The forest surrounded him closely, feeling very quiet and still.
The moonlight tried to shine through the thick trees, but its light bent and moved through the shadows.
Raven was breathing fast but steady, and the cold air made each breath feel sharp.
His Blood Sense throbbed faintly under his skin, like a second heartbeat.
There was definitely something lurking out there—something alive and craving. The faint pulse of life forces hinted at danger, with each pull feeling chaotic and unsettling.
Even though he couldn't see anything, he could sense the threat drawing nearer.
Then he saw the eyes. Two red lights appeared in the darkness, shining like small, unpleasant lights. The bushes made noise as strange shapes came out of the shadows.
Raven's heart raced. Grade D Shadow Beasts.
These creatures looked strange—thin fur stuck to their thin, bony bodies. Their sharp claws shined and dripped with saliva as they growled. They moved in quick, sudden ways while walking around him.
I've faced worse… right? He tried to brace himself, but that painful reality in his chest said otherwise. He was running low on mana—he had used most of it up during hours of brutal training earlier in the day.
Suddenly, the first beast launched at him out of nowhere.
Raven quickly turned and flicked his wrist. Blood chains shot out from his fingers like living ropes.
They wrapped around one creature and slammed it to the ground with a nasty crunch. The beast howled and tried to break free from the magic.
The second beast charged at him, claws shining in the dim light.
Raven jumped aside just in time, barely avoiding the swipe that cut through the air where he had been standing.
Too slow. He realized this and clenched his teeth as he got up. His instincts were sharp, but his magical energy was almost gone. He couldn't keep fighting like this for long.
The beasts got closer. Their sharp teeth snapped just inches from him, and their claws scraped the ground, ready to attack again. This wasn't a fair fight—he clearly couldn't win.
And just then, a voice broke through the chaos.
A soft yet assertive whisper sliced through his rising panic.
"You've grown… but now, take the next step."
The voice didn't come from outside—it came from inside him. Connected to the blood magic deep inside. Before he could understand what was happening, a sudden rush of energy shot through his body.
Pure power spread under his skin, strong and unstoppable, pushing him beyond what he thought he could do.
His legs shook, and he almost fell, but he stayed standing. What used to be a small spark of his Blood Sense now burned bright, making everything around him clear and sharp.
He didn't need to look—he could feel the beasts, every muscle ready for their next move. His mind was filled with a strong, burning confidence: this was a breakthrough.
---
Level up
– New Status –
Level: 4
Class:Rogue / Blood Seeker
Title:Blood Seeker
Attributes:
- Health: 100 (+20)
- Mana: 70 (+20)
- Strength: 10 (+2)
- Agility: 13 (+2)
- Intelligence: 11 (+2)
Skills:
- Blood Manipulation: Trial
- Blood Chain: Level 3
- Blood Sense: Active
- Blood Summoning: Newly Unlocked
Special Summoning: Death Knight
- Basic Combat: Level 3
---
Raven gasped as the energy flow within him. He felt like he might burst from the inside, but the magic was totally his. It responded to him.
"'Blood Summoning,' he mumbled. The name stuck in his head, appearing out of nowhere but feeling solid.
He had come across it before—a part of true mastery, a skill used by the most dangerous Bloodcraft users. And now, it was his.
The beasts picked up on the change too. They weren't snarling with wild fury anymore; instead, they hesitated, moving cautiously.
Without thinking, Raven knelt down, placing his hands into the ground.
Crimson shadows swirled from his palms, sinking into the soil like veins spreading through flesh. The air changed. The forest seemed to pull back.
From the ground, something stirred.
It was a faint sound, like metal scraping against stone. Dark smoke billowed up, twisting and taking form as a tall figure—bigger than Raven himself.
Dressed in dark armor etched with ancient runes, this entity knelt before him, black mist surrounding him.
"Master," it rumbled in a voice as cold as death, with an strange resonance. "What is your command?"
Raven's breath caught in his throat at the creature's presence.
The Death Knight—a manifestation of vengeance and blood. This was more than mere arts; it was raw power, death itself.
"Fight," Raven ordered, his voice low but steady.
The Death Knight didn't hesitate. It stood tall and moved with deadly intent toward the circling beasts.
