the timeless Vampire

Kael's knees buckled as the Chronovault's air grew heavy, the monster blood's aftermath clawing at him. His temples throbbed with a relentless ache, skin burning as if aflame, and a metallic tang coated his tongue. The power surge from the beast's ichor had faded, leaving his limbs weak and his vision swimming with crimson streaks. The Eternity Core pulsed erratically, its red veins mirroring his faltering heartbeat. Lira steadied him, her blade still dripping with awakener blood, but a sudden vortex ripped open beneath him, yanking him into a void.

He crashed onto a jagged obsidian floor, the air thick with an ancient, oppressive hum. Before him loomed a colossal eye, its crimson depths swirling like spilled blood, dominating the innerworld's expanse. Violet and red lights clashed around it, exploding in chaotic bursts that illuminated twisted spires and shadowy forms. A voice, deep and resonant, boomed: "You've drunk the forbidden, child of the pact. This is my domain—prove your soul's worth, or be unmade."

Kael staggered to his feet, clutching The Alchemy of Eternity, its pages fluttering as if alive. The book's glow pulsed, offering no answers, only a faint whisper: "The gaze tests the bound." His hunger surged anew, the god's presence amplifying it, and his fangs ached. The aftermath of the blood left him disoriented, yet a strange clarity emerged—memories of his mother's sacrifice and father's lessons flickered, grounding him. The crimson eye narrowed, its light intensifying, and shadowy tendrils rose from the floor, testing his resolve.

Outside, Lira shouted into the void, her voice fading. Kael knew he faced this trial alone, the god's gaze piercing his every doubt. The clashing lights pulsed, demanding a choice—embrace the hunger or fight for his humanity.