Ada sighed, still dizzy, then rolled her eyes lazily, "Seriously? Say one more thing, and I swear... bullets will dance inside your head."
The threat was only met with a nonchalant smile from Rian.
"That's right..." Rian continued in a light tone, "Until now I didn't know your name. There's no way I'm going to keep calling you the pretty lady in the red dress, right? Although... it does fit."
Ada stared at Rian for a few seconds, as if considering. The man's face was clearly shameless, and his words... really made her head spin: both literally and emotionally.
Finally, Ada let out a long breath, giving in, "Ada Wong. Just call me Ada."
Rian smiled widely, as if he had just won the lottery.
"Ah... Ada, such a short, sweet, and... mysterious name. Like the beautiful lady in the red dress herself," Rian said, putting his hand on his chest, as if moved. "Well, instead, you can call me... Rian the handsome."
Ada just blinked, then looked away with a flat expression. "I regret telling you my name."
"Hey, Ada. Please don't-"
Before Rian could finish, Ada's eyes narrowed, her left hand reflexively touching her waist, towards the gun. "One more word and I really will shoot you in the head."
Rian raised both hands, taking half a step back in a dramatic fashion. "Ouch, don't do that, Ada. This head is too precious for the world, imagine how gloomy life would be without this handsome face."
Luis, who was mixing liquids in a test tube, took a glance. "You know, amigo... If she shoots you, I won't stop him."
"What are you saying... Luis!?" said Rian pretending to be surprised.
Ada just let out a long sigh, left hand still holding her head. "Good... I've always met people with unique personalities..."
"Ooh... I'll take that as a compliment from a beautiful woman," Rian said proudly.
Just then, Luis had finished concocting the Plaga parasite suppressant and poured it into a syringe.
Without saying much, Luis approached Ada, who was sitting with her eyes closed, and injected the liquid into the neck of the woman in the red dress.
Once finished, Luis and Rian took a step back, making room.
"Remember," Luis said seriously. "This is not an antidote, just a suppressant. We still need to find a way to get the parasite out of your body."
However, the effects of the drug were yet to be seen. Ada's breathing was still heavy, and a dark purple tinge remained spread under her skin, like a root of darkness that refused to leave.
In a low voice, almost a whisper, Ada muttered softly, enough to make the atmosphere tense. "It's... coming..."
From behind a cracked wall in the distance, a figure in cult-style black robes appeared. A hood covered its face, but it could not hide the form of an insect head with fiery red eyes.
The creature's two hands were not human hands, but long sharp claws like an insectoid predator.
The creature stepped slowly, but surely, directly towards Ada.
Seeing the appearance, Luis gasped in panic. He immediately supported Ada's weak body, helping her to stand up.
"Wake up," Luis said in a worried tone, "We have to go now!"
Meanwhile, Rian walked at their side, his eyes vigilantly assessing the escape route. His right hand grasped the chainsaw handle, and his left hand prepared to pull the recoil starter.
A side mission notification suddenly appeared in front of Rian.
[Herald with serial number 90,000 has triggered a C-level Side Mission: -Helping Ada Wong-]
__________________
Title: Helping Ada Wong
Description:
Eliminate Pesanta alone, without anyone's help. Any method is allowed. However, it must be done quickly, before the Plaga parasite takes over Ada Wong's body.
Reward: 5000 System Points
__________________
Rian read the description of the side mission at a glance, 'Without getting the mission too, I will help Ada Wong.'
Closing the side mission panel, without wasting any time, the three of them immediately moved to leave the area.
Their steps were quick but cautious, passing through the shadows of the pillars and ruins of the castle.
On the way, Luis muttered, frustrated, "That drug... should work. Does it take time to react? This is a bit strange."
Moments later, they arrived behind a dark brick wall that was partially collapsed, but still sturdy enough to serve as shelter. It was far enough away from the creature, giving them time to breathe.
Suddenly, Ada brushed off Luis's hand supporting her, then leaned against the wall.
"Take Amber and go," she said weakly but firmly. "Once the parasite is sedated, I'll catch up and get it back."
