A roar tore through the underground lane like a thunderclap, violent enough to rattle the concrete walls and send echoes crashing through the confined space. The sound wasn't human—it carried a raw, predatory hunger that made the air itself feel heavier.
Eichorst, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit that seemed absurdly out of place in this grim setting, sprinted toward the truck. The moment his eyes landed on the towering figure standing beside it, his entire body locked up.
The man—no, the creature—stood nearly two meters tall, his pale skin stretched over a powerful frame that radiated something ancient and suffocating. There was no need for introductions. The presence alone made it clear what stood before him.
Eichorst dropped to his knees instantly.
"Great Master… you've finally arrived," he said, his voice trembling despite his attempt to sound composed.
His head remained lowered, his gaze fixed firmly on the ground. In front of the Blood Lord, he didn't dare look up. He wasn't a servant in that moment—he was livestock waiting for judgment.
"Eichorst."
The name rolled out in a deep, distorted voice, layered with wet swallowing sounds that echoed like something chewing through flesh. Scarlet pupils locked onto him, burning with an unnatural intensity.
"What just happened?"
Before Eichorst could respond, a massive hand shot out and grabbed him by the head, lifting him effortlessly off the ground. His body froze in midair, legs kicking uselessly as fear flooded every nerve in his body.
"Great Master… why are you angry?" Eichorst gasped, his voice cracking under the pressure.
The Blood Lord's eyes narrowed slightly, the hunger inside them growing sharper.
"Bring me blood."
The words were simple, but the command behind them was absolute.
…
By early morning, the city had already begun to stir, but far from its crowded streets, a yellow school bus rolled steadily through the abandoned outskirts. The engine hummed softly, a stark contrast to the cheerful noise filling the interior.
Children—no older than six or seven—laughed and chattered excitedly as they pressed their faces against the windows. For many of them, this was their first trip outside the city, their first chance to see something beyond the concrete and steel that defined their daily lives.
To them, this was an adventure.
To someone else, it was something very different.
"Mr. Eichorst, thank you again for your generous sponsorship," the young teacher said with a warm smile. Her brown curls framed her face softly, and her tone carried genuine gratitude. "Stoneheart Group has really made this possible."
Eichorst adjusted his tie slightly, returning the smile with something that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Seeing these children," he said, his voice smooth, "makes me feel younger already."
His gaze lingered on her longer than necessary.
Meles felt it immediately. A cold sensation crept across her skin, subtle but unmistakable. For a moment, she stiffened, her instincts whispering that something wasn't right. Then she forced herself to look away, focusing instead on the children.
She convinced herself it was nothing.
They soon arrived at their destination.
The bus rolled to a stop in front of a sprawling, decaying manor. The structure stood in the middle of a vast stretch of green, its aged brown walls rising like something out of another era. It looked historical, almost beautiful in its ruin.
"What a place…" Meles murmured, her eyes lighting up as she took it in.
The door opened.
Eichorst stepped out first, standing at the entrance of the manor with that same strange smile. His gaze swept across the children one by one, lingering just long enough to make something inhuman flicker beneath the surface.
"Welcome," he said.
The children poured out of the bus, laughing and running across the grass, their excitement overflowing as they rushed toward the building.
"Thank you!" they called out, their voices bright and carefree.
Meles stayed behind, making sure every child had exited safely. Only when the last one stepped off did she turn to leave.
That was when a hand caught her wrist.
She blinked, startled, and turned back.
The bus driver—silent the entire ride—slowly lifted the brim of his hat.
A familiar face was revealed.
Locke smiled at her.
"Ms. Meles," he said calmly, "I think we need to talk."
…
Not long after, Meles stepped off the bus again, but this time her movements were stiff, her thoughts clearly unsettled. She pulled her coat tighter around herself, her expression pale as she followed the children toward the manor.
Eichorst watched her closely.
Locke remained behind.
He stepped out of the bus only after they had all disappeared into the building. Moving to the side, he opened the luggage compartment beneath the bus.
Inside, Gus was crouched, his expression dark.
"So," Locke said lightly, "do you believe me now?"
Gus didn't answer immediately. His face had gone rigid, the earlier uncertainty replaced by something far more volatile. He had expected illegal goods, maybe weapons or drugs—but not this.
Not children.
When he thought about what Locke had said—about monsters that fed on blood—his stomach twisted with anger.
"They're kids," Gus muttered, his voice low and dangerous.
Locke placed a hand on his shoulder, his tone shifting.
"It's not too late," he said. "Stick to the plan. If things go right, we end the Blood Lord here."
This time, Gus didn't hesitate.
He grabbed the heavy bag behind him and jumped out of the compartment, his movements sharp and decisive as he headed straight for the entrance.
…
The tunnel beneath the manor stretched deep into the earth, its walls damp and uneven. The air grew colder the further they went, carrying a faint metallic scent that grew stronger with every step.
"Mr. Eichorst… how much farther?" Meles asked, forcing her voice to remain steady.
"Almost there," he replied smoothly. "My master is eager to meet the children."
The change in him was subtle but unmistakable.
The polite exterior was slipping. His gaze lingered too long, his smile held too much meaning, and the deeper they went, the less human he seemed.
Meles tightened her collar, her heartbeat picking up as fragments of Locke's warning replayed in her mind.
Something was very wrong.
Eichorst paused briefly, glancing back into the darkness behind them as if he had sensed something. Then, just as quickly, the smile returned, and he continued forward.
Far behind, Gus pressed himself into the shadows.
His breathing was controlled, but his eyes betrayed his tension. He had been careful—every step measured—but Eichorst's reaction made it clear he might not be as hidden as he thought.
Still, he couldn't turn back.
The sound of children laughing echoed deeper in the tunnel.
Gus tightened his grip on the UV lights in his hands and moved forward again.
A heavy stone door loomed ahead.
With a grinding rumble, it slowly opened.
The children gasped in awe, their curiosity overriding any sense of caution as they rushed inside. To them, it looked like part of the adventure—a hidden chamber, something out of a story.
"Stay together!" Meles called, her voice edged with urgency.
Her instincts were screaming now.
The space beyond resembled a cavern, with a wide stone basin at its center filled with dark liquid. The moment she saw it, Locke's words snapped into place.
Horror flooded her expression.
"Everyone, come here!" she shouted, pulling the children toward her.
Her eyes locked onto Eichorst, no longer trusting him.
"Ms. Meles, what's wrong?" he asked, still smiling.
"I'm canceling this trip," she said immediately. "Something's not right here."
"Oh?" Eichorst tilted his head slightly. "But my master is already waiting."
"What?"
The liquid in the basin began to move.
At first, it was subtle—small ripples spreading across the surface. Then the movement intensified, bubbles rising and bursting one after another.
Meles stared, frozen.
The next instant, the surface exploded.
A massive figure burst out of the pool, water—or something far thicker—cascading down its body. It stood over two meters tall, its form wrapped in a dark robe soaked with crimson.
The smell hit instantly.
Blood.
Meles's face went pale as terror seized her. Her hands moved instinctively, ripping open her collar as she pulled out a small spherical device. Her thumb pressed the switch, and she hurled it forward.
The device struck Eichorst directly.
A blinding flash erupted.
"AAARGH!"
Eichorst screamed, collapsing to the ground as he covered himself, the light burning into him like acid.
At the same moment, the towering figure lunged forward.
It moved with terrifying speed, charging straight toward Meles and the screaming children.