Chapter 5: Blood Moon Hunt

The wind shifted.

Not the normal kind. Not a breeze. Not the smell of Manila's usual chaos — gasoline, fried street food, and sweat.

No.

This wind carried something heavier. Metallic. Wet. Alive.

Blood.

Kael stiffened. His hand shot out, pushing me behind him. His crimson eyes narrowed, scanning the rooftop's shadows.

"...Stay close," he muttered. His voice wasn't cocky now. No grin. No jokes. Just sharp. Controlled.

"What... What is it?" I whispered, my heart jackhammering against my ribs.

His fingers twitched. "Clan Enforcer... maybe more." His jaw clenched. "Pureblood muscle. Heavy-hitters."

A step echoed. Not light. Not rushed.

Heavy.

Concrete cracked beneath it.

Another step.

Then... the air twisted.

A figure landed on the rooftop — no, slammed down. Metal pipes snapped. Dust exploded outward.

And there it was.

Massive. Seven feet tall. Broad shoulders layered in flesh that shimmered between human skin and something wrong. Veins pulsed black beneath it. Its back was hunched, muscles rippling like a beast barely contained in a humanoid frame.

Arms — long. Too long. Fingers that ended in claws thicker than knives.

Its face... was the worst part.

Skin stretched too tight. A mouth that split wider than any human jaw should. Teeth — dozens — not straight, but jagged. Layered. Designed not to cut... but tear.

And its eyes.

Bright. Solid crimson. No whites. No pupils. Just glowing orbs of hunger.

It inhaled — a long, wet sound like meat sliding over bone.

"...Found you..." The voice was a gurgle. Deep. Bone-rattling.

Kael's hands flicked — twin daggers slid from his sleeves. His stance shifted. Fluid. Ready.

"...Akira..." His voice was low. Dead serious. "Listen to me. This isn't a fight we win. Not straight."

My breath hitched. "W-What—"

"We run."

Crunch.

Another sound. To the left. A second figure leaped onto the rooftop.

Smaller. Sleeker. Female. Her form shifted between human and shadow — her legs bent backward like a spider, arms stretching into hooked talons. Long black hair whipped in the wind like smoke.

Her mouth curled. "The Half-Blood... and the new Core-Bearer..." Her voice dripped venom. "How cute."

My knees buckled. "Th-There's two—"

Kael cursed under his breath. "Yeah. Clan's serious."

The brute's foot dragged forward, cracking the concrete. "The Veil Core... Give it. Now."

"I... I don't..." My vision swam. My chest burned. That same heat. That same crawling itch beneath my skin.

The hunger.

It surged.

I felt it ripple — from my ribs, up my throat, through my fingertips.

Kael glanced at me, saw the tremor. "Kid. Focus. Not here. Not now."

But the brute didn't wait.

With a roar that split the air, it charged.

Kael moved first. A blur. His daggers flashed — one aimed for the brute's neck, the other for its knee.

CLANG.

Metal struck bone — no, harder than bone. The brute's skin was like iron. Sparks flew. Kael flipped back, but not before the beast's arm swung.

BOOM.

Kael was launched. Slammed into the water tank — it buckled.

"KAEL—!"

The spider-woman lunged — straight at me.

I stumbled back. "N-No—"

Her claws slashed — a blur.

Instinct.

Something cracked in my chest.

My hand flew up. Not with thought — with something else.

SNAP.

My fingers weren't fingers anymore. Claws. Long. Curved. Black edged in crimson glow.

Her talons met mine — steel on steel.

The shockwave flung both of us back.

She landed perfectly — crouched, grinning. "Oho... So the Core's waking up, huh?" Her tongue slid over her lips. "Delicious."

Me? I crashed. Rolled. Skidded. My bones... didn't break.

Why didn't they break...?

My body felt... lighter. Stronger. And hot. Every pulse in my veins burned like molten iron.

I tasted blood — not mine.

The brute stomped toward me. "GIVE IT BACK...!"

Kael staggered to his feet, spitting blood. "Kid — listen — if you let the Core take over... you won't come back."

"WHAT?!"

"Hold it back — but USE IT. Push — don't fall."

Too late.

The brute swung.

I didn't dodge.

I caught it.

Both hands — caught the beast's fist.

Concrete beneath my feet cracked — spiderweb fractures spreading.

The brute's eyes widened. "...Impossible..."

I shoved.

It stumbled back.

ME.

I made it stumble.

Something inside snapped — not in fear. Not in pain. In power.

A howl ripped from my throat. My back arched. My vision burned red.

Veins blackened. My arms surged — claws longer now. My teeth — felt them — sharper, thicker.

My skin? Pale. Veined. Alive with shadow crawling beneath it.

The spider-woman lunged again.

This time... I met her mid-air.

SLASH.

My claws raked her side — blood sprayed. Thick. Black. She screamed — rage, not pain.

"YOU LITTLE—!"

Her knee drove into my ribs — I flew. Hit a wall. Cracks split the concrete.

The brute came next — hands smashing down —

I rolled. His fists cratered the rooftop where my skull was seconds ago.

Kael was back — daggers glowing now with red sigils. He leaped — plunged both blades into the brute's spine.

"GRAAAAAHHH—!"

It staggered. Grabbed him. Threw him — Kael smashed through the satellite dish, coughing blood.

Both enemies turned to me again.

"THE CORE."

Their voices blended.

My hands trembled. My knees buckled.

It's too much... I can't...

Then...

A howl. Distant. Deep.

Both the brute and spider-woman froze.

Their heads snapped to the west.

Kael coughed. Smirked. "...Backup?"

The brute growled. "...No. Not backup..." His eyes narrowed. "...A Witness."

The spider hissed. "...Damn it. Can't kill him in front of... them."

She glared at me, lips curling. "You're lucky tonight, Core-Bearer. But luck... runs out fast."

Both figures stepped back. Their bodies shimmered — shadows twisted — and in seconds... gone.

Vanished. Like smoke in wind.

Silence.

My legs gave out. I collapsed. Claws scraping the floor.

Kael limped over. Dropped beside me. "...Hell of a first fight, huh...?"

I gasped. Chest burning. "...What... the hell... was that...?"

Kael wiped blood from his mouth. His eyes scanned the horizon, serious. "...That howl..." He stood, wincing. "...Someone else is watching us."

His gaze narrowed. "And I don't think... they're gonna stay in the shadows much longer."