Chapter 8: Battle Escalation

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

“Ahhh!”

Immediately, a series of gunshots and screams echoed through the bar. Amidst the alternating sounds, Mori walked to the bar's entrance with a mocking laugh: "Mad Dog, you bastard, you'll never know who you offended last night! For the insults to me, I'll make you pay a thousandfold! Oh, Ye, are you ready? It's time for you, the expert, to take action!"

Looking at the Hunter who had taken out the T2, removed the safety, and loaded the magazine, with M72 grenades and flashbangs hanging from his waist, the black market dealer pretended to be relaxed as he patted the Hunter's shoulder. Then, he subtly hid behind the Hunter.

Ye Qi smiled indifferently.

“Mori, wait here!”

Ye Qi greeted the black market dealer beside him and walked into the bar. As soon as he stepped in, the gunshots grew several times louder. To avoid being hit by stray bullets, Ye Qi bent down and ran in, using the obstacles in the bar for cover.

On the ground around him lay a group of Mad Dog's men, caught off guard and shot. A few were still alive, groaning intermittently. Ignoring their "pleas for help," Ye Qi continued to move forward—since he had chosen this path, life and death were in the hands of fate. If they were ordinary citizens, Ye Qi might have helped, but these fringe people? Forget it!

Inside, what was originally the bar's dance floor was now a battlefield. A few of Mad Dog's men were occupying the bar counter, shooting at the black market dealer's men while shouting wildly: "You damn scum! The boss has gone to get reinforcements, you'll all be dead soon!"

Even amidst the continuous gunfire, Ye Qi, who had just entered, heard their wild shouts clearly. He signaled to a bodyguard who was directing the gunmen, then took out an M72 grenade and threw it at the bar counter. With precise control of his strength, the grenade landed right inside the counter.

“Boom!”

The grenade, timed by Ye Qi, exploded as soon as it landed. The loud explosion blew the bar counter apart, and a shockwave sent the sofas, coffee tables, and the Mad Dog's men hiding behind them flying into the air, where they were torn apart by the grenade fragments.

After the explosion's aftermath, all of Mad Dog's men in the bar were down. Ye Qi's sudden grenade had almost eliminated half of Mad Dog's men. The five gunmen who survived the firefight breathed a sigh of relief, their stiff faces slightly relaxing. Even the black market dealer's two bodyguards let out a long breath.

Only Ye Qi remained cautious. A C+ level mission wasn't so easily resolved, especially since Mad Dog's men had just shouted that Mad Dog had gone to get reinforcements.

“Slam!”

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

The door leading from the dance floor to the private rooms was suddenly pushed open. The few gunmen who had just relaxed immediately opened fire. However, apart from a torn sofa, there was no result.

“Stop, fall back!”

Ye Qi, with a serious expression, stared at the door and the figures gradually emerging from behind it. He knew the main enemy had arrived—his gaze passed over the five "people" at the front and locked onto the last "person" to emerge. This "person" stood in the shadows, making it impossible for Ye Qi to see their face, but the aura emanating from them made his scalp tingle and his palms sweat, signaling the danger.

“Roar! Roar! Roar!”

Blood flowed across the dance floor, and limbs and body parts were scattered everywhere. The five people who emerged from the private rooms immediately began to growl as sharp fangs protruded from their mouths.

“Blood Slaves? This is Mad Dog's 'reinforcement'? Indeed, very good!” Seeing the Blood Slaves, Ye Qi didn't hesitate and immediately opened fire.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

The continuous gunfire of the T2 echoed throughout the bar. Knowing the Blood Slaves' weaknesses, Ye Qi aimed at the heads of the five Blood Slaves running over and fired a burst.

“Puff! Puff! Puff!”

Three of the Blood Slaves, unable to react in time, were shot through the head by the .35 Magnum submachine gun. Blood and brain matter splattered, staining the ground and walls behind them red. The other two Blood Slaves managed to dodge Ye Qi's shots and charged forward, roaring in anger: "Lowly human, how dare you harm our great vampire race!"

Ye Qi threw his empty gun at the two Blood Slaves, forcing one to retreat, then drew the Demon Hunter knife—John's magical short sword, which he had given Ye Qi when he first hunted a Blood Slave—and lunged at the remaining Blood Slave.

“Sizzle! Sizzle!”

The Blood Slave, relying on its sharp fangs, claws, superhuman strength, and speed, and formidable regenerative abilities, charged at Ye Qi without hesitation.

However, it suffered a significant loss instantly—pierced through the chest by the short knife, the wound instantly began to smoke, and with a sound like frying chips, the Blood Slave convulsed several times and fell to the ground. Ye Qi kicked the dead Blood Slave away and sneered: "Pfft! You call yourselves vampires? You're just unfinished 'half-breeds' without titles!"

“Hunter! You damn Hunter!”

The Blood Slave, which had only been roaring in anger, let out a roar upon seeing its companion killed by Ye Qi's single strike—hundreds of years of hatred between Hunters and dark creatures were enough to fill the Atlantic Ocean.

The Blood Slave quickly charged at Ye Qi again. However, having learned from its mistake, it no longer moved in a straight line but circled Ye Qi continuously—front, back, left, right, even the ceiling. It moved like a cheetah, looking for an opening to strike a fatal blow.

“Troublesome!”

After failing to lure the Blood Slave into a trap by exposing a few weaknesses, Ye Qi couldn't help but curse. He knew he still had a terrifying enemy to deal with, so he couldn't afford to waste time and energy on this Blood Slave.

Ye Qi's eyes tightly followed the Blood Slave's movements, holding the knife in one hand and reaching for the vial of holy water in his waist. The Blood Slave, unaware of Ye Qi's intentions, continued to circle him as before.

“Splash!”

“Ah!”

As the Blood Slave passed by Ye Qi again, a handful of golden holy water was splashed on its face. The Blood Slave, as if doused with concentrated sulfuric acid, rolled on the ground in agony. Ye Qi, being very "kind," lunged forward and finished it off with a knife.

“Clap! Clap! Clap!”

The enemy, who had been standing in the shadows, suddenly clapped for Ye Qi and gradually stepped out of the shadows.

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