The forest had grown darker, the moonlight struggling through thick, twisted branches. Leo's chest heaved with exhaustion and panic, every nerve screaming. His favorite grove—the one place he thought could offer him peace—now felt like a trap.
A low growl rumbled through the shadows. Leo froze. From the darkness, a massive wolf emerged, unlike any animal he had ever seen. Its eyes glowed amber, intelligent and predatory. Before he could react, razor-sharp teeth sank into his side. Pain flared, white-hot, and he cried out.
The beast lifted him effortlessly, claws tearing at the earth as it carried him away. He thrashed and kicked, his screams swallowed by the night. Nothing could break its grip.
Then, movement—pale, swift, and deadly. A group of vampires intercepted the wolf. Fangs glinted, claws sliced the air. A woman with molten-gold eyes stepped forward, her injury bleeding and demanding attention.
She inhaled sharply. Leo's blood—sweet, warm, irresistible—called to her instincts. In a flash, she lunged, biting and feeding with raw, merciless hunger. He screamed, limbs trembling, vision blurring.
Finally, she released him, tossing his limp body into the river. Cold water slammed against his skin, carrying him away. Pain, fear, and exhaustion merged into a haze.
But beneath the terror, something stirred—a fusion of dormant Asura bloodline and interference from another force, the Azure potential. Leo didn't understand it yet, couldn't see it, but it was there. Waiting.
Somewhere in the shadows, unseen eyes watched, calculating. A new force had awakened—and the world would never be the same.