CHAPTER 49: EVOLVING

Scrreeee—

The bonehound dragged its long claws across the cave floor, the sound echoing in sharp waves through the damp, red-tinged air. It stopped a few feet from Akhil’s motionless body, sniffing at him like a predator verifying its kill.

Then, something strange began to happen.

The air shifted—thickened. The blood pooled on the floor started to quiver, as if pulled by an unseen force.

The beast’s many eyes flickered in confusion.

One drop. Two. Then hundreds more lifted from the ground, floating upward in thin streams before curving toward Akhil’s body.

{Host life is in danger!}

{Excessive blood loss detected.}

{Death is imminent.}

{Skill — Blood Absorption has been automatically activated.}

The beast took a wary step back as the blood in the cave began to swirl faster, turning into a dark mist that seeped into Akhil’s skin. His body pulsed faintly with red light. The corpses of all the slain beasts around him began to shrivel, their bodies drying into husks as every drop of blood was drained from them.

The sound of flesh cracking filled the air.

{You’ve absorbed several low-level blood essences!}

{+3000 Blood Essence}

{Blood Essence: 11,000 / 10,000}

Ding!

{New scenario unlocked!}

{Genus: Mosquito — A rare blood-born species found in the world of Titans. Its strength is drawn from carnage. Blood becomes its fuel. Slaughter becomes its evolution.}

{You’ve evolved!}

{Processing blood samples...}

A low hum filled the cave.

Akhil’s fingers twitched. His body shuddered, veins glowing faintly red under his skin as if molten iron flowed through them. A sudden surge of energy blasted out of him, shaking the air.

Slowly—almost painfully—his eyes opened. The dull gray had vanished, replaced by a deep crimson that glowed like molten ember.

He stood, the ground beneath him cracking.

The bonehound froze where it stood. The smell of blood, thick and suffocating, rolled off Akhil in waves. His body was drenched in crimson, his expression calm but... wrong. Too still. Too sharp.

The cave itself seemed to react to him. The faint whispers of energy swirled toward him like moths to a flame.

{You’ve leveled up!}

{Level 30 → 35}

{All stats increased by 25%!}

{Passive skill unlocked — Blood Mastery (Intermediate).}

{Description: Control blood freely within your perception range. You can now convert stored Blood Essence into physical blood for combat. Blood attacks can now be fired at medium range.}

Akhil exhaled slowly, a thin smile twitching at the corner of his mouth. The mist of blood that had gathered around him coiled and wrapped over his arms like living serpents.

He flexed his fingers, and the blood solidified into red, crystalline blades that shimmered faintly in the dim light.

"So this is what evolution feels like..." he murmured, voice barely above a whisper. "I could get used to this."

The bonehound took a step back, growling low. It didn’t understand what this human was—but every instinct in its mutated body screamed danger.

Then it lunged.

Akhil didn’t move at first. He just watched the blur of movement coming toward him, calm as still water. Then, in a blink, his arm slashed across the air.

A line of condensed blood shot forward like a bullet.

Boom!

The projectile smashed into the cave wall after slicing through one of the creature’s claws. The beast screeched in pain, stumbling back.

Akhil’s eyes gleamed brighter. "So, it works."

The air around him thickened again as blood floated upward, swirling into shapes and spikes. He shot forward this time, feet splashing through shallow puddles of red. The clash of flesh and metal rang out, sparks flying as his blade met the beast’s bone claws.

He was faster now—so much faster.

The creature swung, but Akhil ducked, countering with a horizontal slash that carved through its chest. The smell of scorched blood filled the cave.

The beast retaliated, its claw grazing Akhil’s arm. Blood sprayed—but before it even hit the ground, it turned into mist and circled back into him.

{Blood Absorption activated!}

He grinned, eyes wild. "You just made me stronger."

The cave pulsed with killing intent as Akhil pushed forward. Each swing of his blade was backed by the rage of the beasts he’d consumed. Each strike sharper, heavier.

Bang!

The beast crashed into the cave wall, debris raining down.

Akhil raised his hand, and the blood around him floated once more—hundreds of droplets hovering in the air like a crimson storm. His eyes flickered toward the beast struggling to get back up.

"I guess we’re done playing around."