The shadows cloaked it—an exercise in futility. Each swipe from their claws met nothing but solid armor.
One by one, the creatures fell, dispatched with brutal efficiency.
Bones shattered, and lifeless bodies hit the ground. The imposing figure wasted no energy, no gestures, no noise. It was the ultimate predator.
Once the last beast collapsed into the underbrush, the Death Knight turned and knelt again before its master.
Its form flickered and then dissolved, swirling away like ash in the wind.
Raven dropped to his knees, gasping for breath as he used up too much mana.
His fingers shook as he pressed them into the dirt. The surge was gone, but something remained—a newfound clarity, a spark of understanding.
"Not mastered… but getting there."
Then he heard the soft snap of a branch, jolting him from his thoughts.
Footsteps—slow, measured. Someone was approaching.
Raven's muscles tightened, and his dagger slipped from its sheath. His fingers curled around the hilt, getting ready to strike.
"Didn't think I'd find you out here," Adrian said dryly, his eyes taking in the remains of the fallen beasts and the scorched earth.
Raven kept his dagger up but didn't point it at him. "Blood Summoning is real, and it's stronger than I imagined."
Adrian's smirk widened, a dark glint in his eyes. "Blood Summoning... nice. You're improving quicker than they thought. Quicker than they thought." He stressed the last word like it was a warning.
Raven narrowed his eyes. "So, what's your deal? Here to rub it in, mess things up, or just to save your own skin?"
Adrian stepped closer, his bravado fading into something more serious. "Look, Raven. We've had our clashes, sure.
But right now, we need to work together—like it or not. The Third Guard, the Order, the Empire—they're all keeping an eye on us."
Raven let out a bitter laugh. "You ditched the others. Killed them all. How am I supposed to trust you?"
""Sacrifices," Adrian said, his voice tough. "You can't beat the system without breaking few rules. I'm here now, that's the deal. If you like it or not doesn't really matter."
The air was chilly, filled with tension that felt heavier than the cold itself. They were two forces caught up in the same storm, both unsure about trusting one another.
---
A faint crack echoed through the branches, and both men turned their eyes toward the treeline.
"Someone's coming," Adrian whispered, sounding on guard.
Raven activated his Blood Sense, sending out waves of magic like ripples in calm water.
The energy was faint but clear: a lone figure, cloaked and moving stealthily, was approaching quickly.
"They found us," Raven murmured, his eyes sharp as they scanned the shadows.
Adrian's face darkened. "Do we fight or run?"
Raven clenched his jaw. "Let's fight, but let's do it smart."
The forest closed in around them, holding its breath as the unknown figure approached quietly but with deadly intent.
Raven steadied himself, feeling the surge of power beneath his skin. He got his dagger ready. This time, he wouldn't be a pawn.
Not now. Not ever.
The footsteps grew louder, crunching softly over dry leaves and twigs. Raven's heart raced like a war drum—not out of fear, but as a signal to act.
The figure stepped out of the shadows—a scout from the Imperial Vanguard, dressed in muted armor, their face hidden under a heavy hood.
Silent as a shadow, they moved with practiced ease, a dagger catching the moonlight.
Raven and Adrian exchanged a quick look, an unspoken agreement forming between them. It was no longer about old grudges or broken alliances. It was about survival, plain and simple.
"Ready?" Adrian asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Always," Raven replied, his voice steady, full of determination.
The scout lunged at them.
Raven's blood magic flared up instantly. Chains of scarlet wrapped around the attacker's limbs like living chains.
The scout snarled and struggled, but the *Blood Chain* held strong. Before they could pull out a weapon, Raven summoned every bit of agility and strength he had, his dagger flashing through the air.
The fight was quick—fast, brutal, and precise. And as the scout collapsed to the ground, Raven felt the heavy realization of what his journey meant.
No more would he be a pawn in the empire's ruthless game. No more would he remain in someone else's shadow.
He was the Blood Seeker.
Raven sheathed his dagger and took a deep breath, the cool night air refreshing against his warmed skin.
Behind him, Adrian cracked a hesitant smile.
"For now," Adrian said.
Raven locked eyes with him, a fierce spark igniting within.
"For now."