Into the Creations-Chapter 69: [] World of Vampire Detective [42]

"...I couldn't kill him."

Moon Ji-hyuk gritted his teeth. He had tried to snipe Doris with his revolver. He had aimed squarely at the back of her head, intending to kill him in one shot, but he accidentally stepped on a pile of dried leaves, causing a rustling sound that gave him away.

"I missed the perfect opportunity."

Doris used her teleportation ability to disappear from his sight. Fortunately, he didn't go far, and Moon Ji-hyuk quickly pinpointed her new location. He aimed his revolver at Doris, who was now hiding behind a tree.

"A vampire hunter...? No, that reaction speed is closer to a vampire's."

Doris judged whether Moon Ji-hyuk was human or a vampire based solely on his reaction speed.

'So, he's an executive of Kantra... He's no ordinary vampire.'

Moon Ji-hyuk tensed his body and drew a dagger with his left hand. It was a silver-plated dagger he had received from Taker.

"If you're a vampire, why are you interfering with me? I am Doris Ziegler, the 14th True Blood of Kantra. Who are you?"

"I have no reason to give you my name. I'll be taking the Orb of Life."

Moon Ji-hyuk calculated his options. Even if he couldn't kill Doris here, he had to secure the Orb of Life.

"You're quite greedy for someone without a name, unknown vampire."

Doris teleported behind Moon Ji-hyuk. He reacted quickly, swinging his dagger backward, but Doris dodged it effortlessly and pinned his wrists against a tree.

"Ugh!"

"This strength... You're not a True Blood. How did you find out about the Orb of Life? Who's behind you...?"

Bang!

Moon Ji-hyuk's revolver fired. He had twisted his wrist painfully to force the angle and pull the trigger. The silver bullet grazed Doris's left shoulder.

"Gahhh...!"

Doris teleported away from Moon Ji-hyuk. He grimaced as he looked at his left shoulder.

Silver bullets were too deadly for vampires. Even a graze was enough for the silver poison to eat away at his flesh. At this rate, he wouldn't be able to move her left shoulder for at least ten minutes.

'Who is that guy? Where did the information leak from? Did Kang Wook-sung betray us?'

Her mind raced with possibilities. He had thought the vampire hunters were tailing him this morning. But it wasn't them? Then who?

'There's no way a mere vampire would know about the Orb of Life... or about me. Whether it's a traitor or a new organization, I need to find out where the leak came from.'

An invisible organization. For the future of Kantra, he had to uncover the source of the leak.

Doris's expression twisted as he saw Moon Ji-hyuk recklessly charging toward the Flower of Life.

"Oh, no!"

Doris teleported in front of Ji-hyuk and kicked him in the stomach, sending him flying backward.

Moon Ji-hyuk crashed into a tree and rolled on the ground. Doris was a True Blood. Even without considering his supernatural abilities, his physical prowess was on a different level.

"You're a vampire too, so losing an arm or a leg won't kill you. After I retrieve the Flower of Life, I'll take my time extracting information from you!"

"Hmm... I am also curious about that young man's background."

"Who's there?!"

Doris sharply turned his head to the right. Someone else was there.

Crunch, crunch!

The man stepped on the dried leaves as he slowly revealed himself. He was wearing a traditional Korean overcoat and carried a sword at his waist. His attire and weapon were out of place in this modern era.

"...Baek Sang-gi?"

Doris muttered in disbelief as he recognized him.

"Do you know me?"

"...I've heard about you from the boss. He said there's a monstrous vampire slayer in Korea. But he also said you probably couldn't withstand the passage of time and committed suicide. Yet... you're still alive?"

"I'm on the verge of death."

Baek Sang-gi approached him. Doris pulled out a dagger from his pocket and threw it at him. The dagger was imbued with the superior strength of a True Blood.

Baek Sang-gi drew his sword and deflected the dagger with ease. As he lunged forward, Doris clicked his tongue and retreated. Baek Sang-ki kept his eyes on Doris while speaking to Moon Ji-hyuk behind him.

"Are you alright, young man?"

