The moment Victor's consciousness dipped into the void, it was as if he had entered an endless night. No stars. No light. Nothing. Only the familiar rhythmic echo of his heartbeat reminded him that he was still tethered to reality.
Then... a faint outline appeared in the distance.
It was like smoke at first—unreal, formless—but slowly, it condensed into something humanoid, although it never fully took shape.
And from Victor's being, a single, thin strand of spiritual thread extended. It moved on its own, following an unknown law, connecting directly to the faint silhouette before him.
[DING! First Stage of Bloodline Resonance Technique Successfully Completed.]
Victor's eyes flew open. He expected daylight, maybe mid-morning. But instead, the deep orange hue of twilight had faded into indigo, stars dotting the sky above.
