25.0

**ACT YoE 4,171/LT March 11, 2070, at 0000**

Palm View Way, Catacombs, Tunnel #8.

"You're certain this is where Julio's Lieutenant is hiding that little piece of garbage?" Crystal sub-vocalized, her voice carried not through tech but through the intricate, pulsing veins of blood magic in her bone’s marrow that connected her to the world’s digital undercurrent. Her crystallized skeleton hummed with the ancient power of the Law of Blood, allowing her to traverse the Net without a single piece of hardware embedded in her flesh. It was something she’d never even imagined possible before meeting her Patron, Eve. The Silver Witch’s methods were beyond a technological understanding.

A blood-tinged pulse rippled through her body as Cho Eun-Kyung’s voice slid into her ears. “Trust me, sweetheart. Julio’s days of playing ghost are over. He’s holed up tighter than a corporate rat in a collapsing market, and we only need to find where. With the advent of mana leaking into the world, it was easy to cripple his supply chains.”

Crystal smirked, feeling the familiar, fluid surge of magic beneath her skin. She had ancient eldritch magic where others might rely on cybernetics or bio-enhancements. Her body was a weapon, its blood, the network that carried information, violence, and death. Even now, she could feel every living thing's pulse, their life forces calling out like beacons. The weakest ones can be snuffed out just as quickly by a blade or crimson conquest, like flipping a light off.

Crystal’s steps were as silent as a drop of blood falling into the water when moving through the labyrinthine Undercity catacombs. The tunnels were damp, ancient, and filled with death and decay lingering energies. Fetid pools and streams shifted like an ever-growing bog of buried soul-stolen dreams.

The screams of the primal law of eat or be eaten that echoed around Crystal quickly spoke to her on a primal level. Furthermore, the old blood buried in the stone walls whispered ancient secrets, directing her steps without error. The entire place reeked of desperation and the squalid scent of fear. It was a perfect hunting ground curated by centuries of neglect and dissolution. Occasionally, signs that corpos had attempted to control one portion or another appeared but quickly faded away.

Crystal reached out through the web of her magic, feeling the vibrations of the Lieutenant’s blood through the thick walls and stone passages. It was erratic, panicked, beating too fast to belong to someone in control. Her magic thrummed in response, eager, predatory. The Lieutenant couldn’t hide for long. Gathering a sample from Valentino’s DNA database had been well worth the favor owed. There was no way to escape her now. Unfortunately, Julio had been paranoid enough to replace his blood sample with a false trail. It had taken time to realize the truth, but that error had led to the current situation.

“Any chance of reinforcements down here? The files from his old hideout quickly adapted to the new world order of mana events.” Crystal whispered, her mind already calculating the bloodlines of the guards scattered throughout the tunnels. They were weak, all of them. Unaware of just how much of their lives she already held in her hands.

“Julio had friends,” Cho replied, her voice an amused purr. “But they’re just cannon fodder to your talents. You’ll handle them just fine after the biggest fish is pulled from the cesspit pond. She made her intentions very clear. No one would dare ignore your Patron on a matter of such importance.”

Crystal allowed herself a brief smile, the kind that never reached her eyes. "Good. I don’t want to leave loose ends on something like this. I don’t want to disappoint Her."

There was no need for guns or tech these days. Not for Crystal, just blood; crimson fluid replaced so many things. It provided all the options and none of the drawbacks. She closed her eyes briefly, letting her senses expand as she inhaled deeply. The air was heavy with moisture, but beneath it, she could feel the pulse of life around her. Every person’s body has a rhythm, a unique signature. Crystal locked onto each of them like a predator scenting its prey, letting the vibrations of their blood guide her silent steps. The catacombs twisted and turned, but she moved purposefully, knowing where the highest-value enemies awaited.

When she came to a larger cavern chamber, she didn't need her enhanced vision to see them. The heat of their blood radiated through the darkness like a beacon. Six scattered around the room, with a Lieutenant of Julio pacing in the center. She could feel his heart pounding like a small, terrified animal trapped in a cage.

“Your mine, rat,” Crystal whispered as she slipped into the shadows.

"No mercy," Cho’s voice advised. “It’s not worth the mess. If they panic too soon, the Lieutenant’s men will bring the tunnels down. We don’t want that. I’m not reading any Deadman’s switches on the guards.”

