76 Sanguinary 1 (2/2)
The man's black hair was floored backwards. Resembling a polished brush. As for his skin, it was both glossy and white. Generating a particular shine as the lonesome sun above bathed it in it's rays. Perfectly fitting the most delicate of facial features who were as sharp as polished daggers.
Even Michael felt slightly mesmerized by the impressive appearance. However, not because of attraction, but from a sense of familiarity.
”Halrel?” Michael blurted out from his black lips. Having a hard time seperating this man from the man he killed.
And to his impulsive cough of words, the opposing party reacted. Closing his eyes for a second whilst smiling in understanding.
”Oh my...” He muttered as the tender eyelids re-opend themselves. Letting the rapturous carmine light further highlight his presence.
”No. Halrel was my cousin. But as we did share quite the similarities, we were given similar names. You may call be Hadriel.” Hadriel's voice flowed out like the scent of a flower. Instinctively making one lock their gaze onto his red lips.
However, for Michael, it was more like heavy pollen. Causing him to sneeze out a belitting greeting containing an uncaring tone.
”Nice meeting you then.”
Hadriel equally grinned back. Answering him with a seducing gesture. Unhesitantly advancing towards his position.
”Likewise.”
Michael shook his head as he watched the man proceed in his direction. Frowning from beneath the shallow cover of his hood.
And surprisingly enough, Hadriel responded to his dissatisfaction with an awkward smile and an abrubt halt. Positioning himself a few meters away from Michael's baleful figure.
”You should know why I am here, yes?” Hadriel unceasingly questioned. Gracing his sharp jaw with one of his lady-like hands.
”Revenge?” Michael replied while crossing his rugged arms. Feeling rather inpatient and frustrated at the loss of his battle high.
But Hadriel only shook his head for a moment. Sighing in great shame as he continued.
”My aunt, Halrel's mother, was quite fond of him despite his lack of talent... And even though our banishment was inevitable, she made sure to send him to this part and not the one of the more....volatile ones.”
Michael raised seeinngly raised his eyelids from beneath the cowl of fur. Evident by how it suddenly twitched slightly back.
”This part?” Michael interestingly responded. Trying to understand a gist of the vampire's words.
However, to his slight hint of fascination, Hadriel gently chuckled while brushing his fingers across his cheeks. Giving them both a rosy color.
”My, my. It seems like my tounge slipped. You are a native of this world then?”
”No, I wouldn't say that.” Michael begrudgingly snaped back. Feeling his new patience soon reach it's limit.
Hadriel only nodded back at him in respond. Confirming his own thoughts.
”I always knew that a lot of gruesome [Hybridization] experiments took place here..” The air grew still whilst the carmine eyes shone brighter. Sinking the next words into Michael's head like frostbite.
”But to think one of the locked courts of [Fort Gong] managed to sproute an existences such as yourself... Or do you call it [Farleng] now? Either way, It's simply hard to digest.” Hadriel brightening eyes burst with a sinful light after he finished. Wanting to see if he had succeeded in drawing the interest of this cloaked creature.
And indeed, Michael felt his guard slightly lower itself as he heard the unfamiliar scentence. Making him want to seek out more.
However, Hadriel shut down his changing attitude with a hostile aura and a mischievous smirk stretching all over his face. Enjoying the tormented look.
”Finally managed to pique your interest, did I?”
The atmosphere started tensing up as he finished talking. Almost as if the space got sealed of by a large dome of glass.
Michael's dimming eyes turned brighter when he sensed it. Extending his arms to the side and making his acromatic nails extend. Turning them into coated blades.
The act of hostility seemed to brighten Hadriel's mood. Making him equally want to release some tension with not only his body, but also through words.
”I would never have imagined that a sealed world like this would contain such fresh complexions. Being sendt here truly wasn't as bad as I thought...or am I wrong, dear cousin?”
Hadriel's handsome smile resurfaced as he looked up into the blank sky. Reminicing about a past memory which perfectly aligned with this very moment. Making him loudly hum out some words for Michael to hear.
”You know, beast. I was once a human.” His tone was warm like a mother's embrace. Caringly coiling around the arean of mist.
