“AWOOOOOOOOOOO!”

The wounded Crimson Fang Hound mother unleashed a powerful roar that resonated through the frozen land. It was a howl of defiance, a perfect exemplification of her indomitable spirit. The sheer force of her vocalization shattered trees and pulverized ice formations, clearing a path through the dense Blood Forest.

Close behind the fleeing beast, Tien Ha and Gerald were running side by side. Tajmani and her friends were a few meters behind them.

At the very back of the chasing mob was Raphael, struggling to keep up with the others. Despite the biting cold, sweat poured down his face, soaking his thin clothing. His breath came in ragged gasps, and his legs burned with exhaustion.

He leaped over fallen branches and dodged the scattered remains of unfortunate creatures that had been caught in the path of the Crimson Fang Hound's destructive howl. He stumbled and his foot landed in a pile of glistening entrails. The stench of death hit his nostrils and caused him to gag.

“This is…?”

Raphael grimaced as he realized the extent of the hound’s destructive power. Her howl had not only cleared a path but had also injured and killed many of the forest's inhabitants. He felt sympathy for the fallen creatures, but he couldn’t afford to dwell on it. He had to catch up with the others.

“This beast is fast for being so wounded,” Tien Ha observed.

Gerald agreed. “She’s fueled by adrenaline and maternal instincts. She’s desperate to protect her unborn pups.”

The two Silver Blood Knights exchanged a knowing glance. They increased their speed, preparing to close the distance between themselves and the fleeing hound.

However, just then, the mother Crimson Fang Hound sensed the pursuit closing in. she glanced back with her one remaining eye. Flicking her tail, she started launching multiple rapidly growing ice shards towards her pursuers.

“Incoming!” Tien Ha shouted a warning.

He and Gerald reacted instantly. They slammed their hands together, and a massive wall of condensed blood materialized in front of the group and intercepted the deadly ice projectiles.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

As the shards shattered against the crimson barrier, a shower of icy fragments began raining down on them.

The brief delay allowed the Crimson Fang Hound to gain some distance.

“Dammit, she’s persistent!” Tajmani cursed. “I won’t let her escape! Silver Blood Knights, do your job! If you fail to capture this beast, I’ll complain to my mother about your incompetence!”

“Tsk!”

Tien Ha bit back a retort. He loathed being threatened by a spoiled princess, but he knew better than to antagonize her. He simply nodded and resumed the pursuit with renewed vigor.

"Hey! Hey! Wait up!" Raphael had finally caught up with the group just as they rushed forward again, leaving him behind once more. He groaned in frustration.

Why was he always the one getting left behind?

It was becoming increasingly annoying.

…

“Halt!” Tien Ha raised his clenched fist and signaled the group to stop.

Before them stood a massive entrance to an ice cave. The jagged maw of the cave gaped open like the entrance to a frozen abyss. Twisted ice formations, resembling monstrous claws, framed the entrance, and an unnatural chill seeped out from within. The air that escaped was heavy with the metallic scent of blood.

Gerald knelt down and examined the large trail of blood that stained the pristine snow. He traced its path with his finger, following it to the cave’s entrance. “The beast has gone inside.”

Tajmani stepped ahead of the Silver Blood Knights and surveyed the blood trail herself. “It’s heavily wounded. It couldn’t have gone far. Let’s pursue it. We can finish it off inside the cave.”

Tien Ha raised a hand to caution her against such a rash decision. “Princess, we must exercise caution. We don’t know what dangers lurk within that cave. It could be a trap.”

Lin and Mei stepped forward, voicing their concerns. “Princess, it’s too risky. We could be ambushed. We don’t know what’s in there.”

Tajmani scoffed at their apprehension. “Are you afraid of a little darkness? I’m a Bloodthorne princess! I fear nothing!”

Tien Ha and Gerald exchanged a worried glance. “We’ve never encountered this ice cave structure before during our numerous visits to the Blood Forest. Could it have recently been erected? Or maybe we just missed it by chance?”

Gerald shrugged. “It’s a mystery. But we can’t afford to be careless.”

While they stood outside, debating whether or not to enter the cave, Raphael finally caught up with the group. He was panting heavily. He dropped the heavy bag onto the ground with a thud, eager to get a moment’s rest.

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“You useless dog! You’re always lagging behind! Pick that up and let’s go!” Tajmani’s sharp voice cut his eardrums.

“Tsk.”

Raphael gritted his teeth and muttered an apology. He knew that protesting would only lead to more punishment. He quickly picked up the bag and followed the others as they started walking towards the cave’s entrance.

The group moved cautiously. The Silver Blood Knights led the way, alert for any sign of danger.

The cave was pitch black, and the air grew colder with each step they took. The only sound was the dripping of water, echoing eerily through the cavernous space. The oppressive silence and darkness were unnerving, which created an atmosphere of suspense and dread.

“Ouch!” Raphael cried out as his toe struck a sharp stone. “Dammit! It’s too dark in here!”

He rummaged through the bag and pulled out a flashlight. He flicked it on, and a beam of light pierced the darkness and lit the path ahead.

“Yes, this is much better.”

Tajmani and her friends turned around and saw the flashing light. They burst into mocking laughter.

“Look at the pathetic dog! He can’t even see in the dark!” Lin jeered.

“He’s so incompetent!” Mei added, clutching her stomach as she doubled over in laughter.

Raphael’s face flushed with embarrassment. It was true that he couldn’t see in the dark like them. His bloodline powers hadn’t awakened yet, leaving him at a disadvantage in this environment.

“Maybe if I had awakened my powers, I wouldn’t need this stupid flashlight,” he muttered to himself.

