Cold underground airflow moved continuously through the lower sanctum corridors while weakened holy inscriptions embedded along the walls released pale pulses of light across cracked stone beneath Noctis and Nocthyrael's footsteps. Dust drifted steadily through the narrow passageways and collected along the corners of older masonry where moisture seeped intermittently through fractures in the fortress foundation. The deeper sections of the sanctum looked far older than the upper fortress halls above them. The stone carried darker stains. Ancient scripture lines carved directly into the walls had partially eroded beneath time and holy pressure while faint incense residue lingered through the air alongside traces of dried blood hidden beneath the sanctified atmosphere.
Nocthyrael stayed close beside Noctis while black feathers shifted softly behind her through the underground airflow crossing the corridor. Eclipse and Halo remained holstered against her waist while blood aura circulated faintly around the crimson-black armor fitted tightly across her body. Her gaze continued moving through the lower halls while inherited instincts from the blood communion sharpened her awareness toward every mana fluctuation hidden beneath the sanctum walls.
The corridor curved downward gradually.
Chanting echoed faintly somewhere deeper below.
The sound blended together with dripping water, shifting dust, and the low vibration of active ritual pressure spreading intermittently through the fortress foundation beneath their feet.
Nocthyrael glanced toward Noctis while loose strands of black hair shifted lightly across her cheek through the airflow moving around them.
"The ritual is still active."
Noctis nodded slightly while his crimson eyes tracked the weakened scripture lines embedded along the walls.
"They're maintaining a seal." Loose debris scraped softly beneath his boots while drifting dust crossed through the corridor around both of them. "The mana fluctuations are stabilizing something deeper inside."
Nocthyrael's fingers brushed lightly against Eclipse while both continued walking through the lower sanctum passageways beneath the shifting holy pressure surrounding the hidden fortress levels.
A movement appeared farther ahead.
Three priests emerged from a side corridor carrying scripture tablets and silver ritual rods beneath pale holy light leaking from the wall inscriptions around them. Their robes dragged lightly across the floor while the oldest among them muttered exhausted prayers beneath uneven breathing.
None of them noticed Noctis initially.
Their eyes landed on Nocthyrael first.
The fallen angel's black wings shifted slightly behind her while blood aura rolled softly around the corridor beneath the pale underground lighting.
One priest's face tightened immediately.
"Demon—"
Eclipse cleared the holster before the word finished.
Nocthyrael fired once.
The blood bullet crossed the corridor instantly and punched through the priest's face hard enough for the back of his skull to explode against the sanctum wall behind him. Blood and fragments of bone sprayed across glowing scripture engravings while the body collapsed backward against the corridor floor beneath scattering ritual tablets.
Halo fired immediately afterward.
The second bullet pierced through the chest of another priest and shattered ribs outward through his back before embedding into the corridor wall behind him beneath molten crimson residue spreading through the cracked stone.
The third priest stumbled backward while fumbling toward a holy talisman beneath his robes.
Nocthyrael stepped sideways across the corridor while loose dust shifted beneath her boots.
Another shot erupted.
The blood bullet punched through the priest's throat and tore through the upper spine behind it. Blood sprayed across the floor while the body collapsed sideways beside the others beneath flickering scripture light.
The corridor fell quiet again except for drifting dust and the lingering hum of weakened holy inscriptions embedded through the walls.
Nocthyrael lowered Eclipse and Halo slightly afterward.
The recoil no longer disturbed her balance.
Her posture remained stable while blood aura circulated softly around the pistols beneath the underground airflow moving through the sanctum halls.
Noctis looked briefly toward the shattered corpses scattered across the corridor floor.
Improvement.
Her targeting had already become cleaner.
Nocthyrael extended one hand afterward.
Crimson mana spread outward across the corridor floor while blood pooled beneath the bodies began reversing direction unnaturally. Streams of blood lifted from shattered wounds and flowed toward her palm beneath rotating crimson aura while the priests' corpses visibly tightened inward.
Skin shriveled.
Flesh collapsed against bone.
The remaining holy mana inside their bodies drained away beneath Devour while the corpses dried rapidly into brittle husks scattered across the stone floor beneath drifting dust.
Cracks spread through one corpse's arm before the limb broke apart entirely into gray particles.
Nocthyrael lowered her hand slowly afterward.
Blood aura moved more smoothly around her now.
The circulation looked denser.
More stable.
Faint traces of holy mana continued blending naturally through the crimson currents surrounding her body without conflict.
