Silence enveloped the cave. The wolf pack had departed, leaving behind only destruction and Marcus's lifeless body. The strong scent of blood still lingered in the air, but suddenly, a strange energy began to surge within the cave. Marcus's blood, scattered across the cave floor, slowly began to flow on its own. It was being drawn by an unseen force, coming together to form a large, glowing circle. This circle gradually turned a deep red, as if a life was pulsating within it.
As the blood circle completed, a bloody mist rose from it. This mist was so dense that it spread to the cave walls, covering everything in an eerie red glow. A strange warmth could be felt in the air, and a slow, deep hum echoed in the cave, seeming to emanate from beneath the earth. This was no ordinary mist; it held an ancient power, a magic connected to Elaria's oldest secrets.
Marcus's lifeless body, which had been still until now, suddenly began to stir slowly. He was being lifted by an unseen force and moved on his own to the center of the cave, right in the midst of the bloody mist. The mist wrapped around him, completely engulfing him. Marcus's body was submerged in the red mist, and for a moment, it seemed as if he had completely disappeared.
The mist grew denser, and the hum intensified. Then, within that red, bloody mist, an indistinct figure began to appear. This figure slowly took shape, as if awakening from a deep sleep. It was Marcus's figure, but something was changing within it. His muscles were becoming more pronounced, his bones were rejoining, and a new, wild power coursed through his veins. His eyes were closed, but behind them, a new consciousness was awakening.
Suddenly, the figure became clearer, and the mist lightened slightly. The figure slowly opened its eyes. They were no longer as before; they held a glowing yellow-golden aura, shining like the eyes of the wolves at night, but they also contained a deep understanding and ancient wisdom. The figure moved its lips, and a voice emerged, which was Marcus's voice, but it included a deep, echoing, wolf-like growl.
"Found... I have... a vessel..." the figure mumbled, its voice reverberating off the cave walls. These words were not Marcus's, but those of another ancient soul that had now awakened within his body.
The figure spread its hands in the air, as if experiencing its newfound power. Its fingers were now sharpened, and in place of its nails, claws had grown. Its teeth had also become sharper, resembling the pointed teeth of a wolf.
"Now will be... my revenge... complete... now will the world... see... my wrath!"
This voice was filled with anger and vengeance, but it was not just Marcus's personal revenge. It was far deeper than that. The ancient soul that had chosen Marcus's body as a 'vessel' was also filled with centuries of revenge and humiliation. It seemed that the ritual of the wolves eating Marcus's heart had become a means to break an ancient bond, providing a path for a powerful werewolf soul to be reborn in Marcus's body.
This soul, perhaps that of a great werewolf leader or warrior from Elaria's history, had now been resurrected in Marcus's body. The massacre committed by the vampires in Lyllwood, and then the act of the wolves eating Marcus's heart, all seemed to be part of a larger, ancient prophecy. Marcus's revenge was no longer just his; it was also the revenge of that ancient soul, which sought to wreak havoc upon the vampires and all of Elaria's enemies.
The mist completely cleared, and in the center of the cave stood the fully transformed Marcus. He was stronger, faster, and deadlier than ever before. There was a new, terrifying resolve in his eyes, and the fire of revenge in his heart had now multiplied many times over. He was no longer just a simple man from Lyllwood; he was a resurrected werewolf, ready to unleash destruction in Elaria with his new powers and the guidance of the ancient soul.
Stepping out of the cave, the new Marcus looked up at the night sky. The moon was at its full brilliance above, and in its light, Marcus's eyes glowed yellow-gold. His old identity was dead, and in its place, a new, vengeful being had been born.
What will Marcus do now with his new powers?