Crystal didn’t need to be told twice. She knelt, placing her palm against the stone floor, feeling the vibrations through the ground. It was the work of a moment to shift from flesh and bone to liquid death. She closed her eyes, focusing on the rhythmic thrum of the nearest guard’s heartbeat. Her blood answered the call, rushing onto the smooth skin’s surface. A thread-thin crimson tendril extended, weaving through the cracks in the stone like liquid silk until it found its target. A swift strike was faster than a viper, and the kill was complete.

The guard didn’t even realize what had happened until it was too late. His breath hitched for a moment as his body tensed, then collapsed, lifeless. The blood tendril had snaked its way into his veins, cutting off the flow to his brain in a heartbeat. Faint bioelectricity was twisted by her blood magic, falsifying all implant readings for precious seconds.

One down.

Crystal’s body felt alive, with the power surging through her veins. This was what she was made for. She moved again, her senses stretched across the room, reading the pulses of life like a symphony only she could hear. She didn’t need to see them to know where they were. Their blood told her everything.

She flicked her wrist, and another tendril snaked out, reaching the next guard. He could not react before his heart stuttered and then stopped entirely. His body slumped against the wall as the same trick was applied to any implants.

Two down.

The Lieutenant’s remaining men were jittery now. Crystal could feel their fear through the vibrations of their blood, the way it pulsed erratically through their veins. They didn’t know what was happening, but they could feel it—the invisible death creeping closer. Her takedowns were silent but not undetectable, as each body made a slight noise when it collapsed. It didn’t matter; she was too fast to stop.

“Three left. Then it’s just the Lieutenant.” Cho’s voice was soft in her mind, dripping with satisfaction. “You know what to do.”

Crystal exhaled slowly, feeling the rush of blood surge through her veins. She pressed forward, silent as death itself, a figure cloaked in shadow. The flimsy lights used at this chokepoint were nothing to someone of her finesse. The next guard didn’t even have time to raise his weapon before his blood betrayed him. A single flick of her fingers sent a droplet through flesh, and his life drained out of him in an instant. It was like watching water bleed down the drain.

Two left.

Her presence, if not location, was known now. One of the remaining guards started shooting, his expression tight with fear. Crystal could feel the tension in the air and taste the panic in the blood coursing through the room. She could hear it—the thrum of their hearts beating faster and faster, like prey trying to escape the inevitable. The bullets flew harmlessly through her form, impacting the wall behind her. She was a liquid shadow; one would run from, not fight.

But there was no escape.

The last two guards were the easiest due to their fear. She twisted their blood against them, a simple manipulation of the forces running through their veins, and they collapsed, choking on their life force as their hearts were crushed without mercy. Terror caused such high blood pressure that the act was mere child’s play for Crystal.

The dimly lit room was silent now, save for the frantic breathing of Julio’s Lieutenant, who stood frozen, staring at the five bodies. Their implants read nothing alive, not anymore. Crystal was met with terrified eyes as she appeared out of the shadows like her namesake, Phantom, turning from a crimson liquid shadow to flesh and bone.

“W-wait!” the Lieutenant stammered, backing up until he hit the stone wall behind him. His eyes were terrified, the silent scream deep within them. “I—I can help you! I swear! I know things!”

Crystal approached slowly, her eyes narrowing as she focused on the erratic beat of his heart. His blood called to her, weak and trembling. She could end him with a single thought, drain him dry without lifting a finger. But that wasn’t what Cho wanted.

Not yet.

“Those without value are merely meat to feed the worms,” she said coldly, raising her right hand, her magic coiling thin streamers of blood around her arm like a serpent ready to strike.

But just as she was about to end it, Cho’s voice cut through the silence, calm and measured. “Wait.” The Lieutenant’s eyes flashed from despair to hope as he heard the magical voice halting the guillotine’s blade.

Crystal paused, her blood magic still thrumming with anticipation, acting her part. “Why bother? He can’t have anything worth being spared. One more piece off Julio’s little gameboard, I say.”

“The Lieutenant has his uses,” Cho replied, amusement lacing her tone. “Let him talk; Julio is good at two things. Molding toys and running like a cornered rat.”

The Lieutenant blinked rapidly, his panic bubbling as he realized his only value was betrayal. “T-talk? Yes! Yes, I can—I can give you anything! Information, connections—everything, there’s nothing worth more than my life!”

