West Valoria

———Red———

I head west, towards the vampiric lands—a place no sane person dares to tread. Their lair lies hidden within a cavern deep in the mountains, a black mark on Valoria's map. It's a valley of death and despair, whispered about in every tavern and feared by all: travelers, couriers, even the bravest hunters avoid it at all costs.

Everyone in Valoria knows to steer clear, but I press on. A voice in the back of my mind urges me to turn back, but the thought of Alyse in Muthos' clutches is stronger than my fear. I would risk anything, even becoming one of those cursed creatures, to save her.

As I enter the cave, the air grows colder. I move carefully, descending deeper into the earth, navigating between jagged rocks. Extinguished torches litter the ground, eerie reminders of those who came before and never returned.

Soon, the tunnel opens into a vast chamber. A waterfall cascades down from a cliffside, its roaring echo filling the room. The water flows beneath my feet, dark and swift. Behind the waterfall, a strange red glow pierces the shadows, casting an ominous light across the cavern. It scatters like blood-tinged sunlight through broken glass, filling the room with an unsettling warmth.

———Domnik———

I watch as the ethereal light I've been following attaches itself to a figure in the distance, a boy. He steps into a cave marked by a dark symbol, unmistakable: the sigil of Muthos, the vampiric god, my uncle.

"Damn it, he's going to get himself killed," I mutter under my breath, quickening my pace, chasing after him into the cave.

I move as quietly as I can, every muscle tense, trying not to alert the vampires lurking within. But there's a part of me that wants to charge in recklessly, grab him, and drag him out before it's too late.

From the shadows, I watch him enter a chamber, his movements cautious, scanning the room. Behind the waterfall, I spot the faint orange glow of eyes watching, waiting.

"Move, kid. Move," I whisper, crouching behind a rock, heart racing. More eyes begin to appear, flickering in the darkness, creeping toward him like predators closing in on their prey.

———Red———

I stare into the waterfall as the lights shift from a dull orange to an eerie yellow, multiplying before my eyes, each splitting into pairs. My heart pounds as I realize their eyes, watching me. I grip my axe tighter, drawing it from my waist and stepping back, every instinct screaming danger.

"You shouldn't be here, child," a voice echoes from behind the falls, smooth and menacing. A figure emerges, pale and twisted.

"Stay back or I'll—" I begin, my voice shaking but steady.

"You'll what?" Another voice cuts me off, this one feminine, dripping with mockery. "You can't kill us. You're just a boy." Her words slither through the air as she draws closer, hand outstretched, her nails long and sharp.

"Watch me," I growl, swinging the axe with all my strength. It misses, striking the cave wall instead. Sparks erupt from the impact, scattering across the ground like dying embers, but it does nothing to stop their approach.

———Domnik———

I step out from behind the rock, my runed blade, its embers glinting in the low light as I pull it free from its sheath.

"Stay away from him!" I shout, my voice cutting through the tension.

The boy spins around, eyes wide with surprise. "Who the hell are you?!"

I see him clearly now in the darkness of the cave. He's wearing a worn leather jacket, frayed at the edges, patched in places where it's seen one too many fights. His tunic underneath is a deep, forest green, darkened by the shadows but still vibrant enough to catch in the dim light. His pants are simple, sturdy, the kind a traveler or a hunter would wear, meant for utility more than appearance. Mud and blood stain the legs from his journey, evidence of a previous fight.

His boots are scuffed, solid, made for long treks across the rugged terrain of Valoria. Strapped across his chest is a leather belt, securing his sheath, and I can see the handle of his axe peeking out from behind his shoulder. His hair, dark brown and messy, falls in disheveled waves, damp from sweat and the humidity of the cave. His face is sharp, determined, yet there's a weariness in his eyes, those dark brown eyes that seem to pierce through the darkness, glowing faintly with a fire that refuses to be put out.

Even with all the grime and exhaustion clinging to him, there's a fierceness to him, like he's ready to fight his way through anything or anyone. His muscles are taut, every part of him coiled and ready, like a wolf on the hunt. The shadows cling to him, but they can't hide the resolve burning beneath his skin.

I move closer, my blade ready, as the vampires close in, their hissing filling the air like a warning.

"Hey, I'm serious—put your sword away," the boy snaps, lifting his axe toward me. He hasn't noticed them yet—the shadows creeping up behind him, the glow of their eyes like embers in the dark.

"Kid, behind you!" I shout.

———Red———

I whirl around just in time to see the glowing eyes bearing down on me. Without thinking, I swing my axe with all my strength. It slices through the vampire's arm like butter, severing it cleanly. The creature lets out a sharp hiss, then a high-pitched squeal, staggering backward.

