Chapter 2: The Bloodthirsty Breed

Seeing the scene in Lin Xin’s room, Lin Huang’s heart began to race wildly.

The lights were on, and a well-built young man had climbed halfway through the shattered window, reaching for Lin Xin’s ankle while murmuring incoherently. Lin Xin had curled herself up against the headboard, her feet only a few centimeters from the intruder. She trembled and wept in terror, so frightened she’d forgotten even to try to flee.

Lin Huang stared at the young man—a head of flaming red hair, blood smeared across his chin and clothes, and most striking of all, those eyes: no whites, only a solid, blood-red glow. Lin Huang’s scalp tingled instantly; he recognized it at once—a Bloodthirster.

Glancing quickly around, Lin Huang spotted Lin Xin’s schoolbag, tossed carelessly by the door. He seized it and hurled it at the Bloodthirster. The creature slashed at the bag with a claw.

Seizing the moment as the Bloodthirster was distracted, Lin Huang dashed to the bed, hoisted Lin Xin onto his back, and bolted for the door. As soon as his feet hit the floor, Lin Xin cried out. Lin Huang turned to see the veined, muscled arm of the Bloodthirster gripping Lin Xin’s left ankle.

“Close your eyes!”

At his shout, Lin Xin squeezed her eyes shut. Lin Huang snatched up the bedside lamp and smashed it down onto the creature’s arm.

The lamp’s bulb was made of white-phosphor stone—when shattered, it emitted a blinding flash and scorching heat. Such cheap lamps were shunned by the wealthy, but tonight, this humble light became a lifesaver.

The bulb burst against the Bloodthirster’s arm, flooding the room with dazzling white light and intense heat. The creature howled in pain and released its grip.

Feeling the weight on his back lighten, Lin Huang lunged for the door. By the time he opened his eyes, he was already at the threshold. Without waiting for the Bloodthirster’s vision to return, he carried Lin Xin swiftly out the door and down the stairs.

As he fled, Lin Huang flicked on every light switch. He knew Bloodthirsters loathed bright light, especially at night. Though light couldn’t actually harm them, these monsters preferred to hunt in darkness, ambushing their prey from the shadows and avoiding illuminated places. That was why the Bloodthirster had hesitated to fully enter Lin Xin’s room.

Just as they reached the first floor, a sound like shattering glass echoed from upstairs—likely the small chandelier in Lin Xin’s room crashing to the floor.

“Hide in the bathroom and lock the door!” Lin Huang snapped at Lin Xin.

“What about you, Brother?” Lin Xin, finally regaining some composure, remembered to worry for her brother.

“I have my ways. Don’t forget, I graduated top of my class from the Hunter Preparatory Academy. But if you stay, I’ll get distracted.” Lin Huang forced a reassuring smile.

“All right,” Lin Xin replied, nodding quickly. She hurried into the bathroom and locked the door behind her. Though terrified of the Bloodthirster, she trusted her brother completely.

Lin Huang swiftly activated his neural link and sent a distress signal, then rushed to the kitchen and grabbed a cleaver.

A Bloodthirster was a monster whose weakest form was at the Black Iron rank. They possessed the strength of ten adult men and could wield blood energy, making them far deadlier than ordinary Black Iron-level creatures. Even a top graduate of a small outpost’s Hunter Academy would stand little chance, never mind a trainee Hunter of the same rank.

Lin Huang’s bravado had been for Lin Xin’s sake. He knew full well that his chances of surviving against such a monster were almost zero.

Yet, strangely, though he felt fear and tension, his mind remained unusually clear. All the information he’d ever read about Bloodthirsters surfaced rapidly in his memory.

Bloodthirsters were humanoid monsters who hid among humans by day, biding their time, only to transform at night as their bloodlust awakened. Their sustenance was human blood, with a special preference for that of young women. Their sense of smell was so acute that they could detect the scent of blood from hundreds of kilometers away.

Even a Black Iron-ranked Bloodthirster, once channeling blood energy, would see its strength, speed, and defenses double. Blood-red energy would form a protective layer around their bodies, which could even be shaped into wings, tails, or deadly claws—vastly increasing their combat prowess.

Bloodthirsters had an aversion to strong light but were not harmed by it. Their only true weakness was a substance known as Septic Factor, extractable from a few rare plants.

In fact, Septic Factor was lethally toxic to most flesh-and-blood creatures, including humans. If it entered a wound, it would quickly infiltrate the bloodstream, causing massive red blood cell decay. Industrially, it was processed into Septic Serum and sold; some Hunters would soak their weapons in it.

For Bloodthirsters, however, Septic Factor was a unique bane—even their blood energy shields could be sliced apart by weapons coated with the serum. A single trace entering their system would cause their bodies to rot away from the wound, and without antidote, they’d be reduced to a puddle of putrefaction within two or three hours.

Unfortunately, Septic Serum was expensive, and even licensed Hunters used it sparingly. Lin Huang certainly didn’t have the funds for such luxuries.

Pondering this, Lin Huang felt a surge of anxiety—when suddenly, his signet ring vibrated again.

“This is Hunter Li Lang. Are you the one who called for help? What’s your situation?” A young but steady voice came over the rescue line.

“My home is under attack by a Bloodthirster—” Lin Huang’s words were cut off by a thunderous crash. A shadowy figure leapt from the second floor, landing nearby in a cloud of dust.

“Track my signet’s location and get here as soon as possible!” Lin Huang didn’t have time to give his address; he simply authorized his coordinates and ended the call. He needed all his focus for the enemy before him—a foe dozens of times stronger than himself.

Heavy footsteps echoed from within the settling dust. The Bloodthirster’s crimson eyes fixed on Lin Huang, making the hairs on his neck stand on end.

But the Bloodthirster’s gaze lingered on him only briefly before shifting toward the bathroom. The scent of his true prey—delicate and irresistible—wafted from behind that door. Drool dripped from the monster’s chin to the floor.

Driven by hunger more than anger, the Bloodthirster turned away from Lin Huang and charged toward the bathroom.

“Hey! Did you forget something?” Lin Huang shouted, steeling his nerves. At the same moment, he hurled the kitchen cleaver straight at the Bloodthirster.