The low growl echoed louder now, vibrating against the stone walls. Alucard's eyes narrowed as a monstrous figure crept into view—sleek, dark fur glinting faintly in the sanctuary's dim light.
[Bloodhound – Rank E+]
Bloodshot eyes locked onto him. Its nostrils flared.
"It must've caught the scent of blood… stray from its pack?"
The beast didn't wait for confirmation. It lunged.
Alucard barely managed to roll aside, but not fast enough. Claws grazed his shoulder—hot pain flared and blood ran down his arm.
He clenched his teeth, backing up.
The Bloodhound snarled, circling.
"I can't afford to hold back…"
Alucard's body moved before he could think. His hand gripped the hilt of the ancient blade. Electricity surged from his core—wild, hungry.
"Sword Art—First Form: Lightning Steps!"
Crack!
His body vanished in a blur of light.
He reappeared behind the Bloodhound mid-strike, instinct guiding the blade.
A clean slash—thunder echoed in the air.
The Bloodhound's eyes widened before it collapsed in a heap of sparks and blood.
Alucard stood frozen, panting hard. Sweat rolled down his face. His breathing turned ragged as the lightning around him fizzled out.
The wound on his shoulder throbbed.
"That... was insane."
His entire body felt drained—light-headed, weak.
The mana consumption was extremely high. He knew right away—he couldn't use this more than once in a fight. Not until he got stronger.
But before he could relax—
A howl pierced the night.
Then another.
Then more.
A pack.
"Shit."
He turned and ran, body screaming in protest. The adrenaline was all that pushed him forward.
He burst out of the sanctuary and into the forest, dodging trees and ducking branches under the silver-lit canopy. The howls grew closer, louder.
But they stopped abruptly as the city's outline came into view.
The Silvermoon Guardposts—the massive walls and stationed mana cannons—stood like an unmoving giant.
The hounds wouldn't dare cross into Arenthor territory. Not with the guards present.
Alucard didn't stop until he reached the city gates, slipping past a patrol and staggering into the street. From there, it was a haze of lamp-lit roads and quiet glances until he stumbled into his hotel room.
He collapsed onto the bed, chest rising and falling rapidly.
Two days left before the Stardust Academy entrance ceremony.
And Alucard had already begun rewriting fate.