The glowing interface flickered softly before Tom's eyes, casting a cold blue light across the rough stone walls of the cave. The luminous screen displayed a sleek, minimalist status bar.
At the top, his name was displayed boldly: Tom Polo.
Below it, his current level , Level 1 Vampire, was clearly marked.
The stats were neatly laid out in a grid:
• Strength: 10
• Speed: 10
• Stamina: 10
• Agility: 10
Each attribute was perfectly balanced but unimpressive. Ten was the baseline, a starting point for someone with no supernatural gifts.
Then came the special skill: Mind Control.
Tom's lips curled into a sly smile. It wasn't much, but it was a start, and it fit him perfectly. After all, the real power had always been in his mind, not his body.
A brief message flashed beneath the stats, explaining the path to growth:
"To level up, drink the blood of aroused women. Current progress: 0/3."
Tom arched an eyebrow at the peculiar requirement. Based on his research, he had expected the requirement to be something blood and sec related at the same time, but somehow this still surprised him
He tapped on the screen to bring up more info. No shop. No store. No way to buy stat points or equipment. Each level came with fixed increases in strength, speed, stamina, and agility. The system was simple but brutal. To get stronger, he would have to earn it by unlocking new levels, nothing more.
He turned his gaze to Gregor, who was watching him intently from the dim corner of the cave. The man's heavy breathing mixed with the distant drip of water from the cave ceiling. Gregor's face was unreadable, but his eyes betrayed a mixture of curiosity and cautious optimism.
Tom gave him a confident smile. "I'm fine. Everything went according to plan."
Gregor let out a low grunt. "Like it always does, huh?"
Tom chuckled quietly, the sound echoing softly in the hollow space. "Exactly."
Gregor extended a hand, helping Tom to his feet. Together, they carefully rose, dusting off dirt and grime. The glow from the system faded as Tom deactivated the interface, and they made their way out of the cave. The world outside felt oddly colder, sharper, like the night itself was waiting for something to begin.
****
The city lights flickered as they drove away from the mountains. Tom didn't head home. Instead, he gave a curt order to Gregor: "Take me to the Harborview Hotel."
Gregor glanced at him, eyebrows raised, but didn't question the command. The car slid smoothly through the night traffic, and soon they arrived at the towering glass facade of the hotel. Inside, the reception area was brightly lit, the polished floors reflecting the glow of neon signs outside.
Tom strode up to the front desk, his purple hair catching the overhead lights, giving him an almost otherworldly aura. The receptionist, a young woman with a bored expression, barely looked up as she handed him a keycard.
"Room 712," she said, voice flat but professional.
"Thanks darling," Tom replied smoothly, pocketing the card. As she heard his voice she looked up a quickly to see who possessed such a rich voice and when she saw his face, her look of boredom transformed into one of interest, but Tom was already going.
They caught the elevator and as Tom brought out the card, Gregor stepped the the side of the door, making it obvious he wanted to stay out and guard the room.
Tom caught his gaze and smirked. "You can come in, you know."
Gregor rolled his eyes and shook his head. "I'll pass please."
"Suit yourself," Tom said with a light chuckle.
Tom swiped his keycard, and the door to Room 712 unlocked with a soft click. He stepped inside, closing the door behind him.
The room was dimly lit by the flickering light of a television. Sitting on the couch was a young woman, casually watching a late-night show. She had long dark hair that spilled over her shoulders, eyes fixed on the screen with relaxed focus. Her name was Paula, She was a girl Tom Polo had met recently in his high school and she was about to be his first woman out of the three he needed to level up
She glanced up as Tom entered, and her face lit up with a smile.
"You're back late," she said, standing up and walking toward him.
Tom returned her smile easily, the warmth between them easy despite the tension of his earlier mission. "The mission took longer than expected."
What happened. She asked, her brows scrunching in concern.
I'll tell you later. Tom said, pulling her closer and trying to lean in for a kiss. But she pulled back just enough, scrunching her nose.
"Ugh, you stink," she said with a mock grimace. "You need to take a bath first."
Tom feigned offense, but it was clear the smell of dirt, sweat, and cave dust clung to him stubbornly. "Fine, fine," he said with a resigned grin. "I'll get cleaned up."
She smiled. "Good. I don't want to kiss a swamp monster."
Tom rolled his eyes but followed her toward the bathroom, letting out a low whistle as he sank into the warmth of the room.
Tom chuckled at her comment, shrugging. "Fair enough, I do reek of cave dust and whatever else I dragged through that mission." He shot her a playful grin before vanishing into the hotel room's bathroom. The sound of running water echoed as he took a quick shower, steam curling out from the cracked door. Minutes later, he emerged, a white towel snug around his waist, droplets of water still clinging to his toned chest. His dark hair was slicked back, and a mischievous glint sparkled in his eyes.
"Alright, babe, I'm hot, clean, and ready," he teased, his voice low and suggestive. With a dramatic flourish, he let the towel drop to the floor, revealing himself in all his glory. His confidence was palpable, and the girl's reaction was instant, her breath hitched, a flush creeping up her cheeks as her eyes widened in surprise. Heat radiated from her face, her lips parting slightly as she tried to process the bold move.
Tom sauntered over, closing the distance between them with slow, deliberate steps. "No need to be shy, you know," he murmured, his voice smooth as velvet, laced with a playful challenge. He reached out, gently tilting her chin up to meet his gaze. His lips brushed against hers, soft at first, testing the waters, before deepening into a hungry kiss. Her hesitation melted as she leaned into him, the tension in the room sparking like electricity. Tom's hands slid to her waist, pulling her closer,