Moon Ji-hyuk leaned against the tree and forced himself to stand. His entire body ached from Doris's single kick. If he were human, he would have died instantly.

"Who are you?"

Moon Ji-hyuk asked politely. The man Doris had referred to as a vampire slayer.

"My name is Baek Sang-gi. I have many questions... but I'll save them for later. Just one thing—what do you intend to do with the Orb of Life?"

"...I want to become human again."

"It's been a while since I've met a young man I like. What's your name?"

"Moon Ji-hyuk."

"That's a good name. You will become human today. Stay there and watch."

Baek Sang-gi moved. He had been walking leisurely, but now his legs moved swiftly as he began to run. Doris bit his lip and glanced at the Flower of Life.

'The second one hasn't even formed yet.'

He could use his teleportation to escape with the Orb of Life. His ability to escape was unmatched.

But he couldn't be satisfied with just one. He had been looking forward to this day for so long. He needed at least two.

Safety or greed.

Doris chose greed.

The blades of his dagger and Baek Sang-gi's sword clashed in mid-air. The metallic clangs repeated, and orange sparks flew.

Doris had the upper hand in physical abilities.

'Then why am I being pushed back?!'

Their combat experience was on entirely different levels.

Whenever Doris tried to overpower him with strength and speed, Baek Sang-gi's sword moved exquisitely, deflecting his force. And then, his blade would cut into Doris's body. He managed to avoid deep cuts, but the wounds would undoubtedly accumulate over time.

Doris was grateful that Baek Sang-gi's sword wasn't made of silver. If it had been silver-plated, he would have lost long ago.

"Your left shoulder doesn't seem to be moving well."

"Why did a monster like you appear out of nowhere? Are you after the Flower of Life?"

"I have no interest in the Orb of Life, but as a human, I can't let you True Bloods take it."

"You're more of a monster than a vampire."

"I've heard that before, so it doesn't faze me."

Doris swung his dagger and immediately teleported.

Appearing behind him mid-swing was the perfect ambush. Yet, once again, his sword blocked his attack.

"This is ridiculous, how...?"

"True Blood. I saw your ability earlier. If I know it, I can prepare for it, and if I can prepare, blocking it is nothing."

Nonsense. This was an attack that couldn't be blocked even if you knew it was coming. Baek Sang-gi blocked Doris's attack because of the immense experience accumulated in his body.

Then Moon Ji-hyuk moved. He had been quietly approaching the Flower of Life, but now, he suddenly sprinted with all his might.

"You bastard!"

Doris shouted at Moon Ji-hyuk.

"You're taking your eyes off me. You must be feeling confident."

Baek Sang-gi's sword slashed through Doris's left arm. Her left arm fell to the ground with a thud.

Doris teleported. His left arm wasn't important right now. He appeared above Moon Ji-hyuk and grabbed his head with his right hand, slamming it into the ground.

"Die, you insolent fool!"

As Doris's right fist was about to crush Moon Ji-hyuk's head, Baek Sang-gi leaped forward and swung his sword. Doris hastily rolled away.

"Baek Sang-gi!"

"Do I look so insignificant that you can ignore me, True Blood?"

Moon Ji-hyuk pushed himself up from the ground with his palms. His face was a mess, with torn skin and a crushed nose. Despite his trembling body, he managed to lift his upper body.

Ten steps.

Just ten steps away was the Flower of Life.

"That's it, young man. That's the spirit. Go and take the Orb of Life."

"You! Stop! The Flower of Life can produce up to four Orbs of Life! Don't you know that?!"

Doris shouted.

Baek Sang-gi clicked his tongue. He wanted to shut his mouth, but if he moved away from Moon Ji-hyuk, Doris would undoubtedly teleport and try to kill him.

"...Four?"

Moon Ji-hyuk hesitated.

He knew the effects of the Orb of Life.

If there were four, even if he took two, half would still remain.

"An old man's advice: greed only brings ruin."

Baek Sang-gi said.

"...I will become human."

Moon Ji-hyuk rejected greed and spoke firmly. Watching him Baek Sang-gi smirked.

"You foolish bastard...!"

