The cold dawn air bit at Quinn's skin as he stood on the jagged cliff's edge overlooking the desolate valley below.
Kaelen's eyes gleamed, reflecting the rising sun's crimson light.
"Before you can master your power, you must understand its true nature," Kaelen said, voice low and steady.
Velux's presence hummed in Quinn's mind. This will be no easy path.
---
Without warning, Kaelen swept his hand, and shadows erupted from the earth — swirling like living serpents that coiled around Quinn's limbs.
"Control them," Kaelen commanded. "Let the shadow flow through you, but do not lose yourself to it."
Quinn gritted his teeth, feeling the cold darkness pressing against his skin, threatening to swallow him whole.
He reached deep, summoning his blood qi, a searing fire in his veins, and pushed back — bending the shadows into a controlled whip that cracked through the air.
---
Kaelen nodded approvingly. "Good. Now, merge it with your blood essence."
Quinn's vision blurred as he forced the two forces together — shadow's cold hunger and blood's fiery will clashing inside him.
Pain exploded through his chest, a white-hot agony that threatened to tear him apart.
But he held on.
When the light dimmed, Quinn opened his eyes — shadow and blood magic danced at his fingertips, flickering with newfound power.
---
Before he could savor his triumph, a low growl echoed from the nearby forest.
Kaelen's eyes sharpened. "Your training will be tested immediately."
From the treeline, grotesque Voidborn creatures emerged, eyes blazing with malice and hunger.
Quinn's pulse quickened as he summoned his Crimson Eclipse Whip, the weapon blazing with bloodfire and shadow flame.
He charged forward, striking with deadly precision, the whip tearing through the beasts' twisted forms.
---
The battle was brutal — each beast more vicious than the last.
Quinn moved like a tempest, blending shadow steps with blood-infused strikes. Kaelen fought alongside him, summoning walls of dark energy and launching piercing shadow daggers.
The creatures fought fiercely, clawing and biting, but Quinn's control over his merging powers made him unstoppable.
One beast lunged for his throat — Quinn spun, delivering a Bloodfang Slash that cleaved through bone and shadow alike.
---
Panting but victorious, Quinn turned to Kaelen.
"Your training… it's unlike anything I've faced before."
Kaelen's lips curled into a rare smile. "You're ready for the next step. But be warned—the deeper you dive into shadow and blood, the harder it will be to hold onto your humanity."
Velux's voice echoed. He's right. The power will consume if you let it.
---
Suddenly, the ground trembled. A dark ripple pulsed through the air — a warning.
Kaelen's expression hardened. "You're not alone in this world anymore. Enemies are closing in."
Quinn clenched his fists, shadows and blood qi swirling fiercely around him.
"I'm ready."
---
The training had only just begun, but Quinn already sensed the path ahead was darker and more dangerous than ever.
Velux whispered, Prepare yourself, Quinn. Your greatest battle lies ahead.
Quinn's eyes burned with fierce determination, the fusion of shadow and blood now an unbreakable part of him.
"Then bring it on."