Nobody knows how to be a villain better than me.

A farm? No good!

Upon hearing the location, Samael immediately realized something was amiss. His gaze sharpened, and he promptly grabbed Natalia and ran quickly toward the east side of the village.

"boom!"

However, due to its excessive speed, the ancient snake collided head-on with a child who suddenly darted out from the intersection.

Even though Samael quickly withdrew his strength, the little guy, who fell stiffly to the ground, still couldn't avoid bumping into things, and his elbow was cut by a stone on the ground.

"kid……"

Just as the ancient snake was about to ask a question, a boy with short black hair and wearing a red vest hurriedly got up from the ground and ran into the village without saying a word.

It seems... somewhat familiar...

As Samael watched the boy's hurried departure, a strange sense of familiarity welled up in his heart.

boom!

However, before he could think further, a loud crash came from not far away.

Oh no, it's already started!

Samael's expression changed, and he immediately turned his attention back to the source of the sound. Without thinking about anything else, he led Natalia forward and rushed towards the source of the sound.

Dozens of hens with broken necks and torn throats were scattered around the twisted cages along the way, with radiating bloodstains all around, resembling a bloody slaughterhouse.

Before the cage door, which had been forcibly torn open, lay a dagger engraved with a cross, lying silently in a pool of blood.

"Front!"

Samael bent down to pick up the dagger, closed his eyes and focused his mind, sensing his surroundings. After a moment, he suddenly opened his eyes and rushed towards the cliff not far away without saying a word.

...Dead Apostle transformation...

Natalia glanced back at the mottled bloodstains on the ground and the faint scent in the air, muttering to herself, her brows furrowed, her thoughts racing.

This mission is indeed a bit tricky.

As far as she knew, similar to fairies, fantasy species, and dragons, there existed a group of intelligent species of unknown origin and extremely powerful strength in an ancient city called "Millennium City".

They are called "True Ancestors." These intelligent species are not only powerful but also have long lifespans and a penchant for drinking the blood of other intelligent species in order to seek "spiritual peace."

Among them, the numerous humans who resemble them in appearance are the most convenient "blood bags" and "emergency food".

However, victims who have been bitten by True Ancestors or other vampires will be infected and transformed into vampires, living an immortal life as snacks for True Ancestors and higher-ranking vampires, known as "Dead Apostles," or what is called Dead Apostleification.

Perhaps due to the deterioration of their bloodline, humans who become Dead Apostles are unable to suppress their bloodlust like the True Ancestors, and will frantically eat in order to survive.

After being fed blood by a vampire, a human typically goes through the stages of Ghoul → Living Dead before growing into a fully-fledged Vampire and gradually regaining their will and knowledge.

However, this process is very long and dangerous, requiring the predation of large numbers of humans as necessities for evolution. Coupled with their terrifying contagiousness and tireless, painless nature, these factors make them extremely difficult to deal with.

If things go wrong, the entire island could be overrun with these things overnight.

Sure enough, the commission from the parliament wasn't so easy to earn.

Natalia frowned slightly, then turned and followed her teammates, her fingers already resting on the gun handle at her lower back, muttering to herself as she walked.

Hopefully, it's not too late.

Chapter Thirty-Four: They even lie to children!

Meanwhile, the boy, his elbow bleeding profusely, rushed into the village in a frantic rush, heading straight for the village church in the center.

"Father Simon! Open the door! Please, open the door!"

The boy, his voice trembling with sobs, repeatedly pounded on the tightly closed church doors, leaving behind mottled bloodstains.

"I'm sorry, child, the church is closed today. If you need to pray, please come again tomorrow."

However, after a brief pause, a low reply came from inside the door.

For some reason, his usually gentle tone became somewhat subdued.

"Father Simon! It's me, Kelly! Xia Lei... something happened to her, she's bleeding a lot, I... I don't know what to do, please open the door quickly!"

The helpless boy pounded on the door, pleading once more, his voice filled with panic.

“Go away, the Lord will not help those who sincerely ask for help.”

A moment later, accompanied by a soft murmur, the door was opened from the inside. Father Simon, with his gray hair and slightly plump figure, changed his usual gentle and kind expression, sighed with a complicated look, and led the boy into the house.

