Landing behind the bandit leader, Gray pointed his fingernails near his neck, pressing just deep enough to draw blood while holding a murderous gaze at the remaining bandits.
"If you want your boss to live, I suggest you stay back."
Not intimidated by a kid's words, the bandits rushed forward to save their leader.
"Stop, you fools!" the leader shouted when he noticed Gray's glowing eyes. "The kid's a vampire!"
The moment those words were spoken, the bandits halted mid-step.
Horror spread across their faces as they stared at him.
"Now listen, kid," one of them said, forcing his voice to stay steady despite the fear creeping in. "If you just put your hand down, I'm sure we can help you with something."
Gray let out a small chuckle.
"Oh? Help me?"
He pressed his nail slightly deeper into the leader's neck.
Blood trickled down slowly.
"What makes you think I need your help?"
The bandit swallowed hard.
"If you don't need anything… then why are you doing this?"
Gray calmly reached for the keys on the bandit leader's belt without breaking eye contact.
"Because," he said coldly, "you chose the wrong people to rob today. And you're going to pay for it."
He flicked the keys away into one of the iron carriages.
The leader's eyes widened instantly.
"Stop him!" he shouted.
But before he could react further—
Gray twisted his hand sharply.
The leader's body went still.
His vision blurred as he collapsed.
What… happened? Am I falling?
That was his last thought.
For a split second, silence returned.
Then everything broke.
The remaining bandits snapped out of their fear and rushed forward all at once.
Steel flashed.
Footsteps scattered across the ground.
But Gray didn't panic.
He simply exhaled.
And moved.
The world around him felt slower again.
Not because time changed—but because his perception did.
A blade came from the left.
He tilted slightly.
Another from behind.
He stepped forward.
One tried to stab his side.
Gray twisted his body just enough for it to miss completely.
Every motion was minimal.
Efficient.
Almost effortless.
"What is he?" one bandit shouted in panic.
Gray didn't answer.
He simply passed through them.
One by one, they fell behind him without him ever stopping.
The battlefield turned chaotic, but Gray's expression stayed unreadable.
"Hey brother," the voice from inside the carriage called again, "you might want to move."
Gray paused.
Then turned.
The carriage doors exploded outward.
Pressure burst from inside.
An eight-foot werewolf with black fur stepped out slowly, standing upright like it had been waiting far too long.
Gray's eyes widened slightly.
"What the hell have I done…"
The air grew heavier.
The creature rolled its shoulders, then stretched its neck as if waking up from a long sleep.
Then it looked at the remaining bandits.
"Hey guys… it's been a while, hasn't it?"
Its voice was deep.
Heavy.
It made the ground tremble faintly.
It stepped forward once.
"Now… for your own safety… I suggest you run."
The bandits didn't hesitate.
They turned and fled.
But fear didn't matter.
Distance didn't matter.
The werewolf moved.
Not fast like Gray.
But absolute.
One bandit was torn apart before his brain even registered movement.
Another was caught mid-step and ended instantly.
A third tried to scream—but sound never came out.
The last one fell to his knees, trembling violently.
The werewolf bent down slowly.
Covered in blood, it stared at him for a moment.
Then ended him without emotion.
Silence returned again.
Gray stood still, watching the aftermath.
Not the violence itself.
But the ease with which it was done.
That unsettled him more than anything.
The werewolf turned toward him.
"Now, bloodsucker… tell me what family you hail from."
Gray frowned slightly.
"What are you talking about?"
The werewolf narrowed its eyes.
"Don't play dumb. I know a vampire when I see one."
Gray paused.
That word again.
Vampire.
Bloodsucker.
His mind drifted briefly.
The smell of blood.
Marie earlier.
The merchant.
The hunger he ignored.
"…A vampire?"
His voice was quieter now.
Uncertain for the first time.
But before he could think further—
his vision blurred.
His body weakened.
And everything collapsed into darkness.
BLACKOUT
"Brother! Wake up! Come on, wake up!"
Gray's eyes opened slowly.