”But then, on one day, the disfigured aberrations fell from the bloody clouds and took everything I held of value. Picking my mother, my father, and my siblings away like cattle.” His eyes closed again. Letting a horrid quiver traverse through his body undisturbed while he continued.
”Had it not been for my grandparents and their research, our family, an many others, would have long since ceased.” Hadriels words became more lonesome and regretful as he spoke.
”But what did we gain for our sacrifice? Was it Scorn? Curses? Isolation...?”
”I slowly started to understand why those monstrosities would wish for the enslavement of the human race.” Hadriel eventually opened his eyes back up. Wincing over at Michael with a more refreshed gaze.
However, what he did not expect was to receive nothing but a vexed snap back. One which had heard enough.
”Are you done?”
Hadriel ignored Michael's nagging whilst he stripped him down with the carmine eyes. Greedily satiating his gaze before going back to rubbing his chin.
”Fascinating. I sense you also possess the blessing, one very pure, one like Halrel's.. However, as it is dormant, you only seem to have the formidable affinity of blood and not the innate strength of a higher emperor...”
”Why are you telling me this?” Michael's nails stopped extending out an grew crooked as he angrily interrupted Hadriel.
But while the acromatic splinters turned into unconditioned razors through a series of disgusting cracks, Hadriel shook his head. Slightly disappointed by the ruly attitude.
”What an ungrateful child you had to deal with, dear cousin...” A short silence occupied the scene before resuming.
”You see, it is common courtesy amongst are kind to share this knowledge with any fledglings. No matter who they are. Or do I not sense a dormant strain linger in your body?”
The mellow winds glided past Hadriel's folded strands of hair as he tiringly extended out one of his hands. Not removing his eyes from Michael's body.
Michael was about to charge at the man when he registered signs of movement. However, right before his tensed muscles could snap, he restrained himself. Finding some value in what Hadriel spoke of next.
”You know, beast, the vampire ranks are quite easy to advance through as long as you have enough high grade blood available. Allowing for a quick mastery of the vampiric ranks.”
Space started to heat up around the center of Hadriel's palm. Slowly turning into a distorted brick before then having the skin on his fingertips rupture. Siphoning out enough liquid to form a ball of blood.
”First, you learn to master your own blood, forging blades and armaments..”
And as if answering the gentle words, the ball of blood started take the form of a cross shaped blade before then molding itself appropriately. Sharpening the hilt and edges until they reflected a metallic sheen.
Michael only watched intriguingly at the scene. Feeling himself spellbound by the capabilities displayed.
Hadriel noticed the almost material crave excluded by Michael and kept going on. Smiling whilst he lifted the bloody metal in a streaking red arch.
”Next, you learn to control the blood of others. Giving you the power to absorb and manipulate mortals like puppets...”
Hadriel's eyes regained their previous radiance as the sword was raised above his head. Sending out a transient signal which bore through the dead bodies nearby.
And out from the broken remains of what was once a flourishing town, multiple anacondas made of red water crawled out. Impatiently ascending through the air like a split pack of birds after escaping the rubble, until finally reaching the weapon. Fusing with it.
Even the dead vampires and the misfourtnate charger resting not too far away from Michael's figure were not spared. Quickly having their life force drained, and then absorbed by the organic cross at an almost instantaneous rate. Further increasing the sword's aura and strengthening it's features.
”Impressive, am I right?”
Hadriel then lowered his blade as he complimented his work. Letting the magnificent edges rest only centimeters away from his baby-like face. Scanning it for a moment before turning his lusting eyes back to Michael.
”And finally, you learn to interact with the strain in your body. Allowing you to then gift it to others....”
The sword was then further lowered. Placed with it's tip aimed to his side.
However, as the armament lost it's spotlight, Hadriel's mood only seemed to get more fervent and excited.
”But did you think it ended there?” Hadriel chanted with a glorious smirk which kept on getting growing. Focusing his mind onto a faint object residing deep within.
And as a second passed by, something shook his body. Something which had responded to his call.
Out from the visible patches of pale skin which laid uncovered by the fallen black cloak, multiple red lines started forming. Squirming and multiplying like parasitic worms before finally dyeing Hadriel in a nefarious red light.
”By reaching the very source, you are granted access to the first blood which was taken. The very essence of my families work..”
