Inside an abandoned building which was not far from his house, Alex stood with focused determination, his hazel eyes fixed on a makeshift target he had set up against a crumbling wall. He took a deep breath, allowing the sensation of his newfound powers to flow through him. His hands trembled slightly as he willed his blood to respond to his command, envisioning the formation of blades.
With a burst of concentration, he felt the crimson essence within him shift, coalescing into sharp-edged blades that materialized in his palms. The metallic smooth texture glistened under the dim light, reflecting the determination in his eyes. He aimed and released the blades, watching as they soared through the air with deadly precision, piercing the target with astounding accuracy.
A sense of awe washed over him at the sight of his abilities. The realization that he possessed powers beyond human comprehension filled him with both excitement and trepidation. The ancient Sanguine blood within him was awakening, granting him control over the very essence of life itself.
Yet, amidst his euphoria, another thought tugged at the corners of his mind – the ghoul's fleshly extension. The book his father had left hinted at a power he had yet to master. Despite his excitement, Alex couldn't help but feel a twinge of uncertainty. What if he couldn't control this new aspect of his abilities?
Pushing aside his doubts, he focused his thoughts on the extension. He closed his eyes and visualized it, trying to summon it from within him. He tried to feel the ancient ghoul's presence, willing it to manifest.
But the first few attempts ended in disappointment. Nothing happened. Frustration gnawed at him, but he refused to give up. He had unlocked the power of the blades, and he was determined to understand the full extent of his abilities.
He took a moment to steady his breathing, centring himself in the present. With each attempt, he could feel something stirring behind him, an almost tangible presence that was yearning to emerge.
Finally, on the sixth try, he felt it – a tingling sensation at his back, as if something was trying to push through. Alex's eyes widened in amazement and a hint of fear as four six-foot-long-red-coloured fleshly extensions emerged from his back. The metallic smooth texture felt strangely familiar yet foreign to him. Like it was his innards that he was gazing at.
At first, his heart pounded with uncertainty, but he soon forced himself to not be disgusted at the new parts of his body. Tentatively, he willed the extensions to move, and to his astonishment, they responded. The fleshly extensions moved with fluid grace, swaying like serpents behind him. He experimented, trying to extend and retract them, and they obeyed his commands effortlessly.
His fear turned into awe as he marvelled at the strength and versatility of his new abilities. He realized he could use them like legs, giving him the ability to leap and scale walls with remarkable ease. It was like he had become a creature of both blood and fleshly power, a blend of ancient vampiric allure and the raw ferocity of the ghouls.
With growing confidence, he coiled the extensions around a fallen beam, lifting it with ease. The strength they possessed surpassed anything he could have imagined. His thoughts raced with possibilities – he could use them as weapons, shields, or even as a means of transportation.
As he continued to practice, a sense of acceptance and excitement overtook his initial fear. He was no longer just a regular teenager; he was a Sanguine Progenitor, a being with untold potential and responsibilities.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a fiery glow on the walls, Alex remained immersed in his training. The moon ascended, bathing the night in its silvery radiance, and Alex felt a strange kinship with the nocturnal world. He was no longer afraid of the night; he had become one with it, embracing his destiny as a protector of the balance between light and darkness.