Chapter 26: The Raid

"OK, perhaps you have a point!"

Facing Colonel James's gibes, the thin black man rolled his eyes and shrugged, turning to the muscular white man beside him. "Well, big guy, are you ready?"

"Bring it on, Blackie!"

Compared to the grim-faced thin man, the muscular white man appeared much more relaxed; he spread his arms and grinned broadly.

"Oh... damn it, don't call me Blackie!"

Despite his dissatisfaction with the nickname, the thin man walked over and placed a hand on the muscular man's waist. Their figures blurred for a moment and then vanished into thin air.

...

"Oh... God! I am never doing this kind of risky business again."

On the attic of the vampire castle, accompanied by a flickering blur, the muscular white man and the thin black man materialized out of nowhere.

The moment he appeared, the thin black man stumbled, nearly falling to the ground. He leaned against the nearby wall, gasping for air; it was clear he was exhausted.

"Move, shorty!" Before he could finish his lament, he was shoved aside by the muscular man.

"Asshole... what are you do—"

*Zzz—*

Pushed to the floor, the thin man instinctively wanted to curse, but seeing the trail of sparks on the wall and the figures flashing past, he immediately clamped his mouth shut.

"You lackeys, you've really pushed us too far!"

The intruder was Ster, a blood warlock of the vampire clan. Ever since returning to the vampire castle with Amelia, he had taken over the night guard duties.

As a pure-blooded vampire and Amelia's absolute confidant, having grown up in the vampire clan, Ster held deep feelings for his kin. Upon returning to the castle and understanding the plight of his people, he had grown to despise these lapdogs of the human government.

"Creep, go to hell!"

*Boom, boom, boom...*

Facing Ster's surprise attack, the muscular white man didn't waste words. With a roar, he charged at Ster, his heavy footsteps sounding like an armored vehicle.

Over the past month, they had clashed with vampires more than once, and the muscular man had gained a certain understanding of the species. In his view, while these vampires might be invincible to ordinary humans, they rarely posed a threat to him. He had no interest in wasting words on these ant-like vermin.

*Clang—*

Facing the charging man, Ster let out a low growl and drew the battle blade from his back, his face filled with disdain.

He knew that the man before him was likely one of the mutants Elder Amelia had warned them about. Although Amelia had repeatedly cautioned against underestimating mutants and advised against facing them alone if unnecessary, Ster thought otherwise. After injecting the No. 1 serum, he could clearly feel the surging power within him; in every aspect, he was at least ten times stronger than before.

He did not feel the need to avoid the edge of a mutant's blade, especially since the big man's speed looked like a snail's in his eyes.

Though he looked down on his opponent, Ster was not a fool. Seeing the big man's build, it was clear he was a strength-based mutant. A seasoned warrior, Ster knew how to play to his strengths and mitigate his weaknesses by utilizing his superior speed.

*Sshhh—*

Raising his blade, his form became a blur. As they crossed paths, the blade sliced diagonally across the big man's neck. Feeling the sensation of cutting into tough leather, Ster was suddenly startled and instinctively took a step back.

*Bang—*

Sure enough, a violent gust of wind from a punch brushed past his face. Feeling the burning sensation on his cheek, Ster instantly discarded his arrogance.

"Little bug, is that all you've got?"

Not far away, the muscular white man cracked his neck, his voice low as a cruel grin spread across his face.

As a strength-based mutant, his defense and power were astonishing. While he wasn't fast, that didn't mean his reaction time was slow. In fact, it was quite the opposite; his exceptional physique, bolstered by his mutant abilities, gave him superb reflexes. As a combat-oriented mutant, he had no glaring weaknesses in a fight.

Clearly, a mutant with high strength and defense wouldn't be as clumsy as they were portrayed in the movies of his past life; otherwise, they would be sitting ducks for speed-type mutants, which was impossible. Physical fitness was interconnected—high fitness meant high strength, and explosive power was an inherent part of that strength. Such mutants might lack top-tier speed, but their reaction time and explosive force were extraordinary. It didn't mean they were helpless against fast enemies; it just meant they lacked the initiative in the attack.

