The Trial of Blood

“Struggle, tear each other apart, and from the ashes, be reborn.”

Perched atop the opulent palace suspended in the sky, Irina, a vision in an evening gown and holding a parasol, twirled gracefully, her golden tresses and the magnificent sweep of her skirt swirling in harmony.

“Oh ho ho ho, do those imbeciles from the Regulatory Bureau truly believe their maneuvers escape our notice? By now, I imagine them scurrying about like a swarm of headless flies.”

A mocking laugh escaped her lips as the golden-haired Bloodkin raised a goblet of crimson wine, taking a delicate sip:

“It was precisely as ‘The Doctor’ had predicted; the Regulatory Bureau was utterly incapable of deploying a significant force of hunters. The city, at this very moment, lay in its most defenseless state. Moreover…”

Unbeknownst to her, a crimson gem materialized within Irina’s palm.

How exquisitely beautiful.

How blindingly radiant.

How overwhelmingly powerful.

The sheer existence of such a supreme treasure compelled all eyes to remain fixed upon it.

She gazed with unbridled obsession at the artifact before her. It was no hyperbole to claim that the very power to forge worlds resided within this gem, entrusted to her by ‘The Doctor’.

“With this power at my command, even if I can only wield a fraction of its might, it will be more than sufficient to not only elude the Regulatory Bureau but even to conjure another world entirely.”

Indeed, the very world Irina now inhabited was a realm of trials, meticulously crafted by her through the gem’s formidable power, a perfect replica of the entire city.

Multitudes of [Bloodthirsty] and [Vampires] would, without their knowledge, be ushered into this domain.

And the Regulatory Bureau’s lackeys?

Alas, they could only stand by, utterly oblivious, their eyes wide with impotent frustration, awaiting the game’s conclusion—a collective of losers predestined from the outset.

“Oh ho ho ho ho.”

The thought alone sent Irina into another peal of laughter. The past ignominy of being hunted by the Regulatory Bureau had instilled in her a profound loathing for these individuals; witnessing their discomfiture made her feel as if she had shed more than a decade from her age.

Yet, pressing matters still demanded her attention.

Thus, she unleashed this formidable power. A crimson glow pulsed around the gem, and in an instant, the palace transformed into a translucent shell, granting her an unobstructed view of the world unfolding beneath.

“Mmm, let’s refine this. Display it in the manner of a televised broadcast, if you please. I eagerly anticipate tonight’s trials, wondering if a new member of our kin will emerge.”

The gem responded to her command once more. In the ethereal expanse before her, a series of screens flickered into existence, instantly revealing the complete status of the trial participants.

This ‘trial,’ as it was known, was in essence the sacred ritual for the genesis of Bloodkin.

Specially formulated Bloodkin inhibitors are disseminated for consumption by the [Bloodthirsty]. From this, [Vampires] will arise, plagued by an unquenchable thirst for blood. The only entities capable of alleviating this ravenous state are other Vampires or [Bloodthirsty] who have ingested the specific inhibitor. Those who triumphantly emerge from this intricate cycle are the revered [Bloodkin].

Gathering them all together promised the most magnificent spectacle.

“Therefore, for today, let us commence with a grand battle royale. For now, I shall merely reduce the playing field ever so slightly.”

A meticulous city model, resembling a sprawling sand table, materialized before Irina. With a delicate, slender finger, she gracefully bisected the miniature landscape, and the world on the left side shimmered and vanished like a bursting bubble. Covering her mouth, she emitted a joyous, melodic laugh:

“Surely, the trial participants will now find their entertainment elevated, oh ho ho ho!”

****

Xiu Lan ambled along the road, her path devoid of any discernible purpose.

Despite her boastful claims of resolving everything, not only was the shadowy mastermind nowhere to be found, but even the simplest roadside monsters remained elusive.

Her gaze drifted once more to the palace suspended in the heavens, its opulent grandeur inspiring awe and sparking questions about the immense wealth required to sustain such a marvel.

A sigh escaped her lips.

She sighed once more.

‘If only I could fly,’ Xiu Lan thought.

This way, she could ascend and uncover the mysteries held within.

“Ah ah—”

Suddenly, a woman’s piercing scream tore through the air from a short distance away.

‘Work already!?’

The girl, whose boredom had reached its peak, finally received her first assignment of the evening. She called out loudly, “I’m over here! Come to me!”

With that, she broke into a light jog, heading towards where the screams had originated.

“Ergh!”

