Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">“Was going down in the first round a factor of your plans? Maybe you’re not as tough as you think you are.”</span>
A low rumble came from BL’s throat, and it took you a moment to realize that he was growling at you. Like, <span class="mu-i">actually</span> growling.
<span class="mu-r">“I didn’t expect you to turn into a nuke and blow yourself up, mate. The nun’s memories didn’t offer any specifics on that part, so it took me a bit by surprise.”</span> he admitted. <span class="mu-r">“But I assure you that I’m plenty tough. I just needed you to get me inside this mansion.”</span>
You scoffed at his arrogance. <span class="mu-r">“Yeah, right. You planned this whole thing. You’ve got the clear advantage here.”</span>
He shrugged. <span class="mu-r">“It didn’t go exactly to plan, but I managed to clear the biggest hurdle. You see, after I learned what the vampire hunter knew, I learned about a wise old crone that lives in this mansion. One that can get inside people’s heads, even!”</span>
There was a building buzzing sensation in the back of your head that was becoming increasingly hard to ignore. <span class="mu-i">Something</span> was going to happen.
A long, thin tongue snaked out of his mouth to lick at a bit of webbing clinging to his neck. <span class="mu-r">“A little too low on calories for my taste…but it’ll do.”</span>
Suddenly, his chest and throat began to expand rapidly like that of a bullfrog! A radiant glow of sweltering heat had started to well up from within his body, and you did what you could to bind him with webs. The residual heat was strong enough to burn or melt the webs to a certain degree, and you wondered whether you’d have any better luck using your web bombs.
<span class="mu-g">“Huntsman! Get behind me!”</span> Nico shouted. She was using her staff to generate a thick magical barrier that should shield you from the worst of the blast.
You dove behind the young girl, hoping that she had what it took to block whatever it was that Bloody Lips was preparing to do. But for some reason, he was turning away from you. What was…
<span class="mu-s">FUCK!</span>
You leapt at the mutant cannibal, hoping that your heat resistant suit would be enough to shield you from the residual heat, and that you could reach him before-
Too late.
Bloody Lips opened his mouth unnaturally wide, belching out bright flames, directly onto the bound Silvertongue. Her body became engulfed in amber light, and you could see that entire corner of the room blacken from the intense heat. By the time you’d managed to tackle the man to the ground, the deed had been done.
Amidst the smoldering ruins of what had previously been a powerful containment ward, were the charred remains of a woman’s body.
You didn’t have time to dwell on it for long. A sharp elbow from below forced you back, despite having blocked it just in the knick of time. Bloody Lips’ mad cackling filled the room, along with the thick black smoke pouring from his unnaturally wide mouth.
(Cont.)