Crystal’s eyes narrowed, her fingers twitching with the urge to finish him off. She wanted to remove another piece of Julio’s force off the board. But Cho was always playing a deeper game. It wasn’t just about the kill—it was about control. Dominance. Power.

She lowered her hand slightly, but the blood magic still hummed beneath her skin, a silent threat. “You work for Cho now,” she said softly, her voice as dangerous as the magic flowing through her veins. “But don’t think for a second you’re safe.”

The Lieutenant, Carter, from the information she ripped out of his system, swallowed hard, his body trembling. “I-I won’t! I’ll do whatever you say!”

Crystal stepped closer, her face inches from his, the magic thrumming around them. “Remember, Carter. I can feel your blood. Wherever you go, whatever you do, I’ll know. You won’t be able to hide.”

Carter nodded frantically; his relief mixed with the terror of knowing just how close he had come to death.

Cho’s voice echoed softly in Crystal’s mind, satisfied. “Bring him in. We’ve got work to do.”

Crystal grabbed Carter by the collar, her eyes narrowing as she felt the rhythmic pulse of his fear running beneath her fingertips. His blood told her everything: his terror, his confusion, his desperate hope that he might survive this. But she knew better. This was only the beginning of his end. She reached out and took control, turning Carter into little more than a puppet. It was sinfully easy with how terrified the man was of her power.

They made their way through the twisting catacombs, Carter moving like a wooden puppet beside her, his breath hitching with every step. Crystal didn’t bother speaking to him. Her focus was already shifting to what was coming next—what Cho had planned. This wasn’t just about gathering information. Cho wanted to break him, to take everything he knew and then some. And for that, Crystal knew exactly what tool would be used.

Above ground, the city was a monolith of noise and lights, a stark contrast to the suffocating silence of the tunnels below. They moved quickly through the backstreets, navigating alleys and hidden routes known only to those who lived in the city's underbelly. The Valentino cartel may have ruled these streets on paper, but Crystal and Cho had carte blanche thanks to Eve.

Cho was waiting for them when they arrived at one of her hidden safehouses, an unassuming warehouse on the outskirts of the industrial district. It was sterile and high-tech inside, a clean contrast to the chaos outside. Crystal pushed Carter into a chair in the center of the room, his body trembling as he glanced around at the cold, metallic surroundings. Even now, he thought he could somehow weasel his way to life.

Cho stepped forward, her expression calm, almost gentle. She was dressed in sleek black, her eyes bright with intelligence and purpose. A slim, modified Braindance (BD) Wreath hung from her fingers. The wreath was a slick piece of technology, but Cho had made modifications after talking with Crystal. It wasn’t just a tool for pleasure or entertainment, not now. This version was far darker, capable of manipulating the mind in ways that most couldn’t even comprehend. It was far beyond what Crystal had used before back at the farm.

“Carter,” Cho said smoothly, her voice a calming balm against the tension in the room. “You’ve made some bad decisions. But it’s not too late for you to fix that.”

Carter nodded frantically, sweat beading on his forehead. “I—I’ll do anything. Just—just don’t kill me. I’ll give you whatever you need.”

“Oh, I know you will,” Cho replied her smile just a touch too sharp. “But first, we need to ensure you’re in the right... mindset.”

She moved behind him, the BD Wreath hovering above his head. Crystal watched, silent, her senses attuned to every beat of his pulse, every fluctuation in his fear. His body started twitching, trying to fight through the force controlling his blood and bones. It was a fruitless last-ditch attempt. This was Cho’s game now.

Cho leaned in, her voice a whisper against Carter’s ear. “This will help you, Carter. It will calm you down. Make you more... open to the truth.”

The Wreath snapped into place with a soft click, its tendrils locking onto Carter’s temples. His body tensed momentarily before relaxing, the device humming softly as it began to work. The BD was playing a custom program designed specifically for this moment. Crystal could feel the subtle shifts in Carter’s heartbeat, the way his body reacted to the stimuli flooding his mind.

Cho had designed the program to addict, to hook the subject in depth before stripping away their will to resist. Carter was no exception; he was only human, after all. Within minutes, his eyes glazed over, his breathing slowing as he became completely immersed in the false realities fed into his brain. Pleasure, relief, and a strange sense of calm washed over his face, the wreath's program pulling him deeper into obedient enslavement.