Noctis observed quietly while both resumed walking deeper through the sanctum corridors.
The chanting ahead gradually became louder.
The ritual pressure spreading through the walls thickened noticeably while pale light leaked from scripture lines carved directly into the floor beneath their feet. Loose parchment shifted intermittently through the airflow crossing the descending passageways while distant holy bells rang faintly somewhere deeper inside the fortress.
Another corridor opened farther ahead.
Two armored priests stepped through carrying silver halberds engraved with sealing scripture.
Their eyes widened immediately upon seeing Nocthyrael's wings.
Holy mana erupted around their weapons.
Nocthyrael moved first.
Her body shifted sideways while black feathers scattered briefly through the underground airflow behind her. Eclipse fired once toward the priest on the left and the blood bullet tore through his eye socket before detonating the back of his skull across the corridor wall.
Halo fired almost simultaneously.
The second priest raised his halberd too slowly.
The blood bullet punched through the center of his chest and shattered the scripture plating strapped beneath his robes while blood sprayed across the sanctum floor beneath collapsing holy light.
The priest staggered backward several steps while clutching uselessly toward the hole torn through his torso.
Nocthyrael crossed the distance instantly afterward.
Her hand grabbed the priest's throat.
Devour activated immediately.
Blood surged upward from the wound beneath rotating crimson currents while the priest's body tightened inward beneath her grip. The remaining holy mana surrounding him collapsed rapidly while skin shriveled across exposed flesh.
Moments later the corpse cracked apart into brittle remains against the corridor floor.
Nocthyrael released the remains while black feathers shifted softly around her through the underground airflow.
Noctis watched her quietly.
The predation no longer looked unfamiliar to her.
The movements carried natural instinct now.
The chanting ahead intensified further afterward.
The corridor widened gradually while stronger ritual pressure rolled intermittently through the sanctum walls hard enough for loose dust to shake from cracks embedded above them. Holy mana circulated continuously through the floor inscriptions beneath their boots while drifting incense smoke began appearing through the lower corridors ahead.
Nocthyrael glanced toward Noctis again.
"We're close."
Noctis nodded slightly.
The lower sanctum opened ahead moments later.
A massive underground chamber stretched beneath the fortress foundation while ancient stone pillars rose upward into darkness above drifting ritual smoke and rotating holy formations embedded across the floor. Scripture circles glowed continuously beneath dozens of kneeling priests arranged around a central altar platform elevated several meters above the chamber floor.
The priests chanted in synchronized rhythm.
Holy mana circulated upward around the platform in layered currents while silver incense burners released drifting smoke through the chamber beneath pale ritual light reflecting across ancient walls covered in sealing scripture.
At the center of the altar floated a pendant.
A red gem pulsed softly inside the relic while multiple sealing circles rotated around it through dense holy pressure spreading continuously through the chamber.
The priests remained completely focused on the ritual.
None noticed Noctis and Nocthyrael standing near the chamber entrance beneath drifting incense smoke and underground airflow moving through the lower sanctum.
Noctis narrowed his gaze slightly toward the relic.
Omni Eyes activated.
The surrounding world shifted beneath layered perception while bloodline pressure hidden inside the gem revealed itself gradually through rotating ancient patterns embedded within the relic.
The pendant carried age.
Far older than the fortress itself.
Ancient blood circulated slowly inside the crimson gem beneath layers of sealing scripture wrapped around the relic.
The Eye of Veinheart.
The name surfaced through Omni Eyes while dense bloodline resonance leaked faintly through the holy restraints surrounding the pendant.
Nocthyrael noticed the shift in Noctis's attention.
"What is it?"
A faint smile appeared along Noctis's face while drifting incense crossed slowly between them beneath the ritual light filling the chamber.
"Today is your lucky day."
Nocthyrael blinked once while black feathers shifted softly behind her.
"What do you mean?"
Noctis kept his gaze on the floating relic.
"The priests are trying to seal a relic." Holy mana pulsed continuously around the altar while rotating scripture circles spread pale light across the surrounding chamber floor. "The pendant is called the Eye of Veinheart. Inside that gem is an ancient bloodline."
Nocthyrael looked toward the relic afterward.
Bloodline pressure.
Even from this distance she could feel the resonance hidden beneath the seal.
"It would strengthen you considerably," Noctis continued quietly while incense drifted through the lower sanctum around them. "Your compatibility with it is extremely high."