Luis frowned. "I can't leave you here! It's not-"
"Please," Ada cut in, her eyes looking deeply into Luis'. Although her body was weak, the look in her eyes was sharp. "I'm really okay. You have a promise to keep, don't you?"
Luis was silent for a moment, then finally nodded. "Okay... But look for me," he said as he turned around. "After all this is over, got it?"
Ada replied with a slow nod, without a word.
Before actually leaving, Luis turned to Rian and said, "¡Amigo, can you stay with Ada?"
Rian gave a faint smile. He raised the chainsaw in his right hand, then pulled the recoil starter with one decisive movement.
VrrrMMMM! VrrrMMMM!
The loud sound roared, the chain blade spinning wildly, breaking the silence with a menacing hum.
"No need to ask," Rian said casually, his eyes flicking to Ada, "this handsome man is always ready to help anyone in need... especially if it's a beautiful woman."
With light but confident steps, Rian walked three paces away, keeping his distance while keeping watch. The chainsaw in his hand was ready for whatever came.
"After all," Rian continued in a teasing tone that slowly turned serious, "this handsome man does intend to conquer that creature."
Before actually going any further, Rian looked back slightly. "Earlier, on the way to the meeting place, I was able to read a document: it was about a cloaked, insect-like creature called 'Pesanta'."
Rian's gaze returned to the front. Deeper this time. More alert. "From its features... I believe, that creature is a Pesanta."
"And... it looks like Ada has been infected with Pesanta's parasite," Rian said, his tone now more serious than usual. "More importantly, in the document I read, it says that the parasite will die if its mother, Pesanta, is killed. Its cells cannot survive without its host."
Luis nodded quickly. Without saying much more, he quickly ran away, leaving the place.
Meanwhile, Rian began to stride towards the direction the creatures had come from. His chainsaw was still on, roaring powerfully. But after only a few steps, there was a popping sound.
BANG!
The bullet whizzed by, but hit the stone floor on its left side, splintering.
Rian stopped, then turned around casually. He found Ada, still leaning weakly against the wall, pointing the gun with trembling hands.
Rian's eyebrows raised slightly, not out of anger, but curiosity.
"Eh...? Why did you shoot this handsome man?" asked Rian, half-joking as usual, but the look in his eyes was a little deeper.
Ada looked at him sharply despite her weak body. Her voice was low, but sharp as a bullet, "Why do you want to help me?"
Rian was silent for a moment. The chainsaw in his hand was still growling softly. Then, he smiled faintly, not a mischievous smile, but sincere and warm.
"Isn't it obvious?" Rian replied slowly. "I always ready to help anyone who needs help."
"Great. Another hero with a savior complex," Ada muttered softly rolling her eyes, "but... with a fetish for mirrors and overconfidence."
Then, Rian turned around and walked away casually. The sound of his steps blended with the roar of the chainsaw that was still spinning.
"Ah... one more thing," Rian said as he turned his head halfway, a mischievous smile on his face. "This handsome man also wants to make someone owe him a favor. You know, Ada? That's not bad."
Ada lowered the gun slowly, then leaned back against the wall. Her gaze followed Rian's retreating back, before she finally let out a short breath and smiled bitterly.
"Debt, huh? You play dangerously, Chainsaw Prince." Ada continued in a light tone, but there was a hidden meaning behind it.
***
By this time, Rian had removed his ultra-black lensed glasses, hanging from the collar of his shirt, now revealing a pair of bright blue eyes, lit up in the low-light illumination.
After exploring the upper area of Salazar Castle, Rian finally arrived at a spacious balcony surrounded by old stone walls and broken stained glass windows.
There, stood a familiar figure, Pesanta. The black-robed creature stared at him with fiery red insect eyes. Around the creature, four Ganado in cult robes were already on standby.
The two Ganado in the back held crossbows, their arrows fully drawn. The other two grasped helleberds, long spears with axe blades and metal spikes, and began to step forward.
"Te voy a hacer picadillo!" shouted one of them.
"Mátalo!" exclaimed another.
"El forastero!" said another, hellberd ready to swing.
Before Rian could react, two Ganado with helleberds charged from the front, while two archers at the back aimed right at his chest.