It was raining blood.
Not a metaphor.
Literal red droplets fell from the sky as Lucas stood at the edge of the cliff, staring at the crooked tower in the distance—the Marrow Spire.
The tower twisted upward like a bone drill designed by someone who hated geometry and happiness.
Lucas wrapped his cloak tighter. "Yep. This place just screams 'enter and immediately regret everything.'"
Mira stood beside him, checking the map. "According to the scroll, the spire's buried entrance is about two levels underground."
"Of course it is," Lucas muttered. "Because doors are too mainstream."
[System Update: Approaching Marrow Spire]
Weather: Blood Rain™️
Visibility: Like looking through vampire soup
Emotional State: Yours? Crumbling. Mine? Popcorn-ready.
Recommended: Turn back. Or don't. I'm just the sarcastic ghost in your skull.
Lucas gritted his teeth and stepped forward.
Every step made a wet squish sound. It wasn't mud. He refused to ask what it was.
Behind him, Dreg slipped and fell into a puddle. "It's slippery!" he wailed.
"It's blood, Dreg. That's like... our whole thing," Lucas snapped.
Descent Begins
They found a buried hatch half-covered in bone dust. Lucas wiped it off with the grace of someone who'd absolutely seen this go wrong before.
Mira said, "You want to knock or should I?"
Lucas kicked it open. "We're past manners."
They dropped into the underground.
It was pitch black. Only their blood-flares lit the tight, pulsing tunnel that seemed to breathe ever so slightly.
"Lucas," Mira whispered, "is the wall... moaning?"
"Yes," he replied. "And I'm pretending it's wind. Let me have that."
[System Notice: Spire Interior Active]
Mood: Oppressive
Structural Integrity: Unsettlingly Alive
Soundtrack: Wet bones and whispers
Monsters Detected: Yes. Plural.
Last Visitor: 427 years ago. He exploded.
The team crept into a wide chamber.
Runes lit on the ground. A distant hum. A single word appeared on the wall in glowing blood script:
"KNEEL."
Lucas stared at it.
Then flipped it off.
[System Screaming: HE SAID NOPE]
Consequence: Trap Triggered!
Defense Mode: ON
You absolute genius.
The floor split.
Spikes shot up.
Lucas barely dodged—barely. His sleeve got shredded, and he landed on Mira with a heavy "oomph."
"Next time," she grunted beneath him, "maybe we kneel."
"I'll kneel when the wall says please."
Trap Cleared (Somehow)
They limped forward into the spire's main chamber. At its heart stood a pulsating red crystal, shaped like a heart—but far too big and veiny to be poetic.
Lucas stepped closer.
"The core of the forgotten bloodlines," Mira whispered. "Unstable. Sealed off."
Lucas grinned. "Perfect. Let's poke it."
[System Alert: DO NOT POKE THE HEART]
Touch Warning: 99.9% risk
Touch Result: Cursed probably
Touch Bonus: You'll definitely look cool before it kills you
Lucas touched it anyway.
Of course he did.
There was a blinding flash.
And the system—yes, even the system—screamed.
[System Final Note Before Possible Implosion]
Lucas Status: Currently Dumb
Core Response: ACTIVATING
Ancient Bloodline Beacon: Broadcasting
Everyone Who Matters: Now Knows Where You Are
Summary: Good job, genius. You've summoned literally everything.
Lucas, eyes glowing faint red now, looked at his crackling hands.
"…I think I just activated the vampire version of a nuclear siren."
Mira stared. "You absolute idiot."
Dreg clapped. "Yay!"
The goat bleated. Ominously.