Chapter 271: Too Slow

Suddenly, Hua Yu's sudden burst of strength shattered Mo Bi Xius's and Charlie's plans to lead the remaining servants away, with the barrels of the Jiaolong Special Forces once again locked on target and members of the Dragon II team converging.

Yong Ye looked at Hua Yu with some tenderness. "Ning'er, just stay behind me, I'll protect you."

Hua Yu glanced at Yong Ye impatiently. "Do you really think I need your protection?"

"Heh heh, your hidden weapons are formidable, but after all, you're a girl. These guys are not human. I'm worried about your safety," Yong Ye explained.

Hua Yu could only helplessly ignore him.

Meanwhile, Akmonde and Gabriel's battle had entered a deadlock. Though evenly matched, a closer observation revealed Gabriel still had some reserves while Akmonde seemed to be struggling and might not hold out much longer.

Mo Bi Xius and Charlie, leading the eight remaining vampire servants, huddled together, facing a precarious situation. They could imagine that since Hua Yu had targeted them with silver weapons, the barrels of the Jiaolong unit likely contained silver bullets, which would be devastating to vampires.

Under normal circumstances, the vampires' innate terrifying speed would allow them to dodge such attacks effectively. However, under the radiant glow of the Cross Mass of the Holy See, their nocturnal advantages were completely nullified, hindering their combat effectiveness.

Just as Thomas, Arthur, and the members of the Dragon team were about to launch a coordinated attack from the west, a seductive laughter of a woman suddenly echoed from the dark woods to the west.

Almost everyone paused in their tracks. After all, in such a situation, any newcomer would be extraordinary.

Hua Yu furrowed her brows. She remembered this laughter—it belonged to the woman who had disrupted the auction when she attempted to purchase the Holy Grail. Sure enough, dressed in a black ladies' suit with a white shirt, exuding a commanding presence yet still alluring, Lilith appeared with another handsome blonde man and thirteen expressionless white men in black suits emerging from the woods.

Seeing Lilith's arrival, Charlie licked his lips, a glint of malice flashing in his eyes. "Lilith, you've come at just the right time."

Lilith smiled playfully, scanning everyone present before speaking in her enchanting voice, "Cousin Charlie, has your hand injury healed?"

Charlie chuckled. "Thanks to you, my hand hasn't grown back yet. Dear Lilith, you're certainly showering me with affection."

"Tsk tsk, dear cousin Charlie, I've told you before, I have no interest in such activities between close relatives. Besides, you've joined the Sabat, while my parents and I are faithful members of the Camarilla. If you force me, of course, I'll resist," Lilith chuckled apologetically.

"Stop babbling with this woman, Charlie, aren't you embarrassed enough? Lilith, Zober, although your Camarilla differs in doctrine from ours, as fellow vampires, surely you wouldn't want to hinder us with the Vatican's Crusaders and the Yan Xia Iron Brigade," Mo Bi Xius's eyes flashed with intensity as he asked.

The young man referred to as Zober laughed heartily. "Respected Elder Mo Bi Xius, of course, we won't assist the Holy See or the Yan Xia Iron Brigade against you. However, we must retrieve the Holy Grail."

Mo Bi Xius was furious.

Already impatient, Yong Ye angrily shouted, "Don't look down on us. Do you really think that a dozen bats will make us afraid of you?! This is Yan Xia. Our Yan Xia Iron Brigade will decide whether you stay or go!"

Lilith's smile gradually faded, replaced by a proud indifference. "Little guy, while I don't particularly care for the Sabat's ilk, I detest those who disrespect vampire authority even more. Even Legion Commander Gabriel hasn't spoken; what do you think you are?"

"Enough," Gabriel suddenly interjected tersely.

Taking a breather in this moment, Akmonde retreated to stand beside Lilith and the others, his expression grave. "Speak. What are your demands?"

"Indeed, Uncle Akmonde is the most sensible," Lilith said, smiling happily. "It's simple. Make a blood oath. After we assist you in escaping, hand over the Holy Grail to our Camarilla."

"You're blackmailing us! It's extortion, Lilith! Can your despicable behavior be justified by your noble lineage as a Night Witch ancestor?!" Mo Bi Xius yelled.

"That's my concern. Besides, our Night Witch clan delights in cunning and treachery, Elder Mo Bi Xius," Lilith said coldly.

Akmonde's face darkened, but after staring at Lilith's flawless face for a long while, he nodded reluctantly. "I agree. The Holy Grail in your hands is better than in the Vatican's."

"Akmonde! You're taking matters into your own hands!" Mo Bi Xius shouted.

"Do you want all of us to die and let the Holy Grail fall into those maggots' hands?" Akmonde questioned.

Charlie intervened to calm Mo Bi Xius. "Akmonde is right. At least tonight, if we join forces to take down the Vatican's lackeys and these little pests from the Yan Xia Iron Brigade, it'll be a satisfying outcome."

Mo Bi Xius snorted but didn't object further.

Akmonde wasted no more words, tracing a blood-red rune in the air and sighed, "The blood oath is complete, Lilith. Proceed."

"Give up your delusions. Since you all want to die together, then come!" Yong Ye sneered coldly, gesturing broadly. "Jiaolong Unit, let these stinking bats taste the silver bullets blessed by prayers!"

The Jiaolong Special Forces immediately raised their guns and pulled the triggers.

