Chapter 31
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This chapter is edited by Cthulhu. Thank you for your contribution!
Chapter 31: Interview with the Vampire
Bai Yan felt slightly chilled. Glancing up at the ceiling, he noticed the air conditioner was blowing cold air directly at him.
While the air conditioner was one of humanity’s greatest inventions, no matter how much one appreciated it, one shouldn’t sit too close to it.
He intended to move to the other end of the sofa, but just as he rose, a boy suddenly appeared and sat in that spot right before him.
Without hesitation, Bai Yan went to the boy and pressed against him so their bodies were touching. The boy gave Bai Yan an odd look, becoming so frightened that he quickly departed.
Bai Yan used Nightsaber to initiate the first level of the event.
“Interview with the Vampire.”
The pixel image displayed on screen showed the city’s nightscape. Raindrops with basic special effects were falling.
Nightsaber’s pixel figure emerged from an alley.
“Tap, tap, tap…” with a distinctive sound effect, text appeared on screen.
“Black Star Faction destroyed my family. I have lost all hope and dignity, and now revenge is everything to me.”
It was an emotionless female mechanical voice speaking in an indifferent tone, reminiscent of TRPG video voiceovers.
Nightsaber’s avatar appeared in the lower right corner of the subtitle, indicating these were her words.
Bai Yan sat cross-legged, wondering if Nightsaber would speak this way in reality.
“The Blood has always been essential to this city. They have infiltrated every industry in both the Otherworlds and the real world. I heard Marquis Scarlet possesses considerable information about Black Star Faction.”
Nightsaber continued her monologue. Bai Yan couldn’t understand why she needed to vocalize everything.
“I must obtain Black Star Faction’s information from him.”
After the subtitles finished, Nightsaber’s pixel figure walked downward until she disappeared from view.
The screen dimmed slightly and transitioned to the next scene.
In the storm, Nightsaber reached a brightly illuminated club. Four conspicuous guards stood at the entrance, all wearing black suits and sunglasses.
“I’ll be stopped by the guards if I approach directly.” The subtitle appeared. Evidently, Nightsaber was talking to herself again.
Once she finished, Bai Yan regained control of her.
The plot segment had concluded. The event officially began.
Bai Yan muttered, “Honestly, since I know this game controls reality, I dare not skip any plot.”
He knew he couldn’t skip it anyway, but he feared accidentally touching the screen. Missing vital information would be disastrous.
This was no longer just a game. He had to approach it with utmost seriousness.
Bai Yan directed Nightsaber forward. The guards immediately intercepted her.
A dialog box presenting options appeared on screen.
“1. I wish to speak with Marquis Scarlet on behalf of Babel Tower.”
“2. Black Star Faction’s information is crucial to me.”
“3. Surrender! The Blood!”
“Before saving the game, explore as much as possible.”
Bai Yan now played with extreme caution. He had compared all uploaded Babel Tower videos with his mental images. After documenting his thoughts, he reached two conclusions.
First, his in-game actions would affect reality only after saving.
Second, game and reality timing weren’t synchronized. Everything manifested hours later in the real world.
Bai Yan contemplated briefly. Perfect victory required sufficient attempts. Alternative approaches might reveal hidden items and tasks.
He selected the third option.
Nightsaber immediately drew her broadsword!
Seeing this, the four guards removed their sunglasses, revealing blood-red eyes. They grabbed their weapons and opened fire.
“Despite their opponent breaking protocol, these vampires fight with guns rather than abilities!”
Perhaps times had changed for the weak.
But for Nightsaber, time stood still.
The small-caliber bullet merely scratched her, the wound healing instantly.
Bai Yan noticed Nightsaber remained completely steady.
This girl possessed strength comparable to a whale.
Under his control, Nightsaber charged at the guards swiftly. Each slash claimed one life. Four strikes, four deaths.
The dying vampires screamed before turning to ash.
While ordinary people couldn’t kill vampires, Nightsaber’s bloodline granted her mysterious vampire-slaying power.
She burst into the club, finding an expertly designed interior. Guests wore formal attire at what appeared to be an upper-class masquerade.
Everyone turned toward Nightsaber. Blood-red pupils gleamed beneath their masks.
