the blood moon hunt

The forest was too quiet.

Even the wind dared not breathe.

A crimson glow spilled across the sky as the Blood Moon rose — huge, hungry, and heavy enough to drown the stars. The ancient trees of the Eltaran Woods trembled, their shadows twisting like living things.

Joong Anzhar walked ahead of his team, each step steady despite the storm of energy pulsing in the air. His hand tightened around the silver-staff strapped to his back, runes etched along its surface flickering faintly with golden light.

> “The moon’s restless tonight,” murmured Pond Naravit, walking just behind him. “It’s like the forest knows what we’re about to do.”

“Stay focused,” Joong replied, voice calm, though his pulse betrayed him.

This wasn’t his first hunt — but something about this one felt different.

From behind, Gemini adjusted the glowing seals floating around him. “According to the temple’s records, Dunk Virell hasn’t been seen for over a century,” he said quietly. “If he’s still alive… he’s not just any vampire.”

Joong’s expression didn’t change.

He’d heard the stories — of the silver-haired vampire who once loved a shaman and was cursed to eternal hunger. Of a creature said to drink only the blood of the holy.

A monster.

That was all he needed to remember.

The three of them reached the ruins of an old chapel — its roof long collapsed, vines swallowing the stone altar. The air shimmered faintly, thick with blood magic.

And there, in the center, stood a figure bathed in the moon’s light.

White hair. Crimson eyes. A smirk that belonged to someone who had lived far too long and feared nothing.

Dunk Virell.

He turned toward them slowly, voice like silk soaked in sin.

> “So… the temple sends its golden boy.”

“Took you long enough to find me.”

Joong raised his staff, a halo of light forming around him. “Kneel, and I’ll make your end painless.”

Dunk laughed — a sound too human for a monster.

> “And here I thought you’d at least buy me dinner first.”

Before Pond could mutter his usual sarcasm, Dunk moved — faster than wind, a blur of silver and shadow. Joong met him head-on, light colliding with blood. The chapel erupted into chaos.

Every strike was precise — Joong’s chants cutting through the roar of magic. Dunk dodged, spun, and struck with elegance, his movements both violent and beautiful.

“Persistent little saint,” Dunk teased, blocking Joong’s staff with his bare hand. “Do all your kind look this good when they’re angry?”

Joong’s jaw tightened. “Silence.”

He thrust the ritual dagger forward — blessed steel piercing Dunk’s chest.

For a moment, light swallowed everything.

Then the world broke.

The moon flared brighter, red and alive. The seal on the floor shattered, the symbols splitting and crawling up their arms like living fire.

Joong gasped — his veins burned, his pulse doubled — and suddenly, he could feel Dunk’s heartbeat inside his own.

Dunk staggered, clutching his chest, eyes wide with disbelief.

> “What… did you do to me, shaman?”

Joong fell to his knees, gasping. “The spell—it failed—”

A red glow linked them, twisting between their bodies like a thread of molten blood.

Pond rushed forward, shouting Joong’s name, but the two were already bound — their souls echoing with each other’s breath.

Dunk laughed weakly, even as blood dripped from his lips.

> “Bound us? Cute. Now if I die, you die too.”

“Guess that makes us partners… priestling.”

Joong glared, fury and confusion clashing in his chest.

But beneath it, deep and unspoken — was fear. Not of death.

Of what this bond would reveal.

The Blood Moon dimmed overhead. The forest fell silent once again.

And as Joong stared at the vampire bound to his soul, he realized one terrible truth —

This was only the beginning.

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✨ End of Chapter 1 — “The Blood Moon Hunt”

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