A cacophony of crashing impacts and savage tearing sounds intertwined.

If Huang Siying had evoked a sense of revulsion in Xiu Lan, and the monster encountered at home had instilled terror, then the creature before her now was, remarkably, rather striking.

Before her stood an upright werewolf, its entire form cloaked in thick, white fur. A barbed tail lashed behind it, and it possessed two pairs of arms: the upper pair ending in human-like five-fingered hands, while the lower pair bore formidable, razor-sharp claws.

By the time Xiu Lan arrived, the werewolf was locked in a brutal struggle, tearing at another crawling Vampire.

Along the periphery of their violent confrontation, a figure draped in a black robe, a camera slung about their neck, was desperately fleeing for their life.

“Hey, over here!”

Xiu Lan called out, her voice cutting through the din.

“Hoo… hoo… hoo…”

Upon hearing the shout, the fleeing individual visibly faltered for a moment, then, as if making a sudden decision, sprinted towards Xiu Lan.

“Hello, are you a survivor as well?”

The voice, distinctly female, held a faint ring of familiarity. However, this was hardly the moment for such considerations. Xiu Lan gestured towards the ongoing skirmish and inquired, “What exactly is happening with those two?”

‘Do monsters truly turn on one another?’

It was only at this juncture that Xiu Lan comprehended the profound gaps in her knowledge regarding the Bloodkin hierarchy.

‘Did those two scoundrels truly abandon me to embark on a honeymoon?’

Recalling her external support, Xiu Lan pulled out her phone, intending to contact the police-criminal duo.

“This phone is…”

“What’s wrong?”

“Your phone bears a striking resemblance to one owned by a friend of mine; it appears to be the exact same model.”

She paused, then elaborated, “I’ve already attempted it. While there’s a signal here, for reasons unknown, I’m completely unable to connect with the outside world.”

Xiu Lan performed her own test, confirming the woman’s assertion.

‘Well, damn, the entire coaching staff got banned before they even made it to the field.’

“As for the commotion over there, I was initially being pursued by that crawling monstrosity when, all of a sudden, that white… werewolf? sprang forth. They immediately engaged in a fierce battle.”

Having explained, the woman cast a hopeful glance at Xiu Lan. “Shouldn’t we be running? Is there anywhere safe to hide around here?”

“My apologies, but I’ve only just arrived here myself.”

Perceiving the woman’s spirits deflate, Xiu Lan rose slightly on her toes and offered a reassuring pat on her shoulder. “Rest assured,” she declared with unwavering confidence, “I possess more than enough capabilities to protect myself.”

No sooner had the words left her lips than Xiu Lan, under the woman’s bewildered stare, confidently strode towards the heart of the battle.

“Danger… don’t… come closer.”

Having violently flung aside the Vampire attempting to ensnare him, the werewolf positioned himself squarely in Xiu Lan’s path.

His body, at this moment, bore a multitude of gruesome wounds. His once pristine white fur was now matted with crimson, a horrifying blend of his own blood and that of his adversary.

Alas, the resounding successes of her recent skirmishes had imbued Xiu Lan with an unshakeable confidence, leaving her entirely unfazed by his warning.

“I said… dan… ger…”

Perceiving Xiu Lan’s continued advance, the werewolf’s hoarse snarls deepened with a palpable surge of anger. He spun around swiftly, his left hand curving into a menacing claw, intent on flinging this insolent brat away.

‘Hmm… this fellow actually possesses self-awareness?’

‘But who could possibly decipher those sounds?’

She mused internally.

Confronting the abrupt assault, Xiu Lan neither flinched nor evaded. Instead, she channeled shadow into her fist, meeting the blow head-on. The sheer, monstrous force sent the werewolf staggering back several paces, its expression etched with profound shock.

In a flash.

“Hiss!”

Witnessing this new variable, the monster previously struck away seized the opportune moment. Exploiting the werewolf’s momentary lapse into stupor, it surged forward with incredible speed, traversing hundreds of meters in the blink of an eye.

A rich, coppery scent of blood permeated the air around Xiu Lan, nearly reawakening the appetite she had only just managed to suppress.

‘But I can’t eat him yet.’

Reluctantly, she cast aside her yearning for sustenance. With a single, decisive punch, Xiu Lan brought the charging monster crashing to the ground, then hoisted it up and deposited it at the werewolf’s feet. Under his bewildered gaze, Xiu Lan spoke in a gravelly voice:

“Might we have a word? Consider this a small token of our meeting.”