The battlefield was quiet now—too quiet. The scarred earth, still steaming from the clash, seemed to hold its breath. But Russ couldn't.
Inside him, the ancient entity stirred like a beast waking from a century of slumber. It pulsed in his veins, whispering promises and threats alike, a hunger that gnawed at his soul.
Russ clenched his fists, feeling the Bloodbane Seal grow hotter against his chest. His heartbeat thundered in his ears.
You carry me.
We are one.
Feed me.
The voice was not his. Not Ravien's. Something older, darker, and endlessly patient.
---
The Silent War
Russ sat alone in the Talen manor's crypt, shadows curling around him like protective serpents. His shadow skills flickered uncontrollably, fueled by the entity's presence, but never quite under his control.
His blood boiled, a firestorm trapped inside his veins, responding to a hunger he could not quell.
He tried to summon Crimson Tempest, but the blood responded erratically—blades twisting and bending against his will.
Frustrated, Russ slammed his palm into the stone floor. The Bloodbane Seal glowed fiercely.
A vision flashed before him: a city drowning in blood, fires consuming everything, and a figure standing triumphant atop the ashes—a shadow of himself, twisted and monstrous.
"This is what awaits," the entity whispered. "If you fail me."
Russ's eyes snapped open, burning with resolve. "Not while I'm still standing."
---
Enemy's Whisper
Far beyond the manor, word spread like wildfire. Rumors of the boy who wielded the Bloodbane Seal and survived Ravien's wrath stirred fear and greed alike.
From the shadows, factions moved—ancient clans of blood hunters, mercenaries with qi-enhanced weapons, and dark sorcerers hungry for a piece of the power Russ now carried.
A cloaked figure watched from the city's highest tower, eyes glowing faint blue. "The Seal bearer awakens."
Their lips curled in a cruel smile. "It's time to tip the scales."
---
A Friend's Warning
One night, as Russ trained under moonlight, a soft knock echoed through the manor.
Mira, his childhood friend and skilled shadow healer, stepped inside, concern etched on her face.
"Russ… something's wrong. Your qi—it's unstable. You're fighting a war inside yourself, and it's draining you faster than I can help."
Russ nodded, exhaustion shadowing his features. "It's not just me anymore. There's something inside—something ancient."
Mira's eyes widened. "The Bloodbane Seal wasn't just a key… it's a prison."
---
The Choice
Days passed in restless torment. Russ's body healed fast, but his mind fractured under the entity's weight.
One night, the Seal flared violently, and Russ found himself standing before a vision of Ravien, calm and cold.
"Accept it," Ravien said. "Let the entity awaken fully. Together, we could be unstoppable."
Russ shook his head. "I'm not becoming a monster."
But the entity inside him whispered louder, promising strength, immortality, and power beyond imagination—if only Russ would surrender.
---
The Resolve
Russ clenched his jaw, drawing shadow around him like armor.
"No."
He would find a way to master the entity—not be mastered by it.
His journey had only just begun.