The viscous, crimson liquid slid down Bathilda's throat, a grotesque symphony of slurps and gurgles that filled the cavern. The taste, a metallic tang overid with the faint, sickly sweetness of decay, was both repulsive and intoxicating. Each swallow was a surge of raw power, a brutal replenishment of her dwindling life force. The three corpses, drained and shriveled, y like discarded husks, their essence now fueling her resurgence.

  A wave of warmth spread through her, mending the ragged remnants of her being. The previously mangled wing, a patchwork of torn membrane and hastily stitched sinew, shimmered with an ethereal light, the crude sutures dissolving into fwless, unbroken skin. The transformation was swift and complete, a testament to the brutal efficiency of her vampiric nature. With a renewed sense of power, she flexed her wings, the leathery expanse catching the stagnant air, ready to carry her once more.

  That was way too close, she muttered, the click of her voice bounced off the damp, rocky walls. I still can't believe I pulled it off. The memory of the bloodlust, the primal urge that threatened to consume her, sent a shiver down her spine. The thin line between control and savagery was terrifyingly fragile. I even managed to resist the pull of blood... mostly. She acknowledged the two corpses, the ones she'd dispatched before succumbing. Well... at least I killed the other two before losing myself that time, but still.

  Trying to piece together the fragmented memories of her blood-fueled frenzy, Bathilda found her mind a chaotic jumble. The moments between each gruesome feast were a blur, a series of disjointed fshes where she inhabited different, dying bodies. The only constant was the insatiable hunger, the relentless drive to consume and survive.

  "You're telling me! I thought we were going to die. You kicked ass, Bathilda!" Hiro's voice, a thin, ethereal thread in her mind, broke through her introspection.

  See? she retorted, a flicker of irritation in her tone. That's motivational. Why couldn't you say something like that before?

  "Honestly?" Hiro replied, his tone ced with a nervous tremor. "I don't know what to tell you. With how you looked and the state of your wing... I really thought that was the end for us. I was deciding what to say to that good-looking asshole when I saw him."

  Yeah, I heard that bit. Why do you think that we'll get to see God again if we die? Bathilda questioned, her voice ced with a cynical edge.

  "Everyone who lives an honest life and tries their best to help others will find their way to Paradise," Hiro offered, his voice filled with a naive optimism.

  That's my point, Hiro. What have you, or I for that matter, done in this new life that is worthy enough to get us another audience in heaven? The question hung in the air, heavy with the weight of their current predicament.

  Hiro's ethereal form seemed to shrink, his optimistic facade crumbling under the weight of Bathilda's logic. He finally grasped the gravity of their situation, the futility of his hopes while trapped within her mind.

  "We should find me a body as soon as possible," he pleaded, his voice tinged with desperation. "Then we can go on to do great things and help many people together. Do not mistake my intentions though, Bathilda. I generally just want to help people for no other reason than self satisfaction. I have no desire to go back to Paradise, unless it is but a pitstop on the path to reincarnation that is. I will never make the mistake of wishing to remain there again."

  Yeah, I don't think we can just find you a body, Bathilda retorted, her thoughts ced with skepticism. Also, don't you want to see God again? If not then why were you talking about him during the fight?

  "I'm worried that he's going to be disappointed at me for hijacking your reincarnation and leaving without permission, Hiro admitted, his voice a whisper of fear.

  Fair enough. I might be a bit worried if I was on his bad side too. But never mind God or heaven for that matter, all I want is to get out of this damn cave, Bathilda decred with a raw, primal determination. I don't particurly feel as though I've made much progress on that front though. I've definitely accomplished a couple of things, but also not much of anything else at the same time. If that make sense?

  "Not in the slightest, but again I just want to say that you did well in that st battle," Hiro offered, his voice ced with a hint of admiration.

  Thank you, Hiro. On that note, I feel as though we should head back to the base, but I'm not quite sure why? I'm certainly not tired. Maybe it's the human in me? I don't know. Either way, we're not doing that. I need to get stronger. Stronger than I am now. Strong enough so I don't have to worry about stupid Brats or their stupid tails. Strong enough to fly out of here and not have to worry about where I rest my head.

  Her voice resonated with a newfound resolve, a burning desire to transcend her current limitations.

  "I like it!" Hiro excimed, his voice filled with newfound enthusiasm.

  Good because it doesn't end there, Bathilda stated, her voice hardening.

  "What do you mean?" Hiro asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.

  Look at me, Hiro. I'm a Bat. Well actually, if you want to get technical, I'm a Blood Sucking Bat. Every time I use my detection skills, I try not to look at myself because it's weird, awkward and frankly a little scary. Now, imagine how other people are going to feel when I rock up and say, 'Hey, I can heal you, don't worry!' They're going to freak the hell out, right?

  "I see your point now. Hmm. That does not bode well for you," Hiro admitted, his voice filled with sympathy.

  Don't say it like that, asshole! If I can't help anyone like this how are you supposed too? Bathilda snapped, her frustration boiling over.

  "I'm not sure? I thought we would find a body for me, somewhere," Hiro offered, his voice ced with a hint of desperation.

  A body? Like a dead body? One that has been left out to rot and decompose? Bathilda questioned, her voice filled with disgust at Hiro's appalling suggestion.

  "I also think there's a chance you'll be able to create one?" Hiro added, his voice ced with a naive hope.

  How the hell am I supposed to make you a body? Bathilda demanded, her voice rising in exasperation.

  "I don't know? But you fire magical bdes of wind out of your wings. Since that's a thing, I'm sure you'll be able to do it. I did tell you there was no magic in my world, didn't I? I'm not entirely sure how it works yet," Hiro admitted, his voice filled with confusion.

  Then why the hell would you expect me to know? Weren't you supposed to be offering me aid in exchange for this free ride you're getting? Bathilda retorted, her voice ced with a sharp edge.

  "Well... You've been doing OK so far. You knew to evolve and level up, right?" Hiro offered, his voice ced with a weak defense.

  Only because Florence showed up as I was literally about to die just so that she could... advise me. Bitch, Bathilda growled, her voice filled with resentment.

  "Oh! That's some change in attitude. What's up with that?" Hiro asked, his voice ced with concern.

  I'm angry, Hiro. Seriously, I can't help anyone like this and it's starting to get to me. I didn't want to die in a Tornado. I didn't want to be a bat. And I definitely don't want to be stuck inside this stupid cave forever! Fucking Florence and her shitty ck of information. I'm not even sure she was a nurse in her past life at this point. Her willingness to help is just not there. Or is it just me?

  Bathilda sighed, her voice heavy with weariness. "Plus, if my evolutionary choices don't go the way I want them too, I reckon we're both screwed, Hiro."

  "So... Leveling up time?" Hiro suggested, his voice ced with a hopeful tone.

  Yes, Hiro. That's exactly what time it is, Bathilda confirmed, her voice filled with a renewed sense of purpose.

  With a powerful beat of her wings, Bathilda unched herself into the air, the echo of her flight filling the cavern. She flew towards the darkness, towards the unknown, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and determination. The quest for strength, for freedom, for a way to help others, drove her forward, pushing her to embrace the power within.