Not intending to give Elena any time to breathe, she and Roland charged forward once more.
Within the blood-red sleeping quarters, a Color Fixer, a semi-Color Fixer, and Star of the city clashed violently in an instant…
"Roland!"
Angelica swung the dark dagger down with full force once again.
The strike was still completely blocked by the blood condensed around the Blood Fiend's cheek, producing a rustling sound like flowing water.
At the same time, Roland's longsword swept in from the opposite side.
The pressure from this unreserved strike instantly suppressed Elena.
His blade, carrying a clear arc of light, cut upward—
—and sliced away half of Elena's face.
"..."
In silence, Elena's remaining eye stared intently at Roland before her body fell backward.
Had she died?
No.
The moment her body touched the blood pool below, it dissolved into mist and merged seamlessly into the crimson liquid.
Roland and Angelica's relentless assault made her feel genuine pressure…
Even while drawing upon the endless blood flowing through 23rd Alley's sewage system, Elena could only barely hold her ground against the two of them.
Yet anxiety crept into her thoughts.
The earlier explosion caused by unknown individuals had collapsed several escape routes she had carefully prepared…
If Section 1 were to deploy a large number of high-level Fixers to surround her again—
I must deal with them now!
The thought flashed through Blood-Red Night's mind.
"Where did she go?"
Roland and Angelica stood back to back in the blood pool, maintaining absolute vigilance.
They knew Elena had not fled.
The sharp crimson spikes suspended above them had not dissolved or fallen—proof that the Blood Fiend was still present.
She was beneath their feet, within the blood pool itself, able to materialize and strike at any moment.
"Roland…" Angelica asked casually,
"When will Section 1's people arrive?"
It was a deliberate lie.
And it worked.
The next second, blood-condensed spikes tore through the air with shrill whistling sounds, and the blood cones hanging above them collapsed!
Roland raised his sword and slashed upward, shattering them into fragments mid-fall.
"Wait!"
Angelica's voice rang out at the same instant.
A figure emerged from the blood pool at Roland's feet, and a blade condensed from blood slashed toward his neck.
Without hesitation, Angelica dropped her dagger, drew a longsword from her glove, and turned to strike the blood-shadow—
Her speed was astonishing.
Yet the blade slid straight through the target without resistance.
It's fake…
Angelica realized instantly.
This is just an empty shell—no blood vessels at all!
The real attack was—
She didn't have time to look back.
But Roland saw it clearly.
Behind Angelica, who was moving toward him, Elena's true form emerged from the blood. Her not-yet-fully-formed face curved into a faint smile, and the true killing blade was already raised.
It succeeded…
If Angelica were only protecting herself, then even as an Star of the city, Blood-Red Night would have struggled to deal with this Color Fixer for some time.
But throughout the battle, Elena had already noticed it—
Angelica was consciously or unconsciously reinforcing Roland's offense and defense.
And even as a Blood Fiend, Elena could sense Angelica's attachment to Roland.
How foolish…
In the City, selfishness was survival.
Excessive emotion toward others only led to this kind of ending.
Elena swung down her butcher's knife.
Go to hell… I will savor your blood vessels…
At that instant, no one could stop her.
Or rather—
Should they?
A series of piercing explosions suddenly ripped through the air.
At the same time, a bullet struck Elena's body.
Two blood-body condensations and the simultaneous control of blood thorns had already drained a massive amount of her blood. Now, after forcibly concentrating what remained into a hand-blade, her body had become extremely fragile.
Crimson flowers burst open in midair.
For the first time in this battle, the Star of the city felt searing pain.
Everything happened too fast.
Instinctively, Elena began pulling blood back toward her core. The blood blade dissipated, and that single moment of imbalance gave Angelica and Roland their opening.
Both Fixers moved in an instant.
Only the sound of blades cutting through the air remained.
A dark stream of light carved into Elena's torso.
Another heavy blow.
Their swords remained embedded in her body—but before they could press further—
Blood-Red Night glared at the Fixers before her, teeth clenched, and once again melted into the blood pool.
Who is it?!
Even Angelica, having regained her composure, was shaken as she looked toward the source of the gunfire.
In a dark corner, the air twisted unnaturally.
A man wearing a deep yellow hazmat suit—identical in style to the corpses scattered throughout the ruins—slowly materialized. He held a gun, watching them intently.
Angelica immediately understood.
He was an ally.
She said nothing.
The man gave a brief nod, then swiftly disappeared into another pipe.
[Name: Arthur]
Anomaly Resonance: "Mole"
Anomaly Resonance Abilities:
This employee will not enter a confused state and is normally immune to burns, poisonous gas, and similar environmental effects.
This employee is constantly affected by Self-Discipline
(Self-Discipline: greatly enhances physical performance and perception).
This employee will not become lost in spatial anomalies and will occasionally receive vague "hints."
A single ZAYIN-class Anomaly Resonance cannot defeat a Star of the city.
Arthur—well-versed in Lobotomy Corporation and Library of Ruina—understood this better than anyone.
But here, he was not alone.
Thus, after consuming an Invisibility Potion obtained from Terraria, Arthur waited patiently in the shadows.
[Item Name: Invisibility Potion]
Grade: HE
Effect:
Consumable. After use, grants complete invisibility, fully concealing the user's presence for 12 minutes.
The effect can be canceled voluntarily but cannot be reactivated.
Description:
You'll use this for legitimate purposes… right?