Blood Crystals

Mahendra rushed to find the shameless and insolent person, with an anger that was so palpable from his clenched fists alone that people moved out of the way. They all preferred to steer clear as long as they didn't get into trouble with someone like Mahendra.
Still gripping his dagger, teeth grinding and curses mumbling like a song of death, Mahendra glanced in every direction, trying to find the person. After only a few moments, he finally found the person in the deepest corner of this basement.

"You!" Mahendra grabbed the person's collar, raging with a few words that really needed to be censored.

"Why did you push me into the arena? You wanted to kill me? Huh?!" Even though his face was covered, the tavern owner knew Mahendra was angry.

"Whoa, bro! Don't be like this, let's talk about this nicely."

"Talk nicely, you say?!" he shot back, getting angrier and lifting the person higher and with more force by their collar.

"Alright... alright, I give up. I was wrong. I admit I did it on purpose, so please forgive me, okay?"

"You think it's that easy to forgive you? I hate people who meddle in my life the most. I'm a person who cherishes my own life the most."

For a moment, the tavern owner fell silent. He seemed shocked after hearing Mahendra say that. Meanwhile, on the other side, dozens of people watched their argument from a distance.

No, they were actually watching how Mahendra intimidated the owner of the basement. They all felt a little in awe of his courage, and this was the first time they had seen the most powerful person here feel inferior with an expression of fear.

"Ah, right... I think I forgot. I pushed you into the arena for a reason, because I thought it was much easier than having to explain it," said the tavern owner.

Mahendra was silent, but his intimidating aura had not changed at all. He was still angry.Sweat pouring down, the tavern owner continued his words, "There's a prize for the winners in the arena. That prize is this." Then he took out a red crystal.

Mahendra slowly loosened his grip on the person's collar and then let go, taking the dark red crystal. Its color was so ugly that Mahendra thought it was a piece of dirt.

At a glance, there was nothing strange. Only the color was too dark and ugly. The crystal, the size of a hand's grip, had a faint metallic smell, making it feel even more disgusting. Mahendra was silent for a while, staring at the crystal.

"This is a Blood Crystal. Exchanging it will get you food and drinks from the outside."

"Outside?"

"I've stated it openly, but I've never intended to say the whole thing because of an ancestor. Understand?" The tavern owner shook his head, hoping he wouldn't complicate the matter.

"Arrange for me to meet him. That ancestor."

"He can't be disturbed right now." He sighed and looked away, briefly glancing at Mahendra and feeling that he was getting angry again.

"I'm serious," he said again.

"Then I'll meet him tomorrow."

"Alright. Let's hope he's not too busy."

Two twin women with long black hair and ideal bodies arrived. They were perfect, like beautiful mannequins. At first glance, they looked ordinary, but they had two fairly long fangs. Mahendra deliberately looked away so as not to be captivated by their alluring beauty, and quickly walked away.

The tavern owner, however, deliberately stopped him, making Mahendra sit down on a sofa chair so he couldn't escape. The two women had intentionally approached him; they sat on the back of the chair, laughing softly and teasing him.

"There are two unemployed women. Hey, you two! Treat him well." Without a hint of guilt, the tavern owner simply left.

"You're still not satisfied with trapping me?!" Mahendra shouted.

The two women were not human, but vampires. Vampires are one of the demon races. They are nocturnal creatures that wake up at night and sleep during the day. The two prominent fangs were not just for show but fangs for sucking blood.In the midst of his nervousness, Mahendra looked at the blood crystal again and realized what it was made of. Then he looked at the two female vampires, feeling disgusted.

"Stop! Don't touch me without my permission!"
Mahendra struggled, trying to push them away or at least try to get out of there, but he couldn't because the two vampires were holding his arms tightly and strongly.

One of the vampires chuckled and the other one whispered directly near Mahendra's ear.

"You think we're going to suck your blood, don't you? Don't worry, we won't do that to the winner." She whispered so softly and gently, her breath tickling his ear, which made Mahendra shiver.

His whole body trembled, nervousness and cold sweat continued to pour out. Mahendra tried to evade them by bowing his head. Then several blood crystals appeared near him.

"What is this?" Mahendra asked, adjusting his sitting position.

"Of course, 4 other blood crystals. You may not have killed your opponent, but you still won. Take all of these," the female vampire answered.

"Alright."

After Mahendra took them, the vampire asked, "Why didn't you kill your opponent?"

Mahendra's answer was quite short. "No grudge, no need to take a life." This answer made the two vampires silent for a moment.

"It seems the master was right, you are a unique person."

"What's so unique about me? I'm just acting normally. Besides, I don't hold grudges. Even though my body was almost destroyed because of him, I never thought of finishing him."

"Yes, that kind of thinking. A way of thinking that is not like a sinner's."

The two vampires didn't just come to give him blood crystals and tease him, but also to investigate Mahendra's identity further. They would do anything to achieve their goal or the command of that person.

"Could you tell us your name?"

As soon as he had a chance, Mahendra immediately got up from the sofa chair. Before leaving, he looked back and shook his head. From the beginning, since he met the three stranded people outside, Mahendra no longer wanted to reveal his identity.

At least for now.

Mahendra hurried away before the two vampires could stop him again. He quickened his pace while looking around to find the golden-eyed girl. It had been a while since he'd seen her, and he was starting to worry that something had happened to her.

"Are you looking for that girl?" the tavern owner asked. The man had suddenly appeared again.

"Yes. Where is she?"

The man pointed the way, directing Mahendra toward a nearby room. The door was wide open, and he gestured for him to go inside. Without a second thought, Mahendra followed, believing the girl was inside. But as soon as he stepped in, the sound of a slamming door echoed loudly. Mahendra turned and was shocked to see the door was shut tight.

"You scoundrel?! I shouldn't have trusted you!"

"Hey, just see who's in there. Rest up, it's late."

As he suspected, the girl was indeed in the room. She was fast asleep on a small bed. But the room door was locked. Completely sealed shut. Mahendra figured the tavern owner wasn't just trapping him with the girl—it was for something else.

"That man wants to keep me in this city longer."

There's something strange about this Northwest City. Besides the blood crystals, the exit that's said to exist, but that long-time residents are reluctant to leave, is the problem.