Chapter 1650: The Vampire Village (Part 2) Bluebird had spotted him the moment he finished cutting down the latest wave of infected. Standing among the ruined wooden walls and scattered bodies was a man wearing full Red Wing knight armor, armor Bluebird recognized instantly. Even before seeing the man’s face, he knew exactly who it was. One of his captains. One of the knights he had personally trained. One of the men he trusted. But there was something else, something even more unsettling, about him. Unlike the frenzied villagers whose minds had clearly been consumed by madness, this knight was calm. His eyes glowed the same violent red, his hands had twisted into claw-like shapes waiting to strike at any moment, but he wasn’t charging mindlessly like the others. He stood poised, controlled... restrained. That alone made him far more dangerous. Bluebird didn’t wait for him to attack first. He dashed forward, sword raised, aiming directly for the knight’s chest plate. To his shock, the attack was blocked cleanly. “Carloon!” Bluebird shouted as he swung again. “What happened to you? No, what happened to this entire village!?” His blade clashed again and again against Carloon’s hardened forearms and transformed claws. Every strike was either deflected or redirected. Even with the infection, the villagers only gained a boost in physical strength and animalistic aggression. But a knight was already trained, conditioned, and powerful. With the infection enhancing him, he had become something far beyond what Bluebird expected. And now, while Bluebird was held in place by Carloon’s relentless defense, the other infected turned their attention toward the remaining two knights. Dozens of them rushed forward. Forced back-to-back, the two knights swung wildly, blocking incoming strikes, kicking attackers away, empowering their movements with Qi. They were doing well, far better than normal soldiers ever could, but the numbers were overwhelming. Every time they knocked one down, another two took its place. If this continued, they wouldn’t last long. “I am not permitted to answer!” Carloon suddenly growled, lashing out with frightening speed. Bluebird narrowly twisted aside, deflecting the claw strike with the flat of his blade. “Not permitted, or refusing?” Bluebird shouted back. “You’re in there somewhere, aren’t you? Carloon, look at me! Do you remember who I am?” “No,” Carloon hissed. “All I know is... it is my duty to eliminate anyone who steps into this village.” The words cut deeper than any blade. Bluebird’s chest tightened as he continued blocking Carloon’s assault. He had trained this man from the ground up, hours spent sparring, traveling together on missions, fighting side-by-side against bandits, beasts, and worse. They had laughed together, bled together, survived together. And now Carloon attacked him with the same intensity and precision he once used to protect the kingdom. ‘I wonder... if this is how you felt when you fought me during the Shadow Plague,’ Bluebird thought bitterly. He knew Carloon was gone. There was no hesitation in the knight’s movements, no recognition in his eyes. Whatever had taken control of him had erased everything he once was. Bluebird tightened his grip. He could hold back no longer. With a swift movement, he slashed downward, his blade striking Carloon’s wrist. Enhanced by Qi, the cut was deep enough to dislodge the hand entirely, sending it flying across the dirt. Carloon didn’t scream. He didn’t even flinch. He simply lunged forward again. But Bluebird was already moving. He stepped in, poured Qi into his legs, and struck with everything he had. His sword pierced through the armored neck in a single decisive motion, cutting straight through. Carloon’s head separated cleanly from his shoulders, falling to the ground with a heavy thud. Bluebird exhaled sharply. “I promise,” he whispered, voice trembling despite himself, “I will find whoever did this to you... and make them pay.” The moment of grief lasted only a second. “ARGHHH!” A scream snapped his attention back toward the battlefield. The two knights were being overwhelmed, forced to their knees as infected bodies piled over them. Bluebird was preparing to surge forward, When a blur of movement passed him. A figure shot through the mob with terrifying speed. Two infected were grabbed by the skull and slammed into the dirt with enough force to crater the ground. Another infected leapt toward him, only to receive a punch to the ribs so powerful the cracking bones echoed through the village. The body sailed backward, crashing into several others like bowling pins. Jack had arrived. The reinforcements Bluebird requested had reached them just in time. Bluebird felt a wave of relief, then confusion. ‘He’s rushing... Jack never fights this recklessly. Something’s wrong.’ Jack didn’t pause between strikes. He tore through infected bodies like a storm, swinging his legs, smashing skulls, throwing enemies aside. But his movements lacked the precision and discipline he normally demonstrated. He fought as though desperate, no, frantic. Two infected leapt at him simultaneously, tackling him from opposite sides. Normally Jack would evade easily or counter both attackers with fluid technique. Instead, he simply allowed them to latch onto his arm. Bluebird realized what was happening a split second too late. One of the infected bit deep into Jack’s forearm. Blood gushed into its mouth. But instead of continuing its attack, the infected suddenly convulsed violently. Its body twisted, spasmed, and then dropped to the ground, writhing in agony. Foam bubbled from its lips. Blood poured out of its eyes, nose, and ears. It reacted exactly the same way Lilly did. Jack froze. His expression twisted, not with pain, but with realization. ‘That reaction... it’s the same as Lilly’s. These creatures, they’re reacting to my blood the same way she did!’ Whatever had infected this village, whatever curse, plague, or vampiric affliction was spreading, Lilly had the same thing. **** ***** For updates on MWS and future works, follow me on my social media below. Instagram: jksmanga P.a.t.r.e.o.n: jksmanga When news drops about My Vampire System, My Werewolf System, or any other series, you’ll hear it there first. Feel free to reach out, if I’m not too busy, I tend to reply.