From deep within the cave, a chorus of growls rises—guttural, feral, and far too many.

"Oh, shit..." the man behind me mutters, his tone grim. "We need to get out of here, now, kid."

———Domnik———

"Don't call me kid, I've got this," he snaps, his voice hard and defiant.

I shake my head, my patience thinning. "No, you don't. We're getting out of here."

I grab his arm and yank him back, spinning us around to flee.

"Let go, bitch!" He thrashes, slapping and punching, desperate to break free.

I grunt and hurl him out of the cave's entrance. He tumbles across the grass, his axe skidding out of reach.

"Are you serious?" he shouts, furious.

"Stay there," I snap, my sword still in hand. "I'll handle this."

As I turn back, a swarm of bats explodes from the cave, filling the night sky. Their screeching echoes in the darkness. I grip my sword tighter, my senses sharp. From the cave's depths, I see their eyes, orange, glowing, and multiplying. I hear rustling behind me and glance over my shoulder. The boy's up again, retrieving his axe, and silently positioning himself behind me.

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Before us, the vampires pour out, a legion of the undead, their numbers endless. Leading them is one clad in red-gold armor, gleaming even in the moonlight. Veyron, their leader. I know the name, though I've never laid eyes on him before.

"Wrathrune," Veyron sneers, his voice cold and commanding, "it's a surprise to see you visiting so soon after refusing our aid."

"I'm not visiting, Veyron. I'm here to warn you," I say, my voice steady. "A storm's coming, one you can't hope to survive."

"You come to my home and threaten me?! You'll pay for this Domnik. Muthos will have your head!"

The greatsword on my back hums, its dark flames searing through the fabric of my tunic. My hand instinctively reaches for its handle, but I grasp nothing but air. I whip around, my heart skipping a beat and see that the boy is holding it, the blade's dark embers swirling around his hands, the hilt already merging with his flesh.

"What are you doing?" I shout, panic rising in my chest.

He lifts his head, eyes glowing with a fierce white light. "Go back into your pit, or face me," he commands, his voice eerily calm.

Veyron laughs, a chilling sound that sends a shiver down my spine. "Child, you don't know the difference between bravery and folly. You have no idea who we are."

Mist begins to creep across the land, thickening into an impenetrable fog. The air grows colder.

I turn back to the vampires, my jaw set. "Go back into your hole, Veyron."

Veyron's lips curl into a smirk. "Domnik, your father would be disappointed to see you protecting a child."

The boy's voice growls, unnaturally deep, his power radiating through the air. "Do not call me child," his words echoing like a thunderclap through the canyon.

———Red———

The air was thick with tension as Veyron steps forward, his red-gold armor gleaming in the dim light. His glowing orange eyes fixed on me, fangs visible beneath a cruel smile. I tighten my grip on the greatsword as it hums in my hands with a heat that was almost alive.

"So, Wrathrune's pet dares to wield such a weapon," Veyron sneers, his voice low and dripping with mockery. "Do you really believe that blade can save you?"

I say nothing, my muscles tensing as I prepare for what's coming. The ground beneath my feet seems to pulse with energy, the blade vibrating in my grasp, its dark flames flickering along the edge of the blade.

Veyron's speed is blinding. One moment he's standing in front of me, the next he's vanished in a blur, reappearing at my side with his claws outstretched. I barely have time to react, swinging the greatsword in a wide arc. The flames roar to life as it collides with his gauntlet, the metal sizzling as the blade's heat sears through it.

Veyron hisses, recoiling, but he isn't done. He leaps back, crouching low and circling me like a predator, his eyes never leaving mine.

"You're fast," I say through gritted teeth, watching his every movement, "but not fast enough."

With a growl, I surge forward, my weapon cleaving through the air. Veyron dodges again, moving in a blur as the blade's tip sparks against the stone of the cave's exterior. This time, I follow up with a spinning strike, pivoting on my heel to bring the sword around in a deadly arc. The dark flames erupted along the blade, sending waves of heat crashing against the vampire lord. The weight of the blade nearly knocking me off balance.

Veyron's eyes widen, and he barely manages to deflect the blow with his forearm. The flames licking at his armor, melting the gold plating, and he howled in pain. Taking advantage of his momentary distraction, I press the attack, swinging the blade down with all my might.

The blade finding its mark, slashes across Veyron's chest, tearing through metal and flesh alike. He staggers back, black blood oozing from the wound.

With a snarl, Veyron lashes out, his claws slicing through the air. I block and the force of his strike rattles my bones, but I hold my ground. He's powerful.

