BLOOD SOVEREIGN

Chapter 3: Crawling Out

The stolen short sword felt heavy and balanced in Kael’s hand as he crouched motionless among the frozen roots of a giant pine tree. Just a few feet away, the muffled sound of crunching snow and heavy armor announced the arrival of the patrol he had been tracking since leaving the ridge.

He didn't need the system to tell him they were close; his heightened senses could pick up the steady, rhythmic thumping of their human hearts pumping warm blood through their veins.

"Check the tracks by the ridge again," the lead sergeant grunted, his breath pluming in the freezing air as he wiped sleet from his helmet. "If Commander Vance finds out we lost a supply shipment because we were lazy, our heads will be mounted on the gate spikes before dawn."

"Relax, Sergeant," the younger guard muttered, shifting his spear lazily to his shoulder. "Nobody survives a night out in these woods without freezing to death. Whoever stole from the supply camp is already food for the mountain wolves."

Kael’s grip tightened on the hilt of his blade. Hearing the name Vance brought a sharp surge of cold memory—the same surname as the commander who stood beside Lord Julian when Kael was thrown into the mass grave. They weren't just patrolling; they were hunting loose ends.

The patrol split up as expected. The two lower-level guards drifted toward the rocky ridge to inspect the old wagon tracks, while the sergeant stood his ground in the center of the trail, pulling a metal flask from his belt.

Kael melted into the shadows like smoke. His Level 3 agility made his movements entirely silent, leaving not a single footprint or snapping twig in his wake. He closed the distance behind the isolated rear guard in less than a second.

Before the guard could turn to check the ridge, Kael clamped a heavy, iron-like hand over the man's mouth and drove his short sword upward beneath the rim of the leather gorget.

*Clack.*

The guard’s spear slipped from his fingers, clattering softly onto the snow as his body went rigid. Kael lowered him gently to the ground, pressing his mouth to the fresh wound.

The warm, rich life energy flooded his system instantly. A rapid string of blue text flashed across his vision.

[Blood Siphon Activated.]

[Harvesting combat-trained target blood.]

[+1 Agility (Permanent)]

[+1 Vitality (Permanent)]

[You have gained 5 Blood Points (BP).]

[Level Up! You are now Level 4.]

Kael stood up, his muscles denser, faster, and practically humming with restrained power. Across the clearing, the second guard shouted out into the darkness, breaking the silence of the woods.

"Hey, Marcus? Did you find anything over there?"

When Marcus didn't answer, the second guard started walking back toward the trees, his torch held high. "Marcus? Stop playing games in the dark."

Kael stepped out into the open snow, letting the torchlight catch the cold, pale glare of his crimson eyes.

The guard stopped dead, his breath catching in his throat as he stared at Kael standing over his fallen comrade. "What the—Who goes there?!"

Instead of answering, Kael charged. His new speed turned him into a streak of dark motion across the white snow. Before the guard could raise his spear, Kael closed the gap, striking with a ferocious burst of power.

*Slash.*

The short sword sliced through the guard's arm defense, dropping him to one knee with a sharp cry of pain before a swift, merciless strike ended the fight.

[System Notification]

[You have defeated Level 4 Imperial Guard.]

[Blood Siphon Activated: +1 Strength, +4 BP.]

Two down. Only the sergeant remained.

Across the clearing, the sergeant spun around at the sound of the muffled cry, drawing his broadsword in a flash of polished steel. He saw his two guards lying motionless in the snow and Kael standing over them with blood on his blade.

"What kind of monster are you?" the sergeant roared, his face twisting with fierce anger as he rushed forward to attack.

Kael smiled, gripping his sword tightly as he stepped forward to meet him.