Chapter 2: The Corruption Within

  Kieran gasped, his body convulsing as neon lights distorted around him. His skin prickled like a million ants crawling beneath it, his veins bulging with a shifting darkness. His mind blurred—no, it fractured—as foreign visions flooded his brain.

  [System Reconstructing… Critical Error Detected.]

  A sharp pain tore through his chest. He collapsed, clutching his ribs, his fingers digging into flesh that didn’t feel like his own anymore.

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  A whisper slithered into his mind. “Embrace it.”

  Then—power. Raw, untamed, and intoxicating. His fingers twitched, arcs of crimson and electric-blue energy sparking at his fingertips. His reflection in a nearby puddle twisted—his irises glowed, his skin cracked with pulsing symbols.

  Was he… still human?

  [Unknown Bloodline Detected. System Adjusting…]

  Before he could process it, the world blurred again. A presence stirred within his mind—watching. Waiting.

  And then, the system spoke again:

  [Warning: Anomaly Detected. You Are Not Alone.]

  Kieran’s breath hitched. A shadow moved behind him.