The blood began to gather in front of him, swirling into a dense orb. It pulsed with every heartbeat, expanding, tightening, the energy vibrating through the walls.

{Skill: Blood Bomb — Activated.}

The entire cave trembled. Pebbles fell from above. The ball of condensed blood swelled, humming like an unstable heart, the power inside it screaming for release.

Even the bonehound hesitated to move.

Akhil’s hair fluttered in the rising current. He stood in the center of that growing storm, one hand raised, the other gripping his blood blade. His voice dropped low, almost like a growl.

"Let’s see which of us survives this."

The pressure reached a breaking point.

Then—

---

In the forest outside, Hale and Samxon were moving as fast as their battered bodies allowed. The light filtering through the canopy came in thin, shifting lines. Every step felt heavier.

Samxon suddenly coughed, blood splattering on the dirt.

"Damn it—" He stumbled, clutching his chest.

Hale turned sharply. "You’re still pushing your limits. You’ve already gone past your mutant threshold, idiot. Keep going like this and your heart will explode."

Samxon ignored her, gritting his teeth. "We’re close. I can feel it."

"Feel what?" Hale snapped. "We don’t even know where we’re going! That freak you trusted could’ve lied to us."

He glared at her but didn’t answer. The veins on his arms still pulsed faintly with electricity, flickering in and out of control. His body was paying for the power he’d used earlier, yet he refused to slow down.

Hale sighed, frustration clear in her tone. "You’re going to die for nothing at this rate. And for what? Pride?"

Samxon spat blood onto the ground, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "I don’t care. That thing... I want its core. Once I get it, I’ll surpass him."

Hale stared at him for a moment, her expression softening despite herself. "You’re hopeless."

But before either could say more, she froze.

"Wait," she whispered.

Samxon looked up, following her gaze.

A few meters ahead lay the body of a beast—shrivelled, gray, and dried like parchment. Its flesh was sunken, bones visible beneath its thin skin.

"What the hell happened to it?" Hale muttered, kneeling beside the corpse. There wasn’t a drop of blood anywhere.

Samxon frowned. "Drained... completely."

They both stood, eyes scanning the forest. Then they noticed more of them—several dried carcasses scattered along the path, each one looking exactly the same.

A faint trail of disturbed soil stretched deeper into the forest.

Hale exchanged a glance with Samxon.

"You thinking what I’m thinking?"

"Yeah," he said darkly, his voice low. "Something’s ahead... and it’s not just the boss."

Without another word, they followed the trail, the forest growing quieter with every step—like even nature was holding its breath.

And somewhere deep inside the mountain, a crimson pulse echoed—steady, slow, like the heartbeat of a god awakening.

Akhil’s chest rose and fell in slow, controlled breaths. The Blood Bomb hovered above his palm, its surface rippling like a living heart. Each pulse sent tiny red shockwaves shivering through the cave walls. Dust rained from the ceiling. Even the air felt tight, as if the cave itself was afraid to breathe.

Across from him, the bonehound scraped its claws against the stone. Its eyes darted from Akhil to the swelling sphere of blood. That primal fear hadn’t faded—if anything, it had grown sharper. The creature’s instincts were screaming at it to flee, but its legs trembled, refusing to obey.

Akhil took one step forward.

The bomb throbbed violently, reacting to his movement. The pressure made his skin prickle, but he held firm. His fingers tightened around the invisible tether holding the sphere together. For a moment, he wondered if he could even contain this thing for much longer. Maybe he shouldn’t even try.

"Let’s end this," he muttered.

The bonehound lunged.

Its claws blurred, cutting through the air with enough force to carve through steel. But Akhil didn’t retreat. He didn’t flinch. He simply drew his arm back like someone preparing to throw a heavy stone.

The bomb vibrated in his palm, eager.

Hungry.

Akhil exhaled once, steadying himself. "Catch."

He flung the Blood Bomb with everything he had.

The sphere tore through the air with a deep, thunderous rush—like a giant wave collapsing all at once. Blood mist trailed behind it in a swirling vortex. The bonehound’s eyes widened as the attack closed the distance in a blink.

It tried to dodge.

Too slow.

The Blood Bomb slammed into its chest.

For a heartbeat, there was silence.