His body felt heavier than before.
His senses were dull.
He pushed himself upright.
He was inside a tent.
A lantern flickered beside him.
Night still hadn't ended.
"…Marie?"
He turned.
Then immediately reacted.
A third presence.
Gray stepped in front of Marie without thinking.
Protective instinct first.
Questions later.
The figure raised both hands quickly.
"Slow down, brother. I'm not your enemy."
The boy smiled awkwardly.
"Sorry I didn't introduce myself earlier. My name is Zilders Crescent of the Crescent Pack… but you can just call me Zilders."
Gray said nothing.
Just watched.
Zilders sighed.
"Yeah… I get it. I'd react the same way if I saw a giant wolf tearing people apart trying to be polite."
Marie frowned slightly.
"He protected us while you were unconscious for two days."
Gray's eyes sharpened slightly.
"…Two days?"
Zilders nodded.
"Yeah. You were completely out."
Gray turned his gaze slowly toward him.
"And you stayed?"
Zilders shrugged.
"Didn't have a reason to leave."
Gray studied him longer this time.
Not trusting.
But not rejecting either.
"…Fine. I'll trust you. For now."
Zilders exhaled.
"That's progress."
Zilders sat down more comfortably now.
"Let's restart. I'm Zilders Crescent. Who are you two?"
"Gray Hunter," Gray said.
"This is Marie Hunter."
Zilders raised an eyebrow.
"Hunter… never heard that name before."
Gray's voice stayed flat.
"We were born human."
Zilders blinked.
"So you were turned?"
Gray didn't respond.
Zilders let it go.
"Alright… later then."
His tone shifted.
"So. Dark Regions. Why?"
Marie crossed her arms.
"That's not your concern."
Zilders gave a short laugh.
"Fair."
Then leaned forward slightly.
"I'm an Omega."
Gray tilted his head.
"What's that?"
"A wolf cast out of his pack," Zilders said. "No rank. No protection. No future."
"In the Dark Regions, Omegas don't survive—they get used."
He paused.
"So I left."
Gray stayed quiet.
Then spoke.
"We're delivering something to Ray Bloodvine."
That name changed the air instantly.
Zilders froze.
"…You're serious."
Marie frowned. "Yes."
Zilders slowly stood.
"Ray Bloodvine…"
His expression darkened.
"The Blood God."
Gray narrowed his eyes.
"What is that?"
Zilders exhaled, then began properly.
"Ray Bloodvine isn't just a vampire. He's what remains after war, massacre, and evolution all collapsed into one being."
"He survived the Holy War, but survival wasn't enough for him—he changed. Over time, he learned to manipulate blood itself, not just as a weapon, but as a medium of control."
He paused.
"In battle, any blood spilled around him becomes his. It responds to him like an extension of his body."
Marie listened carefully.
Zilders continued.
"And if he drinks it directly… he doesn't just heal. He absorbs what the blood carries. Strength, instincts, even fragments of abilities."
His tone grew heavier.
"At first it was small things. Then it became adaptation. Then it became evolution."
He looked at them seriously.
"People stopped calling him a man a long time ago."
A pause.
"They started calling him the Blood God… because anything that bleeds near him is already part of him."
Silence filled the tent.
Gray didn't flinch.
"…So what?"
Zilders stared at him.
"…So what?"
He shook his head.
"That's not something you just walk up to."
Marie stepped forward.
"We still have to."
Zilders exhaled sharply.
"You're insane…"
Then he paused.
"But fine."
"I can take you into the Dark Regions."
Gray met his gaze.
"But?"
Zilders' expression turned serious.
"I can get you there."
A pause.
"But reaching him…"
His voice lowered slightly.
"…that's where people stop surviving."
Gray didn't break eye contact.
"We're going."
Zilders closed his eyes briefly.
"…Yeah."
Then added quietly—
"One of you might not make it."
Gray blinked.
"…What?"
Zilders repeated firmly.
"One of you might die before you even reach him."
Silence settled heavily.
And this time—
Gray didn't answer