Chapter 444: Mutual Affection?

Chapter 444: Chapter 443: Mutual Affection?

In Sun Ridge, it was nearly impossible to find a High-level female. And this rabbit before it was no longer just a high-quality meal—the aura she exuded made the Blood Shadow drool with greed.

In its eyes, the Eagle Clan Beastman before it was the greatest obstacle.

If it could just kill him, this delectable meal would be all its.

This was the first time the male Hamster had ever seen such a strange creature. It clearly wasn’t a Beastman, nor did it seem to be some kind of mutant…

He saw Mr. Hei Yi locked in a fierce battle with the creature. The entire tomb was filled with a dark-red, bloody mist. The Hamster sensed other presences closing in and quickly shouted, “This is bad! More of them are coming!”

In the past, his duties as Tomb Guardian had, at most, required him to clear out the Dark Void.

After the Beast Bone was destroyed, the Hamster had rarely visited the tomb.

Now, this place had clearly become the territory of some unknown creatures.

The Hamster tightened his grip on his sharp sword. A giant shadow with a gaping maw lunged at him. He thrust his sword forward, but it was like striking a wall of bronze. His entire body was flung backward, and he crashed heavily to the ground.

“PUH!—”

The Hamster coughed up a mouthful of blood. ‘It feels like my insides have been shattered…’

‘These creatures’ Strength is incredible!’

Yu Zhizhi, who was well-protected by Dracula, also realized they were surrounded. She hid beneath Dracula’s robes, her body trembling uncontrollably.

Dracula glanced at the countless Blood Shadows that had encircled them. Through the walls of the tomb, his Perception picked up a familiar aura…

His expression softened slightly. Lowering his gaze, he said, “I’ll send you over.”

…Huh?

Yu Zhizhi’s rabbit ears shot up.

‘Go where?’

Before she could even ask, she felt a ray of golden light envelop her. The next second, she was teleported outside the tomb!

A young man from the Cat Clan, who had just arrived, steadily caught the teleported little fluffball of a rabbit. Without any hesitation, he carried Yu Zhizhi far from the battlefield.

“Zero!”

Yu Zhizhi looked at the young man before her in happy surprise. He brought her to a patch of ruins, taking cover behind a towering boulder.

The Cat Clan youth looked down at the little rabbit in his arms, his eyes filled with a gentle smile. “Yes, I’m here. We’ll wait for No.2 Envoy here.”

Yu Zhizhi had been extremely worried, but seeing Zero’s calm demeanor, her frayed nerves began to settle.

She nodded. “Okay!”

The Cat Clan youth leaned against the rock. He wore a brown cloak, and the wind blew back his choppy black-and-white hair, revealing a clear forehead. “How have you been sleeping these past few days?”

The weather in Sun Ridge was atrocious. Even now, a mass of dark, oppressive clouds was gathering in the distant sky. The storm had paused for less than five minutes, and it was already showing signs of returning.

‘The little rabbit must be having a hard time adjusting.’

Yu Zhizhi answered truthfully, “Not very well… But now that No.2 Envoy is here to watch over me, I can finally get some sleep.”

“I’m sorry,” Zero said softly.

Yu Zhizhi paused, unsure why Zero was apologizing.

Zero continued, “You’ve been dragged into this incident. Once the mission is over, I’ll send you back to the Sky Star Territory.”

“It’s okay,” Yu Zhizhi said, looking down at her rabbit paws with a hint of guilt. “I wanted to come, too.”

She…

‘She really, *really* wanted to be part of this mission.’

‘Because she could see Dracula, and she could see Zero.’

A massive explosion erupted from the distant tomb, and Yu Zhizhi could almost hear a chorus of countless piercing shrieks.

Zero covered both of her rabbit ears with his hands.

His wide cloak enveloped her completely, shielding her from sight.

The commotion from the tomb lasted for a long time. After an unknown amount of time had passed, Zero, having confirmed it was safe, carried the little rabbit in his arms toward the burial site of the remains.

He landed at the tomb’s entrance and saw the Tomb Guardian, the Hamster Beastman, his face deathly pale. He was so terrified that he’d even reverted to his Beast Form.

The depths of the tomb were filled with a river of blood.

Yu Zhizhi peeked out and saw a dark figure standing at the far end. His wings, not yet folded, were covered in gruesome wounds!

Yu Zhizhi’s heart lurched. It instantly reminded her of the time in the K family’s territory, when Dracula had been gravely injured protecting her!

Sensing the little rabbit’s struggle, Zero set her down on the ground.

A flash of white—the rabbit—darted toward Dracula.

Just as she neared him, she transformed into her human girl form.

Yu Zhizhi reached his side. As she got closer, she saw that his injuries were even worse than she had imagined. Dracula’s face was ashen. He was silently staring at something in the river of blood. Following his gaze, Yu Zhizhi realized it was a severed arm!

Her body trembled slightly. “Dracula…”

Yu Zhizhi waded into the river of blood. She bent down, picked up Dracula’s severed arm, and her eyes hardened with determination. “I-I’ll heal you!”

Dracula didn’t respond.

He folded his wings.

He turned to the Cat Clan youth behind him. “You can retrieve the bones now.”

Zero nodded.

He pulled the Hamster to his feet and led him deeper inside.

Opening the innermost door required the Tomb Guardian’s power.

Yu Zhizhi cradled Dracula’s severed arm. The wound was a bloody mess. She used her own dress to wipe the filth from it.

Dracula lowered his gaze to the Rabbit Clan female. Her movements were so gentle, so earnest. Her clear eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

He suddenly found himself believing that perhaps they had once been very close.

Otherwise, he couldn’t explain the profound rage that had been stirred within him when he faced the Blood Shadow.

Dracula knew what the Blood Shadow was thinking.

They had to die.

For him, his actions today had been far too impulsive. But he hadn’t been able to control himself. By the time he came to his senses, the dust had already settled.

Dracula watched as the rabbit female came to his side. She stood on her tiptoes, pressing the severed arm against the stump. A white Healing Light slowly emerged, illuminating her snow-white skin and starlit eyes. Her delicate lips, however, were completely colorless.

He could see it more clearly now.

The concern in her eyes.

Yu Zhizhi was terrified that something would happen to Dracula, but she was also thankful. Now that she had awakened both her Healing and Evolution talents, she could finally do something to help.

She focused on healing the wound on his arm.

Dracula watched her for a long time before he was unable to resist reaching out and slowly tucking a stray lock of hair from her face behind her ear.

Yu Zhizhi froze, her gaze lifting to meet his.

The two of them just stared at each other.

Emerging from the depths of the tomb, Zero saw the scene before him. His amber eyes were as calm as still water.

The Hamster sighed emotionally beside him. “They really are in love!”

‘I knew it!’

‘I always felt there was something special about their relationship!’

Even though Mr. Hei Yi barely spoke and showed no intimate gestures toward the Rabbit Clan Lady, the Hamster always felt that he cared deeply for Miss Rabbit.

The Cat Clan youth smiled faintly. “Is that so?”

‘In love…’

The Hamster continued, “Those Blood Shadows were so insolent, treating Miss Rabbit like food. No wonder Mr. Hei Yi went on a killing spree!”