Chapter 37 Bloodlust

Derek's heart was a tangled web of emotions as he observed Ethan's unwavering determination. They had once been like brothers, their bond stronger than the blood that flowed through their veins, both having been raised under the infamous shadow of Clay Dawson.

But as destiny would have it, they were now separated, consumed by a vicious hatred that ate away at their very souls.

When he was young, Derek had discovered the truth about Ethan's birth. He was Clay's bastard son. The revelation had rocked Derek's world, leaving him reeling with shock and disbelief. But as he stood there, watching his mother Noelle gaze at Ethan practicing with an affectionate smile, Derek felt his heart soften.

She spoke softly, "Love is not logical. It's above anything and everything." Her words echoed in Derek's mind as she recounted the story of Ethan's birth. Derek's father had been kneeling before her, tears streaming down his face as he cradled the newborn Ethan in his arms. He begged for forgiveness, consumed with guilt, yet unable to let go of his love.

Noelle had been torn between feeling betrayed and feeling compassion for the innocent child. But as she watched Ethan and Derek grow up together, her heart softened, and she fell in love once again. She turned to Derek with a smile that shone brighter than the sun and placed her gentle hand on his head. "You both are my precious sons."

Derek was young at that time, so besides being speechless and a bit shocked, he didn't have that much complex thoughts. To him, what mattered was his mother, his father, and his younger brother's happiness.

As he grew older, Derek began to understand the magnitude of his mother's struggle during the first few years. She had borne the weight of her husband's infidelity in silence, enduring the taunts and sneers of society with unwavering strength. And yet, her love for her husband never wavered.

Though his father tried to make amends, perhaps out of guilt, Derek couldn't help but confront him in anger one day. "Why did you do that, Dad?" he demanded.

Clay's response left Derek stunned. He gazed up at the sky, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "Love is illogical," he murmured, as if speaking to himself.

Ethan was a genius, cherished by all who knew him. His intelligence, charming personality, and striking good looks brightened the lives of those around him. He was the pride and joy of his family, a shining example of what one could achieve with dedication and hard work.

As adolescence set in, Derek began to experience feelings of jealousy towards Ethan's prodigious talent. Despite this, he still cared deeply for his younger brother.

But everything changed when their father was betrayed by his closest friend. A renowned figure in Helen, he was once asked to be a member of the World Council but turned it down to live a simple life with his family and to aid those in need.

The great man had saved countless lives through his generosity and valiant efforts against hordes of demons. However, he was branded a traitor by the very people he had saved, and was shunned and despised by the masses. Tragically, he was ultimately killed by the infamous King of the Underworld, Aidan Fletcher.

The weight of her husband being called a traitor and his subsequent death had crushed his mother, leaving her in a state of utter madness. And when Ethan turned his back on her, it was the final nail in the coffin.

The weight of his mother's madness, coupled with Ethan's betrayal, had driven Derek to the brink of insanity. His knuckles turned white as he clenched them tight and blood oozed from his bitten lips.

How could that bastard forget about her? Forget about everything their parents had done for him? Ethan didn't even recognize her face! Derek seethed with hatred towards Ethan and the world that had brought him such pain.

Derek wasn't confident in his ability to best Ethan in a fair fight, let alone take on the behemoths that were Aidan and his damned uncle. So he resorted to underhanded tactics, inflicting as much pain as possible on his brother. It was childish and stupid, but the satisfaction he felt watching Ethan writhe in agony fueled the darkness within him.

Since Derek didn't view Ethan as innocent, he felt justified in his actions. However, when the incident occurred, resulting in Ethan's coma, it shattered Derek. As a result, he spiraled even further into despair.

As time passed, his hatred only grew, consuming him like a raging inferno. He wished for nothing more than to see this wretched world burn, to watch as everything he despised crumbled into ash.

Hate consumed him, for Ethan, for his father's betrayal, for the people who had driven his mother to madness, and even for himself. His father had always preached about the importance of a pure heart, yet he himself had been a hypocrite.

Derek was done with the lies and the facade of morality. He was finally strong enough to kill Ethan with his own two hands, and he relished the thought of rising up to take on Aidan as well. The world would know his wrath, and they would fear him.

"Derek!" Kim's voice pierced through the silence, snapping Derek out of his violent fantasies.

As he turned to face her, she recoiled in terror, as though a cold blade had sliced through her flesh. "What happened?" Derek demanded, his eyes alight with a feverish madness.

Kim, no stranger to his insatiable bloodlust, pointed to her tablet. On the screen was a close-up shot of Sam on his motorcycle. His face was ashen, foam oozing from his mouth, and his hand was still bleeding profusely.

Derek cursed under his breath, his mind already racing with a new plan. "Fuck! Tell everyone to forget about Ethan and focus on Sam. We need to burn him alive or decapitate him."

Kim nodded frantically, sending out the orders to the members of the dark moon. Though they were all shaken by Derek's order, they knew better than to disobey him. The fear of what he might do to them if they refused was too great.

⸻�⸻

Meanwhile, Ethan and Izora were locked in a passionate embrace. Suddenly, Ethan pushed her away, his eyes blazing with defiance. But it was too late.

Sam, who had been lying motionless, sprang to his feet and lunged at Ethan with a ravenous hunger. Blood dripped from his eyes as he lunged forward, eager to devour his prey whole.

***

Status:

[Name: Ethan Chase] | [Title: Heir ] | [Level: 25]

[Current State: Critical]

�Health: (50/100) [x 3]�

�Arcane Points: (100/100) [x 3]�

�Stress: (200/100)�

�Charm: (100/100)�

�Special Points: 1000�

�Fragments of Obsidian used: (210/??)�

[Stats:]

�Strength: 19 (+17.5) [x 3]�|�Agility: 9 (x 3) [x 10]�|�S. Stamina: 20 (+20)�

�Health RR: 4 [x 3]�|� Arcane RR: 70 (x5) [x 3]�|�IQ: 125 