The Blood Drinker finally stopped running.
Its breathing was heavy, and its body was covered in wounds. The creature had managed to escape the abandoned camp, but the damage from its battle with Kael was obvious.
It entered a quiet clearing.
Varkhan was already waiting.
The massive figure stood beneath a tree, his jet-black fur barely moving in the night breeze. His crimson eyes settled on the Blood Drinker as it approached.
His gaze moved over its injuries.
“You're in poor condition.”
The Blood Drinker lowered its head.
“The operation was interrupted.”
Varkhan remained calm.
“Report.”
The Blood Drinker began.
“The three Hunters we captured were discovered by a Bronze Rank hunter.”
Varkhan's eyes narrowed slightly.
“A Bronze Rank?”
“Yes.”
The creature continued.
“He entered the camp and engaged me.”
“What was the outcome?”
“I was forced to retreat.”
Varkhan studied the creature for a moment.
“Explain.”
The Blood Drinker gave him a concise account of the battle.
It described the hunter's ability to sense its movements, the techniques he used, the battle inside the chamber, and the attack that ultimately forced it to withdraw.
Varkhan listened without interruption.
When the report ended, silence settled over the clearing.
“A Bronze Rank hunter forced you to retreat?”
“Yes.”
Varkhan's gaze moved toward the creature's wounds.
“And the three Hunters?”
“They survived. The hunter took them back to the guild.”
Varkhan considered the information.
“Then the camp is compromised.”
“Yes.”
Varkhan's eyes shifted toward the direction of the abandoned camp.
“Typical of the guilds. They react quickly.”
He paused.
“We'll have to abandon that place for now. The next time they investigate, they'll probably send a stronger hunter.”
The Blood Drinker lowered its head.
“Understood.”
Varkhan's gaze suddenly settled on something near the creature's body.
A faint black crescent remained visible against its bloodstained fur.
“What is that?”
The Blood Drinker looked down.
“The hunter left it on me.”
Varkhan stepped closer and examined the mark.
“Does it have any effect?”
“It allowed him to track me after I escaped.”
Varkhan's expression remained unchanged.
He reached toward the mark.
The black crescent flickered once.
Then it disappeared.
The Blood Drinker looked down.
“The mark is gone.”
“It won't be a problem anymore.”
Varkhan stepped back.
“Did you get any results?”
The Blood Drinker straightened slightly.
“Yes.”
“Report them.”
“The blood experiment was beginning to show results.”
Varkhan listened carefully.
“The first two Hunters lasted two weeks. I was about to begin working with the last one when the operation was interrupted.”
“How far had the experiment progressed?”
“Not far enough to determine the final result.”
Varkhan nodded.
“Then we lost the site, but not the information we've already obtained.”
“Yes.”
Varkhan turned away.
“We'll review the results elsewhere.”
The Blood Drinker followed.
After several steps, Varkhan spoke again.
“That Bronze Rank hunter.”
The creature looked toward him.
“What about him?”
Varkhan's crimson eyes narrowed slightly.
“Nothing for now.”
He continued walking.
“If he appears again, we'll deal with him then.”
The Blood Drinker followed silently into the darkness.
Behind them, the abandoned camp remained lost.
The operation had failed.
But not completely.
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