Cho watched him carefully, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “There we go,” she said softly. “Now we’re getting somewhere.”

She circled back in front of him, crouching down to look into his vacant eyes. “Tell me, Carter. What do you know about Julio’s inner circle?”

At first, Carter’s voice was hesitant, his lips trembling as the truth fought to escape. “I... I know some things. Names. People. Deals...”

Crystal’s senses prickled with anticipation. The blood in Carter’s veins was thrumming faster now, the tension of revealing secrets rising inside him. The addiction was taking hold, but so was the fear. He was fighting against himself, against what he knew he shouldn’t say.

Cho leaned closer, her voice a low purr. “You can tell me, Carter. It’ll feel so good to tell the truth.” Her voice was like velvet-coated chocolate, sinful and sweet.

Carter shuddered, his mouth opening and closing as the words stumbled out of him. He began to talk haltingly, then faster, more desperate, as the Wreath dug deeper into his psyche. He named names, locations, gang insiders, and corporation dealings that even Crystal hadn’t heard of. His voice was thick with terror but also with the undeniable pull of the drug-like pleasure the Wreath was feeding into his mind. Carter’s heartbeat fluttered like a small trapped bird on the edge of life.

Crystal stood by, watching the scene unfold with clinical detachment. This was a slow death for Carter. He didn’t even realize it yet, but he was already finished. He had sealed his fate the moment he had given up his first piece of information.

After what felt like hours, Cho stood, satisfied, no longer whispering to guide the living dead man's memory. She removed the BD Wreath from Carter’s head, leaving him dazed and slumped in the chair. His eyes were glassy, his body twitching slightly as the aftereffects of the program ran through his system.

“Good work, Carter,” Cho said, her tone dripping with mock sympathy. “You’ve been very helpful.”

Carter blinked slowly, his mind still clouded. “I—I did what you wanted,” he murmured, his voice hoarse. “Please... let me go. I told you everything...”

Crystal stepped forward now, her movements deliberate, predatory. Carter’s blood thrummed in her ears; each beat a desperate plea for survival. But there would be no mercy.

“We don’t need you anymore,” Crystal said softly, her voice carrying the weight of finality.

Carter’s eyes widened, panic flooding his system. “No—wait—please! You said—”

But before he could finish, Crystal raised her hand, her magic flowing through her veins like liquid fire. She reached out, her fingers twitching slightly, and Carter gasped as his body seized up, his veins bulging grotesquely beneath his skin. “Just another test subject to what I will do to Julio. Goodbye, Carter.”

Crystal’s magic took hold of his blood, twisting it against him, forcing it to move in ways it was never meant to. Carter’s bubbling screams filled the room as his blood began to boil, his skin turning an unnatural shade of red as the heat consumed him from the inside out. She was vaporizing the very essence of life within his body.

Carter clawed at his chest, his eyes wild with pain and terror, but there was nothing he could do, his own body forced him to stay in the chair, powerless to resist. Crystal’s magic was relentless, her control absolute. She watched, her expression cold, as Carter’s body convulsed, his blood turning to steam inside him. The veins beneath his skin burst open, spraying the walls with crimson vapor streaks as he writhed and twitched in the throes of molten agony.

It wasn’t long before the last of Carter’s life dripped out of him, leaving only a broken, bloodied shell slumped in the chair. The room was silent, except for the faint blood pooling onto the floor.

Crystal stepped back, her body humming with the residual euphoric power of her magic. She glanced at Cho, who was watching with a satisfied smile.

“Well,” Cho said, her voice smooth and light. “That was quite the show.”

Crystal wiped the blood from her hands, her expression unreadable. “He deserved worse. Even with my Patron, it will take years to get some of those rescued to Lucy’s level of sanity.”

Cho tilted her head, considering. “Maybe he might have deserved worse, true. But he served his purpose. And now we know more than Julio ever wanted us to. Padre won’t be able to ignore the link to the Animals he gave us.”

Crystal nodded, her mind already shifting to the next step. Carter had been nothing more than a means to an end. And there would be more like him. More bodies to break, more blood to spill. The scent of copper on her tongue grew more assertive as her eyes glowed with anger.

The hunt was only beginning.