Renan lunged at the older vampire, trying to strike him with his hands just like he had done with the criminals before.
Clearly, that was a mistake—because the Young Blood effortlessly countered, striking him and hurling him against the wall, shattering it and sending him crashing into the building's interior.
"Argh!" Renan cried out, pain exploding through his body—real, raw pain unlike anything he had ever felt before.
"Weak!" the Young Blood spat, stepping slowly through the broken wall, boots crunching on the rubble. "Pathetic."
He stared down at Renan lying on the floor, then kicked him hard in the ribs.
Renan gasped, rolling to the side, coughed as the impact knocked the air out of him. But despite the pain, he forced himself up to his knees, blood dripping from his mouth. His body was shaking, but not just from the pain—from the rage burning inside him.
The other vampire smirked and cracked his knuckles. "Still got some fight left in you? Good. Let's see how long that lasts." The Young Blood, didn't have much chance to fight in the past months. After all, he was alone in that whole city, having kicked out most of the magical monsters and created the dark paradise for him to rule over.
Renan clenched his fists, eyes glowing faintly red with rage. He growled low in his throat—he wouldn't lose. He couldn't. Not for Luna.
He charged again, this time faster, ducking low and aiming a punch at the vampire's gut.
Renan was putting all his strength into his strikes, but the older vampire simply smiled as he dodged them with ease.
He was faster, more experienced, and clearly just having fun. It would've been easy for him to defeat Renan quickly. But why do that when he could spend a little time enjoying himself?
"Ha! So slow," the vampire said, staring at Renan, mocking him.
"Alright, go ahead—try and land a few hits," the older vampire said, stopping and leaning casually against the interior wall, arms crossed.
Renan didn't hesitate. With a roar of frustration, he launched forward and struck with everything he had—his strongest punches, filled with rage, desperation, and raw instinct. His fists slammed into the vampire's chest, shoulders, and face. Each hit landed with brutal force, echoing through the empty room.
But the older vampire didn't move.
He remained standing, completely unfazed, not even flinching. He let Renan hit him, eyes half-lidded in boredom. When Renan finally stopped, breathing heavily, the vampire tilted his head slightly and exhaled, brushing imaginary dust from his shoulder.
"That was it?" he said, voice calm and condescending.
Renan's hands trembled, both from exertion and disbelief. He had hit with everything—everything—and it meant nothing. The fury inside him boiled hotter. He gritted his teeth, eyes glowing brighter as he prepared to strike again, refusing to accept just how outmatched he truly was.
"Let me finish this!"
The older vampire bared his fangs, and his nails extended, turning into the claws of a true predator. He stepped forward, advancing toward Renan.
For a moment, everything went dark for the boy. He felt as if a void started swallowing him whole. The rage, the thrill of feeling powerful and being a creature above others vanished in an instant. The only thing that remained was the raw, primal urge for self-preservation.
Renan had no choice but to run for his life.
He turned and fled as fast as he could, his body moving on instinct alone, desperate to get away from the vampire who was now toying with him… humiliating him.
He threw himself against a brick wall, breaking it and getting on the streets as the other vampire followed close behind, his claws scratching the floor and making a disturbing loud noise.
Renan had only one chance.
His entire body screamed at him that this would be the end if he didn't find a place to hide. The night was coming to an end, the sky that had once been completely dark and empty now beginning to lighten, rays of sunlight creeping between the buildings. The Young Blood vampire knew he couldn't waste much more time—he had to end this, now.
The boy dashed into a narrow dirty alley, desperately trying to stay within the shadows. But the older vampire followed effortlessly, nearly cleaving him in half with a single swipe. Only pure instinct saved Renan, as he barely dodged the deadly strike.
But now, he had reached a dead end.
He could try to climb the wall or break through it using his enhanced strength, but either option would slow him down just enough for the vampire to catch him before he could escape.
"Luna… I'm sorry....." Renan murmured to himself, believing he had failed her.
She had explained that he would have helped her defeat this Young Blood weakening him enough, and together they would become unstoppable. But he failed, the Young Blood was just moments from finishing him.
"But you did exactly what I wanted."
Both vampires heard the girl's voice in a soft, confident tone that echoed from the shadows of the alley.
"Chains of Punishment!" she declared.
From the darkness, black chains burst forth, writhing like serpents. The Young Blood tried to dodge, but they came from every direction, swift and relentless. His eyes widened in panic. He had lived for decades, and faced lots of enemies but had never seen a power like this.
It was a kind of magic no vampire possessed.
"Good job, my love," the girl said, stepping out of the shadows and kissing Renan on the lips, calming him instantly.
He finally caught his breath and looked at her.
He noticed that the chains were emerging directly from her hand, and there was a glowing magic circle beneath her feet. Mysterious runes covered parts of her body like tattoos, pulsing faintly with energy. She looked as terrifying as she was alluring.
The chains held the Young Blood tightly, and no matter how strong he was, they weren't letting go.
"You need to drink his blood, darling. It's the only way for you to ascend in rank," the girl said, her smile growing wider.
"But—"
"No buts… just do it." Luna stopped Renan from talking.
She caressed his face and kissed him again. This time being longer, deeper with their tongues meeting. All that while the Young Blood looked on in disgust at the sight, and kept being helpless in the chains, now he was the one looking like a pathetic prey.
Renan obeyed. And as soon as the girl released him from the kiss, he immediately sank his fangs into the neck of the vampire who had humiliated him.
Contrary to what he expected, the blood was delicious... Far better than that of the humans he had killed before. It was so good he couldn't stop.
Even as the older vampire struggled, trying to break free, screaming like a wounded beast, Renan kept drinking until every last drop was gone.
The moment the Young Blood was completely drained, his body began to disintegrate, turning into ash.
Renan, however, was also affected.
He screamed in agony with the blood that moments ago had tasted divine now turned bitter in his mouth, and his head felt like it was about to explode.
He collapsed, unconscious, as the pain became unbearable.
That was the price of rising from the rank of Neonate and becoming a true vampire: a Young Blood.
"Good boy," Luna said, looking down at her boyfriend as she held him in her arms.
"I'll take you home." She looked up noticing the sun was rising.