The moon had climbed higher above the forest.
Its pale silver light slipped through the broken trees as Aarav, Jack, and Kai made their way back toward Elder Seraphina's house.
The air still carried the scent of blood and burnt silver.
No one spoke for a while.
Jack was the first to break the silence.
"You smiled back there."
Aarav glanced at him.
Jack's silver eyes stayed fixed ahead.
"Like a hunter."
Kai's crimson eyes shifted toward Aarav, too.
For a moment, silence returned.
Then Aarav gave a faint smile.
"I had to survive."
The words were calm.
Too calm.
Kai said nothing, but he understood.
Survival had changed. Aarav.
By the time they returned, Elder Seraphina was already waiting outside.
Her purple eyes fell on Aarav first.
Then on the bloodstains across his clothes.
"The captain?"
Aarav nodded.
"He won't reach the Church."
Seraphina's expression eased slightly.
Then darkened again.
"That no longer matters."
Jack frowned.
"What do you mean?"
The elder slowly looked toward the sky.
"The flare was enough."
Kai's face turned serious.
"They'll send trackers."
Seraphina nodded.
"Not ordinary hunters."
Her voice grew heavier.
"Original Trackers."
A cold silence fell over the clearing.
Even Lyra's crimson eyes narrowed.
Ember slowly stood straighter despite her wound.
Jack crossed his arms.
"Bloodhounds?"
Seraphina nodded.
"Creatures bred by the Silver Cross Church."
"Ancient originals."
"Beings who can smell awakened bloodlines across cities."
A chill ran through Aarav.
This was bad.
Very bad.
Then Seraphina looked directly at him.
"But there is still a way."
Kai frowned.
"A way?"
The elder stepped closer.
Her purple eyes glowed softly.
"What you awakened during the hunt was not only strength."
"It was blood resonance mimicry."
Aarav's heart tightened.
That strange feeling during the battle.
The way he adapted.
The way he learned too fast.
Seraphina continued.
"Whenever you drink the blood of another creature…"
"…your body can temporarily resonate with their bloodline."
Jack frowned.
"You mean copy?"
Seraphina slowly nodded.
"Yes."
She turned to Aarav.
"You can mimic their aura."
"Their scent."
"Their instincts."
"And for a limited time, even their racial powers."
Silence.
Kai's expression darkened.
"That's absurd."
The elder's eyes sharpened.
"That is why the Blood Moon Heir was feared."
Aarav slowly looked at his own hands.
So that was why.
Why did his healing surpass theirs?
Why had his speed exceeded Kai's?
Why had his senses surpassed Jack and Mia?
He had already adapted fragments of them.
Seraphina's voice turned grave.
"If you drink the blood of an Original Tracker…"
"…even they may fail to distinguish your real bloodline."
Jack's eyes widened.
"You can trick them."
Seraphina nodded.
"For a limited time."
Then she added the most important line.
"And if your body fully adapts…"
"…you may one day surpass the original creature itself."
The clearing fell silent.
Aarav slowly lifted his gaze.
This was no longer just survival.
This was evolution.
Before anyone could speak—
Mia suddenly stepped out from the trees.
Her face was tense.
"They're here."
Everyone froze.
A low growl echoed from the forest.
Then another.
And another.
The shadows between the trees shifted.
Three figures slowly emerged.
They were not human.
Massive wolf-like beasts.
Twice the size of normal wolves.
Silver-white fur.
Glowing blue eyes.
Cross-shaped collars around their necks.
Original Trackers.
Kai's face darkened.
"That was fast."
One of the creatures lowered its head and sniffed the air.
Its glowing eyes locked directly onto Aarav.
A low growl rumbled from its throat.
Aarav's chest tightened.
It had found him.
Seraphina stepped closer.
Her voice was calm.
"Now."
Without hesitation, she cut her palm with a silver blade.
Dark violet blood flowed down.
She held it out toward Aarav.
"Drink."
He did not hesitate.
Aarav stepped forward and drank from her palm.
The moment the blood touched his tongue—
BOOM!
A violet pulse exploded through his body.
His chest mark flared beneath his shirt.
Then faded.
A cold mist-like aura slowly spread around him.
Seraphina's scent.
Her blood.
Her concealment.
The original tracker in front suddenly stopped.
Its head tilted.
Confused.
Its nose twitched again.
But this time—
It looked away.
Jack's eyes widened.
"It worked."
Kai's lips curved into a faint smile.
"Impressive."
The second beast growled and moved closer.
Aarav could feel it.
The witch aura is around him.
For a few minutes—
He was hidden.
The beast sniffed again.
Then turned toward the broken trees where the captain had died.
Lyra smirked.
"They're following the dead scent."
Ember let out a slow breath.
For the moment—
They had survived.
But Seraphina's expression remained serious.
"This concealment will not last long."
Her eyes locked onto Aarav.
"You need stronger bloodline resonance."
Aarav slowly nodded.
The beasts vanished back into the forest.
But the danger had only increased.
Now he understood.
Every bloodline he consumed…
made him stronger.
Faster.
More adaptable.
And more dangerous.
A faint smile slowly appeared on his face.
Not fear.
Excitement.
The hunters had brought their best trackers.
And now—
He wanted to test himself against them.