Five vampires stood before me—eyes glowing, posture sharp—but among them, one stood out. His robe, soaked faintly in crimson, shimmered with a magic aura. A blood mage.
That damn arrow. It had been his doing—crafted from blood.
He stepped forward, voice sharp.
"Are you Adam?"
So this wasn't just some random hunt for a human. It was planned. Directed.
I chuckled and tilted my head.
"So… whose dogs are you?"
The mage's lips curled.
"You don't need to know. You'll be dead in a few minutes."
Then the order: "Attack."
The first one rushed in from my left, blade arcing toward me. I swung a punch—sloppy, seemingly weak. The kind of strike that wouldn't even land. He laughed, mocking my form.
That was his last laugh.
A tusk extended from my hand, sharp and cruel. It tore through his brain like a knife through butter. His skull split with a crack, and his body dropped—lifeless.
The others didn't see. My body had blocked their view. The second one charged, and I mirrored the same move.
This time, they saw.
Their expressions twisted—confusion, disbelief, then rage.
But I didn't care.
I could feel it now, surging through my veins—power. Raw and primal. I was stronger than them. Stronger than I had ever been.
But my eyes stayed wary of the mage. Something about him ticked in the back of my mind. He didn't move. He waited.
Two more vampires flanked me. They came together—teeth bared, claws gleaming.
I didn't flinch.
They circled me now, hesitation in their eyes. They hadn't expected me to kill two of their teammates so easily. I could see it—they were furious. But also afraid.
One lunged. I ducked low and pierced both his legs in a single motion. He tumbled, screaming. Pain—a sensation vampires still felt.
I didn't stop.
I pounced, tusk aimed straight for his eye.
Pop.
The sound was disgusting—and satisfying.
He screamed, but only briefly. I forced the tusk deeper, until it scraped against bone and sank into his brain. Silence.
I stood up slowly.
Only two remained.
I smirked.
"Now… did you really think you could kill me?"
Their eyes were locked on me—rage, fear, and something else.
I stepped closer.
"I can see that angry face. So would you be kind enough to tell me… who sent you?"
The answer?
Not words.
But more blood arrows—launched by the mage.
They struck through the air fast, wild. I hadn't expected the sudden attack—but instinct kicked in.
I waved my hand—and everything shifted.
The arrows twisted mid-air, bent by my will, and reversed.
Thud.
The leader—still laughing a moment ago—froze as an arrow tore through his throat. More followed, pinning his chest like a macabre piece of art.
His body hit the ground with a sickening thud.
The mage's eyes widened.
He had no idea what I just did.
But it didn't matter.
I turned to face him—my final prey.
I let the words drip like venom.
"I'll give you a choice. A peaceful death—I stop your heart. Painless. Quick.
Or…"I stepped closer, eyes burning.
"…I skin you alive. Remove every nail, pluck every hair. Bit by bit. Even if you die halfway, I'll keep going."
I paused, tilting my head.
"You're smart enough to know who sent you. But are you stupid enough to protect them?"
He hesitated.
I could see it. The fear. The recognition.
He knew who I was—or at least, what I was becoming.
I gave him a choice.
But he laughed.
"Do you think I'm a fool? Heh… you can try. You won't be able to do sh—"
He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small, rune-covered artifact. Magic flared in his hand.
I already knew what he planned.
Before he could inject mana into it, I raised my hand slightly.
Snap.
Telekinesis gripped the artifact, yanked it from his hand. It resisted—faintly—but I crushed its magic like paper.
It floated in the air between us.
I grinned, stepping forward.
"Your choice," Adam's voice was cold, devoid of mercy.
With a flick of his hand, he lifted the vampire into the air, binding his hands behind his back with an unseen force. A shallow cut appeared on the vampire's neck, blood trickling down as Adam's telekinesis tightened around the wound. The vampire's eyes widened in terror as his body began to rotate, skin peeling away with each turn. Screams echoed through the trees, a sound so harrowing it seemed to shake the very earth.
Blood pooled beneath the suspended figure, muscles exposed, the vampire's form a grotesque display of raw flesh. Adam approached, his expression unreadable, and began to pluck the vampire's hair, leaving him bald and broken. The vampire's sobs turned to incoherent mumblings.
Leaning in, Adam caught the whispered words: "Kaven... the child of the Minister of Finance."
A spark of recognition flickered in Adam's eyes. This was no random attack; it was a calculated move, orchestrated by someone with power and influence. The pieces began to align, revealing a larger game at play.
Adam released his grip, letting the mutilated vampire collapse to the ground. He turned away, the weight of this revelation settling upon him. The path ahead was fraught with danger, but he was ready. The Beast King's journey had only just begun.