The Blood Hunt Begins

The cold night air settled around Kellvin like a heavy cloak, but he hardly noticed.

His mind was racing.

The Imperial Blood Council already knows about me.

The words of the hooded assassin echoed in his thoughts. If the nobles had taken notice of his awakening, then his life was no longer his own. He had two choices—run or fight.

And Kellvin had already made his decision.

A slow grin curled his lips. "Let them come."

But if he was going to survive what was coming, he needed more than just raw power. He needed control.

And there was only one way to get it.

Kellvin sat cross-legged in the ruined corner of his hideout, his heart still pounding from the battle. He could feel the power of the Bloodlord's Grimoire stirring inside him, waiting to be unlocked.

His fingers brushed against his chest, where the Bloodlord's Mark had appeared before fading beneath his skin.

"What are you hiding?" he wondered.

Then, as if in response—

[New Ability Unlocked: Blood Dominion - First Gate.]

[Condition to Unlock Further Power: Absorb 10 More Blood Essences.]

A surge of heat flooded through his veins, sending shivers down his spine. His hands trembled, his breath hitched—his very blood was shifting, evolving.

And then, knowledge poured into his mind.

Blood Dominion.

A power wielded only by those who had mastered the Bloodlord's path. A power that allowed its user to control blood—both their own and that of others.

Kellvin's vision swam with images of warriors standing over battlefields, bending blood to their will like weapons, forming spears, shields, even armor.

And all of them had started the same way—

By absorbing the blood of the strong.

A dark hunger stirred within him.

The path to true power had been revealed.

Now he needed prey.

Kellvin didn't waste time.

The slums of the Dominion Empire's lower districts were filled with scum—mercenaries, thieves, and killers who preyed on the weak. They would do perfectly.

The moment he stepped onto the streets, his Blood Sense flared to life.

Heartbeats.

Distant, some rapid with excitement, others slow and calm.

Then—he caught a scent.

Blood. Fresh. Nearby.

He followed the scent down a narrow alley, his movements silent, his presence unseen.

A group of three men stood gathered around a corner, laughing as they kicked the body of some poor fool who had crossed them.

Kellvin recognized them.

They were Black Fang enforcers—low-tier thugs who worked for a notorious gang in the lower districts.

Perfect.

He stepped forward, letting his voice cut through the air like a blade.

"Did you enjoy your little game?"

The men froze.

One of them, a broad-shouldered brute with a missing ear, turned and sneered. "The hell are you supposed to be?"

Kellvin smiled. "Your next mistake."

The thug's eyes darkened. "Oh, you've got a mouth on you, huh?" He cracked his knuckles and gestured to his men. "Teach this little shit a lesson."

The first one charged, a knife flashing in his grip.

Kellvin barely moved.

His body reacted on instinct.

He stepped aside, twisting with inhuman speed, and caught the man's wrist in midair. With a single sharp movement, he twisted—a sickening snap echoed through the alley.

The man screamed, his knife clattering to the ground.

Kellvin didn't stop.

His free hand lashed forward, striking the thug in the chest with bone-crushing force. The impact sent him crashing into the alley wall, leaving a bloody smear as he slumped to the ground.

The other two gangsters staggered back, their bravado gone in an instant.

Kellvin stepped forward, his eyes glowing faintly red. "Who's next?"

The remaining thugs turned to flee.

Too late.

Kellvin moved faster than their eyes could follow, closing the distance in a heartbeat. His hand clamped around the throat of the second man, lifting him off the ground.

The thug's eyes bulged in terror. He tried to scream—but Kellvin sank his fangs into his neck.

A rush of warmth. Power. Strength.

[Blood Essence Absorbed.]

[Strength +1. Reflexes +2.]

He dropped the corpse, his eyes flicking toward the last remaining gangster, who had collapsed to his knees in sheer horror.

"P-please," the man stammered. "D-don't—"

Kellvin didn't even let him finish.

One swift strike to the skull—and the man crumpled.

[Blood Essence Absorbed.]

[New Ability Unlocked: Blood Vision.]

Kellvin exhaled slowly, feeling the newfound power rushing through his veins. His muscles were stronger, his senses sharper—he could see farther, hear more, even smell the lingering fear in the air.

He clenched his fists, staring down at the lifeless bodies around him.

This was only the beginning.

He had nine more Blood Essences to absorb before the next stage of his evolution.

And the slums were full of prey.

Unbeknownst to him, a figure watched from the rooftops above.

Cloaked in shadows, their piercing golden eyes observed the scene below with calm precision.

A faint smirk curled their lips.

"So, the fledgling is already hunting."

The wind shifted, and with a flicker of movement, the figure vanished into the night.

Kellvin had no idea…

That he was already being hunted in return.