The Damned Demon

The moment the drop touched Raziel's skin, it shot into his glabella, and his eyes widened to their extremities.

As the drop of blood merged with Raziel's being, his body convulsed violently, collapsing to the ground. "AARGHHHH!!!"

Agonizing pain coursed through him, his skin flushing a deep red. He writhed and squirmed, a guttural cry of pain escaping his lips. His eyes and mouth emitted fumes, a sign of the intense internal struggle as his body felt like it was burning from within. He could feel his organs and nerves boiling up and about to melt inside him. His skin was scalding hot, as if they were about to burn up in flames any moment.

As a vampire, it was common knowledge that their blood's greatest weakness was flames, incapable of withstanding its heat. And so he wondered if he really could merge the bloodforce of the most powerful dragon whose flames had the power to burn the entire world.

Coughing up blood, Raziel was on the brink of succumbing to the overwhelming torment.

Drakaris's voice, deep and steady, resonated in Raziel's mind, urging him, "Do not give in to the pain," the voice 08:50

instructed, "Harness your inner strength, endure this trial. It could take you months or years, but think of why you are enduring this agony."

Raziel's mind was a whirlwind of pain and desperation, barely able to focus. Yet, he clung to the memories of his mother, Selene, and his people—their faces, their voices, the unjust and brutal end they met at the hands of the werewolves. These memories, these images of suffering and loss, fueled his resolve, igniting a cold determination within him to survive and seek vengeance.

As he concentrated on these memories, the pain began to forge a new resolve within him. Each image of their demise steeled his will, transforming his anguish into a weapon of inner strength. He can't succumb now and let down his people. He remembered the promise he made to his mother and Selene. He has to live to keep those promises.

He held onto these thoughts, these reasons for his struggle, as his body began to get covered by a scorching thick layer of blood until it enveloped him completely while his screams completely died.

—

Weeks passed, and a large crimson egg-like cocoon rested on the mountain summit, pulsing with a deep crimson glow. Dark energy swirled around it, warping the very air, and frightening away any flying beasts that dared to come close by a thousand miles.

The mountain itself seemed to hold its breath, anticipating the emergence of something terrifyingly powerful.

*Crack!*

Suddenly, the serene moment was broken as the egg began to crack, the sound echoing across the desolate peak.

A powerful arm, thick with muscle and emanating raw strength, burst through the shell, creating a gaping hole. With a resounding crash, the cocoon shattered into countless pieces, scattering across the rocky surface.

From the remnants of the cocoon, a tall, muscular figure emerged. Standing nearly two meters tall, his physique was a testament to his newfound power: eight-pack abs sharply defined, muscles rippling across his frame, exuding strength and dominance. His black hair, now reaching down his back, fluttered in the mountain wind, framing a charming yet rugged face adorned with a thick beard and mustache. As he slowly raised his head, his eyes opened, revealing a deep crimson gaze, brimming with vast, dark power.

From above, Drakaris's voice resonated with approval and pride, "Raziel, you have surpassed my expectations. You have been reborn as my successor, imbued with a power that few can fathom," Drakaris declared, "From this moment forth, you are under my protection. It is my duty, as your predecessor, to guide and watch over you."

Raziel stood there, taking in his new form and the weight of Drakaris's words. He felt a surge of power coursing through him, a power that was both exhilarating and daunting. He knew that with this newfound strength, he had the means to avenge his people and to carve a new path for himself in a world that had shown him nothing but cruelty and despair. He then kneeled before the immense presence of Drakaris. His voice, now deeper and imbued with a newfound resonance, carried both respect and a cold determination, "Thank you for choosing me as your successor, Master. I will carry out your will, and I will be forever indebted to you," he vowed, his words echoing into the silence of the mountain.

Drakaris responded with a deep hum that seemed to vibrate through the very air, "Now, familiarize yourself with the strength and abilities you have gained. Your body is no longer bound by the limitations of a mere vampire. Flames, which once were your bane, will now only serve to strengthen your blood. Your physique is as formidable as those of my kin, tough as the strongest stone and capable of healing in the blink of an eye. And above all," Drakaris's voice boomed with a sense of grandeur, "you possess dominion over gravity, one of the universe's most powerful forces, and the might to bend space to your will. Rise into the skies, Raziel, and witness the world whose chains you have broken free from."

Raziel's hands pressed against the cold, hard ground, his knuckles white as he concentrated. He closed his eyes, focusing on the new, unfamiliar sensation coursing through his veins. The ground beneath him began to tremble subtly as he channeled his power.

Dust particles and small rocks started to levitate around him, swirling in a dance of defiance against gravity. The earth itself seemed to respond to his will, shaking under the immense force he was exerting.

With a swift flow of energy, magnificent crimson wings with sharp bony projections reminiscent of a dragon's sprouted from his back. They unfurled majestically, stretching out to their full, impressive span. *BOOM!*

And with a thunderous boom, he embraced his newfound power as he shot upwards.

The force of his ascent sent shockwaves rippling through the air, distorting the atmosphere around him.

As he soared into the sky, Raziel felt an exhilarating sense of freedom and power. He was no longer the weak boy who helplessly suffered and watched everything he loved get destroyed; he was now a being of immense strength, soaring above the world that had once sought to crush him. With each beat of his mighty wings, he rose higher, piercing through the layers of dark clouds and crimson sky until the endless void of the cosmos enveloped him. Suspended in this void, he looked down upon his planet, now a mere crimson orb in the vastness of space. It lay in his vision, small and fragile, like a precious gem against the backdrop of an infinite universe.

Surrounded by the pitch-black nothingness, Raziel's enhanced vision could discern the distant, lifeless planets, their surfaces fractured and barren, drifting silently in the cosmic expanse. The blood moon and the sun, twin sentinels of his world, hung in the void, their presence both eerie and comforting.

Here, in the cold embrace of space, Raziel felt a profound sense of perspective. His world, for all its complexities and struggles, was but a tiny speck in an immeasurably vast cosmos. Yet, this realization did not diminish his connection to it; rather, it deepened his understanding of the preciousness of life that surrounded him once and the significance of the bonds he once shared.

Despite the void draining his mana, the omnipresent force of gravity coursing around him replenished his energy, maintaining a delicate balance. The sun's scorching heat, which would torment even the mightiest of beings, felt like a gentle warmth to Raziel. His new form, bestowed upon him by Drakaris, was more than just resilient—it was a harmony of power and endurance.

Gazing at what was once his home, a small patch of land stained with blood of his people and devoid of life, Raziel felt a surge of cold resolve. The magnitude of the universe did not dwarf his purpose; it only underscored the importance of what he held dear and what he must do.

His eyes narrowed as he focused on the domain of the Bloodclaw Clan. With a renewed sense of purpose and a cold, dark determination in his eyes, Raziel's figure accelerated, descending from the cosmos like a comet, hurtling back toward his world. He was no longer just a survivor of a cruel fate; he was its master, a force of retribution and change, ready to confront the ones who destroyed his world.