Damien's world was an endless void of heat and darkness. His senses were dulled, his body heavy and unresponsive.
But somewhere in the abyss, he could feel it—the foreign power coursing through him, settling into his bones, his blood, his very soul. It was reshaping him from the inside out, intertwining with the Sanguine Arts in ways he couldn't comprehend.
Images flashed before his mind's eye: shadows twisting around his arms, dark tendrils merging with his blood energy, turning it into something more sinister. His once bright, crimson energy now flickered with streaks of black, like ink bleeding into water.
When Damien finally awoke, he was drenched in sweat, his body weak and aching. His skin burned, as if the heat hadn't left him, but at the same time, it felt...different. Like something inside him had shifted irrevocably.
He groaned, forcing his eyes open.
Damien blinked against the darkness, his vision blurry as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. Cold metal shackles bound his wrists and ankles, the heavy chains rattling softly as he shifted.
The room was dimly lit by torches along the stone walls. His body felt sluggish and his muscles were sore from the restraints, but his mind was sharp—too sharp.
Every sound, every flicker of light, every shift in the air felt amplified, like his senses were heightened beyond their normal capacity.
It didn't take long for the pain to settle in. A deep, gnawing hunger clawed at his insides, unlike anything he had felt before. It wasn't just physical—it was something primal, something that made his blood stir.
[Ding!]
The faint, familiar chime echoed in his mind. Damien's vision blurred momentarily, and the golden status window appeared before him, glowing faintly in the darkness.
[Evolution Requirements Met. Sanguine Arts Evolution Underway.]
[Stage 1: Bloodlust Infusion – COMPLETE.]
[Stage 2: Sanguine Desire Awakening – INITIATING.]
"What?!"
Damien's heart raced as he read the notifications. He knew of the Sanguine Arts potential of evolving, but this… this was something different.
His instincts told him this wasn't a normal evolution—it was something the shadow energy had triggered when he unintentionally absorbed it.
He clenched his fists, feeling the surge of power still coursing through him, though it felt...out of shape. His blood energy was no longer the pure crimson he had known. It was tainted, streaked with the same dark energy that had surrounded the Sire.
The hunger gnawed at him again, sharper this time around. It wasn't just hunger for food—it was something else.
He closed his eyes, trying to focus, to center himself. His mind drifted back to the fight in the chamber, to Feiyun's flames, to the Sire's twisted form. He had severed her connection to the chamber, but now it felt as though she had infected him, left a part of her dark energy inside him.
The next notification flashed in front of him.
[Stage 2: Sanguine Desire Awakening – 15% Complete.]
Damien's heart sank.
He didn't have control over this transformation—at least, not yet. He was changing, evolving into something new, something…
A noise outside the room caught his attention. They were footsteps, several of them echoing down the stone corridor.
He straightened up, his muscles tensing despite his exhaustion. His mind sharpened with that same heightened awareness and his pulse quickened as he felt the presence of others approaching.
The door creaked open, and two figures stepped inside—a female vampire thrall, and behind her, a familiar figure cloaked in dark robes. Her eyes gleamed with that same, unnerving intensity.
The Sire!
And this time around, it wasn't a phantom clone of her's but her true self.
"Awake at last," She purred, her voice soft and coquettish. "I was beginning to think you wouldn't survive the transformation."
Damien glared at her, gritting his teeth. "What... have you done to me?" His voice was hoarse and his throat felt dry, but the anger was unmistakable.
The Sire smiled, stepping closer and almost leaning unto him with her upper body. Her shadow stretched across the floor. "I've given you a gift," she said sweetly. "A new path. One far beyond the simple arts of blood manipulation. You're evolving, Damien. Becoming something far more... powerful."
Damien pulled against the chains, the metal biting into his wrists. "I don't want your gift."
The Sire's smile widened, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Ah, but your body does. You can feel it, can't you? The hunger, the power coursing through your veins. You're on the cusp of greatness, Damien. All you have to do is embrace it."
Another notification flashed in Damien's vision.
[Stage 2: Sanguine Desire Awakening – 45% Complete.]
The hunger clawed at him again, more insistent this time. His breathing quickened, and his vision blurred as his body trembled with the effort of holding back the surge of power building within him.
"I won't become one of your thralls," Damien spat, his voice laced with defiance.
The Sire chuckled softly. "Oh, you misunderstand. I don't want to control you. I want you to realize your potential. You are different Damien, your power is unlike anything I've seen. With it, you could reshape this world. Together, we could rule."
Damien's eyes burned with fury. "I'd rather die."
The Sire's gaze darkened, her amusement fading. "You'll soon see that death is the least of your concerns."
She turned to leave, her thrall stayed behind in the room. But before she stepped out of the room, she glanced back at Damien, her voice a low whisper. "Embrace the hunger, Damien. I'll leave sufficient nutrient for you here. It's the only way you'll survive what's coming."
As the door slammed shut behind her, Damien was left alone with the female thrall in the silence, the chains rattling softly as he slumped back against the cold stone wall. His body ached and the hunger gnawed at him relentlessly.
His vision flickered as another notification appeared.
[Stage 2: Sanguine Desire Awakening – 85% Complete.]
He had to do something, but his options were limited. Whatever this evolution was, it was happening too quickly for him to stop. But maybe—just maybe—he could control it.
Damien took a deep breath, closing his eyes as he focused on the power surging within him.
As the final notification flashed in front of him, a surge of power unlike anything he had ever felt before erupted within him.
[Stage 2: Sanguine Desire Awakening – COMPLETE.]
Damien's body convulsed, his blood roaring in his ears. The hunger overwhelmed him, and for a brief moment, he wasn't sure if he could hold on to himself. He gripped the chains, the metal groaning under the strain as his body surged with a primal hunger.
But then, a sudden attractive scent wafted through his nostrils. He inhaled and his gaze followed the scent to the source. Through the haze, a singular thought pierced through.
"Food!"