Bai Yan commanded Nightsaber to brandish her sword and strike them down.
After the carnage, the leader finally appeared.
The boss was a tall woman in red, blonde-haired with delicate features… Bai Yan imagined her appearance based on the pixel figure, uncertain if his visualization was accurate.
“I am Viscount Mililyn of the Blood. Why does Babel Tower’s pawn mindlessly slaughter our kind?”
“Face your sins,” Nightsaber responded coolly.
“The Blood maintains neutrality, but since you’ve declared war representing Babel Tower, we shall not back down.”
A banner image suddenly appeared, reminiscent of an anime cutscene.
“Boss: Viscount Mililyn.”
Mililyn moved with incredible speed, possessing an ability to become phantom-like. Bai Yan had to handle her attacks with extreme precision.
Fortunately, Nightsaber matched her speed. Bai Yan seized his chance to use Deep Blue World. He froze time as the opponent approached and repeatedly pressed “slash.”
When time resumed, the multiple strikes sent Mililyn reeling!
“Ah!” she cried out in pain.
Bai Yan activated Merlin’s Cloak again, quickly selecting a magical beast from the options.
Merlin’s Cloak activated. Nightsaber transformed into an invisible bird smaller than a hummingbird, effectively concealing herself. Mililyn temporarily lost track of her target.
Nightsaber hid, waiting for Deep Blue World’s cooldown.
From the start, Bai Yan appreciated this power’s occasional brilliance.
After several attack rounds, even the Blood’s high HP couldn’t withstand it.
Mililyn collapsed.
The screen began trembling.
A red light rose from the center. A handsome blonde man emerged, kneeling beside Mililyn’s body with profound regret.
Subtitles appeared again, now in blood-red font.
“My love… I failed to keep my promise again. I arrived too late at the crucial moment.”
“Those who harmed you shall pay tenfold!”
The background music swelled like a fateful symphony as another anime-style cutscene appeared.
“Marquis Scarlet of the Blood!”
In an instant, Marquis Scarlet vanished and materialized behind Nightsaber.
Blood erupted from the ground. Nightsaber was launched skyward as the combo counter displayed in large red numerals!
After twenty-five hits, Nightsaber fell with nearly depleted HP.
“Deep Blue World.”
During the time freeze, Bai Yan rapidly commanded Nightsaber to strike Marquis Scarlet several times before retreating.
Marquis Scarlet’s armored state rendered the attacks futile.
He stood motionless, extending his hand toward Nightsaber.
“Feel my wrath!!!”
Nightsaber’s pixel figure trembled in place before an invisible force pulled her away. Her body dissolved into sprays of blood mid-air!
“Don’t forget me…”
The screen gradually darkened.
“Save or New Game?”
Bai Yan rolled across the sofa, deep in thought.
“Well, I’ve likely gauged Marquis Scarlet’s capabilities.”
Defeating Marquis Scarlet seemed impossible at this stage. He needed to reconsider his information-gathering approach.
“New Game.”
The scene returned to the club entrance. A rain-soaked Nightsaber calmly observed the four black-suited guards.
Bai Yan moved Nightsaber forward, prompting the dialog box.
“1. I wish to speak with Marquis Scarlet on behalf of Babel Tower.”
“2. Black Star Faction’s information is crucial to me.”
“3. Surrender! The Blood!”
This time, he chose none, instead directing Nightsaber to step back.
“I’ll handle this my way.”
Nightsaber used Merlin’s Cloak to become an invisible bird, flying through a rear window into the club.
She soon reached the auction area.
No one noticed the bird. When Nightsaber approached others, their conversations appeared on screen.
“This time’s magic books are worthless, containing only basic knowledge.”
“Last time, I acquired a volume on otherworldly history.”
“Are Babel Tower and Black Star truly enemies?”
“Today’s bloodpuccino tastes rather weak.”
Shortly, Bai Yan spotted Mililyn’s pixel figure. She sat alone by the window, drinking. He immediately guided bird-form Nightsaber toward her.
“Scarlet, why aren’t you here?”
Mililyn held her wine with a cold expression, appearing distinctly unhappy.
