rocketed out at the insane speed I'd seen multiple times today, piercing the silver-haired woman's body without fail.
'Got her!'
This attack had already saved my skin twice today. I had no clue why it packed such punch, but it effortlessly shredded human flesh and fired faster than anyone could react—a high-pressure water blast.
Watching the stream from the [High-Pressure Cleaner] riddle her body, I instinctively thought 'I win' and exhaled in relief.
"Impressive. A mage, are you?"
"...Huh?"
With a gaping hole in her gut, she glanced down at it impassively, showing no change in expression. I could only gape back in bewilderment.
Far too calm for someone run through. And not a drop of blood leaked from her flesh.
💥 Shlrurp! 💥
Seconds later, red blood welled into the hole before the wound sealed seamlessly.
"...What the...?"
"Hm? Never seen a Blood Demon before?"
She spoke casually, as if wondering why I stared so dumbstruck.
"...Blood Demon?"
"Indeed. Though few in number, we wield innate mastery over blood and can reconstitute our flesh with it to heal all but the gravest wounds. Didn't you know?"
How the hell would I? Who knows what races come with built-in healing factors?
"Is that all you've got?"
"...Guh!"
Despair flickered as my trusted [High-Pressure Cleaner] failed, but I shoved down the rising fear and yanked the trigger repeatedly.
"Same old spell. Got anything else?"
This time, the jet didn't even graze her. The instant I pulled the trigger, a mist of blood billowed out, forming a translucent crimson sphere around her.
The flesh-shredding water stream halted against the blood shield, unable to advance.
'She blocked it?'
I'd tested the [High-Pressure Cleaner]'s power firsthand, even if sparingly. Seeing her deflect it effortlessly hit like a truck.
"Impressive power and rapid fire—must be elite magic. But not enough to pierce my blood veil."
From her position of total dominance, she spread her arms dramatically, taunting me.
"Nothing more? Your little show was amusing. Now, quietly offer your blood."
As if she'd let me attack out of sheer mercy, her mocking laughter ignited a deep-seated fury and resentment within me.
'...Fuck. Every damn mutt and mongrel today...!'
Dumped in some inexplicable hellhole was bad enough. I'd bottled up my frustration through peril after peril, only for the first person I met to try killing me, the next—a so-called hero—to hurl poison and spears on sight, and everyone else to hurl slurs like 'mongrel' or whatever...!
Now this coffin-emerging corpse-thing treated me like a blood bag, and the confusion had boiled over into pure rage.
[Detergent (Blood)]: Excels at removing blood stains!
My next move was pure instinct over reason. I'd held back on attacks before, but now I pulled the [Detergent] from my inventory and slotted it into the [High-Pressure Cleaner].
"Subspace magic?"
She registered mild surprise as I drew it from thin air. Just a flicker—nothing like fear or worry.
🔧 CLICK. 🔧
I aimed the nozzle at her. As she extended an arm to resummon her blood, she scoffed derisively.
"Still trying? That spell's good, but you've seen it fails... Persistent fool."
Persistent my ass. This was desperation. If she treated me like a blood bag, did she expect me to roll over? Gotta try everything.
'Blood Demon or whatever—she said she controls blood, right?'
Logically, such power wouldn't yield to mere [Detergent]. But if my 'Cleaning Game' tools could... maybe!
[Cleaning Range Set]
I adjusted the cleaning range before firing. Not max like before—just about five times my usual pinpoint focus. That'd do.
Target: the translucent blood shield enveloping her body.
💦 PSHHH! 💦
The water erupted from the nozzle. Wider range meant slightly less power than before. Until it hit the shield, she smirked dismissively, unconcerned—now even bored—as she moved to manipulate the blood at my feet.
Then the stream made contact.
💦 SHHHHAAAA! 💦
"Eh?!"
Utter shock twisted her face. No clash, no explosion—the [Detergent (Blood)] simply erased the shield cleanly, as if it had never existed. Not pierced or shattered, just wiped away.
💦 Pshht! 💦
Despite the wider spread, the jet retained brutal force, slamming into her and carving wounds across her body.
"My blood veil...? Impossible. The power was nothing special...?"
I ignored her denial and denial of reality, yanking the trigger for another blast.
💦 SHWOOOSH! 💦
This time, her expression turned grave. She gathered her hands, summoning far more blood from her feet—darker, thicker than before—into a massive shield that blocked the stream.
💥 Plip... Plop... 💥
But the sturdy shield melted on contact with the detergent, mingling with the stream and sluicing harmlessly to the ground. She flailed her hands to reclaim it, but the tainted blood refused her command, lying inert.
"...Tch! Is it holy water from some saintess?! How is it nullifying my blood?!"
Frustrated, she stomped and tried drawing blood into her wounds to heal.
💥 Plip... Plop... 💥
"Eh...?"
But the lingering detergent in her wounds neutralized the blood on contact, causing it to dribble powerlessly away.
Finally, a glint of fear in her eyes, she stared at me and ventured cautiously,
"...Shall we call it a draw?"
💦 PSSSHHH! 💦
"Kyaaang!"
Acting all cute now, are we?
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