"Snowy!"

Lina hurried toward him while trying to catch her breath. Her silver hair swayed messily behind her as she finally reached the small rabbit standing near the academy forest.

The surrounding students were still in panic after the Shadow Fang Wolf escaped. Several guards moved quickly to help the injured student while others prepared to enter the forest.

But none of them noticed the strange tension between the rabbit and the darkness beyond the trees.

Qhuin’s crimson eyes remained fixed ahead, and the smell of blood lingered heavily within the forest.

His instincts stirred violently again.

[Blood Energy critically low.]

[Warning: Host stability decreasing.]

Qhuin’s ears flicked looking at the message.

"Annoying system."

Lina picked him up carefully before whispering nervously, "We should go back."

Qhuin immediately struggled in her arms.

The forest called to him; something within it drew him, it wasn’t just the scent of blood from the wounded wolf anymore.

There was another presence deeper inside more stronger and his instincts could feel it clearly.

Suddenly one of the academy guards shouted.

"Everyone return to your dormitories immediately!"

"The northern forest zone is temporarily restricted!"

Students quickly scattered after hearing the order; no one wanted to remain near a dangerous beast that might attack at night.

Lina looked down at Qhuin worriedly.

"You’re acting strange..."

Qhuin just stared toward the forest completely ignoring her.

Then suddenly—

He jumped from her arms and dashed forward.

"Snowy?!"

Lina panicked before running after him.

The deeper they moved into the academy forest, the darker the surroundings became, tall silver trees blocked most of the moonlight while cold wind moved through the branches above.

They heard strange noises echoing everywhere, growling and the rustling of leaves along with unknown cries from distant creatures.

Lina’s face turned pale, and her body trembled as she followed behind the rabbit.

"W-We shouldn’t be here..."

Qhuin ignored her completely, his focus remained ahead.

The blood scent had become overwhelming now.

Finally, he stopped several meters ahead, the Shadow Fang Wolf lay beside a broken tree breathing heavily as blood covered its side where the academy guards had injured it earlier.

The beast growled weakly trying to lift its head after noticing them.

Lina froze her eyes widened with fear seeing the wolf.

"T-The wolf..."

But Qhuin calmly walked forward instead. The wolf attempted to stand aggressively at first, suddenly lowered itself again,Its instincts realized it was in danger.

Qhuin stopped directly before the injured beast, their eyes met silently, one pair golden with fear the other pair crimson with hunger.

The system suddenly appeared before him.

[Target weakened.]

[Blood Essence detected.]

[Would the host like to consume blood?]

Qhuin’s expression lifted in excitement.

’Finally’. Without hesitation, he moved closer, and the wolf tried growling weakly again but couldn’t even lift its body properly anymore.

Lina watched nervously from behind.

"Snowy...?"

Then she froze, Qhuin’s small rabbit fangs slowly extended unnaturally, not like normal rabbit teeth they became sharp like a vampire.

Lina’s eyes widened in shock, before she could react Qhuin bit directly into the wolf’s neck.

The Shadow Fang Wolf trembled violently as dark crimson energy immediately flowed from the beast into Qhuin’s body as warmth spread through him instantly with pure pleasure and satisfaction.

The unbearable hunger slowly began fading away.

The system notifications appeared rapidly.

[Blood Energy restored.]

[Blood Essence absorbed.]

[Experience gained.]

[Hidden Bloodline awakening progress increased: 3%]

Qhuin’s crimson eyes glowed brighter briefly.

The wolf’s struggles weakened slowly until it finally collapsed completely unconscious.

Lina stared speechlessly at the scene, and her hands trembled.

"...You drank blood."

Qhuin lifted his head calmly, blood-stained fur around his mouth. The moonlight reflecting in his crimson eyes made him look strangely beautiful and scary.

For several long seconds, neither moved, then Lina spoke,

"You really aren’t normal..."

Qhuin had expected fear and panic from her, maybe even disgust, but instead, she slowly walked closer before kneeling beside him.

"...Did it help?"

Qhuin blinked once stunned by her unexpected reaction.

Lina looked at the unconscious wolf before speaking again.

"You looked like you were in pain earlier."

Qhuin stared at her quietly studying her expression, humans feared monsters, things their don’t understand and that was natural.

Yet this girl’s first concern was whether he felt better, he looked at her strangely with his cute little eyes wondering.

Suddenly branches snapped nearby, and both of them turned immediately,Something was moving through the forest

Qhuin’s instincts sharpened instantly, and several glowing green eyes appeared between the trees.

Lina stood up and stepped back nervously.

"...There’s more?"

Low growls echoed throughout the forest as a pack of at least seven corrupted beasts slowly emerged from the darkness surrounding them.

They were smaller than the Shadow Fang Wolf, but far more dangerous in numbers, these beasts stared hungrily toward Lina.

Qhuin slowly moved in front of her.

His crimson eyes coldly stared

The corrupted beasts immediately hesitated, as fear spread among them instinctively, but unlike the wolf earlier, their hunger overpowered caution, and one of the beasts suddenly lunged forward.

Lina screamed raising her hand to cover herself

Qhuin’s eyes flashed crimson.

Boom!

An invisible pressure exploded outward instantly as the charging beast crashed violently into a tree before collapsing unconscious, and the entire forest became silent.

Even Qhuin looked slightly surprised.

The system appeared immediately.

[Blood Skill unlocked.]

[Crimson Pressure - Level 1]

[Release vampire dominance to suppress weaker creatures.]

Qhuin smiled slowly.

’Interesting’

The remaining beasts whimpered fearfully before retreating with their tail tucked behind their legs deeper into the forest without hesitation, as silence returned.

Lina stared at Qhuin completely speechless.

"...What are you exactly?"

Qhuin looked back at her calmly his crimson gaze locked on her.

Then—

"Squeak.". He tilted his head as his eyes widened cutely

Lina blinked, stunned by the sudden reaction.

A few seconds later she laughed helplessly despite the dangerous situation.

"You really act cute whenever you don’t want to answer something."

Qhuin raised his head proudly ignoring that statement.

Suddenly distant voices echoed through the forest; the academy guards were searching the forest and they were approaching quickly.

Lina panicked looking around.

"We have to leave before they find us here."

Qhuin glanced once more at the unconscious Shadow Fang Wolf.

Then his eyes quietly examined it thoughtfully as a dangerous idea slowly formed in his mind, since this world had beasts, magic, evolution, and blood.

Perhaps...

He could build an army again.