The creature had been watching him for hours.
Michael knew that now.
It hadn't moved like the zombies—slow and thoughtless. This one had tracked him through silence, its intent razor-sharp. And when it finally attacked, it came not as a beast—but as a blade.
Sleek, black-furred, and fast as shadow, the wolf burst from the darkness without warning. No growl. No snarl. Just motion and death.
Fangs like ivory daggers. Claws scraping against stone. Eyes that gleamed silver in the dark.
Michael barely dodged the first strike.
What followed was a dance of blood and instinct. A real fight. His Crimson Dominion met tooth and claw. His blood hardened to shield, to spike, to strike. But the creature was faster—vanishing, reappearing, always attacking from the edge of perception.
This wasn't a mindless monster.
This was a survivor.
And a desperate one.
Even mid-battle, Michael could tell—she was thin. Fast, yes, but not fed. Not rested. Just relentless.
There was no fury in her eyes.
Only silence. Only survival.
Michael gritted his teeth as her claws raked his ribs. Blood sprayed across the stone.
But he didn't flinch.
He embraced the pain.
Because it meant he could feel.
His heart raced. His senses flared. His muscles coiled.
And then his blood began to hum.
Heat surged through his veins. The air smelled sharp—metallic and primal. Every movement of the beast became more vivid. Clear. Beautiful in its danger.
He didn't recoil from it.
He welcomed it.
As more of his blood hit the stone, something awakened. Not from her—but from him.
Crimson's voice echoed in his mind.
"You're not hunting with your body anymore. You're hunting with your blood."
Then the system flared:
[Blood Echo has evolved → Predatory Blood Echo]
You have awakened your instincts. Blood is no longer memory alone—it is movement, emotion, intent. You now sense prey as they are, before they fall.
New Passive Unlocked:Blood Scent Tracking – Sense emotional and physical state of nearby targets through the blood in the air.
Range Increase: Echoes may now trigger through proximity and resonance.
Note: Skills and traits may now be absorbed through blood resonance—intensity of combat, emotion, or trust may influence the outcome.
His vision changed.
Not metaphorically—physically.
His eyes glowed crimson, casting faint light through the dark.
The predator had awakened.
His senses sharpened, and Crimson Sense pulsed harder than ever before.
[Crimson Sense – Activity Spike Detected]
Deeper analysis unlocked. You have always seen the surface—now, you see what lies beneath.
New Feature Unlocked: Target Scan (Resonance Tier)
Scanning hostile entity...
[Target Identified – Status Window]
Name: —
Species: Blackfang Wolf
Level: 4
Age: Juvenile
Health: Critical
Blood: Thin / Stable
Affinities: Shadow (Low)
Traits:
– Silent Stalker (Passive): Moves silently, hard to detect in dark or narrow terrain.
– Night Hide (Passive): Camouflages naturally in shadows.
Skills:
– Pounce (Lv. 1): Leap to close distance or knock down prey.
– Shadow Step (Lv. 1): Quick flicker-step to reposition unseen.
Michael exhaled slowly. She was barely holding on.
But she wasn't giving up.
He dodged one last lunge, twisted mid-air, and slammed her into the stone. She hit the ground hard—still breathing, still watching.
And then his blood moved.
Not commanded.
Not summoned.
Just present.
The blood from their battle, scattered across the stone in splashes and trails, began to stir—slowly at first, then with purpose.
It slithered toward her.
Just before it reached her, Crimson spoke.
"She is not yours. Not yet. But if your blood reaches her… a bond may form."
Michael's brow furrowed.
"A bond?"
"A Blood Pact," Crimson explained. "When your blood enters another willingly, and they accept it... a connection is born. Emotional. Instinctual. Stronger than words. But only if it is given freely."
Michael looked at the blood pooling near her.
"And if it's forced?"
Crimson's voice turned sharp.
"Then it becomes a chain. Not a bond. A slave, not family."
Michael clenched his jaw.
Then he looked at her again. And he let his desire, not command, speak louder than anything else.
The blood slid across the floor like veins reaching for a heart.
It coiled around her wounds.
And slowly… it entered her.
Crimson whispered:
"She has accepted."
Michael knelt beside her.
And remembered.
A hospital room.
Bleached walls. Cold machines.
The golden retriever with warm eyes that laid beside his bed.
No barking. No begging.
Just presence.
A moment where he wasn't a patient.
He was just… loved.
He looked down at the wolf—ribs showing, eyes wary, body shaking.
He saw her.
And she saw him.
"I'm not just offering you blood," he said softly. "I'm offering you something more."
"I'm offering you family."
The blood pulsed once, syncing with her shallow breath.
"I know what it's like to be cast out. To survive with nothing. I'm not here to claim you."
His voice dropped lower.
"I'm here to choose you."
[Blood Pact Formed – Target: Shadowfang Beast]
Status: Evolution in Progress...
Bloodline Signature Detected
Resonance Achieved
Processing Blood Pact... Rewriting Traits... New Lineage Forming...
Standby...
Her body arched.
The blood coursed through her.
Fur shimmered. Bones cracked. Breath hitched.
Her limbs twitched.
Her heartbeat synchronized with his.
Crimson threads flared beneath her skin like embers awakening.
Michael lowered his voice, gaze never leaving her.
"You're not forgotten," he whispered.
"You've fought alone long enough."
He placed his blood-streaked hand against her side.
"Your name… is Thana."
And in that moment, something shifted.
Not just in her—but in the bond between them.
Crimson Sense pulsed hard.
[Updated Status – In Progress]
Name: Thana
Species: Crimson Blackfang (Unique – Evolving)
Blood Rank: I (Stabilizing)
Age: Juvenile
Health: Stable
Blood: Linked (Crimson-Touched)
Affinities: Shadow (Moderate), Blood (Awakening)
Traits:
– Silent Stalker (Enhanced): Suppresses all sound and presence in shadow or blood-rich terrain. Stealth becomes supernatural.
– Night Hide (Enhanced): Fur distorts light in darkness, rendering her nearly invisible—even to magic.
– Bonded Awareness (New – Active): Emotionally linked to Michael. They feel each other's danger, calm, and resolve.
Skills:
– Pounce (Lv. 2): A bleeding leap attack that knocks enemies down.
– Shadow Step (Lv. 2): Blink through shadows; now chainable for rapid movement.
(Future Evolution Path: Poison-based skill awakening pending...)
Note: Further evolution pending...
She collapsed, unconscious.
But not from exhaustion.
From transformation.
Michael watched as the last flicker of crimson danced beneath her fur.
Then—her eyes fluttered open.
Silver irises… beginning to shift.
A glow formed at the edges.
Crimson whispered, awed:"She chose you. And now... she's family."
And for the first time in this cruel world—
Michael Crimson wasn't alone.