Nocthyrael immediately shook her head.
"You should take it instead."
Noctis glanced toward her while the chanting continued echoing throughout the chamber beneath circulating holy pressure.
"I already possess a stronger bloodline." Blood aura rolled softly around his body while distant scripture circles pulsed beneath the ritual. "The Blood Demons."
Nocthyrael's crimson eyes focused on him quietly.
"The original ancestors of vampiric evolution," Noctis continued while drifting incense moved around both of them through the sanctum airflow. "Their bloodline predates even the vampire progenitors."
Nocthyrael looked toward the floating relic again afterward.
Then back toward Noctis.
Warm color spread gradually across her cheeks while black feathers shifted softly behind her.
"You really want me to have it?"
Noctis smiled faintly.
"This opportunity suits you more than me."
Nocthyrael stepped forward immediately afterward and wrapped both arms tightly around him while drifting incense crossed around their bodies beneath the pale ritual light filling the chamber.
"I'm happy I met you."
Noctis chuckled softly while one hand rested against her back beneath the shifting black feathers moving through the underground airflow.
Several moments passed beneath the echoing ritual chants before Noctis gently pulled her away again.
"Let's go get the treasure."
Nocthyrael nodded immediately.
Both separated naturally afterward.
Eclipse and Halo slid smoothly into Nocthyrael's hands while Nocturne and Ruin appeared within Noctis's grip beneath rotating blood aura spreading softly around both bodies.
The ritual chamber remained active around them.
Priests continued chanting.
Incense drifted.
Holy mana circulated through the altar seals.
The floating relic pulsed softly within the center of the ritual formation.
Noctis glanced sideways toward Nocthyrael.
She looked back while adjusting her grip slightly around Eclipse and Halo beneath the underground airflow moving through the chamber.
A faint smile appeared along Noctis's face.
"Ladies first."
Nocthyrael smiled.
Then squeezed the trigger.
The first blood bullet crossed the ritual chamber instantly and punched through the heads of three kneeling priests aligned beside one another within the sealing formation. Bone fragments, blood, and shattered flesh exploded outward across the glowing scripture circles while interrupted chants collapsed into screams beneath spraying crimson mist spreading across the altar floor.
The kneeling bodies slumped sideways immediately.
One corpse toppled directly into the ritual circle while blood spread rapidly across glowing inscriptions beneath flickering holy mana destabilizing around the broken formation.
Nocturne and Ruin fired almost simultaneously afterward.
Blood bullets crossed through the chamber continuously while priests scrambled upward beneath collapsing ritual pressure spreading through the sanctum floor. One priest attempted raising a barrier talisman before a blood bullet punched through both hands and shattered his face across the altar steps behind him.
Another priest stumbled sideways while screaming warnings toward the others.
Halo fired.
The bullet pierced through his open mouth and erupted from the back of his skull beneath spraying blood and fragments of teeth scattering across nearby scripture engravings.
The chamber dissolved into chaos.
Priests scrambled away from the collapsing ritual circle while incense burners overturned across the floor and scattered burning embers through drifting smoke beneath flashing blood aura crossing continuously through the sanctum.
Nocthyrael shifted sideways while firing again.
Eclipse tore through the torsos of two priests attempting to reach the side corridors while Halo blasted apart another priest's shoulder hard enough for the arm to detach completely and spin across the chamber floor beneath spraying blood.
Noctis moved beside her simultaneously.
Nocturne and Ruin continued firing through the fleeing crowd while blood bullets penetrated through multiple bodies before embedding into distant walls beneath molten crimson residue spreading through the stone.
Several priests rushed toward the chamber entrance desperately.
Only to stop abruptly.
Noctis and Nocthyrael already blocked the only exit.
Gunfire continued.
Blood sprayed across pillars.
Bodies collapsed across glowing ritual circles.
Broken scripture fragments scattered beneath the overlapping recoil echoing continuously through the lower sanctum chamber.
One priest attempted forming a holy barrier while trembling prayers escaped through uneven breathing.
Eclipse punched directly through the forming shield before detonating the priest's skull across the chamber floor beneath collapsing holy light.
Another priest slipped through spreading blood near the altar steps.
Ruin fired immediately afterward.
The blood bullet entered through his spine and exited through the chest while shattered ribs burst outward beneath spraying flesh.
The remaining priests continued dying beneath overlapping gunfire spreading continuously through the chamber.
Eventually movement slowed.