Even his voice started growing more unstable and crooked like the nails on Michael's hands until finally reaching the peak. Granting but a brief moment to utter one last line before the vocal cord visually split apart while his figure rapidly grew!
”THE PUREFORM!!!”
The spine, bones, and all the upper and lower body parts started growing in length through a series of snaps and tears. Turning the black cape previously covering his heating body into a torn rag hanging over the hips, and letting the transformation ensue as all the red skin was displayed.
As the skin got enveloped by the bloody coat, two spikes of red shot out from Hadriel's back. Taking the shape of what resembled the skinless wings of a bat before then stopping. Gently positioning themselves behind him like sheathed pikes.
After the wings came the arms. Rapidly turning into two overgrown sticks while the once delicate fingers formed into scissor-like twigs. Growing in tact with the main body until creating what looked like a three meter tall tree sprouting four malformed branches. One seemingly holding onto a long red fruit.
And so, the red glow died down like cooled metal. Showing the brutish figure once again.
Hadriel's once elegant skin now resembled an overstretched sheet of bleached textile. Engraved with a cold pressure and an almost translucent quality which displayed the solid lines of tissue beneath like a glass board. Having been forcefully pulled over his body like a garb, which would then shifted from white to black as your gaze met the trunk of fallen fabric on the bottom. Created from the remains of his torn clothes.
However, the new appearance which resembled a whitered tree was not the most disturbing thing.
As you went up from the cloaked feet and up, you would eventually find the head which laid attatched on the top. Resting there like a rotten flower.
The once handsome face was now gone. Having all it's delicate traits replaced by a featureless madk holding close ties to the mutilated skull of an ape.
The eye sockets were hollow like the night whilst the nose and ears had fused with the head. Now appearing like small breathing holes. And finally, the lips. Having gotten peeled back like a slip only to show a horrendous line of petruding canines.
”Now....” Hadriel then breathed out. Sending off an icy vapor from his malformed mouth as he vomited out a distorted scentence for Michael to hear.
With the blood sword still in hand, Hadriel lifted his new wings above before pushing them down. Flying up into the air like a fallen angel, and hovering above Michael's figure like a banshee.
”Do you have any last words to spare before I cut you down, fledgling?”
An icy wind started brewing around their arena as Hadriel's mangled screech resonated out like a shaken gong. Freezing the air still and turning the surrounding walls of mist into a blizzard.
However, even while the temprature lowered itself down, and the scent of burnt iron enveloped the the land, one thing remained unchanged.
That being Michael's figure remaining where it stood.
'What is that child doing?'
Even the ghastly spectre resting above sensed something wrong about the ordeal. However, his wish for a response did not stay unanswered for long.
”If I have some last words...?” Michael mockingly laughed out where he stood. Lifting up his head to meet with the corrupt being waiting for his so called rites.
Hadriel felt slightly puzzled by his remark. Watching the beast fleck it's teeth with a questioning look. But again, no prayers remained unanswered.
---
[Innate Ability: Lycanthropy]
---
Within Michael's bloodstream, a bundle of dark DNA started to madly divide. Splitting into multiple strings before fusing with the passing cells.
”Snap!!”
Michael's entire figure started to slowly expand while the cloak covering his body sizzled into his skin. Coiling around his entire body until turning into a black, skin tight hide.
”Snap!!”
The tearing of his muscles then echoed out alongside the loud cracking noise generated from his nails fusing with the fingertips. Turning them into claws.
”Snap!!!”
And finally, his figure stopped growing after reaching the five meter mark. Halting the transformation.
Hadriel's hollow eyes widened as he stared at the newborn sight. Never having witnessed something like this before.
The once two meter tall man had turned into a colossal yeti covered by a veil of dark fur. It's arms were the size of logs, the body held the with of a fire truck, and the head was equally horiffic as his own. Even having the new maw of black teeth grin up as the two new yellow suns radiated against his vampiric body.
”Haaa....” Michael breathed out. Releasing a row of steam out from the acromatic pillars resting within his sunken mouth before lifting his brutish leg forwards. Slamming it into the ground, and denting it with his mew paws before loudly screaming out.
”BRING IT ON!!!”