I push back, slamming the flat of the blade into his chest, sending him crashing to the ground. Flames erupt from the sword, spreading across the floor and surrounding us in a circle of dark fire.

"This is for Alyse!" I roar, lifting the greatsword high, its flames swirling in the air as the heat intensifies. I bring the blade down, aiming for Veyron's heart, but he twists at the last moment, the sword carving a deep gash into his shoulder instead.

Veyron screeches, his face contorts in agony, but his eyes burn with hatred. "You'll never defeat Muthos," he spits, his voice ragged, "even with the DarkBlade. He will consume you."

I don't respond. I know what needs to be done.

With one final, savage strike, I swing the blade down, igniting in a brilliant blaze of black fire. It pierces through Veyron's chest, straight into his heart. The vampire lord lets out a final, guttural scream as the flames consume him, his body disintegrating into ash beneath the relentless heat of the black flames.

I stand there, breathing hard, surrounded by the dying embers of the vampire lord's remains.

———Domnik———

The moment Veyron's eyes lock onto the boy, the rest of the legion starts to close in around us. I grip my sword tightly, feeling the weight of it grow as the vampires creep from the shadows, their eyes glowing like embers in the dark. The air is thick with the scent of blood and decay, the vampires' hunger palpable.

"Alright kid, focus on Veyron," I mutter under my breath, watching him square off with the vampire lord. "I've got the rest."

The legion surges forward, a wave of pale, snarling bodies. Fangs bared, claws extended, they move like a pack of wolves closing in on their prey. I feel my heart race, but fear wasn't an option. There was no time to think, only react.

The first vampire lunges at me, a blur of white skin and jagged teeth. I sidestep, bringing my blade down in a sharp arc. The steel cleaves through its neck with a sickening crack, its body collapsing to the ground before disintegrating into ash.

"Who's next."

Two more come at me from either side, their movements fast, almost too fast but I've trained for this. I spin on my heel, slashing at one while kicking the other in the chest, sending it flying back into the cave wall. The one I struck lets out a shriek as my blade tore through its abdomen, black blood spraying across the grassy ground.

They kept coming. Dozens of them.

I swing my sword again, slashing through another vampire's chest, but this legion is relentless. For every one I cut down, another takes its place. They move in packs, darting in and out, their glowing eyes always watching, always calculating. I can feel their claws grazing my skin as I barely block their attacks, the sound of steel against claws filling the air.

One vampire manages to get past my defenses, its claws sinking into my arm. I grit my teeth, twisting the blade in my hand, and I drive it straight into its heart. It lets out a final, desperate gasp before crumbling into ash but I'm already bleeding, and there are still so many of them.

"Hey kid!" I call out, but I don't dare look over at him. I can't afford any distractions. Not now.

My arms ache, my breath coming in ragged gasps, but I can't stop. Not until they are all dead. The vampires circle me, waiting for an opening, their eyes glowing brighter as their bloodlust grew. I have no time to hesitate. The weight of my family's legacy presses down on me, and I feel the fury rising inside, the same dark rage I always kept at bay. But now? Now I welcomed it.

"Fine," I mutter, wiping the blood from my mouth. "Let's finish this."With a growl, I surge forward,

I feel the familiar surge of power coursing through me—horns sprout from my skull, and a fierce red glow ignites in my eyes. My teeth sharpen into deadly fangs, and I grasp my sword, watching as the blade ignites into molten fire.

With a determined thrust, I drive the sword into the earth, the impact reverberating through the ground. From the blade, a crack erupts, slicing through the soil in a jagged line before me. A brilliant light radiates from the fissure, growing larger and more intense with each passing moment.

A grin spreads across my face as the light explodes, and hundreds of fallen angels surge forth from the ground, their wings unfurling like dark banners in the night. They descend upon the vampires, reaching out with talons and fury, seizing them and dragging them down into the earth, where they vanish amidst a cacophony of screams and chaos. The tide of battle shifts as my allies unleash their wrath upon the encroaching darkness.

The ones that remain hissed, their snarls growing louder as they realize what I wield. They fear it, even if they won't admit it. The Wrathrune bloodline isn't something to be taken lightly, and they knew it.

I heard it, a scream that echoes in the distance. Veyron.

I risk a glance in Red's direction, and I see the flames from DragonsBreath engulfing the vampire lord, reducing him to nothing but ash.

The remaining vampires freeze, their eyes flickering with fear as their leader was destroyed. I stand up, sword in hand, bloodied but alive.

"Last chance," I say, voice low and dangerous. "Run."

The legion hesitates for a moment, their eyes darting between me and the glowing embers where Veyron had stood. And then, like a shadow retreating from the light, they flee, disappearing back into the darkness of the cave.