Chapter 2: The First Blood
The Blood Moon glowed like a curse in the sky—massive, crimson, and alive.
The world below was silent, except for the echo of crumbling ruins and the whisper of wind over bones.
A thousand years had passed since the last eclipse, but the prophecy had never died.
It said,
> "When the Blood Moon rises, two souls bound by fate shall awaken.
One shall rule the blood, and the other the rot.
Their war shall burn the world anew."
And tonight… that prophecy returned.
From the depths of the Crimson Realm, the vampires rose—graceful shadows with blood-red eyes and blades forged from moonlight.
From the pits of Eternal Rot, the zombies crawled out—deformed, enraged, glowing with green-black veins pulsing with death energy.
The city of Valeshire became their battlefield.
At its center stood two figures—once friends, now destined enemies.
---
Riven, the Chosen of Blood.
Tall, calm, and radiant with an aura that made the night itself bend. His eyes glowed a piercing scarlet, and every move he made seemed measured, royal. His long black coat fluttered in the cold wind, revealing silver armor carved with vampire runes.
Kael, the Lord of Rot.
His once-human features were scarred and decayed, yet his presence was terrifyingly powerful. His green veins pulsed like living fire, and the ground around him withered with every step. His eyes burned with betrayal, rage—and grief.
They stood facing each other beneath the bleeding moon.
"Kael…" Riven's voice was low, sorrowful. "You weren't meant to become this."
Kael laughed, a harsh, broken sound. "You speak as if you understand what destiny means, brother."
"Brother?" Riven's eyes flashed. "We swore to protect humanity together. You broke that vow."
"No," Kael growled. "Humanity broke me."
---
Without another word, Kael struck.
The ground exploded under his feet as he launched forward, claws extended, black energy spiraling around him like fire.
Riven vanished into mist—reappearing behind Kael in a crimson blur. His blade clashed against Kael's claws with a thunderous CRASH! that sent shockwaves across the ruins.
Sparks flew.
Flames erupted.
And the war… began.
---
The vampire legions charged behind Riven, their movements sharp and precise, like a storm of shadows.
Each swing of their blades released trails of red lightning that burned through hordes of zombies.
But Kael's army was endless.
For every zombie that fell, two more rose from the ashes—groaning, clawing, mutating.
Kael raised both arms. "Rise, my children!"
The corpses of dead vampires twitched and stood again, their beauty now twisted into monstrosity.
Riven's eyes widened. "You dare corrupt my kin!?"
Kael grinned, his voice cold. "You called them soldiers. I call them immortal."
Riven's fury unleashed. He drew a glowing rune in the air, and crimson flames engulfed his sword. "Then I'll burn your immortality to ashes."
Their powers collided once more.
Blood-red light and green-black energy clashed in the sky, painting the world in a storm of destruction.
---
Through the chaos, a lone human boy stood watching from the shadows of a broken building.
Kian.
The forgotten one.
Everyone ignored him—his parents, his classmates, even the world. He was invisible, unwanted… a shadow in human form.
But tonight, something in him stirred.
As the Blood Moon reflected in his eyes, his veins began to glow faintly red. His shadow stretched unnaturally, whispering like a living thing.
"What's… happening to me?" Kian gasped, his chest burning with pain.
Down below, Kael's head snapped toward him. "A human… with the Blood Mark?"
Riven turned too, his sword lowering slightly. "Impossible. The mark hasn't appeared in a thousand years."
For a brief moment, both kings froze—because the same energy that birthed them pulsed inside that boy.
Kian stumbled backward, screaming as dark smoke surrounded him.
His shadow moved—forming a pair of wings behind him, made from pure darkness and flickering red veins.
Then came the explosion.
A massive surge of energy erupted from Kian, throwing both armies backward like leaves in a storm.
---
Riven crashed through a wall, coughing blood. "That boy… he's the third connection."
Kael grinned wickedly. "Then he belongs to me."
He launched himself toward Kian, claws outstretched—but Riven appeared first, shielding the boy.
Their collision shook the earth again, blades and claws locked, fangs bared.
"Stay back!" Riven shouted to Kian.
Kian could barely breathe. "I… I don't even know what's happening!"
Kael laughed, his decayed face twisting. "Don't worry, child. I'll help you remember your destiny!"
Their powers erupted once more. The sky turned blood-red, lightning splitting the moon.
---
All around them, vampires and zombies continued their slaughter.
Flames consumed the streets. Screams filled the air.
It was apocalypse—beauty and horror intertwined.
Riven's soldiers formed the Bloodline Circle, channeling moon energy into their lord.
Kael's army responded with The Rot Pulse, drawing death energy from the earth.
The two kings leapt into the air, their power clashing like two gods.
"Do you still think you're saving the world?" Kael roared.
"I'm saving what's left of it!" Riven answered.
Their blades met one final time—an explosion of pure darkness consuming everything.
---
When the smoke cleared, Kian stood in the middle of the battlefield, trembling.
Riven and Kael both lay injured, glaring at each other through bloodied eyes.
And Kian… was glowing.
His body emitted both crimson and black light, his veins pulsing with two opposing forces.
Riven whispered, voice shaking, "The Eclipse chose him…"
Kael's lips curled into a grin. "Then he's the bridge—the one who decides which world survives."
Kian's shadow grew again, his voice trembling but strong:
> "Stop this… or I'll destroy you both."
For the first time, both kings hesitated.
The Blood Moon pulsed violently overhead, as if alive.
The ground cracked, swallowing the corpses. The sky bled light.
And in that moment, the war between vampires and zombies found a new reason to burn—
The boy who carried both their curses.
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