Vampire Progenitor System

BOOM!

A shockwave tore through the trees.

The girls stumbled back as wind blasted through the clearing, dirt flying, leaves spinning in the air like a storm had just passed through.

Fel clutched Lane’s hand, eyes wide. ”What the hell was that?!”

Grace pulled them all behind a large rock, shielding them as best she could. ”I don’t know... but I think that guy is fighting whatever made that sound.”

Sarah peeked over the rock, her breathing shaky. ”That wasn’t human either... It has a dreadful aura.”

Suddenly, a massive shadow flickered across the treetops. Trees bent, groaned, and snapped as something huge crashed into them. Then—

A flash of black light lit up the night sky.

The mysterious man shot out of the forest, spinning midair, his wings stretched out like a blade. Chained in black energy, a giant creature with matted fur and glowing red eyes thrashed violently in front of him. It looked like a wolf... but far bigger, almost the size of a van, its mouth full of sharp, dripping fangs.

The girls screamed.

The man’s expression was still calm, though now his eyes glowed faintly with silver light.

”Loud thing,” he muttered.

The wolf lunged at him.

CRACK!

He raised a hand, and a massive black spear of energy formed in the air above him.

With a flick of his wrist, he sent it flying straight into the beast’s chest.

The wolf let out an ear-splitting screech and crashed into the ground, shaking the entire hill.

Everything went silent for a moment.

Then, slowly, the man floated back down to the ground. He stood over the dying creature, looking at it with faint disappointment.

”Tch. Too weak.”

He turned around and looked at the girls, who were now peeking out from behind the rock.

”...Still alive. Good.”

He walked over, wings folding neatly behind him. He stopped just a few steps away, the moonlight casting a strange glow on his face.

”My name’s Ruka,” he said simply. ”You shouldn’t be here.”

Fel finally found her voice. ”What the hell are you?”

Mob smirked just a bit. ”Half demon. Half human. Cambion.”

Sarah stared at him like she was seeing a myth come to life. ”I knew it...”

Mob’s smile faded slightly as he looked at them, then at the forest behind him.

”There are more of those things out here,” he said quietly. ”And they’re not hunting alone.”

Grace stood up slowly. ”Then what do we do?”

Ruka looked up at the sky, then back down.

”You leave that to me.”

FWOOSH.

BOOM!

A gust of wind rolled through the clearing, kicking up dust and loose leaves. The girls turned toward the sound, eyes wide, hearts pounding.

A man with radiant white wings stood at the edge of the clearing, slowly rising from a crouch, the soft glow from his feathers lighting the dark like moonlight in motion.

If Ruka felt like the shadows themselves had taken human form...

Then this guy felt like a piece of the sky had dropped down to Earth.

The white-winged man narrowed his eyes, gaze locked on Ruka. His voice was calm, but carried weight.

”I heard a scream and came as fast as I could,” he said. ”Who are you... and what exactly are you to them? Because they’re human.”

Fel blinked, looking between both men.

”He heard us?” she muttered.

Grace stepped forward slowly, her voice quiet but steady. ”Wait. You’re... you’re here to help?”

Mob’s eyes flicked to her, and he gave a small nod. ”Yeah. That was the idea.”

Sarah let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. ”They don’t know each other,” she whispered to Lane, who was still half-hidden behind her.

Fel glanced over her shoulder at Ruka, then looked back at Mob. ”He... saved us. That guy with the dark wings. A creature tried to kill us but he got here first and took it down.”

Mob’s brows furrowed slightly. ”...I see.”

Ruka didn’t speak. He simply stood there, silent, unreadable, the black smoke around him curling like it had a mind of its own.

Lane peeked out finally, voice shaky. ”We’re just hikers. We came out here to camp. I’m Lane... that’s Grace, Fel, and Sarah.”

Mob nodded slowly. ”I’m Mob.”

Fel raised a brow. ”Just... Mob?”

Mob gave a slight shrug. ”It works.”

Grace stepped forward again. ”So... now what? Are we safe?”

Mob glanced toward the dark edge of the forest, his face turning serious. ”Safe? No. Not yet. There’s more out there. Something’s wrong with this forest.”

He looked between Ruka and the girls.

”But it seems you’ve already got someone looking out for you.”

Ruka finally let out a low chuckle. ”Hmph. I don’t babysit. They were just in my path.”

Mob’s wings rustled.

”Well then,” Mob said calmly, ”Let’s make sure they stay out of any path.”

A tense silence filled the air. The night wind whistled past the trees.

Then Sarah spoke softly, ”So... are you two gonna fight or what?”

Both men glanced at each other.

”No need,” Mob said, though he didn’t take his eyes off Ruka.

”Not yet,” Ruka replied, smirking faintly.

Fel muttered, ”Great... we’re stuck between a holy warrior and a shadow demon. What could go wrong?”

Lane nodded. ”At least they’re hot.”

”Lane!”

”What? I’m stressed!”

Mob sighed.

”Let’s get moving. This forest isn’t done yet.”

Mob gave one last glance toward the treetops, scanning the dark edges of the forest. Whatever he sensed earlier was still there—faint, distant—but watching.

With a quiet breath, he closed his eyes.

Fwoosh.

His wings folded in and shimmered out of sight like mist fading in the morning sun.

”I’ll walk with you for a bit,” he said, stepping forward and brushing some dirt off his clothes. ”Don’t know what’s out here, but it doesn’t feel... normal.”

The girls stared, half in awe, half in disbelief.

Lane leaned over to Fel and whispered, ”Did you see that? They just disappeared. That was so anime.”

Fel whispered back, ”I know. I think I’m into him.”

Sarah rolled her eyes. ”Not the time, you two.”

Grace turned to Mob. ”Thank you. For coming.”

Mob nodded slightly, almost like he wasn’t used to being thanked.

As they began to walk, the group moved cautiously. Ruka stayed behind them, silent and brooding, his eyes never leaving the shadows of the woods. Mob walked ahead, leading with slow, measured steps, his senses on alert.

”So...” Sarah said carefully, trying to break the tense silence, ”You said you’re like him? With the wings and everything?”

Mob glanced over his shoulder at her. ”Not really. I don’t know what he is.”

”And you?” Grace asked.

Mob didn’t stop walking. ”Half angel, apparently. Still figuring it out.”

Fel raised an eyebrow. ”No offense, but you don’t act like an angel.”

Mob smirked a little. ”Good.”

Behind them, Ruka let out a low, amused snort.

The girls exchanged glances. Yeah, this night was far from over.

But somehow, with the two winged men flanking them—light and dark—they felt just a little bit safer. Just a little.