Doris, enraged, gripped a dagger in his remaining right hand and watched Baek Sang-gi's movements.

Moon Ji-hyuk staggered forward, step by step, getting closer to the Flower of Life. The ten-step distance became five, and then just an arm's length away.

"Stop! Detective Moon!"

A familiar voice. It was Taker.

Moon Ji-hyuk felt a slight sense of relief and turned his head toward the voice.

"...!"

There stood Kang Eugene, aka Taker, holding Yang Jung-min's mouth with his left hand and pressing a red blade against her neck.

"Taker...?!"

Moon Ji-hyuk collapsed to the ground. The unbelievable scene before him made his legs give out. His brain couldn't process the information he was seeing.

Why was Taker with Yang Jung-min? And what was that red blade he was holding?

"...That blade. Were you the Jeokgwang?"

Kang Eugene looked at Baek Sang-gi.

After a moment, Kang Eugene smirked and spoke.

"Yes. I am the Jeokgwang."

To Moon Ji-hyuk, it was a bolt from the blue.

***

I knew where Doris had planted the Flower of Life in Seoraksan Mountain from the original drama.

Three days ago, I had even scouted the location and confirmed it. Not only that, but I had also planted a listening device under a nearby rock.

I glanced at Yang Jung-min beside me. She had taken time off and was wearing her police uniform. It didn't look comfortable for hiking.

"Ms. Yang Jung-min, this way."

I focused on the sound from the listening device through my wireless earpiece and moved with Yang Jung-min. Timing was crucial.

When Moon Ji-hyuk was fighting Doris, I would sneak in and take the Orb of Life. If something unexpected happened, I would use Yang Jung-min as a hostage. If nothing went wrong? I would get the Orb of Life as planned, kill Moon Ji-hyuk, and then deal with Yang Jung-min.

But as we climbed the mountain, an unexpected variable appeared. This was something I truly hadn't anticipated.

'...What the hell? Why is that guy here?'

I spotted a man quietly and swiftly climbing the mountain. I couldn't see his face clearly, but I could guess his identity from the black overcoat he was wearing.

Baek Sang-gi.

A character who appeared briefly in the original drama. In terms of screen time, he probably didn't even get a full minute.

'He was supposed to have consumed the Orb of Life 300 years ago.'

Rumors said that Baek Sang-ki originally had a significant role. But the idol who played him was so bad at acting that his role was cut down.

'He really was terrible at acting.'

He was supposed to be a legendary vampire hunter in Korea. Honestly, I didn't know much about him. His role was too minor, and there was no mention of him in interviews with the director or writer.

'...Damn, did something go wrong?'

"Mr. Taker?"

"Ah, Ms. Yang Jung-min. Sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment. Let's hurry."

Through the listening device, I could hear the sounds of battle. As expected, Moon Ji-hyuk and Doris were fighting. Now was the perfect time to act. But I couldn't. Baek Sang-gi was hiding nearby.

"Mr. Taker, why did you stop? We don't have time to stand around. Moon Ji-hyuk is... Mmm?!"

I covered her mouth with my left hand and pressed my sword Hwaryeonbido, which I had taken from my inventory, against her neck.

"If you want to live, stay quiet."

"...!"

Yang Jung-min looked at me in shock. She must have realized I was Jeokgwang from the red blade at her neck. But I didn't have the luxury to pay attention to her. I focused on the sounds from the listening device while keeping Yang Jung-min's mouth covered and quietly approached the battlefield.

"You! Stop! The Flower of Life can produce up to four Orbs of Life! Don't you know that?!"

Doris's shout reached my ears. I froze.

"Ha..."

This was something I hadn't known. In the original drama, Ji-hyuk obtained the Orb of Life when only one had formed.

'That setting existed? Damn it. Why didn't the drama director or writer reveal that?'

A setting the creators hadn't disclosed. It was a gap I hadn't considered until now.

'Four! Four Orbs of Life!'

In the distance, I could see Moon Ji-hyuk trying to pluck the single Orb of Life that had formed.

'That idiot!'

I stepped forward. I had no choice.

"Stop! Detective Moon!"

***

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