The night was heavy with mist, winding around the academy like a living veil. The halls were empty, save for a few nocturnal staff attending to maintenance. Selene had been sent on an errand outside the main training halls, unaware that this night would mark her first life-threatening encounter.
Cael had warned her earlier: The families will test you. Not always in training. Not always under watchful eyes. Danger comes when you least expect it.
Selene's heart thumped in rhythm with the faint pulse of blood beneath her skin. She tried to keep calm, repeating the lessons of the day, letting her ribbons of blood hover in readiness.
I can do this, she thought, gripping the faint crimson threads that danced just above her fingertips.
A subtle flicker in the shadows betrayed movement. Selene froze instinctively. From the mist emerged three figures—assassins from three different families, all elite Bronze or low Silver rank. Their weapons were coated with a faint suppression aura, and their eyes glinted with lethal intent.
Selene's first reaction was fear, but it was tempered by training. She instinctively extended her blood ribbons, letting them flow and respond to the subtle rhythm of life in her attackers.
Observe… adapt… control… she repeated silently.
The first assassin struck, moving with blinding speed, aiming directly for Selene's chest. Her blood ribbon whipped forward instinctively, intercepting the attack and guiding the weapon harmlessly past her body.
Another approached from the left, attempting to flank her. Her ribbons split, weaving in multiple directions, creating a net of crimson threads that subtly influenced their balance, redirecting attacks without causing injury.
Selene's pulse quickened, but her focus never wavered. Each movement was precise, controlled, and measured, a testament to Cael's guidance.
From a rooftop, Cael observed silently. His eyes glowed faintly crimson beneath the hood of his cloak. He did not intervene directly. This was Selene's first real-life test outside controlled duels. She had to survive without relying solely on his intervention.
Good… she is ready for the challenge, Cael thought. The blood obeys her now, but she must understand its subtlety under pressure.
The final assassin, cloaked in black with faint golden accents, moved more cautiously. His technique was unfamiliar, a blend of mana suppression and shadow manipulation that distorted perception. Selene felt it immediately—a ripple in the life-thread pattern she had been monitoring.
Her heart skipped a beat. This one is different…
She adapted instinctively, allowing her ribbons to respond not with aggression but with anticipation. Every move she made subtly influenced the life pulse of the final assassin, redirecting his shadow-infused attacks and destabilizing his balance.
Finally, a single thread grazed his shoulder, a warning rather than harm. The assassin stopped, eyes wide in disbelief, and retreated into the mist.
Selene exhaled heavily, blood ribbons dissolving back into her body. Her chest heaved as adrenaline coursed through her. She had survived her first true ambush—and without direct intervention from Cael.
When she returned to the training chamber, Cael's expression was unreadable.
"Well done," he said softly, voice calm but carrying weight. "Tonight was not a test of strength, but of survival. The blood obeys you… but remember, life itself can be manipulated, and the difference between control and recklessness is death."
Selene nodded, swallowing the mix of fear and pride. "I understand. I won't forget this lesson."
Meanwhile, Dorian Valerius convened a secret meeting with other heirs from the Top Ten Families. His eyes glinted with calculation as he spoke.
"The Bronze initiate is dangerous," he said, voice low. "His disciple survived an ambush that should have killed her. Cael Ardyn is not merely a student—he is a threat to every family and our influence here. We must act, but subtly. Push, test, and prepare contingencies. If we strike recklessly, we risk exposing ourselves to powers we do not yet understand."
The other heirs nodded, fear and fascination flickering across their faces. Cael's growing influence was no longer a rumor—it was a reality.
Far below, in the abyss, the Demon King observed with interest. His crimson eyes gleamed like molten coals, reflecting centuries of patience.
"Yes," he murmured. "The disciple awakens. The heir begins plotting, and the families scramble. The Blood Immortal strengthens, and his shadow spreads. Soon, the mortal realm will feel the true weight of what they have forgotten. Blood will remember… and so will I."
Back at the academy, Selene sat quietly, reflecting on the night's events. She felt the faint pulse of her own blood, resonating in harmony with the threads she had controlled.
Control… mastery… survival… she thought. This is just the beginning.
Cael placed a hand on her shoulder, feeling the faint tremor of her adrenaline. "Tonight was your first battle. You survived. But remember—each threat grows stronger, more cunning, and more lethal. We must always anticipate, always adapt."
Selene looked up at him, eyes filled with determination. "I will. I'll keep getting stronger. And I'll master the blood… just like you taught me."
Cael's crimson eyes narrowed slightly. Good. This world has changed… but I remember. And the Blood Immortal always survives.
The first true external threat had been neutralized, but the wars to come—against the families, the academy, and the shadows of the Demon King—were only beginning.
The Blood Immortal's return was no longer hidden.