"Retreat!" With Akmonde's command, all the vampires present vanished from their original positions at an elusive speed.

Despite their efforts, the stray fire was too dense, piercing through several vampire servants, who promptly started to incinerate into charred remains on the spot. Yet, it was only a few expendable servants. When the Jiaolong Unit sought to reacquire their targets, Lilith had already shifted behind them. Suddenly, she drew a crescent blade emitting a lunar-like halo, transparent with shimmering ripples, captivating in its beauty!

However, the murderous intent and impending death surged instantaneously, followed by mournful cries, as if countless phantoms dispersed in every direction within the forest!

"Quick, get out of the way!" shouted the Holy Knight Thomas, but it was too late.

Despite being the elite of the elite, the Jiaolong Special Forces lacked the skill of Dragon Group and the eight-part ensemble and primarily relied on their own equipment. In this particular situation, their attempts to evade the attack proved futile.

With a glittering arc of light, a sharp blade cleaved through the air, severing the flow of air. Before a dozen of the Jiaolong Special Forces could make sense of what was happening, their heads were already separated from their necks!

Blood spattered everywhere, and the crimson threads seemed to be drawn towards the terrifyingly elegant red glow emanating from Lilith's crescent blade. The blade absorbed the blood, exuding an even more sinister aura!

Twenty Templar Knights immediately drew their swords, standing solemnly and prepared, as their strong sacred aura momentarily dispersed the malevolent spirits.

"On Lilith's hand lies the 'Butcher,' one of the thirteen vampire artifacts, born with the absorption of five million souls, a dreadful weapon used for executing vampire prisoners, capable of sealing a vampire's self-healing ability. Against other races, it can absorb blood and souls, continuously strengthening during battle," Thomas explained with a serious expression. "Everyone, don't let your guard down for a moment. One slip-up could lead to irreversible disaster!"

Yong Ye and the others finally realized the severity of the situation and halted their advance in shock.

Meanwhile, Lilith stood confidently with the Butcher in hand, facing directly against a pair of Templar Knights. She was as graceful as a flower, yet her blade exuded a sinister aura, and she smiled mischievously.

"If she's that terrifying, then don't let her touch me," Hua Yu seemed resolute as she addressed the group. "I'm fast and adept at ranged attacks. Dealing with her suits me best. The rest of you handle the others."

Yong Ye protested loudly, "How can this be allowed, Ning'er? You can't!"

"Then are you going to face her?" Hua Yu retorted.

Yong Ye choked back his words, remembering Lilith's unpredictable crescent blade from earlier, and stiffly conceded, "Alright, be careful."

Ignoring him, Hua Yu stepped forward, hands already filled with silver needles, her gaze sharp as she fixed on Lilith ahead.

Simultaneously, the battle erupted in full force. Yong Ye led Dragon Team members, Gabriel commanded all Vatican forces, and they clashed with Akmonde, Zober, and their vampire cohorts.

Blood-red and milky-white holy light flashed incessantly through the forest, as low-level vampire servants and Templar Knights quickly perished in brutal combat.

"I've been itching to go against you since the auction house. Did you know I despise women who are both beautiful and my adversaries?" Lilith said with a playful smile as she watched Hua Yu approach.

"Unfortunately for you, I happen to be exactly that type," Hua Yu replied coldly.

Lilith's expression darkened instantly. "Since you understand, then you know you must die."

Before she finished speaking, Lilith's figure blurred from its original position. The next moment, she reappeared mere inches from Hua Yu, wielding her crescent blade with its rippling moonlight-like waves, poised to slice through Hua Yu's face!

In an astonishing display of agility, Hua Yu's body contorted at an impossible angle, sliding into a nearly prone position to evade the strike. Swiftly, she ascended into the air along the trunk of a towering tree, silver needles scattering from her hands.

"Too slow!"

Lilith casually waved her Butcher, effortlessly deflecting all of the silver needles beyond the reach of her blade! Before Hua Yu could even land, Lilith leaped into the air again, her blade of light poised once more to strike at Hua Yu's chest!

A slight smile played at the corner of Hua Yu's mouth. Suddenly, as she descended from mid-air, a withered leaf fell precisely beneath her feet. With a light tap of her toes on the falling leaf, as if harnessing an unseen force, Hua Yu surged downward with sudden acceleration towards the ground!

Surprised, Lilith's face betrayed a hint of shock. She had never anticipated that Hua Yu could use a falling leaf to accelerate her descent!

"You're too slow," Hua Yu declared as she spoke. In an instant, her other hand launched twenty-seven Blossom Rain Pear Blossom Needles, aiming directly at Lilith's lower body!

Caught mid-air with her blade above, Lilith attempted to block, but it was too late. Her eyes widened in horror!

In a fleeting yet heart-pounding moment, it seemed the brief but intense battle would come to an end. However, a chill suddenly gripped Hua Yu's heart!

Oh no!

In the moment Hua Yu realized her mistake, she swiftly turned around. There, with an evil grin on her face, Lilith, her once-beautiful countenance now twisted into a grimace, had appeared behind her, wielding her Butcher, which gleamed ominously with blood-red light!

In mid-air, the Blossom Rain Pear Blossom Needles pierced through "Lilith," dispersing into a cloud of blood mist!

"Blood Clone"!

The name of this legendary vampire blood technique flashed through Hua Yu's mind like lightning, but it was too late to react!