Night settled over the small city as automobiles moved steadily along the asphalt road. Streetlights and the glow from surrounding houses lit up the environment.

  By the riverside stood a restaurant, its chandeliers shining brilliantly while soft, slow music played in the background. Tables covered in white tapestries were sprinkled with rose petals, bathing the place in a romantic atmosphere.

  Waiters moved about, attending to customers at each table.

  Enjoying the ambience was Dana Dianne, a brunette with brown eyes and round glasses resting on her face. She wore a fleeting red dress with a sparkling allure.

  Seated across from her was Maximus Robert, a blond man with mesmerizing blue eyes and an outward beauty that made other men look plain in comparison. He wore a dazzling black suit that screamed luxury.

  Dana took a sip of wine, watching Max slowly devour his steak with elegance.

  “Can’t get enough of my beauty, mi amor?” Max asked in a soft, captivating voice.

  “I’m just thinking about how lucky I am to have a man like you.”

  “I’m just as lucky—seeing a muse, an angel sent from heaven. Your beauty sparkles brighter than the stars in the night sky.”

  “This might be our first date, but you’ve already captivated my heart. You’re the blood that runs through my veins, the very essence of my survival.”

  “Oh, you’re making me blush. Max, your pickup lines give me butterflies.”

  “Of course.”

  Later that night, Max and Dana exited the restaurant and stepped into a sleek black Lamborghini. Its engine roared alive and sped gracefully down the road. Soon, it veered to a stop in front of a duplex building.

  “When should I expect our next date? Today was splendid,” Max said, resting his arm on the car roof.

  “Next weekend, I guess.” Dana stood in front of her door. She turned, hugged him, and gave him a small kiss before quickly returning inside.

  “I love you. Muah!” She blew him an air kiss, which Max returned.

  Max drove away confidently, a smile still drawn across his face.

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  Then—

  KABOOM!!!

  A thunderous explosion shook the street. Alarms blared. People rushed out of their homes, staring in shock as the once-elegant vehicle was reduced to twisted, burning scraps.

  “Was that a terrorist attack? Or an accident?”

  “Someone call the emergency authorities!”

  In minutes, police vehicles and fire trucks swarmed the scene, extinguishing flames and securing the area.

  Meanwhile, a little away from the chaos, with sirens echoing faintly in the background, Max staggered through a dark alley. His arm braced against a wall, his other hand gripping his abdomen.

  His clothes were battered and torn. His skin was scorched and sizzling, marked with red spots as if sunburned.

  “How did my car get rigged? Who dared do this?” he growled through clenched teeth.

  His ears twitched.

  He sidestepped.

  Silently.

  Swiftly.

  A sword cleaved past where he stood, embedding itself into the wall ahead. Max narrowed his eyes.

  “A sword infused with the holy energy of YHWH…”

  “You survived that detonation? You’re not an ordinary vampire.” A woman’s voice echoed through the alley.

  Max chuckled.

  “For people who claim to fight for humans, that stunt you pulled was reckless. You could’ve endangered innocent lives.”

  “It was calculated. Even if someone had wandered in, the holy energy would’ve protected them. I infused enough of it into the explosion.”

  “I was right,” Max murmured. “You are an angel from heaven… a beauty that sparkles brighter than the stars in the night sky.”

  He smiled coldly.

  “My love, Dana… why did things have to go this way?”

  “You’re a vampire,” Dana answered. “A predatory abomination that should never be allowed among humans. Your kind disgusts me.”

  “I saw the way you looked at me,” she continued. “Like food you couldn’t wait to devour. ‘The very essence of your survival,’ huh?”

  “Typical Mystic Hunter mindset,” Max sighed. “Too bad. I genuinely enjoyed our date… and I couldn’t wait for the next. But I guess it came earlier than expected.”

  “I planned to take us to a club, have a fiesta dance. But now will do. I hope you’re a good dance partner… let’s tango.”

  Golden light burst out of Dana’s body. Intricate armor formed around her, shining like a miniature sun.

  A dark red aura surged from Max. His blue eyes glowed crimson. Blood rose around him like tentacles, writhing as though alive.

  “Since you’re a lady, I’ll nerf myself to your level,” he said playfully.

  Dana lunged.

  Aura blazing.

  Sword raised.

  Max’s blood tentacles snapped forward to meet her.

  ...

  The alley had been reshaped into a ruin. Craters webbed across the walls and ground. Rubble littered the floor. The walls were fractured, ready to collapse.

  Max raised Dana in the air with a blood tentacle wrapped tightly around her neck, strangling her.

  His face was cold. Menacing. Terrifying.

  “Your holy power is a problem, not just to me, but to vampires at large. I’m in excruciating pain right now from the explosion and our little skirmish.”

  “A being like you shouldn’t be allowed to live, Mystic Hunter or not. If it were any other vampire, you would've won. Too bad this has to be your fate.”

  The tentacle tightened. Dana gasped for breath. Her eyes bulged, nose running, mouth clenched.

  Suddenly,

  The ground rose and slammed into Max, knocking him off his feet.

  Dana collapsed to the floor, coughing violently as she was freed. Three figures materialized in front of her. Two immediately knelt beside her, assessing her injuries.

  “Get Dana out of here. I’ll stall him,” the one standing said.

  The other two hesitated, then nodded.

  “Get back safely, okay?”

  Max’s red eyes blazed in the shadows as he approached.

  The standing man threw a smokescreen, engulfing the alley in thick fog. But Max blitzed through it instantly and struck the man down before he could move.

  He tried to attack the others, but they were gone. The smoke had blocked his sense of smell.

  “Tch,” he muttered.

  He pulled a phone from his pocket and dialed.

  It rang. Someone picked up.

  “John, send a cleanup team to Roberts Way Street. We’ve got a mess.”

  “… … ”

  “Alright.”

  “Any word from the Noctis or Varkyn factions?” the voice asked.

  “Unfortunately, no. Those two are keeping us out of the loop.”

  The voice chuckled.

  “I wonder how James and Saeyeon are doing over there.”

  “Yeah, yeah. Anyway… I have an interesting gift for the Mystic Hunters.” Max smirked, glancing at the unconscious man on the ground.

  “They’re in for a pleasant surprise.”