Blood Realms: Infinite Level
Episode 5 — Gauntlet of the Veyra
The trail north bled red in my mind.
Not literal blood — though the hound's corpse was still drying on my claws — but the new range of my [Blood Sense]. It was a wire, pulled taut between me and the caster who had marked me. A steady heartbeat, unhurried, as if they knew exactly how this would end.
That made two of us.
The first attack came less than a minute into the pursuit.
⸻
[Entity Detected: Veyra Shadeblade — Level 13]
[Entity Detected: Veyra Flesh Eater — Level 14]
[Entity Detected: Veyra Night Archer — Level 12]
They dropped from the trees like spiders, bone weapons gleaming in the weak moonlight. The Shadeblade landed first, a blur of black leather and curved daggers. The Flesh Eater was right behind him, broader, teeth filed to points, carrying no weapon — because he was the weapon.
The Night Archer didn't even bother to hide. His bow was made from something's spine, the string glistening with wetness that wasn't rain.
The first arrow whistled past my ear before I could move.
I ducked low, rushing the Shadeblade before he could vanish into the shadows. He flickered left — [Shadow Step] — but my new Blood Sense screamed the second he shifted his weight. I turned with him, claws cutting across his ribs.
[Critical Hit]
[HP -26%]
He hissed, but before I could finish him, the Flesh Eater barreled into me from the side. We hit the ground in a tangle of limbs and claws. His teeth sank into my shoulder, grinding bone.
Pain spiked.
[HP -18%]
I roared, drove my claws into his throat, and ripped sideways. His jaw came away in my hands. I bit into it out of spite, swallowing the hot rush of blood.
[LEVEL UP: 12 → 13]
Strength +3 | Agility +2 | Vitality +2
The Shadeblade was already coming again, fast and silent. This time I let him get close, then stepped in. My hand clamped his face, claws sinking through the eye sockets, and I tore his head free.
He didn't even have time to scream before he turned to ash.
The archer was still loosing arrows, each one tipped in some kind of pale fire that hissed when it hit the ground.
One took me in the side. The heat was instant.
[Wound Inflicted: Bonefire Burn — HP Decay -3/sec]
I ripped the shaft free and charged him. He backed up, drawing another, but I closed the gap too fast. My claws took his bow arm at the elbow.
He tried to scream. I drank it instead.
[LEVEL UP: 13 → 14]
The ash hadn't even settled when more of them came.
[Entity Detected: Veyra Blade Dancer — Level 15]
[Entity Detected: Veyra Blood Monk — Level 16]
[Entity Detected: Veyra Carrion Crow — Level 14]
This wasn't an ambush. It was a procession. The Clan was throwing everything between me and the caster, hoping I'd bleed out before I got there.
The Blade Dancer spun in with two scythes, every movement a blur. The Blood Monk moved slower, but each step cracked the ground. The Carrion Crow stayed overhead, circling, waiting to dive.
I didn't hesitate.
⸻
The Blade Dancer was a nightmare in close quarters. His scythes moved like they had minds of their own, slicing past my guard. I felt each cut — shallow, but stacking.
[HP -6%]
[HP -5%]
[HP -7%]
I got inside his range by taking one of the hits across my ribs, ignoring the pain long enough to drive my claws into his stomach. He tried to twist away — I twisted with him, tearing out everything soft I could reach.
Blood hit my tongue and the world sharpened.
[LEVEL UP: 14 → 15]
The Blood Monk was next. He caught my first strike on his forearm — and didn't even flinch. Then his palm hit my chest.
[Impact: -32% HP]
[Knockback: 8 meters]
I hit the ground hard. He was already over me, bringing both fists down. I rolled, felt the ground crack where I'd been, and slashed for his knees.
One tendon tore, and he dropped. My claws opened his throat before he could rise.
[LEVEL UP: 15 → 16]
The Carrion Crow dove, talons like spears. I caught one in each hand, the momentum dragging me backward through the dirt. Its beak stabbed for my face — I shoved it aside, sank my teeth into its neck, and ripped.
It thrashed, shrieking, until it went limp.
[LEVEL UP: 16 → 17]
I was panting now. Blood — theirs and mine — dripped from my arms. My HP was just over half, stamina dangerously low, but the heartbeat ahead of me was still steady. Waiting.
And the closer I got, the more the forest changed. The trees grew blacker, their branches hooked like claws. The ground was soft, spongy, reeking of rot.
[Blood Sense] picked up more signatures.
Not three. Not six. Nine.
And all between me and the caster.
The hunger inside me howled in delight.
"Fine," I muttered, wiping blood from my mouth. "Let's make it messy."
I broke into a run.
[Quest Progression: Blood Feud — Gauntlet Phase Initiated]
Survive the Veyra's elite hunters to reach the caster.
Bonus Reward for Full Annihilation: ???