Vampires?
Daniel wasn't surprised; the features of the person in front of him perfectly matched his image of a vampire.
Still, the game's setting felt a bit over-the-top; even a fantastical creature like a vampire was showing up now.
Daniel lowered his elbow and shook his head with a helpless expression:
"See? If you had told me earlier, you wouldn't have had to take that beating."
But you didn't give me a chance to speak!
The red-haired woman with the waves was furious but dared not argue, convinced the human in front of her was crazy.
Daniel examined the slumped red-haired woman curiously and asked:
"You say you're a vampire, but what kind are you?"
"Vampires have kinds?"
The red-haired woman froze. How could she not know this?
"Of course. Some vampires are slightly stronger than normal humans but can only drink blood and have obvious weaknesses. Others aren't afraid of sunlight, possess superpowers, but spend their lives as lovesick fools, constantly caught in love triangles with humans and werewolves. So, which one are you?"
"...I guess I'm the first type."
The red-haired woman didn't want to admit her weaknesses, but she certainly didn't want to be classified as a lovesick fool.
Daniel pressed on:
"Are there many vampires like you in America?"
The red-haired woman hesitated:
"Not really, otherwise humans would have discovered us already."
That was true.
If vampires were widespread, S.H.I.E.L.D. couldn't possibly be completely unaware. Considering Nick Fury's personality, he would have already been planning a species-wide extermination.
Daniel continued:
"Are the recent mass disappearances in the Bronx connected to you vampires?"
Hearing this, the red-haired woman froze for a moment.
But when Daniel slowly raised his elbow again, she quickly said:
"Yes, yes! A while ago, Faize gave us permission to capture humans ourselves, which is why we started hunting nearby."
"Who is Faize?"
"He's the leader of the Dhampirs [half-bloods] and wields tremendous power among vampires."
A trace of fear appeared in the red-haired woman's eyes.
[Mission: 'Investigate Missing Persons' Completed!]
[Reward: 500 EXP, S.H.I.E.L.D. Reputation +10, Equipment 'Nichirin Blade']
[Equipment: Nichirin Blade (Crafted from a special material that absorbs sunlight, lethal to all creatures that fear sunlight)]
[Do you wish to skip the dialogue and proceed to the next mission?]
Normally, Daniel would have to report the situation to Nick Fury, who would then assign the next mission.
But the game system allowed players to skip this step entirely, letting them transition seamlessly to the next mission.
It was a well-designed system, unlike some games that force players to watch every plot scene with no option to skip.
"Skip!"
Daniel chose decisively.
[NPC Nick Fury has issued you a new mission]
[Mission: Ghost-Sweeping Operation]
[Objective: Eliminate the proliferating vampires in New York within one week]
[Reward: Based on the number of vampires killed]
Daniel asked a few more questions, and the red-haired woman answered honestly.
There was no helping it; the psychological trauma from that elbow strike was just too intense.
"One last question," Daniel raised a finger. "If you answer it correctly, I promise I'll let you go."
"Ask!"
Hope flickered in the red-haired woman's eyes.
Anyone would do anything to survive—even vampires!
Daniel smiled:
"The question is very simple. Please prove the Goldbach Conjecture."
The red-haired woman: "..."
A moment later, Daniel pushed the door and walked out, without the other figure by his side.
It proved people would indeed do anything to survive.
Except math problems!
"By the way, isn't my Nichirin Blade's appearance a little… unusual? System, you didn't give me a fake, did you?"
[The appearance of the Nichirin Blade varies by the user. It reflects the personality of the user.]
"You call this a Nichirin Blade?"
Daniel stared at the watermelon knife in his hand, speechless.
What kind of person did this watermelon knife represent?
Someone who liked eating watermelons?
"Ah!!!"
A sharp, desperate scream cut through the noise of the bar!
Daniel turned to see someone on the dance floor being violently tackled to the ground by another figure.
Sharp fangs sank into the neck, and blood sprayed instantly!
Clearly, this was another vampire.
Like a toppled domino, vampires suddenly erupted everywhere, attacking the unsuspecting humans!
In an instant, countless screams filled the bar.
Ordinary humans were helpless, like lambs to slaughter, becoming meals for the vampires.
In a short time, the entire bar had turned into a bloody slaughterhouse!
Shriveled, gauze-like corpses lay scattered across sticky pools of blood.
The floor reflected a nauseating crimson glow, and the stench of blood was overwhelming.
Amid the chaos, someone controlled the lights, and a spotlight suddenly illuminated Daniel, making him the center of attention.
In an instant, dozens of pairs of crimson eyes, flashing with hunger, locked onto him, as if he had walked into a meeting of the Uchiha clan.
"Hello, everyone eating well? Had enough?"
Daniel greeted them awkwardly.
The vampires bared their fangs and circled Daniel.
They ignored his words entirely, determined to prove their hunger through action.
Daniel, seeing the horde surrounding him, showed no panic and tightened his grip on the Watermelon Nichirin Blade.
"Don't say I didn't warn you—exercising right after a meal is bad for your health."
The vampires completely ignored him.
The vampire in front opened its fangs and charged impatiently, eager to taste the first blood.
Swish!
A cold flash of light shot past.
The charging vampire stiffened.
A faint scratch appeared quietly on its neck.
The next second, its head slid off silently.
The torso disintegrated instantly into ashes, leaving nothing behind.
Daniel rested the watermelon knife on his shoulder and remarked:
"Tsk, I have to say, your death method is environmentally friendly."
The steps of the other vampires halted abruptly.
Shock and disbelief filled their faces.
Vampires were known for their tenacity; ordinary weapons were nearly useless against them.
Even wounds from powerful firearms healed quickly.
Only substances like pure silver could inflict fatal, irreversible damage.
Yet the human before them had killed one with a single strike, leaving no chance for healing.
Is this really a friggin' watermelon knife?!