Agent of Seraphim-Chapter 61: Rosalia

"Serves you right, you filthy human!" The winged creature snarled. "Get yourself devoured by the worms!"

Hundreds of demon worms crawled swiftly over to the guy the creature had just kicked down.

As they surged forward, the worm’s slimy body touched his skin, goo creeping under his clothes as they wriggled across his body, pressing in from all sides.

’The worms were crushing him!’

"Teehaha!" The winged creature laughed maniacally. No one would be able to survive if they had been caught in the swarm of worms.

That was until she realised.

The worms weren’t crushing the guy at all. Instead, they were supporting him gently, their bodies carefully keeping him aloft and unharmed.

The guy stood unharmed, glaring, jaw clenched in fury.

***

"That’s it?" Brand snapped at Seraphine. "This is your big lesson for me?"

Sticky goo from the demon worms smeared across his skin and clothes, covering him in a viscous mess. He couldn’t clean himself, especially since there was no water source in the ruin.

"How am I supposed to continue exploring with this state?"

He was honestly pissed. He had been vigilant against ambushes, constantly devising plans to divert attacks. The creature’s attack, however, had aimed not at inflicting physical harm, but at pushing him toward the worms.

’What’s the point of pushing me to the worms?’

’Hmm... I see.’

"Surprised I’m still standing after shoving me to the worms?" He threw the words like knives at the winged creature.

The creature had a bat-like wing behind her, with long red hair. Her nails were long and sharp. She also had fangs in her mouth. Besides that, she looks exactly like a normal human, although her eyes are deep red in colour.

The creature spread her bat-like wing, casting a shadow across the ground. Her long red hair sat on her shoulder, down her back, looking almost like blood in the dim light.

Sharp, talon-like nails flashed whenever she moved her hands. She bared her fangs, trying to appear fierce, but she couldn’t hide how nervous she looked.

Except for those monstrous traits, she looked just like a human.

The air around her was heavy. Nothing moved. Only the faint rustle of her wing broke the silence.

[Rosalia - Lv 166 (Vampire)]

[Status: Weakened]

—gulp

’What kind of level is this?!’

He disbelief when he saw an unreal number over the Level of the assailant.

’For such a high level being to deal minimal damage... How much had she been weakened?’

He couldn’t imagine surviving a blow from a Level 166 Vampire. Even Raml-d’ah had given him such a hard time. If he were to compare both the mutated worm and the vampire in front of him, the worm was much stronger, actually.

The vampire put up her guard and observed him with caution. She soon sank into her shadow. Gone.

Even the Cyborg Eye was unable to trace her, nor the Map’s indicator.

He stared at the empty space above the wriggling worms. The vampire girl had just disappeared suddenly, silently. The only sound in the ruin now was the soft and unsettling sound of the worms writhing in the dirt.

Ruby stood a few steps away, glancing at him and pinching her nose, trying to avoid inhaling the putrid scent.

​"Do you need help?" Ruby conjured a massive fireball in the air, ready to pour it over to him if he said the word.

"No thanks..." He muttered. Not only the goo, but his clothes would also be burned entirely if he were being hit by it.

His mind drifted back to the scene he had just seen. The vampire sank into the shadow hurriedly, as if escaping from him.

She even had worried eyes when she saw him unscathed—other than the filth, of course. He couldn’t help but think that the vampire would strike again.

Breaking the silence, he shared his observation with Ruby. "She’s more expressive than the other demons."

He then shifted his gaze towards Seraphine and the small spirit beast, Ifrit.

"You guys knew it was coming, don’t you?" He narrowed his eyes while addressing them.

Seraphine puffed up her cheek and tapped his head repeatedly.

"You are too reliant on the Map!" Seraphine exclaimed, her eyes twinkling with a hint of reprimand.

’Yea, but it’s part of my abilities, right?’

While he thought he was being wronged here, he did realise he was ignorant of the surroundings because he relied too much on the System.

’She was just using this chance to tell me.’

"I’m pissed also, you know?" Seraphine huffed. "Who knew an ancient vampire could be so weak! She should at least pierce your arm or legs. Now you won’t learn!"

He was speechless for a moment, feeling a mix of frustration and embarrassment wash over him. The words stung him, as he recalled the vampire’s hurried retreat.

He hadn’t even been able to defend himself properly. If he hadn’t used the beetle’s scout in time, he really would have suffered heavy damage.

At least the first claw attack launched by the vampire had the intention of impaling him.

Though this raised another concerning fact, Seraphine just called her an ancient vampire. Just the name alone suggests she had existed for a long time and was not just a normal demon.

He was contemplating the reason a vampire of such a high level appeared in this realm. The other demons here have such low levels.

’Is she the final boss in this demon rift?’

"Why does the vampire only attack me?" He glanced at Ruby, envy in his eyes.

’Dry clothes... clean hair... sweet smile...’

A blush washed over his cheek, and he quickly glanced away.

He gathered dirt and dust and rolled his body over them to do a dry bath. Seraphine and Ifrit looked at him with amazement, while Ruby giggled.

’At least I won’t feel so slimy with this.’

He commanded a beetle to hover around him, to detect any future ambushes as insurance. The only relief he had now was that the vampire was weakened, and he could still manage himself against her surprise attacks.