The rain came first—thick, heavy drops that hit the stone courtyard like drumbeats.
Then came the howls.
Quinn stood on the temple steps, his shadow curling around his boots like a living tide. The body of the cult warrior still lay behind him, steam rising from the crimson-soaked floor.
Velux's voice was urgent. They've scented you. You didn't just kill him—you broadcasted the birth of the Crimson Eclipse to every predator in a hundred leagues.
From the treeline, they emerged.
Vampires—cloaked in black and crimson, their eyes like glowing coals.
From the opposite side, jagged shapes—Shadow Beasts, pure manifestations of darkness, snapping at the air.
And from the far ridge, robed figures of the Crimson Order, chanting in a tongue that made the air bleed.
Three factions. One target.
---
A tall vampire elder stepped forward, his voice smooth but venomous. "Quinn Talen. That power belongs to our lineage. Hand it over, and we'll give you a swift death."
The lead cultist laughed harshly. "You fools think the Crimson Eclipse can be tamed? Only blood sorcery can harness it!"
The Shadow Beasts simply roared—no words, just hunger.
---
Quinn flexed his hands, feeling the twin forces in his veins pulsing dangerously. "Guess we're skipping diplomacy."
The first wave hit—Shadow Beasts lunging low while vampires rained down crimson bolts from above. Quinn's shadow rose like a wall, catching the bolts, while bloodfire whips lashed out, slicing the beasts in midair.
The cultists moved next, carving sigils in the rain-soaked ground. Crimson lightning cracked upward, forcing Quinn to leap—only for a vampire elder to meet him midair, blade flashing.
Their swords clashed, sparks and shadows exploding with each impact. Quinn's counterstrike tore through the elder's arm, but the vampire simply hissed and regenerated.
---
Velux's tone was sharp. You can't fight them all straight-on. You need chaos—make them tear each other apart.
Quinn smirked. "Oh, I can do chaos."
He slammed his palm to the ground.
The Crimson Eclipse Field erupted—shadows spiraling outward, veins of red lightning twisting through them. The storm of energy blinded vision, disrupted qi flow, and—most importantly—made enemies see each other as Quinn.
The courtyard became a bloodbath. Vampires ripped into cultists, Shadow Beasts mauled robed figures, and crimson bolts scorched anything that moved.
---
Through the chaos, Quinn hunted the leaders.
First, the cult high priest—Quinn's shadow tendrils wrapped his throat, lifting him from the ground before crushing his windpipe.
Then, the vampire elder—Quinn unleashed Eclipse Fang, a blade of shadow-blood that pierced his heart, burning the regeneration away.
One by one, the threats fell. But each kill made the Crimson Eclipse inside him throb harder, its hunger growing.
---
Finally, only the Shadow Beasts remained.
They circled him, sensing the same darkness within him that burned inside them. But instead of attacking… they bowed.
Velux's voice was almost trembling. They think you're their Alpha now.
Quinn exhaled, the rain mixing with the blood on his skin. "Alpha, huh? Guess that's a promotion."
The beasts melted into the shadows, leaving Quinn alone in the silent, corpse-strewn courtyard.
Velux spoke again, softer this time. This was just the beginning. Next time, the ones coming for you won't be so easily turned against each other.
Quinn looked out at the stormy horizon, a dark grin forming. "Good. I was starting to get bored."