Chapter 5: The Black Blood Purge

3 A.M., Valenfort.

Above the city, unmarked aircrafts sliced through the clouds like silent predators.

Below, the entire Hollow Vein valley had been sealed off.

Towers of white light pierced the darkness blades of divine judgment ready to fall.

The operation “Black Blood Purge” , a top-secret plan buried by the Hunter’s Council for more than a decade, had finally begun.

In the command center, Marcus Vale, the High Commander, stood before a giant screen, cold light reflecting across his stern face.

“Teams Delta-7, Bravo-9, and Echo-3, confirm the location of the Crimson Chapel. No one withdraws. Tonight, Valenfort will be cleansed.”

Beside him, Dr. Alaric Hemsley, the Council’s hematologist, adjusted a syringe filled with a thick, black liquid.

“We’ll release Serum Noctis. Once activated, it’ll spread through the air and destroy every vampire cell within a three-kilometer radius.”

Marcus glanced at him sharply.

“And the humans?”

Alaric smiled faintly.

“They may experience… minor side effects. Pain, mild blood loss.

But that’s a small price to pay to make sure the Blood King doesn’t live.”

Marcus nodded, voice devoid of mercy.

“Initiate Phase One.”

---

Inside the Crimson Chapel, red light pulsed beneath the stone floor like a beating heart.

Evelyn sat silently beside the glass coffin, her eyes hollow.

Next to her, Adrian Wolfe reloaded his weapon, his expression tight.

“The comms are dead. The Council’s closing in. What’s your plan?”

Evelyn didn’t answer. The blood from her earlier offering still stained her hand glowing faintly now, as if something inside her had begun to awaken.

“Adrian… if they attack, don’t shoot.”

He froze, disbelief flashing across his face.

“Are you insane? They’re sending troops! They’ll kill everyone including Lucien!”

“I know…” Evelyn whispered. “But if I fight back… I won’t stay human.”

Adrian’s jaw clenched, voice trembling.

“Then what? You’ll just let them destroy everything?”

Evelyn lifted her head. The air around her felt heavier, her heartbeat uneven.

“No.”

---

Wind howled through the broken arches of the chapel as floodlights from the sky swept down.

Outside, hundreds of hunters in silver armor advanced red crosses glowing on their chests.

Marcus’s voice echoed through the loudspeaker:

“Evelyn Cross! By order of the Council, you are suspended and detained for treason!

Surrender the Blood King and submit immediately!”

Evelyn stepped forward, pale light washing over her face.

She looked at the soldiers the same people who once fought beside her now aiming their guns at her heart.

“You don’t understand! Lucien isn’t the enemy!

It’s the Council that’s spreading the blood!”

Marcus narrowed his eyes.

“He’s corrupted you. The thing in your veins is a plague. Evelyn Cross is dead, only the Blood King’s experiment remains.”

The words cut deeper than any blade.

Evelyn’s fists tightened, anger trembling through her bones.

Behind her, Adrian raised his gun, standing beside her.

“If you want her… you’ll have to go through me.”

Marcus’s lips curved coldly.

“Then die with her, Wolfe.”

He raised his hand. A barrage of silver bullets exploded into the air.

---

In a split second, Evelyn yanked Adrian aside and a bullet grazed his shoulder, blood splattering across the wall.

She returned fire. The silver rounds cracked through the smoke, sparking off the hunters’ reflective armor.

Chaos. Gunfire. The smell of burning blood.

Above, sirens wailed. Serum Noctis had been released. A black mist seeped from the aircraft, crawling into the cracks of the earth.

“Evelyn! They dropped the toxin!” Adrian shouted.

She looked up the mist wrapped around her skin, searing it.

Her heartbeat stuttered. Veins beneath her wrist darkened to ink.

Evelyn collapsed, trembling.

ThenLucien’s voice echoed inside her mind.

“Black blood… the final seal. Once it awakens, you will no longer be human.”

She screamed, fighting to hold on

but it was too late.

Her eyes flared crimson. Fangs emerged. Power surged through her body like a storm.

The air twisted. Blood erupted from the ground, writhing like living shadows.

Marcus stared in horror.

“Dear God… what is this?”

Dr. Alaric’s smile widened.

“The Black Blood, the hybrid lineage of Lilith and Draven. At last, it awakens.”

Evelyn opened her eyes. Humanity was gone.

Her voice came out raw, inhuman:

“You wanted a purge of blood?... Let me oblige.”

A wave of crimson burst outward. Dozens of hunters were hurled back, weapons melting in their hands.

The ground itself turned scarlet.

Adrian lunged toward her, grabbing her arm.

“Eve! Stop! You’re not a monster!”

“Get out of here!” she screamed, shoving him away.

“I can’t control it!”

But his words drowned beneath the roars and the clash of metal.

From within the bloodstorm, Lucien Draven emerged cloak torn, eyes blazing red.

He reached her side and gripped her shoulders.

“Enough. If you let it consume you, you’ll lose yourself.”

“I… can’t stop it…” Evelyn gasped, tears of blood trailing down her cheeks.

Lucien pulled her close, voice heavy with anguish.

“Then let me share your burden.”

He bit into his wrist, pressing it to her lips.

Scarlet blood poured into her mouth, fusing with the black venom inside her veins.

Light erupted. The sky above Valenfort exploded in crimson fire.

The chapel was swallowed whole.

---

When the smoke cleared, Evelyn lay motionless on the shattered floor. Her body trembled weakly, the darkness gone, replaced by a faint silver glow.

Lucien knelt beside her, his hand gripping hers.

“You… saved me?” she whispered.

“No. I only held on to what was left of your humanity. But the Black Blood… has awakened.”

Far away, Marcus ordered retreat.

The Hunter forces scattered no victory, only dread.

“We’ve created something far worse than the Blood King,” he muttered.

---

Evelyn gazed at the cracked ceiling, moonlight spilling through the ruins. Her hand rose to her chest, her heartbeat fragile, half human, half demon.

Lucien lowered his head, voice solemn.

“The Black Blood has chosen you.

There is no turning back now.”

Evelyn smiled faintly through the pale light.

“Then I’ll keep walking…

until the last drop of blood runs dry.”