The sun was setting, casting long shadows over the quiet streets of Azura's Reach. Damian and Elara walked side by side, their footsteps echoing in the quiet evening air. The bustling town square, filled with vendors and travelers earlier, had started to quiet down. People were heading indoors to escape the chilling night air, but for the duo, the day wasn't over yet.
Damian glanced over at Elara, who was walking a little ahead of him, her expression distant. She hadn't said much since their return from the last mission, and Damian was starting to wonder if it was something to do with the strange feeling that had been lingering in the air lately. It was almost as if something was watching them, following their every move, though he couldn't place it. He checked his system window for the hundredth time, but nothing seemed amiss.
System Window:
Name: Damian
Bloodlust: 31%
Blood Essence: 145 points
Skills:
• Blood Manipulation (Rank 3)
• Blood Shield (Rank 2)
• Blood Infusion (Rank 1)
• Bloodlust Surge (Rank 1)
Store: Access available
Inventory:
• Azure Blade (1)
• Healing Potion (5)
He couldn't help but feel a slight sense of unease, as if there were dangers just around the corner—dangerous enough that the system hadn't warned him about them yet. Still, he pushed the feeling down. There was no time to second guess himself. The more Blood Essence he gathered, the stronger he'd become. And with more strength came more control over the events that would unfold. No longer would he be a victim.
"Elara," Damian called out softly, snapping her from her thoughts.
She turned to face him, blinking, as though she hadn't heard him approach. "Hm? What's wrong?"
"You've been quiet lately," Damian said, offering a small, understanding smile. "Anything on your mind?"
Elara hesitated for a moment, her eyes flicking down toward the ground before she spoke. "I don't know. Lately, I feel like something is… off. Like we're being watched."
Damian raised an eyebrow, his instincts flaring. So, she felt it too. He didn't reveal his thoughts aloud, but deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling that they were being followed. They had dealt with the Shadow Guild once, but that didn't mean they were out of danger. In fact, it was more likely that the shadows were still lurking. But how to deal with them?
"We'll keep our guard up," Damian said, his voice calm but firm. "We can't afford to let our guard down. Not yet."
The two walked in silence for a while longer until they reached the town hall again. The building loomed in the distance, its dark stone facade almost glowing under the light of the moon. Once inside, they were greeted by the same clerk who had initially assisted them. She looked up from her desk and offered a polite smile.
"Back again, I see," the clerk remarked. "You two have been quite the busy pair, haven't you?"
Damian nodded, stepping forward. "We came to receive our next mission."
The clerk raised an eyebrow, her fingers brushing over the papers in front of her. "A mission, huh? There's a few jobs that have been posted recently. Dangerous ones too. But are you sure you're ready for them?"
Damian's lips curled into a small smile. "We've handled worse. Trust me."
The clerk studied them for a moment before pulling a sheet from a stack of papers. "Very well. We have a contract for you then. It's a request to clear out a nest of aggressive creatures in the western woods. High danger level, but with good compensation."
Elara's eyes narrowed. "Aggressive creatures? What exactly are we dealing with?"
"Some kind of mutated beasts," the clerk explained. "Not regular beasts, but something with enhanced strength. They've been terrorizing the western settlement for weeks now."
"Mutated beasts?" Damian repeated, feeling his Bloodlust begin to stir. "Sounds fun."
"Don't get too confident," the clerk warned. "The beasts are only part of the problem. There have been whispers of a group in the woods—a group that's been targeting adventurers for weeks. It's rumored to be an organized force, not just random beasts."
Damian didn't flinch. His confidence was unwavering. "We'll deal with it."
The mission took them to the western edge of Azura's Reach, beyond the city walls and into the dense forests. The trees here were older, their gnarled branches twisting in unnatural patterns, creating a canopy thick enough to block out most of the moonlight. As they ventured deeper, the sounds of the forest grew more foreboding—strange, guttural growls and the crackling of leaves underfoot.
"Stay sharp," Damian warned, his hand resting on the hilt of the Azure Blade. His senses were on high alert. Every creak of a branch and every snap of a twig seemed amplified in the stillness of the woods. He wasn't sure if it was the beasts or something else that was making him feel this uneasy.
Elara moved beside him, her eyes darting around cautiously. "It feels like we're walking into a trap."
Damian's bloodlust stirred again, and he clenched his fists. "If it is a trap, then it's one we'll spring."
They pressed on until they reached a clearing, where the remnants of a burned-down campfire were still smoldering. The air smelled faintly of ash, and there were marks of struggle—broken branches, scorched earth, and bloodstains that hadn't quite dried. The beast tracks were evident on the ground, massive claw marks gouging deep into the soil.
"This is it," Damian murmured, crouching to inspect the area. "They've been here recently. Get ready."
As if on cue, a low, rumbling growl filled the air. The sound seemed to vibrate through the ground beneath their feet, sending a shiver down Damian's spine. Out of the trees, massive, mutated creatures emerged—beasts with jagged teeth, sinewy muscles, and dark, glowing eyes.
They were fast—faster than Damian had anticipated. One of the beasts lunged, slashing at him with claws like daggers. He barely managed to block the attack with his blood-infused sword, feeling the sheer force of the blow vibrate through his body.
"Elara!" Damian barked. "Take the left side!"
She didn't hesitate, drawing her own blade and engaging one of the creatures. The two fought in tandem, Damian's blood-infused sword cutting through the beast's hide with ease, while Elara used her agility to dodge and strike with precision.
Despite their skill, the creatures seemed to keep coming. Damian could feel his bloodlust building, the system urging him to let go, to give in to the primal instinct to slaughter. But he fought it back, pushing forward with calculated strikes. He had to be in control.
After a long, exhausting battle, the last of the creatures fell with a final, echoing roar. Damian stood over it, panting heavily, his sword dripping with dark, sticky blood.
He quickly checked his system.
System Update
Blood Essence: +85 (for killing mutated beasts)
Bloodlust: 45%
Damian felt the familiar surge of power as his bloodlust intensified, but this time, it didn't overwhelm him. He grinned. This was progress. He was getting stronger.
Elara wiped the sweat from her brow, her eyes flicking toward the woods. "That was… intense."
Damian nodded. "This isn't over yet. There's something else out there."
Before Elara could respond, a sharp noise echoed from behind them. Damian spun, his sword ready, but he only saw shadows moving in the distance—figures cloaked in darkness, watching them.
"We're not alone," Damian muttered, his eyes narrowing. "Get ready."
The stage was set for something far more dangerous than either of them realized. The lurking dangers in the shadows were closing in, and Damian knew that the fight was far from over.