"Rat-a-tat-tat... Bang, bang, bang..."

"Quick, go notify Elder Amelia! Humans have infiltrated!"

At that moment, a night-patrolling vampire squad arrived. The leader ordered one of his subordinates, then raised his weapon and pulled the trigger on the muscular man.

*Pfft, pfft... Sshh, sshh...*

"Retreat... disperse!" Ster screamed in alarm as he watched his subordinates open fire.

*Bang, bang, bang...*

Before his voice could even fade, the muscular man charged through the hail of bullets. His sandbag-sized fists swept out, and the vampires who couldn't dodge in time had their heads burst open like overripe watermelons, spraying blood across the floor.

"Stop!"

Seeing the muscular man continue his assault on the remaining vampires, Ster cursed his subordinates for their incompetence but had no choice but to charge in. In this cramped attic, the vampires' speed advantage was neutralized, and with them packed so tightly, there was a risk of the entire squad being wiped out.

*Zzz—*

As Ster charged, his blade struck the muscular man's skin. While it couldn't pierce his defense, it left long white marks, forcing the man to pause his pursuit.

"Annoying bug, get lost... Bang... Clang!"

Although unharmed, the strike caused the muscular man discomfort. He swung a fist around, instantly knocking Ster's blade from his hand.

At that moment, Lucian and Amelia arrived.

"Awoo..."

Seeing the giant white man rampaging through the attic, Lucian wasted no time. He ripped off his leather jacket and roared, instantly transforming into a three-meter-tall, silver-furred werewolf, charging toward the intruder.

*Bang, bang, bang... Zzz... Sshh...*

Facing the charging Lucian, the muscular man didn't dodge. The two collided like tanks, and with a thunderous crash, a shockwave erupted, sending the vampires in the attic flying.

Transformed by the No. 1 serum, Lucian's mutation was distinct from his subordinates'. Aside from his massive size, silver-white armor plates had grown over his joints, and he possessed incredible speed. His body was covered in long, shimmering silver fur, and his sharp claws glinted with a chilling light.

"Hiss... I'm going to kill you, you mad dog!"

In the collision, the muscular man clearly suffered; looking at the deep claw marks on his chest and feeling the searing pain, he let out a howl of agony, his eyes bloodshot.

"Oh... good thing I made it in time!"

At this moment, the thin black man arrived in the attic with two other mutants via teleportation and rushed to the muscular man's side.

"Assault team, assemble! Attack!"

Outside the castle, Colonel James checked his pocket watch and signaled his men. A wave of soldiers surged toward the vampire castle.

*Bang, bang, bang...*

"Enemy attack... alert!"

"Humans are storming in... kill them..."

Amelia, who had been facing off against the mutants in the attic, heard the commotion outside and a meaningful smile curled her lips. She had held back until now precisely to wait for the human soldiers to attack.

The vampire castle was now heavily fortified, with the five blood warlocks brought back from Li Yang’s side and the Golden Toad protecting them. She was confident she could wipe out both the human soldiers and the mutant squad. What she couldn't understand was why only three of the seven mutants had come this time.

"They are here. Attack."

Though confused, it didn't stop her plan. She nodded at Lucian, her fangs baring and her fingernails lengthening instantly. A mysterious golden rune flickered on her forehead. This rune was similar to the divine sigils of the six-winged golden centipede before its evolution, though far simpler; it was the poison mist talent Amelia had inherited.

...

While the battle raged at the vampire castle, Li Yang's estate remained quiet.

With the vampire patrols absent, the estate was silent. Catherine and the vampire maid, Angela, had been sent to rest early by Li Yang. Having not been injected with the serum, they could not approach his alchemy chamber. Furthermore, against mutants, their presence would only be a hindrance; if things went wrong, they could easily be put in danger.