The forest had gone quiet again.
Only the distant rustling of leaves and the fading footsteps of the Original Trackers could be heard.
Aarav stood still, his senses stretched far into the darkness.
For the first time, he could clearly feel the witch's concealment flowing inside him.
A faint violet mist-like aura wrapped around his body.
Kai looked toward the forest.
"They'll come back."
Jack nodded.
"And next time, they won't be confused so easily."
Elder Seraphina slowly stepped forward.
Her purple eyes were fixed on Aarav.
"Then we make sure next time…"
"…they cannot track you at all."
Aarav frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Before Seraphina could answer—
A sharp growl echoed from the trees.
One of the original trackers had returned.
The massive beast stepped out of the darkness.
Its silver-white fur glimmered under the moonlight.
Blue eyes locked directly onto Aarav.
This time—
It had found him.
Jack growled.
"It adapted fast."
Kai's crimson eyes sharpened.
"So did we."
The beast lunged.
Fast.
A blur of silver fur and glowing fangs.
Aarav moved on instinct.
He sidestepped.
Then his fist slammed into the creature's side.
BOOM!
The beast crashed into a tree.
But it was not done.
It jumped again.
This time, aiming directly for his throat.
Aarav's eyes flashed crimson.
Silver claws burst from his fingers.
SLASH!
The claws tore across the creature's neck.
Blood sprayed into the moonlight.
The beast staggered.
Then collapsed.
Silence.
The original tracker was dead.
Everyone stared at Aarav.
His breathing was ragged.
His eyes were fixed on the blood spreading across the ground.
Something inside him stirred.
A deep hunger.
Warm.
Sharp.
Irresistible.
Seraphina's voice came softly.
"Drink it."
Everyone turned toward her.
Jack frowned.
"What?"
The witch elder looked directly at Aarav.
"Drink as much as you can."
Kai's expression darkened.
"You want him to consume original blood?"
Seraphina nodded.
"Yes."
Her purple eyes sharpened.
"If he drinks enough of its blood…"
"…his body can permanently adapt its bloodline skills."
Aarav's heart tightened.
Permanent?
Seraphina continued.
"For short exposure, blood resonance mimicry remains temporary."
"But sufficient intake allows permanent inheritance."
She slowly pointed toward the dead creature.
"It's scent tracking."
"It's a bloodline aura."
"Its original instincts",
"All of it can become yours."
A cold silence spread.
Jack slowly looked at Aarav.
"This could make you impossible to track."
Kai added,
"Or make you stronger than them."
Aarav's gaze returned to the blood.
His throat suddenly felt dry.
Too dry.
His instincts screamed.
Drink.
For a moment, he hesitated.
Then he knelt.
His fingers touched the warm blood.
The scent hit him instantly.
His pupils narrowed.
He lowered his hand to his lips.
The blood touched his tongue.
The effect was immediate.
BOOM!
A violent pulse spread through his body.
His chest burnt.
The hidden mark beneath his shirt glowed fiercely.
Blue light mixed with crimson, silver, and violet.
His breathing grew heavier.
The blood was stronger than anything he had tasted before.
Powerful.
Wild.
And strangely—
He liked it.
No.
I liked it more than I did.
His body wanted it.
Aarav slowly drank more.
Then more.
Kai's expression changed.
"He's adapting."
Jack stared.
Blue light slowly began flowing beneath Aarav's skin.
His senses exploded outward.
For a brief moment—
He could smell every creature within the forest.
Every animal.
Every heartbeat.
Every movement.
Then it stabilised.
Aarav slowly stood.
His eyes glowed faint blue for a second.
Then it returned to normal.
Seraphina nodded.
"It worked."
Aarav blinked.
Something felt different.
Sharper.
He turned his head toward the distant tree line.
"There are four rabbits."
Jack and Kai froze.
"What?"
Aarav pointed deeper into the forest.
"One fox."
"Two birds."
"And another tracker half a kilometre away."
Silence.
Kai slowly exhaled.
"That tracking range…"
Jack shook his head.
"That's beyond alpha wolf range."
Seraphina's lips curved faintly.
"The inheritance is permanent now."
Aarav slowly looked at his hands.
Then a strange thought crossed his mind.
The taste of blood still lingered.
Warm.
Powerful.
Comforting.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
His body had begun accepting blood as more than energy.
It had become instinct.
Something it now naturally desired.
Kai noticed immediately.
"Careful."
Aarav looked at him.
Kai's voice turned grave.
"If your body starts craving blood too much…"
"...it may affect your judgement."
Seraphina nodded.
"The stronger bloodlines you consume…"
"…the more your body will adapt."
She looked directly at him.
"From now on, blood may become one of your primary sources of recovery and power."
Aarav slowly nodded.
He understood.
This was no longer a human instinct.
This was evolution.
Somewhere deep inside—
His body had begun to enjoy it.
The taste.
The power.
The adaptation.
And for the first time—
Aarav did not fear it.
He embraced it.