Upon entering, the boy was startled to find dozens of mysterious figures dressed in black robes and wearing hoods in the once quiet church.

"Child, please tell me what's bothering you."

Just as the boy was still in shock, an elderly man with long white hair, dressed in a black church uniform, and exuding an air of authority, gave a kind smile.

Under this reassurance, the boy truthfully recounted his ordeal.

After hearing this, the old man seemed to be thinking about something, and then turned around and waved to Father Simon, one of the men in black.

"In that case, why don't you go and take a look at the farm? Shiro, you'll be in charge of assisting Simon with this matter."

"Okay, Father."

A young man with silver hair and golden eyes stepped forward from the crowd, nodding with a smile.

Just as the boy, still uneasy, was about to follow and lead the way, the old man beside him raised his hand and pressed down on his shoulder, his face serious.

"Child, leave those matters to the adults. There are more important things that require your assistance now!"

"Something more important...?"

The boy was stunned, looking completely bewildered.

"If what you say is true, the reason why that child named Xia Lei has these symptoms is very likely that she came into contact with something dangerous in your father's laboratory."

A glint flashed in the old man's eyes, and his aged, stern face showed a serious expression.

"Moreover, your father might also be in danger, so please take us up the mountain as soon as possible. We absolutely cannot let these things leak out; it concerns the safety of the entire village, do you understand?"

"Okay! I'll take you there right away! I absolutely, absolutely won't let that happen!"

The boy couldn't help but recall his previous cowardice. He clenched his fists, raised his head to look at the old man, and made a firm promise with a determined light in his eyes.

Father Simon frowned slightly upon seeing this, but ultimately hesitated, turned and followed the silver-haired youth toward the farm.

"Father Simon, you must save Xia Lei!"

At the door, the boy, being pulled along by the old man, couldn't help but plead once more as they were about to part ways.

The old priest hesitated for a moment, then nodded, his gaze towards the child revealing a complex emotion that was difficult to express.

After a short while, the two groups of people gradually moved away and disappeared into the increasingly thick twilight.

On the way, Father Simon glanced back at the church troops who were going up the mountain one after another. After hesitating for a moment, he cleared his mind and turned to the gentle and refined silver-haired young man next to him, and asked in a low voice the question that had been accumulating in his heart for a long time.

"Father Kotomine, isn't it a bit of an overreaction to send out so many agents for a mere wanted criminal from the Mage's Association?"

"A magician who can create a seal is no ordinary person."

The white-haired youth named "Iwamine Shiro" paused slightly, pondered for a moment, and explained, his eyes gleaming.

"Besides, we came here for more than just him..."

"what do you mean?"

Father Simon was startled by this and instinctively asked further questions.

"According to the church's intelligence, a certain apostate we have been searching for has also appeared on this island, and seems to have been in contact with Emiya Norikaze. The Dead Apostle blood and some research samples on that magician's hands were provided by him."

Kotomine Shiro looked up at the blood-red sunset gradually sinking below the horizon, his golden pupils reflecting a rare seriousness.

"This person is a hundred times more dangerous than Emiya Norikazu!"

Immediately, the white-haired youth turned around, raised his hand to help the elderly man who was walking with a somewhat unsteady gait, and gently admonished him.

"So please stay with me, otherwise I cannot guarantee your safety."

As the sun set, rays of light draped over the man's shoulders. The faint smile on his face carried an indescribable compassion and love, which unexpectedly stirred in Father Simon an urge to prostrate himself in worship.

The church attached great importance to this operation, and there are even rumors that they sent a "living saint".

Is it...

The priest, who had spent most of his life on this small island, looked up at the white-haired youth before him with a hint of awe in his eyes, and followed closely behind Father Rock Peak as if on a pilgrimage.

At this very moment, in the east of the village.

A petite, blood-red figure, swift as the wind, dashed through the sparse bushes, leaped onto the precipice, and then moved like a wild beast, crawling on all fours. Her long, flowing black hair could not conceal the blood-red pupils in her eyes, which had shrunk to the size of rice grains. Her eyes, sometimes wild and sometimes panicked, looked around as if she were fleeing from something.

