The cavern roared with heat as the Crimson Direwolf unleashed its fury. Flames gushed from its maw, rolling like a river of fire. Stone hissed and split under the inferno's touch.
Elior darted through the blaze, cloak burning at the edges, skin blistering. His blood boiled—literally—but the systems surged to keep him moving.
> [Critical Damage Sustained – 27% Health lost]
[Blood Frenzy Reignited]
[Steel Fang Blade durability dropping: 72% → 63%]
---
Dancing in Fire
The beast's paw slammed down, claws tearing stone. Elior slid beneath it, blade flashing upward. Sparks flew—then blood. A shallow wound carved into the Direwolf's leg.
It howled, flames spiraling from its jaws. The air grew hotter, oxygen scarce. Elior's chest tightened, lungs screaming.
The vampire's whisper cut through the suffocation:
> "Breathe through the blood. Let life itself be your air."
Instinct took over. Elior slashed his palm, inhaling his own blood mist. Energy surged, his vision clearing, senses sharpening.
---
Awakening in the Inferno
Scales crawled up his arms, iridescent red and black. His grip on the sword grew monstrous, claws gripping the hilt like extensions of himself.
> [Dragon Protocol – Partial Evolution Unlocked: Flame-Touched Scales]
Fire resistance increased by 20%.
The fire no longer blistered. He charged straight through it, roaring with his own voice, blade alight in crimson glow.
The Direwolf's eyes widened at the defiance. It struck with both claws, the cavern shaking like thunder. Elior spun between them, blade carving a cross-shaped slash across its chest.
Blood—molten and glowing—splattered the ground.
> [Loot Dropped: Bloodfire Shard x1]
Automatically stored.
---
The Counterattack
The beast staggered, then snarled, its tail whipping around like a spiked club. It slammed into Elior's side, sending him crashing into a stone pillar. Bones cracked.
He slid down, coughing blood. His vision swam.
> [Health: 19%]
[Warning: Critical Condition]
But instead of despair, laughter tore from his throat. Low, savage, unstoppable.
"This…" he spat blood onto the floor, rising again, blade dragging sparks. "…this is where I rise."
---
Blood-Fueled Strike
He bit into his arm, drawing deep. The world ignited in crimson clarity. His muscles coiled like springs, every nerve alight.
The Direwolf leapt, jaws wide, fire spiraling.
Elior leapt to meet it.
Blade met fang. Claw met scale. Fire met blood.
The cavern became a battlefield of gods.