Rise, Moonborne

The sky ripped open.

Dark, like tar and thunder, the tear hovered in midair. Out of it dropped the figure—a humanoid, tall and thin, dressed in flowing white robes that shimmered with a strange, liquid light.

But where a face should have been, there was only a swirling, black void. No eyes. No mouth. Just an endless hole sucking in sound and air.

Lucian stood in front of Elira as the creature landed without a sound. Not a tremble. Not a ripple. It simply was—like death given form.

"Lucian…" Elira whispered, backing away. "That's an Eater-born… not just a scout. It's a soul-devourer."

The thing tilted its head. It knew Lucian.

From the void where eyes should've been, a voice echoed—not from the creature's mouth, but inside Lucian's head.

> "You are the Key."

Lucian winced, clutching his skull. "Get out of my head!"

> "Moonborne. Last of the Light-Eaters. Your lineage ends today."

The Eater-born raised a hand, and the entire realm twisted. Trees bent unnaturally, the sky swirled into a black funnel, and Elira cried out, holding her head in agony.

Lucian's legs buckled.

This… thing was warping the Lunaris Veil itself.

Elira shouted, "If you don't awaken your third bloodline now—we'll both be erased!"

"But I don't know how!"

"Then stop thinking—feel it! It's already inside you!"

Lucian slammed his hands into the ground as energy surged through him.

The rage of the wolf.

The thirst of the vampire.

And something else.

Something vast. Silent. Celestial.

His skin cracked with silver light.

The Eater-born lunged.

Lucian's instincts took over.

He twisted, grabbed Elira, and leapt. The ground behind them exploded into violet dust. He turned mid-air and slammed down on a boulder.

But the Eater-born hovered—slow, methodical, impossible to shake.

Lucian growled. "Fine. You want the real me?"

The moons in the sky began to glow.

Elira looked up. Her eyes widened. "The Lunar Crown… it's recognizing you!"

Lucian's feet lifted off the ground. His eyes turned bright silver. Veins of radiant light coursed across his body.

> [SYSTEM MESSAGE: MOONBORNE BLOODLINE – 37% AWAKENED]

First Form: LUNAR AWAKENING – Available.

Lucian didn't even question it. He roared.

His body erupted in silver flames.

His arms lengthened slightly, fingers sharpened into glowing claws, and his pupils shifted into perfect, glowing crescents. Lines of lunar script tattooed themselves down his neck and spine.

The moment he opened his eyes—everything changed.

Time slowed.

The Eater-born moved. But Lucian saw it before it acted.

He twisted left, ducked low, and slammed his clawed hand into its side. The creature let out a silent scream as its robe tore open, revealing black, worm-like threads writhing beneath.

Lucian followed up with a spinning kick. The energy in his limbs felt… limitless.

Every motion radiated starlight.

He was no longer fighting like a vampire, or a werewolf. His movements were clean, celestial, and precise—like he was born to do it.

The Eater-born reeled back. It tried to phase away—vanishing into the air.

But Lucian reached out and grabbed it mid-phase.

"Not this time."

He flung the creature upward—into the air where the twin moons hovered. Their light intensified, converging into a beam.

Lucian raised his hand.

> [LUNAR ART – MOON PIERCER]

A javelin of light formed in his grip.

He launched it skyward—straight into the writhing creature.

It shrieked—one final, mind-breaking cry—as the beam shattered it into dust.

Silence returned.

The Veil stopped trembling.

Lucian dropped to one knee, panting.

His silver glow faded—but the runes on his skin remained faintly lit.

Elira ran to him. "You did it. You awakened the first phase."

He looked up at her, blood still pulsing with heat. "Only… thirty-seven percent?"

Elira smiled, proud but cautious. "Your full power is sealed behind memories. Behind emotions. As you grow, the rest will awaken."

Lucian stood, slowly. "What happens now?"

She pointed at the sky. The portal home was forming again.

"You return. But know this—your presence has been noticed. That Eater-born didn't just come here by chance. Someone sent it."

Lucian clenched his jaw. "Caelum."

"Or something worse," Elira whispered.

The portal pulsed. "You must find the next piece of your memory. There's a girl in your world—she dreams of silver moons and ancient words. She's your key."

Lucian stepped into the portal, heart pounding.

His real journey was just beginning.