1. The Bloodlink's Reckoning

  Adrian's heart pounded in his chest as he stood before the Xenoblood Chalice. The elixir had bought him some time, but the countdown in his HUD was still ticking down. 00:00:45. He knew he had to act quickly.

  The chalice pulsed with a dark, malevolent energy, and Adrian could feel the bloodlink trying to reassert itself. He clenched his fists, feeling the remnants of the curse still lingering in his veins. He had to break it completely, or he would be lost forever.

  Taking a deep breath, he focused all his energy on the chalice. He could feel the power within him surging, the remnants of the abilities he had gained from the fallen lords. He poured that power into the chalice, hoping to overwhelm the curse with sheer force of will.

  2. The Bloodlink's True Form

  As Adrian's power surged into the chalice, the runes on its surface began to glow brighter. The air around him seemed to thicken, and he could feel the ground trembling beneath his feet. The countdown had reached 00:00:30.

  Suddenly, the chalice erupted in a blinding flash of light. Adrian shielded his eyes, feeling the power wash over him. When the light faded, he saw that the chalice had transformed. It was no longer a monolith of dark energy, but a twisted, living thing.

  The Bloodlink Avatar stood before him, a grotesque figure made of writhing veins and pulsing organs. Its eyes were pools of crimson, and it let out a deafening roar that shook the very foundations of the domain.

  "You think you can break the bloodlink, Adrian? You are already mine!" the avatar hissed, its voice a chilling echo of the Demon King's own.

  3. The Battle for the Bloodlink

  Adrian knew he had no choice but to fight. He drew his weapon, feeling the familiar weight of his blade in his hand. The countdown had reached 00:00:15.

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  The avatar lunged at him, its claws dripping with dark blood. Adrian dodged to the side, feeling the wind from its attack brush past him. He countered with a swift strike, his blade slicing through the avatar's flesh.

  But the avatar seemed to heal itself almost instantly, its wounds closing up as if they were never there. Adrian realized that he had to find a way to exploit its weaknesses, or he would never stand a chance.

  He remembered the words of the First Generation Hunter-Commander Rael Oltos: "The contract was never with the lords - it was with their maker." He knew he had to strike at the heart of the curse, not just its manifestations.

  4. The Final Blow

  Adrian focused all his remaining energy into a single strike. He could feel the power of the fallen lords surging through him, combining into a force he had never felt before. The countdown had reached 00:00:05.

  With a roar, he launched himself at the avatar, his blade glowing with an intense light. He struck at the avatar's core, feeling the blade pierce through its defenses. The avatar let out a deafening scream, its body convulsing as the curse was broken.

  The countdown reached 00:00:00. The domain began to collapse around them, the dark energy dissipating as the bloodlink was severed. Adrian felt the weight of the curse lift from his shoulders, replaced by a sense of clarity and purpose.

  He had broken the bloodlink, but he knew the battle was far from over. The Demon King still lurked in the shadows, waiting for his chance to strike. Adrian steeled himself for the challenges ahead, knowing that he had only just begun to uncover the true extent of the Demon King's plan.