“My little doggy truly knows how to make me laugh.”

As they continued to follow the blood trail, Tajmani continued to mock Raphael’s incompetence. Her taunts grew louder and more vicious with each step they took.

“Be silent, Princess,” Tien Ha finally spoke up. He was unable to bear her incessant mockery any longer. “Your noise could alert any creatures that might be lurking within this cave.”

“Hmph!” Tajmani rolled her eyes but reluctantly complied.

The group continued their cautious trek deeper into the frozen abyss.

Rumble…

Raphael was walking with them when a sudden tremor rippled through the cave. It was a subtle but unmistakable jolt that lasted for five seconds, causing everyone to pause and exchange wary glances.

“What was that?” Lin asked nervously.

“I don’t know, but it felt… unnatural.” Mei replied while scanning the surroundings.

The tremor subsided, but a new sound replaced the silence. Low growls were growing steadily louder.

“Multiple presences. And they’re not friendly.” Tien Ha confirmed.

He pointed his finger towards a bend in the cave ahead. Glowing red eyes, like burning embers, materialized in the darkness. A dozen regular-sized Crimson Fang Hounds emerged from the shadows. Ice rose from beneath them that was forming a chilling platform as they advanced towards the group.

“Stay put. I’ll take care of them.”

Tien Ha confidently stepped forward. Seven blood-red daggers materialized above his right palm, spinning rapidly. Tien Ha aimed his deadly projectiles at the approaching hounds.

“GRAAAH!”

The hounds lunged at their prey in synced coordination.

Tien Ha smirked and took a battle stance. He then unleashed his blood daggers.

“Go!”

WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

The daggers moved with incredible speed like crimson streaks of lightning. One hound tried to shield itself with a hastily erected ice wall, but the dagger shattered the barrier and pierced its heart. Another hound attempted to dodge, but the dagger changed trajectory mid-flight, impaling it through the neck. Blood splattered against the icy walls, painting the cave in a macabre mural of violence.

In a matter of seconds, Tien Ha had single-handedly slaughtered all of the hounds. Their lifeless bodies lay scattered across the cave floor.

“Impressive,” Gerald commented.

Tajmani, ever eager to boast, scoffed. “I could have killed them much faster.”

“Right, right.” Lin and Mei, knowing full well that Tajmani was exaggerating, nodded in feigned agreement.

Gerald clapped Tien Ha on the shoulder. “Good work. You made quick work of them.”

Tien Ha surveyed the carnage. “They were meant to delay us. Which means we’re on the right track. The Crimson Fang Hound mother did come this way.”

They continued their pursuit. A short while later, the blood trail vanished abruptly.

“She’s being clever,” Gerald noted.

Tien Ha nodded. “But we’re not easily fooled.”

These individuals weren't regular hunters, they were all Bloodthorne descendants. They could sense blood very keenly so it wasn’t easy to fool their senses.

As if to test their resolve, the group stumbled upon a dazzling display of treasures scattered across the cave floor. Glittering gems, dazzling crystals, rare herbs, and sparkling bones lay in abundance with an almost hypnotic allure.

“Wow, so much treasure!” Mei’s eyes widened in amazement.

“This is… strange.” Gerald frown. “There’s something suspicious about this.”

Tien Ha agreed. “It’s as if these treasures were deliberately placed here. Could the mother hound have done this in the hope that we would be distracted and abandon our pursuit?”

Gerald nodded. “It’s a possibility.”

Tajmani, however, remained unfazed. “Ignore the treasures. We can come back for them later. The only prize I want is the Crimson Fang Hound’s Solar Consciousness!”

Her determination was infectious, and the group followed her lead and continued their pursuit.

“We’re just going to leave all of this behind?” Raphael lamented. He eyed the treasures longingly, but his bag was already overflowing with Tajmani’s items.

They pressed onward until they reached a crossroads. Three icy tunnels branched off in different directions. To their surprise, all three tunnels carried the faint scent of the mother hound’s blood.

Tien Ha examined the tunnels closely. “She’s trying to confuse us.”

“She’s remarkably intelligent for a beast,” Gerald commented.

“Enough of these games!” Tajmani’s patience was wearing thin. “I’m tired of chasing shadows! Let’s split up and find her!”

Lin approached Tajmani. “What should we do? Should we really split up?”

“Absolutely not!” Raphael interjected. “It’s a classic divide-and-conquer tactic! We can’t fall for it!”

While Tien Ha and Gerald debated the merits of splitting up, Lin and Mei sidled up to Tien Ha.

“We’ll go with you, Sir Tien Ha,” Lin wrapped her hand around his arm in a flirtatious manner.

Mei also mimicked her actions. “We trust you to keep us safe, sir.”

Tajmani rolled her eyes and, without a word, strode towards the tunnel on the far right.

“Princess…” Gerald followed close behind her.

It seemed they had decided to split up after all.

Raphael started to follow Tajmani, but she stopped him. “There’s a third tunnel that needs exploring.” She pointed towards the tunnel on the left.

“But Princess, I…”

“Don’t argue with me, dog! The hound could be hiding in any of these tunnels. I won’t forgive you if you mess this up for me! Now go!”

Raphael opened his mouth to protest, but Gerald intervened. He pulled a silver sword from his Nexus Plate and tossed it to Raphael.

“Is this supposed to make me feel any better?” Raphael grumbled.

He reluctantly turned and headed towards the left tunnel with the sword and flashlight clutched tightly in his trembling hands.

Tien Ha, Lin, and Mei ventured into the middle tunnel. Gerald and Tajmani disappeared into the right tunnel.

And Raphael, alone and afraid, was left to face the unknown in the left tunnel.