A guttural snarl ripped through the relative quiet of the forest. Infernal Alpha. Its crimson fur, matted with old blood and dirt, bristled along its spine. Glowing embers flared in its eyes, twin points of malevolent intent fixed on Long Hao. Bone clattered. The skeletal minion, a stark white silhouette, moved first. It launched itself forward, a silent projectile of ancient malice, surprisingly swift. Its bony jaws snapped, aiming for the Alpha's exposed throat. Infernal power radiated from the beast. A low growl rumbled, deep in its chest, vibrating through the very ground. It swiped a massive claw, a blur of motion, easily deflecting the minion's lunge. Sparks flew as bone met reinforced muscle. Long Hao remained still, observing. He needed a weakness, an opening. The minion was a distraction, a shield, but its purpose was more than just taking hits. It was a probe, an unyielding obstacle designed to draw the beast's ire. Unflinching, the skeletal wolf absorbed the blow. One of its ribs cracked with an audible snap, but it didn't falter. It just kept coming, a relentless, mindless automaton of pure aggression. Its empty eye sockets seemed to bore into the Alpha, challenging it. Enraged, the Alpha lunged again, a furious beast unwilling to tolerate such impudence. It met the minion head-on, powerful jaws clamping down on the skeletal wolf's shoulder. A sickening crunch echoed through the trees as the bone splintered. This was his chance. Long Hao's eyes scanned the forest floor. He needed a weapon, something sharp, something capable of piercing that tough hide. His short sword felt inadequate against a creature of this size and power. Jagged rocks, splintered branches, and the scattered remains of previous kills lay strewn about. A thick, curved bone, the femur of some large animal, caught his eye. One end was naturally fractured, leaving a sharp, almost dagger-like point. He snatched it, testing its weight, its potential. Clenching the bone shard, Long Hao moved. He hugged the perimeter of the fight, a ghost in the shadows, his movements fluid and low to the ground. The Alpha was entirely focused on the skeletal minion, tearing at its leg, a guttural sound of frustration and dominance escaping its throat. His minion didn't scream, didn't flinch. It merely continued its silent assault, bony claws scrabbling for purchase, even as it was being ripped apart. Such single-minded focus was a terrifying, beautiful thing. Closer now. The Alpha's flank was exposed, its crimson fur rippling with muscle. Steam rose faintly from its body, a testament to its internal heat. He could feel the residual heat, even from a few feet away. Long Hao took a deep breath, the scent of pine needles and damp earth filling his lungs. Then, he exploded into motion. A swift, silent sprint, closing the distance in a few heartbeats. He ignored the gnashing fangs of the Alpha, ignored the raw power it exuded. His target was clear. The soft spot, just behind the ribcage, where the hide thinned, near the vital organs. He drove the sharpened bone shard forward, a desperate, brutal thrust. A yelp, sharp and surprised, tore from the Alpha's throat. The bone shard sank deep, tearing through flesh and muscle. A gurgle followed, the beast’s eyes widening, its focus abruptly shifting from the mangled minion to the human plunging a crude weapon into its side. A surge of dark energy coursed through Long Hao, a jolt of raw, foreign power. It wasn't painful, not exactly. More like a cold, hungry satisfaction blooming in his chest. The beast's crimson fur felt rough, hot, beneath his hand. He twisted the bone shard deep, seeking vital points, relishing the resistance, the gurgle that escaped the Alpha's throat. Thick, black blood, hot and viscous, welled around his hand. The Alpha roared, a sound of agony and fury, its massive body thrashing. It tried to turn, to snap at him, but Long Hao held fast, the bone shard a conduit for something dark and compelling. He pulled back, then plunged the bone shard in again, deeper this time, aiming for the heart. The beast convulsed, its legs giving out. Its body spasmed, a final, desperate struggle against the encroaching darkness. The flow of energy into Long Hao intensified, a hungry maw feeding on the dying life force. He felt stronger. Not just physically, but something deeper, more elemental. The world seemed sharper, colors more vibrant, the air charged with an unseen energy. A grim, chilling satisfaction bloomed in his chest. This wasn't the joy of victory, but the stark affirmation of survival, of power seized. This world demanded teeth. He would grow fangs sharper than any beast. The weakness, the powerlessness he'd known on dying Earth, it would never touch him here. Not again. The Infernal Alpha's struggles weakened. Its eyes, once burning embers, flickered, then dimmed. Its massive body slumped to the ground, a heavy thud shaking the forest floor. The flow of life force into Long Hao dwindled, then ceased. The air felt colder, quieter, without the beast’s raw presence. Long Hao pulled the blood-slicked bone shard free. He tossed it aside, his gaze fixed on the fallen beast. His first significant kill. His first true taste of this world's brutal sustenance. He looked at his skeletal minion, now missing a leg, its ribs shattered, but still standing, still unwavering. “Good job,” he murmured, a low, rasping sound. The minion remained motionless, awaiting orders. He knew it felt no pain, no fear, no pride. It simply existed to serve. A perfect weapon. He walked over to the collapsed Infernal Alpha, examining its formidable form. Its fur was still warm. The sheer muscle mass, the power contained within. A beast like this, in his service… the thought made a dark thrill ripple through him. This was the path. This was the way he would survive. He would take the dead and make them his. He would turn their power into his own. No more would he be a victim, a helpless observer of decay. He would be the one who commanded it. He knelt beside the Alpha, placing a hand on its still-warm hide. The familiar cold, draining sensation began, but this time, it was different. More intense. The beast's power was considerable, far greater than the smaller creature he had resurrected before. His energy reserves, which had been somewhat depleted after creating the first minion, surged. A potent, raw power filled him, making his muscles hum with a new kind of vitality. He could feel the essence of the beast flowing into him, not just its life force, but something of its inherent strength. Minutes stretched into a long, quiet vigil. The forest began to stir around him, the chirps of insects and rustle of leaves returning, as if acknowledging the end of a predator’s reign. Long Hao felt the remnants of the Alpha’s power consolidate within him, a dark, primal core. He stood, feeling lighter, yet heavier with responsibility. The process was complete. He had absorbed what he could. Now, for the minion. He extended his hand, the familiar surge of energy flowing from him, aiming at the fallen Alpha. This time, he wasn't merely resurrecting. He was creating a new, more powerful servitor. A blinding flash erupted from the carcass, far more intense than anything he'd witnessed before. The light pulsed, throbbing with an otherworldly energy. It expanded, encompassing the entire body of the Infernal Alpha, then condensed, drawing inward. Before Long Hao's eyes, not one, but three skeletal wolves rose from the dissipating light. Their frames were larger, more robust than his first minion, their fangs longer, dripping spectral ichor. They moved with a predatory grace, their empty eye sockets fixing on him with an unnerving subservience. The System intoned: 'New Skill Unlocked: Pack Leader. Threat level... escalating.'

Bloodlust and Bones