THE LAST BLOOD SOVEREIGN

CHAPTER 2 : THE BEAST IN THE CRIMSON FOREST

 

The laughter from the village slowly faded behind Kael as he walked deeper into the Crimson Forest.

The towering trees swallowed the afternoon sunlight, leaving only scattered rays piercing through the thick canopy. Every step echoed with the crunch of dry leaves beneath his worn boots.

Kael clenched his fists.

"No Blood Sigil..."

The words of Elder Rowan replayed endlessly in his mind.

His entire life had led to this moment.

Every insult he had endured.

Every chore he had accepted without complaint.

Every dream he had nurtured in secret.

All of it had been shattered before the entire village.

He stopped beside a small stream and stared at his reflection.

A young man with untidy black hair and tired grey eyes stared back.

"So this is all I am," he whispered bitterly.

"An orphan... without a future."

He picked up a stone and threw it into the water.

The ripples erased his reflection.

Suddenly...

Crack!

A branch snapped behind him.

Kael turned.

Nothing.

Only silence.

He frowned.

Perhaps it was a deer.

He resumed walking.

Another sound came.

This time closer.

Crunch... Crunch...

The hairs on the back of his neck stood up.

Something was following him.

He spun around.

Still nothing.

The forest had become unnaturally quiet.

No birds.

No insects.

Not even the wind.

Kael took a cautious step backward.

Then another.

A low growl rumbled through the trees.

His blood froze.

From the shadows emerged a creature unlike anything he had ever seen.

It stood over three meters tall, its body covered in crimson-black fur. Two curved horns protruded from its skull, and molten-red eyes glowed with terrifying hunger.

Long fangs dripped with venom.

Its claws carved deep grooves into the earth with every step.

Kael recognized it instantly.

"A... Crimson Fang Wolf..."

The beast was a nightmare even trained hunters avoided.

It should never have been this close to the village.

The wolf lowered its head and sniffed the air.

Its glowing eyes narrowed.

Instead of attacking immediately, it looked... confused.

It stared directly at Kael.

Almost as if it recognized him.

Then it roared.

The deafening sound shook the entire forest.

Kael turned and ran.

Branches whipped across his face as he sprinted between ancient trees.

Behind him came thunderous footsteps.

The wolf was gaining.

It leaped over fallen logs with frightening speed.

Kael's lungs burned.

His legs felt heavy.

He knew he couldn't outrun it.

Not for long.

Suddenly, his foot caught on an exposed root.

He crashed onto the ground.

Pain shot through his shoulder.

Before he could rise...

The massive beast landed only a few meters away.

Its burning eyes locked onto him.

The monster bared its enormous fangs.

Kael reached for a broken branch.

It was useless.

He knew it.

Yet he refused to die without resisting.

The wolf charged.

Kael raised the branch.

The impact shattered it instantly.

One razor-sharp claw slashed across his chest.

Blood splattered onto the forest floor.

Kael was thrown against a giant tree.

His vision blurred.

Every breath became agony.

The beast approached slowly.

Almost... patiently.

As though waiting.

A single drop of Kael's blood rolled across the ground.

It landed on an ancient black stone hidden beneath layers of moss.

The moment the blood touched it...

The earth trembled.

Deep beneath the forest...

An enormous crimson seal cracked.

A voice, ancient enough to remember the birth of kingdoms, echoed through the darkness.

"The Blood Sovereign has returned..."

At that same instant, the Crimson Fang Wolf stopped moving.

Its savage expression vanished.

Its body began to tremble.

Fear.

Pure, overwhelming fear.

The monster lowered its head before the dying boy.

As though bowing to a king.

Kael, barely conscious, could only watch in confusion.

"What... is happening...?"

Before anyone—or anything—could answer...

The ancient seal beneath the forest shattered completely.