However, what was thought to be a remote and deserted area turned out to be a beautiful figure standing on a high place, gazing into the distance.

"Heh heh... Go... Go away!"

A bloodthirsty urge flooded her mind, and the petite figure stood up unsteadily, first biting her wounded arm hard, then letting out a hoarse moan.

The newcomer had a sharp chin, clearly indicating she was a young girl, but there were dark red bloodstains at the corners of her mouth, and the skin beneath her torn white vest was a lifeless bluish-gray. Even the gaping wounds did not bleed.

Unexpectedly, the graceful figure who noticed the commotion turned around slightly, and upon seeing the bloody appearance of the approaching figure, she was first stunned, and then actually walked towards him.

"You ate something you shouldn't have eaten, it must have been painful, right? You need to be good next time."

A girl with messy blonde hair and fierce crimson eyes squatted on the ground, her fair fingers gently touching the blood-shadow's disheveled hair, and tilting her head to smile and murmur comforting words.

Unbeknownst to them, the black-haired girl, whose face was originally contorted with rage and whose eyes were filled with madness and bloodlust, gradually became quiet, like a tamed house cat.

At that moment, Samael and Natalia, who had rushed over by following the trail through the bushes, heard the noise, parted the branches and leaves, and looked with slight surprise at the two girls who were safe and sound on the cliff.

"You stay here quietly for now, I have some things to take care of."

The blonde girl patted the black-haired girl's head, whispered some instructions, then slowly stood up, looked straight ahead, and her tone suddenly turned cold.

"How long are we going to keep hiding?"

At the chilling roar, Natalia's heart clenched instinctively, like an ant being targeted by a dragon. She instinctively wanted to leap away, but Samael held her down tightly beside her.

"get out!"

In an instant, the golden-haired girl's body surged with energy. She crossed her arms and bent her fingers forward, then suddenly grabbed at the air. A lush shrub in front of her collapsed and disintegrated into flying wood chips. A man with black hair and an open white shirt rolled to the side in a disheveled manner.

"Arquette, there's no need for us to fight to the death every time, is there? Why don't we sit down and have a proper talk?"

The black-haired man brushed the sawdust off his clothes, hesitated helplessly, and then raised his hands to take the initiative to make amends.

"Roya, you scum, die!"

However, the blonde girl was furious. Her blood-red eyes were filled with murderous intent, and her hands, each radiating five streaks of blood-red light, crossed and swung down in front of her chest.

"Chi chi chi!"

Suddenly, accompanied by a sharp tearing sound, a dark red blade, with lightning speed, attacked the man named Roya in front of the bushes.

The Secret Patterns? The Serpent's Nest!

Luo Ya's expression hardened, and he dared not take the blow head-on. He immediately clenched his fingers, forming a series of hand seals. At the same time, several streams of red and black blood seeped from his pale skin. Under the guidance of the hand seals, they formed hundreds of giant snakes that coiled and bit forward, colliding with the dark red bloodstains.

Boom boom boom!

In an instant, the air exploded, the ground shook, the cliffs trembled violently, and dust billowed hundreds of meters high.

Chapter Thirty-Five: The Bystanders Who Were Shot (1/3)

"boom!"

The dissolute young man, with his black hair flowing freely and his chest exposed, flew backward like a cannonball, carving deep furrows in his wake.

puff!

Finally, after retreating a hundred meters, Luo Ya bent backward, pushed off the ground with both feet, and forcibly stabilized his body. The chaotic and uncontrollable energy within his body caused him to spit out a mouthful of blood, staining the loose soil beneath his feet red.

The wounded youth casually wiped the blood from the corner of his lips, looked at the imposing figure in front of the cliff, and a fanatical glint appeared in his eyes. He laughed instead of being afraid.

"why are you laughing?"

Arcueid walked over step by step, his eyes bloodshot, his voice cold and demanding, accompanied by surging air around him, and his short golden hair moving on its own even without wind.

"Too strong! Still so insurmountable!"

I spent a full six hundred years and still couldn't reach that level!

Ah, unparalleled power! Touching the truth of the root and the law! So perfect, truly worthy of my long-cherished wish!