Bang!
Their heads slammed into each other with such force that the impact of bone against bone rang out through their flesh.
Kuroishi Yuto's face was smashed to a pulp, and the blood spraying everywhere bloomed like a red flower.
"Ah!"
He let out a scream and threw his head back, then kicked Fang Cheng in the chest, trying to use the force to break free.
But Fang Cheng had a death grip on both his hands, and no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't get away.
Fighting through the dizziness, Fang Cheng hauled Kuroishi Yuto back with both hands, leaped up, and struck him with another Rocket Headbutt.
Kuroishi Yuto went all out too, slamming his head forward in return.
Wasn't this just a contest to see whose head was harder?
Who was afraid of whom?!
Bang!
Once again, the sound of skulls colliding rang out as their heads crashed together.
Amid the flying blood and chunks of flesh, Kuroishi Yuto staggered backward, dazed. Only one thought remained in his mind: Why is this guy's head so hard?
His forehead had caved in, and white bone showed through the mangled flesh.
Fang Cheng's injuries weren't much better, but he was already used to this kind of pain and punishment.
He stepped forward and brought down a third headbutt.
Kuroishi Yuto's face was smashed to pieces. His upper body lurched backward, and even his consciousness grew hazy from the blow.
Fang Cheng dragged Kuroishi Yuto back, released his right hand, and unleashed three heavy punches.
The first struck his stomach, pulverizing his internal organs. The second hit his face, caving it in.
For the final punch, Fang Cheng struck Kuroishi Yuto directly in the heart.
He put everything he had into it. His fist even plunged into Kuroishi Yuto's chest, but when he opened his hand and grabbed, he came up empty.
A Vampire's weak point was the heart, yet Kuroishi Yuto had no heart. His chest was completely hollow.
With a sharp snap, Kuroishi Yuto grabbed Fang Cheng's right wrist.
"Haha, surprised?"
Kuroishi Yuto's bloodied face twisted into a grin like that of an evil spirit.
Fang Cheng pulled back, but couldn't break free. He noticed the blood on Kuroishi Yuto's body seemed to come alive, rapidly gathering in his hand and forming five long, thin red crystals across his fingers.
Fang Cheng immediately understood what had happened to the two women who had blown themselves up.
Kuroishi Yuto squeezed his fingers. The sharp red crystals, like five Blood Blades, cleanly sliced through Fang Cheng's wrist.
He raised his hand and brought his fingers together, forming a sword. Then he swung it down at Fang Cheng's head.
Fang Cheng kicked Kuroishi Yuto in the chest, and his left hand released Kuroishi Yuto's palm at the same time.
The red crystal sliced across Fang Cheng's chest, easily shredding his clothes and leaving a long gash. Blood poured from the wound.
Fang Cheng bounded away, quickly putting distance between himself and Kuroishi Yuto.
Kuroishi Yuto didn't hurry after him. Instead, he stuck out his tongue and gently licked the blood left on the crystals, his face alight with pleasure.
"Ah, what a delectable taste. I can't wait to eat your heart. Just imagine what an utterly incredible delicacy it must be..."
Kuroishi Yuto was like some depraved lunatic, intoxicated by the thought of feasting on Fang Cheng's blood.
Fang Cheng stared at him coldly as he accelerated the healing of his wounds and restored his severed wrist.
Kuroishi Yuto's injuries were healing on their own too. Before long, both of them had recovered completely, with no sign of their wounds.
The difference was that the blood still on Kuroishi Yuto's body gathered in his other hand, forming five crystals once more.
Kuroishi Yuto now looked just like Edward Scissorhands. The red crystals he formed from blood were far sharper than ordinary blades.
Most importantly, no one knew where Kuroishi Yuto's heart was.
Fang Cheng spoke into his wireless earpiece. "He moved his heart somewhere else. I don't know where he's hidden it."
Over the past three days, Fang Cheng had read through the information on Vampires many times and had long since committed it to memory.
A Vampire's heart was its weak point, and they wouldn't leave it unguarded. Powerful Vampires could move their hearts around inside their bodies to keep them from being targeted or attacked.
But newly turned Vampires couldn't do that. It usually took a long time to master.
There was, of course, a shortcut: awakening an innate ability.
Aside from their immortality, every Vampire's ability differed in subtle ways.
For example, Yagawa Ryoka could make her blood highly corrosive with her Burning Blood.
Kuroishi Yuto might have gained the ability to move his heart at will when he became a Vampire.
If not for that, Fang Cheng would have crushed his heart already.
"I'm ready."
Kanzaki Rin replied urgently, "Lure him over here."
Fang Cheng didn't need to lure him. Kuroishi Yuto was already charging at him again.
He spread his fingers, and the ten gleaming crystals flashed red.
If Kuroishi Yuto had been a Bat before, now he was a pterosaur with razor-sharp claws.
Fang Cheng made the sensible choice—he turned and ran.
It wasn't cowardice. It was a strategic retreat.
He had already forced Kuroishi Yuto to reveal two trump cards on his own. Now it was time to call in his teammates.
Why fight alone when you could gang up on someone?
He might have a hard head, but he wasn't an idiot.
Fang Cheng was fast, with a sprint that surpassed the human world record.
But Kuroishi Yuto was faster. He caught up with ease, brought his fingers together to form a short sword from the five crystals, and thrust it toward the spot on Fang Cheng's back where his heart was.
Fang Cheng instinctively sensed the danger and spun around with a sweeping whip kick.
Kuroishi Yuto immediately stopped his attack and hopped back, dodging with ease.
He knew Fang Cheng was an exceptional fighter, so he wouldn't give him a chance to get close and grapple. Instead, he fully exploited his speed advantage, intending to wear Fang Cheng down from a distance.
Fang Cheng forced Kuroishi Yuto back with a kick, then turned and kept running.
Following Kanzaki Rin's directions, he darted into the waist-high weeds beside the warehouse.
Kuroishi Yuto followed close behind, but grew more cautious as he went. He knew Fang Cheng had another companion, who might be lying in wait somewhere in the weeds.
On an ordinary day, Kuroishi Yuto would never have been so reckless. But Fang Cheng was like a drug, tempting him like the hopeless addict he was.
They plunged deeper into the weeds. Fang Cheng ran in the direction Kanzaki Rin had indicated. Kuroishi Yuto closed in several times, only to be driven back, but his speed let him inflict a series of deep, bone-revealing cuts on Fang Cheng.
"Are you ready? A few more hits and I won't be able to hold out!"
"We're almost there. Just listen to me... jump!"
Fang Cheng leaped into the air. Ahead, a red laser swept across the field, cutting through a vast swath of weeds.
The laser passed beneath Fang Cheng's feet, shaving two thin strips of rubber from his soles.
Kuroishi Yuto, close behind, noticed it too. But the laser moved too fast, and without Kanzaki Rin's warning, it sliced straight through his waist.
"Ah!!"
Kuroishi Yuto let out a scream on instinct.
He didn't feel any pain at first. Only after he'd moved farther forward and his upper and lower halves separated did the agony shoot through his nerves and into his mind.
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