Bodies twitched intermittently across the blood-covered ritual floor while drifting incense smoke mixed together with gunpowder residue, blood mist, and collapsing holy mana beneath the ancient sanctum ceiling above them.
Nocthyrael lowered Eclipse and Halo slightly afterward.
Blood dripped steadily across shattered scripture lines surrounding the altar platform while loose ritual parchment drifted through the underground airflow moving across the chamber.
Noctis looked toward her briefly.
"Go ahead."
Nocthyrael nodded once.
Devour activated.
Blood surged upward from every corpse scattered across the sanctum chamber while crimson currents spiraled through the air toward Nocthyrael beneath collapsing holy pressure leaking from the ruined ritual circles.
Bodies tightened inward rapidly.
Skin shriveled.
Flesh collapsed against bone.
Holy mana drained away beneath the feeding currents while the chamber filled with cracking sounds from drying corpses collapsing inward across the blood-covered floor.
Nocthyrael absorbed continuously while black feathers shifted softly around her beneath rotating crimson aura.
The holy mana circulating around her body looked denser afterward.
More stable.
Blood aura and holy pressure no longer conflicted beneath her circulation.
Noctis observed quietly through Omni Eyes while the final corpses collapsed into brittle husks scattered across the sanctum floor beneath drifting incense smoke.
Then both approached the altar platform.
The Eye of Veinheart continued floating above the damaged sealing formation while weakened scripture circles rotated unevenly around the pendant beneath lingering holy pressure.
Noctis extended one hand toward the relic.
The ward activated instantly.
Layers of glowing scripture barriers erupted around the pendant while holy mana surged outward beneath rotating sealing formations spreading pressure through the surrounding altar.
Noctis scoffed softly.
"Such a ward is useless against me."
His hand pushed forward again.
The holy barrier failed to reject him.
The scripture lines destabilized immediately around his arm while holy mana distorted unevenly beneath the blood aura surrounding his body. Rotating inscriptions flickered violently before collapsing apart entirely as his hand passed directly through the seal.
Then he grabbed the Eye of Veinheart.
Ancient bloodline pressure pulsed softly through the pendant while the red gem glowed faintly beneath the lingering sanctum light.
Noctis slowly pulled the relic free from the broken sealing formation afterward.
The remaining ward inscriptions collapsed completely behind him.
Noctis studied the pendant briefly through Omni Eyes while drifting incense crossed the altar platform beneath the underground airflow moving through the sanctum chamber.
Then he walked toward Nocthyrael.
"Stay still."
Nocthyrael blinked once while black feathers shifted softly behind her.
Noctis stepped behind her afterward and gently moved strands of black hair aside while sunlight from narrow sanctum vents crossed faintly across the crimson-black armor surrounding her shoulders.
The pendant settled against her chest moments later.
The Eye of Veinheart pulsed immediately.
Bloodline resonance spread through Nocthyrael's body while crimson mana circulated harder beneath her skin and caused her heartbeat to quicken visibly against the pendant resting above her chest.
Nocthyrael touched the relic carefully with one hand afterward.
Warmth spread visibly across her face.
Then she turned and threw herself against Noctis again while black feathers scattered softly around both bodies beneath the drifting incense filling the sanctum chamber.
"Thank you."
Noctis smiled faintly before kissing her.
The underground airflow continued moving through the ruined sanctum while blood aura circulated softly around both bodies and weakened ritual pressure collapsed gradually through the chamber surrounding them.
The kiss deepened slowly.
Nocthyrael's arms wrapped tighter around him while drifting incense crossed through the sanctum around both bodies beneath lingering bloodline resonance pulsing softly from the pendant resting against her chest.
Eventually both left the ruined ritual chamber together.
Their footsteps echoed softly through the lower sanctum corridors while weakened holy inscriptions flickered intermittently along cracked walls beneath drifting dust and underground airflow moving continuously through the damaged fortress foundation.
The bishop's chambers remained intact deeper within the fortress halls.
Sunlight crossed faintly through fractured windows above overturned furniture and scattered parchment while dust drifted slowly through illuminated air stretching across the large bed positioned near the far wall.
The fortress creaked softly around them beneath lingering structural damage spreading through the ruined stronghold while distant holy pressure continued fading gradually throughout the sanctum levels below.
Several hours later, both rested together beneath the sunlight crossing through the fractured windows while drifting dust moved continuously through the bishop's chambers and weakened blood aura circulated softly around the ruined fortress room.